Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts. A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

This week, we’re celebrating the world of parades—the traditions, the chaos, the unexpected moments, and the marching arts culture behind them. Jackie, Jack, Grantis, and Jeremy take a full tour through America’s most iconic parades, sharing stories from the street, expert opinions, and tips every band and guard should know before stepping off.

We dig into everything from national spectacles like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Rose Parade, and Mardi Gras to regional favorites including the Mummers Parade, Cherry Blossom Parade, Gatlinburg Midnight Parade, Bristol 4th of July, Lodi Grape Festival, Portland Grand Floral Parade, Detroit’s Thanksgiving traditions, the Hollywood Christmas Parade, and the highly competitive California parade circuit.

Whether you love parades for the pageantry, the community connection, or the pure unpredictability (yes—goats, llamas, feathers, wine fountains, and more), this episode has something for everyone.

• Why parades matter for school culture, community presence, and recruitment
• Parade memories that shaped each panelist
• The role of drum majors and block structure on a moving route
• What makes the Rose Parade turn so intimidating
• How Mardi Gras float builders create parade magic
• Why Philly’s Mummers Parade is still unmatched in personality
• What directors overlook: spacing, alignment, showmanship, and audience impact
• The difference between competitive parade judging and community performance

Jack Goudreau delivers a full breakdown of how to build a proper parade block, covering interval control, step-off technique, first-step mechanics, subdivision, and how body alignment affects sound and visual clarity.

Jeremy questions why parade blocks cater to judges instead of the audience. Grantis talks about students who join band for connection, not competition. Jack calls out unsafe guard/band collisions and poor spacing on parade routes.

The panel shares end-of-season highlights, life updates, creative inspiration, and their excitement for wrapping up Season 3 and stepping into Season 4.

Jackie Brown — @spintronixguard  Jackson Goudreau — @goudreau_  Grantis Peranda — @grantisimo_p  Jeremy Williams — @guardcloset

Peak Group Travel — @peak.group.travel  Guard Closet — @guardcloset

Website: onawaterbreakpodcast.com Linktree: linktr.ee/onawaterbreak Email: [email protected] Be a Guest: form in our bio Follow us everywhere: @onawaterbreak

We’ll see you next rehearsal — On A Water Break.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.

This week, Ricardo and Trish welcome two standout guests:
Kenai Central High School Band Director Christian Stefanos (@akbanddirector) — whose band traveled from Alaska to BOA Grand Nationals — and TikTok creator & performer Taylor Greatbatch (@greatbatchofcookies).

Christian breaks down what it took to build a marching band from scratch, fundraise across a state the size of a continent, and take a small-town Alaska program onto the national stage in Indianapolis. Taylor shares what it’s like teaching in one of Kentucky’s lowest-income districts, why BOA experiences matter for rural kids, and how marching band shaped their entire career across theater and performance.

Then the whole panel dives into a packed NEWS segment featuring:
• BOA Grand Nationals Finals breakdown
• DCI 2025 schedule
• HBCU Band of the Year finalists
• 2025 Dunkin’ Thanksgiving Parade bands
• 2025 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade lineup

Christian takes on the 60-Second Tech Block with “How to Build a Marching Band From the Ground Up.” Taylor unleashes a viral-worthy rant about Broadway-level marching band shows (“I should not have to have a PhD to understand your marching band show, girl!”), and Ricardo drops a scorched-earth message to the Avon haters who have been trashing kids online after BOA Finals.

The episode closes with a heartfelt Gush & Go, including:
• The Spartans preparing for the Macy’s Parade
• Christian’s students getting national love
• Ricardo’s district-wide arts expos inspiring the next generation
• Kentucky band programs celebrating major milestones

Hosts:
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall (@ricardorrobinson)
Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002)

Guests:
Christian Stefanos — Kenai Central High School Band (@akbanddirector)
Taylor Greatbatch (@greatbatchofcookies)

Presented by:
Guard Closet — gear, education & design for the marching arts
Peak Group Travel (@peak.group.travel) — group travel done right

If you’re not listening to On A Water Break… what are you even doing?

