What do baristas and drum majors have in common? In this episode, Jared and his “best friend in the whole wide world" (Corey) reflect on wisdom they learned from their non-band jobs. We talk about the importance of regulating our emotions at work and how dirty plates are as bad as messy horn stacks. We also take a moment to appreciate some of our memorable managers and boss bosses (shoutout to Wayne!). This episode is not sponsored by Staples, but we sure wish it was.

→ The 8 to 5 Club podcast is made possible by Silent Command. Visit silentcommand.org for lessons, clinics, and videos.

→ Find Corey at coreycastillo.com

Special guest alert!! In this extended interview, Jared sits down with band director and Silent Command CEO Kolyn Wentzell. Kolyn reflects on his journey as a Bluecoats drum major and the personal growth he experienced entering a top-5 corps fresh out of high school. Tune in to hear Kolyn’s steps for improving musicality and movement in your conducting and his advice for aspiring music educators.

→ The 8 to 5 Club podcast is made possible by Silent Command. Visit silentcommand.org for lessons, clinics, and videos.

→ Find Corey at coreycastillo.com

Your health and well-being is more important than the job that you do. Jared and Corey share their realistic self-care systems that carried them through the 2022 season (relatively) unscathed. The key is to create a routine that schedules specific times/places for you to switch from "on" to "off". Whether it's meditation, pre-ensemble nap time, or playing Uno with a friend, it is absolutely possible to create opportunities to recharge despite the stress and busyness of the season. As a leader, you should also be looking out for the mental health of your team members — we talk about the importance of knowing the personalities of your DM/leadership team and setting boundaries with each other. 

→ The 8 to 5 Club podcast is made possible by Silent Command. Visit silentcommand.org for lessons, clinics, and videos. 

→ Find Corey at coreycastillo.com 

The 8 to 5 Club takes a turn this episode as Jared and Corey sit down to interview each other, throwing compliments and insults in the span of thirty minutes. Jared attempts to explain how his toothbrush ended up in Corey’s toilet and unpacks his colorguard bus trauma (hint: karaoke). Corey drops his top tips for successful score study and gets candid about his oatmeal addiction. You don’t want to miss this one.

→ The 8 to 5 Club podcast is made possible by Silent Command. Visit silentcommand.org for lessons, clinics, and videos. 

→ Find Corey at coreycastillo.com

In this episode, Corey and Jared tackle the difficulties of the pre-season and share ways to retain momentum between rehearsal camp weekends. Starting with a process of reflection and feedback, you can create new goals and a game plan for the next rehearsal. Having a network of accountability to keep this blueprint in place is essential, so we also share our strategies for staying connected with your leadership team and members. We finish the episode with a discussion of practice schedules and the benefits of video assignments. Most importantly, we talk extensively about our struggles with AA batteries (which nobody asked for…).

→ The 8 to 5 Club podcast is made possible by Silent Command. Visit silentcommand.org for lessons, clinics, and videos. 

→ Find Corey at coreycastillo.com

Welcome to the first episode of The 8 to 5 Club! Get to know your hosts, Jared and Corey, and get a preview of our upcoming podcast topics. In this episode, we answer the age-old question: "Who are we?" – and Jared makes Corey rate their friendship. We reflect on Jared’s prowess as visual block DJ and the joys of podium assembly.

→ The 8 to 5 Club podcast is made possible by Silent Command. Visit silentcommand.org for lessons, clinics, and videos. 

→ Find Corey at coreycastillo.com