Find Your Voice, Change Your Life

Today, I interview Elisa Negroni, who grew up silenced—not just by family secrets and trauma, but by a culture that told her to stay small, stay quiet, and never question authority.Raised in Puerto Rico and Jamaica, Elisa learned early that speaking up came with consequences. A teacher once told her she wasn’t “college material,” and a cruel stepmother punished her for simply existing.The silence followed her into adulthood. For years, Elisa avoided the spotlight, convinced she had nothing to say. But deep down, she longed to be seen. Everything changed when she discovered Speaking Circles and began her journey inward—toward healing, self-trust, and the voice she thought she’d lost forever.Today, Elisa is a coach who helps others drop their masks, rewrite old stories, and reclaim their power to speak. In this powerful episode, she shares what it really takes to break free from silence and stand in your truth.Her story is a testament to what’s possible when you stop hiding and start honoring who you are.__________________Elisa Negroni is a certified coach, facilitator, and storyteller who helps people break free from silence and reconnect with their true voice. Trained by Radiant Coaches Academy, Speaking Circles International, and in the Peace Circle process, she brings both deep training and lived experience to every session.With 30+ years in community relations, personal development, and transformational coaching, Elisa blends professional insight with her own powerful journey—from growing up silenced to guiding others through their healing.She helps clients uncover the stories that have kept them hidden and speak from a place of truth, presence, and self-compassion.__________________Find Elisa here:https://www.elisanegroni.com/https://relationalpresence.com/Free Gift: https://power2speak.myflodesk.com/d7gv7aooheSupport 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 Kristina Milosevic, who once struggled with shyness and fear of speaking up. As a child growing up in Serbia, she often felt more comfortable staying in the background. She was the responsible older sister, creative and observant, but hesitant to be fully seen. That shyness stayed with her into adulthood, where the pressure to meet expectations in a corporate marketing job built up over time.Eventually, that pressure affected her health and landed her in the hospital—a wake-up call that made her realize she could no longer live without her own voice.Kristina realized she had been living by someone else’s script. She courageously left her job, started freelancing, and began showing up in new ways. Her first steps onto her own path began with a challenge she had never faced before—creating videos despite the shakiness and discomfort of being seen and heard in a second language. It was the beginning of discovering what she was truly meant to do.Today, Kristina helps others find their voice online. She supports entrepreneurs in building a real presence through social media, video, and personal connection. Her message is simple but powerful: be who you truly are, not who others expect you to be. Speak up, show up, and live your own life.__________________Kristina is a digital marketing coach, speaker, and podcast creator who helps entrepreneurs build an authentic online presence. She is co-founder of the PromoZiS Team, a freelance group specializing in web design, digital marketing, and business consulting.Through her podcast Growing Business Online, Kristina shares insights on visibility, strategy, and the mindset behind meaningful growth. She coaches small business owners on website creation, brand identity, SEO, and social media strategy.She is also a co-author of Global Women in Business, a collaborative book featuring voices from around the world. Kristina loves connecting with entrepreneurs locally and internationally, and is passionate about helping people grow their business in alignment with who they are.When she’s not working, she enjoys singing, public speaking, and hiking 10 kilometers nearly every day.__________________Find Kristina here:https://team.promozis.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ksmcoaching https://www.facebook.com/PromoZiSteam/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/ksmcoaching https://www.linkedin.com/in/snezana-kristina-milosevic-890a4b21/ https://www.instagram.com/kristism7/ 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 Patty de Vries, who grew up in a challenging environment where she felt the weight of constantly meeting expectations, pushing herself to succeed while disconnecting from her own needs.She learned early on to stay quiet and observe, taking her mother’s saying, "children should be seen and not heard," to heart. She also pushed herself to meet high expectations as an athlete, training with intensity from a young age. This drive helped her achieve success, but it came at a cost, as she often ignored her own physical and emotional needs.Much later in life, a severe back injury forced her to slow down and reconnect with herself. This physical setback gave her the time and space to reflect, reconnect with nature, and rediscover a deeper connection with her body and spirit, breaking free from the old patterns that had kept her silent.Today, Patty shares what she’s learned about letting go of expectations, listening deeply, and finding her true voice. She encourages others to break free from old patterns, reconnect with their authentic selves, and embrace the energy that moves through every cell of their being.