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Explore every episode of the podcast A Voice and Beyond

Dive into the complete episode list for A Voice and Beyond. Each episode is cataloged with detailed descriptions, making it easy to find and explore specific topics. Keep track of all episodes from your favorite podcast and never miss a moment of insightful content.

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TitlePub. DateDuration
#194 Shift Your Life: Tools for Overcoming Self-Sabotage and Imposter Syndrome with Dr. Tracy Latz25 Jan 202601:26:51

In this powerful episode of A Voice and Beyond, we’re joined by Dr. Tracy Latz — renowned integrative psychiatrist, metaphysical healer, and author of Bye-Bye Self-Sabotage: Drop Your Baggage, Love Your Life.

With over 35 years of experience in both clinical and holistic practices, Dr. Latz shares her unique approach to healing emotional pain, self-sabotaging patterns, and limiting beliefs. Together, we explore the “shrink’s greatest hits” — like shame, fear of the unknown, heartbreak, and imposter syndrome — and reveal quick, evidence-based techniques to release them.

From 90-second Qigong emotional resets to the famous “La Cucaracha” technique for handling toxic people, this episode is filled with practical tools, deep wisdom, and Tracy’s trademark sense of humour and heart.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, overwhelmed by anxiety, or just ready to reclaim your full potential, this episode is for you.


Books:

Find Tracy Here:


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#193 OCD, Anxiety and Life Beyond the Diagnosis with Renee Zukin18 Jan 202600:58:28

On this week’s transformative episode of A Voice and Beyond, Marisa sits down with Renee Zukin, author, educator, writing coach, mental health advocate, and the courageous voice behind the book Every Day, I’m Brave, which is part memoir, part manifesto, and entirely a call for radical bravery.

Renee’s story blends personal struggle with psychological insight. She lived for decades with crippling anxiety, masking her internal chaos with achievement, productivity, and perfectionism, until she was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in adulthood.


In this deeply compassionate and raw conversation, Renee opens up about:

  • Growing up with undiagnosed OCD and high-functioning anxiety
  • The cost of pretending to be okay — and what happens when we stop
  • How procrastination and self-sabotage are often fear in disguise
  • Healing after a late-in-life diagnosis
  • How to take courageous action even when fear doesn’t disappear
  • Why honesty is the most powerful mental health tool we have
  • Why “trust your gut” is dangerous advice for anxious minds
  • The hidden ways fear shapes our relationships, identity, and choices

If you’ve ever lived with anxiety, masked your needs, or felt afraid to take up space, this episode will touch your heart, speak to your story, and remind you that you are not alone.


Book:

Find Renee Here:


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Resources:

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#184. From Legacy to Impact: The Bozeman Story Part 209 Nov 202500:38:15

In this second part of my interview with Kenneth and Joanne Bozeman, we move beyond their personal journey and dive into the profound legacy they’ve built as educators and mentors. From blending voice science with artistry to guiding generations of singers and teachers, their insights speak to the heart of what it means to nurture both voices and human beings.

This is an episode about legacy, influence, and the power of teaching with authenticity and compassion.

Tune in for a rich and inspiring conversation that will leave you reflecting on your own impact, both personally and professionally.


Find Ken and Joanne here:

 Websites: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.bozeman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanne.h.bozeman

Books:  

  • Practical Vocal Acoustics  https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/practical-vocal-acoustics-9798765156513/
  • Kinesthetic Voice Pedagogy 2: Motivating Acoustic Efficiency  https://www.voxped.com/KVP2.html
  • Singing Through Change: Women's Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond.


Find Marisa online:

Resources:

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#94. Quit Imposter Syndrome and Step Into Your Authentic Self18 Dec 202200:07:39

Are you someone who is constantly doubting themselves and you feel that your authentic self is not valuable enough? Do you compare yourself to others and feel like an imposter? Imposter syndrome is a real thing and it can affect anyone irrespective of background or skill level. To put it simply, imposter syndrome is the experience of feeling like a phony & feeling as though at any moment you’re going to be found out as a fraud.

Unfortunately, if this is you, you will never feel the satisfaction that comes from personal authenticity, and achieving the things that you aspire to.

In this episode, we want to inspire you to stop faking & stop conforming, especially as we near the end of the year. Now is the time for you to release your bottomless level of potential. You have the ability to live life on your own terms & add a level of value to the world that no one else can. It’s time for you to make the next phase of your life shine.

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/94

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#93. My Career from Entertaining Queens to Presidents with Leah Canali11 Dec 202201:10:41

This week’s guest is Leah Canali, whose career journey has seen her achieve great success for over 20 years as a vocalist, songwriter, session singer, and commercial jingle composer. Leah is a multi-genre master with a voice that has been described as having a signature smoky soulful tone, with a healthy dose of coveted whistle tones.

Leah is known as the Queen who sings for Queens and in this episode, Leah shares her many career highlights which include becoming one of the go-to vocalists and songwriters for the RuPauls Drag Race franchise, having written, recorded and performed with many of the franchise’s stars. In 2021, Leah co-wrote, produced and sang on “The Taste” EP which debuted at #5 on the iTunes Pop Charts and featured the song “Come Through” which went viral on TikTok. Her many performance credits include The Boston Red Sox, New England Patriots, Pride Toronto, World Pride, World Fashion Week, as well as The Official Inaugural Party of Barack Obama. Leah gives us an insight into her career trajectory, her songwriting process, the skills that emerging artists need in order to have sustainable careers, how she manages her own vocal health during a busy working schedule, the importance of self-care for performing artists, issues around misogyny in the performing arts and so much more. This episode with Leah Canali is not to be missed.


Find Leah online


In this episode
04:40 — The Origin Story of Leah Canali
08:30 — Healthily Equipping Different Instruments
15:07 — The Genre That’s Connected to the Soul
16:51 — An Arrangement Towards Unexpected Things
20:07 — The Queen Who Sings for Queens
27:19 — BTS on the Queen’s Iconic and Memorable Songs
32:43 — What is the Credibility of an Artist?
36:17 — The Inaugural Party of Obama
38:56 — Making Performing a Steady Income
42:01 — Being a Woman in the Music Industry
44:50 — A Good Performance Reflects a Healthy Body
55:17 — Leah’s Achievements and Goals
59:23 — Best Piece of Advice to Emerging Artists

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/93

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#92. Reconnecting with your Authentic Self though Health and Fitness with Leah Coutts04 Dec 202201:13:32

Research shows that your genetics load the gun, but it is your lifestyle that pulls the trigger. Despite this being the case, so many people continue to self-sabotage their health and longevity and according to this week’s guest, Leah Coutts, if you don’t fully believe that you are worthy, you will self-sabotage your health and well-being, whether you want to or not. Today, we welcome Leah who is currently a Senior Lecturer in the Research Department at Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University, as well as a health and fitness coach, a bodybuilding and prep coach, a posing coach, a pro bodybuilder and owner of Soulfulveganfitness, a health and lifestyle business!

Leah shares her incredible journey into the health and lifestyle industry that began when she was misdiagnosed by her doctors as a child and was inspired even further when she was again facing another misdiagnosis as a teenager. Leah defied all the limitations that were placed upon her by the medical profession at the time with sheer determination. This led her to succeed in areas of her life that were deemed impossible.

Based on her own experiences with the medical profession, along with other life events, it has become Leah’s mission to empower others to make positive changes in their lives and to guide them to develop a mindset of not accepting other’s limitations. Leah is truly inspirational as she offers so many great pieces of advice in this episode. 

Find Leah online
www.soulfulveganfitness.com – Health and Fitness Coaching
www.consciousphysiquecoaching.com – Bodybuilding and Competition Coaching
Instagram: @leahmarie_figurepro

In this episode
05:09 — A Calling to Fitness and Academia
14:01 — Pushing Through What Genes Dictates
17:39 — Deconditioning the Preconditioned
22:50 — To Be Empowered Is to Be the Best Self
38:23 — Breaking Society’s Dictation Towards Body Image
40:16 — Listening to the Voice of the Mind and Body
49:07 — The Meaning Behind Soulful Vegan Fitness
54:02 — Catering Towards a Personalized Fitness
59:46 — History’s Narration That Needs To Be Fixed
01:02:17 — The Habit of Being Purposeful for the Morrow
01:07:11 — The Great Purpose of Leah

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/92

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#91. The Master-Apprentice Model: A Powerful Hierarchy with Travis Sherwood27 Nov 202201:11:36

This week on a Voice and Beyond, we welcome, Travis Sherwood, who holds a Doctor of Musical Arts and a Master of Music degree from the University of Southern California. Travis currently serves as Assistant Professor of Voice and Vocal Area Coordinator on the faculty of San Diego State University, School of Music and Dance. Travis frequently lectures and presents on the subjects of artistic literacy, student-centred pedagogy, voice pedagogy, and vocal literature.

In this episode, Travis discusses his research into the traditions, evolution and limitations of the master-apprentice Model. Travis tells us that this learning environment establishes a clear hierarchy of power in the teacher-student relationship. He explains that the master-apprentice tradition is rooted in the experiences of the master, requiring students to value the teacher’s observations of their voice over their own. From an inferior position, students become dependent on their teachers, often ignoring their bodies in pursuit of the “correct” way to sing. Additionally, in this teacher-centred pedagogy, students frequently silence their artistic and technical instincts.

Travis warns us that by perpetuating this tradition, we are not creating safe spaces where students can be expressive, artistic and explore their voices autonomously. He states that there are still certain elements of this tradition permeating in our profession and as voice teachers we must check in on ourselves to ensure we are not perpetuating this teaching model. He suggests we can begin by questioning whether out teaching is grounded in a student-centred philosophy and that our teaching values and builds off the knowledge and experiences of our students. As a mentor and co-learner, we must listen to students with an empathetic ear, responding to their needs and encouraging their sense of individual agency. Travis believes that as we move into the future, the master-apprentice model can limit the possibility of evolution in the voice teaching field.

This is a most fascinating and informative interview with Travis Sherwood and one that will inspire many to reflect on their teaching practices.

https://travissherwoodbaritone.com/

In this episode:
06:11 — The Background of a Master
07:43 — Experience From a Student-Centered Teacher
11:08 — Master-Apprentice: The Status Quo
20:08 — The Effects of the Traditional Model
21:19 — Breaking Free From Dependency
23:33 — The Limited Perspective of the Overseer
29:22 — Teachers Being Life-Long Students
32:11 — Reverberating the Student’s Language
35:36 — The Things That Permeated From the Histories
37:54 — The Evolution of Teaching the Voice
40:38 — Balancing Act of Voice Science
44:17 — Harms of High Art and Lower Art Mentality
50:42 — Is It an Open or a Closed Repertoire?
01:01:05 — Be Student-Centered: Grounding the Pedagogy
01:03:54 — Travis’ Best Advice

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/91

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#90. How Do You Value Self Worth20 Nov 202200:22:41

What is the status of your self-worth at present? How do you determine your self-worth? Many people base their value on things such as how many friends they have, their income, what car they drive, what neighbourhood they live in, the number of social media followers they have, and even their relationship status. All these are external factors and in this episode, we talk about how our worth is at the core of our very selves—our thoughts, our feelings, and our behaviours. These are all intimately tied to how we perceive our value as human beings, our internal sense of simply being good enough and worthy of love and belonging from others. If you are struggling with your self worth this episode is for you. Today’s show offers you three simple steps to help you increase your self worth. 

