Voice Is

Julie and Casey sit down with journalist, long-time Supreme Court correspondent, podcast host, and author Dahlia Lithwick to talk about the state of justice (and the state of The Justices) in the US. Along the way, we dig into gendered perception of emotion and what it costs to maintain a “poker face”, the difference between who does the work and who gets the credit, and how we fight for hope in the midst of . . . all of this.    TOP TAKEAWAYS: Hear how Dahlia navigates the responsibility of journalists to thread the needle between not normalizing the unthinkable and not dialing everything up to 12 so nothing gets heard. There is enormous frustration and possible marginalization for anyone in the law outside of the “white male norm” . . . AND Dahlia sees that ability to constantly codeswitch as a gift. “It's actually the power to be in two places at once.” “Who becomes famous and who does the work never perfectly correlates” — in the real world, when solving for huge intractable issues, the “hero narrative” rarely serves us — both because individuals are flawed and institutions are complex, but also because real change comes through the efforts of many, often unsung people.   Dahlia Lithwick is a senior editor at Slate, and in that capacity, has been writing their "Supreme Court Dispatches" and "Jurisprudence" columns since 1999. Her work has appeared in the New York Times, Harper's, The New Yorker, The Washington Post, The New Republic, and Commentary, among other places. She is host of Amicus, Slate's award-winning biweekly podcast about the law and the Supreme Court. Her 2022 book, Lady Justice, was a New York Times bestseller. In 2018, Lithwick the Hillman Prize for Opinion and Analysis. She was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in October, 2018.  Purchase LADY JUSTICE: WOMEN, THE LAW, AND THE BATTLE TO SAVE AMERICA here.

Julie and Casey wrap up season 4 by defining and digging into their ingredients of a Vital Voice — creative, embodied, and bold — and giving the audience some mindset shifts and best practices to get your voice out into the world.

Julie and Casey chat with Hinterland founder Jenn Salvemini about a whole new way of approaching art, community, pleasure, and life. Along the way, they dig into the definition of charm, fantasy as a tool, and treating life like a present to be unwrapped. TOP TAKEAWAYS: This year, Jenn's artist coop has been exploring the theme of “contact surface” . . . what happens when things touch. Especially in an AI-consumed world, color us OBSESSED with this concept! What does it mean in practice to create a community that rejects the notion of competition? There's a lot of “abundance mindset” preaching out there, but in practice, capitalism requires us to put price tags on everything. In a tough, tough world, prioritizing fantasy, imagination, art, pleasure, charm, and delight is just plain revolutionary. LESSON: Better options than “fake it 'til you make it.” Jennifer Salvemini is at heart a producer, bringing elements from her personal passions into cohesive creations, ranging from living spaces to curated events. As a student of anthropology and philosophy, her academic interests evolved into an obsession for aesthetic expression in all areas of culture. She developed an intense appreciation for deep sensory experiences and finds great satisfaction in creating sensational experiences for others. Jennifer is an interior designer living and practicing in the Catskills and is the founder of Hinterland. Hinterland is an unfurling dream. It's a playground, a sanctuary, and a home – an evolving concept to bridge disciplines, build community and generate joy. You're invited! Jennifer is also a member of the Kingston Design Connection strategy team, the organization which produces the annual Kingston Design Show House, as well as a participant designer. https://www.jenniferlsalvemini.com/ https://www.thisishinterlandny.com/

In this solo episode, Julie talks in detail about she prepares for the "big day", mentally, physically, and energetically, including why and how she uses bio data tech, what to focus on, and what you can LET GO of.     Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

Julie and Casey chat with romance novelist, columnist, and podcast host Sarah Maclean about the feminist bonafides of the romance genre, using your platform for good, and more diverse characters “stepping out from the margins.” Along the way, they dive into all kinds of ways to take up space and dare to thrive, and Casey tries and fails not to fan-girl too hard.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: There is enormous subversive power in characters who for too long have played the “suffer beautifully and die pitifully” roles stepping center stage, gaining love, sexual pleasure, and personal triumph.  The ability to take space — with our voices, bodies, and ideas — often comes down to our own feeling of worthiness. As someone who spent her life being “a little bit too much”, the heroines of romance novels being loved for exactly who they were gave Sarah a path to imagine a world where no one said “couldn't you just be a bit less.” Writing romance is all about creativity within structure — the contract Sarah has with her readers is “happily ever after”, and she has a treasure trove of tropes to pull from. Finding her own voice and perspective within that structure while accomplishing “reader care and feeding”, is an incredibly applicable lesson for all of us who create. What does your audience want, need, and expect, and how can you deliver that for them with your unique spin?  LESSON: Our bodies and our emotions are what separates us from the robots, and your “too much” is the most interesting thing about you. Dare to embrace them.   A life-long romance reader, Sarah MacLean wrote her first romance novel on a dare, and never looked back. She is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of romances translated into more than twenty-five languages, a romance columnist and the co-host of the weekly romance novel podcast, Fated Mates. A graduate of Smith College & Harvard University, she lives in New York City. Her new book, Knockout, will be released in August. Website: https://www.sarahmaclean.net/ Instagram: @sarahmaclean Twitter: @sarahmaclean

Julie and Casey sit down for an encore conversation with Cyndie Spiegel, where they get to talk all things “Microjoys”, what it's like to balance public and private as a shiny person, and touch upon lots of micro-topics from cats to dealing with pandemic weight gain.   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Microjoys are not about the size of the joy, but rather its accessibility. Instead of toxic positivity, microjoys allow us to accept that things are as okay as they can be at any moment, but you can find joy anywhere. There is no past place to get back to. Whether it's our pre-pandemic size, a past version of ourselves, or deeply missing an important person, the only way out is through, and you are not the same on the other side.   Proving yourself to others can be a fatberg of a time suck . . . notice if you are wasting any time trying to convince someone else of who you are. Try shifting proving yourself to others to proving yourself to yourself.   And a bonus tip but one that never gets old: If your pants are too small, buy a bigger size. LESSON: Navigating vulnerability in speeches. About Cyndie: Cyndie Spiegel is a born storyteller–turned–writer; she's an aspirational voice and an igniter of powerful conversation around self-acceptance, integrity, and joy. She is a former fashion executive, adjunct professor at Parsons School of Design and Fashion Institute of Technology, and holds a masters of professional studies. She is also a TEDx speaker and a certified yoga and meditation teacher. Her honest storytelling, vulnerable self-inquiry, and penchant for swear words have made her a sought-after speaker for conferences, brands, and organizations, and she has been featured in publications such as Forbes, Glamour, Teen Vogue, and HuffPost. She currently lives in New Jersey with her (very handsome) photographer husband, two cats, way too many patterns, and an excessive number of houseplants. She is the founder of Dear Grown Ass Women, an inclusive and highly relatable social community for women 35+, and she is also the author of A Year of Positive Thinking.  (Photo credit: Ira James)  Author Site: www.cyndiespiegel.com  Social: Instagram @cyndiespiegel BUY MICROJOYS!   

Julie and Casey chat about the main lessons they've learned from 100 episodes of VOICE(is) and tips for podcast guests and interviewees — and (surprise!) they're not terribly worried about your “ums and uhs”, or all that interested in your perfectly scripted bullet point answers.

Julie and Casey have an encore chat with Season 1 guest Piera Gelardi (founder of Refinery 29, creative genius, and now the founder of Wild Things World) about how play became the focus for her “next chapter”. Along the way, they discuss best practices for better brainstorming, what Piera has learned from her four-year-old daughter, and entering our collective hope punk era by choosing hope, joy, and delight in a dark world. From now until April 15th, we're accepting applications for our signature small group course for women, POWER/PLAY. Find out more and apply here!   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Play is a powerful tool for presence, connection, creativity, divergent thinking, and more . . . and we have to protect the vibes. Trying to commodify it, make play “efficient”, or give it a necessary goal to hit kinda kills it. The Ghost of Should distracts us from our true journeys — and “being taken seriously” wasn't the right goal for Piera.  What we look for, we notice, and what we notice, grows. Creating a practice of looking for wonder, delight, joy, and love doesn't mean we have to ignore the bad stuff or spiritually bypass ourselves and others.  LESSON: A few ways to get out of your head and find the FUN of communication   Piera Gelardi is a creative director, entrepreneur, and speaker passionate about bringing out the creativity in everyone. She co-founded the iconic women's media brand Refinery29, the experiential property 29Rooms, and recently launched the new play company Wild Things World. She is on a mission to bring more play to every space she enters — starting with yours! Her work has won accolades like Ad Age's "50 Most Creative People of the Year" Entrepreneur magazine's "50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs and spots keynoting events like SxSW, Create & Cultivate, and Inbound. Outside of her work, she loves performing in storytelling shows, teaching cathartic dance, and making up songs with her 4 year old.    

