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This Is Gonna Be Hard… Or Is It?

There is an old, outdated narrative that many of us are given that if we pursue our creativity, our joy, and what we love... it will be hard. It will be difficult. So much so that it is likely not worth pursuing. In this episode, Davin shares about a recent interaction he had with a college student and how he has changed his point of view about what it actually takes to pursue your creativity.

The Anatomy of Change

This episode marks a bit of a departure in that it doesn't center the voice, but rather the reason folks often pursue voice work: they want change. But what are the components of change and why are we sometimes ready and other times not? Take a listen to find out.

Who’s Allowed to Sing?

Let's talk about imposter syndrome, shall we? So many people are holding themselves back from sharing their voice because they believe they would need to be a "professional" or have more "experience" or have obtained a degree... and it's really all bullshit. These are the voices in your head that are trying to drum up reasons why you should wait and in this episode, Davin is here to dispel the myths. You are often the gatekeeper of your own voice and it's time to open the gate.

It’s Time to Trust Your Voice

Do you question your voice? Wonder if it is good enough? Wonder if it is worth listening to? Wonder if it will ever be able to sing that note or do that thing? You're not alone, but this is also at the heart of what inhibits your ability to express yourself like you want. Trusting your voice is no small task, but it is at the heart of what it will take to really enjoy transformational change in your singing and creative expression. 

In this episode, Davin shares how trusting your voice is akin to believing your intuition. It's a coming home to self and knowing the wisdom of the body. It is about making choices based on curiosity and optimism rather than inhibition and fear. It is a path of constant expansion, growth and belonging and it is possible for you, right now. 

Listen to learn how.

Singing for Your Inner Child

What is one thing you share in common with all other singers? You have a core vocal wound, and subsequently a core vocal belief. What does this mean? Well, all singers have some experience (or experiences) from their childhood, regarding their voice, that they perceived as a threat. These experiences can range from seemingly small happenings, like someone telling you to "be quiet" to the truly life altering, like childhood abuse. What comes up around these experiences, or your core wound, is a core belief that you concocted as a means to keep yourself safe.

In this episode of the Free Your Voice, Free Your Life Podcast, Davin will help you understand how to move through and beyond your core wound, core belief and core decision into a life of vocal flourishing. Using the words of the Zen Buddhist teacher, Charlotte Joko Beck from her book Ordinary Wonder, Davin offers insights on why returning to your core wound is the necessary first step to exercise compassion for and ultimately sing for your inner child... one of the most powerful acts you can offer yourself on your voice journey.

Soulfull Sound Podcast with Simone Niles: Davin Youngs on The Transformational Power of Singing, Voice & Sound

This is a very special episode of Free Your Voice, Free Your Life as it is a conversation Davin was fortunate enough to have with sound healer, Simone Niles on her podcast called Soulfull Sound. 

A quick reminder that Davin's virtual group voice coaching program, also called Free Your Voice, Free Your Life

kicks off Jan 20 and has a few spots remaining. If you feel long to sing and express yourself with more freedom and ease, or know deep in your being that your voice is the instrument you need to explore more to facilitate change in your life... don't wait to snag your spot in this program. It will be the catalyst for transformation that you have been craving, and you'll be supported by a beautiful community of singers who are pointed down the same path.

Sign up at freeyourvoicefreeyourlife.com

Also, tickets are now available for Davin's signature immersive sound healing experience, The RESET which will take place on January 18th at Orchestra Hall in Chicago. This event is not to be missed, and tickets are selling fast! Make sure to grab your spot so you can come, cozy in and WAKE UP in this iconic space.

Tickets are available at cso.org/thereset

Finally, Chicago Circle Singing is happening again on Jan 10, 2024 in the South Loop of Chicago. This is an incredible community for anyone looking to explore more playful expression with their voice. RSVP HERE.

Ok! Here's what Simone has to say about her interview with Davin...

Do you believe in the transformative power of sound? Have you ever wondered how voice and sound can have a profound effect on your mind, body, and spirit? I had a resonant conversation with Davin Youngs, a musical innovator who harnesses the power of his voice and sound to serve as a catalyst for remarkable change. Davin takes us on a journey, from his earliest experiences of singing in his mother's womb, to his exploration of classical voice and his ultimate discovery of sound as a healing modality.

Davin shares how he found inspiration in Bobby McFerrin's work, leading him down the path of improvisation. We delve into the power of authenticity and how making new and unexpected sounds can lead us to our most authentic selves. We learn about the connection between sound and our bodies, painting a picture of an intimate bond between our physical and spiritual selves.

In the final segment of our conversation, Davin opens up about the impact of voice and sound in healing. He shares insights on how trauma manifests physically through tension, and how it can be released through our voices. We learn about the magic of group work and the divine expression of improv. Davin wraps up the discussion with his views on improvisation and its power to provide a safe space for healing. Tune in to this incredible episode to discover the powerful connection between sound, voice, and healing.

