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It’s common to hear people make the case for initiatives and spaces that help women become more confident with music tech. And many women will say they wished they had more confidence when it comes to music production, mixing and the whole recording process. But what if this pursuit for more confidence was actually further sabotaging the progress of women with music technology? What if, instead, we need to be questioning the whole focus on confidence itself?

In this solo episode, Isobel explores some of the reasons she doesn’t focus on confidence when it comes to her unique approach for teaching women recording and production and she draws from wider theories and research to help better understand concepts such as confidence in the context of gender. This episode asks what else might we need to change if not women’s confidence if more women and girls are to truly thrive in music technology spaces. 

EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
{00:00} Intro
{02:28} Previous episodes and resources relating to confidence vs assertiveness
{04:33} Is confidence really the missing link towards music tech spaces becoming more inclusive?
{10:01} Why has confidence become so highly valued in music tech spaces?
{12:58} Isobel on why community is more important than confidence in music tech
{15:13} Student testimonials on the strength and importance of the community inside
Home Recording Academy
{17:46} Why it’s important to re-evaluate community culture as a whole, rather than help individual women to become more confident with music tech
{19:37} Episode Summary

Listen to Episode 18: Gender and Music Tech Education with Dr Eddie Dobson >>

Listen to Episode 56: Being Assertive In Music Tech Spaces >>

Listen to Teaching Women Music Technology [Pt1] Why Have We Failed (So Far)?? >>

Listen to Teaching Women Music Technology [Pt 2] My Unique Approach >>

Read Rhetoric of Masculinity >>

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Girls Twiddling Knobs has ended, but you can stay connected to Isobel's artistic work here.

Girls Twiddling Knobs was hosted by Isobel Anderson and produced by Isobel Anderson and Jade Bailey from Nov 2020-Jan 2026 and will remain live on all major podcast platforms throughout 2026.

We are grateful to the British Library who have archived the podcast in their Sound and Vision Collection.

Learn more about the Girls Twiddling Knobs legacy here.

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