Your Free Voice

Rachel Finlay is a prolific performer, director, voice & speech coach, conference presenter and faculty member at Arizona State University. We met on a hot day in Sonoma County looking for lunch and immediately bonded over great food, cold drinks and all the voice things & being a person things that we shared in common. I knew I had to entice her onto the show! Join me in this extended conversatio...

In this weeks episode I get over excited about Jungian Coaching because I really honestly believe it's the most transformative coaching tool out there for creatives. It's deep, it's fast, it taps into the spiritual and creative space we hold in our hearts.  I break down some of the terms and why it's important to understand what might be in your shadow, how to let go of old dreams and step fully i...

I am so very sorry for the massively huge break in shows! 😳😭 Life got me all distracted, but I'm back! I recently challenged myself to get on instagram with video everyday for 7 days. Why? because I found it really challenging, not only technically, but also all the embarrassment that comes from seeing yourself on camera saying stuff and being weird lol.  Anyway, here's what I learned... When yo...

This week I'm very excited to bring you my interview with celebrity voice coach and creator of The Voice Straw Mindy Pack. Mindy has studied vocal technique, voice science, and vocal health with nationally and internationally renowned vocal instructors, educational institutions, and accredited programs throughout the world. Mindy's philosophy is the minute I stop learning is the minute I stop teac...

This week's episode is a little different because I decided to open the metaphorical 'mail bag' and answer some excellent questions that have been sent in by listeners. Remember to email, message or pigeon me your questions so I can have a go at answering them next time I do this. :) These questions range from: Getting emotional when you're singing, through to how to practice without annoying your...

 In this episode, I'm talking about the presentation I gave last weekend as part of the International Association for Voice Movement Therapy conference , 'Voice as a Lifeline'. I was invited to talk about how Voice Movement Therapy informs my work as a voice actor and  it was really fun. I did do an earlier episode about what is Voice Movement Therapy if you want to dig a little deeper, it's episo...

When you've had plenty of training, or used to sing or act or be confident in front of groups, but you aren't any more, it's no use just "rearranging the furniture" by taking more singing lessons or buying a new mic. You need to uncover what's really stopping you from having the relationship with your voice that you want and deserve.  If you'd like to join me for live events either in person or vi...

Last November I had the absolute pleasure and privilege to interview my dear friend and vocal powerhouse, Carol Grimes. In this interview we explore her decades spanning career paying particular attention to her broad range of singing styles and genres. The following, which I took from the Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club website in London, gives you a bit more of an inkling of her stature as a singer and...

Between you and me, I have always had a bit of trouble answering when people asked me what kind of singer I am.  I describe myself as a 'singer of all sorts' which feels about right. But what if you're a bit like me, but you feel stuck? You feel stuck because you feel like you don't fit into any of the categories the music industry machine decided we should fit into.  Are you a jazz, pop, funk, R&...

What would it be like if you could love your voice exactly as it is right now? Think about your voice as a friend that offers support, expresses your deepest feelings, tell jokes and stands up for others.  If you've ever  lost your voice for any time at all, you quickly realize how valuable it really is. Then there are the opinions like "My voice isn't manly enough', "it's too loud, too soft, too...

A New Year seems like such a great time to set new intentions and set goals doesn't it? But how many of us can honestly say we follow through and achieve them? It doesn't make us bad or wrong btw, just goes to show how much our brains are wired to stay the same. In this episode I suggest a few ways to get clarity around your goals and break them down into smaller actionable and measurable steps, t...

Just before I take a break for the festive season, I wanted to send you my very best wishes and thanks for listening this year. The Winter Solstice is a fabulous time for reflection. What can we celebrate from the year that has passed and what are we ready to let go of, perhaps an idea of perfection? We are after all made up of light and dark, it's what makes us human. I've also included a recordi...

