
Episode 88-Dark Mysteries Bright Melodies
05/1/2026 | 12 mins.
Early 20th century musician George White painted the New York scene with dance tunes on his piccolo; and the tune bearing his name has gone on to enchant generations of Irish musicians. Well before that, a piper lured 130 children with his sweet playing (and his colorful clothes). There's no bankruptcy of mystery or chirpy melodies in this first episode of Season 10 of Shannon Heaton's Irish Music Stories. _________________ 
For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ShannonHeatonMusic.com

Episode 87-Revisited Fairy Forts and Changelings
05/11/2025 | 52 mins.
As magical new Irish music podcasts emerge, as dark forces swirl around the world, and as much of the northern hemisphere enters into shorter, colder days, the Irish Music Stories re-investigates lore and mystery surrounding Irish fairies. With care and caution—and with young co-producer Nigel—fiddle players Tara Connaghan and Martin Hayes, singer Emily Smith, and storyteller MáirtÃn de Cógáin help explore songs and stories about the SÃ. ________________________________ Thank you to everybody for listening. And a special thank you to recent underwriters: Harish Babu Arunachalam, Paul DeCamp, Jonathan Duvick, Randall Semagin, Michael Voss, Heather Carroll, Robert Suchor, Ian Bittle, Adele Megann, Patrick OLeary, Irish & Celtic Music Podcast, Paul DeCamp, Karin Kettenring, and Rick Rubin

Episode 86-King of the Bees (IMS Sidequest)
21/10/2025 | 14 mins.
In this six-episode "Sidequest" series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her "Perfect Maze" album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For this final (sixth) installment #6 she talks about the heartbreak and beauty of mortality, and (not so silly) naked rulers, and why there are no kings in the bee world. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ShannonHeatonMusic.com

Episode 85: Red Rose and White Lotus (IMS Sidequest)
14/10/2025 | 16 mins.
In this six-episode "Sidequest" series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her "Perfect Maze" album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #4 she talks of kings and royal roses, and spiritual leaders and mud-born lotus plants; and how it takes a team and timing for plants—and for humans—to transform. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ShannonHeatonMusic.com

Episode 84: William of Orange (IMS Sidequest)
07/10/2025 | 13 mins.
In this six-episode "Sidequest" series, Irish Music Stories host Shannon Heaton shares music from her "Perfect Maze" album (pollinator-inspired compositions for flute, strings, piano, and voice). And in keeping with the IMS mission, she also incudes stories that helped her navigate the whole project. For installment #4 she breaks down one movement of her Flute Duel (with talk of cadenzas, Nuevo Tango influences, and butterfly flight patterns). She also shares stories about the ancient monarch butterfly's namesake and its Mexican guardians. _________________ For playlists, transcripts, links to videos, companion essays, and to contribute to this project, please head to ShannonHeatonMusic.com



Irish Music Stories Podcast