On A Water Break

This week, your hosts—Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Stephen McCarrick (@stephenmccarrick), Ricardo Robinson-Shinall (@RicardoRRobinson) and Trish O’Shea (@trishdish1002)—sit down with:

• Brent Becker (uniform designer extraordinaire; IG: @bbecker_designs)
• Nicholas Moore (Duck Brand “Stuck at Prom” finalist; IG: @BrasstapeBandKid, TikTok: @BrassTape)
• Brandon Worf of Drum Corps AF Podcast (IG: @drumcorpsafpodcast | https://drumcorpsaf.com)

What’s on the sideline this week?

• 32-Count Life Stories with Brent & Nicholas
• Uniform Room News: Inside Nicholas’s full marching-band suit built from duct tape—and Brent’s pro tips on fit, materials & color theory
• Sponsor Break with Guard Closet
• 60-Second Tech Block: Brent’s rapid-fire deep dive into the Bluecoats’ uniform evolution
• Water We Doing?! Rant & rave on esoteric show themes, secrecy culture and “fast fashion” uniform practices
• Gush & Go: Community shout-outs and hype for DCI 2025’s opening weekend

• Spotify → https://spotify.link/OnAWaterBreak
• Apple Podcasts → https://apple.link/OnAWaterBreak
• Google Podcasts → https://google.link/OnAWaterBreak

• Vote for Nicholas’s Duct-Tape Suit → https://www.duckbrand.com/stuckatprom
• Brent Becker’s Portfolio → https://instagram.com/bbecker_designs
• Drum Corps AF Podcast → https://drumcorpsaf.com | IG: @drumcorpsafpodcast

Guard Closet – uniforms, flags & gear → https://guardcloset.com | IG: @guardcloset
Peak Group Travel – expert tour planning for bands & drum corps → https://peakgrouptravel.com | IG: @peakgrouptravel

Want to be on the show or pitch a topic?
• Guest Form → https://forms.gle/7GcpYZLfY8Uo54pp9
• Email → [email protected]
• Follow → @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook & X

#OnAWaterBreak #UniformDesign #DuctTape #DCI2025 #DrumCorpsAF #MarchingArts #Podcast

Don’t miss next week’s episode—same sideline, new stories!

🎙️ Welcome to On A Water Break — your sideline pass to the world of drum corps, marching band, color guard, and the marching arts!

This week, we’re turning the spotlight on LGBTQIA+ performers, educators, and community leaders who are making Pride not just a celebration—but a statement.

🫶 Host Ricardo Robinson-Shinall and co-host Whitney Stone are joined by an all-star panel:

• Cameron Elliott, former Artistic Director for the World Pride Marching Band and longtime leader with Charlotte Pride Band
• Chad Greife, director of the St. Louis Pride Guard
• Danielle Young, co-director of the Indy Pride Guard and national adjudicator

Together, they share heartfelt stories, hilarious moments, and hard-won lessons from building Pride Guards and Bands across the country. From battling heat exhaustion on parade routes to coordinating hundreds of performers with just a few rehearsals, this episode dives deep into the passion, logistics, and legacy behind these vital community groups.

💬 Topics include:

• How Indy Pride Guard and St. Louis Pride Guard were founded
• Behind-the-scenes stories from World Pride and local parades
• The role of color guard and marching band in queer visibility
• Superstitions, glitter, flag swaps, and... serving face when the hottie walks by

👀 Plus: A viral-worthy 60-Second Tech Block from Cameron, Water We Doing?! rants on parade policies and superstition, and a round of Gush & Go that’ll leave you smiling.

🎧 Sponsored by
Guard Closet – your one-stop shop for all things marching arts.
Website: guardcloset.com | IG: @guardcloset

Peak Group Travel – travel planning for your next band trip, competition, or parade.
Website: peakgrouptravel.com | IG: @peakgrouptravel

📬 Have a story or want to be a guest?
Email: [email protected]
Guest Sign-Up: https://forms.gle/7GcpYZLfY8Uo54pp9

📱 Follow us @onawaterbreak on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

Boston Crusaders & Carolina Crown check-in, Band Director Marching Band’s 2026 Rose Parade return, and Marc Whitlock’s decades of design wisdom.

