Speaking of Talking

Jenni Steck, MFA, MS, CCC-SLP

Speaking of Talking is your go-to podcast for all things voice. We unpack what makes a voice compelling—on stage, on air, and in everyday life. From vocal health and identity to performance under pressure, we explore the voice’s role in how we connect and communicate. With humor and curiosity, we chat with experts like vocal coaches, announcers, and voice actors to bring you fresh insights. Tune in and discover why voices are cool—and how yours can be even cooler.

  1. Oct 16

    LESLEY CHILDS, MD. Your Voice Changes With Age: Hormones, Atrophy, Tremor, and What Can Help

    🎧 Speaking of Talking: Your Voice Changes With Age: Hormones, Atrophy, Tremor, and What Can Help Guest: Dr. Lesley Childs, Laryngologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center Episode Summary Dr. Lesley Childs returns to Speaking of Talking to answer a question almost everyone eventually has: why does my voice sound different as I get older? Jenni and Dr. Childs break down the very different changes that can happen in women and men as the voice ages. For women, hormonal changes around midlife can gradually lower speaking pitch and change the overall quality of the voice. They also discuss testosterone supplementation, particularly testosterone pellets, and the pitch changes and vocal instability Dr. Childs has seen in some patients. For men, aging often looks different. The vocal folds can become thinner and lose muscle bulk, a condition known as vocal fold atrophy. That can leave the voice weaker, breathier, higher in pitch, and harder to project, especially in noisy environments. The conversation also covers changes in breathing, tissue dryness, voice tremor, and why a shaky voice does not automatically mean Parkinson’s disease. Most importantly, these changes are not always something you simply have to live with. Dr. Childs explains when voice therapy can help and walks through other treatment options, including temporary vocal fold fillers, longer lasting implants, and Botox for certain types of voice tremor. In This Episode • Why women may notice their speaking pitch drop around midlife • How hormonal changes can affect the sound of the voice • What Dr. Childs has observed in some patients using testosterone pellets • Why researchers still need more data on testosterone and voice changes • How aging affects the male voice differently • What vocal fold atrophy is and why it can make the voice weak or breathy • Why projection becomes harder as the vocal folds lose bulk • How changes in breathing and tissue dryness affect voice production • Why voice therapy is usually the first step in treatment • How temporary vocal fold fillers work • When permanent vocal fold implants may be considered • What voice tremor sounds like and why it can develop gradually • Why voice tremor does not necessarily mean Parkinson’s disease • How Botox can help some patients with tremor • When a changing voice should be evaluated by a laryngologist or voice center Guest Bio Dr. Lesley Childs is a laryngologist and otolaryngologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center who specializes in disorders of the voice and larynx. After training in ear, nose, and throat medicine, she completed additional fellowship training focused specifically on voice and laryngeal conditions. Her work includes caring for professional voice users and patients experiencing vocal fold atrophy, tremor, muscle tension dysphonia, and other voice disorders. Quote of the Episode “The voice is inextricably linked to self identity.” Dr. Lesley Childs Mentions and Resources UT Southwestern Clinical Center for Voice Care:https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/voice-care/ Dr. Lesley Childs at UT Southwestern:https://utswmed.org/doctors/lesley-childs/ Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services:https://jennisteck.com/

