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.
#143 Reclaiming Your Voice: From Struggle to Strength
Today, I interview Maria Semple who grew up in Venezuela as the youngest of five children in a time of political upheaval. Life was filled with challenges from an early age, and Maria often felt the need to shout to be heard in a household full of older siblings. Despite the joyful, community-focused culture of Venezuela, Maria also faced the trauma of losing her brother at a young age. This marked her deeply, instilling a sense of longing for belonging and significance that would follow her.
#142 The Alchemy of Conflict: Turning Struggles into Empowerment
Today I interview Jolina Karen who grew up in a household where her voice often felt stifled by the silence and conflict between her parents. Raised in South Africa during apartheid, Jolina experienced the tension between her mother’s spiritual beliefs and her father’s scientific skepticism, which created a quiet but emotionally charged environment.
#141 From Silenced to Empowered: Reclaiming One’s Authentic Voice
Today I interview Linda Dieffenbach, who grew up with an emotionally distant and abusive father, being severely bullied by peers at school, and the profound impact of having her pain invalidated when she sought help as a teenager. These experiences left Linda feeling silenced, dis-empowered, and disconnected from her authentic self.
#140 The Power of Words: Healing Through Memoir Writing
Today I interview Linda Joy Myers, who had a difficult childhood marked by abandonment and an unstable home life. Her mother left when Linda was just four, leaving her to be raised by a grandmother who, while providing a stable home, also struggled with mental health issues that led to critical behavior. Linda had to focus on survival with little permission to have her own voice.
#139 The Sound of Your True Voice
Today I interview Alison Love David who grew up in South East London in a poor but musical family. Her mother made sacrifices to send Alison to private school, where she excelled academically but felt she had to be a people pleaser to fit in. This led to Alison not knowing her true self for many years.
#138 From Mediocrity to Magnificence: A Story of Resilience
Today, I interview Louise Gallagher, who faced significant trauma in her early years, including abuse and a lack of support from her family. Growing up, her home life was turbulent, marked by frequent conflicts between her parents. Louise often took on the role of caretaker, trying to shield her younger sibling from the chaos.
#137 Embracing Your Sensitivity as a Superpower
Today I interview Pascale Cook-Fernandes, who struggled with feeling stifled and not having a voice in her generation, where children were expected to “be seen and not heard”.
#136 Turning Autism into a Superpower for Advocacy
Today, I interview Kadin McElwain, who had significant challenges posed by autism. Diagnosed at the age of two, Kadin’s early life was marked by frequent moves due to his father’s job and the need for better educational opportunities.
#135 Discover Your Potential and Transform Your Mind
Today, I interview Angilie Kapoor, who struggled with being bullied as a child. She was an extremely shy and introverted girl who preferred to be alone, afraid of being made fun of for looking different.
#134 Rediscovering Identity and Purpose in Midlife
Today, I interview Jennifer Arthurton, whose childhood was a quest for acceptance and attention within her family. Born in England and raised in the Caribbean, Jennifer’s early years were serene until her parents’ divorce. Feeling overshadowed by her younger brother, she continually sought approval through conformity and achievement.
