The Healthy Voice Notes Podcast

Some of you already know this. You’ve known it for a long time.Words carry vibrations. The emotional history behind a word changes how it lands in the body — yours and everyone else’s. And the words we use every day, without thinking, without questioning, are doing something to us whether we’re paying attention or not.This episode started as a reflection on Magic Spells Week in the community — a week of affirmations written in the style of Harry Potter spells. One person on YouTube didn’t like it. Unfollowed. And instead of apologizing, I got curious about my own reaction.Because here’s what I actually believe: there is no difference between a magic spell and a positive affirmation. They both use the organized power of words to craft a vibration and put a thought into reality. The only difference is the word we use to describe them. And that’s exactly the point.We also go into the etymology of the word “raise” — and what I found when I looked it up. The emotional weight of a foreign language versus your mother tongue. The programming embedded in everyday speech. And why I believe that figuring out where the manipulation lies is part of every hero’s journey.Technique matters. Breath support matters. Nervous system regulation matters. But if you want to take it to the next level — if you want to actually start creating your life — you have to go to the words.Leave a comment and tell me — is there a word you’ve always felt uncomfortable with but couldn’t explain why? I’d love to know.🎙️ Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📬 Free Vocal Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide ✍️ Substack → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comword magic and voice | power of words vibration | etymology and healing | language and trauma | affirmations vs spells | word frequency healing | trauma informed voice | esoteric history of language | voice and consciousness | healthy voice podcast | word magic substack | Bella Payne Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

This one started with a week called Romancing the Voice inside the Healthy Voice Community — and it turned into something much bigger.Daily practice is hard for most people. But it’s especially hard when you’ve been through something that made you stop trusting your own voice. Because what you’re being asked to do is show up alone, in a quiet room, with no distractions — just you and the sound you make. And for a lot of people, that’s where the Silencer shows up.The Silencer is the conglomeration of every critical voice you’ve ever encountered — assembled into one internal bully that shows up the moment you try to use your voice with any kind of vulnerability. And if you’re on a healing path, you know exactly what I’m talking about.In this episode we talk about three things:The Silencer — what it is, where it comes from, and the surprisingly effective trick of giving it a caricature face and a ridiculous voice. Mine looks like Pennywise. I read YouTube comments in the voice of Kermit the Frog. You’ll find your own version. The point is to zoom out enough to laugh at it — because laughter is the great neutralizer.The Gentle Parent — the counter-voice. The one that says you’re doing a great job, I’m so proud of you for showing up. If you didn’t have a parent like that, this is where you build one inside yourself. Not a pushover — a voice that disciplines from love rather than fear.Romancing the Discipline — why I use the word romance instead of discipline. Because discipline, in American English, implies punishment. And punishment is rooted in fear. Romance is rooted in love. And when you’re in love with something — a book series, a restaurant, a person — nothing else has power over you. That’s the energy you want to bring to your daily practice.This episode is the Wizard of Oz as a voice healing metaphor. Dorothy. Glinda. The trickster trees throwing apples. The flying monkeys. And the yellow brick road you keep walking down anyway.Leave a comment — what part landed most? The Silencer, the gentle parent, or the romance of daily practice?🎙️ Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📅 Book a 1:1 Coaching Session → https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75 📬 Free Vocal Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide ✍️ Substack → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comCommunity prices go up May 1st. Lock in your rate now.TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Holistic Voice Teaching 02:52 The Impact of Trauma on Voice 05:47 Daily Practice and Overcoming Fear 11:58 Transforming the Silencer Voice17:46 Gentle Parenting and Self-Compassion 23:42 Romancing the Discipline of Practice 29:38 Building a Long-Term Relationship with Your VoiceIn this episode:* Why daily vocal practice is especially hard after trauma* What the Silencer is and where it comes from* The caricature technique — giving your fear a face, name and ridiculous voice* Why laughter is the most powerful neutralizer of fear* The gentle parent voice — how to build it internally if you didn’t have it modeled* Why I use “romance” instead of “discipline”* The Wizard of Oz as a voice healing metaphor* Romancing the Voice week inside the Healthy Voice Community* The 30-day practice challenge and what comes nextdaily vocal practice | the silencer voice | trauma and voice healing | gentle parenting yourself | romancing your practice | how to build a daily practice | voice and trauma | somatic healing | fear of singing | trauma informed voice coaching | voice liberation | internal critic healing | wizard of oz metaphor healing | Bella Payne | healthy voice podcastThe Voice Liberation Method is a self-paced course for people who know their voice has been holding something back — and are ready to find out what.Seven weeks. Nervous system science. Classical technique. Chakras and Guided Visualization. Hero’s Journey. Trauma-informed somatic work. All in one place.This isn’t about sounding better. It’s about coming home to the voice that was always yours.→ Get the VLM for $97: VoiceLiberationMethod.comThe harmonium changed my practice. There’s something about the drone — it drops you into your body faster than almost anything else I know. I’ve had both of mine for years and I wouldn’t trade them.Old Delhi Music is where I got them. Colorado-based, independently owned, exceptional quality.→ Use my link for 5% off your order https://bella-payne.kit.com/f76f7a876e Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

