How to Save Your Successful Voice with Judy Rodman.

Welcome to Public Speaking with Peter George. Do you want to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then stay tuned as we discuss public speaking tips, techniques, and tactics that help you increase your impact, influence, and income.

Judy Rodman is an award-winning vocal coach, recording artist, performer, speaker, author, songwriter, studio producer, and blogger. She specializes in training the professional singing and speaking voice, and her students have appeared on the Today Show, David Letterman, Ellen DeGeneres, The Voice, American Idol, America's Got Talent, and the Grammy, CMA, ACM, and MTV Awards. Here's my conversation with Judy Rodman.

The Link Between Vocal Health and Communication

Peter: As speakers, many of us probably give little thought to vocal health. How does the health of our voice affect our communication skills?

Judy: An unhealthy voice sounds like an unhealthy voice. Beyond that, your voice actually triggers the vocal instrument of the person being spoken to. If I speak with a tight voice, your throat tightens up. If I speak with an open, healthy sound, your throat opens as well. People like your voice without even realizing why — part of it is because healthy technique makes their throats feel better. And practically speaking, a healthy voice lets you go longer, and your career lasts longer.

Do Speakers Need a Voice Coach?

Judy: You only need to train your voice if you want to do what you're doing better — more range of tone, more variation, the ability to explore the resonance cave you may not even know you have. And if you're a busy, successful speaker, your very success can create vocal abuse. You want to train your voice to use healthy technique on purpose. Even one lesson with a good, intuitive coach can change something you've been doing naturally — and not necessarily correctly — your whole career.

How Long Can You Speak Without Harm?

Judy: Most people don't know this, but if you use good technique, you can speak as long as you can stay awake without damaging your voice. Think of a great guitarist — they don't bang the instrument. They apply just enough pressure to set up a resonance. The vibrations actually improve the instrument. It's the same with your vocal cords: apply just enough air pressure, open up the cave, and your throat feels nothing. The danger comes when you push past your physical ability to support the voice — then you press too hard and the cycle starts going wrong.

Pull Instead of Push

Judy: One of my most important tips is to pull instead of push for power. Most speakers push their voice — too much air, too much effort. Instead, almost act like you're inhaling the sound. Pull your throat open, pull your sinuses and resonance cave open, and pull your rib cage open so your diaphragm flattens and gives you breath control. Physically, this means speaking from your heels when standing, or your tailbone when sitting — not leaning nose-first into the room. Go knees-first on stage. It opens the rib cage and moves the head back, which opens the throat.

Warming Up Your Voice

Judy: Warm up with tongue twisters — not robotically, but playfully. "Red leather, yellow leather" in your head voice. Make crazy sounds. This wakes up your articulators, which is what pulls the voice. Then do sirens, that inhalation sensation: a rising "eee" sound. You've now opened your cave and awakened your pelvic floor power. Then all you need to know is who you're talking to and why they need what you're about to say.

Use Your Eyes to Open Your Voice

Judy: Here's one people don't expect: use your eyes when you speak. When you raise your eyebrows, your nose opens — giving you access to the ceiling of your resonance cave. You don't have to speak bug-eyed, but do use eye language together with facial language. It's not just about connection with the audience. It physically opens the instrument.

Speaking to One Heart

Judy: Whether you're on a stage, recording a podcast, or doing a one-on-one conversation, the thing you have to do is speak to one heart. Ask yourself: who am I talking to? Why would they want to know what I'm saying? What would it look like on their face if they truly understood me? That changes your articulation — you move from thinking mode to doing mode. On stage, even with a thousand people, you always speak to the one heart. Your focus should be a laser beam, not a flashlight.

The Three-Stranded Cord: Power, Path, Performance

Judy: Everything that goes into good vocal performance — whether speaking or singing — falls into three areas. Power: the breath. Path: the open throat with access to resonance. Performance: communication skills. These three are synergistic. If someone comes to me as a speaker or a singer, they're going to get a lesson in posture, facial language, and TMJ relaxation. The voice wants everything — from your little toe to the top of your head. These little vocal cords need the rest of you to get in line.

Pre-Presentation Ninja Tips

Judy: Don't do the meet-and-greet right before you go on stage. Get off by yourself for a few minutes and center yourself. In your mind, occupy the whole venue — from ceiling to floor, back wall to the back of the stage. That intention creates a stage presence before you've said a word. Then fuel your voice: water, water, water — and consider adding a little pineapple juice, which contains bromelain, an enzyme that soothes and hydrates the tissues of your pharynx. Eat some protein before you go on. Skip the donuts and high-carb foods — you'll speak fast and crash halfway through.

Peter: Judy, where can listeners find your vocal health report and connect with you?

Judy: Everything is at judyrodman.com. You'll find a free five-page vocal health report there, confirmed by a speech pathologist, full of tips for protecting and preserving your voice throughout your career. Embrace your voice and take care of it — the better you take care of it, the better it takes care of you.

Thank you for listening to this episode of Public Speaking with Peter George. Are you ready to be calm, confident, and credible every time you speak in public? Then visit petergeorgepublicspeaking.com and let's make it happen. I'll see you next time.