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

It’s BOA Grand Nationals Week, PASIC is happening across the street, and the 2025 marching band season is officially coming to a close. Nicole hangs out with Taylor and Haley to talk favorite shows, end-of-season surprises, band-parent TikTok chaos, and the programs they can’t wait to watch in Indy — all pulled directly from this week’s conversation.

Highlights:
• Bandtober survival + Grand Nats weekend hype
• Boston, Bluecoats, Vanguard, Catawba Ridge, and Texas standouts
• Band parent & senior “sign-in / sign-out” TikTok trends
• Taylor’s PASIC breakdown (60-Second Tech Block)
• Water We Doing?! — AI props & “stop asking what time it is”
• Gush & Go — pies, parades, Cincinnati Tradition, and new seasons starting up

Sponsors:
Peak Group Travel — @peak.group.travel
Guard Closet — gear, design, education: https://guardcloset.com/

Find On A Water Break:
Website: https://onawaterbreakpodcast.com
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
Be a Guest: link in bio
Email: [email protected]
Social: @onawaterbreak

Winter guard takes center stage as Becca Anderson and Stephanie Furniss of Juxtaposition join Jackie Brown, Nicole Younger, and Joey Montes to explore how great design meets athlete care. From musical hooks and color theory to safety, mentorship, and inclusion, this conversation celebrates the art and heart of the activity.

✨ OAWB Journey to WGI 2026: Follow our exclusive coverage of Juxtaposition Winter Guard all season for weekly rehearsal updates and design insights as they prepare for WGI Finals.

Episode Highlights
• Juxta’s design and storytelling approach
• Injury prevention and health culture in elite programs
• Color psychology and creative decision-making
• Mentorship and generational collaboration
• Honest discussion on safety for under-18 performers
• Feel-good “Gush & Go” wins from the panel

News Stories
Chad Smith scholarship • Gladys Wright legacy • WGI DEI programs • Macy’s Parade bands • Vandegrift community response

Panelists: Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Nicole Younger (@o2bnpjs), José “Joey” Montes III (@marchingbymontes)
Guests: Becca Anderson (@becca.anderson23 | @becca.anderson2397) & Stephanie Furniss (@sfurn4) – @juxtapositionwinterguard
Sponsors: Peak Group Travel (@peak.group.travel) | Guard Closet (@guardcloset)

Listen Everywhere: Apple Podcasts • Spotify • YouTube • Amazon Music • iHeartRadio • onawaterbreakpodcast.com

The Peters Family brings the phrase “family tradition” to the marching arts. Hosts José “Joey” Montes III and Trish O’Shea talk with Craig, Melissa, Lindsay & Ashley Peters about their viral rifle-feature video that united four generations of color-guard experience. From Cavaliers and Guardsmen roots to Colts, Bluecoats, Boston Crusaders, Pride of Cincinnati & Allegiance, this family shows how spinning together keeps them connected on and off the field.

Highlights
• Family legacy across drum corps generations
• Behind the viral Boston Crusaders TikTok
• Lindsay Peters’ 60-Second Tech Block on packing for tour
• The ethic and energy that keep them teaching and creating
• “Water We Doing” rants & “Gush and Go” shout-outs

Featuring Craig Peters (@craigpeters459), Melissa Peters (@melissapeterscg), Lindsay Peters (@lindsayspins31), Ashley Peters (@ashleyspins21)
Hosts José “Joey” Montes III (@marchingbymontes) and Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002)
Sponsors Guard Closet | Peak Group Travel

📧 [email protected]  🌐 onawaterbreakpodcast.com  🔗 linktr.ee/onawaterbreak

Before the world knew Latrice Royale from RuPaul’s Drag Race, she was spinning with Alliance of Miami Winter Guard, performing in the legendary Hotel California show and learning what it means to put her heart on the floor.

