The Joyful Singer

By Erin StewartEducation Arts Self-Improvement Performing Arts How To

The Joyful Singer episodes

August 05Ep 19: The Performance Hangover: What to Do When the Show Ends
The Performance Hangover: What to Do When the Show Ends

What happens after the curtain falls?
You've spent weeks—or months—doing the thing you love. You've found your rhythm, built incredible friendships, grown as an artist, and finally started feeling comfortable on stage... and then suddenly it's over.
If you've ever felt sad, lost, unmotivated, or even panicked after a show closes, you're not alone. That post-show slump is real—and in this episode, we're giving it a name: The Performance Hangover.
In this episode, I'm sharing 9 practical ways to navigate the emotional transition after a performance, reconnect with your creativity, and continue growing as an artist—even when you don't know what comes next.

In this episode, we'll explore:
How to identify what you truly loved about your last creative experience
The importance of celebrating before rushing to the next goal
Nine practical ways to keep your creative momentum going
Why your artistic identity doesn't depend on being cast
How to create opportunities instead of waiting for permission
A simple exercise to help you take one meaningful next step this week
This episode is for you if...
You're coming off a show, concert, recital, or major performance.
You're feeling the post-show blues.
You're between auditions or contracts and wondering what's next.
You miss the sense of purpose, routine, and community that performing brings.
You're trying to stay inspired during a quieter season of your creative life.
Connect with Erin
Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin
Facebook: Erin Stewart - Voice Teacher and Mindset Coach for Singers
Website: erinstewart.net
Have a question you'd like Erin to answer on the podcast?
Send her a DM on Instagram or reach out through her website. She'd love to hear from you!

FREE STUFF
🎁 Joyful Singing STARTER KIT

📅 Joyful Singing WORKSHOP
20 min
July 29Ep 18: 5 Ways to Bring More Joy to Your Singing
Episode 18: 5 Ways to Bring More Joy to Your Singing
What if the thing standing between you and a freer, more confident voice isn't your technique... but what you've been feeding your mind?
If your singing has started to feel heavy, stressful, or full of "shoulds," this episode is for you.
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, Erin Stewart explores why joy isn't something you have to earn—it's something you can intentionally cultivate.
You'll discover five practical ways to bring more joy to your singing and create a practice that feels nourishing instead of draining.
Plus, Erin shares The Joy Flip, a simple mindset exercise to help you transform the thoughts that keep you stuck into beliefs that move you forward.

In this episode, you'll learn:
Why what you feed mentally and emotionally shapes your singing
How perfectionism steals joy
The "Joy Flip" exercise to reframe negative thoughts
Five practical ways to create a more joyful singing practice
Why celebrating small wins matters more than you think
How reconnecting with your original "why" can transform your relationship with singing
The importance of surrounding yourself with encouraging, supportive community
Mentioned in this episode
Free Joy Flip Workbook
The Joyful Singing Workshop (Also free!)
Follow Erin on Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin
FREE Joyful Singing Starter Kit
Let's keep in touch!
Website:
https://www.erinstewart.net
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/joyfulsingingwitherin/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/erinstewartvoicestudio

If this episode encouraged you…
Please consider following The Joyful Singer Podcast and leaving a review. It helps more singers discover these conversations and supports the show in a meaningful way.
And if someone came to mind while listening, share this episode with them. Your support is so appreciated!!!
17 min
July 22Ep 17: How to Start Singing Again After a Long Break
Have you been missing singing?
Maybe life got busy. Maybe grief, work, family, burnout, or self-doubt pulled you away. Or maybe you simply lost touch with the part of yourself that used to love making music.
If you've been longing to reconnect with your voice but don't know where to begin, this episode is for you.
After receiving countless messages from singers saying things like "I miss singing," "I want to find my voice again," and "I don't know how to start," Erin shares the gentle approach she wishes someone had shared with her after taking a long break from singing herself.
In this episode you'll discover five practical, encouraging ways to reconnect with your voice—without pressure, perfectionism, or unrealistic expectations.
Whether you've been away from singing for months, years, or even decades, you'll leave with simple next steps to help you rediscover the joy that's been waiting for you all along.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Why taking a break from singing doesn't mean you've lost your voice.
The importance of giving yourself permission to be a beginner again.
How to follow the "thread of delight" instead of the pressure to perform.
The difference between creating a singing ritual and simply following a routine.
Practical ways to quiet your inner critic while rebuilding confidence.
Why reconnecting with your personal "why" can transform your singing practice.
How SOVT warmups can help gently bring your voice back online.
Why joy—not perfection—is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen your voice.