In this weeks minisode, Julie talks about something we've been seeing a LOT with our friends and clients: BURNOUT. Julie tells her story of burnout — how she made her way back, and what she has lost, but also gained along the way. If you're approaching burn out, are in the middle of it, or are starting to make your way back, this is for you.     Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

Julie and Casey sit down with author, corporate social responsibility expert, and founder of McPherson Strategies Susan McPherson to talk all things connecting. Along the way we touch on the very universal human need to be seen and heard, how relationships can be a vehicle for social impact, and what it means to build community as single women looking to take care of our long term futures.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Relationship building is a lifetime process, and builds on itself. Changing environments doesn't mean we leave old relationships behind. Keep nurturing those long standing friendships as much as you grow and nurture new connections. Susan mentions the concept of hosting in her book “The Lost Art of Connecting”. What this means is, you don't need to be the person in charge of a space in order to host other people in it. Hosting can be a secret super power that allows you to get your grounding in a new situation, as well as a vehicle for making connections from a place of generosity. To quote Susan: “Bringing people together, you're making that magic happen and you are helping people feel seen, heard, and listened to. And I fervently believe that the greatest gift we can give one another is exactly that.” If we can understand the peoples greatest wish is to be seen and heard, and incorporate that into how we interact with them, we build much more fruitful and satisfying connections. It's extremely disarming without being manipulative.   We often think people like us because of what we say, but it turns out talking less and asking questions makes us more likeable. Use that curiosity: understanding other people's perspective grows our empathy and helps us understand both the world and ourselves a little better.   LESSON: You can't “hack” body language.   Connect with Susan:  Twitter and Instagram: @Susanmcp1 Company: www.mcsptrategies.com Book: TheLostArtofConnecting.com LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanmcpherson/ Susan McPherson is a serial connector, angel investor, and corporate responsibility expert. She is the founder and CEO of McPherson Strategies, a B-corp certified communications consultancy focused on social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships (McGraw-Hill). Susan has 30+ years of experience in marketing, public relations, and sustainability communications, speaking regularly at industry events including Massachusetts Conference for Women, Worth Women and Techonomy, and contributing to the Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, and Forbes. She has appeared on NPR, CNN, USA Today, The New Yorker, New York Magazine and the Los Angeles Times. Susan is the recipient of Forbes magazine's 50 over 50—Impact 2021 award and Worth Media's Worthy100 award. She has also won numerous accolades for her voice on social media platforms from Fortune Magazine, Fast Company and Elle Magazine. Currently, Susan invests in and advises women-led start-ups, including: iFundWomen,Inc., Messy.fm, Our Place, The Riveter, Park Place Payments, Hint Water, Apolitical and The Muse. She serves on the boards of USA for UNHCR, The 19th News, and serves on the advisory boards of The List, Apolitical Foundation, Just Capital and Alltruists. Additionally, she is a member of the MIT Solve Women and Technology Leadership Group and serves as an adviser to several nonprofits including She's The First and The OpEd Project. Susan is a Vital Voices global corporate ambassador and a member of the New York Women's Forum and Extraordinary Women on Boards. She resides in Brooklyn.

In this solo episode, Casey nerds out on (and sings!) one of her favorite musical theater traditions: the “I Want” song, and explores what we as (mostly) non-singing communicators can learn from it.  (Try looking for your I Want song on this list!)   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

Julie and Casey dive into their new obsession: creativity, and why it's the key ingredient for powerful communication. Along the way, they dig into why creativity feels so hard, getting out of the communication “grooves” of long-term relationships, and how to build a creative practice, even if all you're doing is your dishes.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!  

In this solo episode, Julie digs into how we perceive ourselves, how others perceive us, and how to balance that with our core values and integrity.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!  

Julie and Casey dig into audience archetypes (like the dreaded “Devil's Advocate”), the 5 types of questions we all deal with as presenters, and why audience interaction is a gift.  Check out the blog post about how to handle the 5 types of audience questions here, and download your "Meeting Prep" workbook here.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

Julie and Casey take you on a voice memo diary of their experience presenting for two days at the Kayo Conferences' Annual Leadership Retreat. Get an inside look at how they prep, dealing with nerves, and self-care in the form of frozen dairy.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

Julie and Casey sit down with Anjali Bhargava, founder of Anjali's Cup, to talk about her journey as an entrepreneur. Along the way they discuss the power of names, the joys and perils of being your own boss, and what it takes to bring your work to the world without losing yourself and what matters.   Use the code "voiceis" for 15% off of Anjali's beautiful spice and tea products here.    Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS Entrepreneurship means you get to be your own boss. It also means you have to be your own boss. One of the biggest challenges of entrepreneurship is figuring out how you work best: where your time is best spent, whether you work better alone or in a team.  Learning to work with instead of against that is crucial.   (And get a coach.) The secret to sustainable entrepreneurship? Sleep.  Sleep and down time. You NEED that space and regeneration to keep going. Self - Care is sometimes massage and splurges, but the cornerstone is sleep, nutrition, and movement.  Entrepreneurship is about choosing how you make money, but it's also the ability to choose how you want to make impact.  Those two things may not be the same thing. When people keep saying your name wrong or avoiding saying your name — use it to name your product.  :) LESSON: How (and why) to suck.   Made with reverence from the roots up, Anjali's Cup blends nourish from the inside out. Uniting modern science with Eastern wisdom and a passion for well-balanced, sustainably sourced, organic ingredients; enjoy blends that look as good as they taste and taste as good as they will make you feel. Like a hug in a cup, they are soothing, refreshing, and harmonized to support you. Resilience® Turmeric Elixir, our signature blend, was born from a genuine desire to create something that would nourish the body, nurture the soul, and taste divine.    Anjali Bhargava is the founder of Anjali's Cup, a company grounded in the belief that there is a ton of benefit in nourishing our roots with a bit of daily turmeric. Her blends, including her 2 chai masalas are an easy, safe, and delicious way to do this.    Anjali is deeply influenced by her Indian heritage; her relationship to food, wellness, and the art of well-balanced ingredients is infused with the traditions, philosophy, and practice of her family's culture. Anjali's reverence for turmeric began as a child watching her mother use the magical golden powder in almost everything. As an adult, she returned to the sacred turmeric root for support during her own health challenges and developed a recipe that was easy to use, versatile, and more potent and delicious than anything she could find in the market.    Anjali lives in Harlem, NYC with her rescue cat Elaichi.     

Julie and Casey sit down with happiness expert Stephanie Harrison to talk the science, the soft, and the squishy of how we think about happiness . . . including where we get it wrong, and what to do about that.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS We've been sold a bill of goods that if you're good enough and successful enough, you'll be happy; however, trying to achieve ourselves out of being human actually hinders our happiness. Discomfort and challenges are NOT proof that you're not worthy of happiness — they are part of the human experience. YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOUR OWN HAPPINESS. The old model of "achievement leads to happiness" actually leads to burnout. Burnout is not your fault. It is a collective problem that ultimately needs a collective solution   www.thenewhappy.com www.instagram.com/newhappyco    An expert in well-being, Stephanie Harrison founded The New Happy based on her Masters thesis in Applied Positive Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She has spent the last ten years studying happiness from an interdisciplinary perspective, incorporating perspectives from art, science, philosophy, religious/contemplative studies, and the humanities. Her book, THE NEW HAPPY, is forthcoming from Penguin Random House. Stephanie's expertise has been featured in Architectural Digest, Brit+Co, Bustle, Design Milk, FastCompany, Forbes, Greatist, The Huffington Post, Paper, Shondaland, Tatler, Well+Good, and Verywell. A regular keynote speaker, her past engagements have included Microsoft, LinkedIn, Degreed, Zendesk, Capital One, Juniper, Eventbrite, Create & Cultivate, and ServiceNow. Prior to starting The New Happy, Stephanie led the well-being program and learning platform for Thrive Global, built a product marketing team that led launches for LinkedIn's $4B human resources business, and consulted to Fortune 100 companies on their people and HR challenges at Deloitte. She also returned to teach as an instructor at Penn following her graduation.  

In this solo mini-episode, Casey gets out of a post New Year mini-spiral with a little help from Magic Mike, and explores the tool of curiosity for getting out of our own way in communication and in life. 

In this solo minisode, Julie dives in to explore the question “Does accomplishing hard work mean SHOWING how hard you work?”, and how backing off of ourselves leads to better solutions for our biggest challenges.

Julie and Casey interview each other about the best and worst of the year that was, a different way into goals for 2023, and what they're excited about for the future. Along the way they get into assembling your personal team, learning how to be a better friend, and lots of ways of looking at the concept of “care”. Watch this interview on video here!   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: What could change if you asked yourself this question: “What would make this (mood/task/day/moment/action) feel 5% better?” Small goals for the win! One of the most fundamental things we've leaned into and accepted this year is the need for a team — for community care, instead of just self-care. Emotions are necessary for communication — they are the crucial information that takes our experience of the world from a line drawing to full Technicolor. And we won't be debating that emotions are crucial and not something to be “eliminated” at work anymore.   Casey Erin Clark is a voice, public speaking, and communication coach, performer, author, entrepreneur, podcast host, and leader in both the entertainment and business worlds. She is a fierce advocate for gender justice and spends her days speaking, teaching, and writing about the power of women's voices, while seizing fulfilling opportunities to perform on screen and stage. In 2014, Casey and Julie Fogh co-founded Vital Voice Training, a voice and speech coaching company on a mission to change the conversation about what leaders are “supposed” to sound like and empower everyone to own the power of their full vocal instrument and presence. Casey hails from the cornfields of southern Illinois (where she grew up singing with her family Von Trapp-style) and has a BFA in musical theater from Illinois Wesleyan University. She also coaches musical theater pros of all ages, is a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, performed at the 2013 Oscars with the Les Miserables movie cast, and sings with the Grammy-nominated and Tony-honored Broadway Inspirational Voices choir. Recommending books and breakfast restaurants is her love language. Will perform the Lafayette speed rap from Hamilton on demand. Julie Fogh is a voice coach and interpersonal communications specialist who works with actors and business leaders helping them navigate their individual tensions and blocks, revealing the personal power and unique and captivating humanity that exists in all of us. Through Vital Voice Training, Julie and her co-founder Casey Erin Clark blend the toolbox of the professional actor with their powerful frameworks for embracing one's authentic speaking voice to businesses, schools, and organizations all over the country.  Julie was raised in Seattle and earned her BA in Theatre and Women Studies from University of Washington. She earned an MFA in acting from Northern Illinois University, a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum that engaged with the physical body, the emotional life, imagination, use of language, character construction, non-verbal communication and the truth of the moment. She has studied with  the Moscow Art Theatre and University of Copenhagen and has studied Meisner Technique with Kathryn Gately, Michael Chekhov Technique with Deborah Robertson, and Movement and Period Style with Lloyd Williamson. She loves YA novels and her cranky rescue cat, Ashland.

