We are so excited for you to hear this conversation with the multi-faceted and brilliant Naomi LaViolette. As composer, singer-songwriter, and accompanist she brings empathy and joy to everything she creates. We dive into what it's like to have perfect pitch, how the skill of being an accompanist influences her ability to take on challanging projects, and how her incredible harmonic and rhythmic understanding of music helps her create songs that speak right to our hearts. We go deep in this one- both in music theory and spiritually.

Her Song Suffragettes show is on Sunday, March 8 at 6pm at the Kennedy School. It features WMP guests LaRhonda Steele, Rachel Brashear, and host, Leah Hinchcliff!!

Songs discussed:

Racing the Moon
Pour Me a Dream
Discovering Peace
Winter Solstice
Pictures in the Sky

Get a quick taste of our heartfelt, music‑filled conversation with the amazing Naomi LaViolette. This sneak peek captures the warmth, artistry, and joy she brings to every note — and to our entire chat.

Full episode drops Thursday, January 29th.
Don't miss it!

Our final episode of the season drops on Thursday, January 19th, and wow… what a season it's been! We've had an absolute blast kicking off this adventure and diving into conversations with the incredible women who joined us: Sonny Hess, LaRhonda Steele, Rachel Breshear, Cynthia Plank, Stephanie Schneiderman, Kathryn Claire, and Naomi LaViolette. Every episode is still available, so feel free to binge away!

Portland's talent pool of women musicians is unreal, and each guest showed up with so much heart. They shared their stories, their music, their wisdom, their humor—there were deep laughs, a few tears, and so many moments of genuine connection. We're unbelievably grateful.

Thank you for listening, cheering us on, and being part of Season 1.
If you haven't yet, please subscribe and share the pod—it really helps us grow!

And don't miss our season finale with Naomi LaViolette, coming out Thursday, January 29th!

With love and gratitude,
Leah & Mariann

This week on Women. Music. Power. we sit down with Kathryn Claire. Kathryn Claire has spent years cultivating her own style and approach to music as a violinist, guitar player, singer, and songwriter. She has toured, performed and taught extensively in the US, Japan, The Netherlands, India, Belgium and France.

From her journey in Irish punk bands to crafting a multimedia masterpiece, Kathryn shares her story and wisdom on staying true to your art. We dive deep into her journey, learn about synesthesia, and laugh a lot!

www.kathrnclairemusic.com

Songs featured in this episode can be found here along with lots more!

Music | Kathryn Claire

Quiet Sound

Will of the Flower

Bjorne Stomp

Eastern Bound for Glory

Leave Behind

Women. Music. Power. is produced by Marianna Thielen and Leah Hinchcliff

Executive Producer, Dr. Nancy Breaux

Mastered by Alyson Castonguay at Sound Travels

Theme song by Marianna Thielen and Leah Hinchcliff

www.womenmusicpowerpod.com

This episode features one of the most diverse and hardest working female singer-songwriters the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Songwriter, guitar player, singer, producer, actor, activist...Stephanie does it all.

We all learned how to take responsibility for our womanhood in this episode!! :) What a joy it was to sit down with Stephanie and discuss her career in music--covering her early work in speech pathology, getting coveted spot at the Lilith fair, and to the work she does with her songwriting course You are the Song.

We know you will be as inspired as we were by this incredible artist and human. Enjoy!

Songs featured:

Oxygen
All Gone
Gridline
Cry With Me
Cry With Me - Video
Wherever You Go

On January 1st 2026, Leah Hinchcliff and Marianna Thielen will be releasing the 5th episode in season 1 of Women. Music. Power. Their guest is Stephanie Schneiderman. Stephanie is a power player in the Portland music scene and beyond. Tell your friends and don't forget to tune in on Thursday January 1st.

This episode, we interview powerhouse band director and flutist Cynthia Plank. Her band at Beaumont Middle School recently received the prestigious DownBeat Student Music Award for the best middle school large ensemble in the entire country.

She also serves as an Associate Conductor for the Oregon Symphonic Band, which is a professional-level group of adult musicians. Besides flute, she has also performed extensively on bass, percussion, trombone and currently sings in a 20-piece swing band.

Hear all about how she is living out a life plan she made at age 18, how she and Leah met in the 80s in Euguene, and her philosophy on how to get young folks (especially young women) excited about playing music, and doing it well.

To donate to Beaumont's music program, email cynthiaplank@pps.net.

• WMP theme song 00:29.63
• Charmaine - Beaumont Ambassadors 02:53 (short clip)
• Para Los Congueros - Beaumont Ambassadors 15:04 (interstitial)
• Para Los Congueros - Beaumont Ambassadors 19:38 (long clip)
• Night and Day - Cynthia Plank 29:40 (long clip)
• Got Blues - Beaumont Ambassadors 38:19 (interstitial)
• Charmaine -Beaumont Ambassadors 42:21 (long clip)
• Bye Bye Blackbird - Cynthia Plank 47:07 (long clip)
• Bye Bye Blackbird 53:06 (piano interstitial)
• Got Blues - Beaumont Ambassadors 56:07 (outro clip)

On December 18th, Women. Music. Power. is presenting our interview with Cynthia Plank. Cynthia is a music teacher in Portland Public Schools and performs locally. She has won numerous awards with her school bands and was a finalist for a grammy in the music teacher catergory. She is smart, funny and entertaining with an intriguing story. Don't miss it. Episode drops on Thursday Dec. 18th.