Voice Lessons: Uncovering and Claiming Your Unique, Creative Voice

This month on Voice Lessons, I’m hosting a special series where every week we’ll have a new episode sharing the voices and stories of survivors who have experienced sexual trauma. 

In this week's episode, I had the pleasure of welcoming Melissa Lombardo, a bilingual sexual assault crisis advocate, trauma-sensitive author, intuitive speaker, and community connector. Melissa generously shared her rich background in psychology, so...

This month on Voice Lessons, I’m doing a special series where every week we’ll have a new episode sharing the voices and stories of survivors who have experienced sexual trauma. 

This week, I spoke with Chris McGee, a father of 3 daughters and survivor advocate, about his experience with the legal system after it came out that his daughter had been groomed and sexually assaulted by a local police officer. The crime resulted in ...

This month on Voice Lessons, I’m doing a special series where every week we’ll have a new episode sharing the voices and stories of survivors who have experienced sexual trauma. 

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ginger T-Rex, a writer and SAG-AFTRA actress from the Four Corners region of New Mexico. As an Amherst Writers & Artists (AWA) facilitator, Ginger leads writing workshops for survivors of violenc...

This month on Voice Lessons, I’m doing a special series where every week we’ll have a new episode sharing the voices and stories of survivors who have experienced sexual trauma. 

I had the privilege of speaking with Meadow Jones, PhD, a social practice artist, award-winning filmmaker, community organizer, and so much more. Meadow's vast experience includes utilizing the Amherst Writers and Artists Method (AWA) and her rese...

This month on Voice Lessons, I’m doing a special series of weekly episodes to share the voices of survivors of sexual trauma. 

To kick off this series, I’m thrilled to introduce everyone to Mary Simmerling, a poet and philosopher who focuses on social justice and healing. Mary is the founder of 'Write Where We Belong' and 'Write Where We Belong Press,' an independent Canadian publishing house. 

In this episode, we...

In this episode of Voice Lessons, I had the pleasure of chatting with Elizabeth Perlman, founder and executive director of the Intuitive Writing Project. Elizabeth has devoted her life to empowering teenage girls by helping them discover their strengths and trust their voice through intuitive writing workshops and coaching sessions. 

We explored her journey from a teenage girl who used writing as a form of personal expression and he...

I'm excited  to welcome PJ Gray, a versatile writer whose multi-faceted writing career spans a number of forms and genres — from television and magazine writing to cookbook publishing and adult literacy fiction — PJ has done it all. We dive into his journey, starting from his college days working on a communications major at Columbia College in Chicago, where he first developed an interest in television writing and producing. 

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I’m thrilled to introduce my guest this week, Kristin Oakley, an accomplished author of award-winning suspense thrillers and young adult dystopian series. Kristin’s works include 'Carpe Diem, Illinois' and 'God on Mayhem Street,' as well as 'The Devil Particle' series. She’s also deeply involved in the writing community, teaching workshops and critiquing manuscripts.

In this episode, Kristin shares...

Today I am thrilled to introduce you to Randy Richardson, an accomplished attorney, award-winning journalist, and the president of the Chicago Writers Association. His latest novel, 'Havana Hangover,' has earned significant accolades, adding to his impressive career in writing, journalism, and law. 

In this episode, Randy shares the story of how he found journalism and law and decided to become a novelist on top of hi...

I had the pleasure of talking with sid sibo, an award-winning author living just west of the Continental Divide in the traditional homeland of the Shoshone and Bannock people. Her debut novel, 'The Scent of Distant Family,' serves as the cornerstone of our discussion today. 

This book captivated me instantly with its intriguing title, and after our discussion, I believe it will captivate you as well. We start by getting in...

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with Marcia Menter, a seasoned writer and editor who has held senior positions at renowned magazines such as Glamour, Self, and Redbook. Marcia opened up about her multifaceted career and her book, “That Voice: In Search of Anne Drummond-Grant, The Singer Who Shaped My Life”. We explore Marcia's early fascination with the dramatic soprano Anne Drummond-Grant, which led her to pursue a d...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of talking with Jeffry Denman, an award-winning theater, TV, and film professional currently serving as the creative production manager at Imprint Events Group. Jeffry shares about his experience growing up as a natural-born dancer, to being on Broadway, to establishing the Denman Theatre and Dance Company. 

We dive deep into how Jeffry discovered his unique voice through dance, the early inf...

I'm thrilled to have Tommy Nichols as our guest in this episode. Tommy's journey is nothing short of fascinating — from obtaining his BFA in acting and directing, to working as a children's TV scriptwriter for Disney, presenting cabaret shows in New York, and even serving as a minister for many years. His eclectic career and unique experiences offer a rich tapestry of insights, life lessons, and entertaining anecdote...

I'm excited to welcome one of my favorite people, Megan Baxter to the podcast this week. Megan has had an impressive journey, from working on a farm while earning her BFA in poetry, to winning national awards including a Pushcart Prize, and landing on the PEN America Literary Awards long list for her essay collection, 'Twenty Square Feet of Skin.' 

We uncover the inspiration and themes behind her collection and h...

In this episode, I'm thrilled to introduce you to my friend, student, and fellow author, Anne Beall. Anne's impressive career includes being featured in major publications like People Magazine and the Chicago Tribune and founding the Chicago Story Press. 

Together, we dive into the crucial role of storytelling and how it helps us navigate, understand, and connect with the world around us. Anne shares her journey in cr...

This week, I'm excited to introduce you to my old friend and acclaimed thriller author, Geoff Loftus. Geoff’s impressive works, such as the Jack Tyrrell series and history-meets-business novel, ‘Lead Like Ike,’ have captivated many readers. In this episode, we dive into Geoff's transition from standalone novels to the Jack Tyrrell series, inspired in part by ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens.

We explore the depth...

Welcome back to Voice Lessons. I’m thrilled to introduce you all to my friend and award-winning writer, Judy Reeves. Judy and I first met nearly 30 years ago in London, and from that very first conversation, it was an instant connection. Judy was the first person who introduced me to the concept of writing practice and voice, which has shaped the way I write ever since.  

In this episode, we explore the intricacies of discoveri...

Welcome to the first-ever episode of Voice Lessons! I’m thrilled to introduce my friend, the multi-talented Kathleen Hooper, who hails from Colorado and has made a significant impact as a voice artist and musician. 

Kathleen’s artistic story begins with her early love for music, cultivated through family gatherings and church performances, leading her to a vibrant career in music with the Denver University Idiosyncrasies and th...

Welcome to Voice Lessons, the podcast that helps you uncover your unique, creative voice, reclaim the artist within, and confidently transition to your next chapter in life — the creative chapter.

Launching in October 2024, join me every other Tuesday to learn more about creative artists of all kinds, what areas of craft they are currently experimenting with, and, in particular, what they have to say about the role of the ...