  2. Sep 18

    STEFAN NOVINSKI. Be a 10: What Actors Know About Executive Presence

    Show Notes 🎧 Speaking of Talking: Be a 10: What Actors Know About Executive Presence Guest: Stefan Novinski, Theater Director, Professor of Drama, and Director of Training for the Center for Rhetoric and Public Speaking at the University of Dallas Episode Summary In this episode, Jenni sits down with theater director, professor, and executive coach Stefan Novinski to talk about status: the quiet signals that determine how much authority, confidence, and presence we carry into a room. Stefan introduces the two-to-ten status scale he uses with actors, executives, educators, and students. A 2 might shrink into the background. A 10 walks into the room knowing they belong there. But raising your status does not mean becoming louder, more aggressive, or less authentic. As Stefan puts it, the goal is to invite out the leader who is already there. The conversation moves through the physical habits that quietly lower credibility, from tapping pens and bouncing knees to tight shoulders, rushed speech, and nervous movement. Stefan explains why the same behaviors that help someone climb the corporate ladder can eventually hold them back as a leader, and why intention, breath, stillness, eye contact, and pace can completely change the way a message lands. He also shares practical tools for owning a room, including the cleansing breath, “tops and tails,” equal status with peers, and a simple assignment you can try in your next meeting. In This Episode Where Stefan’s idea of status comes from and how the two-to-ten scale works Why the same person can be a 10 in one room and a 2 in another Why raising your status does not mean being fake How stillness, breath, posture, and voice affect executive presence The unconscious nervous habits that can quietly undermine credibility Why the behavior that gets you promoted may not be the behavior that makes you a leader Why intention matters more than simply trying to “inform” How to find the “gift” in your presentation and take the focus off yourself Why speaking to peers can feel harder than speaking to a CEO How equal status can reduce competition and tension in a room The cleansing breath and why slowing down your opening can help you own the room “Tops and tails”: why your first three and last three sentences deserve extra practice Stefan’s assignment for your next meeting: rehearse three sentences, breathe, and make eye contact Guest Bio Stefan Novinski is a theater director and Professor of Drama at the University of Dallas, where he serves as Director of Training for the Center for Rhetoric and Public Speaking. He trained as a professional director at the University of California, San Diego, and built a directing career in Los Angeles before moving to Texas in 2009. Today, Stefan applies the same tools he uses with actors to executives, educators, students, and leaders who want to communicate with greater confidence and authenticity. He also coaches executive presentation and public speaking with Jenni Steck Voice and Speech Services. Quote of the Episode “Status does not mean being fake. It means you as a leader. Not a generic leader, but who you are. People can smell inauthenticity a mile away. But your authentic leader is in there. We just invite it out.” Stefan Novinski Mentions and Resources Impro: Improvisation and the Theatre by Keith Johnstone Amy Cuddy, “Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are”:https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_may_shape_who_you_are Stefan Novinski at the University of Dallas:https://udallas.edu/academics/programs/drama/faculty/novinski-stefan.php University of Dallas:https://udallas.edu Barry Nash and Company:https://barrynashandcompany.com/ Jenni Steck Voice and Speech Services:https://jennisteck.com/

  3. Aug 20

    KIKKY GEORGE. Breathe Deeply, Lead Better: Breathwork, the Nervous System, and the Voice Under Pressure

