Planxty Podcast Transistor (https://transistor.fm) https://feeds.transistor.fm/planxty-podcast A podcast exploring the rich tapestry of Irish dance and the community who loves it. Hosted by Julia Topper, ethnomusicologist and Irish dance competitor and teacher, and Kristo Sween, 20-year Irish dance dad, live camera director for FEIStv, and Operations Manager at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. 2026 The Planxty Podcast 3ea30f5b-554d-5415-818c-91a74b1d27a0 yes Welcome to Planxty - Teaser Trailer en Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:08:31 -0400 Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:09:06 -0400 https://img.transistorcdn.com/0wu9pgdrrWt4YWkY0gvRtga7EOdreELQ59Iwrw9-pjY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9hNmMx/ZjJkYTYzZWY4M2Fh/MWM3ZWU5N2ZkYzJi/NzIxMC5wbmc.jpg Planxty Podcast episodic Julia Topper and Kristo Sween A podcast exploring the rich tapestry of Irish dance and the community who loves it. Hosted by Julia Topper, ethnomusicologist and Irish dance competitor and teacher, and Kristo Sween, 20-year Irish dance dad, live camera director for FEIStv, and Operations Manager at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. A podcast exploring the rich tapestry of Irish dance and the community who loves it. Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media Kristo Sween planxtypodcast@gmail.com No No Francis Ward - Pt. 2 10 10 Francis Ward - Pt. 2 full ad6eed2b-1dad-4492-b105-e1891020a0c6 https://share.transistor.fm/s/dffd8649 In part two of our chat with feis musician, composer, teacher, and adjudicator Francis Ward, we do a deep dive on the legacy of his composition, the Vanishing Lake. Francis gives us the background on how the piece came to be included in the CLRG set dance canon and his thought-process while composing it. We also talk about his commissioned work, Planxty Ar Sarsfield, part of the Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, the philosophy behind World Music Pedagogy, and his thoughts on the role of competition in Irish dance.

Francis' composition, Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, commissioned by the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, is available for listening on YouTube. His award-winning set dance, The Vanishing Lake, is available for listening at every single jig set round at a competition near you.

]]> In part two of our chat with feis musician, composer, teacher, and adjudicator Francis Ward, we do a deep dive on the legacy of his composition, the Vanishing Lake. Francis gives us the background on how the piece came to be included in the CLRG set dance canon and his thought-process while composing it. We also talk about his commissioned work, Planxty Ar Sarsfield, part of the Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, the philosophy behind World Music Pedagogy, and his thoughts on the role of competition in Irish dance.

Francis' composition, Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, commissioned by the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, is available for listening on YouTube. His award-winning set dance, The Vanishing Lake, is available for listening at every single jig set round at a competition near you.

]]> Wed, 24 Jun 2026 19:08:26 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 2895 In part two of our chat with feis musician, composer, teacher, and adjudicator Francis Ward, we do a deep dive on the legacy of his composition, the Vanishing Lake. Francis gives us the background on how the piece came to be included in the CLRG set dance canon and his thought-process while composing it. We also talk about his commissioned work, Planxty Ar Sarsfield, part of the Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, the philosophy behind World Music Pedagogy, and his thoughts on the role of competition in Irish dance.

Francis' composition, Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, commissioned by the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, is available for listening on YouTube. His award-winning set dance, The Vanishing Lake, is available for listening at every single jig set round at a competition near you.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Francis Ward - Pt. 1 9 9 Francis Ward - Pt. 1 full e97a0c11-b4fb-40cc-b700-e14205216b88 https://share.transistor.fm/s/db630d29 In part one of this two-part interview with Dr. Francis Ward, Julia gets far too excited to nerd out with another ethnomusicologist. We chat about Francis' early foray into traditional Irish music and dance, his experience at University of Limerick, how to inspire students to find passion and drive in pursuit of music and dance, the evolution of tradition in Irish dance, and so much more.

Francis' composition, Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, commissioned by the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, is available for listening on YouTube. His award-winning set dance, The Vanishing Lake, is available for listening at every single jig set round at a competition near you.

And if you want to listen to what lawyers and law firm marketing and business development professionals can learn from Irish dance, here's the episode of The BD Catalyst that Kristo referenced in the intro. 

]]> In part one of this two-part interview with Dr. Francis Ward, Julia gets far too excited to nerd out with another ethnomusicologist. We chat about Francis' early foray into traditional Irish music and dance, his experience at University of Limerick, how to inspire students to find passion and drive in pursuit of music and dance, the evolution of tradition in Irish dance, and so much more.

