Happy Voice Conversations, with Heather Maîr Thomas

Today's episode is a conversation recorded pre-lockdown with my friend and colleague, "Rock and Roll" Rev James Woolford, the Minister of the Moravian Church in Hornsey, north London. He is shortly to be moving on to pastures new, so I wanted to publish this lovely conversation in which James shares his personal journey from discovering his voice, through his professional performing career to his calling to the ministry, and how his voice connects him to his vocation as well as his family and, of course, himself. For more information about James visit here Please subscribe to the Happy Voice Podcast and feel free to leave feedback and insights. For more information about exploring your relationship with your own voice through my online courses and training programmes do get in touch. Theme tune: Thanks to my cousin, Rick Williams of Bagas Degol for his beautiful guitar rendition of the Cornish folk song "Sweet Nightingale (She sings in the valley below)" Don't forget to breathe! Heather-Maîr x www.vocalist.co.uk

A Fresh Perspective! I’m Heather Maîr Thomas, I’m a holistic singing teacher and coach and I’m fascinated by people’s, often complex, relationships with our voices. The Happy Voice Podcast is a series of conversations with people from all walks of life based around our different experiences of singing. In this episode my friend and former singing student, psychologist, founder of Altum Health (and karaoke Diva) Dr Courtney Raspin explains the physical, mental and emotional health benefits of singing, and how curiosity, creativity and playfulness are important in being a "healthy adult." We ask “are there parallels between our relationship with our voice and our body image?” and discuss our fear of judgement, and how comparing our voice to others is rather like comparing the size of our bum with someone on Instagram….! Get Involved! Please subscribe and stay in the conversation! My next London course for adult beginners/anxious singers Relax and Sing starts in March. For details of my online singing groups (Virtual Voice Club) and one to one Singing lessons & courses, Follow Facebook & Instagram Live sessions and Zoom calls. Thanks to my wonderful guest, Dr Courtney Raspin Courtney is the founder of Altum Health. She is a Chartered Psychologist, an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), and is registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Courtney is a member of the Counselling Psychology division of the BPS, as well as the Clinical Psychology division’s Faculty of Eating Disorders. She is a member and active supporter of the Eating Disorders Association (BEAT) and contributes to the press on matters relating to eating disorders, obesity and body image problems. In addition to her role at Altum, she lectures in the Counselling Psychology Doctoral Programme at City University. Courtney was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. The daughter of a psychologist and physician, she grew up with a keen interest in both mental and physical health. . Courtney’s PhD work focused on families of women with eating disorders, and over the last 10 years, she has continued to develop her expertise in the area. She has run numerous groups for women struggling with Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa, & Binge Eating Disorders. While she is widely known for her work in eating disorders, Courtney also has experience working with more general mental health difficulties. She has worked in an NHS Psychological Assessment and Treatment Service, helping clients overcome anxiety, depression, and wide range of mental health issues. On a personal note, Courtney has been married for 19 years and is the mother of two children and very loved Cockapoo called Luna. Follow her on Instagram Happy Voice Podcast theme music: Traditional Cornish folk song "Sweet Nightingale" arranged and beautifully played by my immensely talented cousin, Rick Williams of Cornish musicians BagasDegol

Welcome to the first  ever episode of The Happy Voice Podcast  I'm so delighted you are here! Everyone has some kind of vocal identity.  This a series of conversations with people from all walks of life based around their experiences of singing, good, bad and otherwise. I’m Heather Maîr Thomas, I’m a vocalist and coach and I’m fascinated by people’s, often complex, relationships with our voices!  As a holistic singing teacher for over 25 years I’ve had hundreds of fascinating conversations with people, sharing anecdotes about their voices, their singing and its impact on their lives.   In the Happy Voice Podcast I am bringing those conversations out into the world for everyone to hear! Calling out those who damage others by "Voice Shaming"  and putting a stop to it, encouraging everyone to make peace with their voices. Credits:     My Guest -  DANIEL COATES/SUNTARA Who better to kick off the series than former singing student and dear friend of mine, Daniel/Suntara.  He has made the extraordinary journey from childhood bullying, when he effectively "shut down" his singing voice. Through a stressful, corporate life in London to being an international sound-healer, singer and songwriter, living a beautiful life with his family in Bali! Thank you so much, Daniel! Your voice and your laugh are a joy to hear :) www.suntara.music.com "Suntara is one of Australia’s leading Sound Healers.
  Suntara means “Bringing Light to the Earth” and that is his soul intention with his Sound Healing and Music.With his unique and powerful voice that is often described “other worldly”, the sound vibrations that Suntara channels penetrate deep, moving and shifting energy leaving the audience feeling light, clear and deeply relaxed.Suntara recently completed a 27 month world tour with Sold Out events in 11 countries.  Travelling with his wife and twins Ezequiel and Sequoia their world travels were sustained completely from the tour. Suntara has also performed at various festivals throughout the world including Mind Body Spirit Festivals, c3kisz2d the Festival of Dreams, Lost Paradise and Peats Ridge Festival as well as opening for Sacred Earth at their Sydney Album launch. Suntara currently lives in Ubud, Bali and is a resident Sound Healer at the Pyramids of Chi, the largest purpose built Sound Healing centre in the world. “Suntara channels the love of the Divine through his beautiful sound healings. Transformational and much needed work for our people & our earth. Thank you Suntara for listening to your hearts calling….”
 Prem Williams – Sacred Earth Music" Happy Voice Podcast theme music: Traditional Cornish folk song "Sweet Nightingale" arranged and beautifully played by my immensely talented cousin, Rick Williams  bagasdegol.co.uk Get InvolvedI am hosting live sessions in the Facebook group and on  https://www.happyvoice.co.uk, discussing issues that emerge from the Podcasts, with practical singing tips for those who may want to develop vocally.  Singing lessons & courses. Please stay in the conversation! Follow us on https://www.facebook.com/voicepod and Instagram