__________________As the Chief Experience Officer at Living Well USA, Patty de Vries has dedicated her life to guiding individuals and teams toward meaningful transformation. With a background in psychology, a distinguished athletic career at Stanford, and decades of experience in wellness leadership, including roles at Stanford University, she blends science, spirituality, and practical wisdom to help people align their thoughts, energy, and actions with their true potential.__________________Find Patty here:https://livingwellusa.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/pattydevries/https://www.facebook.com/pattypurpurdevrieshttps://www.youtube.com/@livingwellusahttps://www.instagram.com/livingwellca/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 Joan Perry, who once built a life filled with achievement, only to realize she was climbing the wrong ladder in the wrong building. Outwardly, everything looked perfect—career success, recognition, and status—but inwardly, she felt disconnected from herself. Joan shares how, for years, she followed the path that culture and family laid out for her, without ever stopping to ask if it was truly her own.Growing up in a high-achieving family in the Midwest, Joan learned early on that visibility and accomplishment were rewarded. Her voice, however, was often silenced. In a household where airtime was earned and expression was measured, she became an achiever—excelling in sports, academics, and later, in a groundbreaking career on Wall Street. Yet behind all the success was a deep longing for something more real, something that felt alive inside her.The breakthrough came when everything she had built began to fall apart. A divorce she never saw coming stripped away the vision she had constructed. It forced her to pause for the first time and listen inward. Joan realized she had shaped her entire life around survival, not authenticity. Stability had come at the cost of her true voice. This disruption marked the true beginning of her Heroine’s Journey—the journey back to herself.Today, Joan Perry is the founder of The Heroine’s Journey and a bestselling author, helping women everywhere reclaim their voice, self-worth, and authentic path. Through her writing, coaching, and her podcast The Heroine’s Journey, she teaches that real success starts when we stop performing and start listening within. Her story is a powerful reminder that it is never too late to rewrite the story and become the Heroine of your own life.__________________Joan Perry is a cultural luminary and advocate for women becoming the heroines of their own lives. Her credits include bestselling author, business owner, securities trader, high-performance coach, pioneering high-net-worth investor, philanthropist, and publisher.Her deepest joy comes from sharing her epic work, The Heroine’s Journey to True Wealth, with other women who are also trying to rewrite their heroine's story.She is an international bestselling author, host of The Heroine's Journey Podcast, and founder of The Heroine's Journey. She is also the author of The Heroine's Journey: The Art of Becoming the Heroine of Your Own Life.__________________Find Joan here:https://www.facebook.com/TheJoanPerrylinkedin.com/in/the-joan-perrywww.WalkTheJourney.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 Julia Miron, who grew up in a home where speaking her truth wasn’t safe. As the youngest in a household filled with anger, control, and emotional chaos, she learned to stay silent to protect herself. She retreated into journaling, music, and nature—places where she didn’t have to explain herself, where she could finally breathe. Her voice, however, remained hidden. Her words barely above a whisper, while the other kids laughed and played freely.Years later, when a loss made her realize that she wanted to speak, the fear of being seen and heard still held her tightly. The idea of standing in front of people terrified her. She had tried Toastmasters, but the pressure to perform only made things worse.Then someone told her about Speaking Circles. Skeptical but curious, she walked into her first session—and everything shifted. For the first time, she stood in front of others and didn’t feel the need to hide. There were no judgments, no corrections, just presence. Even though she was sweating and trembling, she was allowed to simply be. She began showing up not only on the page but in her voice.Today, she is a certified mindfulness teacher and coach, supporting individuals through one-on-one sessions that blend mindfulness and Speaking Circles. She’s also launching her podcast, The Messy Meditator, where she opens honest conversations about the beauty and struggle of being human. Through her work, she helps others find the safety, stillness, and self-acceptance she had searched for most of her life.__________________Julia Rebecca Miron is a mindfulness teacher and coach, qualified by Brown University as a Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) teacher. Her mission is to make mindfulness accessible to more people by demystifying the idea that you need to be perfect and Buddha-like to practice it. She believes that showing up messy is better than not showing up at all.She’s also a writer, and her work has been featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul. She’s currently preparing to launch her podcast, The Messy Meditator, which explores mindfulness, messiness, and life.In her free time, she loves hiking, listening to R&B and hip hop, connecting with loved ones, and doting on her dog, Disco.__________________Find Julia here:https://www.instagram.com/the.messy.meditator/https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliarebeccamiron/https://www.themessymeditator.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​.

