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Our podcasts · 24 episodes · watch, listen or read

Our Podcasts: Real Stories, Remarkable Voices

Step behind the scenes with The People’s Orchestra and The People’s Show Choirs. Every episode has its own page with the video, chapters you can jump to and a full transcript.

🎧 Two podcasts, one story

From personal stories of transformation to interviews with some of the UK’s best-known artists, The People’s Orchestra podcasts celebrate the joy, connection and impact of community music-making.

Choose an episode below to watch it, jump to a chapter or read the full transcript.

Monthly · 2025

The People’s Orchestra and Show Choir Podcast

9 episodes, hosted by Matt Ward with Chris Weber

2021 – 2022

Just The Tonic with Katie Derham

15 episodes on the positive power of the arts

Latest episode

Episode artwork: November 2025, Volunteering

Season 1, Episode 9 · 30 October 2025 · 36 minutes

November 2025: Volunteering

Matt and Chris talk to journalist Alison Brinkworth about volunteering on our PR, Chris asks Matt why he volunteers his time on the podcast, and Jen, our Piña Colada Girl, shares what the choir has meant to her.

🎙️ The People's Orchestra and Show Choir Podcast

Our monthly podcast, hosted by Matt Ward. Concerts, tours, walking choirs and the members, volunteers and staff who make it all happen.

Episode artwork: Volunteering

Episode 9 · 30 October 2025 · 36 min

Volunteering

Alison Brinkworth on volunteering, why Matt hosts the podcast, and Piña Colada Girl.

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Episode artwork: Saphran Ali and Jamie Parker

Episode 8 · 10 September 2025 · 35 min

Saphran Ali and Jamie Parker

Conducting the orchestra and Big Band, digital communications and summer busking.

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Episode artwork: Walking Choirs, Rusties and Wolverhampton

Episode 7 · 7 August 2025 · 32 min

Walking Choirs, Rusties and Wolverhampton

Looking back on the walking choirs, the Rusty Players and a thriving Wolverhampton choir.

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Episode artwork: The Scottish Highlands Tour

Episode 6 · 30 June 2025 · 33 min

The Scottish Highlands Tour

Behind the scenes of our Highlands tour, and getting music to over 1,000 members.

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Episode artwork: Our 13th Anniversary Episode

Episode 5 · 8 May 2025 · 34 min

Our 13th Anniversary Episode

Our Mother's Day concert at Symphony Hall with 600 performers, as we turn 13.

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Episode artwork: Inside The People's Orchestra

Episode 4 · 1 April 2025 · 20 min

Inside The People's Orchestra

Orchestra leader Mandy Toor, Julian Powell and founding violist Annie Routley.

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Episode artwork: Come and Sing, Walking Choirs and Back to Work

Episode 3 · 28 February 2025 · 23 min

Come and Sing, Walking Choirs and Back to Work

Our first Come and Sing Day, free walking choirs, back-to-work support and the Ringers Choir.

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Episode artwork: Poland, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham

Episode 2 · 28 January 2025 · 22 min

Poland, Shrewsbury and Cheltenham

Our choir tour to Poland, and how two choirs grew in their communities.

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Episode artwork: Our First Episode

Episode 1 · 31 December 2024 · 29 min

Our First Episode

Christmas concerts in Birmingham and London, busking at New Street, and our volunteers.

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Episode artwork: Podcast teaser

Teaser · before Episode 1

Podcast teaser

A short taster of our monthly podcast, before the first episode.

🎵 Just The Tonic with Katie Derham

Our series with broadcaster Katie Derham, shining a light on the positive power of music and the arts, with guests including Carlos Acosta, Lesley Garrett, Nicola Benedetti and Kit de Waal.

Special

Episode artwork: Celebrating World Singing Day

Special · 14 October 2022 · 16 min

Celebrating World Singing Day

Nicky Spence, Ula Weber, the Hallé community choir, Sir Mark Elder and Lesley Garrett.

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Series 2 · 2022

Episode artwork: Music is for Celebrations, with Kit de Waal

Series 2, Episode 6 · 25 August 2022 · 36 min

Music is for Celebrations, with Kit de Waal

New choir members at Birmingham 2022, the Morriston Orpheus Choir and Kit de Waal.