    Show Notes 🎧 Speaking of Talking: Breathe Deeply, Lead Better: Breathwork, the Nervous System, and the Voice Under Pressure Guest: Kikky George, High Performance Strategist and Co-Owner of Breathe Meditation and Wellness Episode Summary In this episode, Jenni sits down with Kikky George, a former corporate technology executive who spent fifteen years chasing high performance before burnout forced her to rethink what sustainable success actually looks like. Today, Kikky is a High Performance Strategist and co-owner of Breathe Meditation and Wellness in Dallas. She works with founders, CEOs, and high-stakes leaders on nervous system regulation, burnout prevention, and the internal capacity required to perform under pressure without constantly running on empty. Kikky explains the difference between functional breathing techniques and conscious connected breathwork, why building the ability to tolerate stress is different from simply calming down, and how nervous system dysregulation can show up in the body and the voice. Jenni and Kikky also explore body-led decision-making, the relationship between shallow breathing and vocal tension, and Kikky's REST method through a live exercise listeners can follow along with. In This Episode Why high performers burn out even when everything looks successful from the outside What Kikky's own burnout looked like after fifteen years in corporate technology Functional breathing vs. conscious connected breathwork Why stress tolerance and nervous system capacity matter for sustained performance How shallow breathing and nervous system dysregulation can affect the voice What body-led decision-making means and how to practice it How conscious connected breathwork compares with the Wim Hof Method Kikky's REST method and a live exercise you can try during the episode How regulation can affect clarity, leadership, relationships, and decision-making Why internal capacity has to grow alongside external ambition Guest Bio Kikky George spent fifteen years as a senior executive in corporate technology before moving into the wellness and performance space. She is now a High Performance Strategist and co-owner of Breathe Meditation and Wellness. Her work sits at the intersection of nervous system regulation, burnout prevention, and executive performance. She works with founders, CEOs, and high-stakes leaders who want to build the internal infrastructure to sustain their ambition with greater clarity and resilience. Kikky holds an MBA and is a 600-hour GBPA Certified Breathwork Facilitator, 500-hour RYT yoga teacher, Karuna and Holy Fire Reiki Master, and is certified in meditation and sound. Quote of the Episode “Most high-performers run on a dysregulated nervous system and call it drive.” Kikky George Mentions and Resources Kikky George: https://kikkygeorge.com/ Free Nervous System Audit: https://kikkygeorge.com/nervous-system-audit.html The Reserve Collective: https://kikkygeorge.com/the-reserve-collective/ Breathe Meditation and Wellness: https://breathemeditationandwellness.com Breathwork and leadership performance: https://www.smeweb.com/how-breathwork-elevates-performance-leadership-and-culture-in-business/ Corporate breathwork research: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12372116/ Reiki and clinician burnout research: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2014.0403 Large-scale Reiki effectiveness trial: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1089/acm.2019.0022

  4. Jul 16

    ERIN ASHCROFT: Taking Up Space: Imposter Syndrome and the Confidence You Can Practice

    Show Notes 🎧 Speaking of Talking: Taking Up Space: Imposter Syndrome and the Confidence You Can Practice Guest: Erin Ashcroft, Voice and Presentation Coach, Jenni Steck Voice and Speech Services In this episode, Jenni sits down with Erin Ashcroft, a voice and presentation coach on her team, to talk about imposter syndrome: the self-doubt that convinces capable, high-achieving people they don't belong in the rooms they earned their way into. Erin explains how that doubt reveals itself and how it shows up in the body: the held breath, the sucked-in stomach, the crossed arms, the small voice. The conversation moves through the tools Erin uses to help clients retrain both brain and body, from daily breathwork to mantras to Amy Cuddy's power poses. They also take on perfectionism, over-preparation, and why memorizing a presentation usually backfires. Erin and Jenni met as theater students at SMU, and that shared performance background runs through the whole conversation. So does something Erin saves for the end: she has battled imposter syndrome her entire life. She knows exactly what her clients are feeling, and she knows the way through. How to tell general public speaking anxiety apart from self-doubt Why self-judgment during a presentation makes it impossible to be present Breathwork: what diaphragmatic breathing is and how it calms the nervous system while building a richer voice The mantra technique: retraining your brain to believe the good things it tells you, not just the bad Power poses, the two-minute practice from Amy Cuddy's book Presence, and how to pair them with a mantra Why so many people, especially women, have been conditioned to make themselves small, and what that costs the voice Why memorizing a presentation usually backfires, and what to anchor instead: strong intros, transitions, and conclusions Turning your intention outward: the mindset shift that quiets the self-judgment running in the back of your head The walk-up song: pre-presentation routines that get your mind and body ready, from power poses to belting show tunes in the car Why an outside coach can say things a boss or HR department can't Erin's own story: a lifetime of imposter syndrome, and why she wishes someone had pointed it out sooner Erin Ashcroft is a voice and presentation coach at Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services. A graduate of SMU's theater program, she spent her career performing in regional theaters across Dallas, Minnesota, Austin, and Los Angeles, along with film, television, commercial, and voiceover work in Miami. She has also served on nonprofit boards and moderated large panel and stakeholder discussions. Now based in Austin, Erin brings her performance background to coaching executives, leaders, and professionals who want to communicate with more confidence and less fear. She has a particular passion for helping clients work through imposter syndrome, a battle she knows firsthand. “If you're judging yourself while you're presenting, you can't even be present.” Erin Ashcroft Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges by Amy Cuddy. Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk Learned Excellence by Dr. Eric Potterat  The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk (referenced in conversation) Barry Nash episode of Speaking of Talking, on what audiences actually respond to (referenced in conversation) Work with Erin and the coaching team: jennisteck.com Episode SummaryIn This EpisodeGuest BioQuote of the EpisodeMentions and Resources

