1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:01,680 Carol Cox: You're going to love my conversation with 2 00:00:01,680 --> 00:00:03,930 Theresa Smith-Levin on the power of the 3 00:00:03,930 --> 00:00:06,920 performing arts to find and use your voice, 4 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:08,790 on this episode of the Speaking Your Brand 5 00:00:08,790 --> 00:00:15,620 podcast. More and more women are making an 6 00:00:15,620 --> 00:00:18,320 impact by starting businesses, running for 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:21,230 office and speaking up for what matters. 8 00:00:21,260 --> 00:00:23,480 With my background as a TV political 9 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:26,360 analyst, entrepreneur and speaker, I 10 00:00:26,360 --> 00:00:28,820 interview and coach purpose driven women to 11 00:00:28,820 --> 00:00:31,340 shape their brands, grow their companies, 12 00:00:31,340 --> 00:00:33,980 and become recognized as influencers in 13 00:00:33,980 --> 00:00:37,340 their field. This is speaking your brand, 14 00:00:37,340 --> 00:00:39,830 your place to learn how to persuasively 15 00:00:39,830 --> 00:00:44,810 communicate your message to your audience. 16 00:00:44,810 --> 00:00:46,010 Hi there and welcome to the Speaking Your 17 00:00:46,010 --> 00:00:48,200 Band podcast. I'm your host, Carol Cox. 18 00:00:48,200 --> 00:00:50,690 We're kicking off a new series all around 19 00:00:50,690 --> 00:00:51,860 using your Voice. 20 00:00:51,860 --> 00:00:53,750 I have interviews lined up, including this 21 00:00:53,750 --> 00:00:56,090 one today to inspire you to use your voice 22 00:00:56,090 --> 00:00:59,030 no matter what your topic or your industry. 23 00:00:59,030 --> 00:01:01,580 A couple of months ago, I attended an event 24 00:01:01,580 --> 00:01:04,160 in Orlando to honor a nonprofits here. 25 00:01:04,160 --> 00:01:06,410 What was really cool about this event was 26 00:01:06,410 --> 00:01:09,770 that each nonprofit had 2.5 minutes to share 27 00:01:09,770 --> 00:01:11,720 their story with the audience. 28 00:01:11,720 --> 00:01:14,270 When my guest today, Theresa Smith-Levin, 29 00:01:14,270 --> 00:01:16,850 founder of Central Florida Vocal Arts, 30 00:01:16,850 --> 00:01:20,300 shared her story, I was instantly inspired 31 00:01:20,300 --> 00:01:22,850 and I knew I had to have her on the podcast. 32 00:01:22,850 --> 00:01:24,980 Fortunately, I happened to run into her in 33 00:01:24,980 --> 00:01:27,860 the hallway after the event and I went over 34 00:01:27,860 --> 00:01:29,930 to her, introduced myself, and invited her 35 00:01:29,930 --> 00:01:31,040 on the podcast. 36 00:01:31,040 --> 00:01:33,440 Our conversation is a testament to the power 37 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,050 of storytelling, vulnerability and 38 00:01:36,050 --> 00:01:38,690 community, and fostering personal and 39 00:01:38,690 --> 00:01:39,740 collective growth. 40 00:01:39,740 --> 00:01:41,960 Theresa's work with Central Florida Vocal 41 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:44,780 Arts is not just about singing, it's about 42 00:01:44,780 --> 00:01:47,060 creating a space where people can grow into 43 00:01:47,060 --> 00:01:49,250 their authentic selves and learn to navigate 44 00:01:49,250 --> 00:01:51,860 the world with empathy and confidence. 45 00:01:51,860 --> 00:01:54,920 Whether you're an artist, a singer, a public 46 00:01:54,920 --> 00:01:56,450 speaker, or someone looking to make a 47 00:01:56,450 --> 00:01:58,730 difference in your community, Theresa's 48 00:01:58,730 --> 00:02:00,860 insights offer valuable lessons on the 49 00:02:00,860 --> 00:02:03,560 transformative power of using your voice. 50 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:05,690 And trust me, you do not have to be a singer 51 00:02:05,690 --> 00:02:07,760 in order to get so much value out of this 52 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,190 episode. I can't sing, and I told Theresa 53 00:02:10,190 --> 00:02:12,800 that at the end after we stopped recording 54 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:14,330 and she said, no, everyone can sing. 55 00:02:14,330 --> 00:02:16,040 And I said, no, no, you haven't heard me. 56 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,200 But she she was trying to convince me that 57 00:02:18,200 --> 00:02:19,280 that's not the case. 58 00:02:19,550 --> 00:02:22,190 Uh, but anyway, so whether you are a singer 59 00:02:22,190 --> 00:02:24,440 or an artist or a performer or not, you are 60 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:26,570 going to love this episode. 61 00:02:26,570 --> 00:02:28,610 If you're new to the podcast, welcome as 62 00:02:28,610 --> 00:02:30,740 speaking your brand. We work with women 63 00:02:30,740 --> 00:02:33,440 entrepreneurs, professionals and leaders to 64 00:02:33,440 --> 00:02:35,450 clarify their brand message and story, 65 00:02:35,450 --> 00:02:37,880 create their signature talks, and develop 66 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:39,590 their thought leadership platforms. 67 00:02:39,590 --> 00:02:41,750 You can find out more about what we do at 68 00:02:41,750 --> 00:02:43,640 speaking your brand.com. 69 00:02:43,670 --> 00:02:45,740 Now let's get on with the show. 70 00:02:47,270 --> 00:02:49,070 Welcome to the Speaking Your Brand podcast, 71 00:02:49,070 --> 00:02:49,790 Theresa. 72 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:51,500 Theresa Smith-Levin: Thank you. Carol. 73 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:52,760 Thank you for having me. 74 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:55,130 Carol Cox: I'm excited to have you on, because we have 75 00:02:55,130 --> 00:02:56,990 never had a professional singer on the 76 00:02:56,990 --> 00:02:59,210 podcast, at least as far as that I can 77 00:02:59,210 --> 00:03:02,210 remember. And as I mentioned in the intro, 78 00:03:02,210 --> 00:03:04,670 we met at a Victory Cup initiative 79 00:03:04,670 --> 00:03:08,420 breakfast, which was to award grants to 80 00:03:08,420 --> 00:03:10,640 nonprofits in the Central Florida area, 81 00:03:10,640 --> 00:03:12,650 including yours, which is Central Florida 82 00:03:12,650 --> 00:03:15,140 Vocal Arts. And what I loved about the way 83 00:03:15,140 --> 00:03:16,970 that they set up the event was that each 84 00:03:16,970 --> 00:03:20,900 nonprofit had to had, what was it, 60s or 85 00:03:20,900 --> 00:03:23,090 something to deliver their story to the 86 00:03:23,090 --> 00:03:25,490 audience? So it felt like 60s. 87 00:03:25,490 --> 00:03:28,280 Theresa Smith-Levin: It was 2.5 minutes, but it was a hard 2.5 88 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:29,900 minutes. There was no wiggle on that. 89 00:03:29,900 --> 00:03:31,910 Carol Cox: There was as soon as the 2.5 minute mark 90 00:03:31,910 --> 00:03:33,740 went, like they were like the music was 91 00:03:33,740 --> 00:03:35,660 cueing. They were like yanking you off the 92 00:03:35,660 --> 00:03:36,710 stage kind of thing. 93 00:03:36,710 --> 00:03:39,230 But it was so impactful to have each 94 00:03:39,230 --> 00:03:42,110 nonprofit share that story, because we know 95 00:03:42,110 --> 00:03:43,880 how powerful storytelling is. 96 00:03:43,880 --> 00:03:46,010 And Theresa, when you got up there and 97 00:03:46,010 --> 00:03:49,310 shared your story, I knew instantly I had to 98 00:03:49,310 --> 00:03:50,630 connect with you and invite you on the 99 00:03:50,630 --> 00:03:52,460 podcast. And luckily I ran into you in the 100 00:03:52,460 --> 00:03:53,870 hallway afterwards. 101 00:03:53,870 --> 00:03:55,610 I was like, here's my card, please, let's 102 00:03:55,940 --> 00:03:57,200 come on my podcast. 103 00:03:57,200 --> 00:03:58,400 So welcome. 104 00:03:58,400 --> 00:03:59,900 So let's start there. 105 00:03:59,900 --> 00:04:01,910 Can you tell us a little bit about your 106 00:04:01,910 --> 00:04:04,370 story and how singing in the arts helped you 107 00:04:04,370 --> 00:04:06,080 to find your use your voice? 108 00:04:06,380 --> 00:04:08,840 Theresa Smith-Levin: Absolutely. So I think so. 109 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,660 Oftentimes we have young people and I'm a 110 00:04:11,660 --> 00:04:15,350 mom myself. And we see kids with these big 111 00:04:15,350 --> 00:04:18,650 feelings and these big experiences and 112 00:04:18,650 --> 00:04:21,680 nowhere really no outlet to put those 113 00:04:21,680 --> 00:04:23,390 feelings, those emotions. 