First Breath Speech by Speak Well US - Better Voice Better Life

We’re wrapping up our 6 month season and taking a little break to circle the wagons and cook up an even better show for you! Jenny Walters is back and we’re talking about walking through your daily life and finding what is nourishing to you and what is depleting -- and as usual I want you to check in with your breath! The Somatic Experiencing author Jenny mentions is Peter Levine (http://www.traumahealing.org/peter-a-levine-phd.php [http://www.traumahealing.org/peter-a-levine-phd.php]) Don’t forget to sign up for the mailing list on the website (www.firstbreathspeech.com [http://www.firstbreathspeech.com]) We will miss you -- but you’re going to be on our minds and in our hearts! See you soon!

Books: Actor-y An Actor Prepares (Stanislavski) - tried and true about how NOT to act in novel form The Second Circle (Rodenburg) - prior recommend - about acting, being present and harnessing your life-force for good! Acting In Film (Caine) - it’s a quick read and some if it seems a bit trickster-like, but it’s a unique point of view about film acting from one who has been doing it for decades. Human-y (modern classics) The Alchemist (Coelho) - if you haven’t read this yet, please do… now, please! The Catcher in the Rye (Salinger) - if you just skimmed this in middle or high school, go back and read it - great seamless example of transparent inner life. To Kill A Mockingbird (Lee) - story about prejudice vs. compassion - go back and read it! (front list-ish) Between the World and Me (Coates) - OK I haven’t read this yet, but it’s on my nightstand and the reviews are nuts! Conceived in letter form from the author to his son. A Little Life (Yanagihara) - I’m not gonna lie, this book is loooong but the writing is acute and one of the 4 main characters is a actor. Takes place in NYC over several decades. If you have the time and the bandwidth for sadness, it’s a great read. Girl on the Train (Hawkins) - This was the big thriller hit last year and of course they are making the movie as we speak. Can you say unreliable narrator? (I knew you could). Ted Talks: Researcher Brene Brown in her now infamous talk about vulnerability https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability [https://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability] Neuroscientist Jill Bolte Taylor - about the stroke she had in her 30’s which transformed her understanding of existence https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight [https://www.ted.com/talks/jill_bolte_taylor_s_powerful_stroke_of_insight] Dan Pallotta’s most recent about humanity and dreaming together https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_dream_we_haven_t_dared_to_dream [https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pallotta_the_dream_we_haven_t_dared_to_dream] Classes in LA: Jamison Jones Acting Studio -- just moved to Burbank The masterclass is an ongoing scene study class Monday nights from 7-11 in Burbank (across the street from Argentum photolab) Grand Opening for the Burbank space on May 14th at 4pm and on May 19th at 7pm there is a FREE Open class It's a class about finding your power as an an actor and honing your skill and unique sensibility. It's also about pointing out your weaknesses and your actor ticks and tells and getting rid of them, it's about awareness and specificity and being able to walk in the audition room or onset or stage with your most confident self, with your work prepared and complete. Email: jonesactingstudio@gmail.com [jonesactingstudio@gmail.com] Art of Acting 5-week Shakespeare Intensive 5 weeks, 20 hours per week, 10 of which will be in rehearsal for a play -- by WS! If you mention my name, you’ll get a 50% discount! http://www.artofactingstudio.com/classes/shakespeare-intensive/ [http://www.artofactingstudio.com/classes/shakespeare-intensive/] Audition Class with me - Breathe -- stop choking! Two Saturdays per month in June, July and August, I will be giving an audition class around breathing. We’ll focus on scenes or speeches you would be preparing for auditions and how to breathe through them (and not hold your breath) so you can stay connected to the inner life of the character and to your scene partner/reader. Come once -- come again. We will work with whatever you got and make it better! Space TBA in Burbank or Hollywood. Email me: lauren@firstbreathspeech.com [lauren@firstbreathspeech.com] if you’re in LA and you’re interested! Online Class: How Your Voice Works - Elissa Weinzimmer (Episode #12 - Your Voice and Your Vibrator) How Your Voice Works is a new online class from vocal health specialist Elissa Weinzimmer, explaining the anatomy and mechanics of the voice in clear and simple detail. Visit www.voicebodyconnection.com [http://www.voicebodyconnection.com] and enter your information to get the first module of the course for free! New mobile headshot with The Headshot Truck -- in LA and coming to NYC soon! http://www.theheadshottruck.com/ [http://www.theheadshottruck.com/] One of my acting students works as a make-up artist for them - ask for Kristin! Go where the truck is or have it come to you -- starts at $300 and is quick and fun. Apps: Mediation -- Ok people, I have been remiss in the meditation, but I am re-upping and have found some good apps for you to try... Meditate Me --Kelly Howell - The Brain Whisperer -- there is one for $2.99 and I think it’s worth it. It’s a guided mediation so we can help our brains to process our thoughts and experiences - like our bring laundry, you know? Dirty shirts cleansed and folded and back in the drawers? http://meditate.me/ [http://meditate.me/] Sattva This one is free and the structure of the app is pretty cool with a timer and a choice to engage in challenges and post on FB etc. There is a plethora of meditations from which to choose, which is super-fab. The sound quality is not up to the bar set by the tech, but they work just fine. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sattva-meditation-timer-tracker/id930904592?mt=8 [https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sattva-meditation-timer-tracker/id930904592?mt=8] Speech Ring I’ve developed an articulation tool that everyone is LOVING so far -- we’re not going to sell it online yet, though as we are still in the testing stage, but if you take my summer workshop classes OR you send me a message from the Facebook page we can probably work out a way for you to have one! Re-brand - taking a break -- if you want to know about all we’re cooking up, please go to the website and sign up for the mailing list so you don’t suddenly suffer from FOMO!