  5. Jun 18

    JEFF WAUGH, MD. When Your Voice Stops Working and No One Knows Why – Functional Neurological Disorder, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and the Search for Answers

    🎧 Speaking of Talking When Your Voice Stops Working and No One Knows Why – Functional Neurological Disorder, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and the Search for Answers Guest: Dr. Jeff Waugh, Neurologist, UT Southwestern Medical Center Episode Summary In this episode, Jenni sits down with Dr. Jeff Waugh to talk about Functional Neurological Disorder and what it has to do with the voice. FND is a condition where the brain’s networks lose their ability to communicate efficiently, producing real and sometimes severe symptoms that have no structural cause. Dr. Waugh explains how FND can manifest as a voice disorder, where it overlaps with Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and why the two are related but not the same. He also talks about something that comes up in his clinic constantly: the loss of automaticity. When we start paying too much attention to something the body normally does without thinking, we can make it worse. The conversation moves into diagnosis, treatment, and what recovery looks like when FND is part of the picture. It ends where it probably should: with hope.  In This Episode What Functional Neurological Disorder actually is, in plain language. How FND can show up as a voice disorder, and what that looks like clinically. The overlap between FND and Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and how to tell them apart. Why the loss of automaticity is central to how FND works. Why attention to a symptom can make it worse, and what to do instead. Why so many patients go years without a correct diagnosis. Why some physicians recognize FND and don’t say so, and what Dr. Waugh’s research found when he looked at why. What a multidisciplinary FND clinic looks like and who needs to be in the room. What recovery looks like, and whether it lasts. Where FND research is headed, including the possibility of direct brain intervention for the most severe cases. Guest Bio Dr. Jeff Waugh is a neurologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he directs the Pediatric Movement Disorders Program and co-directs the Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. He trained in movement disorders and completed fellowships at Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard University. He is a founding member of the Functional Neurological Disorder Society and has published research on FND diagnosis, disclosure, and treatment across pediatric and adult populations. Quote of the Episode “The brain already knows how to do the thing. It has just, in a lot of ways, kind of forgotten.” Dr. Jeff Waugh Mentions and Resources FND Hope: fndhope.org Functional Neurological Disorder Society: fndsociety.org Dr. Jeff Waugh at UT Southwestern: utswmed.org/doctors/jeffrey-waugh/ Dr. Lesley Childs’ episode on Muscle Tension Dysphonia: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3M8Bn65WHPOOSjGxk2QK9d?si=gJUedCEcQjmYiQHQ-QZWmQ Why neurologists don’t always communicate an FND diagnosis: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8920954/ Stigma in FND, including physician attitudes toward patients: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567196/ The benefits of physical therapy for functional motor disorders: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-014-7631-1

  6. May 21

    JESSICA D TURNER. Your Accent Is Not the Problem - A Conversation About English Pronunciation Training