 

In this episode
01:10 — What is Self-Worth?
06:18 — You Determine Your Self-Worth
07:57 — Challenge Your Inner Voice
08:30 — Self-Worth Rooting from Childhood Experiences
10:42 — Practicing Self-Compassion
11:37 — Joy and Sorrow
12:46 — Learning Self-Compassion
14:35 — Don’t Tear Others Down to Build Your Self-Worth Up
15:05 — Stop Gossiping Other People!
17:30 — When You Value Yourself, You Value Others
18:17 — Conclusion

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/90

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#89. Diet: A Four Letter Word with Risa Groux13 Nov 202200:55:08

Our guest in this week’s episode is Risa Groux, a functional nutritionist, certified autoimmune coach and author of the new book, FOODFRAME: Diet is a Four-Letter Word. 

In her practice, Risa deals with a number of diseases which include autoimmune diseases, diabetes, cancer, digestion issues, thyroid problems, and hormone imbalances, just to name a few. She believes that education is key to improved health and the more educated we are about health and nutrition, the more improved life quality we can all lead. One of the problems we face is misconceptions about the various diets that are available and Risa tells us that not all diets will allow us to thrive. She believes that a one size fits all approach to nutrition doesn’t work and that people should be eating according to their current health status. Risa helps us break down the most popular mainstream diets, which include Paleo, Ketogenic, Autoimmune Protocol, Vegan, Low FODMAP and Low Lectin diets and shares with us those who would benefit from these various diets based on their health problems. 

Risa states that our genetics load the gun when it comes to our health, but that it is our lifestyle that pulls the trigger and one example of this is the current health crisis facing our children who have a one in three chance of becoming a type two diabetic due to the overconsumption of sugar in that part of our population. 

Risa offers many pearls of wisdom when it comes to some of the measures we can take to improve our overall health and well-being by not only minimising sugars, but also by alleviating bad oils, doing a simple detox, including a daily intake of vital supplements and the benefits of getting back to cooking at home and eating meals at the table as a family rather consuming fast foods. There is so much in this episode with Risa Groux you don’t want to miss.

Find Risa Online

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/89

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#88. My Interview with Vocal Intuition: Advocating for CCM Singing Voice Pedagogy06 Nov 202200:47:45

Recently, I was invited to be a guest on a Facebook Live event with Anne Leatherland, who is a voice educator, business coach and the founder of Vocal Intuition based in the United Kingdom. During this interview, I was asked to speak about the process of researching and writing my book “Singing Contemporary Commercial Music Styles: A Pedagogical Framework”, as well as my own professional CCM journey which led me to an academic career path. In this episode, I decided to share this interview as I believe it is time for CCM to be respected and valued equally to classical music and no longer be treated as its poor relation, especially in academia. 

This interview offers quite a rare insight into my 45 years of CCM industry experience, how I fell in love with this music as a young child, my award-winning career as a pop/rock vocalist, my serendipitous transition from performance career to teaching CCM styles, and my shock introduction into higher education as a mature aged post-graduate student. It was here that I realised that the music I had built a whole career upon, was not legitimised from an academic or pedagogical standpoint. This shock revelation launched my research into CCM singing voice pedagogy, write a book based on the results of that research and has inspired me to become an advocate for this music. 

In this episode, I speak candidly about the status quo in higher education, and that it is time to listen to not only the needs of our students, but also the demands of music markets, music consumers, and music industry personnel as a voice community. I would love to hear from you if any parts of this interview resonated with you. A big thanks goes to Anne for having me as a guest and allowing me to speak on this topic.

In this episode
06:05 — Marisa’s Humble Beginnings
11:57 — Was Classical Singing a Thing?
17:31 — An Advocate for the CCM Community
24:42 — Music’s Supply and Demand
29:05 — Authenticity: The Most Important Ingredient
32:48 — The Special CCM Pedagogy
35:48 — Not Just Knowledge. Set It Up Your Voice!
37:23 — Warming Up to a Different Language
39:26 — Dismantling Their Articulated Backgrounds

Find Vocal Intuition Online

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/88

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#87. 3 Coping Strategies that will Transform Your Life30 Oct 202200:23:22

How are you coping in your life at present? Are you constantly in a state of overwhelm and feel as though you have too much going on? You’re spending every day simply treading water and you feel that it's not possible to catch up. This is the time that it’s most important to reset and recalibrate in order to get back to neutral, so you can manage your day, your week and your life in general. But, how do we get back that vibrancy when we’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed? In this episode, I’m going to talk you through three behaviours that may be causing you to spiral out of control and offer you some coping mechanisms around those habits. If you’re ready to move from chaos to calm, overwhelm to transforming your life, listen up! 

  

In this episode
01:09 — 3 Coping Strategies
06:08 — #1. Learn to Prioritize
07:19 — Take Control of Your Situation and Remain Positive
08:57 — Allow Yourself to Breathe
09:43 — #2. Distraction Detachment
11:59 — Focus On What You Are Doing
13:04 — Set Yourself Up for Success
14:04 — #3. Congruence
15:32 — Avoid spending time with negative people
16:20 — How Often Do You Make a Decision?
18:46 — Trust Your Intuition
19:34 — Conclusion

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/87

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#86. Let Your Inner Voice be Your Guide with Joyce Anastasia23 Oct 202201:09:54

This week's guest is Joyce Anastasia.
 
This week on A Voice and Beyond, I share a most inspiring interview with our special guest, Joyce Anastasia. Joyce is a transformational leadership consultant, with over 20 years of experience in multidisciplinary psychology, creative arts, business and leadership. In this episode, Joyce discusses some of her other roles as an educator, writer and visionary activist with a lifelong passion to inspire new ways to lead by wisdom and congruence. Joyce travels internationally alongside contemporary Western businesses, and their leaders, Indigenous Cultures and their wisdom keepers working with them to bridge the gap between Western and Indigenous cultures, encouraging new ways to manifest the critical shifts needed to create a more thriving planet.

Recently, Joyce published her book Extraordinary Leadership During Extraordinary Times. The primary focus of this book is to motivate us to discover personal ways to positively impact who we are and transform the systems that define our world. Joyce also shares her views on the importance of exploring creativity, the positive impact of good teamwork skills in the workplace, how a harmonious home life can set you up for a more positive business life, and the implications of operating out of fear in our day-to-day lives. This is a truly fascinating and profound interview with Joyce Anastasia, one not to be missed.

Find Joyce online

In this episode
05:19 — Where Did It All Begin?
11:21 — The Vision in the Playground
15:27 — Blessing or Curse
21:28 — Sharing the Gift to the World
26:27 — How Do Clients Reach You?
29:54 — The Process of Intuition
35:43 — Choosing to Transform Ourselves
40:19 — Triumph Over a World Full of Fear
46:37 — Steps Towards Global Transformation
51:39 — The Key Is Being Authentic
57:04 — Bridging the Gap Between Western and Indigenous
01:03:59 — The Seven Vital Keys
01:06:10 — Joyce’s Soul Print

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/86

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#85. My Career as a Rebel Traditionalist with Cate Frazier-Neely16 Oct 202201:12:42

This week's guest is Cate Frazier-Neely.
 
Cate Frazier-Neely is a Singing Voice Specialist, a voice teacher with specialisation across many styles, a musician, an author, a visual artist and Somatic Educator. She is also involved in the Arts for Physical and Emotional Health. Cate candidly calls herself a traditionalist who is a rebel and in this episode, she reveals why. Cate explains that her own voice training was based on a traditional Western European Classical model, but has since stepped out to explore, perform and teach across other styles. Cate explains that as voice teachers, we need to step out of our own paradigms and we must continue to find opportunities to learn and adapt in our ever-evolving field. Cate also offers her views on different topics around singing voice pedagogy, the limitations of methodologies, the benefits of teachers having had a performance career and so much more. She shares many of her own personal and professional experiences within the singing voice industry, including those significant moments in time when she was silenced as a woman and as someone who trying to instigate change within the teaching community. There is so much to unpack in this interview with Cate Frazier-Neely and I am sure you’re going to enjoy listening and learning with Cate as much as I did.

https://www.Catefnstudios.com
https://www.instagram.com/catefnstudios/
https://singingthroughchange.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/singingthroughchange/

"Where to Learn from Me for Free in 2022"
https://www.catefnstudios.com/writings//better-answers-to-some-post-presentation-questions

In this episode
05:57 — Humble Beginnings
10:31 — The New Thing in Music Education the You Never Knew
13:31 — What is Classical Singing?
20:37 — The Territories Where You Think You Should Teach
24:29 — The Stains of Superiority and the Wisdom From Age
29:37 — Lessons for the Big Wigs
35:54 — Knowing the Heart, Not Just Technique
41:54 — Inspirations of the Great Teachings
46:18 — Do You Have the Right Motive to Teach?
49:28 — Putting the Muzzle on You
56:18 — Making a Stand and Using Your Voice
01:02:14 — Perspective as a Singing Voice Specialist
01:04:16 —Kate’s Mission
01:06:55 — It’s Okay Not to Know Things

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/85

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#183. Building a Legacy in Voice and Life: The Bozeman Story Part 102 Nov 202500:59:59

In this special two-part series, we welcome Kenneth and Joanne Bozeman—two remarkable voices whose lives and careers have been intertwined through love, music, and a passion for teaching.

In Part 1, Kenneth and Joanne open up about their personal journeys, reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped their lives and careers. From their early experiences and influences to the challenges they faced along the way, this episode reveals the humanity behind their artistry and scholarship.

Through candid storytelling, Kenneth and Joanne share how their partnership has sustained them through life’s highs and lows and how values like resilience, curiosity, and authenticity guided them both personally and professionally, as well as building a meaningful legacy.


Find Ken and Joanne here:

 Websites: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kenneth.bozeman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanne.h.bozeman

Books:  


Find Marisa online:

Resources:

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#84. Being Kind to Others Must Start with Self09 Oct 202200:23:28

If someone asked you to recall the last time you were kind to yourself, would you struggle to bring up that memory? What does it mean for you to be kind to yourself? Do you practise self-kindness? Perhaps you find the word “self” off-putting – it seems selfish or self-centred somehow. In this episode, we discuss the importance of being kind to ourselves first, because being kind to others must start with self. It is not selfish and the truth is, self-kindness is also an essential component of good mental health. Research shows that when we carry out an act of kindness, the brain releases serotonin, the feel-good hormone which has a calming effect and stimulates positive feelings in the body. Imagine what this can do for your life! Today’s episode offers three simple ways to treat yourself with kindness and how to incorporate acts of self-kindness into your life each and every day.