In this special edition of On A Water Break With…, Latrice sits down with Ricardo Robinson-Shinall and Jeremy Williams to share how her marching-arts roots shaped everything that came after — the discipline, the storytelling, and the confidence that fueled her rise as a performer and drag icon.

From unforgettable Alliance memories and the hilarious “1900s” moment to finding belonging, artistry, and self-expression through color guard, this conversation celebrates how the activity continues to inspire lives far beyond the gym floor.

Latrice also talks about returning to WGI with AMP Winter Guard, connecting with a new generation of performers, and how those early lessons still drive her work on stages around the world.

💼 Presented by Guard Closet — Pre-Loved & Custom Marching Arts Gear
guardcloset.com | IG @guardcloset

👑 Guest
Latrice Royale | IG @latriceroyale | latriceroyale.com

🎙 Hosts
Ricardo Robinson-Shinall – IG @ricardorrobinson
Jeremy Williams – Executive Producer, On A Water Break Podcast

📢 Find On A Water Break
🌐 onawaterbreakpodcast.com
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📩 [email protected]
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This week, Stephen McCarrick is joined by Neil, Art Grossman, and guest Megan Cooney, Associate Director of Bands & Director of Athletic Bands at Rowan University, to talk about the rapid rise of the Pride of the Profs Marching Band and the realities of surviving Bandtober.

🎺 Discover how Rowan’s program expanded from 130 to 180 members in just three years, what it takes to build a college band culture from scratch, and how joy, trust, and community keep musicians coming back through the busiest month of the season.

• Wisconsin State Championships – Baldwin-Woodville, Greendale, River Falls & Oak Creek take top honors.
• HBCU Red Lobster Band of the Year – Florida A&M’s Marching 100 lands #1.
• Minnesota Youth & Music Championships – Rosemont High School wins gold.
Plus, big shoutouts to every band wrapping up state finals weekend!

💼 Peak Group Travel Tip – @peak.group.travel | Lock in your early-bird fares before finals season hits full stride.

Neil fires up the field with a pep talk on staying motivated — from Halloween rehearsals to senior night celebrations.

Stephen questions why “bad” college bass lines still exist,
Megan vents about practice-room noise complaints,
Art calls out Bandtober burnout,
and Neil just wants one Saturday for pumpkin patch season.

Neil’s band heads to the NYC St. Patrick’s Day Parade,
Megan’s students earn a 2026 Philly Thanksgiving Parade invite,
Stephen performs with the Eagles Drumline Kelly Green Game,
and Art celebrates how the marching arts are thriving nationwide.

Stephen McCarrick – @yeah_bass
Neil – @neildrums1
Art Grossman – @arthurjuhl
Guest Megan Cooney – @prideoftheprofs | Rowan University

🌐 onawaterbreakpodcast.com
🔗 linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
📧 [email protected]
🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music & more.

🥇 Peak Group Travel – @peak.group.travel | peakgrouptravel.com
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🎙 A Podcast for Marching Arts Enthusiasts — On the Field, In the Stands & Behind the Scenes.

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts!
This week, Whitney Stone, José “Joey” Montes III, Alicia Sharp, and first-time guest Amari Lewis dive into the chaos of Bandtober—from Texas showdowns and rehearsal rules to accountability and drill cleaning that actually works.

🎺 In Joey’s 60-Second Tech Block, he explains how to clean drill like a scientist—fix the source, not the symptom. Then the team lets loose in “Water We Doing?!”, calling out three-hour full-ensemble rehearsals, upside-down flag silks, and DCI members who treat the summer like a vacation instead of a responsibility.

💖 Finally, everyone takes a deep breath for Gush & Go—celebrating Monterey High’s first marching band in 38 years, Joey’s new BAC 8to5 Horns rep role, and the pure joy of Bandtober season.

Guest Spotlight: Amari Lewis, Michigan State University drum major and Mandarins alum, shares his 32-Count Life Story and talks about leadership work with Silent Command and DCI’s Drum Major Leadership Committee.