Francis' composition, Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, commissioned by the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, is available for listening on YouTube. His award-winning set dance, The Vanishing Lake, is available for listening at every single jig set round at a competition near you.

And if you want to listen to what lawyers and law firm marketing and business development professionals can learn from Irish dance, here's the episode of The BD Catalyst that Kristo referenced in the intro. 

]]> Wed, 17 Jun 2026 01:01:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 2824 In part one of this two-part interview with Dr. Francis Ward, Julia gets far too excited to nerd out with another ethnomusicologist. We chat about Francis' early foray into traditional Irish music and dance, his experience at University of Limerick, how to inspire students to find passion and drive in pursuit of music and dance, the evolution of tradition in Irish dance, and so much more.

Francis' composition, Cuimhnigh ar Sarsfield: The Wild Geese Suite, commissioned by the Limerick Bastille Day Wild Geese Festival, is available for listening on YouTube. His award-winning set dance, The Vanishing Lake, is available for listening at every single jig set round at a competition near you.

And if you want to listen to what lawyers and law firm marketing and business development professionals can learn from Irish dance, here's the episode of The BD Catalyst that Kristo referenced in the intro. 

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Ciara Sexton 8 8 Ciara Sexton full b4000daf-76b4-4ea7-b606-7b0ec26b3edd https://share.transistor.fm/s/0533ea46 In this episode of Planxty, we talk to the world-renowned Irish dance artist, choreographer, educator, and creative producer Ciara Sexton. Tune in hear about her myriad projects - including her children's book, My First Book of Irish Dance (available here: https://a.co/d/04VNHnyQ) and her upcoming preschool YouTube series It's Time to Dance with Ciara. We cover so much in this episode, including how she balances all the different hats she wears as a performer, teacher, and mum. Throughout the episode, Ciara's solution-oriented and optimistic outlook shine through.

]]> In this episode of Planxty, we talk to the world-renowned Irish dance artist, choreographer, educator, and creative producer Ciara Sexton. Tune in hear about her myriad projects - including her children's book, My First Book of Irish Dance (available here: https://a.co/d/04VNHnyQ) and her upcoming preschool YouTube series It's Time to Dance with Ciara. We cover so much in this episode, including how she balances all the different hats she wears as a performer, teacher, and mum. Throughout the episode, Ciara's solution-oriented and optimistic outlook shine through.

]]> Sun, 17 May 2026 01:01:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 4755 In this episode of Planxty, we talk to the world-renowned Irish dance artist, choreographer, educator, and creative producer Ciara Sexton. Tune in hear about her myriad projects - including her children's book, My First Book of Irish Dance (available here: https://a.co/d/04VNHnyQ) and her upcoming preschool YouTube series It's Time to Dance with Ciara. We cover so much in this episode, including how she balances all the different hats she wears as a performer, teacher, and mum. Throughout the episode, Ciara's solution-oriented and optimistic outlook shine through.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Brian O'Sullivan 7 7 Brian O'Sullivan full 048dd88c-5473-492e-b0ac-7a797e473454 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e8cf4863 This month, Julia and Kristo chat with Brian O'Sullivan, a feis musician, actor, comedian, and fellow podcaster. Tune in and hear about Brian's earliest feis memories, his take on musical storytelling and the development of his musical style, and how playing music in the immersive sphere of the feis can become a transendential experience. Be sure to check out Brian's long running podcast Putting it Together and follow him on Instagram @bridohingwy to check out his laugh-out-loud comedic shorts. You can also currently check him out in the London West End production of Cabaret and listen to his album "One Day at a Time" on the FEISApp.

]]> This month, Julia and Kristo chat with Brian O'Sullivan, a feis musician, actor, comedian, and fellow podcaster. Tune in and hear about Brian's earliest feis memories, his take on musical storytelling and the development of his musical style, and how playing music in the immersive sphere of the feis can become a transendential experience. Be sure to check out Brian's long running podcast Putting it Together and follow him on Instagram @bridohingwy to check out his laugh-out-loud comedic shorts. You can also currently check him out in the London West End production of Cabaret and listen to his album "One Day at a Time" on the FEISApp.

