When was the last time you held back what you really wanted to say because you didn’t like how you sounded? Worried you’d be “too much”? Not enough? Too emotional, too aggressive, too soft?

In this firecracker of a conversation, I am joined by the brilliant Samara Bay - Hollywood speech coach, bestselling author of Permission to Speak, and a leading voice in helping people reclaim their own.

Samara has coached Oscar-winning actors, presidential candidates, Fortune 500 executives, and everyday folks ready to stop performing and start connecting. And today, she’s here to help you ditch the vocal shame, drop the people-pleasing, and start speaking from your full, unapologetic self.

This episode is not about how to sound polished. It’s about how to sound like YOU with power, presence, and purpose.

🎙️ In this episode, you’ll hear:

Why so many of us hate the sound of our own voice, and how to shift that narrative
How the myth of the “sound of power” has kept us small
What public speaking really is (hint: it’s not performance, it’s connection)
Why authenticity is your greatest communication superpower
How to show up with strength and warmth, even when your nervous system is freaking out

Samara breaks it all down with heart, humor, and a permission slip to show up fully. You’ll walk away with tools to stop editing yourself and start leading with your real voice.

And if your voice has been hiding, let today be the day you call it back. Start small. Start scared. Just start.

If this episode resonated with you, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear this.

Links and Resources:

Click HERE to learn more about one-on-one coaching with me!
Get your complimentary copy of The Unblocked Journal to help bring awareness to perfectionist thinking and what it's creating in your life.
Join My Do The Thing Community

Let’s Connect:

Follow me on Facebook & Instagram: @JessicaSmarro
Share your thoughts and experiences with the hashtag #UnblockedPodcast and tag @jessicasmarro!

Connect with Samara:

Website: www.permissiontospreak.com
Book: Permission to Speak (Available wherever books are sold)
Instagram & LinkedIn: @samarabay

Let’s Get Unblocked!

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