In this episode of Beautiful Work Beautiful Life, host Laurel Holland sits down with voice teacher, author, and songwriter Barbara McAfee for a powerful, experiential exploration of voice as a pathway to confidence, embodiment, and inner power. Together, they unpack how our voices are shaped by culture, conditioning, and lived experience—and how reclaiming the full voice can unlock clarity, presence, and self-expression. Barbara introduces her Five Element Voices framework (earth, fire, water, metal, air), offering listeners a fresh lens for understanding communication, leadership, and authenticity. This conversation is both deeply compassionate and playfully practical—an invitation to stop fixing your voice and start befriending it. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why voice is not just communication—but manifestation How conditioning and trauma shape which parts of our voice are “available” The Five Element Voices and what each reveals about power and presence Why confidence grows through practice, not perfection How play, sound, and experimentation restore wholeness What it means to trust the intelligence of your voice Journaling prompts are suggested to further your exploration. What is my story about my voice? Which element of voice feels most familiar to me right now? Which voice feels least accessible—or most uncomfortable? Where might I be confusing “authenticity” with habit or conditioning? What part of my voice might be waiting for permission to return? Links/Books mentioned - Barbara’s website - www.barbaramcafee.com , Barbara’s email - barbara@barbaramcafee.com Barbara’s TED talk - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze763kgrWGg Barbara’s original song “Yes” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1HIPsvFgTI&list=RDI1HIPsvFgTI&start_radio=1 The email to send questions to Laurel Boivin is laurel@fluxflowcoaching.com and for Laurel Holland - laurel@liveyourinnerpower.com Host/Cohost/Guest Info Guiding others to become effective leaders of their own lives, Laurel Holland has been on a journey of awakening and transformation throughout her life. Writing about inner work, Laurel has authored four books, including Crossroads and Love’s 8 Laws. Her books, Live Your Inner Power, the Journal, and Courageous Woman, introduce, share, and explore the eight foundational practices for creating transformation from the inside out. Through her books, programs, and innovative talks, Laurel’s great desire is to lift others up and courageously step into the life they came here to live. You can learn more about Laurel, her books, and work she does at www.liveyourinnerpower.com. Laurel Boivin is a leadership coach, speaker, and workshop facilitator. Founder of Flux+Flow Professional Coaching, Laurel works with high-performing professionals and mission-driven organizations to shift from achievement to alignment — helping them connect deeply to purpose, lead with confidence, and create environments where people thrive. A Reiki master and yoga practitioner, collector of sea glass and antiques, she lives in New Hampshire and summers in Maine. You can learn more about Laurel and the work she does at www.fluxflowcoaching.com. Barbara McAfee is a master voice coach, author, keynote speaker, and singer/songwriter who merges lessons from 12 years in organization development with the transformative power of sound. Her bestselling book, Full Voice, is based on her 30+ years as a voice coach, supporting people from many professions to find their voice, whatever that means to them. Her new audiobook, Vocal Intelligence, came out in 2025. Since 2013 she has been training others to carry the sacred work of “midwifing voices” into full expression. Her approach shifts the way people think about and use their voices forever. Barbara has produced nine recordings of mostly original music and is founder of the Morning Star Singers, a volunteer comfort choir in the Twin Cities.
