Find Your Voice, Change Your Life

Today, I interview Robin Humphreys, who once felt her voice caught in her throat and her body tense with fear. She shares how creative expression became her lifeline, helping her release what she couldn’t say out loud.Growing up sensitive and full of imagination, Robin later faced experiences that taught her to hold back her voice. Years of silence led to a deep disconnection from her own safety and expression, until art and body-based healing began to show her another way to live and speak.Now, Robin helps others find that same freedom, guiding them to calm anxiety, reconnect with their bodies, and rediscover their authentic voice. Her work reminds us that healing and self-expression often rise together, leading us back to what is most true within.__________________Robin Humphreys is the visionary Founder and CEO of Phoenix Heart Healing. She is a true catalyst for transformation, guiding individuals to experience radiant shifts by aligning the body, heart, mind, and spirit.Her holistic mastery weaves together energy healing, meditation, breathwork, and movement, helping clients dissolve anxiety, depression, and overwhelm while nurturing a deeper connection to themselves and the world around them.As a trained international and TEDx speaker, Robin’s mission to transform lives has touched hearts across the globe. Her empowering presence inspires others to take a soulful leap on their journey homeward.__________________Find Robin here:https://www.facebook.com/phoenixhearthealinghttps://www.instagram.com/phoenixhearthealing/3 Tips to Reduce Anxiety in 2 Minutes or Less - https://phoenixhearthealing.org/ Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Heidi Fischbach who grew up in a strict, high-control environment where fear and rules shaped how she learned to speak and exist. From an early age, she carried the weight of right and wrong, heaven and hell, and learned to stay small to stay safe.As she grew older, this constant vigilance became anxiety and self-silencing. Her turning point came when she began to understand how the body holds old fear-based patterns, and how healing the nervous system can restore a sense of safety and calm. Through curiosity and self-friendliness, she learned that safety isn’t just emotional, it’s physical, and that when the body feels safe, the voice naturally begins to emerge.Today, Heidi helps others reset their nervous systems and rediscover what it feels like to be calm, connected, and expressive. She teaches that healing happens in small, steady increments, not through force, but through gentleness and presence.__________________Heidi Fischbach is a nervous system coach and writer who helps people reset after high-control environments, whether that’s a fundamentalist religion, a rigid family system, or chronic survival mode. With training in Focusing, Polyvagal Theory, and body-based trauma healing, she helps clients feel safe, connected, and at home in their bodies.She is currently finishing her memoir, Missionary Kid: How My Body Saved My Mind from High-Control Christianity, and offers a program called The Nervous System Jumpstart.__________________Find Heidi here:https://www.instagram.com/heidifischbach/https://www.heidifischbach.comSupport the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Catherine G. Lucas who opens up about losing her voice in the midst of a painful breakdown. In her late teens she was already standing on stage for public speaking competitions, but by the time her parents divorced during her university years, the weight of family wounds caught up with her. Instead of enjoying summer with friends, she found herself in an acute psychiatric ward, her world shattered and her voice silenced.Her breakthrough came much later, when she discovered that what had been called a breakdown could also be seen as an awakening. It took years of reframing and deep inner work to see her experience not as illness, but as a turning point with the potential for healing.Through mindfulness, patient advocacy, and writing her first book, In Case of Spiritual Emergency, Catherine began to speak from her whole self rather than hide in shame. Today she helps others step into their deeper calling, showing that finding your voice is not about perfection but about expressing the truth of who you are in a way that heals and uplifts.__________________Catherine G. Lucas is the author of four books on how to move successfully through crisis and harness the transformational power it holds. A former university professor, Catherine left her academic career behind to step into her soul’s deeper calling, following a profound crisis of awakening.She went on to set up a UK charity and now helps people step into their deeper calling. Her media appearances include BBC Radio 4 and TimeWarner TV, and she regularly speaks internationally. More recently, Catherine has convened the highly acclaimed Birth the New Earth summit.