114 00:04:23,390 --> 00:04:26,090 And so the place where I found that I felt 115 00:04:26,090 --> 00:04:29,390 the most at home and the most able to feel 116 00:04:29,390 --> 00:04:32,540 and process what was going on for me was in 117 00:04:32,540 --> 00:04:35,630 the arts. And I always loved singing, and 118 00:04:35,630 --> 00:04:37,850 that was a place where I really just 119 00:04:37,850 --> 00:04:39,200 experienced joy. 120 00:04:39,200 --> 00:04:41,330 And because I had such wonderful parents, 121 00:04:41,330 --> 00:04:43,010 even though I don't think I was the most 122 00:04:43,010 --> 00:04:45,800 talented, naturally gifted singer, they very 123 00:04:45,800 --> 00:04:48,710 much supported that endeavor and I just 124 00:04:48,710 --> 00:04:50,750 followed through. I grew up in Central 125 00:04:50,750 --> 00:04:53,870 Florida, pursued choir in high school, 126 00:04:53,870 --> 00:04:56,450 middle school, went on to study music 127 00:04:56,450 --> 00:04:58,400 education at the collegiate level, and then 128 00:04:58,400 --> 00:05:01,190 vocal performance for my master's degree. 129 00:05:01,190 --> 00:05:04,430 And what happened after that is when I came 130 00:05:04,430 --> 00:05:06,800 back to Central Florida, there was a gap in 131 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:09,650 the market. Orlando Opera Company had filed 132 00:05:09,650 --> 00:05:11,660 for bankruptcy. There wasn't a large 133 00:05:11,660 --> 00:05:13,940 performing arts classical vocal arts 134 00:05:13,940 --> 00:05:16,850 company. And truly, I feel like the universe 135 00:05:16,850 --> 00:05:19,220 God, however you want to look at it, called 136 00:05:19,220 --> 00:05:22,160 me to start this nonprofit overnight, and 137 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:24,380 what has been really amazing is it has been 138 00:05:24,380 --> 00:05:26,960 an opportunity to combine my passion for 139 00:05:26,960 --> 00:05:29,330 community with the thing that I'm really 140 00:05:29,330 --> 00:05:33,080 good at, and so helping other young people 141 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,660 to be able to grow in confidence, 142 00:05:35,660 --> 00:05:39,380 connection, empathy, to find their voice, to 143 00:05:39,380 --> 00:05:42,380 figure out how they really feel about the 144 00:05:42,380 --> 00:05:45,170 world themselves and be empowered to share 145 00:05:45,170 --> 00:05:49,220 that we use music as a tool, as a catalyst 146 00:05:49,220 --> 00:05:52,580 for that empowerment, but truly that the 147 00:05:52,580 --> 00:05:55,850 goal is to help people to step into who they 148 00:05:55,850 --> 00:05:57,500 were meant to be authentically. 149 00:05:58,160 --> 00:06:00,470 Carol Cox: And as you're working with these young 150 00:06:00,470 --> 00:06:02,990 people, what are you finding about singing 151 00:06:02,990 --> 00:06:06,230 and music in the arts that helps them to 152 00:06:06,230 --> 00:06:07,820 kind of like, is it breaking through their 153 00:06:07,820 --> 00:06:09,980 defenses? Is it allowing them to be more, 154 00:06:09,980 --> 00:06:11,180 more vulnerable? 155 00:06:11,180 --> 00:06:13,580 Is it is it providing a safe space for them 156 00:06:13,580 --> 00:06:15,170 to have these emotions? 157 00:06:15,350 --> 00:06:18,650 Theresa Smith-Levin: So a lot of times I explain this idea through 158 00:06:18,650 --> 00:06:22,220 the idea of team sports because especially, 159 00:06:22,250 --> 00:06:26,090 um, for, for our male followers out there, a 160 00:06:26,090 --> 00:06:27,860 lot of times they have an easier time 161 00:06:27,860 --> 00:06:30,050 relating to how these outcomes come from 162 00:06:30,050 --> 00:06:33,290 sports. So when we enroll young people into 163 00:06:33,290 --> 00:06:35,390 soccer, youth soccer, for instance, we're 164 00:06:35,390 --> 00:06:36,740 not expecting them to come out and be 165 00:06:36,740 --> 00:06:38,870 Reynaldo. That wasn't the reason we put them 166 00:06:38,870 --> 00:06:40,820 in soccer, right? We put them in soccer 167 00:06:40,820 --> 00:06:42,560 because we know that it will develop them 168 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:43,910 physically, mentally. 169 00:06:43,910 --> 00:06:46,340 They'll be able to collaborate. 170 00:06:46,340 --> 00:06:48,440 They'll understand that sometimes we win, 171 00:06:48,440 --> 00:06:50,060 sometimes we lose. 172 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,220 We know that these skills and these outcomes 173 00:06:52,220 --> 00:06:53,570 come from sports, right? 174 00:06:53,570 --> 00:06:55,520 What's really special about performing arts 175 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:57,050 is you get all of those. 176 00:06:57,050 --> 00:06:59,000 But the difference between performing arts 177 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:01,580 in the soccer field is if you're struggling 178 00:07:01,580 --> 00:07:04,430 at home, you have an opportunity to share 179 00:07:04,430 --> 00:07:07,010 that feeling in an art space. 180 00:07:07,010 --> 00:07:10,400 If there's conflict or trauma, a lot of 181 00:07:10,400 --> 00:07:13,100 times the characters that we embody have had 182 00:07:13,100 --> 00:07:15,650 those same experiences, so it provides a 183 00:07:15,650 --> 00:07:18,650 catharsis, a place to process those feelings 184 00:07:18,650 --> 00:07:20,930 and to normalize those feelings and to be 185 00:07:20,930 --> 00:07:23,840 supported in those feelings so that you can 186 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:26,330 move forward in life and realize that, yes, 187 00:07:26,330 --> 00:07:29,060 this happened to me, but no, this isn't who 188 00:07:29,060 --> 00:07:31,130 I am. This is a part of my story. 189 00:07:31,130 --> 00:07:32,390 It's not the story. 190 00:07:33,350 --> 00:07:35,960 Carol Cox: Do any people come to mind that you worked 191 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:38,510 with and you can, you know, uh, composite 192 00:07:38,510 --> 00:07:41,090 them and not reveal any identifying details, 193 00:07:41,090 --> 00:07:42,830 but anyone come to mind where you really 194 00:07:42,830 --> 00:07:45,080 seen a transformation as a result of working 195 00:07:45,080 --> 00:07:46,130 with the Central Florida? 196 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,040 Theresa Smith-Levin: It's I mean, it's countless. 197 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:51,410 Quite honestly, the what we measure through 198 00:07:51,410 --> 00:07:53,960 our programs isn't a change in musical 199 00:07:53,960 --> 00:07:56,150 skill. It is changes in confidence. 200 00:07:56,150 --> 00:07:57,830 It's changes in the belief that you can 201 00:07:57,830 --> 00:08:00,110 overcome something that gives you fear. 202 00:08:00,110 --> 00:08:02,540 It's the belief that others care about you. 203 00:08:02,540 --> 00:08:05,750 Those three changes change the trajectory of 204 00:08:05,750 --> 00:08:06,800 a whole life. 205 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:09,740 So just to be able to encapsulate truly 206 00:08:09,740 --> 00:08:11,990 countless hundreds of of people that I've 207 00:08:11,990 --> 00:08:14,330 encountered in that regard, um, the work 208 00:08:14,330 --> 00:08:15,860 that we do at Pace Center for girls is 209 00:08:15,860 --> 00:08:17,840 really important, near and dear to my heart 210 00:08:17,840 --> 00:08:20,150 pace Center for girls, and it's here in 211 00:08:20,150 --> 00:08:21,950 Orange County, but I believe they have 212 00:08:21,950 --> 00:08:23,810 chapters across the country. 213 00:08:23,810 --> 00:08:26,540 Pace is an alternative school for young 214 00:08:26,540 --> 00:08:28,280 women who find themselves in crisis from 215 00:08:28,280 --> 00:08:29,390 middle school to high school. 216 00:08:29,390 --> 00:08:31,850 So whether that is a trauma, whether that's 217 00:08:31,850 --> 00:08:33,710 abuse in the home, whether that's a failure 218 00:08:33,710 --> 00:08:36,050 to thrive in their school setting can be any 219 00:08:36,050 --> 00:08:38,120 of those those things that are going on for 220 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,250 this young person. They're brought into a 221 00:08:40,250 --> 00:08:42,410 trauma informed school setting where they're 222 00:08:42,410 --> 00:08:45,290 receiving weekly counseling support. 