Out of the Voicebox

On today's episode, Dr. Yassmeen Abdel-Aty shares how collaboration with SLPs transformed her practice, turning her multidisciplinary clinic at USF into a powerhouse of comprehensive voice, swallowing, and airway care. Discover the benefits of integrating SLPs into every phase of diagnosis and treatment, from initial assessments to post-op therapy. Dr. Abdel-Aty reveals practical tips for buil...

What does it take to sing one of Broadway’s most demanding roles—eight shows a week—and do it sustainably? In this episode, we're joined by Lencia Kebede, who is currently playing Elphaba on Broadway, for a candid conversation about vocal endurance, trusting your instrument, pacing across a demanding performance schedule, and the moment-to-moment decisions that support vocal sustainability nig...

In this episode, Kyle Friend shares his journey from competing at the professional level to finding his place behind the microphone as a leading voice in volleyball commentary. Kyle walks us through the transition from player to commentator, highlighting the behind-the-scenes preparation that goes into covering elite tournaments and the often-overlooked physical demands of sustained voice use on l...

What’s really happening when a metal vocalist growls, screams, or distorts their sound—and how does the larynx handle that intensity? In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Stark PhD, CCC-SLP, who studies heavy metal singing under videostroboscopy, giving us a rare, real-time look at the biomechanics behind extreme vocals. On today's episode, we explore how researchers are beginning to captu...

What happens when the body’s connective tissue is too flexible — and how does that impact the way we speak, breathe, and swallow? In this episode, we sit down with Stacey Menton MM, MA, CCC-SLP, a speech-language pathologist who not only treats patients with hypermobility Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS) and hypermobility spectrum disorder (HSD) , but lives with HSD herself. Join us as we break down...

What happens when you can’t burp? In this episode, we sit down with laryngologist Dr. Michael Lerner, and speech-language pathologist Andrew Keltz MS, CCC-SLP who specialize in voice and upper-airway disorders to unpack retrograde cricopharyngeus dysfunction (RCPD)—a condition sometimes called “no-burp syndrome.” Together, they discuss how dysfunction of the cricopharyngeus muscle leads to trapped...

In this special World Voice Day episode, we’re joined by Scott Flanagan and Kimberly Kuman for a shared conversation about advocacy, creativity, and living with voice disorders. Scott is a nationally known quilting artist, author, and board member of Dysphonia International who lives with laryngeal dystonia. Kim is the Executive Director of Dysphonia International and a longtime patient advocate....

On today’s episode, we are joined by Dr. Anusha Sundarrajan (she/her) and Oneida Chi (they/them), two experts in gender-affirming voice care, to explore the transformative journey of voice training. Dr. Sundarrajan, a multilingual speech-language pathologist and assistant professor at San Francisco State University, and Oneida Chi, a first generation Chinese American genderqueer SLP and longtime a...

On today’s episode, we’re joined by Aaron Schumacher, a seasoned performer, entrepreneur, and the founder of VocalMist. While managing the demands of constant travel and performance, Aaron saw the need for a solution to maintain vocal health on the go. This led him to create VocalMist, a portable nebulizer that uses isotonic saline to hydrate the vocal folds, becoming a trusted tool for singers, p...

On today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Emily Kimball, an Assistant Professor in Hearing and Speech Sciences in the Vanderbilt Bill Wilkerson center, where she investigates the molecular and cellular properties of the vocal folds as the Director of the Voice Biology Lab, as well as teaches the Masters level course in Voice Disorders. Dr. Kimball has a unique background having received an unde...

On today's episode, we are joined by Marty Kedian, a pioneering recipient of a groundbreaking laryngeal transplant, completed in February 2024 at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. His successful transplant has been a beacon of hope for many suffering from similar conditions, gaining national attention and marking a significant milestone in medical history as the third successful total laryngeal transpla...

On today's episode, we are joined by Dr. David Lott, a second time guest and fellowship trained laryngologist. As the director of the center for regenerative medicine at Mayo Clinic Arizona, he has gained national attention recently for completing the third laryngeal transplant in the US and the first in someone with active cancer. We have had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Lott during the...

