Find Your Voice, Change Your Life

Today, I interview Jeff Davis. Unfortunately, Jeff's childhood was filled with bullying. He was a late bloomer, so he was the little guy surrounded by other boys who were getting tall and growing up. Because of this, he didn't have a girlfriend and he was teased a lot. He also had a lisp and a self-soothing habit of sucking his thumb, and people often beat him up, called him names, and told him he was worthless and stupid. Jeff's parents loved him and did the best they could, but they had not equipped him with the foundation necessary for surviving all the negativity of this world. They were kind, hardworking people, but their way of responding to Jeff was to use words they thought would solve problems but which were actually hurting him and making his life more difficult. The bullying and lack of support from his parents in his childhood led to very difficult high school years for Jeff. In the spring of his senior year, after being diagnosed with clinical depression, Jeff went to the garage one day, grabbed a length of rope, and headed toward a tree in his backyard, where he planned to take his life. Then, Jeff refers to a "spark of hope" which was present with him in that moment, telling him to put the rope down and go back to his room. He felt comforted for a brief moment. Later the spark of hope let him know that he would change lives by sharing his story about this rock-bottom time for him. This "intuitive knowing" told him that he was meant to live longer. He went up to his room and did a meditation, during which he had the most profound experience. He had the epiphany that our self worth has nothing to do with our circumstances. Today, Jeff reminds us that we can seek help, and that we have all the answers we need, deep down inside of us. __________________ Jeff Davis is the award-winning author of three books, in addition to being a blogger, professional speaker, and consultant. He has done keynote speeches internationally and is a sought-after expert in mental health, authentic leadership, and resiliency. He’s also a TEDx speaker, Forbes contributor, and consistently featured on the top podcasts in the world. Jeff frequently speaks to and consults with schools, nonprofits, organizations, associations, conferences, and businesses. Nicknamed The Muhammad Ali of Mental Health, he’s known for his ability to shine light on challenging topics. He’s been to five different continents and has a Master’s degree from Johns Hopkins Carey Business School. Originally from Connecticut, he currently lives abroad in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Find Jeff here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speakerjeffdavis/ https://www.youtube.com/@jeffdavisauthor https://www.facebook.com/authorjeffdavis https://jeffdspeaks.com/authentic-leadership-blog/ For a free PDF copy of Jeff's Amazon bestseller "The Power of Authentic Leadership", email him at jeff@jeffdspeaks.com. _________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.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 Suzannah Baum who grew up in a household where the order of things was for women to be quiet and not disrupt the status quo. She looked up to her mother and thought it was completely normal to keep her comments to herself, pushing personal opinions and emotional reactions down and bottling them up. She followed in those footsteps from a very young age. Because this was the model put before her, Suzannah was a very quiet, shy child. She tells us that she often felt ignored and overlooked, which in turn led to her preferring it that way. She never felt encouraged to speak up, so in stead she eventually preferred to be ignored and overlooked, hiding in the corner. She loved her family, but she was learning to keep her thoughts to herself, avoid conflict, and let the more opinionated family members take center stage. This nature grew in her and continued into her adult life, manifesting itself in her college experience and in her career. She avoided stepping up to present material, afraid of critical reactions from others. She says she would "cling to the quietness". She knew she was capable and qualified when it came to doing big, challenging things, but this was holding her back. She knew something had to change in her life. Shortly after graduating college, Suzannah joined Toastmasters. She was intimidated by it, and the "transformation" didn't come naturally for her. She became more and more frustrated, but forced herself to commit to it for 3 months. She realized that she alone was responsible for her life, and for taking advantage of the opportunities she was presented. She tells us about the "culture of the group", and the way it changed her. Yes, she was writing and practicing speeches, but it was more than that; people were actively engaging with her. They were focused, showing interest, and even taking notes. After realizing that people were truly, genuinely interested in what she had to say, Suzannah's self view shifted. She felt validated and affirmed by a new understanding that her thoughts were important and people wanted to acknowledge them. Today, Suzannah helps others to overcome their own fears and recognize the power of their own words. She gives credit to the powerful and kind listeners who encouraged her along the way. __________________ Suzannah