In this episode
01:06 — What Does It Mean to Be Kind to Yourself?
03:29 — Love Yourself First
04:57 — 1. Stop Setting Unrealistic Expectations for Yourself in Any Given Situation
10:46 — 2. Self-Compassion
11:56 — What Is Self-Acceptance?
13:06 — Making Mistakes and Learning From It
15:31 — 3. Do Something That Brings You Joy Everyday
17:12 — Importance of Me Time
18:46 — Giving Yourself a “Break”
20:24 — Conclusion

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/84

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#83. Holding Space for Vulnerability, Curiosity & Exploration in the Voice Studio with David Sisco Part II02 Oct 202200:42:33

This week's guest is David Sisco.
 
This week we have part two of our two-part brilliant interview with David Sisco, a New York based freelance voice teacher, and multi-hyphenate artist, whose work life also encompasses being a published author, performer, music director, and commissioned composer. In this episode, David delves deeper into many important topics relating to our singing voice community, as well as his own teaching philosophies.

David discusses his intention to create a safer space in his teaching studio, by holding space for his students to foster curiosity, joy, and passion and to learn to trust their individuality and not be in judgement of it. He believes that as voice teachers it is our job to invite the uncomfortable, and we must all learn to fail better and not be guided by our own limiting beliefs of what we think the voice can do and what the individual student is capable of. Our biases and our knowledge should not act as a barrier between ourselves and the student. David admits that he calls himself a voice teacher and is not a voice scientist and that is ok. He shares, that as voice teachers, we love our labels and that as a voice teaching community we must stop shaming one another, know our lane and come together to uplift each other.

As David says so beautifully, it is time to celebrate all styles of singing in performance and research. This is a most inspirational and honest interview with David Sisco that is not to be missed.

David's Links: 


In this episode
03:33 — The True Master-Apprentice Model 
06:22 — Essential Requirements in Creating Safe Spaces
08:21 — Own Kind of Pedagogy in Musical Theater
11:29 — Efficient and Sustainable Singing
18:05 — Finding Stewardship for Ourselves
22:16 — Establishing Teacher-Student Boundaries
23:12 — Unleash Your True Self, Unlock Your Potential
25:31 — Shifting Archetypal Essence
28:03 — Rising Above Imposter Syndrome
31:10 — Extended Safe Spaces for Both Students and Teachers
32:25 — What’s Next for David Sisco?
37:15 — Piece of Advice for the Singing Voice Community

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/83

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#82. Holding Space for Vulnerability, Curiosity & Exploration in the Voice Studio with David Sisco Part I25 Sep 202200:49:51

This week's guest is David Sisco.

This is part one of a two-part interview with David Sisco, a New York-based voice teacher, who regularly lectures nationally and internationally on all things relating to singing voice pedagogy. David describes himself as a multi-hyphenate artist whose life work centres around exploring music, drama, writing, and teaching, finding great inspiration and commonalities in each. During this interview, David speaks candidly about his own personal and professional journey, which led him to an enduring career in the performing arts. He discusses how he developed his teaching skills, and that he calls himself an equal opportunity borrower because his teaching approaches have come from a variety of different sources. David firmly believes that we, as voice teachers, must become life-long learners and we need to invest in ourselves, so we can invest in our students. Furthermore, David states that it is important to honour knowledge and that as a voice community, we must continue to learn and grow together.

During our conversation, David talked about his teaching philosophy and how can we hold safer spaces for our students where they can allow themselves to become more vulnerable and to tell their stories, with honesty and without judgement. David affirms that we should be encouraging our students to become more curious and explore the possibilities of their voices and allow for playfulness.

Finally, David speaks openly about his beliefs regarding the status quo of voice programs within higher education, where students are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars for a university degree. He discusses the importance of providing context in student learning and that we must help our students understand the industry in which they are pursuing a professional career.

Remember this is part one of a two-part interview with the brilliant David Sisco and part two will follow next week.

David's Links: 


In this episode
08:15 — David’s Earliest Memory of Singing
16:22 — Effects of Self-Sabotage
18:30 — Mental Emotional Connection in Singing
19:31 — The Importance of Sharing Your Voice With Students.
21:12 — David’s Happiest Time as a Performer
23:15 — Looking After Yourself Before Others
25:04 — David’s Teaching Career
28:14 — Benefits of a Student-Centered Type of Learning
30:16 — “If You Are a Teacher, You Are Life Long Learner”
33:16 — The Science of Teaching vs. Intuition.
36:31 — The Science of Teaching
40:53 — Creating a Safe Space for Students
42:12 — Are Educational Institutions Equipping Students With the Skills They Need to Be Employable?
45:21 — “Performing a Contemporary Musicals” Book by David Sisco and Laura Josepher

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/82

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#81. Giving a Voice to Parkinson's Disease Patients with Valeria Gary18 Sep 202200:50:16

This week's guest is Valeria Gary.

Have you ever wondered about the impacts on phonation for those who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease (PD)? In this episode, we speak with Valeria Gary who is a Health Coach and a Speech Language pathologist working within the healthcare industry. In 2015, Valeria transitioned her career as an SLP, to providing therapy to patients with PD, and works as a volunteer for Parkinson’s Foundation in Georgia and as the owner of Total Body Cognition and Southeast Parkinson’s Speech Services.

Currently, there are approximately 10 million people worldwide suffering from PD and in our conversation, Valeria explains that PD is a neurodegenerative disease, which means that it impacts the brain and the patient gradually worsens over time. She tells us that at this time, there are no known causes or cures for PD, however, with the correct medications and support, patients can maintain a good quality of life.

PD not only impacts the body but Valeria talks about the many ways it can affect phonation, such as patients experiencing reduced volume, monotone pitch and breathiness or hoarseness in the voice. She stresses that early intervention is most beneficial for the patient and it is easier to maintain function than to regain some. Valeria describes the clinical work she does with her patients, demonstrates some of the vocal exercises she uses along with their desired outcomes and how we as a voice community can create inclusive spaces for PD patients to enjoy and reap the benefits of singing. This is an informative and important episode for all of us to learn more about this terrible disease.

In this episode
04:06 — Valeria Gray’s Health Background
06:56 — Specializing in Parkinson’s Disease
08:56 — Michael J. Fox’s Impact on Parkinson’s Awareness
12:11 — Early Signs of Parkinson’s Disease
15:15 — Is Parkinson’s Disease Fatal?
17:47 — Deep Brain Stimulation’s Benefit
18:33 — Development of Speech Degeneration
21:33 — Valeria’s Treatment Plan for Patients
26:44 — Barriers of Speech Therapy
29:25 — Frequency of Treatment
31:20 — Youngest Parkinson’s Disease Patient
31:54 — Patients Experiencing Depression and Anxiety
33:13 — Singing and Parkinson’s
40:35 — Cure for Parkinson’s Disease
45:17 — Raising Awareness for Parkinson’s Disease
46:24 — SpeechVive Device

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/81

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#80. 3 Simple Ways to Step Up Your Self-Care11 Sep 202200:23:10

How often do you start your day feeling tired, stressed and dreading having to turn up because you don’t feel ready to face the day? Do you find that you are feeling burnt out and maxed out even before you walk out the door in the mornings? Could it be that you are someone who is always looking after everyone else’s needs and you have been neglecting your own? If this is the case, as I’m sure it is for many of us especially those of us who are educators, the problem is that you can’t take care of anyone else’s needs, if you are not taking care of your own. Now is the time for you to release your bottomless level of potential, live life on your own terms & add a level of value to the world that no one else can. In this episode, we share three simple steps on how you can step up self-care, which simply means taking better care of yourself. So many of us are constantly neglecting this area of our lives. We feel guilty about putting ourselves and our needs above others, even though we must do this as a way to protect, preserve and respect ourselves. It is time to win back your life, upgrade your happiness, and feeling of aliveness and become more present, productive and energised.

03:22 — What Is Self-Care?
04:53 — Why Self-Care Is So Important?
08:05 — Physical Self-Care
09:08 — Having Proper Nutrition, Proper Sleep, and Great Physical Activity Is Essential When It Comes to Self-Care
10:58 — Mental Self-Care
12:13 — Becoming Your Number One Cheerleader
13:10 — Pay Attention to How You Talk to Yourself
14:32 — Emotional Self-Care
16:04 — Journaling as an Effective Form of Emotional Self-Care
18:53 — Conclusion

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/80

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#79. How to Eat your Way to Good Health and Longevity with Duncan Rock04 Sep 202201:10:36

This week on A Voice and Beyond, we welcome back Duncan Rock, one of our all-time favourite guests, from episode number 29, to discuss the very important topic of nutrition. For those of you who haven’t been introduced to Duncan, he is a professional baritone who has had an enduring career touring internationally with numerous opera companies for many years. After a life-changing event, Duncan decided to transition into the health and well-being field and is now a qualified nutritionist with a specialisation in promoting good health for performing artists, a registered exercise professional, and a member of the Royal Society for Public Health. Whilst studying for his Master’s degree in Human Nutrition, Duncan quickly learned that the best way to positively improve our health and longevity is through proper nutrition. Every day, we are being bombarded with information through the media regarding what constitutes good nutrition, the latest fad diet that promises the holy grail for weight loss, and the list goes on. This can be very confusing and in this episode, Duncan helps us to better understand what proper nutrition means by doing some myth busting. He explains how an appropriate nutrition plan not only promotes a healthy lifestyle that can enrich our lives, but it is the best way to defy all-cause mortality. Duncan tells us that we are currently living in an obesogenic environment in the western world and that the impact of overnutrition in our society has surpassed the impact of malnutrition. In today’s show, he not only shares his knowledge and philosophies on nutrition but also gives us hints and tips on some of the most basic things we can do on a daily basis to improve our eating habits. This is a most insightful interview with Duncan Rock and is not to be missed, especially if you are looking to improve your overall health and well-being.

www.duncanrocknutrition.com
Instagram: @duncanrock_nutrition

In this episode
07:09 — Transitioning to the Field of Diet and Nutrition
12:12 — Poor Eating Habits as Top 3 Cause of Cancers
16:10 — Is Vegan Diet the Worst Diet Style?
20:41 — What Constitutes a Bad Nutrition?
25:15 — Type of Foods That Are Addictive
28:31 — Foods That Trigger Depression and Panic Attacks
41:55 — Eating the Correct Quantity of Food
46:00 — Carbohydrates vs Calorie Intake
48:12 — Carbohydrates’ Role in Serotonin Production
49:16 — Benefits of Fasting
53:13 — Hunger and Mindset Behind
56:34 — Importance of Knowing Your Metabolic Rate
57:15 — Fact or Myth: Breakfast Is the Most Important Meal of the Day
1:00:58 — Top 5 Recommend Foods
1:03:09 — Worst Foods You Could Possibly Eat

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/79

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#78. Life as a Cruise Industry Production Cast Vocalist with Kayla Saunders and Dominique Petit Frere28 Aug 202201:40:23

This week’s guests are Kayla Saunders & Dominique Petit Frere.

