Your Free Voice

Jo-Anne Suriel,  @TheEnergeticWell  is a compassionate catalyst for transformation. With expertise in the akashic records, reiki, and sound therapy, her grounded approach to healing guides you back to the infinite wellspring of your own inner wisdom. In this conversation Jo-Anne and Julia Norton talk about giving yourself permission to sing, energetic healing through song, ancestral roots and song...

Singing in protest is universally recognized as one of the most impactful forms of peaceful protest.  Ever since we have had songs we have had work songs, love songs, grieving songs and protest songs. This short episode is a dip into the water of Protest Singing with special gratitude to the people behind the Singing Resistance movement in Minnesota and all those who have gone before them. It also...

I can't believe you almost didn't get this episode and it's so good!  Jonathon Heather has studied Alexander Technique with global mentors and alongside some of the world's top performing musicians. A life long musician, artist and long distance cyclist, he has a deep love of sharing this work so that others can unlock their natural potential . He says "So far I'm the only trans AT practitioner I...

For my first episode of 2026 I wanted to address the elephant in the room and remind us all, myself included, of some simple things we can all do, to help us feel better. Moving your body, singing with others, having a 'Cheer the F-UP' playlist and taking action where you can are some of my suggestions. For the whole deal give it a listen and let me know what you're doing to feel better? You can f...

In this episode I'm sharing with you some of my ideas for creative rituals for the winter solstice.  I also wanted to make sure this one was properly grounded in our voices and how we feel about them so I offer: Working with the pause between the in breath and the out breath. Writing a Shadow Inventory. Writing a letter from the self you are ready to become. Making a collage. Singing the things fr...

It's that time of year folks! 🎤 If you need your voice to make a living, share your message or bring the joy (I'm looking at you voice actors, podcast hosts and carol singers!!) ..keeping your voice in great shape should be a daily routine, but sometimes it's even more important.  Like during the cold season :) In this episode I take you through my favorite remedies (many of which you can create...

This is a very quick episode as I'm actually prepping for Thanksgiving hosting, but I wanted to share. Discover how to tweak your gratitude practice (or create one) so that you can begin to manifest your future. 🌟 It's not selfish to feel gratitude when so many are suffering… in fact it's essential. ❤️ An intention practice for when you're bustling through holiday traffic and shopping, to not add...

Warning there are some references to smoking and swear words in this episode! In this episode I'm chatting with my former voice student and current rock star of the moment,  Chris Portka.  I interviewed Chris a couple of years ago about his earlier album 'TRASH Music', which was fab, but in a very different way to this album. Since I received my vinyl copy it's been on a regular rotation in our ho...

In this episode I explore some of my thoughts and feelings about what it means to "come home" to your voice. As the nights draw in and we begin to turn inward a journey into 'self' feels a bit more possible. •  Can you begin to experiment and play with your voice for just 5 minutes a day? What does it feel like to take off any ideas of being 'good' and just vocalizing freely? • How does it feel to...

Welcome to Your Free Voice Episode 51! A couple of years ago I had the great pleasure of being approached by a young award winning documentary film maker called Colette Ghunim. She was recording voiceover for her latest film Traces of Home and was looking for some voice coaching. I helped her with that, but also we dove into the subject matter of her film,  and how to process generational trauma t...

Hello, Welcome to episode 50 of Your Free Voice! I can hardly believe we're here, but we are. Thank you so much for listening ❤️ In this episode I wanted to revisit what it means to have a FREE Voice and I listened back to my first episode and thought, yeah, I'm gonna share that again. There's a chance you weren't here at the beginning or you didn't hear all the episodes anyway, and I think it cla...

In this episode I'm talking with actor and voice coach Sarah Weatherwax about her journey as a Linklater teacher. It's hard to move in the realm of voice work without coming across the legacy of Kristin Linklater's work. I know it was threaded quite purposefully through my training as a Voice Movement Therapist. Kristin's  influence as an actor and a voice coach can't be underestimated and I recom...