Baum is a public speaking and presentation skills expert, an executive speech coach, an author, and a speaker. She works with business professionals who want to position themselves as leaders by communicating with more confidence, impact, and human connection. Suzannah is the best-selling author of "From Nervous to Nailed It: Find Your Voice, Present With Impact, and Unleash Your Ultimate Speaking Potential." Released in late 2022, it is the quintessential guide for those who are looking to speak up, share their message in a compelling and authentic way, and not feel like they have to hold themselves back anymore. On a personal note... Suzannah lives in Montreal, is Mom to a 12-year-old boy and a 2-year-old budgie, and always travels with chocolate. Find Suzannah here: https://suzannahbaum.com/https://www.youtube.com/suzannahbaum http://ca.linkedin.com/in/suzannahbaum http://www.instagram.com/suzannahbaum https://www.facebook.com/suzannahbaumpublicspeaking/_________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.cSupport 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 James Guzzetta. From the very beginning of his life, James had an intimate connection with nature and music. At age 1, James remembers being captivated by the light streaming down on him through tree branches. At age 4, he began playing music, and his experience heightened his awareness that he was having a divine connection to the deepest parts of himself. James also remembers the incredible backyard oasis at his grandmother's house. He grew up around lush, green fullness of plant life, and all kinds of animals and critters. It was paradise for him, until she was forced to move inland because of her asthma. Back at home, James sank into the boring, grey, conventional childhood. Kids at school were miserable, and so was he. So he was given the option to go to parochial school or music school, and this was the beginning of his musical education. Eventually, James landed in San Diego and began studying  with some very wise and influential people. One mentor inspired him in such a way that he felt that he truly connected to his "inner ear", a sensation he now compares to that first encounter with the sun through the trees; he was filled with warmth and light. This caused a shift in James. He realized his own true inner self, and he began to feel oneness with his expression of that self in relation to nature. He began meeting with others, making music together out in nature using found objects. James felt his own relationship with everything in the world, and the connection that lives in those depths. Through this process, James discovered that "we can tap into greater wisdom, greater knowledge as well, but also into who we are as a human being, a spirit, having a human experience as a human being." Now, James leads workshops about mindfulness, awareness, listening, and self-discovery. He uses music and other techniques to show others how to shift into the state of being fully present with their inner selves and truly connected with nature.__________________ James Guzzetta has been a musician since the age of 4, first studying classical music, winning competitions, and as a guest soloist with the San Diego Symphony. James went on to explore electronic and ethnic music forms. In the early 1970s, studying with North Indian Vocal Master Pandit Pran Nath, James discovered his inner ear and True Voice. During this time he started a series of musical journeys in SW canyonlands, deserts, and other remote and sacred sites, taking small groups of friends to share a dynamic and reconnecting experience with Nature and their True Self. After 40 years working in Corporate America and 2 Startups, he has returned to offering transformational workshops and retreats - all focused on Nature as a Gateway to our True Self. Find James here: http://www.journeyin2.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesguzzetta/ https://www.facebook.com/james.guzzetta.18 https://twitter.com/GuzzettaJames __________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.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 Jami Carlacio whose mother died when Jami was an infant. An older sibling cared for her for a few months, and then her grandmother took over for a while. When Jami was five, the family was gathered in Spokane and her grandmother suddenly died while they were there. An already precarious little life had just gotten infinitely more difficult. Jami was left behind to stay with family in Spokane until she was 21. During this time, Jami felt lost and alone. She began using drugs and alcohol at age 12 to ease the pain of feeling unlovable and unwanted. Jami struggled with alcohol addiction for the next 25 years, living in misery and experiencing suicidal thoughts. She had hit a spiritual rock bottom. Then, she looked back on her grandmother. Her grandmother had cared for her when no one else would. She had planted the seed of love during those first crucial years of Jami's life. Jami began to understand that she was lovable and that she had been very loved by someone. She saw that perhaps she was, in fact, still worthy of love. She realized that alcohol couldn't fill the void in her life. It couldn't heal her heart. Only love could do that. Her grandmother's sweet words came back to her, and this was the voice that empowered her to move