How a delightful dancer from Columbia and a cunning production guy from Quebec created a successful multi-media entertainment company in LA. This is the story of Rene and Donald. Rene Veilleux and Donald Lopez are partners in business and in life. I went to their Verite Entertainment offices in the heart of Koreatown to get to know them and what they do (which is a helluva lot!). They share some great insights about what they look for when hiring actors…(Practice practice practice!) Check out ALL they do here (http://veriteentertainment.net/ [http://veriteentertainment.net/]) Like them! https://www.facebook.com/veriteentertainment/?fref=ts [https://www.facebook.com/veriteentertainment/?fref=ts]

This week it’s me talking to you about your voice. I’ve been noticing people are paying more attention to the way people sound -- especially with the growing popularity of podcasts -- and there have been many studies done of late about how your voice affects both listener and consequently, you. I give you some homework at the end of the Ep to help you become more aware and more in touch with your voice. Please send questions and comments to lauren@firstbreathspeech.com

This week Jenny Walters is back to help us break up the hard stones of self-criticism and just curious about our confusion. From the Wiki for Sankhara: The Buddha taught that all such things are impermanent (arising and passing away, subject to change), are essenceless (not worthy of reifying attachment or aversion), and are not reliable sources of pleasure. Understanding the significance of this reality is wisdom [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wisdom_in_Buddhism]. Saṅkhāra is often used in this first sense to describe the psychological conditioning (particularly the habit patterns of the unconscious mind) that gives any individual human being his or her unique character and make-up at any given time. Jenny’s website: http://www.jadetree.la/jenny.html BIO Jenny Walters (Marriage and Family Therapist Intern (#80042) earned a B.F.A. from the University of Oregon, and an M.F.A. from University of Illinois at Chicago, before going on to earn a Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Depth Psychology from Pacifica Graduate Institute. She received depth psychological training at Counseling West in Sherman Oaks, CA and continues her training with Dr. Sam Rader in Los Angeles. Additional professional training includes Somatic Experiencing and mindfulness meditation. Jenny approaches therapy from the belief that each of us holds the capacity and power to heal. To nurture this innate healing process, she helps her clients become aware of the conscious and unconscious beliefs that shape experience. Jenny acts as an empathic and curious guide as clients experience relief from symptoms, gain deeper understanding and find more meaning in their lives.