On The Breath

SJ Harrison

On the Breath is an intimate exploration of vocal empowerment through personal conversations! Hosted by voice coach, actor and playwright SJ Harrison, On the Breath aims to inspire, delight and inform. Our diverse range of guests include artists, entrepreneurs and business professionals. Voice is emotional, intellectual and physical. Attending to our voices engages us in an ongoing transformative journey. Does this provoke thoughts such as: “Am I attending to my voice? What does this mean? How do others experience this?” Tune in to learn more!

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Episodes

S2 Ep6. How We Change the World, with Dawnette Palmore
May 10 2023
S2 Ep6. How We Change the World, with Dawnette Palmore
Whose voice does Dawnette love most? “It's the voice of women who truly empower others.”   Never underestimate your personal impact, as a parent, as a partner, as a person.  Waking up one morning, Dawnette decided to change her family’s financial situation.  Now she empowers others by helping them to develop a purposeful relationship with money!  In this short and impactful conversation, we talk about how changing our environment starts with changing how we talk to ourselves.  Women’s experience of empowerment is like this:  one woman speaks to herself, then speaks to another woman, and so on, changing the world with acts of voice, some of them seemingly small.  We discuss several movements that started with a handful of women, and  how simple, personal acts in our own lives have ripple effects.  HOW TO ACCESS SJ's FREE CLASS & MORE SUPPORTAccess my free online class, Discover Your True Voice!  To learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. This interview, as well as public speaking tips and reaction videos, are on my YouTube Channel.  ABOUT DAWNETTEDawnette Palmore is the founder and owner of Your Money On Purpose Coaching where she empowers professional and entrepreneurial women who make great money but don't know where it goes to gain control of their finances without sacrificing their lifestyle so they can live a financially stress-free life. Dawnette is committed to helping women to thrive in their business and life instead of just surviving.Through her own mistakes with money, she discovered how to keep vision focused instead of budget focused which has allowed her to get out of debt, save and invest in her future all while enjoying the things she loves.Since 2015 Dawnette has empowered hundreds of women to create a thriving and profitable business, live their life on their terms and be at peace with their money. When she is not empowering other women, she can be found spending time with her family and friends.  You can find Dawnette in all the places as yourmoneyonpurpose and on her website.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S2 Ep4. Behind the Scenes, with Indira Varma
Apr 12 2023
S2 Ep4. Behind the Scenes, with Indira Varma
“Not everyone can like you and that’s ok”.  In this intimate behind the scenes conversation with Indira Varma, we get an inside look at her approach to acting, discuss the wonders of the voice in life and death, the power of listening onstage, Indy’s abiding love of voiceover & radio, her experience of growing up with parents from different cultures, working with Ralph Fiennes and so much more!  Fans will get a wonderful sense of Indira #bts, while actors & acting students can experience this as a master class in the how and why of acting practices.  #TheGlobe #thepopupglobe #performing #ShakespeareABOUT INDIRA VARMA Here is Indira’s Wikipedia.Indira is a British actor, as prolific onstage and as a voiceover as she is on film & TV.  Her breakthrough leading role was in Mira Nair’s Kama Sutra.  She is particularly known for the role of Ellaria Sand in Game of Thrones #GOT, as Tala Durlith in Obi-Wan Kenobi #starwars opposite Ewan McGregor and in Extrapolations with Edward Norton this year on Apple TV.  She was in Bride and Prejudice, Luther, & Rome, to name just a few.CURRENT WORKObsession on Netflix, and check out her audiobooks including all of Terry Pratchett's books!HOW TO ACCESS SJ's FREE CLASS & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTAccess my free online class, learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.   This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S2 Ep3: Voice & the Hero's Journey, with Nicky Pattinson
Mar 29 2023
S2 Ep3: Voice & the Hero's Journey, with Nicky Pattinson
