Best Shirras Podcasts (2024)

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Ep 87 Karen Goodman 1:16:00

19d ago1:16:00

1:16:00

Karen D. Goodman, PhD., Professor Emerita of Music, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey, USA., has been the primary figure in designing and developing both the former undergraduate and graduate music therapy programs at Montclair over forty years. Professor Goodman’s research-based clinical work, at ten clinical settings, includes mus…

1
Ep 86 Holly Shirra 59:34

2M ago59:34

59:34

Holly Shirra is a qualified music therapist who holds her focus on helping people connect in community and express themselves creatively and authentically. With classical piano training from a young age, Holly discovered a passion for free improvisation while studying music therapy, which she completed in 2020. To help her understand further how pe…

1
Ep 85 Jessica Leza 1:04:58

3M ago1:04:58

1:04:58

Jessica Leza is a board-certified music therapist, author, and multimedia artist. She graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Composition from the University of North Texas and a Master of Arts in Music Therapy from Texas Woman’s University. Leza’s music therapy scholarship and advocacy centers around neurodiversity, disability justice, culture…

1
Ep 84 Den Vecchio 1:01:55

4M ago1:01:55

1:01:55

Luke talks to Den Vecchio, a play therapist living and working in Bristol, UK. They discuss the principles of play therapy, why play therapy has become more available in mainstream schools in recent years, and overlaps with music therapy practice. Also - why every play therapist should have snakes, spiders and crocodiles in their collection! Den is…

1
Ep 83 Evelyn Mason 58:47

5M ago58:47

58:47

Evelyn Mason is an experienced music therapist and Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Student at the Cambridge Institute for Music Therapy Research at Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) in Cambridge. Chroma Therapies and the Independent Neurorehabilitation Providers Alliance (INPA) are collaborating with ARU on this study which focuses on music therapy to address t…

1
Ep 82 Elaine Streeter 58:56

6M ago58:56

58:56

Elaine is a BAMT registered clinical supervisor, and consultant lead visitor for the HCPC. She studied piano and composition at GSMD, and trained as a music therapist with Dr Paul Nordoff and Dr Clive Robbins in London. After running the music therapy service at the CDC, Charing Cross Hospital for several years, and completing an MA research thesis…

1
Ep 81 Professor Gitta Strehlow 1:06:31

7M ago1:06:31

1:06:31

Prof. Dr. Gitta Strehlow is Professor of Music Therapy at the University of Music and Drama Hamburg in Germany and a Music therapist at the Clinic for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at the AGAPLESION Bethesda Hospital Hamburg-Bergedorf, Germany. Her research areas include: psychodynamic music therapy, trauma, psychiatry and mentalization. She underto…

1
Ep 80 Georgina Aasgaard 1:10:53

8M ago1:10:53

1:10:53

Georgina Aasgaard Cellist and Music and Health Practitioner Georgina Aasgaard is a Liverpool based Cellist and Music and Health practitioner who has a passion for bringing Music from the concert platform to challenging and more intimate environments. She has 20 years of experience delivering music interventions in a broad range of health and social…

1
Ep 79 Katie Bycroft 57:59

9M ago57:59

57:59

Katie Bycroft is a musician, music therapist, supervisor and advocate for access to musical experiences for all. She trained at the Guildhall in 1998, having initially studied Oriental Studies (Japanese) at Cambridge University. Music was important from very early days, and she immersed herself in flute playing from the age of 8, taught by her flau…

1
Ep 78 Beth Pickard 52:47

10M ago52:47

52:47

Beth Pickard is a Senior Lecturer, Researcher and PhD Supervisor at the University of South Wales. Her music therapy teaching and practice is heavily informed by her research in Critical Disability Studies. Beth’s research explores how disability is socially constructed, interpreted and represented across disciplines and pedagogy. Beth is a passion…

