JEFF WAUGH, MD. When Your Voice Stops Working and No One Knows Why – Functional Neurological Disorder, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and the Search for Answers

JEFF WAUGH, MD. When Your Voice Stops Working and No One Knows Why – Functional Neurological Disorder, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and the Search for Answers

🎧 Speaking of Talking When Your Voice Stops Working and No One Knows Why – Functional Neurological Disorder, Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and the Search for Answers Guest: Dr. Jeff Waugh, Neurologist, UT Southwestern Medical Center Episode Summary In this episode, Jenni sits down with Dr. Jeff Waugh to talk about Functional Neurological Disorder and what it has to do with the voice. FND is a condition where the brain’s networks lose their ability to communicate efficiently, producing real and sometimes severe symptoms that have no structural cause. Dr. Waugh explains how FND can manifest as a voice disorder, where it overlaps with Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and why the two are related but not the same. He also talks about something that comes up in his clinic constantly: the loss of automaticity. When we start paying too much attention to something the body normally does without thinking, we can make it worse. The conversation moves into diagnosis, treatment, and what recovery looks like when FND is part of the picture. It ends where it probably should: with hope.  In This Episode * What Functional Neurological Disorder actually is, in plain language. * How FND can show up as a voice disorder, and what that looks like clinically. * The overlap between FND and Muscle Tension Dysphonia, and how to tell them apart. * Why the loss of automaticity is central to how FND works. * Why attention to a symptom can make it worse, and what to do instead. * Why so many patients go years without a correct diagnosis. * Why some physicians recognize FND and don’t say so, and what Dr. Waugh’s research found when he looked at why. * What a multidisciplinary FND clinic looks like and who needs to be in the room. * What recovery looks like, and whether it lasts. * Where FND research is headed, including the possibility of direct brain intervention for the most severe cases. Guest Bio Dr. Jeff Waugh is a neurologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he directs the Pediatric Movement Disorders Program and co-directs the Pediatric Functional Neurological Disorders Clinic at Children’s Medical Center Dallas. He trained in movement disorders and completed fellowships at Boston Children’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard University. He is a founding member of the Functional Neurological Disorder Society and has published research on FND diagnosis, disclosure, and treatment across pediatric and adult populations. Quote of the Episode “The brain already knows how to do the thing. It has just, in a lot of ways, kind of forgotten.” Dr. Jeff Waugh Mentions and Resources FND Hope: fndhope.org Functional Neurological Disorder Society: fndsociety.org Dr. Jeff Waugh at UT Southwestern: utswmed.org/doctors/jeffrey-waugh/ Dr. Lesley Childs’ episode on Muscle Tension Dysphonia: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3M8Bn65WHPOOSjGxk2QK9d?si=gJUedCEcQjmYiQHQ-QZWmQ Why neurologists don’t always communicate an FND diagnosis: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8920954/ Stigma in FND, including physician attitudes toward patients: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8567196/ The benefits of physical therapy for functional motor disorders: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00415-014-7631-1

JESSICA D TURNER. Your Accent Is Not the Problem - A Conversation About English Pronunciation Training

