Thinking about starting a podcast—but feeling overwhelmed by where to begin? I created a mini-course for artists, educators, and independent creatives who want to build a podcast that feels authentic, intentional, and achievable.

And this bonus episode is a FREE intro lesson. Inside, I’ll walk you through what to expect in my full course, share a bit of my story, and show you that you don’t need fancy gear or a business plan to start—you just need your voice and a clear path.

▶️▶️ Explore the full course here: https://tr.ee/letspodcast

🌴🌴 Start podcasting your way—with purpose, creativity, and confidence.

#StartAPodcast #PodcastingForCreatives #Let’sPodcast #PodcastTips #PodcastCourse #HowToPodcast2025

This episode is brought to you by Juneteenth LP — celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music. 🎉 Get Your Ticket: https://publictheater.org/performances-jp/2025/j/juneteenth-lp/

🎹 What does it mean to live and create with authenticity?

In this powerful season finale, we sit down with Dr. Maria Thompson Corley — pianist, composer, novelist, poet, educator, and advocate — for a conversation that is as multifaceted as her artistry. From performing her compositions to championing music by Black composers and writing novels and librettos, Dr. Corley shares how her lived experiences—as a mother, artist, and scholar—fuel a profoundly human and inclusive vision for classical music and beyond.

💡 In this episode, we explore:

• ✅ What true inclusion looks like in classical music today
• ✅ How Dr. Corley integrates underrepresented composers into mainstream repertoire
• ✅ Her experiences raising two creative children, one of whom is neurodivergent
• ✅ Writing opera, novels, and poetry as extensions of her voice
• ✅ Co-founding Silence-Optional concerts for sensory-sensitive audiences
• ✅ Her reflections on legacy, authenticity, and creative purpose

Whether you are a musician, educator, or listener seeking a deeper connection through music, this conversation will move you, challenge you, and expand your sense of what classical music can be.

🔗 Connect with Dr. Corley:

• 🌐 Website
• 📘 Facebook
• 📷 Instagram

📰 The Piano Pod Links

• 🎧 Sounds of Inspiration (Season 5) - all the music mentioned
• 📝 Substack VIP Access
• 🎁 Make a Donation: https://bit.ly/3EsvRDg
• 🌐 Website: https://thepianopod.com
• 📢 Link Hub: https://linktr.ee/thepianopod
• 📸 Instagram: /thepianopod
• 👍 Facebook: /thepianopodnyc
• 🎵 TikTok: /thepianopod

🎬 Enjoy the official trailer for The Piano Pod’s Season 5 Finale!

Episode Title: The Fullness of Being – A Grand Finale with Maria Thompson Corley on Art, Inclusion & Creative Legacy“

As we wrap up Season 5 of The Piano Pod, themed Authenticity and Joy, we are proud to feature a visionary artist whose life and work embody both.

Dr. Maria Thompson Corley is a Juilliard-trained pianist, composer, novelist, poet, and educator whose multidimensional artistry defies outdated expectations of what a classical musician should be. With performances at venues including Carnegie Recital Hall, the Liszt Academy, and Alice Tully Hall, Maria has also composed deeply moving solo piano and vocal works—among them Lucid Dreaming (a Fidelio semifinalist) and Willful Ignorance, which confronts social injustice with nuance and grace.

Her creative legacy extends beyond the concert hall:

• 🎼 She is the composer of the upcoming full-length opera The Boy from Troy (libretto by Diana Solomon-Glover), supported by OPERA America and slated for Carnegie Hall in 2026.
• 🎹 Her piano works, including Lucid Dreaming, Willful Ignorance, Calm Strength, and Reflections on a Modulating Pulse, highlight her emotional range and commitment to storytelling through sound.
• 📚 She is also the author of two novels and a published poet, exploring themes of identity, resilience, and transformation.

In this Season 5 finale, Maria speaks with grace and candor about how motherhood, art, and identity have shaped her life’s work. We discuss:

• 🎵 What real inclusion in classical music truly looks like
• 🎵 How caregiving fueled her creative voice
• 🎵 Why joy—not just correction—should drive inclusive programming

✨ Sponsored by Juneteenth LP

🗓️ Premiering Tuesday, June 17 at 8:00 PM ET

• ▶️ Watch the full episode on YouTube:
• 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts
• 🎹 Discover the Season 5 companion playlist, Sounds of Inspiration

#ThePianoPod #MariaThompsonCorley #SeasonFinale #CreativeLegacy #WomenInMusic #BlackExcellence #OperaComposer #InclusiveRepertoire #MotherhoodAndArt #AuthenticityAndJoy #JuneteenthLP #SoundsofInspiration #ClassicalMusicPodcast

🎉 Bonus Episode – Celebrating Juneteenth with Dr. Nnenna Ogwo 🎉

To close out Season 5 of The Piano Pod—our season of Authenticity and Joy—we are sharing a special bonus episode in celebration of Juneteenth Month.