Is it possible to sell with sincerity?  “Shouldn’t every moment be a magical moment of love and that’s created by the voice?"  And what a voice!  During the Thatcher years, Nicky ran a market stall selling cookies in the North of England.  Nicky used her voice to convey belonging and validation to the single mothers that came to her stall. Through making heart to heart connections with her buyers, her market stall became a multi-million pound business.   Now a sought after platform speaker: “I was 65 last week and my world is only just beginning!”   Nicky brings her incredible life experience to bear in helping people develop and sell their brands: through developing a communication style that matches who you are, underpinned by your own unique stories.  We discuss how embracing her native accent has been key to her own empowerment, the incredible opportunity COVID provided in helping many of us move into deep authenticity and so much more!ABOUT NICKYNicky speaks to thousands of people every year performing very unique keynotes and still takes on in-house projects for many big brands – teaching hotel chains, law firms, professional services and even contact centres in gas companies and telecoms’ organisations advanced multi-dimensional’ communication and the very rare art of connection and command through the ‘’art of the voice.’’.Having previously turned over £2,000,000 a year as a market trader she… let’s say…”made the best of the big demise that came afterwards’’. We all have them, occasional demises …life isn’t always easy. Losing her eldest son at nursery, then both her parents, her home, her business and then getting adivorce, all in the space of three years. It was something that many would have not come back from. It was as she says…”’The making of her.’’ She took what she learned on the markets – which was very little to do with selling the stock – and everything to do with directing the way customers felt in the ‘’unique presence’’ of the staff.HOW TO FIND NICKYHere is Nicky's Website.  But please email her directly if you'd like to know more.  She loves hearing from people: nicky@nickypattinson.comHOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTAccess my free online class, learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.      This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S2 Ep2. Investigating Our Multicultural Identities, with Zeina Azzam
Mar 15 2023
S2 Ep2. Investigating Our Multicultural Identities, with Zeina Azzam
An artistic life lived at the intersection between languages and cultures: Zeina Azzam, a deeply thoughtful presence, reads several of her visually evocative poems.  We discuss synesthesia, Zeina's experience of speaking under threatening circumstances,  how we often pour our identity into our accents, and how the experience of speaking publicly has been a process of moving from fear to empowerment.ZEINA AZZAM BIOZeina Azzam is a Palestinian American poet, writer, editor, and community activist. She is the poet laureate of the City of Alexandria, Virginia, for 2022-25. Her poems appear in a number of literary journals, anthologies, and edited volumes and her chapbook, Bayna Bayna, In-Between, was published in 2021 by The Poetry Box. Zeina holds an MA in Arabic literature from Georgetown University, an MA in sociology from George Mason University, and a BA in psychology from Vassar College. HOW TO FIND ZEINAHere is Zeina's website.  If you are interested in her daughter Lena's music, check out Lena's website.HOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTAccess my free online class, learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S2 Ep1. Navigating Art and Love, with Tanya Moodie
Mar 1 2023
S2 Ep1. Navigating Art and Love, with Tanya Moodie
All the feels! A rich and jam packed episode in which Tanya Moodie gives us the view through her unique lens of the craft of acting and takes a deep dive into the personal.  We discuss how what goes on in the psyche, goes on in the voice, wearing black to disappear, the vulnerability of using our voices with our partners, how she navigates motherhood, code switching to build bridges, and the initial devastation of changing her accent.TANYA MOODIE BIOTanya Moodie is a Canadian-born British actor, who won the Royal Television Society’s Breakthrough Award for the role of Meg in the BAFTA winning BBC comedy Motherland. Some of Tanya’s recent film credits include GENERAL PARNADEE in J.J Abram’s STAR WARS: THE RISE OF LUKE SKYWALKER and DELIA in Sam Mendes’ EMPIRE OF LIGHT with Searchlight Pictures.In theatre she is a two time Olivier nominee for Outstanding Achievement In An Affiliate Theatre. Her several Best Actress nominations include What’s On Stage (for August Wilson's Fences opposite Lenny Henry), the London Evening Standard Theatre Awards, and the UK Theatre Awards.HOW TO FIND TANYATanya’s work is widely available on numerous streaming networks.  Check out other interviews with her on YouTube.  Her wikipedia entry is a good place to start! HOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCAST Access my free online class, learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep. 8: Putting Your Work Out into the World, with Adrian Hooke