forward and find value in herself. Jami then felt led to become a priest, but couldn't do this as a woman. So she went to New Haven and studied theology, earning an MDiv. God was leading her toward her purpose, and her purpose was to facilitate powerful, meaningful change and healing. She became a successful writer, coach, and activist.After experiencing so much loss, neglect, and trauma, Jami has come out so much stronger on the other side. She made it, and today she takes others by the hand to show them love and belonging. She has made it her life's work to help others find validation, encouragement, wholeness, and self-esteem by harnessing the power of their own voices. __________________ Jami Carlacio is a master-certified trauma-informed life coach, a writer, and a writing consultant. She has also consulted on gender equity in the workplace as well as on white privilege and anti-bias. Jami holds a PhD in rhetoric and composition and has taught writing and literature at various colleges and universities, including Cornell and Yale. She is the author of numerous scholarly works that feature the rhetorical genius of religious Black women in the public sphere. She is the editor of a collection of essays designed to help educators teach the work of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison. Her most recent book is an edited collection entitled Activism in the Name of God: Religion and Black Feminist Public Intellectuals from the Nineteenth Century to the Present, due out in August of 2023 from the University Press of Mississippi. After about 25 years in academia, Jami left to pursue her spiritual calling. Since June of this year, she has focused her attention on coaching women who struggle with trauma-informed self-sabotaging behavior, who are re-evaluating their career choices, and who want to develop the self-confidence to choose healthy, affirming personal and professional relationships. Find Jami here:https://jamicarlacio.academia.edu/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088134970508 https://www.empoweredlifecoaching.me Access Jami's book, From Trauma to Triumph: The Spiritual Path to Joy: https://empoweredlifecoaching.me/empowered-products-for-you/ebooks ________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be conSupport 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 Lorraine Segal. Lorraine grew up in southern California. She tells us about her struggle to feel the same love she saw elsewhere around her. Her own parents never showed unconditional love, so Lorraine lacked the support and affection she craved. She felt she could never measure up and that everything had to be perfect, and in response to this, she often procrastinated.  She was afraid of doing it wrong, so she didn't do it at all. Her parents meant well, but they never gave her the foundation she needed to feel like she belonged in this world. Lorraine also knew societal struggles from a young age. Her family was Jewish, and she was surrounded by conservative Christians who thought they were going to hell. There was a lot of persecution and rejection, and Lorraine often felt like an outcast. Lorraine already had such a low view of herself that she hadn't even realized she was being persecuted and was experiencing antisemitism. She thought there was something wrong with her and that she deserved to be treated that way. In terms of finding her voice, Lorraine says she was never really without a voice, per se. She was very articulate and enjoyed presenting, teaching, and connecting with others, but her real issue was her own belief that no one would value anything she had to say, so none of it would matter. Her unique way of thinking, problem-solving, and making connections made her feel alone and unable to relate with others. Who would ever understand her? "The personal is political," she reminds us. She began to fight for the person she was underneath all the disrespect from others and from herself. She took action in the world to uncover her own fears, heal her own wounds, and make sure her own voice was being heard. She was in recovery and was learning to confront the thought patterns that had harmed her life for so long. She attended workshops and focused on her inner and outer dialogue. In the process of writing her book, she realized that she didn't need to focus on who would read her book and what they'd say. She learned that it was just as important for her own inner self that she complete the physical act of getting her words out on paper. She has forgiven herself and other words for all the negative, belittling words and actions against her. And in her work today, her gift to the world is to help others learn and practice forgiveness, too. __________________ After surviving the 50's and 60's, as well as twenty years in toxic academia as a tenured professor, Lorraine Segal was inspired to started her own business, Conflict Remedy (ConflictRemedy.com), happily teaching, coaching, blogging and consulting around workplace conflict transformation. She is addicted to reading novels and enjoys walking and hiking in beautiful Northern California, where she lives with her wife. Her cartoon muse, Bookie, insisted that she write her new memoir, Angels and Earthworms: an unexpected journey to joy, love, and miracles. Find Lorraine here: https://conflictremedy.