In July, A Voice and Beyond embarked on a “Beyond” adventure on a cruise ship sailing around the Mediterranean, but it wasn’t all play for me, as I had the pleasure of doing something that I hadn’t done before and that was to interview two guests simultaneously, in an in-person situation. Kayla Saunders and Dominque Petite Frere were two of the production cast singers performing onboard the ship, Celebrity Beyond, and they sat down and shared their own personal experiences as singers working within the cruising industry, in a tell-all interview. They explained the audition process, the gruelling rehearsal schedule, their work demands and performance expectations. We also discussed Kayla and Dom’s regime for maintaining good vocal health, but most importantly, how they take care of their physical, mental and emotional health and well-being while living in a pressure cooker environment, onboard a ship. Other important topics we delved into were how the cruising industry can provide support for its performers, for example, having a vocology team on standby to support vocalists’ healthcare needs, but also how the industry can further promote and create policy around inclusivity, belonging, equity and diversity. This is an eye-opening interview and I felt very privileged sitting in the company of both Kayla and Dom as they spoke so candidly about their personal experiences in an industry that can continue to improve support for its performers.

www.kaylasaunders.com
www.Domlepetitfrere.com

In this episode
05:35 — Kayla’s Musical Influences
07:44 — Dom’s Formal Musical Education
14:11 — Transitioning to life onboard a Cruise Ship
23:10 — Appointing a Vocal Captain
26:52 — What Is a Black Track?
31:10 — Impact of Manipulating the Voice
40:58 — Celebrity Beyond
54:21 — Responsibilities of a Vocal Captain
57:43 — Vocal Warmup Exercises
1:01:04 — Taking Care of Their Physical, Mental, and Emotional Health on the Ship
1:07:17 — Typical Production Show’s Schedule
1:13:58 — Things the Company Can Do Better for Artists
1:19:57 — Is There a Gender Bias in Terms of Pay?
1:24:47 — Being Black in the Entertainment Industry in Terms of Inclusivity
1:33:30 — Advice for Other Performers Coming to the Ship
1:36:39 — Kayla & Dom’s Next Plans


For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/78

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#77. Harnessing Nature as my Guide with Elisa Stancil Levine21 Aug 202201:16:25

This week’s guest is Elisa Stancil Levine.

Elisa Stancil Levine is a world-class decorative artist and author of the book ‘This or Something Better’. Elisa describes herself as a writer, a maker, a nature lover, as well as, a little woo woo. In this week’s episode, Elisa shares her most inspiring life story, describing how she overcame adversity and the terrible trauma she faced from a young age, to how she became a very highly successful businesswoman, and the founder of Stancil Studios, an award-winning nationwide company. Elisa tells us that she was silenced as a very young child, and lived under a shadow of shame when she suffered the trauma of physical abuse from her grandmother and unthinkable sexual abuse at the hands of her step-grandfather. However, it was during this time she found peace in nature and began a beautiful relationship and trust for her outdoor surroundings. As a teenager, Elisa faced further trauma when her son was stillborn, and she felt she did not have a voice, but once again she found strength in nature and discovered that as a woman, she was resilient and could achieve success and greatness. Elisa believes that we all can harness nature as our greatest guide to living our most joyful and fulfilling life, just as she did, especially in the moments when she was silenced. Elisa shares many wonderful stories and the lessons that she has learned through the journey of her most incredible life. This is an awe-inspiring episode with Elisa Stancil Levine.

In this episode
06:06 — From State Park to Outdoor Theater 
12:34 — Elisa’s First Realization of Wanting to Have a Voice
18:20 — Elisa’s Trauma With Her Step Grandfather 
21:28 — Shadow of Shame From Childhood Trauma
23:07 — The Famous Nun: Sister Mary Karina
24:12 — Beginning of a Huge Pivotal Point 
26:04 — Misogyny in the 1960’s
29:44 — Another Crushing Time 
30:50 — Dealing With Tremendous Loss
35:01 — How Elisa Spent a Year With Her Son 
36:34 — How the Remodeling Business Began 
41:08 — The Mindset of a Problem Solver 
43:33 — Being Out in Nature
46:53 — Influence of Nature
46:53 — One of the Most Rewarding Project of Stancil Studios
1:03:20 — Handling Fear and Healing From Past Trauma

Find Elisa Online
https://elisastancillevine.com/
https://www.facebook.com/elisastancillevineauthor
https://www.instagram.com/elisastancillevine/

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/77

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#76. My Life, My Music Career and My Legacy with Alfred Jackson14 Aug 202201:00:18

This week’s guest is Alfred Jackson.

Alfred is a pop and R&B recording artist from LA. Just recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting Alfred on a cruise ship, where he was a guest entertainer performing with the boyband, Uptown. I was captivated by Alfred’s talent, energy, charisma and charm on stage and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to interview him in person on the ship. This was a fascinating conversation with Alfred who shared his professional journey, throughout the entertainment industry, which began at the age of nine and has led him to numerous and a diversity of career highlights. Some of these include being cast in numerous musical theatre productions such as the Book of Mormon in Sydney Australia, directing West Side Story, touring in the Man in the Mirror across the US, entertaining at Universal Studios Japan and performing with numerous boy bands.

Alfred has also had a very successful recording career as a singer-songwriter being signed to numerous music labels. At the age of 14, he was signed to his first record deal and he talks about how he was mistreated and body shamed at such a vulnerable young age. He shares with us that it was his mother who kept him grounded in an industry that could have destroyed his life. Over the years, Alfred has released two original albums which have been inspired by his own life experiences. His latest body of work is titled, UGLY, in which he shares his deeply personal account of his life and the importance of legacy. Alfred also discusses how he takes care of his physical, mental and emotional health in an industry where self-care is. You are going to love this interview with Alfred Jackson as he shares his stories, experiences and advice for others wishing to pursue a career in the music industry.

In this episode
07:27 — Alfred’s Singing Journey
10:00 — Singing Influences during his Young Age
12:48 — Transitioning to a Professional Singing Career
14:26 — Having a ‘Momager’ and its Impact on His Career
22:44 — Belonging to a Boy Band Group
25:48 — Singing a Healthy C5 in Pure Belt
30:32 — Our Voice Tells Us Where to Listen
32:26 — Impact of Traveling
34:19 — Warm-up Rituals
41:35 — Learning to Support the Voice
42:17 — Getting Into Musical Shows
44:48 — Working in Universal Studios in Japan for 4 years
47:45 — What Do You Do for Self-Care?
50:08 — Was There Ever a Time in Your Career That You Didn’t Feel Enough? 
54:40 — Alfred’s New Album “U.G.L.Y”
56:14 — Advice for up-and-coming Artists
57:13 — Piece of Advice for Singing Teachers

Find Alfred Online
Website: www.alfredjackson.net
Facebook: www.facebook.com/alfred.jackson.7
Twitter: www.twitter.com/ajismusic
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alfredjacksonmuzic

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/76

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#75. The Benefits of Manual Therapies for the Vocal Athlete with Walt Fritz07 Aug 202201:07:54

This week’s guest is Walt Fritz.

As a voice teaching community, it is vital to keep an open mind to the various kinds of modalities that can be of assistance for a singer who may need help. This week’s guest is Walt Fritz, a licensed physical therapist who has taught Myofascial Release continuing education since 1995 and set up his training program, Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars™. In 2020, Walt rebranded his work and launched Manual Therapies Seminars, a new training program that he continues to teach all types of therapists including massage therapists, speech-language pathologists, voice professionals, physical therapists, and occupational therapists internationally. Walt also runs a closed physical therapy practice in New York where he treats select patients, including singers. He believes that singers are vocal athletes, and he realised the benefits of applying manual therapies to singers, a modality that was and still is typically thought to be applicable exclusively for traditional sports athletes. Walt describes his approach as creating a therapeutic relationship with his patients, where he asks them to collaborate in a constant back and forth, seeking to elevate and empower them to be a true partner in the process of evaluation and decision making. This is a truly informative interview with Walt as he also shares how issues regarding postural alignment can be overplayed, the importance of meeting and accepting patients where they are at, how we must allow a person to be heard, and listen to them without judgement and as practitioners, it’s not about the approaches we use, it’s about offering compassion and empathy. There is so much more. You are going to love listening to this episode with Walt Fritz.

Instagram: @waltfritzpt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walt.fritz/

Website: www.WaltFritz.com

In this episode
04:50 - Walt’s Training Background
09:19 - What is Myofascial Release?
12:42 - Benefits of an Iterative Approach
15:28 - Deficit as a Blessing
17:58 - Athletes Within Artists
22:02 - The Aid Which Physical Therapy Gives to Singers
26:15 - Diagnostics Preview
31:07 - Priors: A Concept in Psychotherapy
34:05 - Emboldened Patients with Therapist’s Selflessness
38:27 - Reimagining Yourself to Embrace Changes
41:51 - Significance of Proper Posture
48:09 - The Method of Patient-Centered Care
51:12 - Ensuring Mutual Learning is Possible and Judgements are Mitigated
56:05 - Defining Touch Base Intervention
1:02:45 - Greatest Lesson Learned About the Voice
1:03:47 - Piece of Advice for the Singing Voice Community

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/75

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#182. The Power of Personal Boundaries08 Sep 202500:24:57

In this heartfelt solo round, Marisa Lee explores the transformational power of personal boundaries and why they are a vital part of self-care and emotional freedom.

Far from being harsh or rigid, boundaries are a way of teaching the world how to treat you. They are rooted in self-respect and clarity. Whether it’s emotional, physical, time, or digital boundaries—each one helps you reclaim your energy, honour your values, and create space for healthy, life-giving relationships.

Marisa shares real-life examples, explores what happens when boundaries are violated, and reflects on her own journey of learning to set boundaries as a way of reconnecting with her truth and her voice.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

  • Why boundaries are essential, not optional
  • How boundaries are like the rules of a game—guiding fairness and flow
  • The difference between walls and healthy limits
  • How to spot when your boundaries have been crossed
  • Practical phrases to start setting boundaries today
  • Why setting boundaries is the greatest act of self-love

This episode will inspire you to pause, reflect, and make choices that protect your peace, honour your truth and rediscover your voice.

Show Description:

In this empowering solo episode of A Voice and Beyond, host Marisa Lee gets personal about one of the most transformative tools for self-growth: boundaries.