__________________Find Catherine here:https://www.youtube.com/user/CatherineGLucashttps://www.catherine-g-lucas.com/https://www.co-creatingourfuture.world/https://www.co-creatingourfuture.world/free-gift-download/Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Liz Sweet, who spent years feeling the pressure to be polished and perfect, even when it left her exhausted. Growing up in Los Angeles, she was encouraged to use her voice, but only her polished side was welcomed, while her vulnerable self was seen as “too much.”As she built her career leading trainings around the globe, Liz created a confident persona that looked successful on the outside but drained her on the inside. Her turning point came when she discovered a presence-based approach and realized that real confidence comes not from performance, but from connection.In this conversation, Liz shares what it meant to drop the mask, move through discomfort, and find the deep freedom of being seen as her whole self. She shows how presence—not polish—is what allows your true voice to shine.__________________Liz Sweet is the founder of Connected Speaking, where she helps professionals find real confidence in their voice and leadership. With over a decade of experience training nonprofit and philanthropic leaders, she knows how easily the pressure to prove yourself can take over—no matter your role.Liz also knows this struggle personally. For years, she battled speaking anxiety, relying on performance and polish to get by. Her turning point came when she discovered a presence-based approach that helped her move beyond fear and perfectionism into genuine confidence and ease.Today, Liz leads supportive group programs and coaching that go deeper than surface-level techniques. She guides people to feel at home in their voice, connect more authentically, and lead with greater impact.__________________Find Liz here:www.ConnectedSpeaking.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethasweet/ Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Renee Zukin who spent years caught in fear and intrusive thoughts that silenced her voice. For much of her life, anxiety and self-doubt made her question whether she could ever step into leadership or express herself authentically. She carried the weight of comparison, believing that courage belonged only to those who could do the big, bold things she thought she couldn’t.Her turning point came when she redefined bravery. Instead of measuring herself against others, she began to see that courage could be found in the smallest steps — getting out of bed, showing up for work, or speaking honestly in the moment. That shift allowed her to reclaim her sense of worth and begin showing up in her life with more authenticity and compassion.Over time, Renee committed to the inner work, embraced mentors, and put her story into the world. She discovered that she didn’t need to be “fixed” to move forward — every step of bravery became part of her healing and part of her voice.Today, she is an author, coach, and educator. Through her book Every Day I’m Brave, she shares her story along with journal prompts that guide others to reflect, find awareness, and take their own brave steps toward reclaiming their voice.__________________Renee Zukin is an author, educator, coach, and mental health advocate committed to doing the inner work that creates outer change. With more than 20 years of experience in education, writing, and entrepreneurship, she has also studied multiple psychological and healing modalities that sustain her and support those she works with.Passionate about creating safe spaces, Renee helps others use the written word as a tool for self-transformation and empowerment. Her debut book, Every Day, I’m Brave: Cultivating Resilience to Gain Freedom from Fear (Wonderwell Press, August 2025), is both memoir and manifesto — an invitation to embrace bravery in the face of fear and to reclaim a life of authenticity and connection.__________________Find Renee here:https://www.reneezukin.com/https://www.reneezukin.com/brave-bookSupport the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Michael Grant and Lee Glickstein. Michael once struggled with stage fright, from freezing in high school to facing the daunting role of speaking at his uncle’s memorial service. His voice, long held back by anxiety and fear, often felt locked away.Everything began to shift when he discovered Speaking Circles, created by Lee. Instead of relying on performance or technique, Michael experienced the power of pauses, silence, and being truly seen. He learned to drop into his heart, receive listening, and let his authentic words emerge naturally.What once felt like collapse slowly transformed into presence, connection, and shared humanity. Now, Michael is stepping into personal leadership with a voice no longer frozen by fear. Together with Lee, he shares how listening itself can be healing, how authenticity matters more than performance, and how true voice is found not in speaking louder—but in speaking from the heart.