‘Cutting my tongue out could have been the end – yet in fact, it was just the beginning.’
Sitting with my mate @r_b_dryden after a long and fruitful day of rehearsals for @tedxpalmerstonnorth .
The day before he absolutely rocked the TEDx stage.
I cannot even tell you what a pleasure and a privilege it was to work with Richard.
Aside from his wicked sense of humour, generosity and awesome appreciation of hot pink blazers*, his story was incredibly resonant for me, seeing as how we’ve both made a living from speaking, one way or another throughout our entire professional lives.
The difference being Richard lost his tongue.
And not metaphorically.
The next time you get up in the morning and feel like life’s a bit rough, listen to Richard;
⚡ Comedian
⚡ Master storyteller & Communicator
⚡ Employment Specialist
⚡ MC
⚡ TEDx Speaker
⚡ And most importantly for Richard - Husband & Father
I’ll drop a link to Richard’s TEDx talk in the comments below.
In difficult times we could all do with hearing a story of how to not only survive, but THRIVE.
Thanks mate.
💛
*possibly raspberry, if that’s your jam
📸 the fabulous @ramoladuncan 🙏
#TEDxSpeakerCoach #TEDxSpeaker #Storytelling
Nothing like springing into 2024 standing on the shoulders of giants.
Here’s a sneak peek into my Summer book stack - some old friends and a few new ones.
💜 The Breathing Book by Donna Farhi
💙 Speakership by Matt Church, Sacha Coburn & Col Fink
🧡 Breath by James Nestor
💗 Permission To Speak by Samara Bay
💚 The Right To Speak by Patsy Rodenburg
❤️ The Woman’s Voice by Patsy Rodenburg
💛 Well-Tuned Women by Frankie Armstrong
Probably worth mentioning here that NONE of these books are written for Voice Geeks like myself 😂
They’re written for everyday people who are keen to explore how they can expand their sense of connection (with themselves and others), develop their leadership capabilities, own their voice and step into honouring the fullness of their lives.
And if that sounds too lofty…at the very least, if you feel your breathing is a bit out of whack or you’re not communicating confidently or courageously enough on the daily - there’s something here for you.
Stay tuned for more detailed reviews when I’m (properly) back in the office ⭐
________________
Kia ora, I’m Kirstie.
I help emerging and established leaders speak with confidence, clarity and courage.
DM to have a conversation about how this could work for you.
Kia ora, I’m Kirstie 👋
If you had told me 25 years ago I would be running a voice and speaking consultancy here in Aotearoa New Zealand I wouldn’t have believed you.
I love speaking live, or on camera – but I’ve got to say, it hasn’t always been that way.
When I was a teenager, I started working professionally as an actor and presenter and on the outside I might have appeared confident, but I wasn’t necessarily feeling that on the inside.
Frankly, I couldn’t wait for the day when my nerves would disappear and I would miraculously feel genuinely confident.
Spoiler alert…that’s not really how it works.
As an actor I was always drawn to voice classes. Mostly because I was told I needed them if I’m being very honest 😆
And within those classes, something incredible started to happen.
I discovered that because of the way the human voice is wired, it’s the master key to unlocking our personal power and presence when we’re speaking in high stakes scenarios.
This is important, because for many of us, even the thought of speaking in moments that matter activates the fight/flight/freeze response. That awful feeling of panic. The moment our hands shake, our voices get squeaky or we go completely blank. Nerves in full flight.
I realised we don’t just work with our voice to sound confident, we work with our voice to truly be confident.
I’m forever grateful for my EUREKA moment because it’s allowed me to use my love of speaking throughout my life to…
🗣️ Deliver Voice of Confidence training globally
✨ MC events for corporates and changemakers
📺 Present on live TV
🎬 Work as a professional actor
🏆 Win public speaking competitions
🎤 Voice campaigns for leading brands
🌟 Train politicians to speak with gravitas in parliament
💡 Coach lawyers to speak more persuasively in Court
✅ Run webinars and online training for a huge range of professionals
Do I still get nervous before speaking?
Absolutely. Every single time.
Do I let that stop me from speaking?
Absolutely not.
Because now I know the key to creating genuine, unshakeable confidence when speaking and presenting is learning to work with rather than against my nervous system.
Continued in Comments
WOMAN BEHIND THE BIZ: So looking forward to working with @soulsister_eventsnz this Sunday 15 October when I MC the Pre Loved Fashion Show High Tea at The Officer’s Mess 🧁 🥂
Treat yourselves to an indulgent afternoon with fabulous speakers, brilliant treats & beverages and the chance to nab pre loved designer clothing to celebrate Dress for Success and the awesome work they do helping women back into the work force.
Only a few seats left so get in fast friends! 🎉💗🎉
All deets available @soulsister_eventsnz 💖
#womensupportingwomen #womeninbiz
#mc #wonanbehindthebusiness #nzmumsinbusiness #nzbusinesswomen #nzbossbabe #nzentrepreneur #supportlocalnz #womenofnewzealand #nzsmallbiz #nzbusiness #nzbusinesswomen #voicejoy
Happy Monday to you from The Voice Practice Zoom Room 💗
Sending you all a hearty dose of #voicejoy this week!