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorrainesegal/ https://www.facebook.com/lorraine.segal Sign up to receive forgiveness affirmations that help us forgive ourselves and others: https://conflictremedy.com/book _____________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.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 Hrideep Barot. Growing up in India, Hrideep says he thinks his lack of confidence began at a very young age when he was struggling with night terrors. He couldn't sleep without having nightmares, so he ended up in therapy and began suffering from crippling social anxiety. He finally started to have some relief from the night terrors in middle school, but this is also when he noticed that he lacked confidence. He'd been comfortable and poised while practicing a poem for the talent show, but when the show started and the lights hit him, he felt a mysterious fear on that stage. From this point forward, he became an introvert at school. It was a great school with good opportunities and programs, and as Hrideep saw his friends developing themselves and starting to date and find their paths, he remained shy and felt very left behind in a lot of ways. As he started college, Hrideep realized his social anxiety was going to pose a huge problem. He would need to do lots of presentations and group projects. And what would he do when he graduated and needed to find a job? He knew something had to change. Ironically, since Hrideep wasn't good at math, the only degree program that didn't involve math was communications! During this program, he discovered that although it was a very academic program full of mostly writing instead of speeches, his classmates and peers were full of so much variety. They were cultured and diverse, so charismatic and curious and ready to learn. When he was forced to stand up and introduce himself to his classmates, they were confused by his anxiety. This was the turning point for Hrideep. He was about to spend the next few years with this group of people, and he was determined to overcome his fear. He looked for a coach but couldn't afford one. He spent hours on Google and the advice was unrealistic, easier said than done. He finally came up with a practical idea. He wrote down famous speeches given by other people, memorized them, and practiced emulating those people in the mirror. Eventually, a friend got sick and needed him to deliver a speech for her, and it went incredibly well because he knew the information he needed to present. The high of a good presentation stuck with him, and he felt a new sense of confidence. He realized that the "worst-case scenario is not that bad." Now, after years of practice, Hrideep runs Frantically Speaking, a company that helps professionals become better speakers and communicators. __________________ Hrideep Barot is the Founder of Frantically Speaking, which has grown from 0 to 100,000 readers within a span of merely 2 years. He has coached people from companies like Meta, Tesla, Deloitte, KPMG, and Adobe, and has trained people from various universities like Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Hult, and more. Previously, he worked in the pitching team for one of India's fastest-growing agencies presenting to companies like Netflix, Pepsi, Google, Amazon Prime, and Coke. Find Hrideep here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa2Tff_UeQJgYWfXCulx6Xw http://www.instagram.com/frantically.speaking/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrideepbarot/  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjX1Sj38ykU The Ultimate Public Speaking Checklist (printable PDF): https://franticallyspeaking.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/The-Public-Speaking-Checklist-1.pdf _________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step GuSupport 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 Gail Kraft, who fought for her life from the very beginning after her mother made an attempt to abort her. Although Gail lived, she never got to form a strong relationship with her mother, because her mom died when Gail was just three years old. From that point, her father treated her like she was a burden, an inconvenient barrier keeping him from winning women over on dates. And so from a very early age, Gail learned to be a people pleaser, hoping to keep the peace and make people like her. She was desperate for love and connection. At age 13, Gail had a confrontation with her father, after which she joined a gang. She and her peers hung out together in various groups and areas throughout downtown Boston where she lived. They lived a lifestyle of risk and danger, but those things made them very protective of each other. At one point, Gail was assaulted by a fellow member who was walking her home, and she just barely avoided being raped. She let the others know what happened, and mysteriously this person was never seen again. At 16, she completely moved out of her father's house and went to live with her brother and his family in the suburbs. The rule was that she was not to stir up any trouble with his wife, and that she was no longer to have any gang affiliations. Gail says that's what saved her. She was living in a safe area and her brother was helping her to set some standards for her life. Fast forwarding to the development of Gail's career, her people-pleasing skills really benefited