]]> Fri, 17 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 3117 This month, Julia and Kristo chat with Brian O'Sullivan, a feis musician, actor, comedian, and fellow podcaster. Tune in and hear about Brian's earliest feis memories, his take on musical storytelling and the development of his musical style, and how playing music in the immersive sphere of the feis can become a transendential experience. Be sure to check out Brian's long running podcast Putting it Together and follow him on Instagram @bridohingwy to check out his laugh-out-loud comedic shorts. You can also currently check him out in the London West End production of Cabaret and listen to his album "One Day at a Time" on the FEISApp.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea - Pt. 2 6 6 Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea - Pt. 2 full 393c1ff2-c6bb-45bd-aa3d-77620f0bc89e https://share.transistor.fm/s/089f7007 Part 2 of 2: Your hosts deliver their recap of CLRG Worlds 2026 and all the amazingness it was, before rolling part 2 of their conversation with Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea. In this half of the conversation, they dig deeper into teaching, team building and community and talk about the origin and future of the Celtic Junction Arts Center.

]]> Part 2 of 2: Your hosts deliver their recap of CLRG Worlds 2026 and all the amazingness it was, before rolling part 2 of their conversation with Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea. In this half of the conversation, they dig deeper into teaching, team building and community and talk about the origin and future of the Celtic Junction Arts Center.

]]> Tue, 07 Apr 2026 01:01:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 3416 Part 2 of 2: Your hosts deliver their recap of CLRG Worlds 2026 and all the amazingness it was, before rolling part 2 of their conversation with Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea. In this half of the conversation, they dig deeper into teaching, team building and community and talk about the origin and future of the Celtic Junction Arts Center.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea - Pt. 1 5 5 Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea - Pt. 1 full 682f3f78-6177-43a8-99db-495455125ecb https://share.transistor.fm/s/1e1a7d6e Part 1 of 2: Julia and Kristo sit down with friends, collaborators and colleagues Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea to talk Irish dance teaching, the different paths that led them both to Riverdance, and the value of dance and music productions for their school. And, if you listen for it you may hear sounds of the remodel taking place at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. More on that in Part 2!

]]> Part 1 of 2: Julia and Kristo sit down with friends, collaborators and colleagues Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea to talk Irish dance teaching, the different paths that led them both to Riverdance, and the value of dance and music productions for their school. And, if you listen for it you may hear sounds of the remodel taking place at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. More on that in Part 2!

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:10:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 2361 Part 1 of 2: Julia and Kristo sit down with friends, collaborators and colleagues Cormac O'Se & Natalie Nugent O'Shea to talk Irish dance teaching, the different paths that led them both to Riverdance, and the value of dance and music productions for their school. And, if you listen for it you may hear sounds of the remodel taking place at the Celtic Junction Arts Center. More on that in Part 2!

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Sean O'Brien & Liam O'Sullivan 4 4 Sean O'Brien & Liam O'Sullivan full 0c80bc3f-ae60-40ec-80f2-f454ae394d67 https://share.transistor.fm/s/4fb810df Co-founders of the FEIS app and FEIStv, Sean O'Brien and Liam O'Sullivan sit down with Julia and Kristo and share their different paths to traditional Irish music and the world of Irish dance, and do a deep dive into composing and performing as world-class feis musicians.

]]> Co-founders of the FEIS app and FEIStv, Sean O'Brien and Liam O'Sullivan sit down with Julia and Kristo and share their different paths to traditional Irish music and the world of Irish dance, and do a deep dive into composing and performing as world-class feis musicians.

]]> Tue, 31 Mar 2026 01:01:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 4297 Co-founders of the FEIS app and FEIStv, Sean O'Brien and Liam O'Sullivan sit down with Julia and Kristo and share their different paths to traditional Irish music and the world of Irish dance, and do a deep dive into composing and performing as world-class feis musicians.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Scott Doherty 3 3 Scott Doherty full 00f39504-f066-4f05-b77e-7deffb487ef4 https://share.transistor.fm/s/2c49bee3 Recorded nearly one year ago, Scott Doherty was Julia and Kristo's first podcast guest! The episode and the podcast are finally here. Scott is a mindset coach, a World Irish Dance Champion, a professional dancer, a dance teacher and the list goes on. We were glad to have him on to share his perspective and creative approach to working with dancers and families.

