I slapped on some lipstick… and signed up for class
Remember when you were a kid, moping about the house, bored, hot, with nothing to do and tired of the same four walls? When I was that kid, my mother would look at me, arch her right eyebrow, and say:
“Just slap on some lipstick and get your ass out the door.”
Last month, during that ENDLESS cold March, I became one with my leather sofa. I saw that wicked eyebrow and heard her voice. OK, I said to myself: GET. UP. Learn something new. Shake it off. Shake it up.
I peeled myself up off my couch, slapped on some of Chanel’s iconic “Pirate” shade and signed up for a masterclass in voice training with the most extraordinary Tom Burke, a renowned vocal coach and teacher of speech and singing.
Tom blends technical mastery—Estill Voice Training, SOVT exercises, acoustic science—blended with a liberating, joy-forward approach that helps speakers and singers discover ease, power, and range. His work helps you access the full resonance of your voice while staying connected to breath, body, and emotion. It’s not just about sounding better. It’s about feeling better when you speak.
Why am I doing this?
Because the work never stops.
Because I want to bring back new ideas, new energy, new play to the voice and speech coaching work I do with you.
Because I’m still hungry. Still learning. And still in love with the voice.
I’m turning 72 soon. And I don’t feel done. Not by a long shot. The minute I stop caring about language, voice, and the power of the spoken word? That’ll be the day I’m six feet under. Until then—I’m in it. All the way in it.
To use our voices—to speak, to sing, to share ourselves out loud—is how we stay alive inside.
So yes—I’m a student again. I’ll be learning, stretching, probably laughing a lot, crying a little (or a lot), and absolutely bringing all the goodness back to my own students and voice clients. Maybe to you.
And just in case you needed the reminder: it’s never too late to learn something new. To pivot. To deepen. To reinvent. Lifelong learning is part of what keeps us vital and creative—especially when it comes to using our voices with confidence and joy.
Age is not the end of curiosity. It’s our reward for keeping it.
Got a question you’ve always wanted to ask about your voice? Hit reply. I just might have a fresh take—Tom Burke–inspired, of course. Or ask me about public speaking, online voice lessons, or storytelling techniques—I’m here for all of it. Talk to me. Here's my Calendly link.