Julie and Casey chat with spiritual business coach, author, and founder of SoulTour Tara-Nicholle Kirke about upgrading to “lick your plate-level” dreams, finding our voices, and how to get to know what we really need to succeed. Along the way, we hear what our shadow selves have to teach us, and the “droplet of god” in all of us.  Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Tara-Nicholle describes the big good thing in the universe (god, source, etc., however you define it) as having three ingredients: infinite intelligence, limitless love, and creative power . . . and that droplet of the “god blob” in you is your soul. And no matter what, your soul is coming with you everywhere, even when we TRY to leave it out of the conversation. When Tara-Nicholle unpacked and unlearned all the “palatable polish” that she had been taught all her life and chose to speak her truth consistently, that's when she found the deepest authority and respect for her work. In fact, it became her trademark in Silicon Valley — as the woman who will tell even the most powerful people the whole truth, and give them the strategy to achieve their goals. Everyone wants to start the process of self-actualization by setting goals and vision, but as long as we're still caught in a fear or scarcity mindset, we're only able to set goals driven by that fear. Fear is the root of all self-sabotage — and it's inevitable when we begin to think bigger. So we gotta learn to ride the wave. LESSON: Superpower and “evil twins” - what's driving your communication strengths when they go “dark side” — and how to deal. Tara-Nicholle Kirke is a globally-recognized author, transformation expert, and spiritual strategist. She helps smart, successful people reach their potential and start living their Big Dreams, by undoing their self-sabotage patterns. As the founder of SoulTour, Tara has taught over 50,000 people how to stop hiding their light with her Self-Mastery Method toolkit which draws from neurobiology, depth psychology and spiritual law. Tara also wrote the authoritative book on transformational business and has been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, and The New York Times. Business Insider called her the #1 woman Silicon Valley tech companies should add to their boards. soultour.com/upgrade

Julie and Casey sit down with personal brand expert, activist, and president of Synastry Capital Janna Meyrowitz Turner to talk about making the impact you want to make and how to align your life and resources. Along the way, they discuss strategic language within movements, creating the world you want for your kid, and how the journey sometimes only reveals itself when you look back.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: For Janna, personal brand is about more than your public-facing persona — it's about aligning your time, money, and relationships to create the life and the impact you want. And particularly with that “time” piece, you gotta get brave about figuring out how you want to spend your time, and how to ask for what you need. Big complex movements for justice could really use a PR person — because sometimes we need to reexamine the language we need to use to be understood by the folks we need to call into the movement. We need language that helps people hear us. It can be really uncomfortable to a lot of people to promote yourself, your ideas, your skills, etc. . . . but just as uncomfortable is the feeling of being under-actualized and unfulfilled. “Branding yourself isn't about self-promotion. Branding yourself is about maximizing your impact and maximizing your opportunities — because if you don't, if you're not out there being yourself and doing all the things that make you, you, then you're not creating space for others to do that.” LESSON: Myth-busting the elevator pitch . . . and how to feel like a human instead of a walking, talking commercial.   Janna Meyrowitz Turner is an advisor, angel investor, and strategist focused on systems change, leadership development, and communication in all its forms, in every direction. She has been building values-aligned networks for over 20 years across the public, private, and social sectors.  She started her first company, Style House, at the age of 23 in 2006. Style House became an award-winning public relations and brand strategy firm over the next 16 years, advising global brands from Estee Lauder to the WNBA, with a strong focus on the female consumer whose economic and political power is wielded both as primary household purchaser and as the largest voting bloc in the US. Today Janna's cross-sector impact vehicle, Synastry Capital, houses her investing, advising, and advocacy work. Her signature Personal Brand Alignment offering, conducted 1:1 and through keynotes, workshops, and group facilitation, is a blend of leadership coaching, spiritual centering, and talent management, designed to build personal and professional narratives that maximize happiness, impact and earning potential. Janna is also the co-founder of VCs for Repro, a coalition of venture capital firms united in support of abortion access, and sits on the board of A Call To Men, a national violence prevention organization providing training and education on healthy manhood for communities of men and boys.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/jannameyrowitz/ 

Julie and Casey sit down with Erotic Wholeness coach Darshana Avila to discuss pleasure as a nutrient, a “more than sexy” definition of erotic, the importance of self- AND community care, and the ultimate cure for burnout. Along the way, we get into why the Powers That Be don't want us to be embodied — and how staying connected to and feeling pleasure in your body may be one of the most powerful ways we can disrupt oppressive systems.   Check out our brand new VVT Workbooks! The POWER/PLAY Communication Manifesto and How to Rehearse guide can be found here.   TOP TAKEAWAYS: “Erotic” as Darshana defines it is encompassing of sexuality, but so much more: our bodies as sensors, our world as full of sensory experiences, and our creativity and life force and desire and connection. “Wholeness” is about the work of knowing, exploring, and integrating all of our humanity. The body / brain disconnect is systemic — we're told that we ARE our brains, our productivity, our striving, etc, and that our bodies are only for utilitarian purposes. The principle weapon of systems of oppression is disconnect from the body. When we disconnect from the body, we disconnect from pleasure, and pleasure is an essential nutrient. The “cure” for burnout is about building up resources in and for your nervous system — and that requires, once again, turning toward our bodies. While our nervous system is definitely a “brain thing”, our entire bodies are enervated by this system. It also requires turning toward our communities and relationships . . . this is something we simply can't do for ourselves.  LESSON: How (and why) to find pleasure in creating sound with your voice.   Darshana Avila is nurturing a culture of Erotic Wholeness.  As an internationally recognized speaker, coach and facilitator, Darshana supports women and couples in exploring and reshaping their relationships to intimacy, sex and eroticism. She created the Map to Erotic Wholeness to weave together a somatic, justice-oriented and relational style of guidance, rooted in nature-based and trauma-informed wisdom. Erotic Wholeness is a path to personal liberation in service to our collective sexual liberation.  Darshana believes “we are erotic by nature.” Known for her grounded, candid and loving approach, Darshana meets people in some of the most tender parts of themselves. Her methods breakdown barriers, unlock a greater authenticity and enjoyment and provide a pathway to realize your innate erotic power.  Combining the laboratory of her own life with extensive study and a decade of profound private practice experience, Darshana is dedicated to changing the way we talk, think, and act when it comes to sex and eroticism.  Darshana has been interviewed by several groundbreaking podcasts, and can often be found sharing the stage with other experts and influencers on IG Live. In October 2021, she was featured on the Netflix Series: Sex, Love & goop. 

Julie and Casey sit down with Disaster Clean up expert Jackie Carpenter to talk all things dirty. Along the way they discuss how taking things off the beaten path can be a pathway to success, gathering your team, and building success off messes no one else wants to touch. Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS Earning respect takes a combination of showing up and doing the work, knowing when to assert yourself, and when to sit back and learn. You can't demand respect.  Opportunities don't always wear name tags, require a fancy degree, or get good grades. (When a business lands in your lap, don't talk yourself out if it, TAKE IT. ) We're not cutting good at cutting ties with consultants or employees that need to go because we're scared. We don't really know how to break up with somebody. If the relationship isn't working, isn't additive, or you've moved beyond it, it's necessary to learn how to break up. Our struggles, needs and obstacles are an inherent part of our story. You get to define what's a dirty little secret, what holds power over you, and how you get to share your story. Ask for help. We are not meant to figure out every situation for our selves.  Sometimes asking for help, while it can feel like admitting failure, is actually the fastest way to get things on track, personally and in business.  Being a person people can count on means having people YOU can count on. LESSON: You don't get to choose your moments.     Jackie Carpenter is the CEO and owner of Ideal Restoration in San Francisco, focusing on emergency response for commercial properties in the San Francisco Bay Area.  She joined Ideal in 2006 and ultimately purchased Ideal from her parents in her early 20's. She's gained hands-on experience in all aspects of the business working in a variety of field and operations roles including running large projects, complex abatement projects and managing sensitive infection control environments. Today, she leads with that insight to address client needs, drive innovation, and shape the company's future through a talented leadership team.  Outside of work Jackie enjoys coaching and mentoring small business owners, travel, unique dining experiences, trekking and hiking.  linkedin.com/in/jackie-carpenter-1240565 Ideal Restoration: www.idealsf.com

Julie and Casey sit down with Lena West (a unicorn in the business coach space) to talk what it means to stand in your value. Along the way we rehash the Girl Boss era, dig into integrity and being of service, and hear about finding a medical team that actually works for you.    TOP TAKEAWAYS: The Girl Boss movement and the “create more places for women in leadership” movement aren't the same thing. Girl Boss was about branding and youth and hustle, but not much beyond that. It was a formula more than a movement. When you give someone a formula (in business or, in voice work) you take their individuality out of the equation. Predatory business practices like false scarcity are both ridiculous (you sold out of virtual seats? really?) and damaging. Start doing the work to get people to trust you so that they want to voluntarily, not from a manipulation standpoint, but voluntarily do business with you and give you their money from a wholehearted place instead of FOMO. Maybe it's less about charging “what you're worth” and more about charging for the impact or transformation you are contributing to your clients. You'll know what makes you feel compensated AFTER you do it for too little money. Transformational pricing is less about the YES than it is about reminding folks that YOUR TIME and YOUR ENERGY are not free. LESSON: Don't try to Miss Cleo your audience — on not trying to predict how your audience will respond.   Lena L. West's razor-sharp business acumen is the well-hewn result of more than a decade of hands-on experience in digital transformation and strategic business growth. As an award-winning serial entrepreneur, writer, keynote speaker, inclusive business growth strategist, independent filmmaker, and grant maker, this truth-telling business advisor is often referred to as an “entrepreneur's secret advantage”. She shows experienced, self-funded, service-based founders and entrepreneurs how to learn, love and leverage their inner CEO and build a business that loves them back. Lena is the Founder of CEO Rising®, a virtual business accelerator dedicated to transforming principled solopreneurs into CEOs by providing them with the three growth tools they need most: coaching, community, and cash...so they can build ethical, profitable, and sustainable businesses. CEO Rising® was intentionally founded to disrupt the landscape of business coaching by providing affordable access to business coaching -- all without resorting to the prevalent, yet commonly accepted, predatory practices of false scarcity, false urgency, and marketing manipulation. Lena is also the visionary creator of CEO DNA®, a personalized inventory that uncovers a founder's specific CEO leadership archetypes and style. She has written for American Express, Fast Company and Entrepreneur and has spoken for notable organizations such as American Express, Wharton School of Business, SCORE, National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI) and Syracuse University. She sits on the Advisory Board of The Feminist Coaching Academy and is an Alum Ambassador of The Op Ed Project. An honorary highlight of her career was speaking about diversity, equity, and inclusion in digital media on Capitol Hill and at the United Nations. Lena's internationally acknowledged expertise has led to winning several business awards, among them: The Hall of Femme, BuzzFeed's Most Influential Influencers, The Women's Congress' Entrepreneurial Champion for Women in Business and NCWIT's Entrepreneurial Hero. Her life's work is to prove once and for all that service-based businesses can indeed scale. Her mission is to expand what's possible for self-funded founders of service-based businesses by pairing reinvented coaching, community, and funding models with increased digital media representation. http://CEORising.co https://LenaWest.com  