Discover why boundaries are not fences to keep people out—but loving frameworks that protect your peace, clarify your values, and nurture mutual respect. You’ll learn how to recognise when your boundaries are being crossed, how to begin setting your own, and why honouring your needs is a radical act of self-care.

Whether you’re a creative, performer, leader, or simply someone ready to reclaim your time, energy, and your voice, this episode will help you step forward with courage, clarity, and compassion.

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#74. 5 Steps to Finding Happiness31 Jul 202200:25:04

Is your life needing an injection of happiness and positivity? Maybe it’s time to give your attitude to life a spring clean? Perhaps your thoughts and behaviours need a massive sprucing up. You may be someone who blames life, blames others, your job, the pandemic, anything and everything, but have you ever considered that it could be you that’s the problem? Your lack of happiness could be a result of some negative behaviours and your current circumstance is a manifestation of these. You may not realise that your happiness and success in all parts of your life is your personal responsibility. It’s time to become accountable and stop blaming external situations or other people for your shortcomings or your lack of joy.

Not everything in life is in our control, but our actions are and positive action is necessary for a joyful and remarkable life. Today, I am going to share with you five unwanted behaviours that I believe have the potential to stifle your happiness and once these are banished from your life, you will be far better off. My hope is that by the end of this episode, you will be able to catch yourself next time you are about to fall into the trap of one of these five behaviours so you can start to experience the happiness and desire and truly deserve.

In this episode
01:06 — Is Your Life Needing an Injection of Happiness and Positivity?
02:38 — Life Is Always Not Smooth Sailing
04:12 — Number 1: Stop Trying to Please Everybody
05:09 — Don’t Let Anyone Tell You What Is Realistic and Achievable or Not
07:23 — Number 2: Stop Talking Negatively About Yourself
09:03 — Out Thoughts Are Not Always the Truth
10:45 — Number 3: Stop Gossiping About Others
13:24 — Become Cheerleaders and Not Haters
14:40 — Number 4: Stop Holding On to the Past
15:45 — See How Far You’ve Come in the Present
18:01 — Number 5: Stop Stressing About the Future
21:04 — Conclusion

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/74

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#73. Making Voice Pedagogy Accessible For All with Dr Shannon Coates Part II24 Jul 202200:55:31

This week's guest is Shannon Coates.

This is part II of my interview with Dr Shannon Coates, who is an educator, international presenter on Voice Pedagogy, creator of The Vocal Instrument 101 Online Course and in more recent times creator of the VoicePed UnDegree. In this episode, we continue with Shannon’s candid interview as she delves deeper into some of her teaching philosophies, and her beliefs regarding the current state of academic systems that are presently not delivering the training required to equip CCM singers for a professional career. Some of the topics Shannon shares her views on include, how we as voice teachers must ensure that what we think and what we do aligns with our core values and that it is essential that we check in with our biases in order to create inclusive voice studios. Furthermore, Shannon explains that there is more than one way to achieve results, and as voice teachers, we must be open to the possibilities of what a voice can do and how the voice can work efficiently to create the tonal outcomes required by the singer. We must not get stuck in a binary system where something is either right or wrong because the voice is a complex system that is different from person to person. Shannon’s mission is to continue to make vocal pedagogy practical, applicable and accessible, for everyone, especially for those outside of academia. There is so much more in this is a brilliant interview with Dr Shannon Coates.

Online Course: https://drshannoncoates.com/the-vocal-instrument-101-online-course/

03:24 – Personal experience with being silenced
07:49 – Discussion Post
10:13 – Dr. Shannon’s Pet project
13:42 – Teaching different techniques
15:08 – Understanding the possibilities of what the Voice can do
18:44 – Treating Voice as a complex instrument
21:04 – Understanding Formants in voice
26:32 – Things missing in terms of Singer’s Higher Education Training
31:09 – The Academic system’s promise
33:34 – Is CCM teachable in the academic system?
35:52 – Finding your authentic sound
40:38 – The Voiceped Undegree program
42:41 – What’s next for Dr. Shannon?
46:42 – Thoughts on Methodologies
51:52 – One piece of advice for the singing voice community

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/73

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#72. Making Voice Pedagogy Accessible For All with Dr Shannon Coates Part I17 Jul 202200:50:01

This week’s guest is Shannon Coates.

This is part I of my interview with Dr Shannon Coates, who is an acclaimed voice teacher, international presenter and creator of The Vocal Instrument 101 Online Course. This is a candid interview with Shannon as she begins by sharing her earliest memories of how she discovered the joy of singing as part of a musical family and the journey that led her to a highly successful teaching career. Shannon tells us that she began her teaching career, as an independent studio voice teacher where she worked with a broad range of students. Shannon explains that her own professional and teaching experiences, inspired her to create training programs and resources for teachers outside of academia to equip them with the skills and knowledge that are most useful for them. Shannon had discovered that all the classical tuition received did not give her the tools she needed for contemporary singing. The other realisation for Shannon was that the majority of voice pedagogy classes were being taught by classical voice teachers who had never owned or operated an independent voice studio themselves. Furthermore, she believed that independent studio teachers, were unable to access the training they required without sacrificing time away from the studios, and losing income. In this episode Shannon also shares with us the qualities that she believes that a good teacher should possess, the core components of her training programs and how these are relevant and beneficial to the teaching voice community. Remember this is part 1 of a 2 part interview with Dr Shannon Coates and part 2 will be released next week.

Online Course: https://drshannoncoates.com/the-vocal-instrument-101-online-course/

In this episode

04:00 – Getting to know Dr. Shannon Coates
07:15 – Earliest memories of singing
12:12 – Musical education history
14:12 – Dr. Shannon’s work experience
15:42 – Being a Worship Leader
17:36 – Say ‘Yes’ and figure it out
19:48 – Choosing not to teach
20:46 – First teaching gig
23:09 – Obtaining a Classical Voice Degree
25:31 – Transitioning from Traditional to Online voice lessons
28:48 – Creating resources and working with Voice Teachers
30:39 – The Vocal Instrument 101
40:55 – Finding independent studio teachers
45:27 – Important things a Voice Teacher should know

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/72

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#71. 3 Steps to Elevate your Morning and Transform your Day10 Jul 202200:23:45

How often do you start your day feeling tired, and you find that you’re stressed out, burnt out and maxed out even before your work day has commenced? We all want to feel more alive, full of joy and energized, but some of us don’t know how to make this happen. If you’re lacking the mental focus and the energy you need to deliver the best of yourself, you can begin by customising and carving out a morning routine that will help you set the tone for your whole day. In today’s show, I am going to share some ideas on how you can win back your life, upgrade your happiness, and be more present, more productive and have the energy you need, just by making some changes to your mornings. Don’t waste the opportunity to live your best life. It’s time now to realign with your passion and purpose. Make that choice, to create change and I promise you that by setting up a three step morning routine that works for you, it is possible to live the life you dare to dream of.

In this episode
01:10 – Making changes to your morning routine
03:57 – Align yourself with Purpose and Passion
05:22 – The 5AM Club
09:26 – Step 1: The First 20 Minutes is to exercise or just move
10:58 – Gentle reminder for singers
12:27 – Step 2: Meditation
14:53 – Mental Fatigue and Lack of Mental Focus
15:46 – Step 3: Journaling or Personal Development
17:30 – Find things that will bring you joy
18:32 – Personal Development
19:29 – Conclusion
20:57 – Learn the simple discipline of mourning routine

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/71

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#70. Listen to What Your Body is Trying to Tell You with Serena Sterling03 Jul 202200:57:51

This week’s guest is Serena Sterling.

When someone feels as though they are being silenced, this can have tremendous physical, and psychological consequences for that person as they feel ignored or not heard. This week’s guest is Serena Sterling, who is a certified Life Coach and author of the book ‘Pain: A Love Story'. In this episode, Serena shares her story regarding the chronic physical and emotional pain that she endured as a result of feeling ignored at various times in her life. Serena tells us that in her childhood, she began to complain about “imaginary” pain to gain attention from her family, and after months of pretence, this eventually manifested into Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis, a condition she still has today. While working as an international journalist, Serena was based in New York's financial district during the September 11 attacks. As a result of the trauma she experienced during those attacks, she was later diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and was told by her doctor that there was no cure. Serena’s life began to spiral as she started snorting cocaine in her kitchen to help her cope and hold down her job. Not wanting to accept this as a lifetime fate, she discovered mind-body healing techniques that transformed her mental, emotional, and physical health. Witnessing what seemed like a miraculous transformation, Serena decided she needed to share this with the world. She later received a master’s and a doctorate in clinical psychology in order to bridge the gap between science and emotional health. Serena is committed to helping others with physical and emotional pain feel better fast with various modalities that have been proven to cure chronic pain. This is a candid interview with Serena as she not only shares some of the darkest moments in her life but also offers advice to those who feel as though they are being silenced as well as how we can all listen better.

In this episode
05:08 – Donna’s Childhood
07:56 – Seeking Attention from Parents
09:09 – Psychosomatic Disorder
10:03 – Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
15:20 – Coping with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
17:16 – Depression + PTSD
19:10 – Cocaine helping her Chronic Fatigue
23:20 – Victim Mentality
26:29 – Body Mind Healing Techniques
28:25 – Communicating with the body
32:40 – Diagnosing patients through Kinesiology
40:19 – Message behind the book “Pain, A Love Story”
46:18 – Advice to someone experiencing pain
50:37 – Best way to help someone in pain
51:36 – What's the greatest lesson you've learned about yourself?

https://www.drserenasterling.com/

Instagram: @drserenasterling

Book, Pain: A Love Story

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/70

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#69. The Five Stage of Grief and Loss with Donna Cameron26 Jun 202201:05:28

This week’s guest is Donna Cameron.

As a result of Covid 19, it’s undeniable that over the past couple of years, almost all of us have been impacted in some way by the pandemic and have experienced a form of grief or loss. This week, we welcome back to the show, Donna Cameron who is a qualified psychologist with over 20 years of experience in private practice and in this episode Donna discusses both these very topics. Donna shares with us how loss has been felt globally and some continue to grieve the loss of their jobs, their businesses or their incomes, while others, including children, have been affected by the loss of social connection with their friends, and family during those times of isolation. Sadly and so tragically many have experienced the loss of a loved one. Irrespective of the loss, everyone’s journey and experiences throughout this time have been different, and for many, they are unsure of how to overcome grief and adversity. Donna helps us understand what grief is, as well as how it impacts us physically and emotionally and she also breaks down the five stages of the grieving process. Donna offers advice on coping mechanisms that will allow us to process grief in a more positive manner and shares with us what to say to someone who is in the midst of the grief, without minimising their emotions. This is such an extremely timely episode as we return to day-to-day life in our new normal. There are there so many brilliant pieces of advice offered by Donna. So whether you or someone you know is grieving or dealing with loss, this is a not to be missed interview with Donna Cameron.

