My Voice, My Way
Welcome to “My Voice, My Way” – the podcast that gives a voice to those living with voice disorders.
I’m your host, Margaret Stoddart. I live with a complex voice condition – a combination of Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia – and I’m also proud to serve as an Area Contact Leader for Dysphonia International, supporting others across the UK who are living with these often misunderstood conditions.
I created this podcast to raise awareness and start honest conversations about what it really means to live with a voice disorder.
Each episode, I speak with people who understand voice disorders from the inside – fellow sufferers, voice users, and expert clinicians, including ENT specialists, speech and language therapists, and clinical psychologists. Together, we explore the challenges, the treatments, the emotional impact – and the resilience it takes to reclaim our voices.
Whether you’re living with a voice disorder yourself, supporting someone who is, or working in voice care – you’re in the right place. This is a space for shared stories, practical insights, and above all – connection.
This is My Voice, My Way. Let’s get started.
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I am so happy to hear that Helen is teaching again. Thank you for sharing your journey so far. I Agree that going out in the evening is often a nightmare: all day is spent worrying how your voice will be. Will voice be too tired for you to speak - how much can you manage to avoid speaking to 'save' it? Will voice have completely tightened up as you've kept worrying about it all day? Will venue be hopelessly loud anyway? But you desperately want to go out and feel a part of civilisation- and sit with a drink in a bar like an adult!
so much of this resonated with me. Escaping to be alone to read/watch iPad to escape the pressure of talking. Meals out in silence - but texting each other across the table. Very sad
you both sound amazing. I'm so excited for you both. And Helen - get you - doing some sick cover for someone else! Truly wonderful. Have to laugh at 'don't sit in silence' 🤐 😂😂
looking forward to hearing your discussions with your daughters. It affects the family so much. I have 9 grandchildren and I’ve longed to be able to read more to them. They’re the best at accepting me as I am. I can play card games (matching pairs) and simple board games as I can get by not speaking. Lots love Sally xx
wow you sound so so much better after your procedure to thicken vocal cord. Lovely idea to interview the grandchildren. I will interview mine I think 😃
I just want to hug you both. Aren't loud places a nightmare? Someone said to me on Sunday "have you lost your voice again" (charming) when it was really good I thought ! And they were being hopeless at lip reading me saying: "no it's just too loud in here". People being hopeless at lip reading drives me crackers!