In this courageous and deeply impactful episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat is joined by music educator, memoirist, and advocate Megan Farison. Megan opens up about the personal story behind her memoir Dissonance and shares her mission to help educators establish safer, more supportive classroom cultures.

Together, Lesley and Megan tackle some of the hard conversations our profession needs to be having—including how to set and maintain healthy boundaries, why music educators are in uniquely vulnerable positions, and how to cultivate an emotionally safe environment for both students and teachers.

Megan outlines 5 actionable strategies for establishing a classroom culture of safety and wellness and offers examples from real-life experiences that every educator can learn from.

You’ll learn:

• Why boundary-setting is an act of protection—for both students and teachers
• What makes performing arts teachers more susceptible to boundary complications
• The role of transparency, structure, and observability in preventing harm
• Tips for safeguarding yourself and your students during one-on-one moments, school trips, and daily interactions
• How Megan turned her personal story into healing and advocacy—and how you can, too

🎧 Megan also offers a free sneak peek of her memoir Dissonance, available here.

Sing, Coach, Conduct on Spotify

The Elephant Alliance

Anna Sonoda, author of Duck Duck Groom: How a Child Becomes a Target

In this inspiring episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat chats with Nancy Erickson Lamont, a Washington-based choir director, music educator, and accomplished jazz vocalist. Nancy’s journey proves that it’s never too late to reinvent yourself—whether you're 40, 50, or 60. After taking time off to raise a family, she returned to school, launched a teaching career in her 50s, and released multiple albums as a singer-songwriter.

Lesley and Nancy dive into how reclaiming your creative passions can boost mental health, reduce burnout, and set a powerful example for students. Nancy shares the three pillars that guide her life and teaching: lifelong learning, focused priorities, and creating without fear. Whether you're considering a personal comeback or simply looking to reconnect with your artistic self, Nancy's story will motivate you to take that first step.

You’ll learn:

• How Nancy transitioned from stay-at-home mom to full-time music educator and performer
• Why personal creativity fuels professional growth
• Strategies for setting boundaries and focusing on what really matters
• Tips for easing back into performance—even if it’s been decades
• How to nurture your health, your voice, and your joy

🎵 Stick around for links to Nancy’s latest music and hear how collaboration helped her confidence bloom!

Here is the link to her Feature FM account, which links to her latest album on multiple streaming platforms: https://ffm.to/b8pkvnj

In this energizing episode of the Band Director Boot Camp Podcast, host Lesley Moffat chats with Erin Mahr, a band director who's made it her mission to run a marathon or half marathon in all 50 states. Lesley and Erin discuss the challenge of balancing a demanding career with personal wellness and how engaging in activities like marathon running can significantly enhance one's physical and mental health.

Erin shares her journey from a band director overwhelmed by her profession to becoming a goal-setting marathon runner who values self-care and scheduling.

Discover practical strategies for integrating personal passions with professional responsibilities, and learn how setting achievable goals can lead to a more fulfilling life both in and out of the band room.