What Do You Want To Sound Like?

You likely know you want your voice to sound different, but do you know what you want to sound like? Have you really thought about your hopes, dreams and desires for your voice? From where do you gather inspiration and how have you named your aspirations? 

In this episode, Davin dives deep into this question with the caveat that understanding how to answer it well is at the heart of understanding how we manifest anything in our lives. At the heart of this voice questions is an opportunity to claim the power you have over your future and finding more freedom in your voice and in your life.

From Fear to Freedom

In this episode, Davin shares a bit of his journey toward expanding his work with The RESET and VOXUS. He offers a personal narrative about his process of manifesting and encountering fear. He also offers sound advice on what to do when fear and creeps up in the face of the unknown.

He mentions a video by Bobby McFerrin that you can find here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81uJZIF9TCs

Healing and Your Voice

Often times people feel compelled to pursue the voice and singing as an important part of doing "the work" or moving toward healing, but why exacty is that? And, when we talk about healing, what are we actually talking about? This episode unpacks all of the nitty gritty around healing and the voice, particularly highlighting what "healing" means and how understanding healing may give you new insight into the role your voice can play in feeling more authentic, true and whole.

Whether you are comfortable with the word "healing" or have some skepticism around identifying your path in this way, you'll walk away from this episode with deeper insights and inspiration around what it will take to use your voice with more freedom and ease. You might even discover a path to a fuller, more joy filled life.

How to Practice Singing

Have you ever attempted to practice singing and then realized you didn't quite know what to do? This is not an uncommon experience, even amongst more advanced singers and there is good reason for this. Singing is quite a mysterious sport. It's easy to think about it loosely as the same as practicing any other instrument, but that comparison might not quite hold up when we think about the journey of becoming a more accomplished singer.

In this episode of the Free Your Voice, Free Your Life podcast, Davin will give you practical advise about how to best practice singing so you can facilitate change within your voice. He'll also explain why a one-size-fits-all approach will never work and why the framework of yoga and meditation might be the best way to understand your voice journey.

Singing to Be Seen

Have you ever considered “being seen” as an important part of your voice journey? For most of us, the idea of having to confront the truth of “being heard” while we sing makes a lot of sense, but “being seen” can seem like a secondary component in our desire to show up fully and authentically in our voice. In this episode of Free Your Voice, Free Your Life, Davin dispels this myth and shares the importance of understanding the fullness of your presence when you use your voice and really sing. See, all of the physical evidence for how your voice works in your body is discoverable by watching. An important task for singers is to learn to watch themselves so that others can do the same. It is a practice, but is the only real way to step into the full embodiment of your voice.

Learning to Get Loud

What's the deal with getting loud? Why are so many people so afraid to be heard? Have you ever explored the volume that your voice can make? What are the implications for doing so?

In this episode of the Free Your Voice, Free Your Life podcast, Davin explores what it means to get louder. He reflects on personal stories from childhood where he was both encouraged to be louder and told he was too loud. He also shares about the functionality of volume in the voice and why there is so much at stake if you are always holding back.

You will find this episode all the inspiration you need to finally "let it rip!"

From Safety to Singing | Elise Besler

Want to free your voice? Want to live with more ease? Start by “befriending your body” says Elise Besler. This is a truly radical way of being in a culture that prioritizes thinking over being, but Elise is an expert at guiding folks into this experience through nervous system regulation.

In this episode of the Free Your Voice, Free Your Life podcast, Davin goes deep with his friend and colleague, Elise Besler who is a voice and embodied leadership coach. As a singer and performer herself, Elise knows first hand what it is to overcome the impacts of trauma and conditioning of experience to actually be able to stand up and grab the mic. Now she coaches leaders to do the same using the wisdom of the body as her guide.

In this conversation, Elise shares a bit about her own journey as a singer, performer and coach and she breaks down specific exercises that she now uses with clients so that they can understand the inherent wisdom of their body and the nature of their nervous system response in the face of perceived threat (hello, performance!) There are so many practical gems and reframes in this conversation, you might need to listen a couple of times to soak it all in.

You can learn more about Elise at elisebesler.com and find Elise on Instagram @elisebesler

The Truth of Constriction

Undoubtedly, you have experienced constriction in your voice. The physical sensation of your throat closing. But, there's good news... you don't have to any more. In this episode, Davin breaks down what constriction is and why it routinely shows up as we attempt to find more freedom and ease. He also shares that moving beyond it might be as simple as learning to notice it and taking its cue. You'll walk away from this episode with a lot of solid technical knowledge and a new expansive understanding about whats possible with your voice and in your life.