🎧 Speaking of Talking: Your Accent Is Not the Problem: A Conversation About English Pronunciation Training Guest: Jessica D. Turner, Speech Coach and Accent Specialist, Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services Episode Summary In this episode, Jenni sits down with her colleague, Jessica D. Turner, to talk about English pronunciation training - often called "accent reduction." They start with an uncomfortable question: who decided one accent is the standard? From there, they cover the mechanics of American English sounds, the role of rhythm and stress, and why a word can be pronounced correctly and still not land the way the speaker intended. The conversation also moves into territory that does not often make it into clinical discussions: the identity piece, the frustration, the clients who arrive because their boss sent them, and the ones who get emotional in the middle of a session and are not sure why. Jessica has been doing this work for more than twenty years. She came to it the same way her clients did, by having to change something about her own voice and discovering what was possible when she did. In This Episode * Why the term “accent reduction” is both useful and misleading, and what Jessica actually calls the goal of this work. * The difference between sounds, rhythm, stress, and inflection, and why each one matters for being understood. * Why the music of a language can cause communication breakdowns even when every word is pronounced correctly. * What clients who switch between languages throughout the workday are managing, and how Jessica helps them make the transition. * Why 20 minutes of daily practice beats two hours on the weekend, and how muscle memory works in pronunciation change. Guest Bio Jessica D. Turner is a speech coach, accent specialist, actor, and voice-over artist with more than twenty years of experience helping adults communicate with clarity and confidence. She holds a BFA from Southern Methodist University and was trained in the International Phonetic Alphabet and voice placement through both her undergraduate and graduate programs. She works with international professionals, executives, attorneys, physicians, and public speakers. Jessica coaches at Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services in Dallas, Texas. Quote of the Episode “I am not trying to change who you are. I have no interest in that, because who you are is fantastic. What I am trying to help with is your communication so that you can be more free within it.” Jessica D. Turner Mentions and Resources * Jenni Steck Voice & Speech Services: https://jennisteck.com [https://jennisteck.com/] * Accent Reduction Program (Silver, Gold, and Platinum packages): https://jennisteck.com/programs/accent-reduction-workshop/ [https://jennisteck.com/programs/accent-reduction-workshop/] * NPR story on how the brain decodes spoken language through volume and stress patterns: "Brain Uses Loudness Of Vowels To Process Speech Into Syllables" 🔗 ⁠https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/20/780988618/the-loudness-of-vowels-helps-the-brain-break-down-speech-into-syl-la-bles⁠ [https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/11/20/780988618/the-loudness-of-vowels-helps-the-brain-break-down-speech-into-syl-la-bles]

LESLEY CHILDS, MD. That's Not My Voice: Muscle Tension, Identity, and Finding Your Way Back

Guest: Dr. Lesley Childs, Laryngologist, Associate Professor, and Medical Director of the Clinical Center for Voice Care, UT Southwestern Medical Center 🎧 Episode Summary: In this episode, Jenni sits down with Dr. Lesley Childs to talk about Muscle Tension Dysphonia, a voice disorder that doesn’t show up on a scan or announce itself with something visible. It lives in the body’s muscle memory, in patterns the voice box learns and holds onto long after whatever caused them is gone. Dr. Childs explains what’s actually happening at the level of the larynx, what triggers it, how it gets diagnosed, and what treatment involves. She also talks about the grief that can come with losing a voice tied to your work and your identity, and why her team takes a whole-person approach to care. This is a clinical conversation, but it is also a personal one. Dr. Childs has been a singer her whole life. She knows what it means when the voice stops cooperating. In This Episode: * What a laryngologist actually does, and why so few people know they exist * Primary vs. secondary Muscle Tension Dysphonia: what the difference is and why it matters for treatment * What MTD sounds and feels like from the patient’s perspective: the tightness, the fatigue, the strain * The triggers that can set it in motion, including stress, illness, and the “perfect storm” of both at once * Why muscle memory is so powerful, and how maladaptive patterns can stick long after the original cause is gone * What the diagnosis appointment looks like, including what patients see when they view their own vocal folds on camera for the first time * Why voice therapy is the main treatment for MTD, and what it actually involves day to day * The published research behind Stretch-and-Flow and Resonant Voice Therapy, and what it tells us about how to treat MTD * Why getting better requires daily practice and a willingness to do exercises that feel genuinely strange * When Botox becomes part of the picture, and why Dr. Childs calls it a laryngeal control-alt-delete * The grief and identity loss that comes with voice disorders, and why the team includes psychologists and physical therapists * New research at UT Southwestern exploring whether MTD may have a sensory component, not just a muscular one * The two-week rule: how long to wait before getting persistent hoarseness checked out * Dr. Childs’ own story: losing her voice on the way to a choir competition, and the ENT visit that changed the direction of her career Guest Bio: Dr. Lesley Childs is a laryngologist, Associate Professor, and Medical Director of the Clinical Center for Voice Care at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Her team includes specialized voice therapists, physical therapists, and psychologists who treat the full range of voice disorders. A classically trained soprano who recorded for Walt Disney Records and completed her fellowship at the New York Center for Voice and Swallowing Disorders, Dr. Childs brings a practitioner’s and a performer’s perspective to the science of voice. She has co-authored multiple peer-reviewed studies on Muscle Tension Dysphonia treatment and is involved in ongoing research at UT Southwestern. Quote of the Episode: “The voice is the most personal of all art forms. It is inextricably linked to self-identity. That is how we present ourselves to the world, how we connect with others, how we empathize. And the level of grief associated with any difficulty with voice cannot be underestimated.” Mentions and Resources: Dr. Lesley Childs * UT Southwestern Clinical Center for Voice Care: https://utswmed.org/conditions-treatments/voice-care/ * Dr. Lesley Childs at UT Southwestern: https://utswmed.org/doctors/lesley-childs/ * World Voice Day: April 16 each year. https://www.entnet.org/world-voice-day/ * Jeff Pegues episode on Spasmodic Dysphonia (referenced in conversation) * Two-week rule: persistent hoarseness for two weeks or more is a reason to see a specialist