Julie and Casey chat with June Johnson, cofounder of Collective High, about the Cannabis Industry, the racist origins of the war on drugs, and along the way get to hear the magic behind what makes a great party and what modeling and being a CIA agent have in common.   Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS:   Cannabis has been used safely for a very long time, and is not only used to get high- there are a ton of other benefits, no high necessary. The origins of the war on drugs, specifically Marijuana, come from a racist and xenophobic decision of one powerful man to start associating cannabis with Mexico by calling it “Marijuana”. The ins and outs of how an industry built on what used to be a crime that disproportionately affected Black people morphed into an industry that is disproportionally benefitting white people. Lesson: “I don't want to Lean In, I just want to Lay Down”. The power of laying on the floor, and five minutes in which to do nothing.  June Johnson is a model & advocate. She has been featured in numerous beauty & fashion campaigns and on the runway for various fashion weeks. In addition to modeling, she is also the Co-Founder of Collective High, a woman-owned company that provides cannabis education through highly conceptual events & experiences in an effort to eradicate the stigma around cannabis use. Their events sit at the intersection of cannabis, art, music, food, fashion, & sustainability. Her goal is to create impactful changes & cultural representation within the fashion & cannabis spaces.    Prior to producing cannabis events, June created successful events for brands such as Paul Smith, Hennessy, Moët & Chandon, Deleón Tequila, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Fred Segal, adidas, Shiekh Shoes, etc.   Though she has experience in numerous verticals, she specializes in producing events in the fashion, cannabis, entertainment, art & culture scenes & has curated parties for exclusive clients during NYFW, NBA All-Star, Outside Lands, & The Grammy's.   After moving to Los Angeles to continue her career in events, branding + PR, June worked for two high-profile boutique PR firms that helped further her understanding and knowledge of the industry. This experience allowed her to take her knowledge and apply it to starting her own company for 8 successful years. By the spring of 2019, she began working as the event curator, social media manager, brand manager & community manager for one of the Bay Area's premiere delivery marketplace for cannabis goods.   The pursuit of joy led June to follow her passion & move to NYC to continue modeling, working on Afrofuturist projects, and curating one-of-a-kind cannabis events through her Co-Founded company, Collective High.

Julie and Casey chat with Ruchika Tulshyan (author, speaker, and founder of Candour) about her viral HBR article on imposter syndrome, how to handle feedback (giving it and receiving it), and the gift of discomfort. Along the way, we dive into some of our favorite big subjects (authenticity, executive presence, etc.) and why the most important question to ask is: “for whom?” Thank you to our Season 4 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! TOP TAKEAWAYS: What do you do with conflicting feedback (the “Goldilocks” problem — “you're too strong / you're not strong enough” etc)?  Feel your feelings, investigate it, think about it, check in with your tribe . . . and then remember that you're existing within biased systems, and you can still stand in your power. When it comes to the “big subjects” like authenticity, leadership, executive presence, the operative question is “for whom?” i.e, “For whom is this the “right” kind of authenticity?” The foundation of so much discomfort is coming to terms with the fact that the world is not binary – that two things  can be true at the same time (“I have experience marginalization AND I have privilege” or “my intentions were good AND I caused harm to another person”). We first have to learn to live with that complexity, and then additionally we have to learn how to communicate it. LESSON: Discomfort and confidence can (and probably will) exist at the same time. And . . . what if a little imposter syndrome is a good thing?   Ruchika Tulshyan is the best-selling author of Inclusion on Purpose: An Intersectional Approach to Creating a Culture of Belonging at Work (MIT Press). The book was described as “transformative” by Dr. Brené Brown. She's also the founder of Candour, an inclusion strategy practice. A former international business journalist, Ruchika is a regular contributor to The New York Times and Harvard Business Review. As a keynote speaker, Ruchika has addressed audiences at organizations like NASA, Pixar, Google and the U.S. Congress.  Ruchika co-wrote a paradigm-shifting article, Stop Telling Women They Have Imposter Syndrome for Harvard Business Review, with Jodi-Ann Burey. The article was named among 20 most impactful HBR articles of all time. Best of all, people all over the world have said it helped change their relationship with the concept of imposter syndrome! She was selected to Thinkers50 Radar 2019 and Hive Learning's Most Influential D&I leaders list in 2019 and 2020. Ruchika is an active investor in various women-founded ventures, including Armoire, Graham & Walker VC and Backstage Capital. A self-declared Singaporean foodie, Ruchika has lived in four countries and currently calls Seattle home. Follow Ruchika: Twitter: @rtushyan Instagram: @rtulshyan LinkedIn: Ruchika Tulshyan

Julie Fogh and Casey Erin Clark, co-founders of Vital Voice Training, finish Season 3 of their podcast VOICE(is) with a live recap exploration of the three main challenges and opportunities they saw across industries, location, and demographics during a busy spring of corporate communication coaching. Expect actionable tips, perspective shifts, and core principles to step into more powerful, present, and effective communication at work and in your life!  Watch the live video version. TOP TAKEAWAYS:

Julie and Casey chat with author, speaker, and angel investor Fran Hauser (author of Embrace the Work, Love Your Career and Audible's Best Business Book of 2018, The Myth of the Nice Girl) about building relationships, rejecting the idea that being nice makes you weak, how to stand up for yourself, the difference between "nice" and "people pleaser", and why founders need to take care of themselves.   Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Being successful in business is all about relationships You don't have to choose between being nice and being strong. If you're a founder/entrepreneur, are you jumping ahead to business model, marketing, partnerships, etc. before making sure you have an awesome product that consumers are delighted by?  You're skipping the most important step. Taking a breath, taking the time and energy to care for yourself and others makes the WORK better.  Compassion for ourselves and for other people makes us more productive, not less, and we need to bring more of it into our professional lives. You don't need to be the smartest kid in fifth grade (i.e. have all the answers all by yourself).  Build out your community and your network. Nice is a superpower - its "evil twin" is people-pleasing. Know the difference, and know when to stand up for yourself. Mini-Lesson: How to embrace your "toos". Articles referenced: On the culture of over-work, and how it holds both women and men back - https://hbr.org/2020/03/whats-really-holding-women-back Gender bias in performance reviews - https://hbr.org/2017/04/how-gender-bias-corrupts-performance-reviews-and-what-to-do-about-it Vague vs specific feedback - https://hbr.org/2016/04/research-vague-feedback-is-holding-women-back   Fran Hauser is an author, keynote speaker and startup investor at the intersection of women's empowerment, career fulfillment, and collective wellbeing. As a long-time media executive, Fran has always championed the power of content in shaping culture, educating the public, and driving awareness of important issues.  She is the best-selling author of The Myth of the Nice Girl: Achieving a Career You Love Without Becoming a Person You Hate which has been translated into six languages and was named “Best Business Book of the Year, 2018” by Audible. Fran's new book, Embrace the Work, Love Your Career, is quickly becoming the go-to for women seeking more joy and fulfillment in their career. Fran regularly speaks at conferences and organizations to help women build careers they love while staying true to themselves Fran has invested in over 30 female-founded companies across CPG, media & publishing, and wellness. She also serves as an LP in the Female Founders Fund. Her writing, speaking and investing is informed by 15 years spent in media, from startups where she played an integral role in the $525mm sale of Moviefone to AOL, to ultimately rising the ranks at Time Inc. to President of Digital where she led innovation, acquisitions and digital expansion for powerhouse media brands People, InStyle, Entertainment Weekly, Essence, and People en Espanol. Fran has been the recipient of the Fairy Godmother Award from Girl Be Heard, the W Award from the YWCA of the City of New York and has been included in lists from Business Insider's "30 Women In VC to Watch" to Refinery29's “Six Most Powerful Women in New York City's Tech Scene”. She has been featured on TODAY, CNBC, Fortune, TIME, Fast Company, Forbes, Vogue.com, Ad Age, Oprah.com and more.  In 2020 Fran channeled her lifelong love of books into an Instagram platform @FransBookshelf focused on the joy of reading -- both the escapism and the celebration of diverse ideas that can change the world.  Fran serves on the board of directors of the Foundation for Bedford Central Schools and is an advisor to Helpusadopt.org and LiveGirl. Fran is a summa cum laude graduate of Pace University. She resides just outside of NYC with her husband and two sons.