223 00:08:45,290 --> 00:08:48,980 All female staff and, um, other students. 224 00:08:48,980 --> 00:08:50,810 And so we came in there and started offering 225 00:08:50,810 --> 00:08:51,860 voice because they didn't have 226 00:08:51,860 --> 00:08:54,740 extracurriculars like art and being able to 227 00:08:54,740 --> 00:08:57,350 take these girls, many of whom were sort of 228 00:08:57,350 --> 00:09:00,200 shells of people when we started, and 229 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,860 getting them to try things that they feel 230 00:09:03,860 --> 00:09:05,060 afraid of, right. 231 00:09:05,330 --> 00:09:06,860 Kind of crazy. Like I might be having them 232 00:09:06,860 --> 00:09:09,500 do like vocal sirens or like woo woo woo 233 00:09:09,530 --> 00:09:12,050 weird things that that makes them feel like 234 00:09:12,050 --> 00:09:13,370 embarrassed, right? 235 00:09:13,370 --> 00:09:15,500 But they feel embarrassed together. 236 00:09:15,500 --> 00:09:18,350 And then we normalize that, taking risks and 237 00:09:18,350 --> 00:09:21,170 being silly and putting ourselves out there. 238 00:09:21,170 --> 00:09:23,300 And then at the end of it, it's all through 239 00:09:23,300 --> 00:09:27,050 this filter of, if I can learn to use my 240 00:09:27,050 --> 00:09:30,080 voice for singing, I can learn to use my 241 00:09:30,080 --> 00:09:31,940 voice to advocate for myself and the things 242 00:09:31,940 --> 00:09:33,530 that I believe in and others. 243 00:09:33,530 --> 00:09:36,200 And that's so important if we're going to 244 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:38,960 transform communities, that we're able to 245 00:09:38,960 --> 00:09:41,330 use our voice to advocate for what we 246 00:09:41,330 --> 00:09:42,110 believe in. 247 00:09:42,830 --> 00:09:45,350 Carol Cox: And Theresa, thinking about yourself or even 248 00:09:45,350 --> 00:09:47,510 some even adults that you know, much less 249 00:09:47,510 --> 00:09:49,940 young people, where do you find? 250 00:09:49,940 --> 00:09:51,950 And this is a challenge, I know for me and 251 00:09:51,950 --> 00:09:54,890 for so many of us where we we feel like we 252 00:09:54,890 --> 00:09:57,590 can't advocate for ourselves or we stop, you 253 00:09:57,590 --> 00:09:59,870 know, we can't quite put ourselves out there 254 00:09:59,870 --> 00:10:01,610 and maybe the way that we want to. 255 00:10:02,690 --> 00:10:04,670 Theresa Smith-Levin: So it's interesting. 256 00:10:04,670 --> 00:10:07,160 I am a put myself out there kind of gal, and 257 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:09,170 I just am and I feel like. 258 00:10:09,170 --> 00:10:12,680 But but I want to caveat that with I wasn't 259 00:10:12,680 --> 00:10:15,740 always I wasn't that person growing up. 260 00:10:15,740 --> 00:10:17,510 I don't even think I was that person in high 261 00:10:17,510 --> 00:10:20,480 school. Um, but I've grown into that person, 262 00:10:20,480 --> 00:10:23,150 and I know that my art study has helped 263 00:10:23,150 --> 00:10:24,740 empower me in that way. 264 00:10:24,740 --> 00:10:28,160 What I am not great about doing is holding 265 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:30,140 boundaries and space for myself. 266 00:10:30,140 --> 00:10:33,170 I am the first one to get in line to protect 267 00:10:33,170 --> 00:10:35,630 others, to stand up for others. 268 00:10:35,630 --> 00:10:39,290 But I am not as skilled in doing it for 269 00:10:39,290 --> 00:10:41,570 myself. And I think that a lot of women find 270 00:10:41,570 --> 00:10:43,010 themselves in that position. 271 00:10:43,010 --> 00:10:44,090 We are nurturers. 272 00:10:44,090 --> 00:10:46,160 We are protectors. We are mothers, we are 273 00:10:46,160 --> 00:10:48,590 sisters, we are friends, and we're really 274 00:10:48,590 --> 00:10:51,920 wonderful about showing up for those people. 275 00:10:51,920 --> 00:10:54,680 Not great about showing up for ourselves. 276 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:57,350 But if we're not showing up for ourselves, 277 00:10:57,350 --> 00:10:59,450 we eventually are going to hit the bottom of 278 00:10:59,450 --> 00:11:00,650 that cup and we're not going to be able to 279 00:11:00,650 --> 00:11:01,850 show up for anyone else either. 280 00:11:01,850 --> 00:11:04,730 So being able to again put our own air mask 281 00:11:04,730 --> 00:11:07,460 on so that we can continue to serve others. 282 00:11:07,730 --> 00:11:10,130 Carol Cox: Absolutely. And that's why I'm such a big 283 00:11:10,130 --> 00:11:13,160 advocate for women's community, like women's 284 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:16,280 support circles, because then even though, 285 00:11:16,280 --> 00:11:19,310 as you said, like by nature and nurture, we 286 00:11:19,310 --> 00:11:22,130 tend to care for others, but if we're in a 287 00:11:22,130 --> 00:11:23,900 tight circle with other women, then 288 00:11:23,900 --> 00:11:25,520 inevitably they're going to care for us 289 00:11:25,520 --> 00:11:26,960 while we're caring for them. 290 00:11:27,350 --> 00:11:29,150 Theresa Smith-Levin: Absolutely, absolutely. 291 00:11:29,150 --> 00:11:32,240 And, you know, being able to overcome the 292 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:34,910 word selfish, that's an area of growth for 293 00:11:34,910 --> 00:11:38,150 me. I feel like there's not a word that sort 294 00:11:38,150 --> 00:11:41,450 of evokes more shame for women than selfish. 295 00:11:41,450 --> 00:11:45,290 And the thing is, most of us are so far from 296 00:11:45,290 --> 00:11:48,050 selfish that quite honestly, we need to find 297 00:11:48,050 --> 00:11:50,810 some more ways to be selfish, to take care 298 00:11:50,810 --> 00:11:51,920 of ourselves. 299 00:11:52,070 --> 00:11:53,570 Um, a little sidebar. 300 00:11:53,570 --> 00:11:56,300 One of the classes that I teach is an adult 301 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:59,270 class called music for a Joyful Life for 302 00:11:59,270 --> 00:12:02,360 adults, and I have adults in the class 303 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,990 anywhere from probably about 25 through 75. 304 00:12:05,990 --> 00:12:08,540 So we get a diverse age range there. 305 00:12:08,540 --> 00:12:11,090 And the first class we come in, we introduce 306 00:12:11,090 --> 00:12:12,320 ourselves, we talk about what we're going to 307 00:12:12,320 --> 00:12:14,990 learn. One of the things that I bring up is 308 00:12:14,990 --> 00:12:17,930 when in life were you ever told to just 309 00:12:17,930 --> 00:12:20,180 pursue something because it made you happy, 310 00:12:20,540 --> 00:12:23,840 even to our to our elementary schoolers, we 311 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:25,670 try and sort of start prepping them for 312 00:12:25,670 --> 00:12:26,990 you're going to have to make a decision 313 00:12:26,990 --> 00:12:28,670 about college and a career path and all 314 00:12:28,670 --> 00:12:31,100 these things. But when did we say, just do 315 00:12:31,100 --> 00:12:33,170 that thing because it made you happy? 316 00:12:33,170 --> 00:12:36,590 And so then we look at women in their 30s 317 00:12:36,590 --> 00:12:38,120 and say, self care. 318 00:12:38,540 --> 00:12:40,850 But when were we given the tools to do that? 319 00:12:40,850 --> 00:12:42,620 For me, self care just feels like another 320 00:12:42,620 --> 00:12:43,820 thing I'm failing at. 321 00:12:43,820 --> 00:12:44,900 And so another. 322 00:12:44,900 --> 00:12:45,740 Carol Cox: Chore that we have to. 323 00:12:46,450 --> 00:12:48,520 Theresa Smith-Levin: It's not like I'm not doing life right, 324 00:12:48,520 --> 00:12:50,230 because I don't know if I'm self-caring 325 00:12:50,230 --> 00:12:54,700 well. And so being able to identify what 326 00:12:54,700 --> 00:12:58,090 makes me happy and then create space for 327 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:02,020 that with the no other objective than just 328 00:13:02,020 --> 00:13:04,690 to be present and feeling that joy and that 329 00:13:04,690 --> 00:13:08,320 happiness, and how when we engage in those 330 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:10,510 experiences, how we're able to show up 331 00:13:10,510 --> 00:13:11,410 differently. 