her. She was a high performer who aimed to impress, and so she did impress people and gain recognition and success. Eventually ending up in a management role, she one day had no choice but to lead in a presentation, and although she was scared, she later realized what a turning point this was for her. She realized that even though it was a job, her words were having an effect on people's lives. That's when everything changed. After many years of hard work and personal development, today Gail helps to empower others to tap into their full potential. She shows them their true uniqueness, guides them to freedom, and teaches them that the life they are seeking is within arm's reach. __________________ Gail Kraft is a keynote speaker, podcaster, Empowerment Master, author of The Empowering Process, and thought leader. She works with clients and runs programs offering various approaches for accessing self-awareness, focus, and emotional balance in order to tap into your natural flow for success. Krafting The Flow Formula is how you gain higher self-awareness, create smarter goals, and lower stress, allowing you to make conscious choices and take control of your life today. Find Gail here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gaillkraft/ https://www.facebook.com/gail.kraft.77 https://twitter.com/buildbravery https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLXX5hXmeaRPuA_znsplCarsRq5Bs1UdW___________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.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 Sheldon R.S. Crocker who grew up in a very, very small town in Newfoundland, Canada. He was born with Arthrogryposis, which causes muscle atrophy and contractions at most joints. From birth he was challenged with not being able to walk. In order to become the inspiring speaker he is today, he has a story of abuse but also one of resilience and strength. Sheldon was unable to crawl as a baby. He wore braces on his legs, and doctors thought he would never be able to walk (although he did teach himself). Despite plenty of surgeries, he also could not straighten or raise his arms, which prevented him from doing many things we take for granted, like the ability to open a door or brush our teeth or lift things. As if that didn't fill his life with enough challenges, Sheldon's father was also an alcoholic and would come home and assault his mother. There were no siblings, so Sheldon was on his own. His father abused him as well, saying he would never amount to anything and that he should've never been born. Despite hearing those heartbreaking, hurtful words, Sheldon pushed forward. But his mother also abused him, beating him with a belt and criticizing him, comparing him to other people. He isolated himself and never really developed communication skills. This was his best way to protect himself from the meanness all around him. But this was no way to live. He didn't want to avoid people or be avoided by them. He didn't want to lash out or bottle up his feelings anymore. At 18, he had become addicted to drugs and alcohol. He wasn't coping well. He was forced out of the town. He moved to another town, drank his way through college, and though he had nothing, walked himself all the way to the addiction rehab center. Deep down, he knew he had a purpose. He went through a trauma program, where he learned to process his experiences and understand his own story. He'd always known that something great would eventually happen in his life, and he finally found a way to understand his journey and feel a new sense of hope. In sharing his story with others, he has found his purpose in life. He has written a book and loves to pass his story of hope on to others. __________________ Despite being born with Arthrogryposis, Sheldon Crocker inspires his audience with his distinctive style and unforgettable humor. He has appeared on several national news programs. His inclusion in the MerB'y Documentary and Calendar made history as the first disabled person to appear in such a publication. The Dale Carnegie Human Relations Award was awarded to him. Compassionate, empathetic, and humble about his message, he has lived the issues he speaks about. He has published "KEEP on WALKING - A Transformative & Inspirational Journey." His goal is also to help make a difference in someone's life that he wishes he had received when he was young. Sheldon says, "For most of my life, I felt like I had no voice, too afraid to speak up." Find Sheldon here: https://www.sheldonstransformativethinking.com/https://www.facebook.com/Sheldon.R.S.Crockerhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sheldon-r-s-crocker/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCITIPJL_xgk0SGKeM5Acc8w https://www.gofundme.com/f/sheldon-helping-others-perhaps-someone-you-know https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B089LN85G6 https://www.instagram.com/sheldon_r.s._crocker/ https://twitter.com/SheldonCrocker1 __________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to ySupport 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 Melahni Ake who was born in Florida, but shortly afterwards her family moved to their hometown of Indianapolis where her  grandparents had established a thriving church ministry. When her father suffered a sudden illness the family went back to Florida for his treatment, but he died