In this episode I guide you through a very, VERY simple way to create a brand new song, using an existing song as a template. Have a listen and tell me what you think? Even better, write your own song and record it or post your new lyrics to an existing holiday song and tag me on instagram @voxchops ❤️ Have fun! Messy transcript available here

In this episode I'm offering a few thoughts and suggestions for last minute gifts for the singing/acting/voice-professional people in your life. From voice straws to books on breathing and personal development, here are a few of my favorite things, listen to the episode to find out why I chose them.   1. The Voice Straw Kit 2. Vocal Mist Portable Nebulizer 3. Aromatherapy Diffuser 4. The Big Leap...

Hello, 'Tis the season of holidays and families (or not families) and cooking and cleaning and travel and all kinds of reasons to feel like we've taken on too much or why does uncle Bob always have to bring that up? So, if you forward to about 3 1/2 minutes in, you'll find a 10 minute full body relaxation as my gift of gratitude for you dear listener. Fin yourself a quiet place for 10 minutes and...

This is the second part of a Vocal Health for Voice Actors webinar I did with Jim Edgar in the early part of 2020. This shorter half is the Q&A and we cover topics like, mouth clicks , hoarsness , throat clearing , performance anxiety and creating supportive rituals .  To protect yourself from vocal loss and to recover more quickly if you do, my course Your Vocal Health , covers the essentials of...

This is part one of two episodes, taken from a Vocal Health for Voice Actors webinar that was hosted by my very dear friend Jim Edgar in early 2020, right after I'd released my online course Your Vocal Health - for professional voice users In this first part I talk about: ➡️ my own vocal loss journey and what inspired me to start bringing Vocal Health information to my voice acting community. ➡️ I...

"The PERSONA is our somewhat embellished view of ourselves, the shiny face that we like the world to see. Its opposite, everything we reject about ourselves, is called the SHADOW." Carl Jung by Gary Bobroff In this episode we explore Jung's concept of 'The Shadow', how it might impact our voice and how to identify and bring it into consciousness. Using dreams , active imagination and an examinatio...

After referring to my training in Voice Movement Therapy over several episodes, I thought it was about time it got an episode to itself! Voice Movement Therapy or VMT is, at its core, an expressive arts therapy that uses the singing voice as its primary tool of expression. I trained in VMT with its founder Paul Newham in London from 1998-2000. It has informed all of my work since then.  In this ep...

In this episode I'm delighted to share my very first interview with guest Caroline Gill. Caroline and I were on the 1998-2000 Voice Movement Therapy training together with Paul Newham in London, and she went on to become not only a versatile singer and performer, but a yoga teacher and voice coach, also completing an MFA in Professional Voice Studies at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School.  I had a...

It's that time of year when no sooner do the pumpkins start to fill every corner of the grocery store, but people start getting coughs and colds, which is annoying for anyone, but super annoying if you depend on your voice to make a living! In this episode I'm sharing my top 12 tips on how I deal with coughs and colds this season.  To get the free PDF guide go to www.yourfreevoice.com/resources Tr...

As promised this episode is a bit more on the woo side of things, but I think that any opportunity for reflection and new intention setting is a good one! In this episode I give you some suggestions for things to release and embrace, we talk about the importance of community and gratitude and I've included my very first meditation for you to try ❤️ Let me know how you get on! Sign up for my FREE w...

Welcome to episode 13!  In this episode we dig into that juicy area of why some songs make us cry, sometimes we don't even know why we're choked up but we are. After recognizing some of the instances when we might cry either from us singing or listening to someone else, I lead you on a very simple 3 step approach to dealing with emotionally juicy songs. I invite you to be brave and work with a son...

September is back to school month for so many, and that might mean getting yourself a new voice coach or singing teacher? In this episode we have a look at my "7 Simple Steps to Choosing the Right Voice Coach" 1. Be clear about what YOUR goals, budget and commitment are. 2. Ask for referrals from your community. Who is already doing what you want to do? 3. Check their experience & relevant trainin...

In this episode we break down...  • What is happening in your larynx when you sing or speak with a breathy tone.  • Why it might cause vocal injury over time. • When it might still be OK to do it! • Why famous singers might get away with it. • And a few tricks to take control of breathiness in your own voice. I may also be attempting to represent, Marilyn Monroe, Liz Fraser and Billie Eilish ... p...