Drummer Mamas
Drummer Mamas is a podcast aimed at bringing drumming mothers together. Ciara Chinniah and Gemma Hill have been friends since they met studying the drums at music college. Since then they have both had children and wanted to share their experiences in the drumming world whilst also juggling everything that comes with motherhood.
Episodes
52 episodes
Sound Advice, Friends with Sticks & the Power of Creating More Drummers — with Bob Wynne
We’re joined by Bob Wynne — drummer, educator, and advocate for a world filled with more drummers!Bob talks about the idea behind the Evans Sound Advice Room at The UK Drum Show, his upcoming masterclass with Steve White (Feb 23rd), and ...
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41:31
A spotlight on… manifesting, cosmic ordering and being lucky!
This episode comes with a ‘woo woo’ warning!We talk about all things ‘universe’: manifesting, ordering what you want, receiving it, operating on a positive wavelength, and making lists to help you achieve your goals and dreams.Parking s...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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35:45
Geoff Dugmore: souls, songs and sessions
Some stats about our guest today that may even be out of date by now: he hasplayed on 89 top 20 albums, 53 number ones, he has produced Debbie Harry, andplayed with the likes of Stevie Nicks, Tina Turner and Rod Stewart. Geoff Dugmore
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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51:24
Ellie East: Touring with Dave Stewart, counter-acting control, and the importance of taking a break
Ellie East has been Dave Stewart’s drummer of choice for the last 2 years, and her bouncy energy and positive vibes make it easy to see why she is consistently booked for tours and session work. Ellie tells us how her new outlook on finding int...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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33:13
Gabi King: learning fast vs living slowly – The 1975, Elton John and tattoos
Gabi King joined the 1975 as their percussionist after auditioning for them by performing on the Jonathan Ross Show, which led to her learning the entire percussion set in two weeks before flying out to join them on tour in Mexico.Of course, sh...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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43:15
Tom Howarth: stick tricks, content inspiration and how it nearly all ended with one word…
Tom Howarth’s drum reels are witty, entertaining, full of stick tricks and favoured by the algorithm! Tom tells us how he comes up with his content, about family life supporting a child with additional needs, his new online drum school, and wha...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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47:06
The Christmas Episode - The one where we finally talk about drum gear!
Our last episode before we have a week off for Christmas. We update you with if we are ready for the big day, what we're hoping to get, 2026 and our love of pie!
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Season 3
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Episode 12
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24:51
Maxie Cheer: manifesting, ghostbusting & Kate Nash touring
Maxie is playing drums for music that feels like it is making a difference: touring with artists and activists such as Kate Nash, Jasmine.4.t and Isha, Maxie has had a busy 2025, full of touring, recording, and even a ghostly encounter in Hambu...
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Season 3
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Episode 11
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45:43
Martina Barakoska: Moving, drumming to solve problems, & keeping a balanced approach.
2025 has been a big year for Martina Barakoska both personally and professionally; she’s moved to a different country, learned a new language, filmed a phenomenal commercial for Thomann, hosted a masterclass at the UK Drum Show, and is busy wit...
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Season 3
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Episode 10
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47:24
Steve White: forming family bonds through drums, supporting new music, and adjusting after injuries
Having enjoyed huge success with Paul Weller and the Style Council from the latter part of his teenage years, Steve White went on to tour all over the world and become a hugely respected drum clinician, author and educator. As a dad to four chi...
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Season 3
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Episode 9
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51:58
A Spotlight on…new projects!
Gemma and Ciara have been up to new things… Ciara is about to launch ‘Begin’, an online beginner drum course that people can do at their own pace, and Gemma has set up Swiftiedrums on social media, where people can learn the real drum parts to ...
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Season 3
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Episode 8
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29:09
Sarah Hagan: inclusion, diversity, family & the drum industry
Sarah Hagan worked as the Director of Artist Relations at Zildjian for several years, is on the Board of Advisors for the Percussive Arts Society, and now runs her own consulting company, so if anyone knows about the topic of diversity and incl...
