The Power of Self-Expression for Transformation and Public Speaking

I have read in esoteric spiritual books that the most transformational activity for humanity is self-expression. I have spent my life testing that theory. In my early twenties, I was driven to self-express through acting. Although I was not a great actress, the training I received in acting and singing techniques freed me from some rigidity and… Read more

Think actors don’t have fear of public speaking? How Katherine Heigl used her fear to speak from her heart!

People are often incredulous when I share my story about being trained an actress and yet having such fear of public speaking. But acting is a skill based on saying the words of a character, not usually your own words. In acting there is no need to reveal your own thinking, whereas in public speaking,… Read more

Abe’s Honest Voice – How Daniel Day Lewis Captured Lincoln’s Voice

No one knows how Abraham Lincoln sounded. But history has it that his voice was high-pitched and nasal. While it was not pleasant to listen to, his sound was able to cut through the noise of large crowds. It has been said that his voice floated over the crowds which would have made him an… Read more

What did you Commit to?

I had an experience yesterday that humbled me and made me let go of some old thoughts about my past. As a result, I can no longer kid myself about having not made it as a professional actress. Three of the most successful actors who went to school with me at the University of Houston… Read more

Acting for Non-Actors

I have been dreaming about teaching acting for some reason.  I taught acting for about 30 years and thought I had had my fill of it.  But last week, in a dream, I seemed to be auditioning to teach acting. Strange!  Some rather  arrogant acting teachers were complaining how hard it is to train beginning actors.… Read more

Presence & Grounding for Performance: Exciting Your Audience

Presence happens when you are so deeply relaxed into yourself and accepting of yourself that you feel free to be genuine.  The secret to presence is to be fully grounded in your body so that you have a full-body sense of awareness.  When you are grounded and present, you experience sensation and awareness in every… Read more

You Can Be-Come Anything You Want to Be.

I studied acting for many years. I thought acting would help me become somebody.  I think it did.  Much of what I have become and been able to accomplish is due to my acting training and experience. The one thing I learned from acting is how to become something new.  To become means to be… Read more

Speaking Tips From Broadway Acting

I found a wonderful blogpost by Kathy  Reiffenstein at Professionally Speaking Blog that I simply must share with you!  Kathy draws some valuable lessons on speaking from the Broadway production of A Little Night Music. So much of my skill as a speaker and speaking teacher comes from my training as an actress.  So it… Read more

Acting: What Do You Want to Become and Be-Comfortable Expressing?

  I just saw Meryl Streep accept the Golden Globe Award for best Actress in a Comedy Feature Film. She said she is very clear that she is just the vessel for other’s stories and other women’s lives.  But don’t we all know that she has opened herself to be a channel to allow full… Read more

Changing Your Life Story with Acting

  My webmaster Kenan Branam happens to be a thought leader about the internet and the future of humanity.  He is always trying to make sense of the world and how we humans live in it.  This cold drizzly Houston morning in December we chatted about a new program I am creating called Your Life… Read more