In this episode
05:42 – Loss and Grief experience
11:31 – Different types of Grief and Loss
14:35 – What is Grief?
16:25 – Physical and Emotional Symptoms of Grief
17:38 – Heartbreak
20:17 – Redirecting Anger to Something else
24:57 – Acceptance
28:10 – Grieving Death vs Grieving through breakup
30:57 – Best Way to Heal
36:16 – Routines and Patterns
40:33 – Right and Worst things to say to someone grieving
45:00 – Grieving: Men vs Women
50:44 – Explaining Loss and Death to children
56:27 – The best piece of advice for a person dealing with their own grief

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#68. How to Break a Habit in 66 Days19 Jun 202200:20:54

Do you have some kind of limiting behaviour or habit that is holding you back and it’s preventing you from moving forward in your life? There’s no denying that we all are, indeed, creatures of habit. Our minds and bodies are dependent on stimulants, actions and patterns that come to define who we are. Usually, these habits are sneaky behaviours that develop subconsciously and quietly creep up on us. So whether it’s trying to quit smoking, cutting out junk food, or having that glass of wine, habits can be hard to control, but even harder to break. Every action comes from an original thought pattern. Therefore, if you really want to break old habits, create new ones, and have a total lifestyle transformation, you will need to change more than just your habits. It will require a shift in mindset and in this episode, we’re going to share how you can work towards creating that shift in 66 days. It’s been scientifically proven that we need to make a commitment for 66 days toward habit installation and in today’s show, we discuss ways to remove that habit and create a new default behaviour. These ideas may seem very simple, but are truly very powerful, and can apply to most kinds of habits. As humans, we have the ability to adapt and take a habit out of our lives, and it’s time to learn how you can rewire your brain, install a new habit and it get into a CAN DO attitude in 66 days.

In this episode
01:10 – Do you have a limiting behaviour?
02:09 – Habit vs Routine
05:50 – What is a Habit?
06:18 – Routine Triggers
09:16 – Be Obnoxious (Days 1 – 22)
10:04 – Share with others
11:28 – Self-Analysis (Day 22 – 44)
13:15 – Become the person of your dreams
15:07 – Find the Light (Day 44 – 66)
16:04 – Shifting your mindset
17:50 – Own your experiences

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#67. Facing the Music: My Triumphs and Tribulations with Jeannette LoVetri Part II12 Jun 202200:54:56

This week’s guest is Jeannette LoVetri.

In today’s episode, I am delighted to share part two of my conversation with our guest, Jeannette LoVetri who is one of the most recognized and highly acclaimed voice teachers from around the world. We learn more about Jeanie and the journey she embarked on as a voice teacher, the sacrifices she had to endure to create change and the reaction she received from the greater voice community when she coined the term Contemporary Commercial Music in 2000. Jeanie tells us that until that time, all music outside of classical music was deemed low art and she explains that she had to be intentional and very strategic to gain the respect of her classical colleagues.

During our chat, Jeanie further describes Somatic Voicework™, her trademarked method, which she developed to be applicable in a very practical way, and was the result of her 40 years of studying the voice as well as her own professional experiences. She tells is that it was her vision to create a training program that was inclusive and welcoming and where the learning was conducted in a kind and sharing environment.

Jeanie shares so many pearls of wisdom, such as, what qualities she believes are essential for a good singing teacher to possess, the influence of voice science in singing voice pedagogy, her personal self-care regime, her legacy and so much more. Jeanie was so generous with her time and you are going to love getting up close and personal with Jeannette LoVetri.


link to the summer Institute: https://bwcommunityarts.bw.edu/teacher-education/lovetri-institute/

Link to the free webinars:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rf-mqqT4rGtH5shlPPzKlFluKmcdfzATZ

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/66

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#66. Facing the Music: My Triumphs and Tribulations with Jeannette LoVetri Part I05 Jun 202200:57:42

This week’s guest is Jeannette LoVetri.

Jeannette LoVetri is one of the most recognized and highly acclaimed voice teachers around the world. This is part one of a two-part interview round with Jeanie. In this episode, we have the honour of learning more about Jeanie and the journey which led her to a remarkable performance and teaching career, but most importantly, what inspired her to create the term Contemporary Commercial Music in 2000. CCM as we know it is now widely used in academia, science and research. Jeanie talks about those who inspired and influenced her learning of all things connected with the singing voice, and how she constructed her pedagogical approaches, which ultimately led her to develop, Somatic Voicework™, Jeanie’s trademarked method which she created in 2002, and is now taught at Baldwin Wallace University every summer.

Jeannette is a trailblazer and continues to work hard to instigate changes in the way CCM is perceived within the singing voice community and what I learned is that Jeanie’s success, has come about from her remarkable resilience, and curiosity for learning and sheer tenacity. I absolutely loved hanging out with Jeanie as she shared her stories, her struggles and her triumphs. I’m sure you are going to love listening to this episode and don’t forget this is part one of my interview with Jeanie and in next week’s episode, we will release part II.

In this episode
03:32 — Introducing Jeannette LoVetri
10:33 — Growing up in a musical family
14:11 — Getting into Manhattan School of Music
19:00 — Exposure to Broadway professionals
21:09 — Classical Training experience
24:13 — Realizing her voice didn't fit the mould
26:21 — The Voice Foundation at Juilliard School
29:16 — Attending the symposium for 10 years
33:44 — Writing a Complaint Letter to the Voice Foundation
34:55 — Doing research with Dr. Silver
43:05 — Putting electrodes and experimenting with her vocal cords
46:16 — Officially introducing the term CCM in a forum in 2000
48:23 — What really is Contemporary Commercial Music?

link to the summer Institute: https://bwcommunityarts.bw.edu/teacher-education/lovetri-institute/

Link to the free webinars:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0rf-mqqT4rGtH5shlPPzKlFluKmcdfzATZ

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/66

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#65. Learn to Say No to Being a People Pleaser29 May 202200:22:30

How many of us are always saying yes, even when we really want to say no? Are you constantly finding yourself in situations where you feel as though you're going against your values, and your own priorities simply to please others? If you are someone who puts aside the very things that you need in your life, for the sake of others, help is on its way. In this episode, we delve into why you have the irrepressible urge to be a people pleaser and how this can be detrimental to your life, your goals, your values as well as your energy levels. If you want more out of life and you are looking to achieve greater things, you must learn to say no now and get comfortable with the discomfort of saying no.

Today’s episode discusses ways in which you can make yourself the priority in your life and start focusing on your own needs and desires by setting boundaries, and how you can learn to say no when a boundary violation occurs. We explain the importance of examining your motivations and intentions for saying yes, e.g. it may be that you do things only because you fear rejection or seek approval from others. Remember that putting your own needs first, doesn’t mean that you can no longer be a kind and thoughtful person. You must continue to be kind, but most importantly you must be kind to yourself first. It’s time to learn to say no and stop putting the needs of others before your own future happiness.

In this episode
01:10 – Being a People Pleaser
 03:17 – Stop being a YES person
 06:18 – The price we pay for saying YES to everyone
 08:10 – Feeling like a bad inconsiderate person
 09:14 – Learn to say NO now
 10:05 – Feeling Guilty
 13:27 – Strong healthy relationship
 14:19 – Energy Levels
 17:11 – Action steps to stop being a people pleaser?
 17:28 – Establishing boundaries and violation
 19:10 – Saying No to a text request
 20:34 – Continue being kind on your own terms

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#181. Beyond Trauma: Rediscovering Your Voice, Identity, and Inner Strength: with Dana S. Diaz24 Aug 202501:13:32

What happens when a woman who’s been silenced her entire life finally finds her voice?

In this deeply moving episode, bestselling author and abuse recovery coach Dana S. Diaz joins A Voice and Beyond to share her journey from trauma to triumph. Drawing from her powerful memoir trilogy—Gasping for Air, Choking on Shame, and Rising from the Ashes—Dana opens up about growing up in a home where she wasn’t wanted, enduring a 25-year marriage to a narcissistic abuser, and how she found her way back to herself.

This is more than a story of survival—it’s a call to every woman who’s ever been told to stay silent. Dana’s message is clear: your voice is your power.

Find Dana online:

Website: https://danasdiaz.com

Presskit: https://danasdiaz.com/danas-press-kit/

Reach out at: info@danasdiaz.com

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#64. How to Achieve a Healthy Relationship with Food with Kimberley Bell22 May 202200:59:44

This week's guest is Kimberley Bell.

Body shaming and having a distorted self-body image can lead to negative thought patterns and these thoughts can sometimes trigger eating disorders in some people, which can be life-threatening such as bulimia, binge eating and at the opposite end of the spectrum, anorexia. Kimberley Bell who is a Registered Nutritionist and Master NLP Practitioner, is this week’s guest on our show and she candidly opens up about her own personal struggles with an eating disorder which resulted from being body-shamed as a teenager going through puberty. She shares how this ultimately led to her relationship with food spiralling out of control and she became a binge eater. What she discovered when she went to seek help was, that in order to beat binging, you have to fix both the physical and emotional triggers. She tells us, that it doesn’t matter how mentally strong you are, if your body is crying out for nutrients, it’s going to be extremely difficult to resist a binge on mental strength alone.

Kimberley found that the most powerful way to stop is to target both the physical and mental aspects. In today’s show, Kimberley explains the benefits of the program she has founded in order to help other women overcome eating disorders, called Mind Your Nutrition, and she also gives us some excellent advice on what sensible eating for good nutrition consists of. There is so much great information shared in this episode that relates to all of us, irrespective of whether we or someone we know is struggling with an eating disorder.

In this episode
05:05 — Kimberley’s career and early nutrition journey
16:58 — 3 Main Eating Disorder Categories
19:27 — When do eating disorders become life threatening?
20:59 — Signs of an Eating Disorder
24:41 — Has COVID-19 spiked an increase in Eating Disorder cases?
25:11 — Does Social Media play a big role in food and body relationships?
27:21 — Kimberley’s Nutrition Program
31:41 — Should the word “diet” be removed / replaced from the English language?
36:42 — Food companies’ propaganda’s and advertising impact
40:24 — Worst foods to eat in terms of overall health
45:24 — Types of Weight Loss Diets
48:02 — Benefits and Importance of Fasting
51:24 — Correlation between eating a type of food and mental health issues
55:30 — Kimberley’s nutrition advice for the voice community

Kimberley's Links
Instagram: @mindyournutritionnz
Website: www.mindyournutrition.co.nz
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnSXXpPGuH87R9WVdO_4qTA


For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/64

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#63. My Secrets for Success and Sustainability in the Voice Industry with Associate Professor Irene Bartlett15 May 202201:18:35

This week's guest is Associate Professor Irene Bartlett!

