Voice For Change

Joanne Lockwood is joined by voice and speech coach Fiona Brennan-Scott to explore what it really means to find your “Voice for change” — not just the sound you make, but the identity you bring into a room.

Together they unpack why speaking up can feel so vulnerable, how judgement and fear show up in public speaking, and what helps people build confidence when they need to communicate as leaders or subject-matter experts. Fiona shares practical insights from her coaching work, including supporting STEM professionals to bridge the gap between competence in their discipline and confidence in how they present it.

The conversation digs into the craft of engagement: using breath and posture, telling stories that land emotionally, simplifying complex language, and creating space for audiences to think. They explore the power of silence and listening as an inclusive act, including approaches like “Time to Think” and the “rubber ducking” idea that speaking a problem out loud can unlock solutions.

Along the way they reflect on authenticity, values, and the subtle ways people can be “othered”, as well as how inclusive communication respects different perspectives and helps people feel heard. The episode closes with Fiona sharing how to find her work and her book, Breathtaking Communication.