On this week’s On A Water Break, the summer season is officially underway! Host Nicole Younger is joined by Christopher Rutt, Jackson Goudreau, and Joey Montes for five packed segments covering drum corps updates, marching band nostalgia, and pro-level design advice.

🎺 32 Count Life Story & Interview
Special guest Marc Whitlock (Academy, Cavaliers, Cadets) kicks things off with his 32 Count Life Story, then stays to share tales from the golden age of corps, lessons from Zingali & Sylvester, and must-have tips for today’s designers.

📰 In the News

• Band Director Marching Band returns to the 2026 Rose Parade
• How HBCU bands stole the spotlight in Netflix’s Severance
• Jackson’s preview of the Royal Nova Scotia Tattoo
• Joey breaks down Drum Corps International’s new “DCI to the Core” campaign

🎤 DCI Correspondents Report In

• Clara & Jack (Boston Crusaders): Spring training highlights, pit secrets & drill insights
• Omari Holaki (Carolina Crown): 47 pages of drill, intentional leaks, and ballad beauty

🛠️ 60-Second Tech Block
Marc on behind-the-scenes design chaos and why today’s writers must focus on audio layering.

🧠 Water We Doing?!

• Chris: “Bring back traditional retreat uniforms.”
• Jackson: “Let’s help members cover tuition.”
• Marc: “Don’t overload your soundscape.”
• Joey: “Build your teaching village.”

💬 Gush & Go

• Jackson: Heads to Canada for the Tattoo.
• Chris: Celebrates Palisades HS grads at the Hollywood Bowl.
• Joey: Eva’s return & his Jabbawockeez audition.
• Marc: Reflects on the mentors, students & moments that shaped him.

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🎥 Watch this week’s full episode & bonus segments → [link]
📋 Submit to be featured → [link]
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🌍 Sponsored by: Peak Group Travel | IG: @peakgrouptravel
👕 Guard Closet | IG: @guardcloset

This week, your sideline squad Jackie Brown (@spintronixguard), Nicole Younger (@o2binpjs), Stephen McCarrick (@stephen.mccarrick), Christine from Guard Closet (@guardcloset), Jeremy from Drum Corps Today, Cynthia Bernard (@cynthiabern), and guest Dylan Watson (@that_dude_dylan18) are bringing the energy and insight you’ve been waiting for.

We’re back with fresh takes and fire updates:

Dylan shares what it was really like spinning on stairs, performing with drag queens, and surviving a single rehearsal before Philly Pride’s biggest shows.

• Cynthia gives a full breakdown of her experience on the WGI Advisory Board—including new rules, international perspectives, and the importance of representation.
• Stephen dives into the latest percussion updates and strobe light controversies.
• Jeremy breaks down the summer’s biggest DCI show announcements and why corps secrecy is starting to feel a little ridiculous.

Plus, the gang discusses online equipment scams, consignment tips, and why your performers deserve better shoes and undergarments. Seriously.

🎧 Segment 3 features:

• 60-Second Tech Block: Christine shares advice for choosing quality performance shoes.
• Water We Doing? – Why aren’t more groups consigning old gear? And what’s up with show announcements coming late… even for members?
• Gush & Go: From summer road trips and Philly Pride highlights to 3D printing superhero gear and lazy laundry days — it's all love on the sidelines.

Don’t forget to leave a review, subscribe on YouTube, and join the conversation in our new Facebook group: On A Water Break Chatter!

Hosts & Guests:

• Jackie Brown @spintronixguard
• Nicole Younger @o2binpjs
• Christine Ream @guardcloset
• Stephen McCarrick @smccarrickdesigns
• Jeremy from Drum Corps Today @drumcorpstoday
• Cynthia Bernard @cynthiabern
• Dylan Watson @that_dude_dylan18

💧 Want to be on the pod? Fill out our form at bit.ly/WaterBreakGuest

📺 Subscribe on YouTube: On A Water Break Channel

👕 Sponsored by:

• Guard Closet – guardcloset.com | @guardcloset
• Peak Group Travel – peakgrouptravel.com | @peakgrouptravel