__________________Michael Grant is an architectural designer whose journey with stage fright has spanned decades. What began in high school as a phobia of public speaking—whether in class, on stage, or even raising his hand—developed into a deep-seated anxiety that shaped much of his adult life.Over the years, Michael explored countless avenues to face this fear: public speaking courses, acting classes, personal growth workshops, and three years with Toastmasters. While these tools helped him function in front of groups, he never truly felt safe internally. The anxiety persisted, often leaving him frozen under the spotlight, even on Zoom calls.Everything changed when he was asked to MC his uncle’s memorial ceremony—a high-stakes moment with over 130 attendees. Michael feared delivering a stiff, scripted performance instead of honoring his heartfelt intention: to create a safe, loving, and inclusive space.He discovered Be Heard Now! by Lee Glickstein, immersing himself in the practice of speaking from true inner presence, and with intensive dedication to planning and practice, he pulled it off. The memorial became a magical experience. Today, Michael sees his early fears not as burdens, but as invitations into lifelong personal growth.__________________Lee Glickstein, founder of Speaking Circles International, is an authority on leadership presence and magnetism in public speaking. Decades of debilitating stage fright led him to develop an innovative approach to solving the epidemic fear of being fully oneself in front of groups.Lee has presented his unique programs at over 20 chapters of the National Speakers Association. He is the author of Be Heard Now! Tap Into Your Inner Speaker and Communicate with Ease (Bantam Doubleday and Sounds True Audiotapes) and Be Seen Now! Inspiring Insights into Being a Fearless Speaker (Precosity Press).He has facilitated thousands of Speaking Circles, workshops, seminars, and retreats around the world. Through Speaking Circles International, his team has trained over 1,000 Speaking Circle facilitators, who have led groups in eight countries and six languages.Lee graduated from Brooklyn College with a B.A. in Sociology in 1966. In 1996, he was awarded the Athena Award for Excellence in Coaching and Mentoring.Lee lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. His hobby is constructing crossword puzzles for The New York Times.__________________Find Lee here:https://speakingcircles.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeglickstein/Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview John Briggs, who once believed that working harder and earning more was the ultimate measure of success, until the cost of that belief showed up at home.He grew up as the youngest in a religious family, often singled out and bullied in his childhood. Making himself small felt like the only way to stay safe. Even in the workplace years later, that pattern repeated. His voice silenced under systems that rewarded overwork and discouraged questioning the norm.The breakthrough came late one night, when John walked into his house at 2 a.m. and was met not with silence, but with his pregnant wife in tears. She told him she felt like a single parent. That moment shattered his assumptions about success and forced him to reflect on what he was really building, and who he was building it for.Since then, John has taken real steps to change not just how he works, but how he lives. He’s created a new standard, one that honors presence, productivity, and the people who matter most. Today, he teaches others how to step out of the hustle and into a more harmonized way of working, where you don’t lose yourself in the process.__________________John Briggs is widely recognized for his innovative approach to productivity and work-life harmony, encapsulated in his book The 3.3 Rule: The New Workday Standard of Creating More by Working Less. His approach has not only led to significant revenue growth for his company and clients but also promotes sustainable work-life harmony by combating the damaging hustle culture mindset.__________________Find John here:https://incitetax.com/https://www.youtube.com/incitetaxhttps://www.instagram.com/incitetax/https://www.facebook.com/incitetaxhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbriggscpa/Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

