In this episode of Elevating Experts, Andy and Louise chat about how to look after your best asset as a podcaster: your voice! Here are some of our top tips:
At all stages:
- Never yell, disappointment doesn’t need a strained voice
- Listen to how your body responds to different products
- Let your body recover instead of masking its pain
You’re all set with a bunch of scripts to batch record some episodes, or maybe you’ve day full of Zoom meetings… either way there’s a real risk you could end up with a very tired and hoarse voice at the end of it all. We’re here to tell you that doesn’t need to happen and how to avoid it!
Episode Transcript:
Louise: So, you listened to our advice and decided to batch out a whole bunch of podcast episodes. Great! Only problem is now after you’ve recorded all those scripts, your voice is a little hoarse. Stop! Don’t say another word! We’re going to give you some hints and tips on how you can protect your voice. I’m Louise Poole.
Andy: and I’m Andy Le Roy and we’re elevating you as an expert in your field.
[elevating experts]
Louise: You’ve got such a beautiful voice for podcasts or at least you did that until you went and strained it.
Andy: And it’s not just on podcasts, sometimes I find when we talk on zoom all day I get a little bit hoarse.
Louise: That’s because you’re not looking after yourself Andy. And we all about self care here! Especially when it comes to one of our great assets as podcasters – our voice.
Andy: Why do I get the sense that there’s a lesson from Doctor Poole coming?
Louise: Well, what’s the point of having fake qualification if I can’t use it? Do you know how vocal sound is made?
Andy: Educate me, Doctor Poole!
Louise: It’s created by activating your vocal folds which are also known as the vocal cords. But they’re not really chords they’re folds of mucous membrane. The folds work when you exhale air by coming together and vibrating thousands of times per second to produce sound.
Andy: So, like a cricket’s legs?
Louise: Howzat?
Andy: Never mind.
Louise: So, when you breathe properly, these folds come together gently and produce a warm pleasant voice. But poor breathing or not treating those vocal cords with care, can result in a strained voice or one that’s painful when you’re trying to speak.
Andy: Is this why you keep encouraging me to drink cups of tea?
Louise: We’ll get to that, plus it’s full of antioxidants and Doctor Poole approved. Do you know about diaphragmatic breathing?
Andy: Yeah. That’s when you allow your belly to extend out every time you inhale. it’s the body’s natural way of breathing, but sometimes we breathe by moving our chest instead, especially when we’re feeling anxious or nervous.
Louise: The easiest way to practice diaphragmatic breathing, is by placing one hand on your belly and one on your chest then inhale through your nose for two seconds, feel the air move into your abdomen and feel your stomach move out. Then breathe out and push the belly.
Andy: Are you teaching us how to meditate or protect out voice there Doctor Poole?
Louise: Why not both? If you’re a bit more zen, you’re less likely to yell and strain your voice. Besides telling someone your disappointed in them is much more of an effective motivator than yelling…
Andy: Um… an unexpected tip from today’s show I guess.
Louise: Try not to raise your voice and yell or scream. And particularly don’t scream-sing every song at a Maroon 5 concert and expect to be able to talk properly for the next week.
Andy: What about the tea?
Louise: Oh yes, tea. So, you want to keep those vocal folds hydrated. If your mucous membrane gets dry your voice gets raspy.
Andy: D...
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