Bonus Episode • Equipment Scams • Buyer & Seller Best Practices

Ever encounter a “too-good-to-be-true” listing for marching band gear online? In this bonus episode, host Nicole Younger sits down with band educators Christine Ream (@guardcloset), Erica Owens (@urkuh_spins), and Rose Crow (@r0secr0w) to unpack firsthand accounts of attempted equipment fraud. They discuss the red-flag warning signs, share real victim experiences, and lay out practical steps every program can take to protect booster funds and ensure secure transactions. Whether you need used rifles, sabers, flags, or uniforms, learn how to spot scam listings, choose secure payment methods, and explore trustworthy alternatives so your students never miss a beat.

• Host: Nicole Younger — @o2bnpjs
• Guest: Christine Ream — @guardcloset
• Guest: Erica Owens — @urkuh_spins
• Guest: Rose Crow — @r0secr0w

• Scam Red Flags: How missing profile photos, refusal to use PayPal Goods & Services, and requests for Cash App signaled fraud.
• Community Response: Christine explains how Facebook-group admins removed the scammer, why vigilant moderation matters, and how to safeguard performers’ images.
• Real Victim Story: A band booster’s Apple Pay loss underscores the importance of protected payment channels.
• Tech Block Quick Tips:
– Blending brass on uneven turf surfaces
– Teaching tempo consistency without a metronome
– Drill-set pointers for complex field formations
• Water We Doing?!: Panel calls out:
– Lack of size inclusivity in off-the-rack dancewear
– Overuse of props and resulting class disparities in program budgets
– Neglecting Memorial Day observances by some groups
– Underfilled DCI corps tryouts (over 1,000 open spots in 2025)
• Gush & Go:
– Erica & Rose’s successful youth program recruitment at a community vendor fair
– Rose’s upcoming Community Spin event welcoming all ages to flag work
– Christine’s 25-year legacy helping schools nationwide with guard and band equipment

• Guard Closet → https://guardcloset.com
• Peak Group Travel → https://peakgrouptravel.com
• Be Our Next Guest → https://forms.gle/7GcpYZLfY8Uo54pp9
• Host Questionnaire → https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QHSqoUpMbUqhrCa5rNK8zRFgVB4BROjZBCQ4m6yd4aQ
• Follow Us:
– Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/onawaterbreak
– TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@onawaterbreak
– Link in Bio → https://linktree.com/onawaterbreak

• Peak Group Travel – Ensuring your next competition trip is worry-free.
• Guard Closet – Trusted source for new and consignment guard and band equipment.

Subscribe on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube. Drop a review, share with a friend, and tag us with your own gear-hunting wins or cautionary tales.

#OnAWaterBreak #MarchingBand #EquipmentScams #ColorGuard #DrumCorps #BuyerBeware #GuardCloset #PeakGroupTravel #MarchingArts #Podcast #SafetyFirst #CommunityEvents #MarchingLife

This week on On a Water Break, Nicole Younger is back hosting a twirl-tastic episode packed with passion, performance, and positivity! She’s joined by Ashlee Amos and Ohio State’s own Jacob Cline (@jacob.cline.161), and they’re diving into everything from the pipeline between twirling and color guard to the world of college twirling auditions and what it's like being a male twirler building a platform and community online.

💥 Kicking things off with Jacob’s 32-Count Life Story, we learn how this multi-title-holding performer went from small-town drum major to the United States Twirling Open Collegiate Champion. Ashlee and Nicole get into the evolution of presentation, performance pressure, and what really sets the college twirling experience apart.

📰 In this week’s news:

• Nicole shares details on InstructorDatabase.com, a new global platform for marching arts professionals
• Ashlee brings updates from USBands, who are looking for fall event staff across 80+ contests
• Jacob announces Team USA for the 2025 IBTF World Championship in Italy!

🎶 [CUE TECH BLOCK MUSIC]
In our 60-Second Tech Block, Jacob breaks down the three pillars of preparing for college twirling auditions: presentation, practice, and performance videos. From dirt patches in the backyard to nailing facial expressions, it's a crash course in how to stand out for the right reasons.

