If there’s one thing you can count on in this world, it’s irony.
To cut to the chase, my guest this week is Rena Cook, a Professor Emeritus at the University of Oklahoma who teaches a myriad of subjects including voice, speech, dialects, acting and directing.
…and for some. dang. reason. my normal audio setup betrayed me.
So please don’t think I ‘masked’ my voice for fear of being judged by the vocal coach.
Now, with that little caveat out of the way, this week’s conversation is pure gold for anyone whose job involves frequent communication - but honestly, these topics are pretty much applicable to everyone.
With decades of teaching experience, Rena earned her MFA in Theater & Production from Oklahoma University, as well as an additional Masters in Voice Studies from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
She has written multiple books on authentic, confident communication, including one specifically for women in the legal profession.
Rena and I cover a lot of ground in this episode, but that only means there’s more for you to pick and choose from.
Topics range from how posture affects speech, teaching formerly incarcerated women how to find their voice, and why ending sentences with the “question-y” up-inflection feels like nails on a chalkboard.
Oh, and because it’s an episode about voice, there’s plenty of impersonations and even more laughter.
Enjoy the Show!