Mentioned in This Episode
Episode 5: Vocal Warm-Ups That Actually Work (SOVT exercises)
Vocal Reconnect Mini Course (50% off July 22–28, 2026)
FREE joyful Singing Starter Kit

Loved This Episode?
If this conversation encouraged you, please follow The Joyful Singer Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend who misses singing too.
You can also connect with Erin on Instagram and Facebook @joyfulsingingwitherin, or visit erinstewart.net to learn more about voice coaching, workshops, and resources to help you reconnect with your voice.
It's never too late to come home to your singing voice!!
25 min
July 15Ep 16: Ready to Share Your Voice? How to Take the Next Step (Even If You're Scared)
Have you reached the point where singing just for yourself isn't enough anymore?
Maybe you've been rebuilding your voice. Maybe you've fallen back in love with singing after years away. And now there's a little voice inside saying...
"I think I'm ready for more."
But then the fear shows up.
What if I'm not good enough?
What if people judge me?
What if I fail?
What if it's too late?
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, Erin Stewart helps you move past perfectionism and uncertainty so you can begin sharing your voice in a way that feels authentic, joyful, and true to you.
Rather than waiting until you feel "ready," you'll learn how to identify your next loving step—one that stretches you just enough without overwhelming you.
Whether your dream is singing for one trusted friend, joining a choir, posting your first singing video, or eventually stepping onto a stage, this episode will help you find the courage to begin.
In this episode, you'll discover:
Why asking "Am I ready?" keeps so many singers stuck
A better question to ask instead
How to identify your next small, loving step
Why confidence comes after courage—not before
How to choose goals that empower rather than pressure you
A visualization exercise to connect with your future singer self
How to create your own personal "ladder" of singing experiences
Practical ways to work through fears like:
"I'm not good enough."
"What if people judge me?"
"I'm too old."
You'll leave this episode with greater clarity, a concrete next step, and the encouragement to stop waiting for confidence and start creating it.

Mentioned in this episode

Monday Night Singing
A welcoming online group for singers looking for encouragement, community, and a safe place to grow.
Learn more: https://www.erinstewart.net/group-classes

FREE Joyful Singing Workshop
The 3 Steps to Confident, Joyful Singing
Discover how to quiet your inner critic, build confidence, and create a singing practice you'll actually love.
https://www.erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop

Website:
https://www.erinstewart.net
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/joyfulsingingwitherin/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/erinstewartvoicestudio
Love the show?
I'd be so grateful if you would:
Follow The Joyful Singer Podcast
Leave a review
Share this episode with a fellow singer who might need a little extra courage today
21 min
July 08Ep 15: Is Singing Just for Yourself Enough?
Episode 15: Is Singing Just for Yourself Enough?
What if you love singing... but have absolutely no desire to perform?
Would it still be worth it?
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, we're exploring a question that so many singers wrestle with but rarely say out loud:
Is singing just for yourself enough?
Whether you've taken a break from singing, are curious about reconnecting with your voice, or simply have no interest in sharing your singing publicly right now, this episode invites you to explore your relationship with your voice from a different perspective.
Erin shares her own journey of returning to singing after stepping away from performing following the loss of her father, and how learning to sing for herself became one of the most freeing and transformative experiences of her life.
Together, you'll explore powerful questions designed to help you uncover your personal "why" and discover what role singing wants to play in your life right now.
You may want to grab a journal for this one.
In This Episode You'll Discover:
Why singing doesn't need an audience to be meaningful
How external validation can disconnect us from our true reasons for singing
The difference between singing as performance and singing as relationship
Why giving yourself permission to sing for yourself can feel surprisingly difficult
Powerful journaling questions to help you uncover your deeper "why"
How singing can be healing, creative, expressive, and deeply personal
Erin's story of returning to singing after a long break
Why singing for yourself isn't selfish—it may be one of the most important things you do
Questions to Reflect On
As you listen, consider:
What does your voice mean to you?
How do you want your voice to feel?
What are you longing to experience through singing?
Is singing something you want to share right now, or is it just for you?
What is one small step you can take toward your voice this week?
Mentioned in This Episode
Follow Erin on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/joyfulsingingwitherin/
Website:
https://www.erinstewart.net/
FREE Joyful Singing Starter Kit:
https://www.erinstewart.net/starterkit
FREE Joyful Singing Workshop:
https://www.erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop
Let's Continue the Conversation
Did this episode spark an insight or discovery for you?
I'd love to hear what came up.
Send me a DM on Instagram @joyfulsingingwitherin or reach out through my website and tell me:
What does singing mean to you right now?
Enjoying The Joyful Singer Podcast?
Please follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend. Every review helps more singers find this work and reconnect with their voices.
And if you have a question you'd like answered on a future episode, I'd love to hear from you.
16 min
July 01 Ep 14: How to Quiet Your Inner Critic and Build Confidence: A Conversation with Jenny Smith

