Welcome to the Find Your Voice, Change Your Life podcast. You will hear real-life stories from people who struggled to find their authentic voice.
I’m your host, Dr. Doreen Downing.
I interview people who share how they overcame their fears about stepping up and speaking out. They each offer tips and strategies that you can apply to your own journey to find your voice and change your life.
If you enjoy my podcast, be sure to subscribe and rate it on Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast platform.
#163 From Hiding to Healing and Wholeness
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.
#162 Heart First, Camera Second: Speaking Up in the Digital Age
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.
#161 She Built 400 Steps and Found Her Voice
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.
#160 The Heroine’s Journey to Her True Voice
Joan Perry spent years climbing the ladder of success, only to realize it was leaning against the wrong building. In this conversation, she shares how following the rules and achieving outward success left her disconnected from her true voice. When everything she built collapsed, her real journey began. Tune in to hear how Joan reclaimed her authenticity, rewrote her story, and now helps other women do the same through The Heroine’s Journey.
#159 Messy, Mindful, and Magnificent
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.
#158 From Corporate to Calling: The Voice That Broke Free
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.
#157 When Success Isn’t Enough: Finding the Voice You Lost
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.
#156 Healing the Past to Build Stronger Relationships Today
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.
#155 Fear Shapes Us and Presence Frees Us
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.
#154 Listening to the Quiet Voice Within: A Path to Healing
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.
Podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, helps people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear.
