Pass the Mic: A Berklee Alumni Podcast
Pass the Mic is a podcast series from Berklee's office of Alumni Affairs. Cohosted by the Digital Engagement team, Jaquel Eley and Padriac Farma, the award-winning Pass the Mic Podcast gives the Berklee Alumni community a chance to grow and learn from one another. If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving
Episodes
We are kicking off 2026 with an interview featuring alum Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds ’82, Dean of the Professional Education Division. In this episode, she reflects on her life's journey from student, to industry professional, to dean. Dr. Hammonds also discusses what the Professional Education Division is working on now and her vision for what’s ahead.
Playing us out is a song called In from the Cold by alum Patric Skog ’97, featuring...
The last episode of the year is here! In this episode we conducted our 2nd live recording in Nashville, Tennessee with alum and bassist for the Zac Brown Band, Matt Mangano '00, at Southern Ground Studios. Colleen also joins in and reminisces on her time as an R.A. and letting the Lo-Fi Masters record on campus.
Playing us out is a song by them called Comfortable with John Mayor and Clay Cook on vocals and Matt on bass.
We were thrilled to film our very first live podcast episode at the GBH Studio at the Boston Public Library. Joining us are Boston Conservatory at Berklee Dean of Musical Theater, Krisha Marcano and Berklee Director of Industry Relations, Latoya Lee. The episode also features a live performance by Berklee student Su Yavuz.
A very special thanks to WGBH, Juan Jose Cadena, Sandra López Burke, and the entire studio crew.
Another year, another season 0f Pass the Mic! In this episode we talk with Alumni Achievement Award recipient and industry innovator Charlie Puth.
Also in this episode, Padriac loses another Brassy, Variations Signature Series gets its laurels, and episode 2 gets a big tease.
Playing us out: Sway by Kelsey Blackstone ’21
Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your sup...
We're taking a queue from our favorite sitcoms and putting on a clip show for our season finale. In this episode hear Mark Kelley ’24 talk about his one degree of separation from Beyonce, and Jan Esbra ’16 and Mariya Ksondzyk (B.M. ’17, M.M. ’19, viola) discuss the impact of prison music programs. Matt Sallee ’19 nerds out on a capella and Natalie Toro shuts down Steven Spielberg's set.
Season 3 premiers in the fall. Thank you all f...
Grab your jackets everybody! It may be 49 degrees in May in Boston, but we're having class outside. Jaquel and Padriac recap this episode at the park in the Pru. We say goodbye to our student employee and podcast editor, Jonah, and Zack Lucia joins us as we talk to Gus Borner about building a business with a freelance mentality.
Playing us out: The Bean Tones
Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theate...
Emmy-winner Joel Goodman has scored more than 150 film and television programs that have reseived 5 Oscar nominations and 30 Emmy awards. He has scored over 40 films for HBO, 4 ESPN 30 for 30 episodes, and composed the main theme for the long-running and critically acclaimed PBS series American Experience.
In this episode, Joel talks about his creative and professional processes, and how staying curious is a key to his success.
Pla...
Boston Conservatory at Berklee alumna Natalie Toro (BFA ’86, musical theater) is a woman of many firsts. The first American to play Eponine in Les Miserables, the youngest actor to play Grizabella in Cats, and the first latina to play Eva Peron in Evita. Her career is full of life lessons, fabulous stories, and a flair only Natalie can bring.
We recorded this interview while Natalie was on campus to receive an Alumni Achievement Awa...
In this episode, singer-songwriter/producer Kevin Ross sits down with Jaquel (only) to talk about life, the pivot, and the future of R&B.
Playing us out is Dhy Edwardsberry AKA Neon Blk. Dhy is featured in the premiere of our Berklee Alumni Variation Signature Series you can find on our YouTube Channel: BerkleeAlumni
Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your sup...
Robert Kraft (no, not that one) wrote music for TV and film, served as president of Fox Music for 20 years, and produced the soundtrack to your childhood. The man has done so much in music that we didn't even get to his Academy Award nomination!
In this episode, we talk about Robert's early recording career, filmmaking with Bruce Willis, and pursuing the work that you love.
For alumni impacted by the wildfires in Los Angeles, we hav...
Matt Sallee, member of the Grammy Award-winning a capella group Pentatonix, stopped by campus while on tour. We geeked out on a capella, talked about his family, and gave him some Berklee homework! We also preview Alumni Affairs happenings coming this spring.
Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite...
In this episode Joy Allen, Chair of the Music Therapy Department and Director of the Music and Health Institute, shares five tips for using music to regulate stress. We interview Chandrika Tandon, former Berklee Trustee, Grammy Award-nominated artist, and trailblazing philanthropist. Chandrika talks about the journey of creating her latest album, Ammu's Treasures, and the importance of music in changing the world. Also in this epis...
In our first ever College and Conservatory mashup, we interview college alumnus Jan Esbra ’16 and conservatory alumna Mariya Ksondzyk (B.M. ’17, M.M. ’19, viola) about their work teaching and performing music to prison populations.
We also get to learn more about student employees Deni and Luis and get to listen to alumni music!
Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with...
Alumni Achievement Award recipient Mark Kelley talks about his career path, landing the gig as bass player for The Roots, and playing in the house band for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Our students and faculty are pushing the limits of music, dance, and theater all over the world, and with your support, their artistry and ingenuity will see no end. We invite you to explore some of Berklee’s current philanthropic priorities a...
Listen to the extended interview with Colleen Glenney ’01, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs. We discuss Colleen's performing career after Berklee, and the wealth of diversity within the alumni community.
If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving
Listen to the extended interview between Dāna James B.M. ’09, Associate Director of Alumni Affairs, and Zack Lucia B.M. ’14, Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs. We discuss the needs and resources unique to working on the West Coast.
If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving
In this bonus episode, you willl hear an extended interview with Joe Dreeszen, Senior Director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving, and Georgia Lipari (B.F.A ’18, dance), Project Manager for Alumni Affairs. We get to know a bit more about Joe and Georgia, and discuss what the merger between the College and the Conservatory mean to alumni.
If you would like to support Berklee, visit berklee.edu/giving
In this episode, you will meet the Alumni Affairs team! We are thrilled to speak with members of the alumni community, and love it when you reach out to us. Email alumniaffairs@berklee.edu with any questions, comments, concerns, or suggestions.
Segments:
Digial Engagement Team
- Padriac Farma, Associate Director, Digital Engagement
- Jaquel Eley, Assistant Director, Digital Engagement
Boston Office
- Joe Dreeszen, Senior Directo...
In this episode Padriac was very excited to use the term, "mixed bag." He wasn't wrong, however. We hear from alumni who attended the LA Brunch, we talk about the podcast's origin story, and we hear one of Jaquel's very first podcast interviews with the talented and business savvy BoCo alumna, Karen Peterson Corash (B.F.A. '76, dance). To cap it off, we are played out by singer-songwriter Sarah Eide ’11.
Our students and faculty a...
In this episode, we speak with the Black Scholars Initiative (BSI) alumni panelists Therlande Louissaint, Abria Smith, and Jaymz Hardy-Martin III. We learn about the evolution of holistic education and we make some friends along the way!
To support programs like the Black Scholars Initiative, please visit berklee.edu/giving
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