Julie and Casey chat with Rebecca Soffer, journalist, author, and cofounder of Modern Loss, about the complicated journey and taboo subject of grief. Along the way, they get into how Rebecca found her “dead mom” community and what it taught her, dealing with ambiguous loss, what not to say to people who are hurting, our enormous world-wide moment of collective grief, and how to move THROUGH, not “move on”. Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Nothing is more isolating that feeling like you have to play “normal” and hide your grief because of the taboo around discussing loss. Because grief affects every corner of your life, it becomes the backdrop for so much of what's going on. The first step to dealing with grief may be simply TALKING about it . . . but there's no “zero vulnerability” way to do that.  There is no “correct” thing to say to someone who is grieving, so you're off the hook for the perfect response, if that's keeping you from reaching out to someone. Particularly, the fear of “accidentally reminding someone” or bringing up their loss is misplaced . . . they know. They remember. That said, anything that smacks of a “fix it” mentality is probably not welcome. Just as there is no correct thing to say to a grieving person, there's no “correct” way — or even time — to grieve. There is room for humor and lightness too. Mini-Lesson: Better things to do when a friend is hurting than “fix it”.   Rebecca Soffer is cofounder of Modern Loss, a global movement offering creative, meaningful, and practical content and community addressing the long arc of grief. She is also coauthor of the book Modern Loss: Candid Conversation about Grief. Beginners Welcome. (Harper Wave, 2018) and an internationally recognized speaker on loss and resilience. She writes regularly across media, including the New York Times, Glamour, NBC, and CNN. Rebecca is a Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism alumna and a Peabody Award–winning former producer for The Colbert Report.   Rebecca and her husband and sons split their time between New York City and The Berkshires. For more information visit ModernLoss.com.  Twitter: @rebeccasoffer @modernloss  Instagram: @rebeccasoffer @modernloss @runningpressbooks Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/ModernLoss https://www.facebook.com/rebeccasoffer https://www.facebook.com/RunningPressBooks   

Julie and Casey sit down with ADHD coach Frankie Berkoben to talks about her journey from PHD drop out to ADHD coach. We talk about the flawed criteria for a diagnosis, shame, and options for creating your own team (and how to be on it yourself). Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS Women with ADHD are often misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression or borderline personality disorder. ADHD is often missed because it presents so differently in girls than in boys.   Many ADHD people have long running shame stories about their inability to measure up to expectations: they tend to believe they are hopelessly broken, and a correct diagnoses as a result can be both freeing and grief inducing for all the lost time “Potential” can be a dirty word for ADHD folks; it's about what you COULD be but never ARE. ADHD brains aren't broken, they just need different things to function at their best.  They have enormous memory, but relatively small processing capacity.   That means they can connect dots like nobodys business, but can get overstimulated seeing EVERYTHING AT ONCE.  Things like task switching and unacknowledged over stimulation can have a negative impact.   Mini-Lesson: What ADHD has to do with your voice ADHD Resources: ADHD 2.0 by Dr. Edward Hallowell (a classic, well written, well researched intro to an ADHD brain) Jessica McCabe's How to ADHD Youtube Our favorite podcast, 'Ologies does ADHD  Frankie Mansfield Berkoben

Julie and Casey head out to Oakland to sit down with Maya Borgueta, founder of Stella Nova Psychology — they dive into emotional labor, how diversity movements in the workplace might be set up to fail, imposter syndrome, self-care, Chopin, and why beating yourself up is NOT, in fact, the secret to productivity.  Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Define your core values — both general and for communication — to give your life a north star. They should be a little aspirational, and you won't nail it 100% of the time. Imposter syndrome is pervasive, and connected to some really unhelpful ideas about what “confidence” looks like. You don't have to feel like a Boss Bitch 100% of the time — and if you do, maybe you aren't being very self-reflective. Research says that people who are self-compassionate get more done and are more able to problem-solve than people who are self-critical . . . which might seem obvious, but is really hard in practice, especially for high achievers.    Maya Borgueta, PsyD, is a licensed clinical psychologist, a passionate lifelong feminist, and the founder of Stella Nova Psychology, Inc., a therapy clinic for women and non-binary professionals in downtown San Francisco. Her professional mission is to help women to live their most powerful and fulfilled lives at work and at home. Her personal mission is to pet as many cats as humanly possible. You can find Maya's work online at www.stellanovawomen.com, or by following Stella Nova on Facebook or Instagram @stellanovawomen.

Julie and Casey sit down with Ann Shoket, founder of New Power Media and owner of The Li.st, to talk about her journey from editor of Seventeen to author to community builder, why millennial women revolutionized the workplace and the world, redefining polish, and building communities that help women of all ages achieve and succeed. Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! TOP TAKEAWAYS: As the Editor of Seventeen Magazine in the early 2000's, Ann witnessed a sea change in what young women wanted to talk about — suddenly instead of advice about summer dating, they wanted advice about summer internships. It's no surprise, really. Teen girls are natural innovators, and millennial women changed everything about how we work. (Watch Ann's TED talk here.) https://www.ted.com/talks/ann_shoket_why_we_should_all_be_more_millennial New power can't just LOOK different (as in seeing more non-white, non-male people having it) . . . it must BE different. New power is diverse, transparent, inclusive, accountable, and collaborative.  We all have a part to play in changing the “women just don't support other women” narrative. Challenging our own beliefs about scarcity of opportunity and seeing other women as opportunities to learn and grow instead of a threat is a start. And, you have to show up for other people if you want them to show up for you. Mini-lesson: Taking your time space is a power move.   Ann Shoket is a trailblazing senior media executive who has been a key architect in shaping the national conversation about ambition and success for women.  She has brought two major young women's media brands to number one across every category. And most recently, her media and events company, New Power Media, acquired TheLi.st, a pioneering digital community for high-impact women in media, technology and business.  Shoket is the author of the widely-acclaimed book, The Big Life, which was hailed by The New York Times as “a guide for women in their 20s and 30s who are hungry for a job they love, a supportive network of friends, respect from their posses and partners who want all those things for them as badly as they do.”  Shoket has been a consultant and a regular contributor for Good Morning America. She speaks for conferences and corporations including TEDx, SXSW, The Pennsylvania Women's Conference, Facebook, Microsoft, Avon and more.  Forbes has named Shoket one of the “10 Most Powerful US Fashion Magazine Editors.” Folio: named her one of the “Top Women in Media”. www.annshoket.com Follow Ann on Instagram.  Follow The List on Instagram.

Julie and Casey sit down with disability advocate Emily Ladau to talk her new book, being a full human and not just a disability, and how we can be better supporters and allies. Along the way, they discuss high school theater nerdery and embracing your inner peacock. TOP TAKEAWAYS As we talk about disability, it's important to acknowledge the WHOLE human, not just the parts that convenient for your narrative. There is a difference between being noticed and being seen — being noticed is about them, being seen is about you. Before deciding to help, figure out if your help is wanted or needed from the actual individual you wish to help.  Making assumptions about what someone needs (even if well intended) dehumanizes more than it helps. Let people tell you what kind of ally they need, instead of assuming your help is needed and welcome. Mini-Lesson:  Peacocking — taking the reins of your own visibility. Episode Transcript here. Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! Emily Ladau is a passionate disability rights activist, writer, storyteller, and digital communications consultant. She is the author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally, published by Ten Speed Press, an imprint of Penguin Random House. Links for Emily: Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram

Julie and Casey sit down with speaker, author, and creativity expert Natalie Nixon, founder of Figure 8 Thinking, to discuss how everyone can find more creativity, how the workplace should be redefining productivity, and lessons from a life lived all over the world.  Along the way, we learn about intuition, the gifts of being “in the margins”, and why leaders should consider learning the tango. Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! TOP TAKEAWAYS: Noticing what she heard over and over again from the leaders and business folks she was talking to (“it's like jazz” and “something told me to…” being two examples) and following her own curiosity led Natalie down her primary research paths: chaordic systems, intuitive leadership, and creativity.  Natalie explains creativity as “wonder + rigor”. Wonder is the necessary time/energy for reflection, play, experimentation, rest, etc., and rigor is the necessary time/energy for grit, practice, discipline, and gaining expertise. What if we had new metrics for productivity? Natalie coined the term “invisible work” to put a label on the ideation, ruminating, reframing of problems, reflection, etc that goes into the VISIBLE results in the business world. This stuff is absolutely necessary but difficult to quantify — the old metrics of “widgets created/time on task” don't work in our new era of work. Mini Lesson: The challenges—and gifts—of being a “clumsy student”   Natalie Nixon, PhD is a creativity strategist, global keynote speaker and author. As president of Figure 8 Thinking, LLC she advises leaders on transformation—by applying wonder and rigor to amplify growth and business value. Natalie is one of Real Leaders' "Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World for 2022" She is the author of the award-winning The Creativity Leap: Unleash Curiosity, Improvisation and Intuition at Work—an honoree in the creativity category of Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas Awards. Her firm Figure 8 Thinking, was named among the top 20 women-led innovation firms by Core 77 in 2021. Natalie received her BA (honors) from Vassar College, and her PhD from the University of Westminster in London. Follow Natalie on social media: https://www.instagram.com/natwnixon/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienixonphd/    https://twitter.com/natwnixon    https://www.facebook.com/natwnixon Find out more about Figure 8 Thinking - https://www.figure8thinking.com/   

Julie and Casey sit down with designer and CEO Phnam Bagley to talk effective hard work, defying people's expectations and changing how we talk about possibility. TOP TAKEAWAYS Don't worry if your journey hasn't been linear. Our adventures and experiences in life influence who we will become as leaders. Designing the future is both a rigourous discipine and expression of wild imagination. We must have both. Don't confuse the bells and whistles with the person. Talent may or may not look like you think it should.  Mini-Lesson:  Setting the pace for yourself Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! Phnam Bagley is a partner and creative director at Nonfiction, a San Francisco-based design firm that turns science fiction into reality for a better future. She is a French industrial designer, aerospace architect and futurist. Her designs span many industries, including Wearables, Audio-Visual, Neurotech/Biotech, Healthcare, Education, Transportation, Robotics, Luxury and Aerospace. She specializes in turning groundbreaking technologies into attainable, intuitive, and beautiful products that help humans become the best versions of themselves. She speaks internationally on the subject of “Design for a Better Future”, covering stories of sustainability, social impact, and the future of humans as an interplanetary species. With her co-founder, she hosts Future Future, a video series that demystifies design and the future of everything.    Links: Website: www.nonfiction.design Instagram: @nonfiction.design Twitter: @phnambagley LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phnambagley/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NonfictionDesign/videos  