DANA COBB. Show Up to Contribute, Not to Be Perfect

🎧 Speaking of Talking: Show Up to Contribute, Not to Be Perfect Guest: Dana Cobb — Founder, Vokol Group PR Agency Run Time: ~1 hour Episode Summary: In this episode, Jenni sits down with her longtime friend and PR powerhouse Dana Cobb to explore one of the most pervasive obstacles in professional communication: imposter syndrome. With decades of experience prepping spokespeople, celebrities, and executives for the spotlight, Dana brings a frank, practical perspective to a topic that's become impossible to ignore. The conversation covers everything from media training and crisis communications to deep fakes, Gen X resilience, and why "don't lie" might just be the most powerful PR strategy of all. They dive into: * What imposter syndrome really is—and why it's not just about feeling unqualified, but feeling undeserved * How micromanagement breeds imposter syndrome from the top down * Why celebrities and CEOs often struggle more than you'd expect * The media training mistake people make: rehearsing failure instead of success * How to frame any high-stakes interaction around contribution, not perfection * Language habits that quietly shrink your authority—and how to replace them * Preparing for Q&A when you can't control the questions * Crisis communications 101: the golden rule is don't lie * Navigating imposter syndrome as "the only one" in the room—and why mentorship matters * Why AI and deep fakes are the new frontier of crisis management * What makes a great PR person (hint: it's not what you learned in school) 🎙️ Guest Bio: Dana Cobb is the founder of the Vokol Group, a Dallas-based PR agency focused on arts, entertainment, and lifestyle communications. With a background in New York theater marketing and performing arts PR, Dana has spent her career at the intersection of storytelling and strategy—preparing clients for media opportunities, managing event communications, and coaching spokespeople to show up with confidence and clarity. She got her start in crisis communications in one of the first-ever grad-level crisis comms courses at SMU, and has been navigating high-stakes messaging ever since. ✨ Quote of the Episode: "People rehearse messing up. They don't rehearse doing well. If somebody feels they have done it, then they feel like they belong in that position—and the imposter syndrome fades away." — Dana Cobb Mentions: Vokol Group: https://www.vokolgroup.com [https://www.vokolgroup.com] Fan Expo (referenced): https://fanexpohq.com [https://fanexpohq.com] The Tylenol Crisis (referenced): FDA overview [https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-information-consumers/first-nationwide-tylenol-scare] Go Ask A Manager, by Alison Green. https://a.co/d/0gStMYki [https://a.co/d/0gStMYki] Indispensable, by Joe Calloway. https://a.co/d/03LUkcev [https://a.co/d/03LUkcev] Dana’s Fan Expo interview with Mr. T.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obBS7TrYy2o [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obBS7TrYy2o]

DAVID MARQUIS. The Show Must Go On (Even with a Sore Throat)