On today’s episode, we are joined by Courtney Lin, an accomplished voiceover actor who has been able to meow, scream, giggle, and KYAH! her way into various video games, anime, commercials, and animated TV shows. Her voiceover credits include Monster High, The Casagrandes, Teenage Euthanasia, Black Rock Shooter Dawn, Romantic Killer, Dislyte, Smite, Fire Emblem Heroes, American Girl Doll Corinne T...

Welcome to the Voice Nerd Minute! Join us while your hosts (Sara & Nathaniel) discuss a variety of laryngeally-adjacent topics. Today, we chat about our perspective on the clinical fellowship process - how best to prepare, what we look for in applications, and other tips and tricks. We hope you enjoy!

On today's episode, we are joined by Sharon Frank MA, CCC-SLP, the founder and director of Speech and Voice Therapy Center where she specializes in voice and upper airway disorders. Sharon has been on the forefront of treatment for exercise-induced laryngeal obstruction (EILO) and has developed a holistic approach to treating this disorder, known as the PIE approach. Tune in to learn what PIE...

This episode features Anthony B. Law, MD PhD. Now at the Emory Voice Center in Atlanta, GA, Dr. Law has spent decades developing his unique approach to Laryngology. He is a revered expert in applications of machine learning and artificial intelligence. He is also a fierce advocate for healthcare accessibility. This episode offers a glimpse into the technologies that make machine learning so unique...

This episode features Laurie Slovarp, PhD CCC-SLP. Hailing from the University of Montana health system, Dr. Slovarp has spent much of her career innovating new treatments for chronic refractory cough. This episode offers a robust, yet concise, review of chronic refractory cough and the role of the speech language pathologist. Dr. Slovarp also explains the clinical utility of using capsaicin for d...

This episode features David G. Lott, MD. Dr. Lott is a fellowship-trained laryngologist and department chair at Mayo Clinic in Phoenix/Scottsdale, Arizona. In addition to his clinical responsibilities he also directs the Center for Regenerative Medicine where he leads the Head and Neck Regenerative Medicine Laboratory. This translational lab, specifically designed for bench work innovation, has be...

This episode features Christina Kang MM, MS, CCC-SLP. Christina is a medical speech-language pathologist who specializes in voice, upper airway, and swallowing disorders. She has a specific interest in chronic pain and functional laryngeal disorders. With an extensive training in pain rehabilitation and Central Sensitization Syndrome (CSS), as well as her personal experience with chronic pain, she...

This episode features Dr. Anais Rameau, an assistant professor of laryngology at the Sean Parker Institute for the Voice, at Weill Cornell Medicine, where she provides medical and surgical care to patients with voice, swallowing, and upper airway disorders. As a researcher, she focuses on the development of novel technologies to benefit older persons at risk for pneumonia and voice restoration in...

This episode features Dr. Donna Graville, an associate professor and founding director of the OHSU-Northwest Center for Voice and Swallowing at Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Graville has mentored many clinical fellows and graduate students during her rich career. This episode features priceless advice and a behind-the-scenes perspective on the clinical fellowship application process. A...

On today's episode, we are joined by Christie DeLuca, a clinical voice specialist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Adjunct Professor of Voice Disorders at NYU, and owner of her private practice, Speaking Boldly, where she treats individuals with voice disorders and provides voice-focused mentorship to SLPs and SLP-to-bes. Christie has a unique insight into spasmodic dysphonia and shares clinical co...

This episode features Dr. Adam Lloyd, an Assistant Professor and Speech-Language Pathologist in the Department of Otolaryngology at the University of Miami. He recently completed the Doctorate of Speech-Language Pathology at Northwestern University and will be discussing the exciting new frontier of the Clinical Doctorate.

On today's episode, we are joined by Dr. Aaron Ziegler, a certified speech-language pathologist and founder of the Wellness Group for voice, speech, and swallowing, who will help us unravel the mysteries of cannabis consumption and its potential impacts on vocal health. Enjoy, and happy 420!

On today's episode, we’re joined by Amy Chapman, CCC-SLP, a voice therapist and voice coach, who is the founder and owner of VoiceLab of LA. Her boutique, individualized approach is widely recognized in the artistic community. In essence, she spends her time making stars shine, many times with her hands through use of the "vocal massage." Tune in to hear some tricks from the guru herself, includin...