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Episode artwork: The Taste of the Opera, with Nicky Spence

Series 2, Episode 5 · 11 August 2022 · 35 min

The Taste of the Opera, with Nicky Spence

Singing as a superpower, ENO's AbracadOpera! and our Rusty Players Orchestra.

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Episode artwork: The Power of Poetry, with Ian McMillan

Series 2, Episode 4 · 28 July 2022 · 33 min

The Power of Poetry, with Ian McMillan

Ian McMillan, Casey Bailey and young poets at the Birmingham Children's Poetry Festival.

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Episode artwork: Help Musicians, with Lesley Garrett

Series 2, Episode 3 · 14 July 2022 · 36 min

Help Musicians, with Lesley Garrett

How Help Musicians got Lesley singing again, and John Koutselinis on We Are One.

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Episode artwork: Music in Hospitals and Care, with Sir Richard Stilgoe

Series 2, Episode 2 · 30 June 2022 · 25 min

Music in Hospitals and Care, with Sir Richard Stilgoe

How live music helps people in hospital and care, and our 10th anniversary concert.

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Episode artwork: Positive Power of the Arts, with Carlos Acosta

Series 2, Episode 1 · 16 June 2022 · 33 min

Positive Power of the Arts, with Carlos Acosta

Carlos Acosta, Deaf dancer Billy Read and our plans for Birmingham 2022.

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Series 1 · 2021 – 2022

Episode artwork: Rehabilitation

Series 1, Episode 8 · 13 January 2022 · 34 min

Rehabilitation

Music in prisons with Changing Tunes, and Roger Graef on Feltham Sings.

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Episode artwork: Music Builds Communities

Series 1, Episode 7 · 20 December 2021 · 34 min

Music Builds Communities

A Christmas edition with the Citizens of the World Choir and patron Emily Watson.

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Episode artwork: Inspirational Music Educators

Series 1, Episode 6 · 9 December 2021 · 34 min

Inspirational Music Educators

Big Noise Raploch and violinist Nicola Benedetti on music education.

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Episode artwork: A Level Playing Field?

Series 1, Episode 5 · 25 November 2021 · 30 min

A Level Playing Field?

Disabled musicians and inclusion, with Charles Hazlewood of Paraorchestra.

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Episode artwork: Music for Confidence

Series 1, Episode 4 · 11 November 2021 · 32 min

Music for Confidence

Getting back into work, Streetwise Opera and composer Sir James MacMillan.

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Episode artwork: Music is for Everyone

Series 1, Episode 3 · 28 October 2021 · 30 min

Music is for Everyone

Diversity in classical music with Xhosa Cole and Chi-chi Nwanoku of Chineke!

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Episode artwork: The Power of Song

Series 1, Episode 2 · 14 October 2021 · 29 min

The Power of Song

The benefits of singing in a choir, social prescribing and Sir Mark Elder.

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Episode artwork: The People's Orchestra

Series 1, Episode 1 · 29 September 2021 · 35 min

The People's Orchestra

How The People's Orchestra began, with Xhosa Cole and composer John Altman.

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Episode artwork: Just The Tonic trailer

Trailer · Series 1

Just The Tonic trailer

Katie Derham introduces Just The Tonic, the podcast about the positive power of the arts.

Questions about our podcasts

Every episode has its own page on this website with the video, chapters and a full transcript. You can also listen on Acast and watch on YouTube.

Yes. Each episode page has a full transcript, with timestamps that play the video from that point.

Our monthly podcast is hosted by Matt Ward, with Chris Weber as co-host. Just The Tonic is presented by broadcaster Katie Derham.

Book two free sessions with The People's Show Choirs, The People's Orchestra or the Big Band. No auditions, and everyone is welcome.

❤️ Get involved

Try The People's Show Choirs, The People's Orchestra or the Big Band – your first two sessions are free. Every membership funds our work supporting people into employment and through financial crisis.

Singers from the Cheltenham choir performing at their summer concert