Sing, Coach, Conduct

What does it take to feel truly comfortable in your own skin as a music educator?

Dr. Erin Colwitz, Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Northern Michigan University, joins Megan for a candid conversation about the lessons that shaped her, from growing up in the choir room of her mother, a middle school choir director and union advocate, to nearly two decades of mentoring future music teachers. Erin shares how she helps students move past perfectionism and build resilience, why structure is what makes a choir room safe enough for real vulnerability, and how she found the courage to call out sexism and predatory behavior in our field. She also opens up about therapy, documenting everything, and the practice of holding two truths at once: a performance can fall short, and you can still be a good musician and a good person.

An honest, generous conversation for anyone who wants to grow as a teacher, an artist, and a human.

Content note: This episode includes discussion of a student’s death by suicide following online sexual extortion (around the 22-minute mark). If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 in the U.S. to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

In this episode, Megan sits down with Chris Munce—the mind behind Choralosophy, the #1 ranked podcast for music educators—for a candid, get-to-know-you conversation. Chris shares his journey to becoming a choir director, the teaching philosophies that drive his work, and the story behind how Choralosophy came to life. Whether you're a longtime fan of his podcast or meeting him for the first time, this one feels like catching up with an old friend.

How does a producer and recording artist become the voice behind more than 140 audiobooks?

In this episode of Sing, Coach, Conduct, I sit down with Talon David—a London- and Nashville-rooted singer, songwriter, and producer whose musical journey began before she could write full sentences. After discovering songwriting at fifteen, Talon found a powerful new language for expression. Since then, she has earned GRAMMY recognition, completed three diplomas, released three self-produced albums, and is preparing a double album project that continues to expand her artistic voice.

But her path didn’t stop in the studio.

Talon shares how she transitioned from musician to full-time audiobook narrator, bringing stories to life with the same nuance, discipline, and emotional depth she honed through music. We explore the parallels between songwriting and storytelling, the technical and artistic demands of narration, and what it takes to authentically inhabit someone else’s truth.

She also reflects on narrating my memoir, Dissonance, and the unique responsibility of giving voice to a deeply personal story.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that artistry is transferable—and that at its core, every form of performance is about communicating truth.

After several months away, Megan returns to Sing, Coach, Conduct with gratitude for listeners around the world and a reflection on the challenging times we’re living in. This episode centers on why educators—especially music teachers—play a vital role beyond technique and performance. From modeling healthy authority and clear boundaries to fostering safety, empathy, and resilience, teachers shape far more than musicians—they shape humans.

A grounding reminder that your presence, integrity, and care leave a lasting impact, even when you can’t always see it.

Dr. Nancy Menk opens up about her forty-year career as a music professor at Saint Mary's College in South Bend, Indiana.

Soprano and voice coach Erin Whitfield shares compelling insights into singing and teaching voice that can be applied in the studio, classroom, stage, and beyond.

Royce Mann is a community organizer, poet, activist, and former nonprofit organization leader who could become the youngest ever citywide elected official in Atlanta, Georgia.

Traumatic events shape our lives in a multitude of ways. For Dr. Joey Weisler, the 2018 high school shooting in Parkland, Florida was one of those events. In this episode, Dr. Joey opens up about his journey of transforming "scars into stars," and how his experiences have shaped the way he approaches student safety and well-being in the classroom.

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Matt Shephard, who has been a finalist for GRAMMY Music Educator of the Year multiple years in a row, shares what it means for small schools to have big dreams.

After thirty-two years as a beloved choral director, Nate Degner is finally enjoying retirement. In this episode, he looks back on his journey to becoming a music educator, and he offers wisdom to those still in the trenches of teaching.