My Voice, My Way

Margaret Stoddart
  • 5.0 (2)
  • HEALTH & FITNESS

Welcome to “My Voice, My Way” – the podcast that gives a voice to those living with voice disorders. I’m your host, Margaret Stoddart. I live with a complex voice condition – a combination of Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia – and I’m also proud to serve as an Area Contact Leader for Dysphonia International, supporting others across the UK who are living with these often misunderstood conditions. I created this podcast to raise awareness and start honest conversations about what it really means to live with a voice disorder. Each episode, I speak with people who understand voice disorders from the inside – fellow sufferers, voice users, and expert clinicians, including ENT specialists, speech and language therapists, and clinical psychologists. Together, we explore the challenges, the treatments, the emotional impact – and the resilience it takes to reclaim our voices. Whether you’re living with a voice disorder yourself, supporting someone who is, or working in voice care – you’re in the right place. This is a space for shared stories, practical insights, and above all – connection. This is My Voice, My Way. Let’s get started. Contact email: mstoddart7@outlook.com

  1. APR 25

    My Voice, My Way with Leon Maciocia

    Send us Fan Mail This episode is a really powerful and thought-provoking conversation. It is a little different, but deeply connected to what we talk about here. Many of you will know Spasmodic Dysphonia as a voice disorder—but it actually sits within a wider neurological condition called dystonia. My guest lives with progressive axial dystonia, affecting his spine, posture, and movement. While our symptoms show up in different parts of the body, the underlying challenges are strikingly similar - unpredictable muscle patterns, the impact of stress, and the emotional and psychological toll of living with a long-term condition. His journey spans a successful career as a Clinical Scientist, years of chronic pain, and treatments that didn’t bring the hoped-for results. But what makes this conversation so compelling is the shift from trying to fix symptoms to learning how to live alongside them - particularly through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. We explore identity, loss, and what it means to live with a progressive condition—but also acceptance, resilience, and finding a new sense of purpose. Leon Maciocia now works as both a piano teacher and a mindfulness teacher, supporting others with long-term conditions through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. This episode isn’t just about dystonia—it’s about learning how to live differently, when life doesn’t go to plan. DBS - Deep Brain Stimulation MBCT - Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy. CBT - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy info@wellbeingclinic.com 01865 751111 - wellbeingclinic.com 07894 948869 - oxfordmbct.net

    48 min

  2. APR 16

    My Voice, My Way - A poem by Margaret Stoddart

    Send us Fan Mail This episode isn't a podcast as Today is World Voice Day - 16th April. It is all about recognising the power of the voice - how it connects us, expresses who we are and carries our stories into the world. On World Voice Day, we also highlight the importance of vocal health and taking care of our voices. For those of us living with voice disorders, this day is an opportunity to raise awareness and increase understanding. That connection to our voice can feel different - but every voice still matters, and every voice deserves to be heard. So, instead of doing a podcast and to celebrate World Voice Day, I’ve written a few poems to share the struggles of living with a voice disorder, whilst also holding onto something just as important - hope. I recorded one of these poems to music, I hope you like it 🙏

    3 min

  3. APR 8

    My Voice, My Way: When Your Voice Doesn't Behave: Understanding Voice Disorders

    Send us Fan Mail Have you ever tried to speak… and your voice just doesn’t do what you want it to do? Not because you’re nervous. Not because you don’t know what to say. But because something physically won’t let the sound come out the way it should. For a lot of people, voice disorders are invisible. People hear the voice—but they don’t understand what’s behind it. They might think you’re anxious. Or tired. Or unsure. But the reality is… it’s something much deeper. And that’s exactly why I’m making this episode today. First of all, I just want to say I’m really sorry for the big gap since my last episode. I know it’s been a while, and I actually had to postpone two episodes last week as my most recent treatment hasn’t quite kicked in yet—and you can probably hear in my voice today that I’m still struggling. But in a way, that makes today’s episode even more important. If you’re new here, this podcast is all about living with a voice disorder—raising awareness, sharing real experiences, and helping people understand what these conditions are actually like, beyond the medical terms. So I wanted to start Season 2 by going right back to basics. Today, I’m going to walk you through some of the most common voice disorders in a way that’s easy to understand—whether you’re someone living with one, supporting someone who is, or you’ve just come across this podcast and want to learn more. Before we begin, just a quick disclaimer: I’m not a medical professional. This episode is based on my personal experience, along with information from trusted organisations and hospitals. And I’d like to give credit to organisations like Dysphonia International, Dystonia UK; University College London Hospitals, British Voice Association; Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists (RCSLT);  SLT UK and Oxford University Hospitals for the work they do in supporting people with voice disorders and providing reliable information.

    27 min

  4. FEB 18

    My Voice, My Way with Aileen Markey

    Send us Fan Mail Today I’m joined by Aileen Markey. Aileen is originally from Ireland, has lived in different countries around the world, and now lives back home in Ireland. She was diagnosed in 2020 with spasmodic dysphonia and benign essential tremor - but her voice changes actually began in the early 2000s. She noticed subtle hoarseness and a slight shake. And When she sought help, she was told everything was fine and it was likely acid reflux. So she carried on. After referrals and assessments during COVID, she finally received her diagnosis. Aileen works as a HR professional in a global company — so her voice is central to her career. In this episode, we talk about navigating diagnosis during COVID, managing a condition that sits in that “borderline” space, dealing with other health challenges, and learning how to respond to those everyday comments like, “Are you sick?” This is a conversation about advocacy, resilience, and the emotional work of coming to terms with a voice that doesn’t always behave the way you want it to.