1
Ep 77 Alphonso Archer 1:02:25

11M ago1:02:25

1:02:25

Luke spoke to music therapist Alphonso Archer about his career in music, music education, music therapy, and football coaching. This has included big personal challenges, inspiring moments and the development of innovative and creative approaches. Alphonso says: I spent over 25 years immersed in IT, Software, and Artificial Intelligence, building a…

1
EPISODE 11: A framework for deep and meaningful learning - Janus van As 27:43

11M ago27:43

27:43

"For students to really develop competencies, there's two dimensions they need to develop: firstly, the competence, but they also need to develop the confidence to display that competence and we feel that reflection helps them think about that what they've achieved, whether they've developed the competence and, in that sense, it helps them to devel…

1
EPISODE 10: Integrating educational technology into the Clinical Associates programme at Wits - Aviwe Mgobozi 15:39

11M ago15:39

15:39

From the first graduating class of clinical associates at Wits to the first South African trained head of division, Aviwe Mgobozi is in studio with our #Coffeegrab podcast host Dr. Paula Barnard-Ashton to explain what it means to be a clinical associate and how we are integrating educational technology into the clinical associates programme at Wits…

1
EPISODE 9: Transforming health professionals into health science educators - Shirra Moch 15:36

12M ago15:36

15:36

Shirra Moch's passion for working with health professionals, as they strive to become health science educators, is clear as she discusses her journey with our host Dr Paula Barnard-Ashton, "The concept of education has its own body of knowledge and its own theories and skills, and in order to be a health sciences teacher that can really encourage s…

1
EPISODE 8: Blended learning as a platform to support student success - Azola Ralo 22:31

12M ago22:31

22:31

"Blended learning has enabled us to have a pulse on the students well-being, and their comprehension of and engagement with the learning material. Our Ukuthula android app offers students coping strategies and emotional well-being content and they can also find academic support content; it's really trying to move with them because they're all about…

1
EPISODE 7: Cultivating 21st century skills through blended learning - Dr Gillian Mahumane 19:40

12M ago19:40

19:40

"It changes the way that you deliver material because you are a little bit more mindful. It sort of like makes it less abstract. What are the students doing? What am I expecting them to do? What resources do they need? So it adds a little bit of intentionality behind how you deliver.", says Dr Gillian Mahumane as she reflects on her experience of u…

1
Ep 76 Hilary Davies 1:13:14

12M ago1:13:14

1:13:14

In this episode, Luke talks to Hilary Davies, with a focus on music therapy and neurodiversity. Hilary Davies is a freelance music therapist currently specialising in working with autistic adults, including recently-diagnosed autistic adults and autistic adults with co-occurring conditions such as complex PTSD. She is also working towards a PhD on …

1
EPISODE 6: Intentionally crafted course design and authentic assessment - Prof Diane Grayson 16:46

1y ago16:46

16:46

"If you think about course design, and design is one of the big buzzwords in the world today, it's part of being creative and innovative. You design for a purpose and for your students." Professor Diane Grayson suggests that you ask yourself, "in what way will this course enrich the lives of my students to become graduates, who become contributing …

1
EPISODE 5: High fidelity simulation prepares students for the real-world - Nabeela Sujee 18:52

1y ago18:52

18:52

“My vision would be an entire simulation hospital, that will allow our graduates to be confident, competent and motivated about their profession and their value-add to the healthcare system.”, says Faculty of Health Sciences simulation laboratory co-ordinator, Nabeela Sujee. In this episode she explains the role of simulation to our host, Dr Paula …

1
EPISODE 4: The student perspective; a story of resilience - Jenna Hammond 19:16

1y ago19:16

19:16

As a 1st year occupational therapy student in 2020, who had not taken physics as a matric subject, Jenna Hammond tells Dr Paula Barnard-Ashton how she was advised by a student psychologist to drop out. She is now in 4th year, and in this episode she shares her and her class mates' coping strategies, the value of blended learning and how she was abl…