❓ WHAT ARE WE DOING?!
Ashlee calls out the twirling world for lacking musicality and encourages better connection to sound, rhythm, and expression. Jacob has a powerful message for OSU: “Why aren’t twirlers on the field?” Nicole turns the lens on herself as she preps for another summer with The Academy... and hasn’t packed.

🌟 GUSH & GO:

• Nicole celebrates a new summer role working with leadership at Academy
• Jacob shares his growth on social media as a platform for twirling visibility
• Ashlee gushes over her rising star student and new color guard captain, Bella

🗣️ Big thanks to our guest Jacob Cline – follow him @jacob.cline.161 on TikTok & Instagram to keep up with his twirling journey!
You can also follow Ashlee Amos and Nicole Younger on the On A Water Break socials.

💌 Got a hot take or want to be on the show? Reach out! Email us at [email protected] or fill out our guest form

🎥 Watch the episode and more on our YouTube channel

🔗 Find all our links in one place: linktree.com/onawaterbreak

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Presented by:
🧳 Peak Group Travel – peakgrouptravel.com | @peakgrouptravel
👕 Guard Closet – guardcloset.com | @guardcloset

Welcome back to On A Water Break, the podcast where we talk about everything you're talking about on the sideline during a water break. This week, we're welcoming a brand-new crew — our 2025 DCI Correspondents — who'll be reporting all summer long from the road!

🫡 Hosted by Jackie Brown with Jeremy (Drum Corps Today) and Omari Holaki (Crown), this episode introduces our dynamic correspondent lineup:

• Jack Hawkins – Boston Crusaders
• Clara Bagwell – Boston Crusaders
• Petey (@peteydrums) – Spirit of Atlanta
• Zoe Duran Arambul – Seattle Cascades

🎧 In this episode:

• The story behind our DCI Correspondents Program
• What it’s really like preparing for tour (from packing tips to performance pressure)
• A hilarious 60-Second Tech Block with Omari on flying internationally with a contra
• Water We Doing?! returns with big rants on judging, social media hate, and... yelling names during shows?!
• Gush & Go: graduations, scholarships, and the joy of getting back on the field

📰 In the news:

• Pride of Cincinnati announces end of competitive program
  Omari and Jackie reflect on the legacy and future of one of Color Guard’s most legendary programs.

💬 Favorite moments include:

• Clara asking “What are we doing with only one percussion judge?”
• Zoe repping the return of Seattle Cascades
• Jack’s reminder not to yell your friend’s name mid-show 🙃
• Petey’s thoughts on supporting newer performers online

📬 Want to be on the show or pitch a topic?
📨 [email protected]
🎙 Guest form: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak

📲 FOLLOW US:
Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | YouTube: @onawaterbreak
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

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🎒 This episode is sponsored by Peak Group Travel – Helping you plan your next adventure!
🌐 https://www.peakgrouptravel.com
📸 @peakgrouptravel on socials

🛍️ And shoutout to Guard Closet – Your one-stop shop for marching arts consignment, design, and more!
🌐 https://guardcloset.com
📲 Instagram & TikTok: @guardcloset | Facebook: GuardCloset | Threads: @guardcloset

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✅ Subscribe, leave us a review, and share with your band fam!
🎵 We’ll see you at the next rehearsal — On A Water Break!

This week on On A Water Break Weekly, we’re twirling into something special! Author and longtime color guard veteran Jase Peoples joins us to talk about Twirl—his new YA novel that centers queer identity, color guard culture, and the power of found family. We get into his 32 Count Life Story, talk representation in marching arts literature, and how Twirl is already resonating with performers across the country.

To Catch up on the Book with Jase Peeples (@jasepeeples).  Check it out (bit.ly/3Z8n1Fi)

Plus, it’s a packed sideline with Jackie, Ricardo, Trish, and special guest Jase jumping in on this week’s topics, including:

• 📚 The creative and cultural inspiration behind Twirl
• 🏳️‍🌈 LGBTQ+ visibility in color guard and youth lit
• 🥁 The official end of Pride of Cincinnati’s legendary run
• 🎓 Scholarships and student success stories
• 📼 Old school color guard history and what we’ve forgotten
• 💬 60‑Second Tech Block: performance consistency
• 😤 What Are We Doing?!: Ballad bans, uniform disasters, and program legacy
• 🎉 Gush & Go: DCI move-ins, new jobs, and big guard wins

💥 Whether you’re headed to spring training, starting summer camps, or just missing Dayton, this episode will hit you right in the show feels.