332 00:13:12,130 --> 00:13:13,390 Carol Cox: I love that, Theresa. 333 00:13:13,390 --> 00:13:15,280 And, you know, because we're especially in 334 00:13:15,280 --> 00:13:17,080 the United States, we're so much about 335 00:13:17,080 --> 00:13:19,300 productivity and making sure everything that 336 00:13:19,300 --> 00:13:21,790 we do leads to some productive outcome. 337 00:13:21,790 --> 00:13:23,950 Even our quote unquote hobbies are supposed 338 00:13:23,950 --> 00:13:25,810 to be productive, like you said. 339 00:13:25,810 --> 00:13:28,240 And so having it just for the joy of it, 340 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:30,820 just because we enjoy it and it fulfills us 341 00:13:30,820 --> 00:13:33,280 personally, much less professionally, I 342 00:13:33,280 --> 00:13:35,050 think is such a great reminder. 343 00:13:35,050 --> 00:13:36,340 Let me ask you this, Theresa. 344 00:13:36,340 --> 00:13:38,290 So thinking about the people that you work 345 00:13:38,290 --> 00:13:41,890 with of all ages, do you after they when 346 00:13:41,890 --> 00:13:43,540 they're doing their classes with you, do you 347 00:13:43,540 --> 00:13:46,810 have them step on stage and do they they 348 00:13:46,810 --> 00:13:48,400 perform like tell me a little bit about 349 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:51,130 that. And and what advice do you have for 350 00:13:51,130 --> 00:13:53,560 listeners who are public speakers as far as 351 00:13:53,560 --> 00:13:55,660 stepping onto a stage and connecting with an 352 00:13:55,660 --> 00:13:57,370 audience? Absolutely. 353 00:13:57,370 --> 00:14:00,940 Theresa Smith-Levin: So we one of the first educational programs 354 00:14:00,940 --> 00:14:04,060 that we had when we were founded in 2012 was 355 00:14:04,060 --> 00:14:06,340 our Summer Institute, and that was in large 356 00:14:06,340 --> 00:14:08,500 part because when I came out of grad school, 357 00:14:08,500 --> 00:14:11,410 I felt like I knew how to sing very well and 358 00:14:11,410 --> 00:14:13,960 at the same time was woefully underprepared 359 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:15,460 for a career in performance. 360 00:14:15,460 --> 00:14:18,160 And so I had to cultivate a lot of these 361 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:21,250 holistic performing arts skills through 362 00:14:21,250 --> 00:14:23,380 practice, through being on stage, through 363 00:14:23,380 --> 00:14:25,660 doing it. And so when we started the 364 00:14:25,660 --> 00:14:27,400 program, I really wanted to make sure that 365 00:14:27,400 --> 00:14:29,440 we were incorporating those elements into 366 00:14:29,440 --> 00:14:30,910 the training that we were giving to young 367 00:14:30,910 --> 00:14:34,330 people. And one of the important steps of 368 00:14:34,330 --> 00:14:37,210 that is to be able to overcome fears. 369 00:14:37,210 --> 00:14:39,760 So on day one, when children show up at 370 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:42,010 camp, they audition for us and there are 371 00:14:42,010 --> 00:14:44,830 kids that balk, that will not sing for me on 372 00:14:44,830 --> 00:14:47,920 day one. And who's in the room for day one? 373 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:49,870 Like three instructors who are going to cast 374 00:14:49,870 --> 00:14:51,520 them in the show. The other kids aren't 375 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:53,200 there. Or if there are, there's just 2 or 3 376 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:54,760 that are waiting for their turn to be up 377 00:14:54,760 --> 00:14:57,370 next. It's a very small group, right? 378 00:14:57,370 --> 00:14:58,990 And there are tears. 379 00:14:58,990 --> 00:15:01,210 And I've had children quit after day one 380 00:15:01,210 --> 00:15:02,590 because it was just too much. 381 00:15:03,010 --> 00:15:05,560 Um, I've never had a kid on Friday night 382 00:15:05,560 --> 00:15:06,850 when they have to do their solo voice 383 00:15:06,850 --> 00:15:09,970 recital in front of all of the parents, all 384 00:15:09,970 --> 00:15:12,160 of the other kids, and a packed house. 385 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,200 I've never had one of those kids back down. 386 00:15:14,200 --> 00:15:17,140 And that's the point, is, yes, you are 387 00:15:17,140 --> 00:15:18,460 afraid on Monday. 388 00:15:18,460 --> 00:15:21,340 But over the next four days we're going to 389 00:15:21,340 --> 00:15:23,650 form community of support and love. 390 00:15:23,650 --> 00:15:24,700 We're going to believe in you. 391 00:15:24,730 --> 00:15:26,890 We are going to love you through that stage, 392 00:15:26,890 --> 00:15:28,090 and you're going to get up there and you're 393 00:15:28,090 --> 00:15:30,190 going to do that. And when you come down, 394 00:15:30,190 --> 00:15:31,870 you're going to know that you can do 395 00:15:31,870 --> 00:15:34,240 something that made you really afraid four 396 00:15:34,240 --> 00:15:36,130 days ago, something that made you cry four 397 00:15:36,130 --> 00:15:39,100 days ago. And so I tell parents and 398 00:15:39,100 --> 00:15:40,960 students, please don't give up, because what 399 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:44,620 happens is you start to build up this fear 400 00:15:44,620 --> 00:15:46,210 and the fear becomes greater than really 401 00:15:46,210 --> 00:15:49,240 what it is. And so just getting through it. 402 00:15:49,240 --> 00:15:51,730 Right. So before Victory Cup, as you 403 00:15:51,730 --> 00:15:54,100 mentioned where we met, a lot of the 404 00:15:54,100 --> 00:15:56,770 speakers were really worried about speaking. 405 00:15:56,770 --> 00:15:58,660 Here's the thing. If you sing in front of 406 00:15:58,660 --> 00:16:00,670 people, speaking ain't no thing like it's 407 00:16:00,670 --> 00:16:01,960 it's not a big deal. 408 00:16:01,960 --> 00:16:06,580 So I mean I was a very normal amount of like 409 00:16:06,580 --> 00:16:09,670 excited nerves, but I wasn't afraid. 410 00:16:09,790 --> 00:16:13,240 And that is sort of the beauty of art study 411 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:15,010 is those young people that we're working 412 00:16:15,010 --> 00:16:16,930 with, right? Knowing that they were able to 413 00:16:16,930 --> 00:16:19,090 get up and sing in front of people when they 414 00:16:19,090 --> 00:16:21,010 go back to school in the fall and they have 415 00:16:21,010 --> 00:16:23,080 to give a speech in their history class. 416 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,090 It's not that big of a deal because guess 417 00:16:25,090 --> 00:16:26,890 what? They've been there before. 418 00:16:26,890 --> 00:16:28,060 They've done that before. 419 00:16:28,060 --> 00:16:29,950 They have that skill and they know that they 420 00:16:29,950 --> 00:16:34,300 lived through it. So truly, it's a really 421 00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:37,690 wonderful playground to develop life skills 422 00:16:37,690 --> 00:16:40,390 that are going to serve you in any capacity. 423 00:16:40,390 --> 00:16:44,590 To your public speakers, I would say that we 424 00:16:44,590 --> 00:16:46,990 need to normalize being nervous. 425 00:16:47,170 --> 00:16:48,520 You're going to feel afraid. 