Find Your Voice, Change Your Life

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 show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751770/support] I’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/incitetax https://www.instagram.com/incitetax/ https://www.facebook.com/incitetax https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnbriggscpa/ Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751770/support] I’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 show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751770/support] I’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 Jonathan Reynolds, who learned that voice isn’t something you perform, it’s something you live from. Growing up in a small town shaped by rigid roles and quiet expectations, Jonathan learned early on to silence parts of himself. But beneath that silence was a longing for truth, for freedom, and for something more real than what the world around him seemed to offer. In this conversation, we explore how those early conditions shaped his relationship to voice and identity, and what began to shift as he started asking deeper questions. What does it really mean to speak from experience? What if voice isn’t just about expression, but about connection to something deeper within? Jonathan shares what he discovered as he moved through rebellion, reflection, and eventually, mindfulness. His story invites us to consider that finding our voice might begin not with speaking—but with listening. __________________ Jonathan Reynolds is founder and CEO of Mindful Life, Mindful Work, Inc., a San Francisco-based leadership development company providing services that address the intersection of self-awareness and team performance. Since 1997, Jonathan has trained extensively in the discipline of mindfulness, and his work with leaders and teams emphasizes simple and practical ways to improve performance, efficiency, and workplace cultures by integrating mindfulness sensibilities. __________________ Find Jonathan here: COMPANY WEBSITE: https://mindfullifemindfulwork.com/ MINDSET SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM: https://mindset-social.com/ PUBLIC EVENTS: https://mindfullifemindfulwork.eventbrite.com/ MINDSWELL MARKETPLACE: https://mindswellmarket.com/ MLMW NEWSLETTER: http://eepurl.com/geLWu1 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751770/support] I’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 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 show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1751770/support] I’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 .