1
EPISODE 3: Witsies should have internet access where ever they are - Dr Stanley Mpofu 20:27

1y ago20:27

20:27

As of now, the Wits led partnership between Airports Company South Africa and TENET (Tertiary Education and Research Network of South Africa) has ensured Eduroam rollout to our airports, but we won't stop there!, says Wits CIO, Dr Stanley Mpofu, next we are aiming at large shopping malls, community centers and public libraries. In this episode he a…

1
Ep 75 Robert Mitchell 1:03:05

1y ago1:03:05

1:03:05

Luke spoke to the musician Robert Mitchell about his life as a creative artist and the importance of music and other arts to society and, more broadly, for humankind. Robert Mitchell is one of the most significant voices in British jazz. Multi-faceted creator, pianist, keyboardist, composer, improviser, writer, poet and so much more. He is a relent…

1
EPISODE 2: Post-pandemic lessons Wits has learnt about blended learning - Professor Diane Grayson 15:13

1y ago15:13

15:13

Professor Diane Grayson highlights that out of the pandemic "we are thinking differently about our teaching, having a greater sense of intentionality and more imagination. We're a research intensive university - coming up with new knowledge, innovative ideas is what we're all about. So, it's really important that we carry that through into our teac…

1
EPISODE 1: The future of blended learning in health professions - Professor Shabir Madhi 19:56

1y ago19:56

19:56

"We are talking about blended learning on the one hand, we're talking about BLENDED PRACTICE - and that is going to be the future!", asserts Professor Shabir Madhi (Dean: Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University). He joined our host, Dr Paula Barnard-Ashton (Assistant Dean: Teaching and Learning, Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits University) for …

1
SNEAK PEEK - Prof Shabir Madhi 1:07

1y ago1:07

1:07

We thought you might like a sneak peek at our first episode - Prof Shabir Madhi, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at Wits University shares his experiences and vision for blended learning in the faculty. Catch the full first episode when we launch on Thursday 8th June! Catch this SNEAK PEEK in-studio video…

1
Ep 74 Preet Kalsi 1:05:57

1y ago1:05:57

1:05:57

Luke spoke to Preet Kalsi about her musical upbringing, and her training and subsequent work as a music therapist. The conversation also explored the relationship between psychodynamic and indigenous perspectives in her work. Gurpreet Kaur Kalsi is from Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, and of Punjabi and Kadazan (Indigenous to Sabah) heritage. She is a mus…

1
Ep 73 Giorgos Tsiris 1:04:24

1y ago1:04:24

1:04:24

This episode is Luke's conversation with Giorgos Tsiris, with a focus on spirituality and music therapy. Born and raised in Athens, Greece, Giorgos moved to London in 2007 for his music therapy training. For the past 14 years, he has worked as a music therapist in diverse palliative care contexts for adults with incurable illnesses, their families …

1
Ep 72 Dr Dwight Turner 58:37

1+ y ago58:37

58:37

Episode 72 is Luke’s interview with Dr Dwight Turner. They spoke in December 2022, in person, about psychotherapy and music therapy, intersectionality, music, exotification, Our Price Records, and a dream involving John Lennon and David Bowie’s ‘Life on Mars’. Dr Dwight Turner is Course Leader on the Humanistic Counselling and Psychotherapy Course …

1
Ep 71 Denise Wong 1:10:41

1+ y ago1:10:41

1:10:41

In episode 71, Davina Vencatasamy talks to Denise Wong. Originally from Hong Kong, Denise Wong MA BSc, is a self-employed music therapist (HCPC-Registered) based in Bristol, UK. She works with the Bath Aphasia Choir (Stroke Association), Soundwell and NEHK, a community-led group for and by HongKongers living in the UK. Denise appeared on the BAMT R…

1
Ep 70 Inge Nygaard Pedersen 1:07:03

1+ y ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Episode 70 is the fourth and final dispatch from the EMTC conference at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, June 2022 (see also episodes 63, 65 and 68). Luke had the opportunity to speak to a genuine music therapy pioneer in the person of Inge Nygaard Pedersen. Inge Nygaard Pedersen is an Associate Professor, Emerita, PhD, Aalborg University, Den…