Jan 11 2023
S1 Ep. 8: Putting Your Work Out into the World, with Adrian Hooke
Putting our work out into the world can be personally empowering - yet we often run the gamut of difficult emotions when we do so.  “Sitting in vulnerability when we communicate, our voice becomes very clear.”  In this sweet conversation with New Zealand actor, writer and producer Adrian Hooke, we discuss Shakespeare, vocal fry, navigating performance and so much more! Adrian and I became friends when I was playing Gertrude to his Hamlet at the Pop Up Globe in New Zealand.  Hamlet is a vocally  demanding role and Adrian has much to say about the physical & psychological voice.Since graduating Te Kura Toi Whakaari (the New Zealand Drama School) in 2011, Adrian has worked consistently in the creative sector wearing many different hats. He has run a production company, played Hamlet to critical acclaim, directed for screen, composed an award nominated musical, written a TV show, a web series and more advertising than he can remember.For the last three years he has been leading creative teams to deliver video content for some of New Zealand’s biggest brands.None of this would be possible without an understanding of communication and the power of the voice!HOW TO FIND ADRIAN & SJAdrian's Actor ProfileSock Puppet PoliceAdrian & SJ - Pop Up Globe Sizzle ReelBehind the Scenes: SJ Gets Ready to be a QueenHOW TO CONNECT WITH SJIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 7: from People Pleaser to Authentic Communicator, With Allison Kinnear
Jan 4 2023
S1 Ep 7: from People Pleaser to Authentic Communicator, With Allison Kinnear
How the word POLITE can be an acronym for Pissed Off Later In The Evening! Alli shares how her air of confident extroversion masked high anxiety when she worked at Google. We discuss how we've learned to listen to the voices in our heads, and how setting boundaries improves relationships.  Here are some key 'how to's' for lasting change, as well as tips for slowing down communication in sexual situations and beyond.  Plus some humorous anecdotes on the appeal of deep male voices...Allison Kinnear is a Women's Empowerment Coach and Speaker. For over 22 years she has worked with thousands of people as they navigate their vulnerabilities as parents, employees, and leaders. She loves working with groups in the high-stakes professional world to solve the underlying issues surrounding vulnerability-based leadership. She frequently gives talks on overcoming Impostor Syndrome, effectively managing stress, and building a culture of trust in the workplace.HOW TO FIND ALLI Alli's website: Allison KinnearLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/allison-kinnear-ba376091/Facebook: Allison Kinnear, LLCHOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 6: The Healing Power of Beatboxing, With Carlos Aguirre
Dec 28 2022
S1 Ep 6: The Healing Power of Beatboxing, With Carlos Aguirre
Chatting to actor, rapper and teaching artist Carlos Aguirre about beatboxing, BBC plays, voiceover, embodied performance, learning the hard way that less is more, and mental health. Carlos asks me to share some personal moments: when my accent has worked against me. Best of all, Carlos exposes us to his not to be missed virtuosic beatboxing skillz!...an On the Breath Podcast Interview!Carlos Aguirre (actor, musician, vocal percussionist, educator) has been performing and educating in the Bay Area for over 20 years. He has shared the stage with The Roots, Eryka Badu, Black Eyed Peas, Mary J. Blige, Jam Master Jay, and L.L. Cool J among others. He is fresh off a guest appearance with the Broadway Tony Award Winning production of "Freestyle Love Supreme" and is currently producing his original rap and beatbox adaptation of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Tell Tale Heart as well as recording and releasing new music. Aguirre shares his experience by teaching at various schools and at-risk environments throughout the Bay Area.HOW TO FIND CARLOSFollow him for all the updates and check out the link in bio on his Instagram: @emceeinfiniteHOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 5: The Voices I Love, with SJ Harrison (feat. Maggie Smith, Haluk Bilginer, Lee Sun-Kyun and more)!
Dec 21 2022
S1 Ep 5: The Voices I Love, with SJ Harrison (feat. Maggie Smith, Haluk Bilginer, Lee Sun-Kyun and more)!