Julie and Casey sit down with Lynn Harris (founder of Gold Comedy, cohost of A Bintel Brief, and prolific writer) about how comedy can change the world. Along the way, they discuss why (and HOW) we should get rid of the term “women's comedy”, and we discover our own personal connection to Lynn's creation, “Breakup Girl”.  Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Comedy is power: when you make people laugh you make people listen. One significant theory/framework for comedy is “disturbing a norm” . . . so doesn't it make sense for people OUTSIDE of “the mythic norm” to be naturals at doing this? “Comedy isn't rearranging the stars, it's just seeing your own pattern.” When it comes to comedy as a coping mechanism, comedy doesn't change what happened (or is happening) to you, but it can allow us to see the stars in a new way — our OWN way. But it's not just the processing . . . the sharing is powerful too. Mini Lesson: In comedy, in speaking, and in life, you gotta put a stake in the ground. Here's how.   About Lynn Harris: I'm an award-winning journalist-comedian-creative strategist-multihyphenate driven by the power of comedy to change culture.  I am founder and CEO of GOLD Comedy, the comedy academy, creative network, and content platform for women/non-binary folks who want to be their funniest selves. I'm also co-host, with Ginna Green, of A Bintel Brief: The Podcast, which brings the Forward's iconic advice column into the audio age. With supergenius Chris Kalb, I co-created (in 1997!) one of the earliest internet success stories: Breakup Girl, the only superhero who can both bend steel bars and mend broken hearts. I'm an award-winning journalist, author and novelist, communications executive, and comedy producer / performer / instructor. Plus a co-founder of the comedy/event series Persisticon, which raises money to elect women. I am also a former Tonya Harding lookalike, which is a long story.  

Julie and Casey sit down with expert facilitators Xina Eiland and Emily Radowsky (cofounders of UNMUTE) to talk about what it really takes to change hearts and minds through difficult conversations about race. TOP TAKEAWAYS: These conversations need guidance: a facilitator that can understand both the social and neurological aspects of the triggers that can be ignited. People need to be able to sit in their "stuff" before they can engage in meaningful conversation. Facilitation can help provide these moments to look inward, and also guide us as we come back. For white women who want to be an ally: Be prepared to confront your own discomfort, and offer understanding before asking for it. Mini-Lesson:  Putting the meaning in the middle.   Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! Xina Eiland, Co-Founder, UNMUTE In addition to her leadership with UNMUTE, Xina is the President and CEO of X+PR and a visionary leader and recognized authority in multicultural communications and digital media. Xina brings a wealth of experience to clients, helping them effectively connect with diverse and hard to reach populations. Her dedication and tenacity, complemented by energy and drive, have earned her a well-deserved reputation as an innovator who gets the best results.  Xina is also the co-host of Get Found Get Funded, a podcast about creating visibility, paths for growth and opportunity for entrepreneurs. Emily Rasowsky, Co-Founder, UNMUTE Emily is a somatic release expert, entrepreneur, and marketing leader. She combines mindfulness and business expertise to help heart-centered leaders to build heart-led companies and teams. As an executive breathwork and somatic coach, she helps C-suite leaders and entrepreneurs leverage alternative therapies to manage triggers and develop emotional intelligence. With her background in marketing, she has worked with Fortune 50 brands, government organizations, nonprofits, and agencies to launch national campaigns and initiatives.

Julie and Casey sit down with Stephanie Nadi Olson, founder of We Are Rosie, to learn how her personal journey led her to create a company that's revolutionizing the way the marketing industry finds and utilizes talented people (and grew exponentially in just 4 years!). Along the way, we talk communication lessons from our families, how the marketing industry should be leading the way on innovation and social change, and the first question companies really need to ask their constituents to create an environment where people can truly belong.   Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! TOP TAKEAWAYS:   We're in the middle of enormous shifts in both how we work and the balance of power between employer and employed. They're long overdue! They're also going to take consistent work, because pushback from the powers that be is inevitable. “Strategic rebels” make the difference.  There are far better ways to evaluate talent than old markers of “pedigree” — not only are they more inclusive (and more FUN!), but they have been wildly successful for the Rosies so far. What communication skills and strengths has your past given you? We hear beautiful stories about Stephanie's vibrant family and the turning point moment in her childhood that made her the communicator she is today. Mini-lesson: How to find your inner communication Strategic Rebel. (And check out our Communication Core Values workbook!)   Stephanie Nadi Olson is an advertising executive who founded We Are Rosie in 2018 based on a genuine understanding of what it feels like to “not belong.” Her life experience as the daughter of a refugee has driven her affinity and advocacy for marginalized groups. We Are Rosie is a manifestation of her soul's calling to create a better way to do business by focusing on the people doing the work. Over the course of her career in advertising, Stephanie has worked closely with big brands and major tech companies and has developed a unique 360-degree view of industry practices and the need for transformation. Using this experience, she has created a human-centered approach to marketing that celebrates diversity and facilitates happiness, while ensuring that We Are Rosie maintains integrity and authenticity every step of the way. Last year, Stephanie was named one of the EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women™ and joined the Class of 2021. In addition, Stephanie was named AdAge Visionary of the Year 2020, was recognized by Adweek in the 2020 Creative 100, was named World Changing Woman 2020 by Conscious Company, and was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year 2019 by the Stevie Awards.   Follow Stephanie on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Julie and Casey sit down with multipotentialite Bree Nachelle to talk all about social media, podcasting, curating your feed, taking care of yourself and even cosplay.    Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS People want to be seen, heard, and most importantly belong.  Finding the right communities to join can give you a place for all of that. Your Feed is Your Fault: You can and should unfollow, block and delete liberally.  Curate your content to delight your spirit. When it comes to podcasting, Just Do It! There are resources available to help you out, but it doesnt have to be perfect to get it out there. Lesson: Self Talk and the Self Critic   Brée Nachelle is a DC-based, creative strategist passionate about podcasting and helping others understand the joy of social audio. She is the host of the Fabulous Fuckery podcast and assists entrepreneurs in using their message to expand their community through guesting on podcasts. As a speaker, Brée has shared her podcasting and social media knowledge with the attendees of Podthon, ShePodcasts, Podcast Movement, Blerdcon, AfroPunk, and more. Find Brée 3-D printing cosplay goodies, ranting on Twitter, or wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket reading a movie script.   https://instagram.com/baronessbree https://twitter.com/baronessbree http://www.baronessbree.com/  

In this special series, Julie and Casey sit down together to look at the elements of executive presence: Polish, Poise and Power . . . what they are, what they represent, and where they go wrong. They also look at new tools and alternate pathways as we work toward a more inclusive definition of leadership. EPISODE 3: POWER Julie and Casey sit down in their first live recording to talk about all things power, what we can control vs. what we can't, and ways to find your own kind of power that doesn't require anyone's permission. Power is not only demonstrated through external presentation, of course . . . but the way we're judged for whether or not we have it is often via cultural or surface-level standards. Power is measured by: Your effect on others: Do people listen to you and take you seriously? Are people willing to be led by you? If they are unwilling, can you convince them, accomplish your goals, or manifest your will anyway? How do you handle obstacles? When you encounter them, can you overcome them, destroy them, or ignore them . . . or are you weak? Confidence — do you have it? Do other people think you have it? Charisma — are people drawn to you? Translation: Power is about pretending that “real leaders” don't get scared or feel unsure of themselves or their ideas. It's knowing how to gain buy-in and/or control over others by any (socially acceptable) means necessary, whether that's positive (charm, charisma, confidence) or negative (force, dominance). Top Takeaways: Power is about whose voices get heard and whose perspective matters Clinging to politeness or manners to avoid the friction of your edges has limits for how far it can take you We don't have control of other's perceptions of us, but we do have some agency in setting up our own conditions for success. Spend your time there to find the power that doesn't require anyone else's buy in.   Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

In this special series, Julie and Casey sit down together to look at the elements of executive presence: Polish, Poise and Power . . . what they are, what they represent, and where they go wrong. They also look at new tools and alternate pathways as we work toward a more inclusive definition of leadership. Watch the episode on youtube.   Episode 2: POISE If polish is about how you look and how you act, poise is about how you REACT. How do “leaders” respond to stimulus?   According to an article in Forbes: “A person with good executive presence never lets people see her sweat. She's not harried running from meeting to meeting, she's not flustered when she speaks, and she seems like the person who, even in the wake of a crisis in the middle of the night, could still show up looking put together. . . . Be calm, collected, and the person with all the answers, and you'll be seen as a leader.” Showing what we expect you to show: warmth, gravitas, decisiveness Not showing what we expect you to hide: control over “negative” emotions, control over your response to conflict, control over fear or discomfort. Control over uncertainty: Always know the answer, and if you don't, be able to meaningfully fake it. Translation: Poise is about self-control: pretending human beings don't ever feel negative emotions and are not meaningfully affected by other people, challenges, and circumstances. It's also about being a human version of Janet from The Good Place, with the correct answer to any and every question anyone may have for you. Poise can become a nearly impossible standard to meet — mainly because human beings simply don't and can't have all the answers all the time, and because there is no such thing as “neutral”. Human beings are not neutral in how we ourselves respond to stimulus, and we are not neutral in how we are perceived by others. Demanding perfect calm in the face of all conflict sets people up for failure, emotional shutdown, and burnout. Join us as we dissect, laugh, call bullshit and brainstorm some practical strategies and solutions to what for many is a landmine of impossible expectations. Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

In this special three-part series, Julie and Casey sit down together to look at the elements of executive presence: Polish, Poise and Power . . . what they are, what they represent, and where they go wrong. They also look at new tools and alternate pathways as we work toward a more inclusive definition of leadership. Watch the video version here. Episode 1: Polish Calling someone “polished” seems to be shorthand for: Looking the way we expect you to look — looking expensive, “understated”, “neat”, fitting into whatever spoken or unspoken standards this industry has for clothing and appearance Speaking the way we expect you to speak — eliminating accents, regionalisms, speech we consider too “youthful”, slang, and dialects like African American Vernacular English; eliminating “problem words” like just, like, sorry; eliminating verbal fillers; using “good speech” Acting the way we expect you to act — knowing your cultural etiquette, manners, and hierarchy. Being rehearsed . . . but not in any visible way - effortlessness is key Translation: Polish is about looking (and sounding) financially well-off, about pretending human beings never sweat or get dirty or disheveled, and about pretending that we come from the same culture (or at least can learn to seamlessly fit into the dominant culture). The problem is that this extremely narrow definition often only leaves room for those who learn to dress, speak, and act like those who are ALREADY leaders: i.e. white, wealthy, cisgender, straight, conventionally attractive, able-bodied men (and ocasionally women). This has enormous consequences for anyone who falls outside any of those categories. If you are seen as lacking traditional polish, you may not advance.   Join us as we dissect, laugh, call bullshit, and brainstorm some practical strategies and solutions to what for many is a minefield of double binds.    Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!