quickly and they then returned to Indiana. Through all of these moves, Melahni had to learn to adapt quickly. She attended so many different schools and had so many new beginnings, she found ways to be resilient and communicate with people in lots of different situations. Melahni points out to us that during this time as a young child, she could have felt fear and dwelled on everything she was lacking. There were a lot of unknowns for her. But she says that despite not having siblings to lean on, and after losing her father, she somehow still felt an inner need to push through. She kept learning and felt driven to find ways to be of service and continue to develop herself. Her family had done big things in this world, and she knew she had a big purpose for her own life. So she chose joy. She joined a hockey league as the only girl, and stayed on for 12 years. Her confidence grew as she learned how to communicate with people who weren't like her. She uses the amazing analogy that she learned to look at life like a hockey puck, visualizing where it's going to be instead of focusing on where it is now. Another experience she relates to us is the sheer panic she felt over being eliminated at her job at age 50. She had a meltdown, as I'm sure many people would, and ended up in the hospital. Her anxiety almost killed her, and she no longer had a plan for her life. But she has realized since then that we have to harness our purpose and create a strategy for it – a complete mindset and way of operating. Now as a coach, Melahni thinks back to those magical years during her early childhood, using similar joyful inspiration to guide others toward their own paths filled with light and fulfillment. __________________ Melahni Ake is the founder of Everyday Leaders Professional Coaching and Consulting from Indianapolis, IN which provides leadership development resources and strategies to corporations, non-profits, and community programs to create sustainable systems for consistent growth. She’s been a Maxwell Leadership coach, speaker, and trainer since 2016, and in 2020 became the first US Affiliate WHY Coach with the WHY Institute. Melahni believes that consistent personal growth provides the clarity and the courage to overcome any obstacle in our life. She’s founded multiple womens leadership programs including co-founding SCALE for Women helping women achieve SALES Confidence and Leadership Excellence! Find Melahni here: http://www.everydayleaders.com/ https://m.facebook.com/groups/everydayleaderswithmelahniake/?ref=share https://www.linkedin.com/in/melahni-ake-everydayleaders https://www.instagram.com/everydayleaders50in50/ https://www.youtube.com/user/melahniake ___________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.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 Leanne Dorish, who says that people have always paid attention to her because of her height. She learned very early on that people were always watching. When she spoke, her stature sometimes led to people seeing her voice as too strong. She pulled back a bit and became a skilled listener. She was teased consistently for one thing or another. Leanne even recalls being teased by family members. Once at a family dinner, she stood up to defend her dad during a discussion, and everyone laughed at her. She carried that hurt and fear for decades, feeling like she couldn't stand up or speak out. As she got older, her peers never really understood her either. In high school, her very slender stature stood out even more, as baggy clothes were the trend and she found herself swimming in them. Most people didn't understand that underneath it all, she had a normal woman's body. She did nothing to correct them for fear of negative reactions. We see here that she wasn't afraid to speak; she was afraid of the response afterward. After she graduated, Leanne says the frustration had built up enough over the years that she had become bitter, snapping at people who made critical remarks or questions based on her height. She realized she was pushing people away. She began working with the homeless community, and this was eye-opening for her. She found her courage in advocating for people who needed help. She got her Master's degree and became a counselor, learning different techniques for speaking with people. When Leanne gave birth to her son nine weeks early, she found herself thrown into a whole new world. She was terrified by how sick he was, but she couldn't let her fear hold her back because she knew she had to stand up for her son and his care. She had counseled countless others, but this true test was in learning to use her skills and knowledge for her own situation. She strove to learn more. She eventually "caught the wave", found a coach, and has found new ways to grow and challenge herself ever since. __________________Leanne is a trauma counselor, clinical supervisor, and proud Mama of a 2014 NICU graduate. She is an author, speaker, and blogger. Leanne loves supporting individuals to move from frustration to freedom, which in turn grows Love. She’s an amateur genealogist, and loves being creative and spending time with her family. Find Leanne here: http://www.leannedorishcounselling.com/ https://www.mynicufamily.com __________________I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.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​.