Sponsored by: Guard Closet and Peak Group Travel

📧 Want to be on the show? Email us at [email protected] or fill out the guest form via our Linktree.
🌐 Find us at onawaterbreakpodcast.com

Your All-Access Pass to the Marching Arts.
This week, journalist and award-winning author Sam Quinones (Dreamland, The Least of Us, The Perfect Tuba) joins the OAWB team to explore how the tuba—and the marching band itself—can teach us everything we need to know about purpose, community, and fulfillment.

Host Christopher Rutt leads the conversation alongside Nicole Younger and Trish O’Shea, diving into the meaning behind The Perfect Tuba and the resilience of the band world. From addiction recovery to the discipline of rehearsal, Sam shares how musicians, directors, and everyday band kids are quietly shaping stronger communities through focus, collaboration, and hard work.

NEWS SEGMENT

• Lois Rogge, a 58-year-old mellophone player, joins NC State’s Power Sound of the South—proof that it’s never too late to march.
• The Alabama State Honeybees receive national support after an offensive “Ozempic” comment from a rival announcer.
• Detroit’s Cody High School brings back its marching band after a 20-year hiatus, celebrating a new era of school pride.

Plus, the Peak Group Travel Tip of the Week helps you plan your next performance adventure with ease.

WATER WE DOING?!
The crew calls out habits that need to go:

• Nicole: “Stop hiding behind your shako—perform with your face.”
• Chris: “Directors, pick age-appropriate, culturally sensitive show concepts.”
• Sam: “Why are bands trying to be football? Remember, it’s about the sound, not the size of your props.”

GUSH & GO

• Sam celebrates his new book, The Perfect Tuba.
• Chris moves to Virginia and settles into East Coast life.
• Nicole launches her full-time coordination business.
• Trish honors her friend Mike Alicourt, remembering his incredible spirit in the marching arts community.

LISTEN & CONNECT
Find The Perfect Tuba wherever books are sold or visit samquinones.com.
Follow the full OAWB crew:
@spintronixguard | @o2bnpjs | @trishdish1002 | @onawaterbreak

Got a question or story idea?
Email: [email protected]
DM us or fill out our guest form—link in bio.

SPONSORS
Brought to you by Peak Group Travel (@peak.group.travel), helping you navigate your next adventure, whether it’s across the country or your next competition.
And supported by Guard Closet (@guardcloset), your one-stop shop for gear, consignment, and design.

Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with your favorite band friend.
We’ll see you next rehearsal—On A Water Break.

This week we head to the Collegiate Marching Band Festival 2025 in Allentown, PA — where more than 3,000 performers from 20 college and university marching bands brought their traditions, styles, and energy to J. Birney Crum Stadium.

Nicole Younger and Bill “Woody” Woodward sit down with Kelly Gumble of Vivace Productions, who shares her 32 Count Life Story and takes us behind the scenes of how Collegiate has grown into one of the marching arts’ favorite annual traditions. Woody also takes us into the lot for exclusive interviews with bands and staff, and Stephen McCarrick stops by to show off his Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Ring.

We wrap things up the OAWB way — with Water We Doing?! rants and Gush & Go shoutouts straight from the Collegiate community.

🔥 Inside This Episode

• Guest Spotlight: Kelly Gumble on her 32 Count Life Story, the festival’s 30-year history, and the traditions that make Collegiate unique (including the sousaphone circle).
• Lot Coverage: Woody’s interviews with collegiate performers and staff capture the vibe from the sidelines.
• Special Visit: Stephen McCarrick shares the story of his Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl Ring.
• Water We Doing?! Nicole, Woody, Kelly, and Collegiate voices sound off on equipment, heat, and band quirks.
• Gush & Go: Shoutouts from Kelly, Woody, and Collegiate guests celebrating wins, birthdays, and band pride.

🙌 Sponsors
Peak Group Travel (@peak.group.travel) – Lock in early-bird fares for your next trip or competition.
Guard Closet (@guardcloset | guardcloset.com) – Your one-stop shop for consignment gear, uniforms, and design services.

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