In the music industry, it is very difficult to sustain a long and enduring career, but our guest this week, Associate Professor Irene Bartlett has successfully navigated her music career and shares with us her secrets to longevity as a member of the voice community. Irene worked as a professional CCM singer for over 50 years and during that time transitioned into other roles such as a becoming voice teacher, a voice researcher, a contributing author and an international voice presenter. Currently, Irene is the Head of Pedagogy, Coordinator of Contemporary Voice & Voice Pedagogy Programs, the Head of Jazz Voice Studies and is proudly an associate professor, at Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University in Queensland, Australia.

Irene is truly a trailblazer and a visionary and her knowledge and experience as led her to develop a unique and inclusive approach to teaching vocal pedagogy, which is not only based on voice science but also on her teaching philosophy that good singing is good singing. She continues to be an advocate for legitimising CCM from a pedagogical standpoint and opens up about her professional journey, her greatest accomplishments, how remaining relevant is key to sustainability and longevity, and the importance of family first and legacy. This is a brilliant not to be missed interview with my good friend, colleague, and mentor Associate Professor Irene Bartlett.

In this episode
01:16 – Introducing Associate Professor Irene Bartlett
05:36 — Irene’s Singing background
14:16 — Teaching at Queensland Conservatorium
19:31 — Classical Colleagues’ 
24:09 — Irene’s path to success
27:25 — Vocal Pedagogy Program
33:21 — What constitutes good singing?
40:48 — Is it detrimental to a CCM singer’s vocal health to be classically trained?
48:38 — Voice teaching’s greatest revolution
49:59 — Most common diagnosis in her studio
52:17 — Irene’s teaching philosophy
54:29 — Colleagues or institutions trying to silence her
1:05:29 — Finding balance between work and family
1:07:48 — Irene’s greatest accomplishment
1:12:00 — Greatest piece of advice the singing voice community


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#62. The Time to Stop Living in the Past is Now08 May 202200:24:14

Are you living in the past or do you dwell on events that belong in your past? If this is you, ask yourself how can you live a happy life in the present, when you can’t let go of what’s already happened? Instead of focusing on the here and now, you find that you’re caught up ruminating, stuck in a web of reflection and brooding on your past mistakes. The more you engage in this behaviour, the more disempowering your future will become. 

In this episode, I share the good news, that your past is merely a part of your learning journey that forms a previous chapter in your life. I explain that your past is not you, and what happened was simply a situation or an event. It is something that is done and dusted, and it’s time now to make peace with your past. I discuss how you can realign your life and take back control of your past by creating healthy habits that guide you towards living your very best life every single day in the here and the now. So the next time a negative thought crosses your mind, you have the tools to steer your mind away from it, stop berating yourself, step out of a victim mentality and learn the process of forgiveness. You are worth the effort! Always have been and always will be!

In this episode

01:16 – Stop Living in the Past

03:32 – Courage to Forgive

05:13 – Free yourself from the past and move on

06:26 – The effects of negative thinking

09:44 – Allowing negative self-talk to happen

10:36 – Living Life in a Positive and Authentic Way

12:22 – The Victim Mentality

14:05 – Coping with victim mentality mindset

16:01 – Being a Survivor

17:15 – The Power of True Forgiveness

18:28 – Don’t wait for an apology

20:40 – Best gift you give to yourself is forgiveness

21:05 – Taking control of your past

22:00 – Learning from experiences and move on


For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/62

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#61. When Pop Meets Brain Science with Meredith Colby01 May 202201:18:18

This week's guest is Meredith Colby.

Meredith Colby is an author, teacher, speaker and the creator of Neuro-Vocal, an approach to teaching singing for popular music styles based on brain science. In this episode, Meredith speaks candidly about her professional career, the demands of the CCM industry for singers, the lack of formal training for the styles she was performing and the vocal issues she encountered as a classically trained singer working in a touring rock band. She firmly believes that the many years of classical training she received did not give her the tools she needed to sustain the styles she was performing and ultimately led to her vocal burnout. These experiences inspired her to research and write her book, Money Notes, in which she introduces Neuro-Vocal, a fast, effective training approach that encourages healthy singing habits for microphone singers and is based on neuroscience. 

Neuro-Vocal teaches students to steer changes in their brains and to be guided by these changes as they occur. Meredith breaks down her approach which has been proven to achieve remarkably fast results and puts the student in the driver's seat. Not only that, but equips singers with tools for a healthy voice that will last for a lifetime? There is so much to unpack in this show and I know you are going to love all the information Meredith has to share with us.


In this Episode

04:11 – Meredith's earliest singing memories
09:16 – Frustration for not being able to sing loudly
12:18 – The kind of music Meredith was performing
13:01 – Classical music experience
17:48 – Ignoring her voice’s health warning signs
25:50 – How did you hear your voice?
26:43 – Talking to a Laryngologist and avoiding surgery
30:53 – Aha moment from Cyndi Lauper and Patti LaBelle
31:22 – Transitioning to being a voice teacher
34:50 – The Neuro Vocal Method
40:25 – The Alexander Technique
54:17 – Being a Vehicle for the Composer’s Intent
1:00:49 – Helping people find their own voice
1:01:50 – Training program exercises
1:14:23 – Meredith's greatest piece of advice for the singing voice community

Meredith's Links
https://www.meredithcolby.com/
https://www.meredithcolby.com/nvm-certification
https://itascabooks.com/money-notes-how-to-sing-high-loud-healthy-and-forever/
https://www.meredithcolby.com/online-store/Money-Notes-E-Book-p153635065
https://moneynotes.teachable.com/courses/introduction-to-neuro-vocal-method


For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/61

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#60. The Detection and Treatment of Voice Disorders with Lori Sonnenberg24 Apr 202201:12:04

This week’s guest is Lori Sonnenberg.

Lori Sonnenberg is a Chicago based Licensed Speech-Language Pathologist, Clinical Voice Specialist, and Singing Voice Specialist whose clients include professional performers, educators and speakers. In her voice clinic, Lori works exclusively with voice and breathing disorders and specialises in muscle tension dysphonia related disorders, recovery from voice injuries, professional voice care and support, post-operative voice recovery, and problematic technical voice issues for singers. 

In this episode, Lori explains what is involved in the initial consultation with a patient, including the diagnostic process and gives us an insight into the treatments she uses to assist her patients to recover from voice disorders and pathologies. Prevention is better than cure and Lori explains how we as voice teachers can detect when there is a potential problem occurring within our own instrument as well as that of our students and when to proactively seek the help of a voice specialist before it’s too late. 

Lori also discusses the impact of COVID on the singing voice, misconceptions concerning the incidence of vocal pathologies across genres, how we as a voice community can listen better and the importance of supporting and not shaming singers through voice problems. This interview with Lori Sonnenberg is a must-listen.

In this episode

04:38 – Lori’s early singing days
20:46 – The Diagnostic Process for patients
23:30 – What Causes Muscle Tension Dysphonia?
25:36 – Treating Muscle Tension Dysphonia
28:55 – Mucosal Swelling
31:17 – Voice’s Warning Signals
36:48 – How do you know if your vocal folds are swollen today?
42:09 – What are the worst injuries one can have as a singer?
49:10 – A Voice World
50:13 – Do CCM singers experience Voice Injuries and Disorders more often than Classical Singers?
53:33 - Getting confusing messages in terms of Vocal Health
56:46 – Lori’s favourite Vocal Warm up
1:01:13 – Lori’s favourite Vocal Cool down
1:02:52 – COVID’s effect to voice
1:07:26 - Piece of advice for teachers in the singing voice community

Lori's Links
www.sonnenbergvoice.com
www.facebook.com/sonnenbergvoice
instagram.com/sonnenbergvoice/
linkedin.com/in/lori-l-sonnenberg-51502b158/


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#59. How To Action Without Distraction 17 Apr 202200:12:06

How often do you begin an important task and then you suddenly find yourself standing in front of the coffee machine just five minutes later. Ask yourself, do you feel as though you are going nowhere fast. Instead of moving forward, it feels like you're stagnating and could be doing so much more with your life is the amount of time you're spending distracted amongst all the chaos and the drama far greater than the time you're being productive.

In today's episode, we are going to figure out why you may be distracted and I will share some simple ideas that you can use to manage your day.

In this episode

1:10 - Do you get distracted often? 

2:15 - Take time out to release and reset

4:37 - Check in on your progress to stay focused 

6:40 - Cultivate a disciplined mindset

9:38 -  Take charge and develop purposeful habits

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/59

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#58. Stop Worrying About The Future10 Apr 202200:11:34

Do you experience feelings such as self doubt, fear, anger, anxiety, guilt, shame, or perhaps even regret? Try not to get caught up worrying about worse case scenarios, as they may never happen. We're all having to come to terms with the fear of what "could" happen next. Now more than ever, on any given day, we all have a moment where we struggle with our fears. If you are always stressing about the future, you will be held to ransom by this overwhelm. You are never going to give yourself the opportunity to experience the joys of the here and the now. You must shift your focus to the present. I promise you that you aren't going to know yourself.

In this solo episode I focus on the importance of dedicating time for yourself, leveraging stress to our advantage, letting go of our future worries and allowing ourselves to embrace the unknown.

In this episode

1:10 - Do you often feel overwhelmed? 

2:36 - Find time for you 

3:45 - Leverage stress to your advantage

4:58 - Don’t fear the future

7:03 -  Allow yourself to let go and embrace the unknown


For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/58

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#57. Who Said You Can’t Sing with Linor Oren03 Apr 202201:13:29

This week's guest is Linor Oren.

How many of us have been told that we can’t sing, or that we can’t hold a tune in a bucket or we have simply been told please don’t sing? Whether we hear this from a family member, a singing teacher, or as I did from a choral director when I was in high school, this kind of discouragement can potentially silence many who will choose not to ever sing again. 

In this episode, our guest is Linor Oren, a singing teacher from Amsterdam, who didn’t sing until she was 21 years old, because of the impact of her father’s words and actions as a child as he relentlessly and unknowingly pushed her way from singing. Linor shares with us how she finally discovered the joy of singing, however, once she launched into her performance career, as a professional opera and musical theatre singer, she suffered terribly from performance anxiety as a consequence of these childhood experiences. Linor tells us how these lived experiences ultimately led her into a teaching career, where she has developed a specific training program called Sing Well. The teaching philosophy behind her program was inspired by a need to help other singers overcome all the obstacles she had been confronted with on her journey of discovering her own voice. 

Linor also has a popular YouTube channel with millions of views from almost 60,000 subscribers and she talks about one video in particular where she conducted a social experiment with approximately 20 willing participants. She surveyed them to find out how many of them had been told they could not sing and the consequences this had on them ever singing again. The results are surprising and to hear what happens, you must listen to this episode with Linor Oren.

In this episode

08:08 – Was singing culturally accepted in Israel?

