Breath

Joanne Lockwood talks with vocal coach and vocal health expert Jamie Read about how breath fuels the voice and how vocal choices shape the way we’re perceived in workplaces and everyday life.

They unpack how anxiety, confidence, and presence affect breathing and vocal delivery, exploring practical ideas like pausing, posture, and the relationship between emotion and vocal “gestures” such as laughter and crying. Jamie also challenges common myths about projection and resonance, including assumptions about opera singers and the idea that more breath automatically means more volume.

The conversation also examines how societal conditioning influences what we think a “credible” or “authoritative” voice sounds like, and how accents and dialects can trigger bias and exclusion. Joanne shares her experience as a transgender woman navigating voice, authenticity, and safety in gendered spaces, while Jamie discusses working with trans and nonbinary clients and the broader issue of misgendering and voice-based assumptions.

Overall, the episode is an invitation to rethink what “sounds right,” understand the mechanics and psychology behind voice, and create more inclusive environments where different voices are heard and respected.