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Season 3
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Episode 7
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34:05
Stan Bicknell: Coffee, soft skills, tours & life changing decisions
‘Leave the room better than when you entered it and make everyone feel awesome along the way’ is the mantra that Stan Bicknell lives by, and it seems to work because he landed himself a huge tour with Natasha Bedingfield this year! He is seeing...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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1:01:13
A Spotlight on…The UK Drum Show 2025
We met up in Liverpool for the UK Drum Show! What were our favourite moments from the weekend? What would we do differently next time?From the Main Stage to the Education Room and everything in between, this is our rundown of the biggest dr...
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Season 3
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Episode 5
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20:03
Ollie Winiberg: Gratitude, grief and hosting a drum show
Ollie Winiberg is the sunny personality who is best known for interviewing drummers and hosting the UK and Europe Drum Shows. Ollie frankly shares his journey to where he is today with us, including his start in BBC radio, losing his dad at a y...
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Season 3
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Episode 4
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37:29
He’s arrived! Will Daly Part 2 – dad-hood, drum school and baby cinema dates
Our episode last week was recorded with Will Daly as he and his wife were days orhours before becoming first-time parents. This time, we speak to Will a few weeksafter the birth of this son. How did it all go?! What has been the reality...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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54:31
Baby incoming! Will Daly Part 1: pre-baby plans for balancing parenthood with drum teaching
At any moment now, Will Daly and his wife are about to become first-time parents!What will being a dad mean for Will and his drum teaching school? As a self-employed musician, are there any plans or practical steps that he’s taken to co...
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Season 3
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Episode 2
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37:38
Mike Johnston - Behind the scenes of business, drums, dogs, and home life
What an opener to the new season!Mike Johnston is joining us to kick off our autumn 2025 episodes, and we take the chance to ask him about the family he has supporting him behind the scenes. What keeps him ticking when he’s not at a drum ki...
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Season 3
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Episode 1
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1:34:53
A spotlight on… powering up your practice with Christin Neddens
Do you ever wonder how you could get better results from your practice time? Or have you had to take a break from drums and feel overwhelmed at the idea of how to get back into practising again? We speak to Christin Neddens, author of ‘Creative...
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58:52
A spotlight on… all-women drum camps with Ciara Chinniah
Ciara started her UK drum camps for women three years ago, and in that time her ideas and business have grown far beyond what she had originally imagined. Answering questions from Gemma, Ciara describes how the drum camps started, what they inv...
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20:03
Mental Health Matters: Practical Tips & Insights from Teacher and Author James Sharp
We’ve wanted to cover this topic for a while now, so we’re pleased to speak to James Sharp about mental health, ranging from anxiety and depression to performance anxiety within music.James is a Drumsense Master Tutor with his own drum scho...
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48:46
Baby on tour: James' Drummer Debbie Knox-Hewson shares some big news...
Debbie Knox-Hewson has spent the last decade touring with acts such as Charli XCX, Honey Blood and James. This festival season is a bit different for Debbie as she shares some VERY exciting news with us!We take this unique opportunity to as...
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48:15
A Spotlight on…the written side of the drum industry
Gemma answers Ciara’s questions on another side of the drum industry: drum books, publishing and music magazines. Gemma lifts the lid on her experiences as editor of Drummer Magazine, and how that has led to editing, proofreading and translatin...
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17:40
‘What you focus on will grow’ – Jo Allen, a creative career coach, helps mums become ‘unstuck’
Jo began her music career as a freelance violinist and soon branched off into other areas of the industry, setting up her own laser string show and entertainment agency, which allowed her the freedom to work around her two young children.Jo...
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Season 2
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Episode 23
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28:47
Work hard and be nice: Mike Dolbear on the drumming community, parenthood and mental health
Mike Dolbear is at the heart of the UK drum scene as a teacher, as founder of the Young Drummer of the Year event (which he started more than 20 years ago), and with his masterclass room at the UK and European Drum Shows.As mentor to so...
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Season 2
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Episode 22
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56:50