You’re listening to Unmuted!, the podcast from Sing out Strong, where real life, real choirs and real talk come together.
Hosted by Emma and Jenn Rowland-Elsen, choir leaders and mental health specialists, this is where we get honest about what’s really happening in our rehearsal rooms, and what needs to change.
We talk inclusive practice, nervous system-aware singing, leadership, burnout, joy, and everything in between - practical conversations for people who know choir is never just about singing.
Sing out Strong delivers inclusive, mental health-informed singing projects, training, and consultancy across the UK and beyond. Emma is the Founder/Artistic Director of Sing out Strong, a veteran choral conductor, and a consultant in choir mental health and inclusion. Jenn is a qualified therapist and Sing out Strong conductor.
Find out more at www.singoutstrong.com
Meet the hosts of UNMUTED:
Emma: Choir Inclusion and Mental Health Consultant, veteran choral conductor and founder of Sing out Strong, the world’s biggest mental health choir!
Jenn: therapist, mental health lead for Sing out Strong and Emma’s right-hand woman!
Together, Em and Jenn are shaking up how we think about mental health, music, and what choir can really be.
In this episode:
An honest discussion of what it feels like when choirs lose their va-va-voom and how that can have a knock-on effect for member wellbeing.
Luckily, Em and Jenn round off the episode by suggesting a whole host of things that choirs can do to turn it around.
This is the LAST in the current season of Unmuted. Season 2, BELONGING, will arrive in 2026.
⭐️ For all things Choir Inclusion and Mental Health, find Emma online:
Email: unbreakable@emmarowlandelsen.com
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @emmarowlandelsen
Website: emmarowlandelsen.com
1 Nov 2025
#9 The Top 10 Go-Tos in Choir (that keep us Connected, Mentally Healthy and Singing with Joy)!
Meet the hosts of UNMUTED:
Emma: Choir Inclusion and Mental Health Consultant, veteran choral conductor and founder of Sing out Strong, the world’s biggest mental health choir!
Jenn: therapist, mental health lead for Sing out Strong and Emma’s right-hand woman!
Together, Em and Jenn are shaking up how we think about mental health, music, and what choir can really be.
In this episode:
A countdown of the top 10 things we do in our choirs that keep our groups connected, mentally healthy and singing with joy.
Emma and Jenn have put their heads together to come up with 10 game changers that other choir leaders can implement right now!
Learn their insider tricks and tips and why they work for mentally-healthy choirs. Small changes, big difference.
⭐️ For all things Choir Inclusion and Mental Health, find Emma online:
Email: unbreakable@emmarowlandelsen.com (https://unbreakable@emmarowlandelsen.com/)
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @emmarowlandelsen
Website: emmarowlandelsen.com (https://www.emmarowlandelsen.com/)
25 Oct 2025
#8 The Silly Season: Coping with Christmas in Choir
Meet the hosts of UNMUTED:
Emma: Choir Inclusion and Mental Health Consultant, veteran choral conductor and founder of Sing out Strong, the world’s biggest mental health choir!
Jenn: therapist, mental health lead for Sing out Strong and Emma’s right-hand woman!
Together, Em and Jenn are shaking up how we think about mental health, music, and what choir can really be.
In this episode:
With Christmas fast approaching (whether we want it to or not), Emma and Jenn have been thinking about all the additional mental health pressures that the season can bring and how it can show up in choir.
From the pressures of repertoire, to concert nerves, family politics and protecting your peace as a choir leader, the episode is an important exploration of “the happiest season”.
With some great tips about how to take some of the weight off, this episode is just the tonic you need help you through the busy festive period with ease.
⭐️ For all things Choir Inclusion and Mental Health, find Emma online:
Email: unbreakable@emmarowlandelsen.com
Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn: @emmarowlandelsen
Website: emmarowlandelsen.com
26 Jul 2025
#7 What to do when your Choir doesn’t do Mental Health
What happens when mental health isn’t part of the choir culture - but it still shows up in the room?
In this thoughtful, no-shame episode, we explore how to gently introduce mental-health awareness into your choir setting, even if the topic feels taboo or unfamiliar. From decoding different choir cultures to simple, low-stakes ways of embedding emotional safety into rehearsal, this one’s for every leader who’s ever thought: “I want to support my singers better…but where do I start?”
⭐️ Grab the Mentally-Healthy Choir Toolkit here- a ready-to-use resource packed with practical ideas and templates:
https://www.emmarowlandelsen.com/guidebook.html (https://www.emmarowlandelsen.com/guidebook.html)
19 Jul 2025
#6 Regulate before you Resonate
In this episode, Emma and Jenn explore how traditional choir culture and habits may be unintentionally dysregulating singers, and offer a radical reframe: what if those habits were actually co-regulation tools? Learn how breath, gesture, language, routine and environment can either soothe or stress the choir - and how to create rehearsals and communities that feel safe, grounded and connected from the very first note.
In this episode, Emma refers to the following links:
The Mentally-Healthy Toolkit for Leaders
www.emmarowlandelsen.com/guidebook (https://www.emmarowlandelsen.com/guidebook)
Blog post on conducting cues:
https://www.emmarowlandelsen.com/blog/conducting-cues-that-actually-dysregulate-your-singers-and-what-to-do-instead (https://www.emmarowlandelsen.com/blog/conducting-cues-that-actually-dysregulate-your-singers-and-what-to-do-instead)
And Instagram for live videos and resources:
Instagram.com/emmarowlandelsen (https://www.instagram.com/emmarowlandelsen)
12 Jul 2025
#5 Leading While Healing
TRIGGER WARNING: POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
In this episode, Emma is interviewed about her lived experience of PTSD and how it affects her role as a choir leader. Leading while healing comes with a unique set of challenges and this episode aims to uncover some of the unseen truths.
5 Jul 2025
#4 What does Inclusion mean in Choir?
Em and Jenn discuss the meaning of inclusion in choir settings, exploring neurodiversity and vocal accessibility to ensure every singer feels valued in this episode.
28 Jun 2025
#3 Choir isn’t Therapy (but you can Find Therapy in Choir)
Em and Jenn explore the complex relationship between choir and therapy, offering insights for both leaders and singers on finding genuine therapeutic value in choral music in this interview episode.
25 Jun 2025
#2 Do you Have to “Have Mental Health” to Join a Mental Health Choir?
Hosts Em and Jenn discuss the misconceptions surrounding mental health choirs, clarifying that participation shouldn't hinge on having a mental health condition.
21 Jun 2025
#1 What Makes a Choir Mentally Healthy?
Hosts Emma and Jenn explore the key elements that contribute to a mentally healthy choir environment, focusing on inclusivity and practical strategies for fostering a welcoming atmosphere.
21 Jun 2025
Meet your Hosts!
Hosts Emma and Jenn introduce themselves and their backgrounds, setting the stage for discussions on singing and vocal performance in this introductory episode.
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