#voicecoach #onlinevoicecoach #voiceofconfidence #confidentspeaker #voiceartist #wordofmouth #voicejoy #voice #voicecoach #presence #speaker #confidence #persuasion #influence #publicspeaker #publicspeaking #voiceofconfidence #voiceofpersuasion #voiceofinfluence #communicationskills #voiceofleadership
#womeninbusiness
‘The first thing in the theatre is the voice. If actors can’t be heard, then there really isn’t any point. And this is not just volume, it is the carrying of emotion on a wave of sound. It is clarity and intention. It takes skill, practice and stamina. And this is where Kirstie O’Sullivan comes in.’ 🌟 Michael Hurst
Michael wrote these words a few years ago after we had worked together on Amadeus for @aucklandtheatreco back in 2017.
I only WISH I could take any credit for the vocal mastery that Michael offers in ATC’s King Lear 👑
Really though, it’s the result of @raunchy_twyford ’s 40 years of devotion. 40 plus years of commitment to a consistently curious, bold, energised practice. Michael, I salute you 🙏🏼
These images are what #voicejoy looks like. Watching and listening to magic unfolding right before my eyes and ears on the daily, throughout this entire process. Feeling the resonant vibration of a company of voices move me to tears, laughter and everything in between.
I’m so grateful to @benjamin_henson and @raunchy_twyford for inviting me to be part of this extraordinary experience. It has been an absolute pleasure and a wonderful privilege 🙏🏼💕🙏🏼
Most importantly, if you haven’t yet seen this Master Artist in action, supported by an incredible, stellar cast, get thee to the Box Office. Four shows left.
And thank you to the wonderful @andicrownphotography for the 📸 documentation of the rehearsal process. What a gift 💝
#voice #voicecoach #theatrevoice #voiceclass #voicetraining #presence #resonance #theactorsvoice #beheard #beunderstood #shakespeare #kinglear #theatre #speakingshakespeare
KING LEAR: I’m boldly going to suggest that seeing King Lear @asbwaterfronttheatre might just be one of the most extraordinary, unforgettable experiences you will ever have.
Sheer, unmitigated, spine-tingling #voicejoy 👑
🎟️ Book now at atc.co.nz
🎭 King Lear by William Shakespeare
Directed by Benjamin Kilby-Henson & Michael Hurst
📅 13 Jun - 9 Jul
📍 @asbwaterfronttheatre
#voice #voicecoach #voicepower #powervsforce #theatrevoice #theactorsvoice #onehappyvoicecoach
#livetheatre #kinglear #shakespeare
Marlon Williams. What a voice.
Lush. Flexi. Gorgeous.
So to commemorate the moment and to celebrate Lara’s superb choice of evening entertainment we attempted a selfie.
After several attempts a very kind person behind us offered to save us from ourselves.
She got there in the end 😂
One more night at the Civic theatre. GO & SEE!!! (Marlon, not us). Cannot recommend highly enough.
#marlonwilliams #marlonwilliamssings #civictheatre #civictheatreauckland #voicejoy
FLOW: Well hello there 2023.
First day of work for the year and back in my happy place. I was reflecting this morning on how I love walking into a booking and getting my copy RIGHT THEN AND THERE before walking into the voice booth to record.
For a recovering perfectionist and ‘over preparer’ like my good self, this could potentially be excruciating.
So it delights me that instead, I feel a huge sense of freedom, curiosity, possibility and release. Release from the pursuit of ‘trying to get it right’ and instead, being presented with the opportunity to be alive to the flow.
The flow of the wordies, the flow of intention, the flow between all the practitioners present, and perhaps most importantly, the inherent flow available to us all when we create a bit of quiet space to listen. Which can seem oh so hard to access when we need to ‘deliver’ but ironically seems to be the key to delivering. The paradox of performance.
Power vs Force. Everyday magic.
Happy 2023 y’all. Lots of love 💕
#summerdayze #powervsforce #voiceartist #voiceover #soundadvice #soundbooth #voicerecord #retailread #wordofmouth #voicejoy #voice #voicecoach #presence #speaker #confidence #persuasion #influence #publicspeaker #publicspeaking #voiceofconfidence #voiceofpersuasion #voiceofinfluence #communicationskills #leadership
VOICE OF FREEDOM: Anywhere, anytime. Don’t need to wait for the ‘perfect circumstances’.
Something I have appreciated enormously over the past couple of years has been the beauty and brilliance of evidence based research.
The Voice Practice is firmly committed to nurturing, supporting and developing the voice of our clients. We use the beauty and brilliance of evidence based research and experiential practice to do this.
We are born to sound. We are built to sound. YOU are born and built to sound.
You don’t need to ‘find your voice’. It’s yours. It’s already there. Now it’s time to own it.
Stay tuned for a beautifully simple, accessible little treat we have in the pipeline for you. I can’t wait 🥰
#voiceoffreedom #thevoicepractice #functionalfreedom #functionalvoice #functionalanatomy #ownyourvoice #voiceartist #voiceover #soundadvice #soundbooth #voicerecord #wordofmouth #voicejoy #voice #voicecoach #presence #speaker #confidence #persuasion #influence #publicspeaker #publicspeaking #voiceofconfidence #voiceofpersuasion #voiceofinfluence #communicationskills #leadership #womeninbusiness
Beauty in our backyard. Whānau time with the best Wild West walking buddies @fitmama_nz and her crew 🥰🌊🥰
📷: @chriswiddup 💗
#westside #westisbest #homesweethome #voicejoy #nofilter