Today, I interview Holly MacCue, who used to walk into work feeling sick with dread, afraid she would be exposed as a fraud. Even after being recognized by her boss as a “shining star,” she couldn’t shake the fear that she didn’t belong. A high achiever since childhood, Holly placed enormous pressure on herself to succeed—and it eventually made her physically ill. She lost her voice to laryngitis, and with it came a wake-up call: something had to change.As a sensitive, creative child, Holly had always expressed herself through writing, but she was never the loudest in the room. She was thoughtful, disciplined, and driven. Though her parents never pushed her, she pushed herself hard. That drive followed her into adulthood, until one day, sitting at dinner with friends, she thought, “I guess I’ll just be happy when I retire.” That moment cracked something open.She began redefining what success meant to her. She left corporate life, started her own business, and gradually built a life aligned with her values. The turning point deepened when her newborn daughter struggled with undiagnosed health issues. Despite being dismissed by professionals, Holly trusted her instincts and fought to be heard. That experience became a powerful lesson in using her voice for what matters.Today, Holly helps entrepreneurs do the same. Through her Magnetic Selling Method, she shows them how to speak clearly, connect deeply, and stop hiding. Her message is simple: your voice already exists—what matters is choosing how to use it.__________________Holly MacCue is a Sales and Messaging Strategist for service-based entrepreneurs, running a multi–six-figure business while raising two young children. She is a Professional Certified Coach with the International Coaching Federation and brings over a decade of experience as a brand strategist for global companies like Unilever and Procter & Gamble, where she led strategy for a $200 million portfolio.Through her signature Magnetic Selling Method™, Holly has helped over 1,000 clients across 70+ industries master their messaging, stand out as the no-brainer choice, and attract pre-sold, ready-to-invest clients. Her approach is grounded in buyer psychology and has empowered clients to double their prices, quadruple their income, sell out their first launches, and scale to multiple six figures in as little as 12 months.A sought-after speaker on magnetic sales and messaging, Holly has been featured in Entrepreneur, Forbes, Huffington Post, and Entrepreneurs on Fire. Her work is about helping people show up with clarity, confidence, and service—and making it easy for the right clients to find them.__________________Find Holly here:https://www.instagram.com/hollymaccue/https://www.facebook.com/holly.maccue.3/https://www.facebook.com/groups/empoweredentrepreneursconnecthttps://hollymaccue.com/highticketsales/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 Dr. Julie Lopez, who spent much of her life perfecting a performative voice to fit in and avoid rejection. Adopted as an infant and raised without biological connections, she unconsciously shaped her identity around external approval. She excelled in academics, leadership, and later, a high-powered consulting career, yet deep inside, she felt disconnected from her true self.Despite outward success, whispers of dissatisfaction grew louder. A pivotal trip to Spain, combined with years of introspection, made her realize she had been living by survival-driven patterns rather than authentic choices. She left her prestigious career behind and pursued psychology, focusing on implicit memory—the hidden codes that shape behavior, fears, and confidence.Now, Julie helps high achievers uncover and rewire these unconscious patterns through her work and book, Live Empowered. Her journey is a powerful reminder that true confidence isn’t just about speaking well—it’s about speaking from a place of deep authenticity.__________________Dr Julie Lopez delights in guiding high achievers, executives and CEOs through the “unconscious advantage” so they can move aside hidden roadblocks to health, wealth and personal alignment. She is an author, speaker, entrepreneur and human systems expert, particularly versed at working with implicit memory.__________________Find Julie here:https://www.instagram.com/drjulielopez/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-julie-lopez/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 Robyn Smith, who spent much of her early life feeling unheard and afraid to speak up. As a child, she was timid and quiet, often holding back her voice in class and around others. Early experiences of separation from her mother left her with a deep sense of not being fully seen or heard. At home, she had the freedom to make choices, but in the outside world, she shrank into the background, afraid of being judged.Even as she grew older, the fear of speaking up stayed with her. She taught gymnastics as a kid and later became a yoga teacher, but she still struggled to trust her voice. She believed she wasn’t loud enough, and speaking in front of others felt like a challenge.Her breakthrough came when she immersed herself in deeper personal work. Through intensive training, she began to understand the patterns that held her back and found the confidence to use her voice in a new way.Now, Robyn helps women struggling with relationship challenges, guiding them to break free from old patterns and build deeper, more fulfilling connections. She teaches practical tools for communication, emotional healing, and self-worth—helping others experience love and relationships in a way that feels truly supportive and nourishing.