Speaking Of... Conversations on Voice, Speech, and Identity with Ryan O'Shea

How do I release my voice when I’m under stress?—with Vivi Devereaux

On this episode of Speaking Of… I’m joined by my friend, actor Vivi Devereaux. Vivi’s question was, “How do I release my voice when I’m under stress?”Vivi is regularly performing and auditioning, and his question is related to the stressful “fight-or-flight” response that often accompanies performance. Throat tightening is a very common side-effect of nerves or fear, that affects performers and non-performers. We talk about WHY this happens and I offer an array of tools you can use both in the moment that the tightening is occurring, as well as some exercises to add to a vocal practice.You can find complete show notes and links to everything we’ve mentioned in the episode on https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/podcast.

Mailbag—Listener Questions!

On this episode of Speaking Of… I’m answering listener questions. My boyfriend, Cam, co-hosted with me, serving as the reader of questions (not to mention he was letting me know whether or not I was making sense).Some of the Interview Highlights: The most common “cringe-worthy” ticks that detract from a message.The four pillars of accent work, and how to find specificity in any accent.Tools for finding more ease in performing Shakespeare, so that you never need “Shakespeare voice.”How breathing affects actors’ ability to be affected.You can find complete show notes and links to everything we’ve mentioned in the episode on https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/podcast.

What is a "woman's voice"? with Lisa Ermel

On this episode of Speaking Of… I’m joined by my wonderful friend, actress and writer, Lisa Ermel.Lisa’s initial question was “What is a woman’s voice?” We quickly discovered that another way of asking her question is “When am I managing how I sound because I’m trying to manage how I’m perceived?”This was a really important conversation that has relevance to anyone who has ever found themselves adjusting the sound of their voice in order to fit some ideal of how they *think* they should be. We talk about some of the reasons why womxn, in particular, might change the sound of their voices, and how this is likely limiting their power.You can find complete show notes and links to everything we’ve mentioned in the episode on https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/podcast.

How can I express myself without using vocal fry? What sort of warm-up should I be doing before going on set? with Eddie Ramos

On this episode of Speaking Of… I’m joined by actor and founder and creator of The Modern Actor, Eddie Ramos.Eddie had two questions: “How can I express myself without using vocal fry? What sort of warm-up should I be doing before going on set?”Eddie and I talked about how on-camera actors, in particular, often rely on vocal fry in their speaking. We talk about what vocal fry is, why it’s so common, and why it might actually be a useful choice for an actor. Then I share thoughts on how to find a fuller, more expressive voice as well as what type of exercises actors might do in order to perform in any context.You can find complete show notes and links to everything we’ve mentioned in the episode on https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/podcast.

Why do I sometimes drop off of my words in performance? And how do I project my voice in a theatre without straining my voice? with Cara Myers

Today on Speaking Of… I’m joined by actress, writer, director, and producer, Cara Myers. Cara asks about some specific challenges she’s experienced in performance. We start by talking about why she sometimes has a tendency to drop off of her words in performance and how to overcome this difficulty. Then Cara mentions an upcoming project where she’ll be performing on stage, and her concern about her ability to project her voice in a larger venue. Like many Los Angeles-based actors, most of Cara’s acting experience has been on camera, so finding ease in projecting her voice is a relatively new requirement for her. We talk about the major differences for speaking on camera vs. on stage, and I offer some tools for finding ease in projection regardless of the medium.You can find complete show notes and links to everything we’ve mentioned in the episode on https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/podcast.