In this celebration of voice, I share 8 of my favorite ones with you! We explore how the most interesting voices may not be classically beautiful. Listen to some elder actors who have lived with their voices a long time, and compare their younger voices with their current ones. We'll also hear some some mid life actors and I'll tell you why I find their voices sexy. Paul Jennings, who did the voiceover for Raphael in Soul Caliber II makes a personal appearance.Included in this podcast are the voices of Eartha Kitt, Haluk Bilginer, Maggie Smith, Takehiro Hira, Lee Sun-Kyun, Alan Rickman, David Harewood and Paul Jennings (see RESOURCES below to access the source material)HOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website.  Here's the video of this podcast. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel .RESOURCESHaluk Bilginer - Eastenders Haluk Bilkginer Agâh Makamı - Haluk Bilginer ft. RUBATO (Şahsiyet Orijinal Dizi Müzikleri) Haluk Bilginer - The Reluctant Fundamentalist Lee Sun Kyun - Netflix - My Mister Ep 7Alan Rickman -Sweeney Todd - Song Pretty Women Amazon Prime - Song of Lunch - Based on Christopher Reid’s narrative PoemMaggie Smith - In conversation with Maggie Smith: "I led a perfectly normal life until Downton Abbey" | BFIPrime of Miss Jean Brodie -Maggie Smith #21 - The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) - A teacher, first, last and always 1969As Prof McGonagall - professor mcgonagall being a queenEartha Kitt - Speaking Freely: Eartha KittDavid Harewood: David Harewood: The Chilling Story Of How A Hollywood Star Lost His Mind | E185Takehiro Hira in Giri/Hanji on Netflix, Ep 2 - the recap at the beginningSoul Caliber II Raphael -Soul Calibur 2- All Raphael's Voice Clips This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 4: The Power of Being Yourself, With Danusha Laméris
Dec 14 2022
S1 Ep 4: The Power of Being Yourself, With Danusha Laméris
Best friends since the age of nine, it's my pleasure to present to you this intimate conversation with poet Danusha Laméris. One of my favorite moments of this interview is when Danusha says "Every poet was a person who once felt they didn't have a voice". We discuss how our lifelong friendship has helped us grow into powerful voice, how Danusha has learned to be herself in front of an audience, being feminine while feeling empowered, how taking oneself seriously doesn't mean being serious, and how Danusha prepares to speak."Small Kindnesses", by Danusha Laméris went viral during the pandemic. Danusha Lameris' poetry uplifts the minutia of the every day to the gorgeous - worlds within worlds, as well as coaxing the redemptive from the darker aspects of our human lives.Danusha Laméris’ first book, The Moons of August (Autumn House, 2014), was chosen by Naomi Shihab Nye as the winner of the Autumn House Press poetry prize and was a finalist for the Milt Kessler Book Award. Her second book, Bonfire Opera (Pitt Poetry Series, 2020), was a finalist for the Paterson Poetry Prize and the winner of the Northern California Book Award in Poetry. Some of her poems have been published in: The Best American Poetry, The New York Times, The American Poetry Review, The Gettysburg Review, Tin House, Ploughshares, and The Sun Magazine. She’s the winner of the Morton Marcus Poetry Prize, and the Lucille Clifton Legacy Award. She lives in Santa Cruz, California and is on the faculty of Pacific University's low-residency MFA program.HOW TO FIND DANUSHAInvestigate being part of Danusha's Hearthfire Writing Community, which she co-hosts with James Crews.  You can find her on her website and buy her books right here! HOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 3: Overcoming my Stammer to Become an Award Winning Speaker, With Carl Richards
Dec 7 2022
S1 Ep 3: Overcoming my Stammer to Become an Award Winning Speaker, With Carl Richards
