What makes a voice masculine or feminine? What does it mean to have a “gay” voice? with Kevin Whitmire Artwork

Speaking Of... Conversations on Voice, Speech, and Identity with Ryan O'Shea

Speaking Of... is a show about how we use our voices both in performance and in everyday life. Through conversations with performers, teachers, and anyone who has a voice, voice and speech coach Ryan O'Shea explores questions about how our voices and the ways we speak help shape and express our identity. Can someone's voice tell you whether or not they're a good person? Is there any way to change how you sound without feeling inauthentic? We'll examine these questions and many more in the course of the show by combining practical exercises and conceptual discussions about what it means to utilize your voice.

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Speaking Of... Conversations on Voice, Speech, and Identity with Ryan O'Shea

What makes a voice masculine or feminine? What does it mean to have a “gay” voice? with Kevin Whitmire

May 10, 2019 • Ryan O'Shea / Kevin Whitmire • Season 1 • Episode 3

0:00 | 33:25

On this episode of Speaking Of… I’m chatting with my friend Kevin Whitmire, an actor and teaching artist based in LA.

Kevin and I start off by talking about performance and how he changes his voice for each role. We then dive into his question: what makes a voice masculine or feminine?

What follows is a fascinating conversation about what constitutes our most “real” voice and how speech and acting coaches can reinforce stereotypes about how certain groups of people do – or should – speak.

We also talk about having a “gay” voice, feeling uncomfortable when you hear yourself on a recording, and the vulnerability of speaking aloud.

You can find complete show notes and links to everything we mentioned in the episode at https://www.voiceandspeechwithryan.com/podcast