    45 min

  5. JAN 28

    My Voice, My Way with Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey

    Send us Fan Mail Today I’m joined by Clarissa Castillo-Ramsey, who lives with Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia and was diagnosed in mid-2023. Clarissa is an organisational psychologist by education, a transformational life coach, an abstract artist, and the host of her own podcast, Painting Your Path, now heading into its fifth season. Creativity and self-care have played a huge role in how she’s navigated life with a voice disorder, and despite the challenges, she continues to use her voice professionally and purposefully. Clarissa is passionate about creating life on her own terms, and I’m really looking forward to sharing her story with you today.

    22 min

  6. 12/16/2025

    My Voice, My Way with Jaylan Salah

    Send us Fan Mail Jaylan Salah is a poet, a self-described wild woman, and an incredible film critic for InSession Film and Geek Vibes Nation. She also hosts her own podcast, which you can find on YouTube called The JayDays — and if you caught the interview she did with me recently, you’ll know she has the biggest heart. We’re both big Austin Butler fans, which is honestly where all of this started… but today, we’re going a little deeper. We’re talking about film, performance, creativity — and how our voices shape the way we communicate, connect, and express ourselves. Jaylan kindly helped me raise awareness for voice disorders in the UK on her platform, and I’m grateful to have her here continuing that conversation on mine. So settle in — this one is warm, insightful, and full of love for stories, cinema, and the power of voice. Jaylan's YouTube channel is called The JayDays

    27 min

  7. 11/05/2025

    My Voice, My Way with Tor Spence Specialist Speech and Language Therapist

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I’m joined by Specialist Speech and Language Therapist Tor Spence, Clinical Director at VoiceFit, to explore two often-overlooked areas: children’s voice disorders and occupational voice users. We discuss why young voices matter, how vocal challenges can affect learning, confidence, and social life, and what parents and teachers can do to help. Tor also sheds light on the hidden risks faced by professionals who rely on their voices daily, the importance of prevention and therapy, and why greater awareness and support are vital across both groups. Links: British Voice Association:  ⁠https://britishvoiceassociation.org.uk⁠Vocal Health Education: ⁠https://vocalhealth.co.uk⁠ VoiceFit: Web:   ⁠www.voicefit.co.uk⁠ Email: ⁠torspence@voicefit.co.uk⁠ Appointment bookings: ⁠https://voicefit.selectandbook.com⁠

    55 min

  8. 09/18/2025

    My Voice, My Way with Professor Sadie Khwaja ENT Consultant

    Send us Fan Mail Today’s episode is especially close to home. I’m joined by someone who plays a pivotal role in my own voice journey—my ENT surgeon, Professor Sadie Khwaja. Ms Khwaja is a Consultant ENT Surgeon and Laryngologist based in Manchester. She specialises in voice disorders, with particular expertise in diagnosing and treating conditions such as Spasmodic Dysphonia and Muscle Tension Dysphonia. Her work combines surgical care, Botox treatment, and close collaboration with voice therapists. She is passionate about helping patients reclaim not just their voice, but also their quality of life. For over eight years, Ms Khwaja has been part of the Manchester Voice Team, treating the full spectrum of benign and pre-malignant laryngeal conditions—from diagnosis through to therapy, Botox clinics, office-based procedures, and advanced laryngeal surgery. She also runs dedicated dysphagia clinics and is an active member of the complex adult airway multidisciplinary team. In this episode, we sit down as patient and surgeon for an honest conversation about the complexity, treatment, and emotional impact of voice disorders—particularly the ones I live with, Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Adductor Spasmodic Dysphonia and If you or someone you know is navigating a voice disorder, this episode is for you.

    53 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to “My Voice, My Way” – the podcast that gives a voice to those living with voice disorders. I’m your host, Margaret Stoddart. I live with a complex voice condition – a combination of Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia – and I’m also proud to serve as an Area Contact Leader for Dysphonia International, supporting others across the UK who are living with these often misunderstood conditions. I created this podcast to raise awareness and start honest conversations about what it really means to live with a voice disorder. Each episode, I speak with people who understand voice disorders from the inside – fellow sufferers, voice users, and expert clinicians, including ENT specialists, speech and language therapists, and clinical psychologists. Together, we explore the challenges, the treatments, the emotional impact – and the resilience it takes to reclaim our voices. Whether you’re living with a voice disorder yourself, supporting someone who is, or working in voice care – you’re in the right place. This is a space for shared stories, practical insights, and above all – connection. This is My Voice, My Way. Let’s get started. Contact email: mstoddart7@outlook.com

Information

  • Creator
    Margaret Stoddart
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    24
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 My Voice, My Way
  • Show Website
    My Voice, My Way