Today, I interview Eric Atwood, who spent decades trapped in self-doubt, believing he had nothing of value to say. Labeled as the “shy, scared, stupid kid” after a traumatic moment in school, he carried that identity into adulthood, silencing his voice, hiding from connection, and believing he wasn’t enough.He grew up across seven countries, constantly moving because of his father’s humanitarian work. From the outside, his childhood might have looked rich in experience. But inside, Eric struggled with the pressure to be the “good boy,” the family pacifier. His mother’s conditional love and his father’s emotional distance left him feeling unseen and unloved. He learned to stay quiet, to please, and to blend in, even when it cost him his sense of self.Then one day, in his early forties, in the middle of a personal development workshop, he stood up in front of 150 people and spoke from his heart for the first time. That moment cracked something open. He felt alive, seen, and heard. Now, Eric helps others do the same. He guides people to connect deeply, speak authentically, and lead with presence. What once silenced him has become the very gift he offers others.__________________Eric Atwood is a speech and presentation coach, communication skills trainer, copywriter, author, certified Speaking Circles® facilitator, and founder/CEO of The Speaker’s Studio.He has a passion for language and communication, both spoken and written, and is committed to helping people express themselves clearly, confidently, and authentically in all their interactions.Currently residing in the San Francisco Bay Area, Eric has lived in seven countries and traveled to more than 50, bringing a deep understanding and appreciation of people and cultures to his work and his life.He is also the author of New Thinking, New Being: Moving From “The Daily Grind” to a More Meaningful, Deeply Fulfilling Life.__________________Find Eric here:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericallenatwood/https://www.facebook.com/eric.atwood.71"3 Keys to Releasing Fear & Gaining Confidence in Public Speaking” Free Download - https://speakingcircles.com/ Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.

In a heartfelt conversation, Jonathan Reynolds, founder and CEO of Mindful Life, Mindful Work, shares insights from decades of mindfulness training. He recounts his small-town upbringing, which stifled his voice but sparked a desire for authenticity. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of deep listening and connecting to one's inner truth. He discusses how true self-expression stems from genuine experience rather than mere performance, and encourages listeners to explore their identity through mindfulness and reflective practices.

Today, I interview Junie Moon, who grew up bright and bubbly, until one look from her mother made her feel unloved. Her free spirit met a controlling household where even a glance could silence her. By eight, she had learned to dim her light just to stay safe. Being cheerful and expressive got her labeled, and rejected.Bullied through middle school, silent in high school, Junie carried this fear of being seen well into adulthood. It shaped her relationships, her body, and her belief that her voice didn’t matter.But something changed. A moment came when she couldn’t stay quiet any longer—not for herself, and not for the person she loved most. That moment set her on the path to healing.Today, Junie helps women uncover the hidden fears that silence them and teaches them how to build trust in themselves again, so they can speak up, show up, and call in lasting love.__________________Junie Moon is the CEO of Midlife Love Out Loud, a Global Love Mentor, bestselling author, women’s empowerment leader, and Certified Shadow Work® Coach. For over 30 years, she has helped thousands of women claim their birthright: the freedom to love themselves without apology, and attract lifelong, soul-aligned love because of it.Her work is grounded in transformation from the inside out. Junie guides women in midlife on a powerful journey of self-discovery, where the focus isn’t just on finding a partner—it’s about building deep self-trust, confidence, and inner alignment. When women feel whole and safe in their own skin, the love they’ve been longing for begins to arrive with ease.She’s been featured on News 12 New Jersey, Blog Talk Radio, Thrive Global, and Authority Magazine. Her short film Shed the Shame, which she produced and starred in, was featured at Newark International. Junie is the international bestselling author of Loving the Whole Package: Shed the Shame and Live Life Out Loud, an award-winning speaker, and the host of the Midlife Love Out Loud podcast. She’s shared the stage with John Gray, Marci Shimoff, Sheri Winston, and other leading voices in the field of personal growth.__________________Find Junie here:Junie’s Website: https://midlifeloveoutloud.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/midlifeloveoutloud FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1962269713813419 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/midlifeloveoutloud Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/love-coach-junie-moon-995262a/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MidlifeLoveOutLoud Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midlife-love-out-loud-podcast/id1477913318 Free gift: http://midlifeloveoutloud.com/innercriticgift Support the showI’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.