Episode 14: How to Quiet Your Inner Critic and Build Confidence: A Conversation with Jenny Smith
This week I'm sharing something a little different.
Recently, I had the pleasure of joining Jenny Smith on her podcast, You're Not Crazy! It's Perimenopause, for a conversation about confidence, self-doubt, the inner critic, and what it means to truly find your voice in midlife.
If you've ever wondered:
✨ Is it too late for me?
✨ Why is my inner critic so loud?
✨ How do I stop judging myself so harshly?
✨ How do I reconnect with joy, creativity, and self-expression?
Then this episode is for you.
Jenny and I talk about the unique challenges many women face as they move through midlife and beyond, including perfectionism, fear of being seen, changing identities, and the pressure to constantly measure up.
This conversation goes far beyond singing. It's really about learning to treat yourself with more compassion, embracing who you're becoming, and remembering that it's never too late to reclaim your voice.
Connect with Jenny Smith
Website:
https://www.simplifiedlifestylecoaching.com/
FREE Protein Fix Guide:
www.simplifiedlifestylecoaching.com/protein-fix
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/jennyaz_simple/
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/SimplifiedLifestyleCoaching
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@jennyaz_simple
Connect with Erin
Website: https://www.erinstewart.net/
FREE Joyful Singing Starter Kit:
https://www.erinstewart.net/starterkit
FREE Joyful Singing Workshop:
https://www.erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/joyfulsingingwitherin/
Enjoying The Joyful Singer Podcast?
Please follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with a friend. Every review helps more singers find this work and become part of our growing community.
And if you'd like me to answer a question on a future episode, send me a DM on Instagram @joyfulsingingwitherin or visit erinstewart.net.

42 min
June 24Ep 13: My Pre-Show Ritual: How I Calm Nerves and Prepare to Sing
Episode 13: My Pre-Show Ritual: How I Calm Nerves and Prepare to Sing
What should you do on the day of a performance?
How long should you warmup for? Drink gallons of water? Hide under a blanket until it's time to go on stage?
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, Erin shares her personal performance day ritual—a routine she developed over more than 30 years of performing on Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, regional theatre, concerts, auditions, and countless performances.
From her very first professional theatre job at age 20 (earning a whopping $100 a week!) to performing as Christine in The Phantom of the Opera, Erin has learned that the key to a successful performance day isn't perfection.
It's about support, care and rest.
In this episode, you'll learn how to create a performance day routine that helps calm your nerves, conserve your energy, prepare your voice, and get you into the right mindset so you can walk on stage feeling grounded, focused, and ready to share your gift.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:
Why Erin believes the entire day of a performance should revolve around one theme: support, care, and rest
The truth about hydration (and why chugging water right before you sing isn't the answer)
How to use gentle SOVT exercises to wake up your voice without overworking it
Why mindfulness and meditation are essential parts of Erin's performance routine
The role caffeine, food, sleep, and vocal rest play on performance days
How to warm up effectively before a show without singing your best notes in the practice room
A powerful visualization exercise Erin has used throughout her performing career to help manage performance anxiety
Why what you do after the performance may be just as important as what you do before it
Key Takeaway
A performance day isn't the day to push harder.
It's the day to support yourself.
The goal isn't to spend all your energy preparing for the performance—the goal is to save your energy for the performance itself.
When you approach the day with intention, care, and trust, you give yourself the best possible chance to walk on stage feeling prepared, present, and connected.

Mentioned in This Episode:
Episode 5: Vocal Warm-Ups That Actually Work
Learn more about SOVT (Semi-Occluded Vocal Tract) exercises and why they're one of Erin's favorite tools for warming up the voice.
Episode 7: 12 Tips for Dealing with Performance Anxiety
A collection of Erin's favorite tools and strategies for managing nerves before auditions and performances.