__________________Robyn Smith is an award-winning speaker and a leading trauma, communication, and relationship coach for women. As the founder of the Rock Your Relationship movement, she has helped thousands turn frustration into fulfillment by building deeper, more conscious, and loving connections.With inspiration from her thriving 23-year marriage, Robyn blends practical relationship strategies with emotional healing to create lasting change. Her approach goes beyond communication, reshaping how women experience love and connection.As a certified master trauma coach, she specializes in helping clients break free from trauma and unhealthy patterns, restoring harmony within relationships and within themselves.__________________Find Robyn here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCprnkDKhwO6Nr1YR5rasnBA/videoshttps://www.facebook.com/groups/consciousthrivingrelationshipshttps://www.instagram.com/robyn.smith.relationshipcoach/https://consciousthrivingrelationships.com/https://calendly.com/robyn-smith-coach/relationship-breakthrough-session*Grab the FREE Connection Cure Communication Checklist here:https://consciousthrivingrelationships.com/ultimate-communication-checklist/ *Get my 3-Step Plan to the Biggest Relationship Mistakes here:https://consciousthrivingrelationships.com/home/ *Learn more about our low-cost online yoga membership here:https://consciousthrivingrelationships.com/inner-freedom-yoga-online-classes/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 Linda Graf, who lost her confidence in speaking after a sudden family financial crisis during her teenage years shattered her sense of stability and support. Once a child who thrived in speech contests and artistic pursuits, Linda found herself unable to speak in front of even a small group, carrying this fear well into adulthood.As Linda navigated her career in sales and later coaching, she felt an undeniable pull to confront her fear of speaking. Witnessing a friend courageously express herself at her wedding after training with Speaking Circles inspired Linda to seek similar help. This pivotal moment marked the beginning of her journey to rediscover her voice.Through Speaking Circles, Linda learned that presence and listening are at the heart of authentic expression. She embraced practices that built her mental resilience, enabling her to speak with confidence while staying true to herself.Today, Linda is a relationship and mental fitness coach, guiding women to strengthen their relationships through curiosity, compassion, and courage. She empowers her clients to recognize and overcome self-sabotaging patterns, helping them find their voice in both personal and professional relationships.__________________Linda Graf is a Relationship and Mental FitnessTM Coach who’s been coaching and leading workshops for 20+ years. Linda helps women 45+ open to the possibility of what their most important relationships can be - and provides them with step by step tools and practices so they can make it happen.__________________Find Linda here:https://www.lindagrafcoaching.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​.

Today, I interview Sarah Dawkins, who struggled with losing her voice after being constantly told to be quiet as a child. Her curiosity was often met with dismissal, and a negative experience in school left her feeling silenced and small. Later in life, despite her passion for teaching and helping others, the fear of public speaking deepened her internal struggle with self-expression.Sarah grew up in a strict household and found herself rebelling in her late teens as a way to reclaim her suppressed vibrancy. However, emotional wounds from her upbringing and bullying shaped her life choices, leading her to pursue a career in nursing where she could provide the care and support she had longed for.A major turning point came when Sarah began to question conventional approaches to health and healing. This exploration opened the door to self-healing and a new understanding of wellness that transformed her life.Today, Sarah helps clients reconnect with their own inner wisdom and strength. Through her book, podcast, and coaching, she guides people to take simple steps toward healing and discover the quiet voice that leads to transformation.__________________Sarah Dawkins is a highly sought-after Holistic Health and Healing Coach, Keynote Speaker, and the Author of HEAL YOURSELF.As a former Registered Nurse with over twenty years of medical experience, Sarah brings a unique, integrative perspective to her work. She’s also a Multi-Award-Winning Entrepreneur and host of the popular health-focused podcast Heal Yourself with Sarah Dawkins.Sarah’s expertise spans from self-healing multiple chronic health issues to supporting clients in uncovering and addressing the root causes of their symptoms, empowering them to achieve vibrant, lasting health and transformative wellness.__________________Find Sarah here:Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdawkinsFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/dawkinsse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarah.dawkins.health Twitter: https://twitter.com/dawkins_sarah YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SarahDawkinsHealth Podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/healyourselfsarahdawkinshttps://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/heal-yourself-with-sarah-dawkins/id1670856549 Healing with Forgiveness ebook: https://mailchi.mp/b4d6ffbac1f1/healing-with-forgiveness 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​.