Episode 42 - Hey friends! Tune in to Helena and Adam’s chat with Declan Costello, the choral scholar-turned-laryngologist who explains vocal health in plain, caring terms: baseline scopes, stroboscopy, reflux, aging voices, and how to tell the psychological from the physical. Don't miss it!

Ep 41 - Join Helena and Adam as they catch up with Tanja Binggeli the Berlin-based German language coach who makes German sing as beautifully as Italian. Helena and Adam dig into her accidental career, rehearsal-room tales, coaching hacks and even a surprising love of garlic. It’s warm, nerdy, funny and full of practical tips to help singers sound and be their best.

Ep 40 - Hi friends! Grab a cuppa and join Helena, Adam and the legendary Tony Legge for a behind-the-scenes chat about bel canto, the boring-but-brilliant exercises that actually save your voice and the wild stories that happen in rehearsals and auditions. Don't miss this one!

Ep 39 - Helena and Adam sit down with Caitlin Vincent, author of Opera Wars, for a chat that's equal parts love letter and expose. There are high notes, audition nightmares, messy rehearsal-room gossip and big questions about who opera is by and for.

Warm, funny and full of insider stories, this episode makes opera feel human. It's perfect if you love it, want to understand it, or just enjoy a juicy behind-the-scenes story.

Ep 38 - Friends! Don't miss this chat as Helena and Adam catch up with the hilarious, generous and thoughtful, Michael Lapina, who just happens to also be a world-class tenor! Michael spills stories about starting at Disney, juggling 3D printers and how Rotary helped him create real opportunities for young singers and the community. It’s warm, nerdy and full of practical inspiration.

Episode 37 - Friends! Helena and Adam back for 2026 and catching up on the past couple of months: think backyard barbies, the world’s sexiest mac and cheese and a glorious performance of Gilbert & Sullivan at the Palais. We trade hilarious backstage stories from Spain, festival chaos and surreal memories from London, before diving into what’s coming up for the year. Grab a drink, get comfy and come along for the ride! It’s a season full of passion, pratfalls and plenty of operatic goodness.

Episode 36 - Hey friends! Welcome to our festive season wrap! Helena and Adam get silly, swap stories from a wild year of opera and podcasting and dish on highlights, humiliations and big life moments (think moving house, role debuts and embarrassing gym tales).

Grab your seasonal drink of choice and join us for a warm, laugh-out-loud look back at the year. Merry Christmas and we'll see you on the other side!

Episode 35 - Hi friends! We had the most inspiring chat with Melissa Wegner, Executive Director with the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and the Laffont Competition. She walks us through international outreach, how the Met picks and develops singers and why mentorship, mental health and practical skills all matter, just as much as talent.

If you’re an aspiring singer, you’ll love her clear audition checklist (voice, musicianship, interpretation and career potential), plus reality checks about covers, timing and when to jump into the professional world. She also explains the newer, kinder side of industry training: financial coaching, performance psychology, intimacy coordinators and real community support.

Tune in for honest, friendly and super-useful advice whether you’re auditioning, considering a young artist program, or just want an insight into how singers can thrive in this wild opera life.