Did you know that 75% of the population rate public speaking more scary than death, spiders and heights! So if you get a little anxious when the time comes to speak up in a meeting or pitch to a new client (or be interviewed on a podcast), you are NOT alone! In this episode I'm talking about my experience of performance anxiety and how I help other artists, entrepreneurs and leaders transform the...

I loved chatting with my lovely friend and colleague Daisy Tennant from beautiful Florence Italy last week.  We talked about all things Alexander Technique ❤️ I first came across Alexander Technique when I was working in a natural health center in North London. I loved the focus and the expansion I felt in my ribs, soon after I got another dose during my Voice Movement Therapy training, and have b...

When was the last time something slipped out of your mouth before you knew what on earth was happening and you didn't even know where it came from? In this episode I'm talking about dealing with the shame of these outbursts or slips and offering that instead they might be offering the treasure of self knowing.  In Jungian psychology slips or outbursts are often seen as opportunities for growth. By...

In this episode I'm pondering ...maybe goal setting is just annoying? But seriously, why aren't we achieving our goals? Some of my thoughts include: Because they were unrealistic in size or amount of time given to them. Because we didn't really want them enough, or because they were 'shoulds' instead of things we really wanted. Because our unconscious conditioning said "hell no!". Because we picke...

In this short episode, I share what the Winter Solstice means to me and invite you to try my reflection and dreaming practice. I do love this time of year and it's so important for us to take time for ourselves to reflect and dream, to feel the sorrow or loss, but also to find joy in the darkness. If you would like to develop a stronger connection to your voice next year, make sure you're on my ma...

  This episode is about Gratitude practices that I enjoy, and thought you might too.    Robin Wall Kimmerer's 'Gratitude Inventory' inspired by our connection to nature.  • Step outside • Take in your surroundings • Send gratitude to a few things you see or smell or hear. • Remember how connected you are to this abundance in nature and send some gratitude back to yourself.    Here's her book Braid...

In this conversation with my friend and colleague Chris MacLean, we talk about her life and career as a singer/songwriter, community choir leader, retreat host, circle singer and so much more. We talk about the logistics of running a choir, fear of death, how to make a living and how we both believe it is everyone's birthright to sing. Here is how you can find out more about Chris, her recordings,...

In this quick solo episode, I'm exploring boundaries and how to speak up and set yours.  Q. Do you feel like you can stand up for yourself? Q. Can you speak up to defend others? Here are a few ways that I'm suggesting that you might check your boundaries. How does your body feel in the moment? Hot? Clenched stomach? Are you making a fist? How is your breath? Give yourself a moment to feel into it...

On this episode of Your Free Voice, I'm delighted to bring back into the studio celebrity voice coach and founder of The Voice Straw,  Mindy Pack!    You may have listened to episode #32 where I talked to Mindy about her experience being a celebrity voice coach, well we ran out of time to talk about straws so I had to get her back again. We're going pretty deep into how to use the straw for rehabi...

My interview with my friend and colleague Ruth Phillips .  Ruth Phillips is a modern and baroque cellist, a mindfulness coach, founder of The Breathing Bow and co-founder of InsideOut Musician and a writer. Alongside her rich and diverse career as a concert cellist and teacher. Ruth is internationally sought after as a performance coach and meditation teacher, helping people who suffer from tensio...

This episode is a bit of a first, because I am the one being interviewed! Rush Dorsett reached out to me to be part of her Awaken Your Voice Summit in October 2023. It was a great series where she interviewed 10 different thought leaders around the singing voice over 10 days. There were some really great interviews with people I've admired for a very long time (Chloe Goodchild anyone?).  I honestl...

Join me in this episode for my personal reflections on 2023 and also some suggestions for how to have a more aligned, intentional focus for the year ahead. It doesn't actually matter when you listen to this episode, the exercises are relevant whenever you need to recalibrate and stop yourself from getting overwhelmed.  If you joined me in my Goal Setting Workshop in December, use this as another c...

This episode is not only long awaited … apologies again for the long break, but also a break from the usual. Instead of waxing lyrical by myself or interviewing an industry expert in voice or physical freedom, I'm interviewing a former Voice Movement Therapy client of mine, Chris Portka. Chris came to me a number of years ago hating his job, not really loving life and generally feeling "What's the...