426 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:50,050 Your heart is going to race. 427 00:16:50,050 --> 00:16:52,510 Your breath is going to speed up. 428 00:16:52,510 --> 00:16:55,150 There are lots of techniques, tips and 429 00:16:55,150 --> 00:16:58,390 tricks to get around that, but your body 430 00:16:58,390 --> 00:17:01,630 doesn't know the difference between a actual 431 00:17:01,630 --> 00:17:03,970 physical threat and an emotional fear 432 00:17:03,970 --> 00:17:05,410 threat. Your body doesn't know. 433 00:17:05,410 --> 00:17:07,240 Our evolution hasn't caught up with that. 434 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,250 So your body is doing what your body is 435 00:17:09,250 --> 00:17:10,960 meant to do, which is to keep you alive and 436 00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:12,790 help you avoid situations where you might 437 00:17:12,790 --> 00:17:16,060 die and it doesn't know that you're not 438 00:17:16,060 --> 00:17:17,710 going to get up on that stage and die. 439 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:19,060 It doesn't know because it hasn't done it 440 00:17:19,060 --> 00:17:22,060 yet. So we have to honor that response 441 00:17:22,060 --> 00:17:23,440 because thank you. Thank you, body, for 442 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:25,180 wanting me to live. I'm very thankful for 443 00:17:25,210 --> 00:17:28,720 that. But we need to have enough practice to 444 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:31,420 know I am able to survive this. 445 00:17:31,420 --> 00:17:34,450 Because when you start to fight that 446 00:17:34,450 --> 00:17:37,690 reaction, then you're making your issue far 447 00:17:37,690 --> 00:17:40,030 more complex because you're nervous and then 448 00:17:40,030 --> 00:17:41,350 you're upset at yourself being nervous and 449 00:17:41,350 --> 00:17:42,670 look at what your body is doing, and then 450 00:17:42,670 --> 00:17:44,680 you're having shame responses, because why 451 00:17:44,680 --> 00:17:45,760 can't I just get over this? And. 452 00:17:46,140 --> 00:17:47,580 No. You're nervous. 453 00:17:47,580 --> 00:17:49,200 Your body's reacting to that super duper 454 00:17:49,200 --> 00:17:52,080 normal. Okay, what are the tools that we 455 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:55,140 have to overcome that and be able to deliver 456 00:17:55,140 --> 00:17:56,760 what we have prepared in a way that's 457 00:17:56,760 --> 00:17:57,570 authentic? 458 00:17:58,260 --> 00:18:00,750 Carol Cox: Yeah, that is exactly the same advice that I 459 00:18:00,750 --> 00:18:03,060 give to myself in my own self-talk, and that 460 00:18:03,060 --> 00:18:05,220 I give to the listeners and the clients, is 461 00:18:05,220 --> 00:18:08,160 to not resist what's normal, but instead to 462 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:11,130 work with it and and to, like you said, find 463 00:18:11,130 --> 00:18:13,230 the tools and practices that are going to 464 00:18:13,230 --> 00:18:16,200 help you to turn those nerves into 465 00:18:16,200 --> 00:18:18,540 excitement instead of paralysis. 466 00:18:18,540 --> 00:18:20,250 Theresa Smith-Levin: Right? Absolutely. 467 00:18:20,250 --> 00:18:22,410 It's a fight, flight or freeze response. 468 00:18:22,410 --> 00:18:25,500 And so I can tell a lot about a person by 469 00:18:25,500 --> 00:18:27,120 how they respond when I try and make them 470 00:18:27,120 --> 00:18:29,040 sing. Do they end up pushing and 471 00:18:29,040 --> 00:18:31,260 overexerting? That's what I do. 472 00:18:31,260 --> 00:18:32,340 I'm a fighter. 473 00:18:32,370 --> 00:18:36,120 Do they just freeze up and like they they 474 00:18:36,120 --> 00:18:38,190 just are not able to move? 475 00:18:38,190 --> 00:18:40,110 Or do they sing really quiet and it's a lot 476 00:18:40,110 --> 00:18:41,340 less than it would normally be. 477 00:18:41,340 --> 00:18:43,170 They're they're a runaway or they're not 478 00:18:43,170 --> 00:18:47,070 leaning into their voice fully and so, um, 479 00:18:47,070 --> 00:18:49,770 honoring that wherever you are and 480 00:18:49,770 --> 00:18:51,930 developing the skills that you need to be 481 00:18:51,930 --> 00:18:54,300 able to mitigate those really natural 482 00:18:54,300 --> 00:18:55,320 responses. 483 00:18:55,590 --> 00:18:57,030 Carol Cox: So a couple things come to mind. 484 00:18:57,030 --> 00:18:59,370 I want to get back to the Victory Cup story 485 00:18:59,370 --> 00:19:01,800 as that before that, when you talked about 486 00:19:01,800 --> 00:19:03,690 the with the kids in the summer camp and 487 00:19:03,690 --> 00:19:05,040 they arrive on Monday and then they have to 488 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,650 perform on Friday and even though they're 489 00:19:07,650 --> 00:19:09,180 afraid or, you know, maybe they're 490 00:19:09,180 --> 00:19:10,470 embarrassed at initially. 491 00:19:10,470 --> 00:19:12,480 So when we do our in-person speaking 492 00:19:12,480 --> 00:19:14,550 workshops, we always have the women we work 493 00:19:14,550 --> 00:19:17,040 with do improv games with us. 494 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:17,490 Theresa Smith-Levin: Yes. 495 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:19,890 Carol Cox: Right. Improv because you're gonna feel 496 00:19:19,890 --> 00:19:21,660 silly. You're gonna feel embarrassed. 497 00:19:21,660 --> 00:19:23,040 You're gonna feel like you're not doing it 498 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:25,620 well, but is the best thing, as I always 499 00:19:25,620 --> 00:19:27,570 say, to get out of our heads because it's 500 00:19:27,570 --> 00:19:28,680 high achieving women. 501 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:30,570 We spend so much time on our heads, we 502 00:19:30,570 --> 00:19:33,720 forget we have bodies and as speakers, as 503 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,000 performers, our bodies are such an essential 504 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:39,270 element to our performance and to connecting 505 00:19:39,270 --> 00:19:41,730 with our audiences. And so and even though 506 00:19:41,730 --> 00:19:44,580 they they dread it going in, they all end up 507 00:19:44,580 --> 00:19:47,220 loving it and realizing how impactful it is. 508 00:19:47,520 --> 00:19:50,280 Theresa Smith-Levin: Oh, I love improv like it is a great. 509 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:52,860 I send people here in, um, Central Florida. 510 00:19:52,860 --> 00:19:54,960 We have a wonderful place called Sak Comedy 511 00:19:54,960 --> 00:19:57,690 Lab. Great place to take improv classes. 512 00:19:57,690 --> 00:19:59,760 And um, I actually work a lot with 513 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:02,070 leadership Winter Park and one of my good 514 00:20:02,070 --> 00:20:03,990 friends, Chelsea Hyland, comes in and 515 00:20:03,990 --> 00:20:05,250 teaches a workshop for them. 516 00:20:05,250 --> 00:20:06,960 I teach about finding your voice. 517 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:10,410 She teaches about, uh, improv as a business 518 00:20:10,410 --> 00:20:11,640 leader. Right. 519 00:20:11,640 --> 00:20:12,900 But we do it all the time. 520 00:20:12,900 --> 00:20:14,220 We just do it in a different way. 521 00:20:14,220 --> 00:20:16,110 You find yourself in a situation that you 522 00:20:16,110 --> 00:20:18,540 didn't expect for your business and your 523 00:20:18,540 --> 00:20:20,880 professional career, and you have to respond 524 00:20:20,880 --> 00:20:22,860 and you have to respond quickly. 525 00:20:22,890 --> 00:20:25,140 You have to be able to trust your gut. 526 00:20:25,140 --> 00:20:28,680 In so many ways, I see women getting 527 00:20:28,680 --> 00:20:30,480 themselves in trouble because we second 528 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,510 guess what we know you know what to do. 529 00:20:33,510 --> 00:20:35,700 But then we look to others and we questioned 530 00:20:35,700 --> 00:20:37,620 whether that's right. No, you don't get that 531 00:20:37,620 --> 00:20:40,560 that, um, I don't want to say opportunity 532 00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,200 because it's not it really hinders you. 533 00:20:43,230 --> 00:20:46,350 You don't have that available to you in 534 00:20:46,350 --> 00:20:47,910 improv. You just need to react, which means 535 00:20:47,910 --> 00:20:50,280 you need to be present enough listening 536 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:53,340 enough to be able to respond authentically 537 00:20:53,340 --> 00:20:56,280 without first judging the validity of your 538 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:57,090 response. 539 00:20:57,540 --> 00:20:59,730 Carol Cox: And and exactly, Theresa, that is so well 540 00:20:59,730 --> 00:21:01,740 said. And I did take the improv class at Sak 541 00:21:01,740 --> 00:21:03,840 Comedy Lab and it was fantastic. 