Dr. Nnenna Ogwo—pianist, educator, and founder of Juneteenth LP—returns to The Piano Pod (after her powerful appearance in Season 4, Episode 4) to update us on the evolution of her visionary organization. In this short but meaningful conversation, Nnenna reflects on the origin, mission, and future of Juneteenth LP, and invites us to this year’s exciting lineup of events, including the 10th Anniversary Concert at Joe’s Pub on June 19.

Juneteenth LP is also our sponsor of the month, supporting the final two episodes of Season 5—featuring two phenomenal Black women artists: Dr. Leah Claiborne and Dr. Maria Thompson Corley.

✨ Join us as we celebrate Black history, legacy, and liberation through classical music.

🔗 Explore More:

• Check out all the exciting Juneteenth LP events happening in NYC HERE.
• Get your ticket to the 10th Anniversary Concert at Joe’s Pub (June 19, 6:30 PM) HERE.
• Catch up on Nnenna’s full interview from Season 4, Episode 4, where she explored her musical journey, cultural identity, and the birth of Juneteenth LP HERE.

#JuneteenthLP #ThePianoPod #BonusEpisode #BlackClassicalMusic #Juneteenth2025 #RadicalInclusion #ClassicalMusicReimagined #AuthenticityAndJoy #Season5Finale #LiberationThroughMusic

This episode is brought to you by ‪Juneteenth LP — Celebrating Black artistry and legacy in classical music.

🎧 What if every child could see themselves in the music they study? In this robust conversation, Dr. Leah Claiborne —pianist, Yamaha Artist, educator, and founder of Ebony Music Inc.—joins The Piano Pod to discuss her mission to expand and redefine the classical canon.

From her work on the 100 Works by Black Composers project to her publications and courses on inclusive teaching, Dr. Claiborne is shaping the future of music education through artistry, purpose, and a sense of belonging.

🎹 In this episode, we explore:

• ✅ The groundbreaking 100 Works by Black Composers project (Sphinx Venture Fund)
• ✅ Why beginner repertoire is where real change begins
• ✅ How identity and community shape pedagogy
• ✅ Tools for teachers committed to diversity and inclusion
• ✅ Her musical journey—from a jazz-rooted upbringing to classical advocacy

Whether you are a piano teacher, student, performer, or arts leader, this conversation will leave you inspired, challenged, and equipped to make classical music more inclusive and representative.

Connect with Dr. Claiborne:

• 🌐 Website
• 🌐 Ebony Music Inc

Dr. Claiborne’s Publications – Expanding the Repertoire (Hal Leonard):

• 🔹 Level 1
• 🔹 Level 2

About Our Sponsor — Juneteenth LP

Founded by pianist and cultural leader Dr. Nnenna Ogwo, Juneteenth LP is now in its 10th year of celebrating Black classical musicians through transformative performances, education, and community events. From their annual concert at Joe’s Pub to their ongoing advocacy, Juneteenth LP is helping to reshape the future of classical music through the lens of heritage, liberation, and joy.

🔔 Like, comment, and subscribe to The Piano Pod for more conversations at the intersection of artistry, equity, and innovation in classical music.

🎬 Here is the trailer for our next episode of The Piano Pod —featuring pianist, educator, and visionary Dr. Leah Claiborne!

In this powerful Juneteenth month episode, Dr. Claiborne shares how we can create meaningful change in classical music—through daily action, inclusive pedagogy, and a reimagined canon that reflects all voices.

🎹 What we explore:

• The groundbreaking 100 Works by Black Composers project
• Why beginner-level repertoire matters just as much as advanced repertoire
• How music education can empower identity, purpose, and joy
• Dr. Claiborne’s work through Ebony Music Inc. and Hal Leonard publications
• Her personal reflections on belonging, activism, and legacy

💫 Proudly sponsored by Juneteenth LP, celebrating 10 years of uplifting Black voices in classical music.

🎧 Join the premiere, Tuesday June 3 at 8:00pm ET: https://youtu.be/f-XnqhJ5gC8?si=58RkB8zT56wQlyWO

🎙️ Audio version: https://linktr.ee/ThePianoPodAudio

✨ This is more than an episode—it is a call to action. Do not miss it.

In this inspiring episode of The Piano Pod, "Bach Reimagined - Artistic Innovation of Timeless Music for All Audiences," Eleonor Bindman - pianist, arranger, and recording artist - joins us for an intimate conversation about her groundbreaking work reimagining the music of J.S. Bach for solo and four-hand piano.

From her bestselling Brandenburg Duets with Jenny Lin to her most recent solo project ABSOLUTE—featuring beautifully idiomatic piano transcriptions of Bach’s Lute Suites—Eleonor’s artistry invites musicians and listeners of all levels to discover the joy, depth, and brilliance of Bach.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Why she believes “there is no one way to play Bach”
• Her transcription philosophy and creative process
• Advocating for accessible classical music—without compromising quality
• How piano duets can foster collaboration, joy, and musicianship at every stage
• Tips for navigating polyphony, articulation, pedaling, and ornamentation in Bach’s keyboard works
• Her Stepping Stones to Bach series and empowering adult amateurs and young students alike
• Legacy, innovation, and what it means to be a 21st-century artist-educator

🎧 Whether you are a teacher, performer, or passionate amateur, this episode is packed with insights, artistry, and heart.

