Barbara McAfee, a vocal coach and author, joins Alison to talk about the importance of using our voice and how voice connects to communication, self-expression, and wholeness. Their discussion focuses on why many people feel held back by their voice and what can help them speak with more clarity and confidence.

They start with the layers that can shape how we use our voice, including family messages, cultural expectations, past criticism, trauma, secrecy, and perfectionism. They also talk about how people may feel their voice does not matter or that they are not ready to speak.

Barbara shares her framework of four vocal qualities: earth, fire, water, metal, and air. She explains how different tones can be useful in different situations, such as setting boundaries, speaking with tenderness, projecting without strain, or telling stories and introducing new ideas.

Alison and Barbara also cover voice as a form of self-care. Barbara suggests playful ways to open up the voice, including pretending to be characters, voicing yawns, reading children’s books aloud, and listening to a playlist of singers with different vocal styles. She explains that these practices can help people expand their range and feel more at ease using their voice.

HIGHLIGHTS:

3:35 Stories Behind Our Voice

5:57 The Four Vocal Elements

10:25 Voice as Self-Care

12:51 Why We Hold Back

14:33 Simple Voice Exercises

connect with Barbara

website: https://www.barbaramcafee.com

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