💬 Want to be on the show? Fill out our guest form: https://linktr.ee/onawaterbreak
📬 Email us: [email protected]
📺 Watch us on YouTube & subscribe
📱 Follow us everywhere @onawaterbreak
🛍️ Brought to you by Guard Closet – www.guardcloset.com
🧳 Sponsored by Peak Group Travel – www.peakgrouptravel.com

This week On A Water Break, we’re spinning into pageant season, breaking down the cost of drum corps, and celebrating some throwback Aussie hat glory. Hosts Nicole, Woody, and Jeremy from Drum Corps Today are joined by color guard director and pageant competitor AK Hazel for an episode packed with marching arts news, real talk, and lots of love for performers pushing boundaries.

🎵 In this episode:

• AK’s 32 Count Life Story – Color Guard to Miss Pretzel City to Miss Pennsylvania
• Florida House Bill 1105 gives marching band students PE credit
• Crossmen return to the Aussie hat — the iconic look is back!
• $85,000+ in DCI scholarships awarded for 2025 season
• Crown x Seavine glove partnership announcement
• 1,000+ open spots still available to march this summer

🔧 60 Second Tech Block
AK shares her pre-pageant routine — a mix of drum corps playlists, pageant films, and mental prep

❓ Water We Doing?!

• Nicole: Why aren’t we mixing genres on the field (DCI x HBCU style)?
• AK: Uniforms should empower — not restrict — your performers
• Jeremy: Background checks & adult vetting in drum corps is still lacking
• Woody: We’re ignoring the collapse of arts funding — and it’s already here

💖 Gush & Go

• AK: Her guard’s undefeated season and a gold medal finish
• Woody: His students cried with pride — the ultimate teacher payoff
• Jeremy: Open Class Thursday night is the best-kept secret in DCI

💬 Special Guest
@akrhazel | @misspretzelcity

🎧 LISTEN & SUBSCRIBE:
Instagram & TikTok: @onawaterbreak
Watch on YouTube: YouTube Channel

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🧳 Sponsored by:
Peak Group Travel
Website: https://www.peakgrouptravel.com
Instagram: @peakgrouptravel

🌟 Thanks for joining us at rehearsal — see you next time On A Water Break!

CROWN BRASS • COACHELLA ENERGY • DCI LEGEND

From Star of Indiana rookie to the face of Carolina Crown’s famous brass line, educator MATT HARLOFF just checked off an unexpected bucket-list item: conducting a 60-piece ensemble for Travis Scott at Coachella. Hosts NICOLE YOUNGER and JOSÉ “JOEY” MONTES III dig into the email that started it all, the three-week scramble, and why saying “YES” to wild opportunities feeds your students, too.

• Nicole Younger — IG @o2bnpjs
• José “Joey” Montes III — IG @joeymontes57
• Guest: Matt Harloff — IG @mattharloff | Carolina Crown Brass Caption Head

• 32-Count Life Story — Iowa beginnings → Star of Indiana → Avon HS & Crown
• The “Alyssa” Email — why Matt almost deleted the Coachella invite
• Building a 60-piece brass army with Crown, FAMU & Jackson State
• Rehearsing in Phoenix: three weekends, handful of reps, zero room for error
• Live-show curveballs: 1 AM hard curfew, in-ear stage calls, Travis’s un-rehearsed dance break
• Red-eye gymnastics to catch Avon Winds at WGI finals
• “Stop & Smell the Roses” — Matt’s advice for educators who never slow down

📥 Be our next guest → https://forms.gle/7GcpYZLfY8Uo54pp9
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#OnAWaterBreak #MarchingArts #DrumCorps #CarolinaCrown #Brass #Coachella #TravisScott #BandDirector #GuardCloset #PeakGroupTravel #Podcast