    🎧 Speaking of Talking: Your Accent Is Not the Problem: A Conversation About English Pronunciation Training Guest: Jessica D. Turner, Speech Coach and Accent Specialist, Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services Episode Summary In this episode, Jenni sits down with her colleague, Jessica D. Turner, to talk about English pronunciation training - often called "accent reduction." They start with an uncomfortable question: who decided one accent is the standard? From there, they cover the mechanics of American English sounds, the role of rhythm and stress, and why a word can be pronounced correctly and still not land the way the speaker intended. The conversation also moves into territory that does not often make it into clinical discussions: the identity piece, the frustration, the clients who arrive because their boss sent them, and the ones who get emotional in the middle of a session and are not sure why. Jessica has been doing this work for more than twenty years. She came to it the same way her clients did, by having to change something about her own voice and discovering what was possible when she did. In This Episode Why the term “accent reduction” is both useful and misleading, and what Jessica actually calls the goal of this work. The difference between sounds, rhythm, stress, and inflection, and why each one matters for being understood. Why the music of a language can cause communication breakdowns even when every word is pronounced correctly. What clients who switch between languages throughout the workday are managing, and how Jessica helps them make the transition. Why 20 minutes of daily practice beats two hours on the weekend, and how muscle memory works in pronunciation change. Guest Bio Jessica D. Turner is a speech coach, accent specialist, actor, and voice-over artist with more than twenty years of experience helping adults communicate with clarity and confidence. She holds a BFA from Southern Methodist University and was trained in the International Phonetic Alphabet and voice placement through both her undergraduate and graduate programs. She works with international professionals, executives, attorneys, physicians, and public speakers. Jessica coaches at Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services in Dallas, Texas. Quote of the Episode “I am not trying to change who you are. I have no interest in that, because who you are is fantastic. What I am trying to help with is your communication so that you can be more free within it.” Jessica D. Turner Mentions and Resources Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services: https://jennisteck.com Accent Reduction Program (Silver, Gold, and Platinum packages): https://jennisteck.com/programs/accent-reduction-workshop/ NPR story on how the brain decodes spoken language through volume and stress patterns: "Brain Uses Loudness Of Vowels To Process Speech Into Syllables" 🔗 ⁠https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/20/780988618/the-loudness-of-vowels-helps-the-brain-break-down-speech-into-syl-la-bles⁠

  7. Apr 16

    LESLEY CHILDS, MD. That's Not My Voice: Muscle Tension, Identity, and Finding Your Way Back

    Guest: Dr. Lesley Childs, Laryngologist, Associate Professor, and Medical Director of the Clinical Center for Voice Care, UT Southwestern Medical Center 🎧 Episode Summary: In this episode, Jenni sits down with Dr. Lesley Childs to talk about Muscle Tension Dysphonia, a voice disorder that doesn’t show up on a scan or announce itself with something visible. It lives in the body’s muscle memory, in patterns the voice box learns and holds onto long after whatever caused them is gone. Dr. Childs explains what’s actually happening at the level of the larynx, what triggers it, how it gets diagnosed, and what treatment involves. She also talks about the grief that can come with losing a voice tied to your work and your identity, and why her team takes a whole-person approach to care. This is a clinical conversation, but it is also a personal one. Dr. Childs has been a singer her whole life. She knows what it means when the voice stops cooperating. In This Episode: What a laryngologist actually does, and why so few people know they exist Primary vs. secondary Muscle Tension Dysphonia: what the difference is and why it matters for treatment What MTD sounds and feels like from the patient’s perspective: the tightness, the fatigue, the strain The triggers that can set it in motion, including stress, illness, and the “perfect storm” of both at once Why muscle memory is so powerful, and how maladaptive patterns can stick long after the original cause is gone What the diagnosis appointment looks like, including what patients see when they view their own vocal folds on camera for the first time Why voice therapy is the main treatment for MTD, and what it actually involves day to day The published research behind Stretch-and-Flow and Resonant Voice Therapy, and what it tells us about how to treat MTD Why getting better requires daily practice and a willingness to do exercises that feel genuinely strange When Botox becomes part of the picture, and why Dr. Childs calls it a laryngeal control-alt-delete The grief and identity loss that comes with voice disorders, and why the team includes psychologists and physical therapists New research at UT Southwestern exploring whether MTD may have a sensory component, not just a muscular one The two-week rule: how long to wait before getting persistent hoarseness checked out Dr. Childs’ own story: losing her voice on the way to a choir competition, and the ENT visit that changed the direction of her career Guest Bio: Dr. Lesley Childs is a laryngologist, Associate Professor, and Medical Director of the Clinical Center for Voice Care at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Her team includes specialized voice therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists who treat the full range of voice disorders. A classically trained soprano who recorded for Walt Disney Records and completed her fellowship at the New York Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders, Dr. Childs brings a practitioner’s and a performer’s perspective to the science of voice. She has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed studies on Muscle Tension Dysphonia treatment and is involved in ongoing research at UT Southwestern. Quote of the Episode: “The voice is the most personal of all art forms. It is inextricably linked to self-identity. That is how we present ourselves to the world, how we connect with others, how we empathize. And the level of grief associated with any difficulty with voice cannot be underestimated.” Mentions and Resources: Dr. Lesley Childs UT Southwestern Clinical Center for Voice Care: https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/voice-care/ Dr. Lesley Childs at UT Southwestern: https://utswmed.org/doctors/lesley-childs/ World Voice Day: April 16 each year. https://www.entnet.org/world-voice-day/ Jeff Pegues episode on Spasmodic Dysphonia (referenced in conversation) Two-week rule: persistent hoarseness for two weeks or more is a reason to see a specialist