[Eleonor Bindman]

• Website
• Spotify:
• 🎹 Prelude, BWV 998 (from ABSOLUTE)
• 🎹 Stepping Stone Excerpt
• 🎹 Four-hand Orchestra Suite
• 🎹 Brandenburg Concerto
• 🎹 Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007 - I. Prelude
• 🎹 Allegro from Prelude, Fugue and Allegro BWV 998

“It became vital to me to focus on a new way of looking at Bach’s music…” — Eleonor Bindman

Here is the trailer for the upcoming episode of The Piano Pod 🎙, titled Bach Reimagined: Artistic Innovation of Timeless Music for All Audiences, featuring pianist, arranger, and recording artist Eleonor Bindman. She joins us for a deeply personal conversation about her groundbreaking transcription work—and why Bach’s music still matters today.

From her bestselling Brandenburg Duets with Jenny Lin to her latest solo project ABSOLUTE, Eleonor is reimagining Bach for today’s musicians, making it more accessible, joyful, and alive for pianists of all levels.

We talk about:

• 🔹Why there’s no one way to play Bach
• 🔹The artistry behind her piano transcriptions
• 🔹Tips for navigating Bach’s polyphony, pedaling, and ornamentation
• 🔹Duets, collaboration, and musical connection
• 🔹The power of accessibility in classical music
• 🔹Her Stepping Stones to Bach series
• 🔹What does legacy mean as a 21st-century artist-educator

📆 Premieres Tuesday, May 20 at 8 PM ET on YouTube and all podcast platforms.

✨ Substack VIPs get early access to the audio episode, which is available one day before the official release on our Substack page. Because great conversations—and great music—should never have to wait.

We would love to hear what you think—drop us a comment or share your takeaways! And guess what? We have just two more episodes to go before wrapping up Season 5. Let’s finish the season with insight, inspiration, and a shared love for music.

#ThePianoPod #EleonorBindman #BachReimagined #ClassicalMusic #PianoPodcast #BachTranscriptions #PianoEducation #PodcastTrailer

🎉 The Piano Pod is officially a Top 3 Finalist for Best Video Podcast in the 2025 Quill Podcast Awards! 🎉

Out of thousands of shows across all genres, our little piano podcast has made it to the top—and it would not have been possible without YOU: our amazing guests, listeners, sponsors, and friends.

Thank you for voting, sharing, and cheering us on! 💛

🗓️ Final winners will be announced on May 27—stay tuned!

But the journey isn’t over:

🎹 New episode drops May 20 featuring Eleonor Bindman, whose authentic yet groundbreaking Bach transcriptions are changing how all audiences experience his music.

🎙️ Two episodes left in Season 5—including a special collaboration with Juneteenth LP, featuring phenomenal Black women artists Leah Claiborne and Maria Thompson Corley

📅 After a summer break, Season 6 returns in September 2025, continuing the themes of Authenticity and Joy—and adding new ones

🎶 And this October: The Piano Pod: Live in Concert debuts at The New School in collaboration with Mannes Prep—an unforgettable night of performance and storytelling, coming to both video and audio platforms!

👉 Check out the full finalist list:

https://www.quillpodcasting.com/qpa/quill-podcast-awards

🎥 Catch up on episodes:

https://www.youtube.com/@ThePianoPod

💡 Curious how this all started?

https://thecre8sianproject.com/blogs/news/amazing-asians-in-the-arts-yukimi-song

Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep lifting up the voices, stories, and music that move us all. 💫

#ThePianoPod #QuillPodcastAwards #Finalist #BestVideoPodcast #ClassicalMusicPodcast #BachForEveryone #AuthenticityAndJoy #JuneteenthLP #MannesPrep #LiveInConcert #Gratitude

Please vote for The Piano Pod HERE!

Hi friends! The Piano Pod has been named a semi-finalist for Best Video Podcast in the 2025 Quill Podcast Awards!

Today is the last day to vote and help bring classical music to the global stage (May 8, 2025). It’s been an incredible five years of dedication and hard work, and I couldn’t be prouder of this incredible honor to be a semi-finalist.

As the creator and executive producer of The Piano Pod, I’ve learned so much—whether creating content, interviewing industry leaders, or building this platform from the ground up.

And I’m so grateful to all of you who’ve tuned in every other week, whether on YouTube or your favorite podcast platforms. Thank you for being part of this journey. The Piano Pod has inspired, challenged, and connected so many of us—and now it’s time to stand with this mission. Cast your vote today and help bring these stories to the world.

✨ Visit quillpodcasting.com/qpa/quill-podcast-awards to vote—it takes less than a minute!

Let’s show the world how powerful these stories are. Thank you so much for your support!

#Vote #semifinalist #quillpodcastawards #thepianopod