From Belting to Belonging | Mary Yoo

We all want to feel free and we all know what it's like to feel "stuck!" That's why this episode of Free Your Voice, Free Your Life is guaranteed to resonate, wherever you are on your voice journey. Davin sits down in conversation with Mary Yoo, a UX Designer and recent participant in his group coaching cohort. In an AMA format, Mary brings Davin some of her most burning questions about the voice and its relationship to her lived experience. She touches on topics of creative shame, the immigrant experience, taking up space in making loud sounds, and finding belonging with her voice. Finally, Davin shares a before and after clip of Mary singing so you can get a taste of the progress she has made. You won't want to miss this!

Ps. Your eyes and ears are not deceiving you... the podcast does have a new name! Formerly 'The Sound of You,' 'Free Your Voice, Free Your Life' reflects a larger change in the work Davin is doing in transformational coaching and the voice. Make sure to subscribe to stay up on how it all unfolds!

What Does Freedom Sound Like?

Most voice lessons, coaching or programs invoke "freedom" as a part of their promise or aspiration, but what does vocal freedom actually sound like? What are really talking about when we talk about getting free with our voice and in our life? In this episode, Davin shares what he has learned with regards to freedom and functionality with the voice. How sounds that are more free, have a specific characteristic vs. sounds that are less free. He then shares how this idea is intertwined with the desire for expressing oneself more freely with their voice and in their life.

Loving Your Voice Exactly How It Is

We all want more for our voice and want to be able to do thing with it that we currently cannot. But, what if I told you the path to change with your voice was learning to love what is? What if I told you your voice was perfect, right here right now and you didn't need to change a damn thing about it. Would you believe me? 

Reclaiming Your Voice Dreams

What was the earliest dream you remember having for your voice? What were the specifics of it? When did you start to believe it wasn't possible? When did you give it up? In this episode, Davin explores why revisiting your earliest dreams for your voice might just unlock the energy you need to free your whole life.

Why You Don’t Have to Worry About Singing in Tune

What if you didn't have to worry about singing in tune? What if worrying about singing in tune might be the reason you're singing out of tune? In this episode Davin shares some context around pitch and intonation and shares why pitch issues are always coordination and register issues, and the first step in fixing them might be as simple as not worrying about them.

Answering the Call of the Singer

One of the requirements of the Free Your Voice, Free Your Life cohort is something called a "Singer's Date" modeled after Julia Cameron's "Artist's Date" from her book The Artist's Way. In this episode, Davin shares what the singer's date is and why taking yourself on one might just awaken within you The Call of the Singer. This call is simply to honor your inner singer and share your voice with others. Davin breaks this all down throughout the episode.

How To Know You’re Making Progress on Your Voice Journey

Shoutout to friend and listener Leilani, who provided the inspiration for this episode in the form of a question: "How do I know I'm making progress on my voice journey?"

A rich question this is, because with the voice it can be hard to know that you're actually getting better. However, in this episode Davin provides key technical insights on what it means to make progress and offers guide posts than you can return to time and again on your path. In addition, he explains why you might have to give up certain goals in order to actually achieve them.

This Is Not a Pipe Dream

In this mini episode of the Sound of You, as a source of inspiration, Davin shares a voicemail he received from a former client. She shares how she was singing in the car, singing and a sound came out that was 🤯. Davin expands upon her message and offers a reminder that this is possible for you, too, with your voice. So, what are you waiting for?

How to Quiet the Critic and Free Your Inner Artist | Ivy Eld

Carolyn Brown aka Ivy Eld is a singer-songwriter based in Asheville, NC. She recently released her very first EP, a triumph after many years of her inner critic and life circumstances getting in the way. In this episode, she shares about her journey as a singer, the origins of her album, and why grief in the midst of losing her brother was the ultimate catalyst to set her inner artist free and complete her album. She also shares about her journey working with Davin as he, in her words "deconstructed" her voice and the experience of releasing the need to protect her most authentic sound. 

You can stream her self-titled album Ivy Eld on all streaming services, and find out more at https://ivyeld.com

You can also follow her on Instagram @ivy.eld

How to Find Your Authentic Voice

Recently a client sent Davin a clip from a reality television show that showed a singer whose singing voice sounded very different than their speaking voice, inspiring the discussion around "How to find your authentic voice?" In this episode Davin breaks down what we're really talking about when we're talking an "authentic voice" and he shares specifics about what it means to honor the natural function of your voice in your body as a means of connecting with your authentic sound. He also explores how recognizing that our voice is not the most important thing about our expression may be the ultimate fast track to authenticity.

The Joyful Sound of Transformation | Stephanie Zeller

In this episode Davin welcomes his client, friend a colleague, Stephanie Zeller. Stephanie is a transformational coach and has been pursuing voice work as a part of her own journey of growth and transformation. Stephanie has a remarkable story of flipping the script on a life that was pointing her down a limited path. She shares how she took the necessary and courageous step of leaving her career and relationship to realize a more authentic version of herself. In addition, she draws connections around how those experiences connected her with her voice and how they prepared her to show up more freely on her voice journey. 