1
Ep 69 Revd Jide Macaulay 45:12

1+ y ago45:12

45:12

Davina Vencatasamy spoke to Revd Jide Macaulay about LGBTQ+, racial and intersectional issues in psychotherapy, music therapy, and society. Reverend Jide Macaulay (he/him/momma) is the Founder and CEO of House of Rainbow CIC. Openly gay British Nigerian born in London, he has been a Christian minister since 1998. He is an Anglican Priest and inspir…

1
Ep 68 Hakeem Leonard 42:09

1+ y ago42:09

42:09

“We’re doing music therapy because of people’s humanity, not because of what people lack” Luke spoke to Hakeem Leonard at the EMTC conference, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, in June 2022. Hakeem Leonard is an Associate Professor of Music Therapy and the Assistant Provost for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity at Shenandoah University in Winche…

1
Ep 67 Penny Rogers 1:05:36

1+ y ago1:05:36

1:05:36

Davina Vencatasamy speaks to Penny Rogers, with a focus on safeguarding issues in music therapy. Penny Rogers studied cello with Bernard Gregor-Smith (Lindsay Strong Quartet) in Manchester before going on to complete a postgraduate diploma in Music Therapy at the Guildhall. As a therapist, she found the majority of individuals referred went on to d…

1
Ep 66 Victoria Clarke 1:07:27

2y ago1:07:27

1:07:27

Victoria Clarke is an Associate Professor in Qualitative and Critical Psychology at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, UK, where she teaches about qualitative research methods and supervises student research on various postgraduate programmes. Her research interests lie in the intersecting areas of gender and sexuality, and diffe…

1
Ep 65 Tilly Mütter interviews students at #emtc2022 1:03:56

2y ago1:03:56

1:03:56

The interviews in this episode were recorded at the conference of the European Music Therapy Confederation at Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh in June 2022. Tilly Mütter is a student on the MSc Music Therapy Course at QMU. She completed her degree in music at Canterbury, where she first became aware of music therapy. After graduating, Tilly bec…

1
Ep 64 Simon Purcell 1:09:07

2y ago1:09:07

1:09:07

Jazz pianist, composer and educator, Simon Purcell came to prominence during the UK jazz boom of the 1980s. After working in East London schools, as a passionate music educator and thinker, Simon has been active in the conservatoire sector since 1985, first as a senior lecturer at GSMD between 1987-2005, Head of Jazz at Trinity Laban Conservatoire …

1
Ep 63 Karan Casey 1:12:18

2y ago1:12:18

1:12:18

Karan Casey Does Singing Songs Make a Difference? This episode is a recording of Karan Casey’s keynote presentation at the close of the conference of the European Music Therapy Confederation in Edinburgh, 8-12 June 2022. Karan talked about songs and social justice, arts practice research, and about her own life and experiences as a performer and ca…

1
Ep 62 Lesley Schatzberger 49:18

2y ago49:18

49:18

Davina Vencatasamy talks to Lesley Schatzberger. Lesley is the founder of the charity Jessie's fund. Jessie’s Fund was established as a registered charity in 1995 and helps children with serious illness, complex needs, and communication difficulties through the therapeutic use of music. Music can provide a powerful and profound way in which childre…

1
Ep 61 Seb Valentine 56:48

2y ago56:48

56:48

Seb is a detective constable with Surrey Police, working in their public protection unit investigating serious crime against the most vulnerable in our society. His Policing career started in the Met Police where, after 2 years as a volunteer Police Officer or ‘Special’, he caught the Policing bug and joined ‘the job’ full time in 2011. He chose Ho…

1
Ep 60 Helen Minors 1:06:09

2+ y ago1:06:09

1:06:09

In episode 60, Davina Vencatasamy talks to Helen Minors. Helen Julia Minors is School Head of Performing Arts and Associate Professor of Music at Kingston University, London. She is also a Visiting Professor in Artistic Research at Luleå University of Technology, Sweden. She has published books: Music, Text and Translation (2013); Building Intercul…