09:55 – Her Father’s impact on her singing ability

14:36 – Her biggest obstacle in having performance anxiety

17:55 – How did she overcome her anxiety

24:33 – The Non-Stop Principle

26:01 – Studying voice formally and moving to Amsterdam

27:29 – Breaking up with the love of her life

30:21 – Developing her voice teaching approach

36:20 – Bright Spots Concept

38:12 – Linor’s teaching philosophy

41:10 – Does mental and emotional status impact a student’s voice?

44:03 – The Negative Self Talk

46:32 – Walking up to random people in the park to ask questions about singing

58:46 – Linor reacting to Freddie Mercury and getting 4 Million views

1:02:04 – Linor’s YouTube career

1:04:44 – Linor’s first solo performance

1:07:59 – Linor’s biggest advice to aspiring singers

Linor’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/LinorOrenvoiceteacher

Linor’s Blog: https://singwell.eu/voice-tips/

Linor’s Courses: https://singwell.eu/overview-singing-courses/

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/57

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#56. Finding Your Voice with Mandie Kramer from The Wander Mom Diaries27 Mar 202200:36:17

A few months ago, I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the podcast, The Wander Mom Diaries, hosted by Mandie Kramer. The theme of the podcast centres around self-care, overcoming adversities, and empowering women and, my story and messaging certainly dives into all three! During my conversation with Mandie, I allowed myself to become vulnerable as I began to share my personal story of how I had to overcome one major challenge in my life, after another, including being a suicide survivor, the challenges of being a single mum whilst having a hectic schedule as professional in the music industry and how I was silenced by my culture and my community. Eventually I discovered I could stand up and use my voice in life, and It is my intention to release this episode as I truly want to inspire other women, that no matter where they are at, no matter what adversities, they are having to deal with, there is a way to live your best, most authentic life each and every day and please know you are beautiful just as you are. You are stronger than what you think. I hope you find something within this episode that will empower you to follow your dreams and embrace the woman that you are.

 For all The Wander Moms socials visit https://linktr.ee/wandermomdiaries

In this episode

01:16 - Introducing this episode with Mandie Kramer

03:22 - Mandie's introduction from our episode on The Wander Moms Podcast

12:44 – My early career background

14:32 – Loosing my first husband

18:00 – Struggling with Mental health and developing bulimia

20:06 – Meeting my second husband 

22:38 – What helped her act to step up and leave her environment?

24:16 – My advice for other mothers

29:12 – Opportunities for moms looking for a singing career

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/56

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#55. Exploring Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) with Dr David Juncos20 Mar 202201:09:30

Today’s guest is Dr David Juncos.

Dr David Juncos a clinical psychologist, performance coach, a voice workshop lecturer, and co-author of the book ACT for Musicians, which is due for release in the coming months. David shares that he considers himself to be a "third wave" therapist, with additional training in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy otherwise known as (ACT). In this episode, he describes ACT as an evidence-based psychotherapy that aims to promote mindfulness and acceptance and he explains how he has been able to successfully treat performance anxiety in musicians, as well as singers, using this treatment approach. 

David also answers questions around willingness and avoidance and how they relate to dealing with problems such as anxiety, including performance anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse and addiction, as well as depression. David breaks down the signs and symptoms of all of these issues and identifies the possible impairments that filter into the lives, work and relationships of those who are suffering with these problems. 

This is such a powerful and informative episode and one of the most important pieces of information that resonated with me, is David reinforcing the idea that we, as teachers, should only do what we have been trained to do and that if we ourselves, are in trouble, we must seek help. There is so much to unpack in this episode, so be sure to listen carefully.

In this episode

1:17 - Introducing Dr David Juncos

6:33 - David’s inspiration to study psychology 

14:01 - David’s motivation to work with singers

23:05 - How to access ACT psychotherapy

28:37 - Where do we draw the line between therapist and teacher

39:29 - What is depression and how does it differ from anxiety?

43:16 - Dealing and treating with addictions

45:04 - Is one addiction harder to treat than another?

46:33 - CAGE screener technique for identifying alcohol addiction

51:38 - Particular drugs more prevalent amongst musicians

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/55

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#180. Reclaiming Your Voice: In the Pursuit of Justice with James Porfido10 Aug 202501:13:19

In this powerful and eye-opening episode of A Voice and Beyond, we sit down with James Porfido—a highly respected criminal defence attorney with over 30 years of experience helping people navigate the justice system and reclaim their lives.

James, a former prosecutor and Law Professor, he has more than 18 years experience as TV Legal Analyst and offered commentary on many high profile criminal cases Harvey Weinstein, Casey Anthony, Scott Petersen, Robert Blake, Phil Spector, Menendez Brothers, Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson,, and numerous others. James has dedicated his career to defending clients facing some of life’s most difficult moments—from criminal charges to wrongful accusations. But this conversation goes far beyond legal advice; it’s about human resilience, dignity, and the fight to have your voice heard.

In this episode, we explore:

⚖️ What it really means to stand up for your legal rights—and why many people don’t know they have them
⚖️ How facing criminal charges can impact your job, family, and mental health
⚖️ Why everyone deserves fair representation, no matter their circumstances
⚖️ The myths and misunderstandings people have about the legal system
⚖️ Stories of hope and redemption from clients who rebuilt their lives after legal battles
⚖️ How James balances fierce advocacy with empathy, compassion, and ethics

Whether you’re curious about the legal system or simply love stories of resilience and justice, this conversation will leave you informed, inspired, and reminded that no one is beyond help — and no voice is too small to matter.

Connect with James Porfido:

Website:

https://porfidolaw.com/

https://www.einhornlawyers.com/

Podmatch:

https://podmatch.com/guestdetailpreview/1731628169639288fbbaa343d

Resources Mentioned:

Book: Unequal Justice: The Search for Truth to Balance the Scales

https://www.amazon.com/Unequal-Justice-Search-Balance-Scales/dp/B0DHWT1N8D


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#54. Celebrating All Voices: Building A Thriving and Collaborative Community Part II13 Mar 202201:06:01

We are so excited to announce it is our first birthday. Yes, it is one year since we launched our very first episode of A Voice and Beyond and to celebrate this exciting milestone, we would like to share some brilliant highlights from our interview rounds, where our internationally acclaimed voice teachers and music artists offer their pearls of wisdom from lessons they have learned throughout their own personal and professional experiences in the music industry, in the teaching studio and beyond. 

Each guest shares with us their empowering words of advice, as they speak candidly about their own journeys of self-discovery, self-care and self-awareness. It is through these lessons, we can all learn and grow, reconnect with our most authentic selves, and discover our voices in song as well as life, so we too can empower others, including our students. 

It has been a real joy spending time with all my guests and I am truly grateful for their contribution to the show. We hope that you enjoy part two of our two-part birthday celebrations.

In this episode

0:01 - Introduction to our Birthday Celebration of Voices

1:44 - Donna Cameron from Episode 4

9:53 - Petra Raspel Borzinski from Episode 46

13:48 - Sarah Marshall from Episode 33

19:41 - Emma Ferris from Episode 23

23:53 - Duncan Rock from Episode 29

27:24 - Elina Winnel from Episode 37

31:11 - Chris Johnson from Episode 15

35:05 - Dr Nidhi Krishnan from Episode 30

37:43 - Grace Ng Ee Wern from Episode 40

40:18 - Peter Edwards from Episode 39

44:50 - Julie-Anne Whitfield from Episode 25

50:09 - Jen Haddix from Episode 49

53:51 - Heidi Moss Erickson from Episode 35

59:48 - Evan Dunn from Episode 52

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/54

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#53. Celebrating All Voices: Building a Thriving Collaborative Community Part I06 Mar 202200:54:44

We are so excited to announce it is our first birthday. Yes, it is one year since we launched our very first episode of A Voice and Beyond and to celebrate this exciting milestone, we would like to share some brilliant highlights from our interview rounds, where our internationally acclaimed voice teachers and music artists offer their pearls of wisdom from lessons they have learned throughout their own personal and professional experiences in the music industry, in the teaching studio and beyond. 

Each guest shares with us their empowering words of advice, as they speak candidly about their own journeys of self-discovery, self-care and self-awareness. It is through these lessons, we can all learn and grow, reconnect with our most authentic selves, and discover our voices in song as well as life, so we too can empower others, including our students. 

It has been a real joy spending time with all my guests and I am truly grateful for their contribution to the show. We hope that you enjoy part one of our two-part birthday celebrations.

In this episode

1:16 - Introduction to our Birthday Celebration of Voices

1:44 - Dr Elizabeth Blades from Episode 2

5:06 - Dr Jenevora Williams from Episode 5

8:50 - Dr Gillyanne Kayes & Jeremy Fisher from Episode 6 & 7

12:27 - Ashlie Amber from Episode 9

16:02 - Lisa Popeil from Episode 11

20:01 - Brenda Earle Stokes from Episode 50

25:31 - Chris Johnson from Episode 15 

28:05 - Dr Elizabeth Benson from Episode 13

32:00 - Dr Wendy LeBorgne from Episode 17 & 18

35:44 - Nancy Bos from Episode 20 & 21

39:18 - Dann Milton from Episode 32

44:16 - Nadine Manion from Episode 24

46:51 - Heidi Moss Erickson from Episode 35

51:15 - Dr Trineice Robinson-Martin from Episode 47

For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/53

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#52. Mindfulness: You Can Unlock the Power of your Mind With Evan Dunn27 Feb 202201:10:04

Today’s guest is Evan Dunn.

Many of us identify so strongly with the thoughts that are running through our minds that we begin to believe those thoughts and sometimes it can be difficult to sort through all the doubts and uncertainties that you experience in the process. However, our thoughts do not define us and they are not always the truth. Mindfulness is a practice that helps us to dis-identify with those thoughts and manage our emotions so we can live a far more intentional life. 

Evan Dunn is a mindfulness coach for Take the Stage Coaching, a professional opera singer and host of Take the Stage Coaching podcast. Evan describes mindfulness as a way to discover who we truly are, connect to our deepest feelings, learn how to process these feelings and ultimately become more empowered in the future. Evan believes that we all have the power to design a life where we feel so much better than we at present and the only person who can make that happen is you. 

In this episode Evan explains the true meaning of mindfulness, he gives us some tools we can use to become more mindful and the benefits it can have on all us in our relationships with others as well as our own physical, mental and emotional health. The past lives as a memory and the future as thoughts. We all have a choice in life and you don’t want to miss Evan’s great advice for designing the lives we choose for ourselves.

In this episode

1:16 - Introduction

10:17 - Evan's early performance career

11:58 - What is Take the Stage Coaching?

15:40 - Mindfulness explained

29:45 - Tools that Evan uses to teach mindfulness 

31:28 - A mindfulness role-play example

49:28 - Is Meditation a mindfulness tool?

53:45 - Resources available to learn more about mindfulness

1:01:40 - As voice teachers how can we help our students

1:04:51 - Evan's personal mindfulness discoveries 


For more go to https://drmarisaleenaismith.com/51

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