542 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:05,880 I always say I have a love hate relationship 543 00:21:05,880 --> 00:21:08,610 with improv because I love it, but yet I 544 00:21:08,610 --> 00:21:10,020 hate it because I can't master it. 545 00:21:10,020 --> 00:21:12,120 I like to master things, but there's. 546 00:21:12,120 --> 00:21:13,920 Theresa Smith-Levin: No mastering it. No, there's no mastering it, 547 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,480 and there's no mastering singing. 548 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:19,020 Yeah. So so I have an unfair advantage in 549 00:21:19,020 --> 00:21:21,240 this in that I did not. 550 00:21:21,240 --> 00:21:24,480 So I met my mentor, who I feel like really 551 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:27,000 had the greatest impact on my life, uh, when 552 00:21:27,000 --> 00:21:28,770 I was 22. 553 00:21:28,770 --> 00:21:30,540 But that means I'd been singing pretty 554 00:21:30,540 --> 00:21:33,750 seriously for a while before that. 555 00:21:33,750 --> 00:21:37,080 And one of the things that she taught me, 556 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:39,660 and I think is so essential in a great skill 557 00:21:39,660 --> 00:21:42,720 for everybody to embrace, is you can't do 558 00:21:42,720 --> 00:21:43,980 two things at once. We talk about 559 00:21:43,980 --> 00:21:45,810 multitasking. You're not really doing two 560 00:21:45,810 --> 00:21:47,790 things at once, which you are doing is very 561 00:21:47,790 --> 00:21:49,890 quickly changing the channel, but you're 562 00:21:49,890 --> 00:21:52,140 never on two channels at the same time. 563 00:21:52,140 --> 00:21:55,320 So if you're going to be singing really well 564 00:21:55,320 --> 00:21:57,510 in your body, in your technique, present in 565 00:21:57,510 --> 00:21:58,530 the moment, and then what? 566 00:21:58,530 --> 00:22:02,580 Acting to you don't have space in there to 567 00:22:02,580 --> 00:22:03,960 be deciding whether or not you think it's 568 00:22:03,960 --> 00:22:05,640 good, you can't do it. 569 00:22:05,640 --> 00:22:08,850 And not only that, you don't know what you 570 00:22:08,850 --> 00:22:10,110 sound like when you sing. 571 00:22:10,110 --> 00:22:12,030 And so the first thing I teach students and 572 00:22:12,030 --> 00:22:13,950 I teach classes is stop listening to 573 00:22:13,950 --> 00:22:15,690 yourself when you sing, sing. 574 00:22:15,690 --> 00:22:17,400 Super counterintuitive, right? 575 00:22:17,400 --> 00:22:20,250 But I guarantee you and your listeners have 576 00:22:20,250 --> 00:22:21,960 had the experience where you hear yourself 577 00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:23,400 in a recording and you go, oh my gosh, 578 00:22:23,400 --> 00:22:24,990 that's not what my voice sounds like. 579 00:22:25,560 --> 00:22:26,670 Yes, it is. 580 00:22:26,670 --> 00:22:29,760 And if you're trying to adjust it and decide 581 00:22:29,760 --> 00:22:31,680 whether it's good based on false data 582 00:22:31,680 --> 00:22:34,020 because you don't know what it sounds like, 583 00:22:34,080 --> 00:22:36,420 it's like doing a science experiment with 584 00:22:36,420 --> 00:22:37,800 false data and thinking you're going to get 585 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:39,930 the right outcome. It's not going to happen. 586 00:22:39,930 --> 00:22:42,600 So you have to treat it as a total separate 587 00:22:42,600 --> 00:22:45,690 entity from the sound and get so present. 588 00:22:45,800 --> 00:22:48,800 In the sensation in your body, in the act of 589 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:52,310 doing so that you can create the most 590 00:22:52,310 --> 00:22:54,080 authentic, open, beautiful sound. 591 00:22:54,830 --> 00:22:56,120 Carol Cox: I love that, Theresa. 592 00:22:56,120 --> 00:22:57,230 That's such a great point. 593 00:22:57,230 --> 00:22:59,720 If you're doing the thing, you can't also be 594 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:01,910 worrying about how you're doing it. 595 00:23:01,940 --> 00:23:04,130 Theresa Smith-Levin: No, because you're always behind. 596 00:23:04,130 --> 00:23:05,570 You've done it, now you're judging it, but 597 00:23:05,570 --> 00:23:06,800 you're still doing it, right. You're still 598 00:23:06,800 --> 00:23:08,360 singing. So then you're not present in that 599 00:23:08,360 --> 00:23:09,620 moment because you're still back here 600 00:23:09,620 --> 00:23:11,150 deciding whether or not that was good. 601 00:23:11,480 --> 00:23:14,060 You can't do it. Yes. And in life. 602 00:23:14,180 --> 00:23:15,770 Yes. Right, right. 603 00:23:16,430 --> 00:23:17,540 Carol Cox: Yes. Okay. 604 00:23:17,540 --> 00:23:20,120 So let me so related to singing and improv 605 00:23:20,120 --> 00:23:21,260 and speaking and all these things we've been 606 00:23:21,260 --> 00:23:23,360 talking about. The other thing that I 607 00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:25,430 encourage our clients and our listeners is 608 00:23:25,430 --> 00:23:28,400 to make speaking a two way conversation with 609 00:23:28,400 --> 00:23:30,140 the audience. And I don't literally mean 610 00:23:30,140 --> 00:23:32,060 having the audience say things out loud. 611 00:23:32,060 --> 00:23:33,170 Of course they could. 612 00:23:33,170 --> 00:23:35,990 But but as a speaker, you feed off the 613 00:23:35,990 --> 00:23:37,400 energy of the audience and you have to 614 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:39,170 notice the energy of the audience, you know, 615 00:23:39,170 --> 00:23:41,180 are they up? Are they lagging? 616 00:23:41,180 --> 00:23:43,370 And they're feeding off the energy of you? 617 00:23:43,370 --> 00:23:45,320 So how does that work for you as a 618 00:23:45,320 --> 00:23:46,760 performer, as a singer? 619 00:23:47,060 --> 00:23:50,120 Theresa Smith-Levin: So I have an unfair advantage here too. 620 00:23:50,120 --> 00:23:52,250 I'm an. Empath. I have been for my whole 621 00:23:52,250 --> 00:23:55,850 life and actually I had to, as I grow up, 622 00:23:55,850 --> 00:23:58,700 develop skills to sort of protect myself 623 00:23:58,700 --> 00:24:01,310 from feeling everybody's feeling so 624 00:24:01,310 --> 00:24:03,440 strongly. Because when I walk in a room, I 625 00:24:03,440 --> 00:24:05,810 know exactly how everyone feels, but then 626 00:24:05,810 --> 00:24:08,270 being able to go, okay, that's how they 627 00:24:08,270 --> 00:24:11,780 feel. But that's not my responsibility as a 628 00:24:11,780 --> 00:24:14,780 performer. It's a great skill to have is to 629 00:24:14,780 --> 00:24:17,120 be able to feel how people are responding to 630 00:24:17,120 --> 00:24:19,010 you in those moments. 631 00:24:19,010 --> 00:24:22,400 And, um, I'll share another story. 632 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:25,610 I did a show called Save Me Dolly Parton in, 633 00:24:25,610 --> 00:24:27,140 uh. I did it a couple times. 634 00:24:27,140 --> 00:24:29,660 I did it in 2017, and then again in 2019. 635 00:24:29,660 --> 00:24:32,810 I toured it in Indianapolis Fringe Festival 636 00:24:32,810 --> 00:24:34,490 when I was 37 weeks pregnant. 637 00:24:34,490 --> 00:24:36,770 I don't know what I was thinking, but I did 638 00:24:36,770 --> 00:24:38,090 that. I did a thing. 639 00:24:38,090 --> 00:24:42,650 And so, um, anyways, it was a monologue 640 00:24:42,650 --> 00:24:44,750 show, like it was just me and there was no 641 00:24:44,750 --> 00:24:47,540 music. I wasn't singing, it was me speaking 642 00:24:47,540 --> 00:24:49,820 on stage for 50 minutes without 643 00:24:49,820 --> 00:24:53,090 interruption. And so what was interesting 644 00:24:53,090 --> 00:24:55,970 about that experience is each show was 645 00:24:55,970 --> 00:24:57,860 different because it had to be different. 646 00:24:57,860 --> 00:25:01,220 What one audience responded to was going to 647 00:25:01,220 --> 00:25:03,410 be different from another. 648 00:25:03,410 --> 00:25:05,690 And if the whole point of theater is to have 649 00:25:05,690 --> 00:25:08,240 a shared human experience, I have a 650 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:11,630 responsibility as a performer to leave space 651 00:25:11,630 --> 00:25:15,050 for their response to what I'm giving them. 652 00:25:15,050 --> 00:25:17,750 If I've already decided how they should 653 00:25:17,750 --> 00:25:20,330 react to that, then I've negated the whole 654 00:25:20,330 --> 00:25:21,590 point of the thing. 