Did you know that there are many well-known speakers who once had a speech impediment? Carl Richards is an award-winning speaker from Canada, podcast strategist and coach. Carl shares deep wisdom from his personal experience of stammering as a kid. We discuss how empowering it is to be aware of childhood experiences that may be holding us back today. Carl shares how he came out onstage and won an award in the process and asks me a question that leads me to speak openly about my personal life.CARL RICHARDS' BIOCarl Richards has spent more than 25 years behind the microphone, on radio and on stage, entertaining and influencing audiences world wide. He’s a 3x best selling author, TEDx Speaker and emcee, host of the Speaking of Speaking Podcast and the founder and CEO of Carl Speaks and Podcast Solutions Made Made Simple. Carl helps coaches, consultants and other subject matter experts become the got authority by launching world class podcasts. He lives with his spouse in Gananoque, Ontario Canada, where he enjoys camping and boating in the 1000 Islands.HOW TO FIND CARLYou can find Carl at https:www.podcastsolutionsmadesimple.com and https:www.carlspeaks.ca. Carl also has his own podcast Speaking of Speaking: Speaking Of SpeakingHOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 2: I Found my Most Empowered Voice During the Pandemic, With Ajanta Chakraborty
Nov 30 2022
S1 Ep 2: I Found my Most Empowered Voice During the Pandemic, With Ajanta Chakraborty
Ajanta Chakraborty is co-founder of Bolly & Culture Groove. In this interview with my friend, we celebrate the marriage of art and business and address the shame people have around earning money with their art towards successful entrepreneurship. Ajanta shares with us how she and her husband Vivek became accidental authors, that 3 year olds have the attention span of an ant, and more personal moments such as the discomfort around being misunderstood in the U.S. due to Indian English having a different syllabic emphasis than local speech. We also talk about energetic resonance and surrounding ourselves with people who support your voice.Ajanta Chakraborty is the co-founder of Bollywood & Culture Groove, an India Dance, Education, and Fitness company that spreads the joy of Indian culture through movement and literature. Ajanta is also an award-winning co-author of a bestselling children's book series with 13 titles called Maya & Neel's India Adventure. Ajanta actively works towards raising awareness about ethnic dance & fitness formats, helping parents and educators raise multicultural kids, and helping corporates provide exciting cultural experiences to their employees. Her work has been featured on NBC, ABC, FOX, Elle Magazine, Neilsen Media, Sun-Times, Univision, Al Jazira, and more.HOW TO FIND AJANTAAjanta is based in Chicago. Visit Home - Bollywood Groove & Culture Groove You can find her books at Maya & Neel's India Adventure Series - Amazon Bestsellers! - Bollywood Groove & Culture GrooveHOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com
S1 Ep 1: Learning to Use my Voice by Working in Advertising, With Mark Montgomery French:
Nov 23 2022
S1 Ep 1: Learning to Use my Voice by Working in Advertising, With Mark Montgomery French:
Mark Montgomery French, film composer, podcaster, music historian and YouTuber discusses his most empowered and disempowered moments with voice, including a very wise thing that his mother did when he was 10, his wedding, busting the myth that you can't make money with your art and how clarity of thought powers public speaking. Mark explains how he found a positive way into teaching without teaching in an institution. He also asks me about changing my accent to be understood!San Francisco-native Mark Montgomery French is an award-winning film composer with the group Spiky Blimp, an award-winning Creative Director and Co-Producer of Glide Memorial Church’s Sunday Celebration, host of the YouTube music review show “Still Got It” and the podcast “All Your Favorite Music is (Probably)..." staff writer at PopMatters, and the manager of critically acclaimed queer country band Secret Emchy Society and classic power-punk band The Furys. He’s also a music historian noted for his talk All Your Favorite Music is (Probably) Black, the series _28 Days, 28 Black Music Documentaries, and Uppity Music—Your Guide to Unsung Black Departure Albums. He was formerly the co-leader of the ’90s progressive funk band Endangered Species.HOW TO FIND MARKMark is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and gives public talks locally and online. You can find him on his website and here is his podcast, All Your Favorite Music is (Probably)...HOW TO FIND SJ & THE VIDEO OF THIS PODCASTIf you'd like to learn more about my one-on-one coaching or global online programs, here's my website. Here's the video of this podcast interview. This and more, including public speaking tips and reaction videos, can be found on my YouTube Channel.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sjharrison.substack.com