Pete's Percussion Podcast: EPISODE 500!!! - The Return of Megan Arns

Episode 500 - Megan Arns (2026)
Pete's Percussion Podcast

It’s Episode 500, and the 10-year Anniversary of Pete’s Percussion Podcast!  After Pete talks about the early days of the show (01:45), he welcomes back his Mizzou colleague, member of the Percussive Arts Society Board of Directors, Percussionist, Educator and Administrator Megan Arns back to the show for the first time in 8 years!  Megan talks about her early years in percussion and her experiences and jobs prior to taking the Percussion Director Position at Mizzou in 2014 (12:00), her 12 years so far at Mizzou, what’s she’s learned, her administrative role, the job market and the challenges for future percussion teachers (17:30), working with grad students these days and her own experiences as a grad student (36:30), why she’s involved in PAS Leadership now, having a family and the challenges and opportunities of continuing to keep a professional career (44:00), her work with the Switch~ Ensemble (01:03:30), when her mentor Michael Burritt came to visit Mizzou in the spring (01:11:00), and a brief Random Ass Questions segment including managing her own physical and mental health, her knowledge of children’s media, new and upcoming travels, her father the college professor, “full send”, and some kudos to Pete for the podcast (01:21:35).

Finishing with the Raves, including some FAQs about the podcast and Pete’s heartfelt thanks to the guests and the fans of the show (01:38:00).

Megan Arns Links:

Megan Arns’ website

Megan Arns’ Mizzou page

Switch~ Ensemble website

Bill Kalinkos

Previous Megan Arns’s podcast appearances:

Megan in 2016

Megan in 2017

Megan in 2018

Previous Podcast Guests mentioned in this episode:

John Parks IV in 2018

Troy Hall in 2020

Clif Walker in 2021

Mark Ford in 2023

William Moersch in 2019

Joshua Simonds in 2022

Other Links:

Lewis & Clark Fife and Drum Corps

Colts Drum & Bugle Corps

Michael Bump

Michael Burritt

Royal Hartigan

“Kakamora” from Moana

Experimental Media and Performing Arts Theater

KPop Demon Hunters trailer

Moana trailer

Frozen trailer

Wicked trailer

“Takedown” from KPop Demon Hunters