Casey Erin Clark and Julie Fogh, founders of Vital Voice Training and co-hosts of the VOICE(is) podcast, host a panel discussion on executive presence. In it, they explore the nebulous definition of executive presence and how our idea of what leaders should look and sound like has marginalized so many. Along the way, expect corporate horror stories, tales of triumph, and big laughs . . . along with truth bombs and mic drop moments that blow the idea that leaders need to look and sound one particular way out of the water. PANEL GUESTS: Phnam Bagley is building the future . . . literally. She is a speaker, educator, and founder of the firm Nonfiction Design, taking on everything from headphones to furniture to space architecture to turn science fiction into reality. http://nonfiction.design Kelly Hoey is the author of BUILD YOUR DREAM NETWORK, speaker, community builder, and world-renowned expert in networking. She also has an extensive corporate background in both law and finance. http://jkellyhoey.co Christina Blacken is revolutionizing the modern workplace with her company New Quo, introducing how narrative intelligence can be used to tackle inequities and make work work better for everyone. http://thenewquo.com Patty Alvarenga is on the ground every day running conversations on equity and inclusion that are shaping the future of work with The Collective. http://hello-collective.com  Watch the video version here.  Phnam Bagley is a French Industrial Designer and Space Architect with 15 years experience designing hardware in Audio, Wearables, Biotech & Healthcare, Luxury Goods, Transportation, Sports and Aerospace. She has designed and led teams at varied design consultancies including IDEO, Lunar, Matter and Lifestyledesign. Phnam's work spans 4 continents, and companies ranging from Fortune 500's to startups. Clients include Intel, Comcast, Facebook, Atari, Halo Neuroscience and more. She speaks internationally on the subject of “Design for a Better Future”, covering stories of groundbreaking technologies, responsibility, design thinking and education. Phnam is the CEO and Design Director at Eternal Luxe, a brand of luxury goods made in USA. She also teaches industrial design at California College of the Arts and mentors at Founder Institute.   Networking expert Kelly Hoey is the author of Build Your Dream Network: Forging Powerful Relationships In A Hyper-Connected World (Penguin Random House). She's working on her second book which focuses on the unique networks women need for career success. A frequent speaker and source for networking insights, Kelly has been lauded from Forbes (“1 of 5 Women Changing the World of VC/Entrepreneurship”) to Fast Company (“1 of the 25 Smartest Women On Twitter”) to Business Insider (“1 of the 100 Most Influential Tech Women On Twitter”) and Inc. (1 of “10 Most Well-Connected People in New York City's Startup Scene”). Empowering A Billion Women By 2020 included her on their list of the “100 Most Influential Global Leaders Empowering Women Worldwide”. Not bad for a former corporate lawyer. Connect with Kelly via www.jkellyhoey.co.   Christina Blacken: I'm a public speaker, performer, and founder of The New Quo. The New Quo is a leadership development and inclusion consultancy helping leaders create inclusive cultural and organizational change through their narrative intelligence. I have helped 1500 leaders at Fortune 500 companies and VC backed startups leverage the psychological power of story to transform behavior, build inclusive culture, and communicate new ideas with deeper connection and influence to achieve status-quo breaking goals through training, courses, consulting, and coaching. In my early career, I worked for 10 years across four industries, using stories to drive change including inspiring 300k teens to take action on social causes, and closing 6.5M in sales with the teams and household brands she's worked with. The New Quo has been featured in Elle.com, Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Huffington Post, Forbes, Business Insider, and Thrive.com among other outlets. I graduated from Cornell University with a Bachelors Degree in Policy Analysis and Management. As an Utah native & NYC resident for 10 years, I know far more uses for jello than she'd like to admit.   Patty Alvarenga (she/her) is a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant and Sr. Strategist at Collective.  She has deep experience in building DEI programs from the ground up across the tech industry, ranging from large corporations to high-growth startups. She now works with clients across many different industries, helping them distill complex DEI concepts into impactful and executable strategies that advocate for meaningful change. Her lived experiences as a Latina woman and an El Salvadoran immigrant fuel her commitment to create equitable organizations where everyone can be their full authentic selves and thrive. Patty holds a B.S in Marketing from the University of Florida. In her free time, she loves to explore national parks with her backpack and tent, ride her bike, and eat pupusas from her favorite LA restaurant.

Julie chats with Casey Erin Clark (her co-founder) about her winding path from “small town girl trying to make it in Broadway” perfectionist to multi-hyphenate rebel. Along the way, they cover the profound joy of using your voice, embracing your edges, seeing possibility all around you, and finding your “I want” song.    Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   TOP TAKEAWAYS Casey was born a classic people-pleasing perfectionist. It took her years, a few serious bumps in the road, and one devastating election to finally clarify what was really important. (Hint: the answer was not “what other people think.”) Articulating what you want is powerful. An “I want” song in musical theater tells us about the character's desires and ambitions and needs…and spending your life and career exploring this kind of material is awfully helpful when you need to express your own wants. (Try finding your own “I want” song!) Every human being contains infinite possibility and potential—seeing more in ourselves and each other requires self-exploration, curiosity, a supportive community, and a willingness to see what's beyond the surface.      Casey Erin Clark is a voice, public speaking, and communication coach, performer, author, entrepreneur, podcast host, and leader in both the entertainment and business worlds. She is a fierce advocate for gender justice and spends her days speaking, teaching, and writing about the power of women's voices, while seizing fulfilling opportunities to perform on screen and stage. In 2014, Casey and Julie Fogh co-founded Vital Voice Training, a voice and speech coaching company on a mission to change the conversation about what leaders are “supposed” to sound like and empower everyone to own the power of their full vocal instrument and presence. Casey hails from the cornfields of southern Illinois (where she grew up singing with her family Von Trapp-style) and has a BFA in musical theater from Illinois Wesleyan University. She also coaches musical theater pros of all ages, is a member of SAG-AFTRA and AEA, performed on the 2021 Tony Awards and at the 2013 Oscars with the Les Miserables movie cast, and sings with the Grammy-nominated and Tony-honored Broadway Inspirational Voices choir. Recommending books and breakfast restaurants is her love language. Will perform the Lafayette speed rap from Hamilton on demand.

Casey chats with Julie Fogh (her Vital Voice Training co-founder) about lessons learned from studying acting all over the world, the gifts of introversion, and being a grown-ass woman. Along the way, they cover the superpowers of neurodivergence, and why sometimes, you just know you need to shake up the Etch-A-Sketch of your life.   TOP TAKEAWAYS Growing up in the Pacific Northwest gave Julie her particular brand of slow-burn humor, her deep appreciation for the negative space of conversation, and a community-building style that takes awhile, but truly lasts. Learning how her ADHD brain worked has led Julie to embrace the traits that used to be frustrating, and unlock her own unique superpowers of observation and idea-connecting. Thinking about making (or going through) a big life change? It's ok to be “in the goo” for awhile — that's when your life is becoming a work of art.    Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/vois and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   Julie Fogh is a voice coach and interpersonal communications specialist who works with actors and business leaders helping them navigate their individual tensions and blocks, revealing the personal power and unique and captivating humanity that exists in all of us. Through Vital Voice Training, Julie and her co-founder Casey Erin Clark blend the toolbox of the professional actor with their powerful frameworks for embracing one's authentic speaking voice to businesses, schools, and organizations all over the country.  Julie was raised in Seattle and earned her BA in Theatre and Women Studies from University of Washington. She earned an MFA in acting from Northern Illinois University, a rigorous interdisciplinary curriculum that engaged with the physical body, the emotional life, imagination, use of language, character construction, non-verbal communication and the truth of the moment. She has studied with  the Moscow Art Theatre and University of Copenhagen and has studied Meisner Technique with Kathryn Gately, Michael Chekhov Technique with Deborah Robertson, and Movement and Period Style with Lloyd Williamson. She loves YA novels and her cranky rescue cat, Ashland.

