My Voice, My Way

Send us Fan Mail

I’m delighted to welcome Kirsten Howells to the podcast. Kirsten is an experienced Speech and Language Therapist and the Deputy CEO of STAMMA, the UK’s national stammering charity. She is also a person who stammers herself, bringing both professional knowledge and personal experience to her work.

Kirsten first got in touch with me after hearing the RCSLT podcast episode featuring Jono and me. That conversation sparked an interesting question: could the experiences of people who stammer have something in common with those of us living with voice disorders?

It’s a question that deserves exploring, because communication is something many of us take for granted until it becomes difficult.

Today, Kirsten and I will be talking about her journey, the work of STAMMA, and the importance of creating a world where differences in speech and voice are better understood.

Link to contact Kirsten: [email protected]

Link to the survey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-howells-787ba7b

Send us Fan Mail

Today I’m delighted to welcome neurologist and acclaimed author Jonathan Cole. Jonathan has spent his career exploring the remarkable relationship between the brain, the body and our sense of self, combining medical knowledge with the lived experiences of his patients.

His book Hard Talk: When Speech Is Difficult particularly resonated with me. It’s not simply about medicine, but about listening, curiosity and understanding the person behind the condition. As someone who has experienced the often frustrating journey to a diagnosis myself, so much of what Jonathan writes struck a chord.

Send us Fan Mail

Today I’m delighted to welcome Chris Reeves. Chris is a solicitor and Partner and Head of Construction in Dorset, and he has been living with Abductor Spasmodic Dysphonia, or ABSD, for around 25 years.

Like many people with dysphonia, Chris has faced the challenges of communicating with a voice disorder while balancing a demanding professional career. But today’s conversation goes beyond how a voice sounds.

We’re going to explore something that is often overlooked: the hidden effort of speaking. The constant adaptations, the exhaustion that builds throughout the day, and the loneliness that can come from living with an invisible condition that few people truly understand.

Chris also shares his experiences with Botox treatment, a serious episode of stridor that resulted in hospital admission, and his current exploration of Deep Brain Stimulation as a possible future treatment.

Send us Fan Mail

One of the themes that comes up time and time again in conversations about voice is the gap between what we’re experiencing and what can be seen or explained clinically.

From my own experience, one of the biggest frustrations can be feeling like something isn’t quite right, but not always having clear answers as to why.

For a long time, voice has been looked at in quite an isolated way. But what’s becoming clearer is just how much the body plays a role - the tension we hold, the patterns we build, and the things we often don’t even realise we’re carrying.

And that’s exactly what today’s conversation is about.

I’m really pleased to be joined by Lydia Flock, whose work bridges that gap between voice and body through vocal manual therapy. With a background in musical theatre and specialist clinical training, she brings a unique perspective on what’s actually happening beneath the surface for so many voice users.

In this episode, we’ll be exploring the connection between voice and body, the role of tension, her research into laryngopharyngeal reflux, and what this all means for people who feel like something isn’t quite right - even when they’ve been told everything looks “normal.”

So if you’ve ever felt unheard, or like your voice isn’t doing what it should - this conversation is for you.

⁠https://www.oxfordvocalmassage.co.uk/about-us

https://doi.org/10.53830/UIMO9270

https://doi.org/10.1080/23268263.2022.2112644

Send us Fan Mail

Today’s episode is a deeply personal and powerful one.

I’m joined by Sara, a music teacher whose voice has been at the centre of her life and career for over two decades. But in recent years, she’s experienced something many of us fear - losing control of the very thing that defines so much of who we are.

Sara describes feeling silenced, strangled, and grieving a part of herself - and in this episode, she bravely shares her journey through pain, uncertainty, and the search for answers.

This is a conversation about more than just voice. It’s about identity, resilience, and what it means to keep going when something so fundamental is taken away.

Send us Fan Mail

Today’s guest is Jon Organ, known to most people as Jono. A husband of 37 years, father of four and grandfather of eleven, Jono’s life changed dramatically in 2022 when, after months of worsening symptoms and repeated investigations, he was finally diagnosed with Stage 4 laryngeal and thyroid cancer.

Following a 12-hour operation to remove his larynx, thyroid and lymph nodes, along with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, Jono faced the challenge of learning to breathe, swallow and speak again. Despite not speaking for a year after surgery, he has rebuilt his voice and now uses it to support others.

Jono founded the “Life After Lary” support group, which helps more than 2,000 patients worldwide, and is an ambassador for several cancer charities. He is also heavily involved in patient and public involvement work, helping to shape cancer research, treatment and healthcare services across the UK.

Today, Jono describes his voice as a beacon of hope, and he joins us to share his remarkable journey of resilience, advocacy and finding purpose after cancer.

www.lifeafterlary.co.uk

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

[email protected]

01865 751111 - wellbeingclinic.com

07894 948869 - oxfordmbct.net

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 🙏 

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.

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.