The Parenting Musically podcast will release the final episode of its seventh season on Wednesday, November 19, featuring Joan Ellison, vocalist, educator, and faculty member in the CWRU/CIM Joint Music Program. Episode #51 concludes a season that centers Cleveland’s rich musical landscape while exploring the deep connections between music, parenting, and community.
Season 7 introduces a new co-host and an exciting shift in format. For the first time, the podcast is co-led by Dr. Lisa Huisman Koops, Professor and Head of Music Education, and Dr. George Blake, CWRU’s resident “Clevelandologist.” Their collaboration shaped this season from concept to completion, guiding the selection of guests, the framing of conversations, and the thematic lens of each episode.
In a recent Q&A with Simi Olabode, Second Year Ph.D. Musicology, Case Western Reserve and Baker Nord Graduate Assistant, Dr. Koops reflected on this new partnership:
“After six seasons of hosting on my own, I wanted to stretch the discussions through a broader humanities lens, and I knew I needed a collaborator who could bring those richer layers of interpretation. I thought right away of George! He helped design the season, shape the concepts, and formulate the questions. It has been such a privilege to collaborate with him.”
Dr. Blake shared his own perspective on the season’s impact:
“I am particularly excited about how the guests illuminate hidden riches of cultural life in Northeast Ohio, while offering insight into negotiating private and public musical spaces. We learn about intergenerational connections, the challenges of raising children while performing, and the many ways families make music meaningful. Music is important. Everyone is musical. There are many ways to be musical.”
Season 7 features interviews with a diverse group of Cleveland-area professional musicians, exploring parenting and place in an age of global interconnection. Each episode pairs the guest conversation with a thoughtful response from Dr. Blake, who brings an ethnomusicological perspective to the themes, instruments, and stories shared by the musicians. Over the course of the season, a powerful theme emerged: music as connector—bridging families, cultures, and communities.
This season’s final episode spotlights Joan Ellison, whose artistry and career in both performance and teaching embody the creative and educational spirit of the Joint Music Program.
The Parenting Musically project is supported by Case Western Reserve University and represents a collegial collaboration among faculty, graduate students, and Davey Berris, Lead Digital Video Specialist with MediaVision, who has engineered every episode since the podcast began. Previous seasons have included partnerships with major arts and cultural institutions such as the GRAMMY Museum Foundation, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Country Music Hall of Fame, and The Music Settlement.
Listeners can explore all episodes and follow the podcast on Spotify.