Julie and Casey chat with Lindsay Scola about her unique career path from TV-jingle-singing, CSPAN-watching child to impact strategist / political operative / entertainment production / entrepreneur. We cover the intersection of pop culture and culture change, how storytellers move the needle, and how activists of a certain age REALLY need to learn to take care of themselves. Along the way, we get stories about 1st grader-driven revolutions and finding your community by dropping your filter. TOP TAKEAWAYS TV shows are a unique vehicle for cultural change — something that really hit home for Lindsay while working on the Obama campaign in 2007 and encountering college students who couldn't believe candidates weren't behind gay marriage, because they'd grown up watching Will & Grace. You never know what kind of work is out there that will combine your interests and curiosities and passions — especially if you've internalized a narrower career narrative. What happens if you step out of that box? How do we teach activists (especially elder Millennials and older) that their needs and health are just as important as their cause (hear some STORIES about Lindsay's time in the political arena…)? Mini-lesson: Being called “intimidating”. ________ Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/vois and use VOICEIS in the referral box! _______ Lindsay Scola is an impact strategist, public speaker, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of AUDEAMUS. With over 20 years working in political operations, advocacy campaigns, and entertainment production, Lindsay brings a depth of knowledge and experience to the social impact sector. Lindsay is an expert on the nexus of entertainment and advocacy. She is passionate about inspiring businesses of all sizes to engage in conversations and concrete actions on conservation, civic responsibility, and social justice, especially with non-traditional audiences. After staging her first walkout over unfair lunchroom treatment in first grade, Lindsay knew she was meant for a life in activism. When she took on her high school for teaching "abstinence-only until marriage" sex education, she became the youngest board member in NARAL Pro-Choice Washington's history. Upon graduating from college, Lindsay worked for U.S. Congressman Adam Smith in Washington, DC, but quickly became disenchanted with how broken the nation's Capitol really was. So, in early 2007, she quit her job, bought a car, and moved to Iowa to work for then-Senator Barack Obama. Following President Obama's historic win in 2008, Lindsay joined the administration working for Energy Secretary Steven Chu. She later ran the scheduling and advance office for UN Ambassador Susan Rice, oversaw Michelle Obama's advance operation during the 2012 re-elect campaign, was part of President Obama's advance team, and executive produced the 2013 Inaugural Parade. Since then, Lindsay has nested her work at the intersection of advocacy and entertainment, working with organizations like The Television Academy (Emmys) and has spoken on the topic at the ATX Television Festival, SXSW, The Riveter, and more. Named a 2015 “40 Under 40” recipient for City and State New York, Lindsay couples creativity and actionable organizing with political savvy to shift the social needle, Lindsay continues to advise entertainment entities on their social impact causes as well as working with political campaigns and nonprofits to authentically engage with artists and influencers. She currently resides in Los Angeles.  https://www.lindsayscola.com https://audeamus.net

Julie and Casey sit down with Anne de la Croix to talk about soft skills, making unmeasurable things visible, and how to use extrovert powers for good in meetings so all voices get heard.     TOP TAKEAWAYS: Language is more than the words we pronounce: it is shared connections, context, body language, and can be used to create connection. The “skillification” of concepts like empathy creates teaching pathways that don't work. Some ideas need to be taught experientially. Soft skills are human skills. What people talk about at meetings isn't always what the meeting is about: often there are layers beneath of what is really going on between people, and the hidden subtext, wants and intentions. Join us Thursday December 2nd at noon ET OR noon PT for THE POWER AUDIT, a 90-minute workshop where we'll check in with our definitions of power and give you mental, physical, emotional, and social tools to feel more powerful right away in any situation. Get your tickets here. ________ Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! _______ Anne de la Croix has a background in linguistics and educational sciences. She works as assistant professor at the Faculty of Medicine, Vrije Universeit Amsterdam. Anne is fascinated by the way we try to teach medical students ‘unmeasurables' such as reflection, empathy, communication, and professional identity formation. She is worried about  ‘skillification' of elusive and unmeasurable concepts, and believes the antidote to this trend lies in activities that celebrate amibuguity: comparing contrasting experiences, using the arts, embracing ‘aporia' (yeah, you can look that one up). Outside of the University, Anne can be hired as ‘conversational pyromaniac', to facilitate group discussions. Website: www.annedelacroix.com More Content from Anne: "How to Grow a Professional Identity" The Reflective Zombie – about reflection becoming a tick-box exercise  

Julie and Casey chat with CEO, speaker, author, and multi-hyphenate Hitha Palepu about her new book WE'RE SPEAKING: THE LIFE LESSONS OF KAMALA HARRIS. Along the way, they talk about the importance of names, the absolute necessity of supportive friends (check in on “the strong ones!”), a needed revolution in how we remote work, and the transcendent joy of romance novels.   TOP TAKEAWAYS: Hitha's multiple jobs and pursuits all inform each other: her years of content creation make her an awesome communicator in her job in the life sciences and her work in the life sciences brings rigor and discipline to her content creation. Where do your multitudes support and enrich each other? In the push/pull of negotiation, context is everything, so curiosity is a powerful tool. What do they want, what's their “red line”, and WHY? Why do they care about what they care about? This helps you build your case. When it comes to both confidence and taking care of yourself, sometimes you need a little external help. Who can you trust to be your cheerleader when you need a little borrowed confidence and who can be your accounta-buddy to remind you that sometimes, you just need to drink the water / do the workout / get the blowout WITHOUT doing work at the same time . . . Mini-lesson: Redefining power.   Join us Thursday December 2nd at noon ET OR noon PT for THE POWER AUDIT, a 90-minute workshop where we'll check in with our definitions of power and give you mental, physical, emotional, and social tools to feel more powerful right away in any situation. Get your tickets here. ________ Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box! _______ Hitha Palepu is a woman of multitudes—a feminist, a lifelong politics enthusiast, a daughter of immigrants, and a mother raising feminist sons. These multitudes spill into her multi-hypenated career as an entrepreneur, investor, writer, and speaker. Hitha's passion for the news and politics is captured in #5SmartReads, a Webby-honored social series that shares 5 must-read articles every day to keep her community informed without being overwhelmed. Hitha's longtime blog, Hitha On The Go, established her as an authority on lifestyle topics and gave way to her book and collaborations with leading brands such as Headspace, Google, and Northwestern Mutual. Her book, How To Pack, was published by Clarkson Potter in 2017. As CEO of Rhoshan Pharmaceuticals, Hitha oversees financing, partnerships, and strategy for the company. Hitha also puts her money where her values are through early stage investing. A partner in Adama Ventures (her family office), she has invested in innovative companies primarily founded by women and focused on women (MM.LaFleur, Girls' Night In, Brightland, and Heymama among them). She is a sought-after speaker on politics & the news, investing, entrepreneurship, work-life juggle, and motherhood. Hitha has spoken at The Riveter Summit, Fohr, Global Brands Group and was selected to speak at SXSW 2020. She is represented by AllRaise's Visionary Voices speakers bureau. Instagram: @hithapalepu Twitter: @hithapalepu Website: https://www.werespeakingbook.com/  

Julie and Casey sit down with fellow public speaking and communication coach Sherhara Downing to talk all things charisma, finding your edges, and personal responsibility for creating environments and cultures that allow everyone to shine.    TOP TAKEAWAYS:  The Great Resignation is a moment to be able to reevaluate and articulate your value. Not understanding yourself combined with our societal conditioning is a combo that contributes to making self advocacy a terrifying proposition- and what to do about it. Being conscientious of others is always welcome, but appeasing chips away parts of you. Learn to find the balance.  When you don't INVITE intentionally, you are excluding. We are all responsible for building more inclusive cultures. Mini-lesson: Likeability   Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   About Sherhara: Sherhara Downing's mission is to make human interaction and connection effortless. For INDIVIDUALS From panels to podcasts, conference keynotes to crucial conversations, Sherhara helps business and thought leaders grow their public profile and attract more career changing opportunities, through confident and charismatic speaking. Through an 8-week virtual group coaching program, Sherhara develops leaders, so their speaking skills match their dynamic experience and expertise. For COMPANIES My company, Level Comm LLC, offers customized virtual trainings and workshops on how to improve performance and engagement through improved public speaking and effective communication skills-- empowering professionals to learn something new, use something new and have a good time doing it.  

Julie and Casey chat with activist and community builder Naomi Hattaway about how to reach across political and conversational divides, housing as a human right, and how to cultivate hope. Along the way, they discuss choosing your battles, “leaky boundaries”, and Wednesdays as a metaphor and a reset. (You'll never look at hump day the same way again.)    TOP TAKEAWAYS: Talking to someone you might disagree with? Get curious about their values. What do they care about? Can you connect through that? Also . . . know when to walk away. An oft-quoted stat: Women have to be asked to run for office 6 or 7 times. Maybe it's because they know that what is asked of candidates is nearly impossible . . . rather than begging women to run for office, what can we do to make the SUPPORT SYSTEM BETTER for the right candidates?  Hope is a discipline . . . so how do we create the conditions to practice that discipline? Self-care (Naomi has a coffeemaker in her bedroom!) and community care (when you can't find the light today, I can carry you . . . and vice versa). Mini-Lesson: Acknowledging our given circumstances (the who, what, when, where, and why of your scene) and starting where you are, not where you wish you were. BONUS: Naomi made us a PLAYLIST!!   Thank you to our Season 3 sponsor, Armoire! If you're ready to try a new look, Armoire's high-end clothing rental service (full of amazing women-owned brands) will hook you up! For 50% off your first month's rental + a free item, go to http://armoire.style/voiceis and use VOICEIS in the referral box!   Books mentioned: BURNOUT by Emily and Amelia Nagoski POWER: A USER'S GUIDE by Julie Diamond, PhD ONLYNESS by Nilofer Merchant   Naomi Hattaway is passionate about community building, diversity, and accessibility in online and physical spaces, and is equally driven by a vision of adequate affordable housing so folks can thrive, not just survive, in the places they call home. Naomi previously served in executive leadership at Habitat for Humanity of Omaha, and consulted with nonprofits and organizations on inclusive program design, mutual aid and housing solutions.  In addition to recently leading the COVID-19 eviction prevention and rental assistance program, and the 2020-2021 Winter Plan non-congregate shelter efforts in Omaha, Naomi is a licensed Realtor, and recently ran for Omaha City Council in West Omaha. Follow Naomi on Instagram and Twitter, or visit her website.