This is a super rich and humorous conversation around the intersection of healing, transformation and the voice. 

Make sure to find Stephanie at thetransformationschool.com, her podcast The Magic of Transformation with Stephanie Zeller, and on Instagram @stephaniezellerspeaks

How Long Is This Gonna Take?

"How long is this gonna take?" is a totally reasonable question as you embark on your voice journey! But, in this episode, Davin breaks down for you what’s really behind this question and why it arises when it does. He also shares how understanding the nature of this question might be the secret sauce to moving into true vocal change as efficiently and quickly as possible.

So You Want More Control?

What are the top three technical desires people have for their voice? A better handle on their breath, access to more notes... and more overall control.

In this episode, Davin breaks down for you what control really means with our voice and why we all want it. He also shares why control is a tricky word to navigate and why the experience of control doesn't resemble anything like we imagine.

Also, if you're interested in joining Davin's group coaching program "Free Your Voice, Free Your Life" launching this spring, visit davinyoungsvoice.com

What’s It Gonna Take to Free Your Voice?

Davin is back to share with you some of his best observations about what it takes to actually move into your freest voice and freest life. In this episode he shares observations about clients who come to him in the midst of crisis or on the precipice of crisis and how that might just be a necessary catalyst for real change. He also shares some behavior traits he has seen to show up most commonly in those who are able to make it through to the other side of their voice journey. Ultimately, he offers encouragement and support to you wherever you are on your voice path.

To Know the Sound Is to Make the Sound

In this episode, Davin unpacks a quotation that has become very meaningful to him and the singers he works with on their voice journey. Using "To Know the Sound Is to Make the Sound" as he guide, he shares the functionality of making different types of sounds in our body and what it means to actually know certain sounds and not know others. Further he shares why we are prone toward some sound and afraid of others and whats at stake by keeping ourselves limited to just the sounds we know. Ultimately, he pulls apart the construct of personal identity as it relates to the voice and why being willing to make any sound might just be the key to personal freedom.

What It Means to be a Singer

Davin is back for season two of The Sound of You, his podcast on the magical mystery experience that is the voice! In this episode Davin shares a bit about how and why he is coming back to podcasting and how he learned to show up in this world more fully as a singer, and subsequently as a coach.

He also shares why calling yourself a singer is a powerful proclamation and why your voice may be your most essential tool on your healing journey. He specifically discusses the body's relationship to the voice, how we create stories that impact our sound, and what it means to know singing as a spiritual act of devotion.

Coming Out Singing

In this introduction, Davin explains how he came up with the idea for this podcast. He shares his observations from 20 years of coaching privately and offers a candid account of his personal journey toward a freer more liberated voice and life. The episode concludes with a trailer for season one.

When Things Fall Apart
Beth Kuhn

Beth Kuhn had a dream of performing on Broadway, and when she had almost made it there, in her words, her voice was “falling apart at the seams.” In this conversation, Beth generously shares her voice journey, from pursuing a career in musical theater to ending up living with her parents nursing her voice back to health to finally finding a freer, healthier and more authentic voice.

Learning to Scream
Tim McIlrath

Tim McIlrath has been singing and screaming with the band Rise Against for more than 20 years and despite the band’s success, Tim’s vocal journey has been complicated. In episode three, Tim tells how he learned to sing and scream in the 90’s punk and hardcore scene, what it’s really like to tour for so many years and the process of disassembling his voice and instrument so that he could have increased ease and longevity.

Beyond the Bluster
Andrew Kerr

Andrew Kerr counts getting hit by a truck to be one of the best things that ever happened to him. In this conversation, the singer-songwriter shares how that fateful day pointed him down a path toward not only transforming his life, but freeing his voice.

Getting Free
Rhiannon

Few singers or teachers have done more to illuminate singing, and specifically improvisational singing as a tool in liberation, than Rhiannon. As a long time collaborator of Bobby McFerrin and a seasoned singer, performer and teacher, Rhiannon is a wealth of wisdom and wonder. In this beautiful conversation, she generously offers the story of her own path toward freedom with insights from the women’s movement, singing with Voicestra and sharing with singers around the globe the gift of improvisational singing.

It Comes Down to Self-Love
H. Steven Sims, MD

In this bonus episode to finish out season one, the Doctor is in and he is delivering the medicine of truth. Dr. Sims is a treasure to the voice community, not only for his wealth of knowledge regarding the technical aspects of the voice as a body based instrument, but also for his ability to communicate with and treat the whole person. Having worked with some of your favorite (and most famous) voices, Dr. Sims brings to this conversation a humility and compassion that will have you learning about and loving your voice just a little bit more!