Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

A place for long form talk with percussionists and other compelling people.

Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito is a arts podcast hosted by Pete Zambito, with 100 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Pete Zambito hosts Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito, a arts show with 100 episodes published.

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  Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

  Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 507 - Leonardo Soto

  Aug 13, 2026—

  Episode 507 - Leonardo Soto Pete's Percussion Podcast Principal Timpanist for the Houston Symphony (TX) Leonardo Soto stops by to talk about his main gig, teaching at the University of Miami (FL), working at summer festivals, secrets of auditioning, and maintaining a busy schedule (03:35), his previous orchestral jobs at the Detroit Opera (MI) and Charlotte Symphony (NC) and his experiences on the audition circuit later in his career (33:45), growing up in Chile, his father the drummer and pop musician, the legacy of Chilean orchestral percussionists, studying percussion in Chile, and the challenges of equipment and music resources in the country (45:20), his master’s degree work at Carnegie-Mellon University (PA), studying with Tim Adams and (later) Tom Freer, early audition experiences, and learning English through Seinfeld and the Rush Hour movies (01:04:05), and finishes with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on student learning styles, his sporting activities and doing cardio, playing athletic timpani music, Rafa Nadal, Chilean soccer, cooking mishaps, great books, and seeing the artwork in The Vatican (01:27:20). Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 documentary Cookie Queens (02:04:55). Leonardo Soto links: Leonardo Soto’s Houston Symphony page Leonardo Soto’s University of Miami page Leonardo Soto’s Remo page Timpani Concerto - Andy Akiho (Leonardo Soto, soloist) Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: She-e Wu in 2025 Pablo Rieppi in 2024 Andrés Espinoza in 2018 Other Links: Matthew Strauss Brevard Music Center Grand Teton Music Festival National Youth Orchestra Tom Freer Tim Adams Cloyd Duff Steven Reineke Svet Stoyanov Joseph Petrasek Edward Stephan Mingyu Son Luft Mallets Richard Weiner Shannon Wood La Sonora de Tommy Rey The All-American Drummer: 150 Rudimental Solos - Charley Wilcoxin Etudes for Timpani - Richard Hochrainer Rafa Nadal The Inner Game of Music - Barry Green City Lights trailer Cinema Paradiso trailer The Undefeated Mind - Alex Lickerman The Alchemist - Paulo Coehlo Meditations - Marcus Aurelius Myriam Hernandez The Vatican Raves: Cookie Queens trailer

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  Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

  Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 506 - Reed Puleo

  Aug 6, 2026—

  Episode 506 - Reed Puleo Pete's Percussion Podcast Denver-based percussionist and educator Reed Puleo stops by to talk about establishing himself in the Denver area and his Fulbright Award to study and work in Austria (02:20), growing up in New Jersey, family members in the arts, his early start in percussion ensemble and percussion performance, and his marching band experiences (34:25), attending Boston Conservatory (MA) for undergrad (47:35), living and studying in Amsterdam after undergrad, the challenges of being there at the time, and heading to the University of Michigan to complete his masters during and after the COVID epidemic (01:02:00), and settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on developing young percussionists, maintaining his physical and mental health, cooking, great movies, New Jersey foods, and Curb Your Enthusiasm (01:17:35). Finishing with a Rave on the 2023 documentary Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection (01:44:40). Reed Puleo Links: Reed Puleo’s webpage Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: Michael Jones in 2026 Ian Antonio in 2023 Keith Aleo in 2020 Other Links: Klangforum Wien Alex Lipowski Ensemble Modern Christian Dierstein Lucerne Festival Academy Impulse New Music Festival Kenneth Piascik “Three Brothers” - Michael Colgrass “Ostinato Pianissimo” - Henry Cowell “Variations on a Ghanaian Theme - Dan Levitan Neil McNulty Kyle Brightwell Nancy Zeltsman Doug Perkins Chosen Vale “Hop(2)” - Paul Lansky From My Little Island - Robert Aldridge American Songbook II - George Crumb Chris Sies Colin Currie (Untitled) trailer Michael Compitello Nathan Davis A Different Man trailer Unfrosted trailer The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger Jannik Sinner “Mr. Brightside” - The Killers Rose Garden Raves: Karen Carpenter: Starving for Perfection trailer

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  Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

  Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 505 - Luke Helker

  Jul 30, 2026—

  Episode 505 - Luke Helker Pete's Percussion Podcast Fort Hays State (KS) Director of Percussion Studies Luke Helker stops by to talk about the FHSU job and about recruiting to a small regional college (02:45), his recent presentation at the Canadian Percussion Network’s annual conference and its beginnings (17:05), growing up in Pennsylvania, his vast array of musical influences and experiences, getting to travel with family, and his years of undergrad at Millersville University (PA) studying percussion and audio production (25:50), his grad school years at the University of Kansas, his time as a wedding DJ, studying under Mike Compitello and Sam Um, and his early teaching experiences (49:10), and then Luke settles in for the Random Ass Questions, including segments on marching vs. concert percussion, great and terrible movies, John Steinbeck, metal music, Philly sports, and the artist Alphonse Mucha (01:11:30). Finishing with a Rave on the book and movie versions of The Odyssey (01:48:05). Luke Helker Links: Luke Helker’s website Luke Helker’s Fort Hays State website Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: Michael Jones in 2026 Other Links: Ryan Pearson “Child of Tree” - John Cage “The Ice is Talking” - Vivian Fung “Allegro ma non troppo” - Unsuk Chin “Echolalia” - Mark Applebaum Oklahoma! ABBA Mozart for Monday Mornings Puccini and Pasta The Who Neil Young Arab Spring James Armstrong Stick Control - George L. Stone Syncopation - Ted Reed Toccata for Percussion Instruments - Carlos Chavez Romeo and Juliet Fantasy Overture - PI Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 2 - Jean Sibelius Rick Rubin The Strokes Wilco My Morning Jacket @Percussion Podcast Michael Compitello Sam Um “Starships” - Nikki Minaj “Fireball” - Pitbull “At Last” - Etta James “I Loved Her First” - Heartland “Celebration” - Kool and the Gang “Shout” - The Isley Brothers “Wobble” - V.I.C. “Yeah!” - Usher and Lil Jon “Turn Down for What” - DJ Snake and Lil Jon Ed Sheeran “Art of Almost” - Wilco Reflections on the Nature of Water - Jacob Druckman Huberman Lab podcast NOPE trailer The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift trailer Orbital - Samantha Harvey The Winter of Our Discontent - John Steinbeck Slipknot Metallica Ghost Bell Witch sunn O))) Phillies 2008 World Series Eagles vs. Patriots Super Bowl LII Jaylen Brown Wawa “Friends in Low Places” - Garth Brooks Alphonse Mucha - Nelson Atkins Museum Raves: The Odyssey - Homer (translation by Emily Wilson) The Odyssey trailer

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  Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

  Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 504 - Kathy Armstrong

  Jul 23, 2026—

  Episode 504 - Kathy Armstrong Pete's Percussion Podcast Carleton University (ON) Ethnomusicologist and Director of Fine Arts Kathy Armstrong stops by to talk about her job, teaching West African drumming and dance, Baobab, and traveling and learning in Ghana for many years (03:30), her recent Canadian Percussion Network Conference presentation and the importance of Global Percussion Studies in standard Western Percussion tradition (21:45), growing up in the Scarborough area of Toronto, her early musical influences (including Soul and Funk music), her wonderful public school music background, the idea of “rhythmic tapestry”, and her experiences in the Girl Guides of Canada (36:10), attending the University of Toronto, studying with members of NEXUS, her post-undergrad experience and branching out into an entrepreneurship mindset (57:15), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments working in world percussion, the importance of maintaining physical and mental health, baking, sports, and great movies and poetry (01:18:00). Finishing with a Rave on the 2026 FIFA World Cup (01:45:05). Kathy Armstrong links: Kathy Armstrong’s website Kathy Armstrong’s Carleton University page Previous Podcast Guests Mentioned: Daniel Noonan in 2026 Chrissie Souza in 2024 Sarah Hasekamp in 2024 Fabrice Marandola in 2026 Kristie Ibrahim in 2024 Other Links: NEXUS Percussion Stevie Wonder Breakfast in America - Supertramp Earth, Wind, and Fire Tower of Power Led Zeppelin Nina Simone Earth, Wind & Fire documentary Summer of Soul trailer Peter Gabriel live in 1986 The Specials “Come Talk to Me” - Peter Gabriel “English Folk Song Suite” - Ralph Vaughan Williams Sting Paul Simon Ladysmith Black Mambazo Michelle Colton Beverley Johnston Timothy Rice James Kippen Big Night trailer Hamnet trailer Mamma Mia! trailer Fall On Your Knees - Ann-Marie MacDonald Outlander - Diana Gabaldon K.C. and the Sunshine Band “Shake It Off” - Taylor Swift Kirk Franklin “Le Freak” - CHIC Northern Super League The Professional Women’s Hockey League Rumi Mary Oliver Raves: The 2026 FIFA World Cup

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  Pete's Percussion Podcast - Pete Zambito

  Pete's Percussion Podcast: Episode 502 - Greg Herron

  Jul 9, 2026—

  Episode 502 - Greg Herron Pete's Percussion Podcast Maryland-based freelance percussionist and educator Greg Herron stops by to talk about his new job as McDonogh School Upper School Band Director and Music Technology teacher, along with his private percussion teaching practice (02:25), his start to freelancing, and his career and life in Boston, Mexico, studying in Cuba, and heading back to Baltimore (11:50), growing up in many locations in the U.S., his active musical background, studying at the University of Miami (FL) and Boston Conservatory (MA), the many teachers who influenced him, and the importance of networking for freelancing gigs (41:50), and finishing with the Random Ass Questions, including segments on instrument rentals, working with administration, and taking care of his physical and mental health (01:24:05). Finishing with a Rave on the 2018 book Atomic Habits (01:38:25). Greg Herron links: Greg Herron’s webpage Previous Podcast Guests mentioned: Jenna Duranko in 2026 Neil Grover in 2023 Keith Aleo in 2020 Rebecca Kite in 2018 Other Links: Roy Haynes Ralph Hardimon Thom Hannum Tom Aungst Pat Hollenbeck Scott Eisenberg Foghorn Leghorn The Karate Kid trailer Caleb Herron I’m Possible - Richard White Dontae Winslow D.J. Sparr “Eruption” - Van Halen Lion Performance Hall John Locke Grant Menafee Nate Morton Matt Halpern Steve Rucker Steve Bagby Advanced Techniques for the Modern Drummer - Jim Chapin Scott Deal Seth Wexler John Tafoya Lou Abbott Svet Stoyanov Phil Faini Fritz Reiner Max Roach Elvin Jones Joe Henderson John H. Beck Vic Firth Evelyn Glennie Colin Currie Edna Huang Buddy Rich Gustav Klimt Raves: Atomic Habits - James Clear

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