The Joyful Singing Workshop: 3 Steps to Confident, Joyful Singing
In this free workshop you'll learn how to:
✔ Warm up your voice in a way that actually works
✔ Quiet your inner critic
✔ Create a more joyful and sustainable singing practice
✔ Build confidence and trust in your voice
Register here:
https://erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop

Connect with Erin
Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin
Facebook: Erin Stewart - Voice Teacher and Mindset Coach for Singers
Website: erinstewart.net
Email: [email protected]
Have a question you'd like Erin to answer on the podcast?
Send her a DM on Instagram or reach out through her website. She'd love to hear from you!

If You Enjoyed This Episode...
Please follow The Joyful Singer Podcast, leave a review, and share this episode with a singer who has a performance coming up.
Your support helps more singers discover a joyful, whole-person approach to singing.
15 min
June 17Ep 12: Joyful Singing vs. Traditional Voice Work — A Different Way to Grow as a Singer
Episode 12: Joyful Singing vs. Traditional Voice Work — A Different Way to Grow as a Singer
What if becoming a better singer wasn't about fixing yourself?
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, Erin explores the key differences between traditional voice training and the Joyful Singing approach—and why so many singers feel stuck, frustrated, or disconnected despite years of lessons, practice, and hard work.
If you've ever felt like singing became all about technique, performance, or getting it "right," this conversation offers a refreshing alternative.
Joyful Singing is a whole-person approach that recognizes that your voice doesn't exist separately from the rest of your life. Your mindset, nervous system, emotions, physical wellbeing, and life experiences all influence how you sing—and how you feel about singing.
In this episode, Erin shares:
What Joyful Singing actually means
The difference between traditional voice work and a whole-person approach
Why technique alone isn't always enough
How your life experiences become part of your artistry
The hidden cost of constantly striving, fixing, and chasing perfection
Why you are the ultimate authority on your own voice
What it looks like to build a singing practice rooted in support, sustainability, and joy
Whether you're a professional singer, an enthusiastic amateur, someone returning to singing after a break, or someone who simply longs to sing more freely, this episode will help you rethink what growth can look like.
Singing doesn't have to be driven by harshness.
It can be driven by curiosity.
By creativity.
By self-trust.
And yes—by joy.

Free Resource: The Joyful Singing Starter Kit
Ready to take your first steps toward becoming a Joyful Singer?
Download Erin's FREE Joyful Singing Starter Kit and discover how to:
✔ Reconnect with your voice
✔ Build a singing practice that feels good
✔ Quiet fear and self-judgment
✔ Create habits that actually stick
✔ Warm up your voice effectively and confidently
The Starter Kit includes:
🎵 A vocal warmup
📖 A guided workbook
✅ A habit tracker
🧘 A guided centering exercise
Grab your free Starter Kit here:
👉 https://www.erinstewart.net/starterkit

Connect with Erin
Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin
Facebook: Erin Stewart - Voice Teacher and Mindset Coach for Singers
Website: erinstewart.net
Email: [email protected]
Have a question you'd like answered on a future episode?
Send Erin a DM on Instagram. Your question might be featured on the podcast!
Enjoying the Podcast?
If this episode resonated with you:
⭐ Follow the show
⭐ Leave a review
⭐ Share it with a fellow singer
⭐ Tag @joyfulsingingwitherin if you share on social media
Every review and share helps more singers discover a joyful, sustainable path to their voice.
17 min
June 10Ep 11: How to bounce back after an audition you don't book
EP 11: How to bounce back after an audition you don't book

If you've ever wondered whether you'll ever book another gig, questioned your talent after a string of "no's," or found yourself stuck in a discouraging quiet season, this episode is for you.
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, we're talking about one of the hardest parts of being a performer: dealing with rejection.
Whether you're auditioning professionally, putting yourself out there in your local community, or simply longing for more opportunities to sing, rejection is part of the journey. But it doesn't have to define your experience—or your identity as a singer.
In this conversation, Erin shares a different way of approaching rejection, dry spells, and those unsettling periods when it feels like nothing is happening.
You'll learn how to stop letting your inner critic write the story, how to navigate quiet seasons with more grace, and how to stay connected to joy even when the calendar looks empty.
Because your worth as a singer is not determined by your latest audition result.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
Why rejection is built into the life of every performer
How to navigate discouragement without spiraling
The difference between listening to your inner critic and your inner coach
Why "quiet seasons" aren't a sign that something is wrong
How to reframe rejection and periods of uncertainty
Six practical ways to move from panic to presence
What to do when you've been waiting for opportunities that never seem to arrive
Why creating your own opportunities can be one of the most empowering things you do as an artist

What if this season isn't evidence that you're falling behind?
What if it's preparing you for something bigger?

