Articulate: Missed Steps
Two things happened today that reminded me of the things we miss. My kid is getting an award and the presentation is happening over Zoom. The original date was deep in the quarantine period and so very canceled. It is…
Acquire: Who Do You Sound Like?
What does the sound of your voice say about you? Does it sound like a parents, or a siblings? Is it perceived as gendered, perhaps even misgendered? Does it seem to belong to you? These may be thoughts you've had…
Disrupt: The Way We Were
People can get a little nostalgic. Sometimes about great moments of the past which is understandable. But more often, we get nostalgic about things we are misremembering or even things that are just didn't happen. No matter where that rosy…
Observe: Air Quality
There is some weird air out there. The weather in the NE is both cooler and more humid than usual. Dust is moving through other parts of the country, and the Rocky Mountain west navigates fire and ash. These are…
Perform: Reps
Nothing will prepare you for excellence in a task more than just doing it. Focused practice with some stakes, such as practicing a speech or song in front of friends is great for this. But at some point, you just…
Articulate: Clear as Mud
What if you chose the clearest path to what you need to say? Without reaching for a metaphor or imagery of any type. What if you didn't try to make it funny, or deflect it? Communication is funny in this…
Acquire: Foundations in Vocal Anatomy
First a definition, the vocal tract is the cavity where sounds are both initiated and potentially crafted. It consists of the laryngeal cavity, the pharynx, the oral cavity and the nasal cavity. For our purposes today we will focus…
Disrupt: Change Your Mind
We love stories. We especially love the ones we tell ourselves. But, what if the story we are telling is a tall tale? What if, the story is actually harming us? Often these are stories involving other people but at…
Observe: Principles
There are beliefs that are fundamental in all of us, things we hold true. These are our foundational principles and they create the scaffolding for our reality. When was the last time you looked at yours, not as an exercise…
Perform: Contact High
No matter how relaxed you are in terms of pandemic safety, it is hard to avoid noticing the differences in social contact. Wearing masks, physical distancing, and touch avoidance is the norm and many of us are feeling it. I…