Our Top 5 Music Therapy Podcasts

As a music therapist, it can mean the world to you to have the opportunity to connect with people in the same profession as you. You can learn how they are overcoming challenges you also may be facing and be inspired by their passion and love for their craft as well as their patients. As someone who is not a music therapist and may know little of what music therapy is and what the benefits of it are, an accessible opportunity to learn more may be just as meaningful to you. Luckily, there are music therapy podcasts that can meet the needs of both circumstances! That is why we wanted to share these five podcasts that we love. There are many more, but these are just a few of the ones that stood out to us.

1. Voices of Music Therapy

The Voices of Music Therapy podcast started airing in 2021 and is hosted by a Board Certified Music Therapist named Brian Locascio. The podcast is recorded in San Diego, California in the U.S. We love this podcast because, as the name would suggest, it really centers around sharing and learning about the different perspectives of those who work in the music therapy field and amplifies their “Voices”. Music is a universal language that connects people from all walks of life and this podcast really tries, and succeeds, at mirroring that.

2. Music Therapy and Beyond

This podcast also began in 2021 and is hosted by Board Certified Music Therapists who are dedicated to sharing information and perspectives based on clinically proven research. What we love about this podcast, however, is that- while they take careful consideration of research and factual evidence on the benefits of music therapy, the material is not dry and the host feels like someone you could be friends with. Kristin Veteto started the podcast and she has been Board Certified for a little over 10 years! Some of the things we love about her is that she is an easy-to-connect-with mother and she owns a music therapy practice called “Giving Song” in Columbia, Missouri in the U.S. On this podcast they love to discuss how the body and brain are affected by music…and we love to listen!

3. Music Therapy Chronicles

The Music Therapy Chronicles Podcast is longer lived than the first two, it started in 2019. It is hosted by Tricia Caiati, a MT-BC from New England and, much like the Voices of Music Therapy podcast, hosts a guest music therapist every episode and is dedicated to sharing the perspectives from music therapists all over the nation. Their bio says “Our ambition is to inspire and connect listeners through meaningful conversations. Like a Music Therapy Conference you can listen to anywhere!” This is an ambition that, in our eyes, they’re accomplishing! This podcast is enjoyable to listen to and, looking at their 4.7 out of 5 rating, their listeners think so too. This is a great podcast to listen to if you want to feel inspired and be reminded why you came to love music in the first place.

4. Able Voice

Able Voice is hosted by music therapists Hayley Francis Cann and Kimberly Dolan of Synergy Music Therapy & Wellness Services in Ontario, Canada. They started this podcast in the Spring of 2020 and have recorded 73 episodes since! This podcast is made up of a mix of hosting guests for episodes as well as Hayley and Kimberly discussing topics together. Something that we love about this podcast is that they can fit a lot of meaningful content into many shorter episodes and so, if you find yourself in a pinch for time, this may be a good podcast for you! Following Hayley and Kimberly’s journey in opening their own practice is so engaging for their listeners, which is made clear in their 5 star rating! We love the authenticity of this podcast and think you will as well.

5. Music Therapy Conversations

Finally, Music Therapy Conversations is the podcast of the British Association for Music Therapy and is hosted by Luke Annesley. This is another interview-focused podcast and we love how research-focused it is. We love what this show brings to the table as an international podcast, introducing perspectives, policies, and practices (wow, that’s a lot of p’s!) that we may have never considered on this side of the pond. This podcast is also the oldest of the podcasts we’ve discussed, originating in 2017! Something else we enjoy about this podcast is that it includes a great variety of music genres in its discussion of music therapy. Luke himself is a jazz musician, which certainly helps. In the first episode Luke says: “I feel that the more we can talk to each other, share experiences and perspectives on music therapy, the better we can all make sense of this complex, rich profession.” and this show certainly does justice to that.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we can count ourselves lucky to have so many meaningful options when it comes to research-based and genuine music therapy podcasts. Listening to these is a great way to increase your appreciation for the healing ability of music and also gain perspective, as you listen to the well thought-out and hard-earned perspectives of many therapists in the profession. These are just a few of the many music therapy podcasts, so get listening, and let us know in the comments which is your favorite!