Welcome back to Bar Talk – the podcast where classical music meets chaos (and apparently... the Macarena).

In this laugh-out-loud episode, Pokie and Walter reunite in NYC and spiral into stories involving mysterious Mahler rehearsals, jet lag recovery, and martinis gone wild. You’ll hear about:

• A hilariously random rehearsal encounter via text surveillance

• Walter’s 15-minute hourglass practice method vs. Pokie’s Schubert practice notebook madness

• Why ChatGPT is our new therapist (and brand strategist)

• An update on the Bolivian Bicentennial Challenge 🎉 (YouTube Premiere on Aug 6 @ 7PM EST!)

• Listener reviews that left us blushing (and slicing diamonds)

• Pet peeves: NYC subway etiquette + confusing clothing sizes

• A bonus therapy-inspired ChatGPT game you’ll want to try too

🎧 Whether you're a classical music nerd, a fan of unsolicited tangents, or just here for the laughs, this episode has something for everyone.

📝 Mentioned in this episode:

• Bolivian Bicentennial Challenge YouTube Premiere: Aug 6, 7PM EST

• ChatGPT prompts you can try (we’ll post them on IG @BartalkPod)

• Our unsolicited but very real fashion crisis 🧵

💬 Leave us a 5-star review and we might read it on air – bonus points if it’s spicy.

📩 DM us your ChatGPT therapy results… or just say hi.

Rate ★★★★★ & subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 7.

In this delightfully chaotic and cross-continental episode, Walter calls in from Tokyo, where he’s adjudicating a piano festival, eating eel jelly, avoiding horse carpaccio, and discovering hidden bar pianos in the backstreets of Japan. Meanwhile, Pokie shares his experience performing rare tree-themed piano music at a local church (hello, Sibelius fans), prepping for a Mahler summer concert, and navigating the pet peeve minefield of slurping and leg-shaking.

Together, they dive into:

• What it’s like to hear 200 students perform over 10 days in Japan
• Why Latin American piano repertoire is having a moment overseas
• How Japanese bathrooms are more elegant than your apartment
• Pokie’s BarTech tips on building a musician website—why something is better than nothing and how to get started without perfectionism holding you back
• Their favorite vending machine snacks (and the ones to avoid)
• The top 10-second pet peeves from their group chat (you’ve been warned)

🎹 Whether you're a musician, traveler, or curious foodie, this episode offers laughs, insights, and just the right amount of musical geekery.

Follow BarTalk:

📩 Follow us @bartalkpod | @jurassicpugs | @wfaparicio

🎧 Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC | @phMediaStudio

💌 Leave a comment—we might read it on air!

#BarTalkPodcast #MusiciansWhoTravel #ClassicalMusicLife #MusicTeacherLife #TokyoDiaries #WebsiteTips #MusicianBranding #PianoLife #BarTech #PetPeeves #PodcastSEO

Rate ★★★★★ & subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 6.

In this cozy remote edition of Bar Talk, Pokie tunes in from NYC while Walter reports live from Wilmington, NC (sweating through the humidity). They chat about summer routines, the Bolivian Bicentennial Challenge 🎉, and the power of clear website design for musicians—hint: you only have 10 seconds to make an impression! Pokie introduces a new “BarTech” segment on homepage strategy, and Walter shares a near-tragic tale involving his pup Freddie 🐶. Plus, they dish on Carnegie Hall performances, Tokyo-bound adventures, SoulCycle throwbacks, and their shared pet peeve: dangerous bread.

🎙️ Whether you're a classical musician, piano teacher, or podcast fan who loves casual banter and inside-baseball convos about music life—this one’s for you.

👉 Don’t forget to rate, review, and follow wherever you listen. Leave us a comment—it helps more folks find our little corner of chaos.

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📩 Follow us @bartalkpod | @jurassicpugs | @wfaparicio

🎧 Produced by phMediaStudio, LLC | @phMediaStudio

Rate ★★★★★ & subscribe so you don’t miss Episode 5.