1
Ep 59 Kiran Bangerh (now Manley) 1:13:53

2+ y ago1:13:53

1:13:53

Kiz Bangerh (now Manley) is the founder of Hip Hop Heals. Here's how she describes herself on her website: "I lost my older sister, Promila, in a car accident in 2000. After, I suffered a delayed traumatised grief reaction. I was an English Literature graduate and keen writer but experienced a creative block that lasted ten years. During this time,…

1
Ep 58 Sandra Schembri 1:10:32

2+ y ago1:10:32

1:10:32

Davina Vencatasamy spoke to Sandra Schembri, the CEO of Nordoff Robbins, UK, continuing her sequence of interviews exploring diversity, race and representation in music therapy. Sandra describes herself as follows: "Over the course of my 26+ year career so far I have had the pleasure of working with some amazing organisations including Bloomberg, T…

1
Ep 57 Nsamu Moonga 1:12:20

2+ y ago1:12:20

1:12:20

Nsamu is a music therapist and psychotherapist born and raised in Zambia. Nsamu earned a BA in Psychological Counselling from the University of South Africa and MMus in Music Therapy from the University of Pretoria. A therapist grounded in holistic anti-oppressive practice, Nsamu works with people exploring health and lifestyle choices, medical com…

1
Ep 56 Wendy Magee 1:12:35

2+ y ago1:12:35

1:12:35

Wendy Magee has a background in practice and scholarship concerning music interventions for brain injury rehabilitation. She moved to Philadelphia in 2011, a city with the fourth largest African American population and the highest rate of deep poverty in the US. Navigating the evident inequities for marginalized people in her new home city has offe…

1
Ep 55 Barbara Wheeler 1:00:42

3y ago1:00:42

1:00:42

Luke talked to Barbara Wheeler about her wide ranging experience in music therapy as a researcher, clinician, educator, and author. Barbara L. Wheeler, PhD, MT-BC, holds the designation of Professor Emeritus from Montclair State University, where she taught from 1975-2000. She initiated the music therapy program at the University of Louisville in 2…

1
Ep 54 Michaela de Cruz 54:56

3y ago54:56

54:56

In Episode 54, Davina Wilson talks to Michaela de Cruz. Michaela qualified in 2019 and is relatively new to music therapy but is not new to music activism. Over her 20 years as a jazz and soul performer, musician and songwriter, she has championed and contributed to causes as varied as racial awareness, gender and sexual equality and animal rights.…

1
Ep 53 Francis Myerscough 1:03:39

3y ago1:03:39

1:03:39

Episode 53 features Francis Myerscough, who was part of the panel discussion on diversity chaired by Wendy Magee at the 2021 BAMT conference. Francis Myerscough qualified as a music therapist from the University of South Wales in 2018. They work in a number of different settings, with a background in adoption support and more recently in a local ch…

1
Ep 52 Dr Varvara Pasiali 57:12

3y ago57:12

57:12

Dr. Pasiali received a BA Honors in Music Performance, from the University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK. Subsequently, she worked as a public school music teacher and a freelance flute performer in Cyprus. She completed her equivalency/Master’s degree in Music Therapy at the University of Kansas. Upon graduation, she worked as a music therapist in p…

1
Ep 51 Dr Diane Austin 1:01:37

3y ago1:01:37

1:01:37

Dr. Diane Austin DA, LCAT is the Director of the Music Psychotherapy Center in New York City where she offers a two-year post-graduate certificate program in Vocal Psychotherapy. She teaches in the graduate music therapy department at New York University. Dr. Austin has maintained a private practice in music, expressive psychotherapy and supervisio…

1
Ep 50 Julie Sutton 58:22

3y ago58:22

58:22

Julie Sutton works in a regional adult psychiatry NHS service for patients with severe, complex disturbance, and in private psychoanalytic practice. Having qualified in 1982 she retired from music therapy in June 2020. Over the decades her work covered most areas across the age range and she presented, lectured and examined nationally and internati…

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