Mentioned in This Episode

🎙 Previous Episode
EP 10: Parenting Your Singer Self
Learn how to become your own best coach and respond to setbacks with compassion instead of criticism.

🎵 Free Workshop
The Joyful Singing Workshop: The 3 Steps to Confident, Joyful Singing
In this free workshop you'll learn how to:
Warm up your voice in a way that actually works
Create a personalized affirmation for your unique voice journey
Quiet the inner critic and build confidence
Experience Erin's signature 3-step Joyful Singing process
👉 Register here:
https://erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop

Connect with Erin
Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin
Facebook: Erin Stewart - Voice Teacher and Mindset Coach for Singers
Website: erinstewart.net
Email: [email protected]

💌 Have a Question for the Podcast?
Erin is now collecting listener questions for future episodes!
Send a DM on Instagram:
@joyfulsingingwitherin
If you have a question about singing, mindset, confidence, performance, creativity, vocal health, or anything related to your voice, chances are other singers are wondering the same thing.
Enjoying The Podcast?
If this episode resonated with you:
⭐ Follow the show
⭐ Leave a review
⭐ Share this episode with a singer friend
Your support helps more singers discover a joyful, compassionate approach to voice and creativity.
20 min
June 03Ep 10: Parenting Your Singer Self
How do you speak to yourself after a bad audition?
After a mistake?
After a performance that didn’t go the way you hoped?
Most of us would never speak to a friend the way we sometimes speak to ourselves.
And yet, there’s this kind of conversation happening 👇
"You should have done better."
"You messed up."
"You’re not enough."
In this episode of The Joyful Singer Podcast, we’re exploring something powerful:
You are already parenting yourself every day.
The question is: how?
Because whether you realize it or not, you are constantly coaching yourself through fear, disappointment, embarrassment, mistakes, growth, and success.
Today we’re talking about how to shift from harshness and shame into something more supportive:
✨ empathy
✨ compassion
✨ encouragement
✨ unconditional love
Because your singer self deserves the same kindness you naturally offer to the people you love.
In this episode you'll discover:
- Why we all have an ongoing "inner parenting voice"
- How harsh self-talk often disguises itself as motivation
- Why shame and self-criticism can become automatic
- The surprising lesson Erin learned while navigating Lyme disease
- How conditional love quietly shows up in our relationship with ourselves
- Why empathy may be one of your greatest untapped superpowers
- How working with a childhood photo can help you reconnect with your essence
- The difference between analytical thinking and compassionate wisdom
- How to begin developing a more nurturing relationship with yourself as a singer
Your invitation this week:
Find a childhood picture that brings up good feelings for you.
Choose a picture that reminds you of your essence—your joy, spirit, personality, curiosity, playfulness... you.
Spend a few moments with it each day and notice:
What feelings arise?
What do you notice about this little person?
How would you speak to them?
Can you begin offering that same kindness to yourself now?
And throughout the week ask:
Can I hold myself with love when I mess up?
Can I respond with care instead of criticism?
Can I become the parent my singer self needs?
A mantra from today's episode:
"I love myself."
"I love myself."
"I love myself."

Mentioned in this episode:
➡ FREE Joyful Singing Workshop: The 3 Steps to Confident, Joyful Singing
In this free workshop you'll:
• Learn vocal warmups that actually work to strengthen and free your voice
• Create a personalized affirmation unique to your voice journey
• Explore the beliefs that may be holding you back
• Experience my complete 3-step Joyful Singing process
Register here:

erinstewart.net/joyfulsingingworkshop

Connect with Erin:
Instagram: @joyfulsingingwitherin
Facebook: Erin Stewart - Voice Teacher and Mindset Coach for Singers
Website: erinstewart.net
Email: [email protected]
If you try the childhood photo exercise or want to share your experience from this week's episode, send a message or email! Would LOVE to hear from you!

Love the show?
If this episode resonated with you:
⭐ Follow the podcast
⭐ Leave a review
⭐ Share this episode with a friend
⭐ Tag @joyfulsingingwitherin if you share on social media
Your support helps more singers discover this work and build more joyful relationships with their voices.
14 min

About The Joyful Singer

From the publisher's feed

Hosted by Broadway performer, vocal & mindset coach Erin Stewart, The Joyful Singer Podcast is for singers — professionals, enthusiasts, former singers, and shower singers — who want their voice to feel free, overcome performance anxiety, and reconnect with the joy of singing.

Share The Joyful Singer

Sign up to save your podcasts

The Joyful Singer

The Joyful Singer episodes

About The Joyful Singer