655 00:25:21,590 --> 00:25:23,960 If I want to share a piece of myself and 656 00:25:23,960 --> 00:25:26,030 allow them to respond to that, that energy 657 00:25:26,030 --> 00:25:28,820 comes back to me. I need to be open to 658 00:25:28,820 --> 00:25:31,340 whatever their response is going to be. 659 00:25:31,340 --> 00:25:34,310 And so it's starting with an openness and a 660 00:25:34,310 --> 00:25:36,620 framework. When you're giving a speech, when 661 00:25:36,620 --> 00:25:39,350 you're speaking or doing a workshop, 662 00:25:39,350 --> 00:25:42,410 starting with a framework, but being open to 663 00:25:42,410 --> 00:25:45,260 this group is going to respond how they need 664 00:25:45,260 --> 00:25:47,090 to respond to day in their given 665 00:25:47,090 --> 00:25:51,020 circumstances. And I am prepared enough to 666 00:25:51,020 --> 00:25:53,690 adjust, pivot and respond to who they need 667 00:25:53,690 --> 00:25:55,400 me to be for them in this moment. 668 00:25:55,970 --> 00:25:58,250 Carol Cox: So well said. Because as we know, we can give 669 00:25:58,250 --> 00:26:02,690 the same exact speech performance to five 670 00:26:02,690 --> 00:26:04,400 different groups and they're all going to 671 00:26:04,400 --> 00:26:05,780 respond differently and have different 672 00:26:05,780 --> 00:26:07,520 energy and group dynamics even though it's 673 00:26:07,520 --> 00:26:08,750 the same content. 674 00:26:08,750 --> 00:26:09,980 Theresa Smith-Levin: Oh, absolutely. 675 00:26:09,980 --> 00:26:12,890 Absolutely. And and there's been so many 676 00:26:12,890 --> 00:26:15,950 times, um, you know, from a culturally 677 00:26:15,950 --> 00:26:19,160 informed place, if I'm working with a group 678 00:26:19,160 --> 00:26:23,120 of title one students who perhaps come from, 679 00:26:23,210 --> 00:26:25,070 um, more vulnerable situations, have 680 00:26:25,070 --> 00:26:28,160 different life experiences, the way I speak 681 00:26:28,160 --> 00:26:30,860 to them and engage with them, I can't have 682 00:26:30,860 --> 00:26:32,180 the expectation that they're going to 683 00:26:32,180 --> 00:26:35,360 respond to me the same way that students at 684 00:26:35,360 --> 00:26:38,210 a private school who are driving to school 685 00:26:38,210 --> 00:26:40,400 in Mercedes are going to respond. 686 00:26:40,400 --> 00:26:43,580 They have very different experiences, and I 687 00:26:43,580 --> 00:26:46,490 can't expect them to just trust me to just 688 00:26:46,490 --> 00:26:48,560 go with me, even though I know that my 689 00:26:48,560 --> 00:26:51,470 intentions are good, I need to meet people 690 00:26:51,470 --> 00:26:54,140 where they are, and I think as speakers we 691 00:26:54,140 --> 00:26:56,480 have to do the same is meet your audience 692 00:26:56,480 --> 00:26:59,570 where they are and figure out where you do 693 00:26:59,600 --> 00:27:03,050 connect. Start from there, but be open to 694 00:27:03,050 --> 00:27:04,580 whatever that might be. 695 00:27:05,270 --> 00:27:07,310 Carol Cox: Theresa, let's talk about storytelling. 696 00:27:07,310 --> 00:27:09,620 As we mentioned at the top, you had the 697 00:27:09,620 --> 00:27:12,680 opportunity to deliver a 2.5 minute story 698 00:27:12,680 --> 00:27:15,680 about yourself and Central Florida vocal 699 00:27:15,680 --> 00:27:18,230 arts. At the breakfast that we attended. 700 00:27:18,230 --> 00:27:21,290 What was it like to put that story together? 701 00:27:21,290 --> 00:27:23,420 What insights do you have to share with 702 00:27:23,420 --> 00:27:25,640 listeners as far as thinking about stories 703 00:27:25,640 --> 00:27:27,410 and using stories to connect with their 704 00:27:27,410 --> 00:27:28,130 audience? 705 00:27:28,820 --> 00:27:31,580 Theresa Smith-Levin: Uh, so what. I'll say is it was very 706 00:27:31,580 --> 00:27:35,450 vulnerable and, um, in a way that when I 707 00:27:35,450 --> 00:27:38,090 started this process, I didn't imagine it 708 00:27:38,090 --> 00:27:39,290 was going to be again. 709 00:27:39,290 --> 00:27:41,030 I've done a lot of public speaking. 710 00:27:41,030 --> 00:27:44,690 I perform in front of people very often, and 711 00:27:44,690 --> 00:27:47,210 even though I. Breach vulnerability because 712 00:27:47,210 --> 00:27:49,400 I think there's nothing more important. 713 00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:51,230 At the same time, I don't think that I 714 00:27:51,230 --> 00:27:54,590 always show up as vulnerably as I could, 715 00:27:54,590 --> 00:27:58,190 right? As a professional woman, as, um, a 716 00:27:58,190 --> 00:28:00,500 woman, sort of with a public profile. 717 00:28:00,500 --> 00:28:03,680 We all sort of have a like, this is how I 718 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:05,540 want to be perceived. I think we do that in 719 00:28:05,540 --> 00:28:06,680 an authentic way. 720 00:28:06,680 --> 00:28:08,240 We decide on what our values are. 721 00:28:08,240 --> 00:28:10,460 We do. There's nothing wrong with that, 722 00:28:10,460 --> 00:28:15,170 right? But we all also have our soft, 723 00:28:15,170 --> 00:28:16,490 squishy parts. 724 00:28:16,490 --> 00:28:18,920 The parts of ourselves where that are, that 725 00:28:18,920 --> 00:28:21,410 are still, um, have hurts underneath them. 726 00:28:21,410 --> 00:28:23,570 And so one of the things that I think I just 727 00:28:23,570 --> 00:28:26,450 lucked out on big time is I picked the two 728 00:28:26,450 --> 00:28:28,220 right people to be a part of that process 729 00:28:28,220 --> 00:28:32,180 with me. So on storytelling day, we so three 730 00:28:32,180 --> 00:28:34,280 people from each nonprofit were involved in 731 00:28:34,280 --> 00:28:35,540 this whole process. 732 00:28:35,540 --> 00:28:38,660 And so I had brought, um, my director of 733 00:28:38,660 --> 00:28:40,310 productions, her name is Danielle Zice, and 734 00:28:40,310 --> 00:28:44,090 she actually is one of the leaders of Story 735 00:28:44,090 --> 00:28:45,260 Storytellers Club. 736 00:28:45,260 --> 00:28:46,760 So a whole club. 737 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:48,530 And I was like, okay, she's definitely needs 738 00:28:48,530 --> 00:28:50,420 to be here with me. She's going to help hold 739 00:28:50,420 --> 00:28:51,830 me accountable and push me to the next 740 00:28:51,830 --> 00:28:54,560 level. And then one of my board members, 741 00:28:54,560 --> 00:28:56,660 Molly Uska, who had founded her own 742 00:28:56,660 --> 00:29:00,110 nonprofit and whose kids had gone through 743 00:29:00,110 --> 00:29:02,210 our programs. And so I knew she really had a 744 00:29:02,210 --> 00:29:04,070 deep understanding of the work that we did. 745 00:29:04,340 --> 00:29:06,620 And I am so glad those were the two people 746 00:29:06,620 --> 00:29:09,710 that I brought, because they would not let 747 00:29:09,710 --> 00:29:12,200 me get away from that vulnerability. 748 00:29:12,200 --> 00:29:13,820 I would be like, oh, well, I want to talk 749 00:29:13,820 --> 00:29:15,110 about this kid and this experience. 750 00:29:15,110 --> 00:29:16,940 They're like, nope. I was like, well, what 751 00:29:16,940 --> 00:29:18,650 if we went in this angle? And nope. 752 00:29:18,650 --> 00:29:20,540 And like, I just kept my feeling so 753 00:29:20,540 --> 00:29:23,390 frustrated and like, vulnerable and like it 754 00:29:23,390 --> 00:29:26,750 became clear probably by 3:00 on this, like 755 00:29:26,750 --> 00:29:28,940 eight hour day, like, it's gonna have to be 756 00:29:28,940 --> 00:29:31,250 me. I'm gonna have to talk about me. 757 00:29:31,250 --> 00:29:33,260 And I really didn't want to. 758 00:29:33,530 --> 00:29:36,080 Um, and so that was really scary. 759 00:29:36,140 --> 00:29:39,470 But I was really proud of that. 760 00:29:39,470 --> 00:29:42,200 And I, you know, as much as I wanted to shy 761 00:29:42,200 --> 00:29:43,970 away from it, I also thought, like. 762 00:29:45,180 --> 00:29:47,430 If I want to pave the way for somebody 763 00:29:47,430 --> 00:29:49,770 behind me, I've got to be willing to do 764 00:29:49,770 --> 00:29:51,090 this. And I'm not doing this for myself. 765 00:29:51,090 --> 00:29:52,620 I'm doing this for others. So we're just 766 00:29:52,620 --> 00:29:54,090 going to say it. We're going to put it out 767 00:29:54,090 --> 00:29:56,910 there and we're going to be really 768 00:29:56,910 --> 00:29:58,470 vulnerable, really raw, really open. 769 00:30:00,020 --> 00:30:02,240 Carol Cox: And it was. And, you know, as they say, 770 00:30:02,240 --> 00:30:03,740 vulnerability is contagious. 