]]> Recorded nearly one year ago, Scott Doherty was Julia and Kristo's first podcast guest! The episode and the podcast are finally here. Scott is a mindset coach, a World Irish Dance Champion, a professional dancer, a dance teacher and the list goes on. We were glad to have him on to share his perspective and creative approach to working with dancers and families.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:10:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 3147 Recorded nearly one year ago, Scott Doherty was Julia and Kristo's first podcast guest! The episode and the podcast are finally here. Scott is a mindset coach, a World Irish Dance Champion, a professional dancer, a dance teacher and the list goes on. We were glad to have him on to share his perspective and creative approach to working with dancers and families.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Colleen Falco & Hollie Geraghty - The Irish Dance Globe 2 2 Colleen Falco & Hollie Geraghty - The Irish Dance Globe full 71b94278-71de-44f0-ba39-64997f265aad https://share.transistor.fm/s/c8ccacfb Julia and Kristo sit down with Colleen Falco, Founder and Creative Director, and Hollie Geraghty, Editor-In-Chief of The Irish Dance Globe! Colleen and Hollie share how ID Globe has evolved, their creative and editorial process, the reality of pouring so much passion into the Irish Dance world while balancing life and full-time work, and why they think they'll always be involved this amazingly rich dance community.

]]> Julia and Kristo sit down with Colleen Falco, Founder and Creative Director, and Hollie Geraghty, Editor-In-Chief of The Irish Dance Globe! Colleen and Hollie share how ID Globe has evolved, their creative and editorial process, the reality of pouring so much passion into the Irish Dance world while balancing life and full-time work, and why they think they'll always be involved this amazingly rich dance community.

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:05:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 2303 Julia and Kristo sit down with Colleen Falco, Founder and Creative Director, and Hollie Geraghty, Editor-In-Chief of The Irish Dance Globe! Colleen and Hollie share how ID Globe has evolved, their creative and editorial process, the reality of pouring so much passion into the Irish Dance world while balancing life and full-time work, and why they think they'll always be involved this amazingly rich dance community.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Meet Julia & Kristo 1 1 Meet Julia & Kristo full 49448998-c5b6-4c02-9582-1afd8ffd8b0f https://share.transistor.fm/s/5f100f63 After months of discussion and development, Julia and Kristo finally sit down together to talk about their own Irish dance journeys, their shared passion for exploring and telling the stories of people involved in the multifaceted world of Irish dance. 

]]> After months of discussion and development, Julia and Kristo finally sit down together to talk about their own Irish dance journeys, their shared passion for exploring and telling the stories of people involved in the multifaceted world of Irish dance. 

]]> Tue, 24 Mar 2026 01:01:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 1175 After months of discussion and development, Julia and Kristo finally sit down together to talk about their own Irish dance journeys, their shared passion for exploring and telling the stories of people involved in the multifaceted world of Irish dance. 

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No Welcome to Planxty - Teaser Trailer 1 1 Welcome to Planxty - Teaser Trailer trailer e8c49d89-4d2b-43f7-a963-8dcbc16c97e1 https://share.transistor.fm/s/e76a3ac2 Welcome to the Planxty Podcast! This teaser trailer episode will give you a taste of what's to come on this podcast as we explore the rich tapestry of Irish Dance and talk with the people who love it. 

Meet hosts Julia Topper and Kristo Sween and hear samples from upcoming episodes with guests Sean O'Brien, Liam O'Sullivan, Scott Doherty, Colleen Falco, Hollie Geraghty, Cormac O'Se and Natalie Nugent O'Shea.

]]> Welcome to the Planxty Podcast! This teaser trailer episode will give you a taste of what's to come on this podcast as we explore the rich tapestry of Irish Dance and talk with the people who love it. 

Meet hosts Julia Topper and Kristo Sween and hear samples from upcoming episodes with guests Sean O'Brien, Liam O'Sullivan, Scott Doherty, Colleen Falco, Hollie Geraghty, Cormac O'Se and Natalie Nugent O'Shea.

]]> Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400 Julia Topper and Kristo Sween Julia Topper and Kristo Sween 483 Welcome to the Planxty Podcast! This teaser trailer episode will give you a taste of what's to come on this podcast as we explore the rich tapestry of Irish Dance and talk with the people who love it. 

Meet hosts Julia Topper and Kristo Sween and hear samples from upcoming episodes with guests Sean O'Brien, Liam O'Sullivan, Scott Doherty, Colleen Falco, Hollie Geraghty, Cormac O'Se and Natalie Nugent O'Shea.

]]> Irish dance, traditional Irish music, ethnomusicology, competitive Irish dance, Irish dance media No