  8. Mar 19

    DANA COBB. Show Up to Contribute, Not to Be Perfect

    🎧 Speaking of Talking: Show Up to Contribute, Not to Be Perfect Guest: Dana Cobb — Founder, Vokol Group PR Agency Run Time: ~1 hour Episode Summary: In this episode, Jenni sits down with her longtime friend and PR powerhouse Dana Cobb to explore one of the most pervasive obstacles in professional communication: imposter syndrome. With decades of experience prepping spokespeople, celebrities, and executives for the spotlight, Dana brings a frank, practical perspective to a topic that's become impossible to ignore. The conversation covers everything from media training and crisis communications to deep fakes, Gen X resilience, and why "don't lie" might just be the most powerful PR strategy of all. They dive into: What imposter syndrome really is—and why it's not just about feeling unqualified, but feeling undeserved How micromanagement breeds imposter syndrome from the top down Why celebrities and CEOs often struggle more than you'd expect The media training mistake people make: rehearsing failure instead of success How to frame any high-stakes interaction around contribution, not perfection Language habits that quietly shrink your authority—and how to replace them Preparing for Q&A when you can't control the questions Crisis communications 101: the golden rule is don't lie Navigating imposter syndrome as "the only one" in the room—and why mentorship matters Why AI and deep fakes are the new frontier of crisis management What makes a great PR person (hint: it's not what you learned in school) 🎙️ Guest Bio: Dana Cobb is the founder of the Vokol Group, a Dallas-based PR agency focused on arts, entertainment, and lifestyle communications. With a background in New York theater marketing and performing arts PR, Dana has spent her career at the intersection of storytelling and strategy—preparing clients for media opportunities, managing event communications, and coaching spokespeople to show up with confidence and clarity. She got her start in crisis communications in one of the first-ever grad-level crisis comms courses at SMU, and has been navigating high-stakes messaging ever since. ✨ Quote of the Episode: "People rehearse messing up. They don't rehearse doing well. If somebody feels they have done it, then they feel like they belong in that position—and the imposter syndrome fades away." — Dana Cobb Mentions: Vokol Group: https://www.vokolgroup.com Fan Expo (referenced): https://fanexpohq.com The Tylenol Crisis (referenced): FDA overview Go Ask A Manager, by Alison Green. https://a.co/d/0gStMYki Indispensable, by Joe Calloway. https://a.co/d/03LUkcev Dana’s Fan Expo interview with Mr. T.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obBS7TrYy2o

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About

Speaking of Talking is your go-to podcast for all things voice. We unpack what makes a voice compelling—on stage, on air, and in everyday life. From vocal health and identity to performance under pressure, we explore the voice’s role in how we connect and communicate. With humor and curiosity, we chat with experts like vocal coaches, announcers, and voice actors to bring you fresh insights. Tune in and discover why voices are cool—and how yours can be even cooler.

Information

  • Creator
    Jenni Steck, MFA, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    14
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Jenni Steck, MFA, MS, CCC-SLP
  • Show Website
    Speaking of Talking