771 00:30:03,740 --> 00:30:07,010 And I feel like when we step up and are 772 00:30:07,010 --> 00:30:08,840 vulnerable with our own stories and our own 773 00:30:08,840 --> 00:30:11,360 experiences, it gives permission to those 774 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:13,340 who are listening to do the same, you know, 775 00:30:13,340 --> 00:30:15,440 as appropriate and as they feel ready to do 776 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:16,010 so. 777 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:18,260 Theresa Smith-Levin: Absolutely. I 100% agree. 778 00:30:18,260 --> 00:30:19,790 And that's what I had to say to myself is 779 00:30:19,790 --> 00:30:21,050 think of your daughter. 780 00:30:21,050 --> 00:30:23,660 Think of your sister, think of your friends. 781 00:30:23,660 --> 00:30:27,710 What permission do you want to give to them? 782 00:30:27,710 --> 00:30:30,500 And so that was something that helped me 783 00:30:30,500 --> 00:30:32,420 sort of stay the course, but it was really 784 00:30:32,420 --> 00:30:33,140 scary. 785 00:30:34,190 --> 00:30:35,840 Carol Cox: Well, again. You did an amazing job. 786 00:30:35,840 --> 00:30:38,480 And I was so inspired by like I felt it, you 787 00:30:38,480 --> 00:30:40,280 know, I felt it as you were sharing and I 788 00:30:40,280 --> 00:30:41,870 mean, all the nonprofits did an incredible 789 00:30:41,870 --> 00:30:44,450 job with their stories, but I really I 790 00:30:44,450 --> 00:30:46,040 really resonated with yours. 791 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,670 So, Theresa, for those of for listeners who 792 00:30:49,670 --> 00:30:51,590 are in the Central Florida area, I highly 793 00:30:51,590 --> 00:30:52,850 encourage you to check out the Central 794 00:30:52,850 --> 00:30:55,100 Florida Vocal Arts and all of the amazing 795 00:30:55,100 --> 00:30:57,500 performances that they have going on. 796 00:30:57,500 --> 00:30:59,540 For listeners who don't live in Central 797 00:30:59,540 --> 00:31:01,910 Florida, what's the best way for them to 798 00:31:01,910 --> 00:31:05,120 find organizations like yours in their area? 799 00:31:05,900 --> 00:31:09,200 Theresa Smith-Levin: So that's really interesting, I so GuideStar 800 00:31:09,200 --> 00:31:11,450 is a wonderful resource here in Central 801 00:31:11,450 --> 00:31:13,220 Florida. We have something called the 802 00:31:13,220 --> 00:31:14,960 Central Florida Foundation. 803 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:16,760 And when you go to their website, they have 804 00:31:16,760 --> 00:31:18,530 something called a nonprofit search. 805 00:31:18,530 --> 00:31:20,990 And you can type in what areas of interest 806 00:31:20,990 --> 00:31:23,420 you have. So let's say that's animal 807 00:31:23,420 --> 00:31:25,790 welfare. You would type in animal welfare 808 00:31:25,790 --> 00:31:29,000 and it would populate any of the 809 00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,190 organizations that are doing work in your 810 00:31:31,190 --> 00:31:33,650 area that focus on animal welfare. 811 00:31:33,650 --> 00:31:36,200 And what I would say to all of your 812 00:31:36,200 --> 00:31:40,220 listeners is all nonprofits need funding and 813 00:31:40,220 --> 00:31:41,600 they need volunteer support. 814 00:31:41,600 --> 00:31:43,460 All of them, all of them. 815 00:31:43,460 --> 00:31:46,220 We need help because we're trying to fight 816 00:31:46,220 --> 00:31:49,430 against the inequities and the systems that 817 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:50,960 are causing harm to people. 818 00:31:50,960 --> 00:31:54,860 And I truly believe that most people want 819 00:31:54,860 --> 00:31:58,610 the world to be a safe, kind place. 820 00:31:58,610 --> 00:31:59,990 They just don't know how to start. 821 00:31:59,990 --> 00:32:03,350 So finding what you care about and finding 822 00:32:03,350 --> 00:32:04,580 the people that are doing the work, the 823 00:32:04,580 --> 00:32:07,340 helpers, and reaching out to say, can I 824 00:32:07,340 --> 00:32:09,590 volunteer? What do you need? 825 00:32:09,590 --> 00:32:11,750 Are there any in-kind services that I would 826 00:32:11,750 --> 00:32:14,720 be able to offer, or can I make a donation? 827 00:32:14,720 --> 00:32:17,210 Because the reality is that it costs money 828 00:32:17,210 --> 00:32:20,000 to get people doing the work and keep the 829 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:23,360 lights on. Um, but GuideStar is a national 830 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:25,490 service that is similar. 831 00:32:25,490 --> 00:32:27,230 It's not quite as in depth as Central 832 00:32:27,230 --> 00:32:28,850 Florida Foundation, but if you go to 833 00:32:28,850 --> 00:32:31,880 GuideStar, you can find all the reputable 834 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:33,890 nonprofits that are in your area. 835 00:32:33,890 --> 00:32:36,860 You can keyword search in a similar way, and 836 00:32:36,860 --> 00:32:38,750 those profiles will help you see there are 837 00:32:38,750 --> 00:32:40,430 990 financial filings. 838 00:32:40,430 --> 00:32:42,440 You'll be able to see that this is a 839 00:32:42,440 --> 00:32:45,290 reputable company, what their programs are 840 00:32:45,290 --> 00:32:46,460 and what their needs are. 841 00:32:46,460 --> 00:32:49,190 So guidestar.org, I believe, and you could 842 00:32:49,190 --> 00:32:51,800 look up those that are in the area doing the 843 00:32:51,800 --> 00:32:53,480 work that you're passionate about. 844 00:32:53,480 --> 00:32:55,490 Carol Cox: Fantastic. I'll make sure to include a link 845 00:32:55,490 --> 00:32:58,220 there and to your website as well as your 846 00:32:58,220 --> 00:33:00,170 LinkedIn profile in the show notes. 847 00:33:00,170 --> 00:33:02,330 So listeners can connect with all of those. 848 00:33:02,330 --> 00:33:04,130 Theresa, thank you so much for coming on the 849 00:33:04,130 --> 00:33:06,830 podcast. I have so enjoyed our conversation. 850 00:33:06,830 --> 00:33:09,260 I appreciate all of your valuable insights. 851 00:33:09,260 --> 00:33:11,900 And again, thank you so much for finding and 852 00:33:11,900 --> 00:33:13,790 using your voice and impacting so many 853 00:33:13,790 --> 00:33:14,960 people like you have. 854 00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:16,220 Theresa Smith-Levin: Yes. Thank you so much. 855 00:33:16,220 --> 00:33:17,480 Thank you for having me, Carol. 856 00:33:17,480 --> 00:33:18,710 Thank you everyone for watching. 857 00:33:18,710 --> 00:33:19,970 It's really been a pleasure. 858 00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:21,800 Carol Cox: Wasn't that a fun conversation? 859 00:33:21,800 --> 00:33:23,900 Thank you again to Theresa for coming on the 860 00:33:23,900 --> 00:33:26,510 podcast. If you would like to learn what 861 00:33:26,510 --> 00:33:29,360 your speaker archetype is, I've identified 862 00:33:29,360 --> 00:33:31,850 four different ones and you can take our 863 00:33:31,850 --> 00:33:34,460 free quiz, get your result, and get 864 00:33:34,460 --> 00:33:37,130 recommendations not only on how to add to 865 00:33:37,130 --> 00:33:39,260 your natural speaking and communication 866 00:33:39,260 --> 00:33:42,410 style, but really how to amplify what your 867 00:33:42,410 --> 00:33:43,880 natural strengths are. 868 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:45,980 You can take the quiz again, it's entirely 869 00:33:45,980 --> 00:33:48,140 free, just takes a few minutes as speaking 870 00:33:48,140 --> 00:33:50,180 your brand.com slash quiz. 871 00:33:50,180 --> 00:33:52,520 Again, that's speaking your Brand.com slash 872 00:33:52,520 --> 00:33:54,860 quiz. We're continuing our series all 873 00:33:54,860 --> 00:33:57,620 around, inspiring you to use your voice with 874 00:33:57,620 --> 00:34:00,020 the episodes we have coming up, so make sure 875 00:34:00,020 --> 00:34:02,120 to hit follow in your podcast app so you 876 00:34:02,120 --> 00:34:04,580 don't miss any of our future episodes. 877 00:34:04,580 --> 00:34:06,800 Until next time, thanks for listening.