🎧 Speaking of Talking: The Show Must Go On (Even with a Sore Throat) Guest: David Marquis — Performer, Writer, Activist, Educator Run Time: ~1 hour 30 minutes Episode Summary: In this episode, Jenni sits down with performer, writer, activist, and lifelong “teacher” David Marquis for a rich, wide-ranging conversation about voice, performance, and what it truly means to use your voice for a living. What begins with travel stories quickly unfolds into the reality of touring one-man shows for decades: six to seven performances a week, relentless travel, vocal wear-and-tear, and the deep loneliness that often comes with life on the road. David traces his journey back to a single speech teacher who saw his potential early on—setting him on a path that led to I Am A Teacher, a one-man show seen by hundreds of thousands, later adapted into a book, and ultimately used as the foundation for a national Ad Council campaign to recruit new teachers. Together, Jenni and David dive into the intersection of voice, body, and nervous system—sharing practical strategies for hydration, managing exhaustion, handling performance anxiety, and adapting vocal warm-ups to real-world constraints. David offers hard-earned wisdom from decades of performance, including techniques for resting the voice mid-show, releasing trapped energy in the body, and using stillness to deepen audience connection rather than losing it. The conversation also weaves in unforgettable stories from the road: the infamous “two raw eggs” throat remedy, a powerful decongestant that sent a show into overdrive, and the night David lost sound mid-performance and finished the show on pure stage training alone. As the episode closes, the focus turns reflective and deeply personal—exploring how voice is tied to identity, what it means to age out of certain performances, and how artists find new ways to communicate when their instrument changes. David hints at a future conversation about losing—and reclaiming—his voice, a journey he credits Jenni with helping guide him through. They dive into: • Life on the road as a one-man show performer • How an early failure and a great speech teacher changed everything • Vocal care in dry planes, hotels, and exhausting travel schedules • Why silence is one of the most underrated tools for voice health • Managing nerves through breath, body awareness, and releasing tension • Using pauses and stillness to protect the voice and heighten impact • The emotional power of live performance—and why it’s worth the cost • What happens when your voice changes and your identity has to shift 🎙️ Guest Bio: David Marquis is a performer, writer, activist, and educator whose work has reached audiences across the country through live performance, books, and advocacy. Best known for his acclaimed one-man show I Am A Teacher, David has spent decades using story and voice to inspire educators, leaders, and audiences nationwide. ✨ Quote of the Episode: “If you don’t get nervous, you’re doing it wrong.” Learn more about David: https://theactivistheart.com/david-marquis-biography/ [https://theactivistheart.com/david-marquis-biography/] Most recent books: The River Always Wins (Part 1 of the River Trilogy) Shop local at Deep Vellum books [https://store.deepvellum.org/products/the-river-always-wins-water-as-a-metaphor-for-hope-and-progress] Buy on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/River-Always-Wins-Metaphor-Progress/dp/1646050525/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1KSRHQNUQ99PD&dchild=1&keywords=the+river+always+wins&qid=1601391229&sprefix=the+river+always%2Caps%2C181&sr=8-1] The River of Goodness (Part 2 of the River Trilogy) Shop local at Deep Vellum books [https://store.deepvellum.org/products/the-river-of-goodness?pr_prod_strat=e5_desc&pr_rec_id=3c385c453&pr_rec_pid=7936617709817&pr_ref_pid=5402152435875&pr_seq=uniform] Buy on Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/River-Goodness-David-Marquis/dp/1646053133/ref=pd_scr_dp_alt_d_d_sccl_1_1/146-2928151-3509724?pd_rd_w=AMwyB&content-id=amzn1.sym.9fbdb2a5-260d-4914-88b2-e8fdbc5ad804&pf_rd_p=9fbdb2a5-260d-4914-88b2-e8fdbc5ad804&pf_rd_r=DWC2MDRVH1QYB35SM7X5&pd_rd_wg=6BQie&pd_rd_r=6e41536e-c8b4-4f06-8df3-7a3c662b818b&pd_rd_i=1646053133&psc=1] The River of Blessings (Part 3 of the River Trilogy) Coming soon…