This one started as a content update and turned into something more personal.April’s theme in the Healthy Voice Community is My Body, My Voice — and I wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at what’s actually been happening since we started. Because something unexpected has been unfolding. In sessions. In my own body. In the middle of the night at 3am with a burning headache and no Advil in sight.I talk about the psoas muscle — the deep hip flexor that connects the spine to the legs and holds more emotional memory than most people realize. I talk about what it feels like to be a highly sensitive person living in a body that registers everything, and why most doctors don’t have answers for that. I talk about reverse phonation — a term I learned from a community member that turned out to describe something I’d been doing my whole life without knowing what to call it.And I talk about this week. A week where I had more clients cry in sessions than any week I can remember. Not because anything went wrong — because something finally broke through.That’s what happens when body awareness and voice work collide. The body has been waiting to be seen. And when you finally look — really look — it lets go.🎙️ Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📬 Free Vocal Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide ✍️ Substack → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com 📬 Frequency Notes Newsletter → subscribe HERE. Community prices go up May 1st. Lock in your rate now.In this episode:* The psoas muscle and why it inspired the whole April theme* What it means to have a highly sensitive body — and why doctors don’t have answers* Reverse phonation — what it is and why it’s simpler than it sounds* What I noticed in my own body during the first week of the theme* A 3am headache and what happened when I took my own advice* Why I’ve had more clients cry this week than any week before* What’s coming up in the community — comedy week, Romancing the Voice, Anarchy in the Voice Box* Voice Liberation Method Part 2 — shadow work — and what’s comingpsoas muscle and voice | body awareness voice work | my body my voice | trauma stored in the body | somatic voice coaching | highly sensitive person healing | chronic tension and headaches | reverse phonation | emotional breakthroughs in healing | voice and body connection | trauma informed voice | healthy voice community | voice liberation method | Bella Payne Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Dignity Is a Skill — And Your Voice Is How You Practice ItHow to find balanced power in your voice — stop going passive, stop going aggressive, and start holding yourself with dignity.🎙️ Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📬 Free Vocal Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguideTIMESTAMPS 00:00 Introduction to Power and Dignity 00:58 Understanding Power Styles: Aggressive vs. Passive 06:42 The Balance of Power: Dignity and Integrity 14:43 Finding Role Models of Dignity 18:10 The Importance of Dignity in HealingThere are two ways most people respond to injustice. They go aggressive — fighting fire with fire, sharp tone, raised voice. Or they go passive — shrinking, going quiet, letting people walk all over them.Both are out of balance. Both are out of tune.This episode uses the language of music and chakras to talk about something I think about constantly — the third chakra, our power center, and what it means to hold yourself with dignity when the world around you is doing anything but.I talk about Martin Luther King and Gandhi — two of the clearest examples in history of dignified power in action. I talk about what it looks like in the body: the relaxed chest, the serene forehead, the calm that comes from knowing you're on the right side of natural law. And I share what I actually did during my own healing process when I was surrounded by people who got high on rage and slept just fine at night doing it.Dignity is not weakness. It is not passivity. It is the hardest and most powerful thing you can choose.And your voice is where you practice it.In this episode:The two imbalanced power styles and why both are out of tuneThe third chakra and the solar plexus as your power centerWhat dignified power actually looks like in the bodyMartin Luther King, Gandhi, and the radical act of nonviolent powerHow to find and study role models of dignityWhy your nervous system memorizes defensive patterns — and how to rewire themThe connection between dignity, integrity, and natural lawIf this resonated — the Voice Liberation Method and the Healthy Voice Community are both built around exactly this kind of nervous system and voice work. Community prices go up May 1st. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

I recorded this one on a walk through my neighborhood — city sounds, one busy street crossing, and a story I’ve been telling voice clients for years that I’ve never shared publicly until now.It starts in 2003. I had just quit my job at the women’s shelter and I was terrified. The only skill I had left was music. So I started teaching — guitar, voice, whatever I could — and one of my very first students was a middle-aged Florida lawyer who loved Jimmy Buffett, dreamed of playing beach bars on weekends, and had absolutely no sense of pitch.I mean none.And a year later, he was ready to perform.That student is the reason I kept teaching. And his story is the answer I give every time someone asks me: can you really teach anyone to sing?Yes. Here’s why I’m certain — and what the music industry doesn’t want you to know about who singing was actually meant for.In this episode:* The Florida parrot head who became my proof of concept* Why desire matters more than natural talent — and why discipline almost isn’t even the right word* What preschoolers can teach us about our relationship to music* The fourth grade audition that almost stopped me — and the clients whose stories are much worse* Why we treat vocal criticism differently from every other kind of rudeness — and why that needs to change* The history of singing: monks, Pope Gregory, and how industrialization convinced us that only certain voices are allowed* What’s coming in the community, VLM updates, and the feedback that’s been coming in from students who’ve finished the courseLeave a comment: What messages did you receive growing up about your singing voice? And what do you think about this idea that some people just “have it” and others don’t?Links mentioned:* Join The Healthy Voice Community (prices going up in May — lock in your rate now): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page* Voice Liberation Method ($97): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083* Book a private session: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75* Free Voice Map Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguideSubscribe and leave a review — it helps more people find their way here. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

I recorded this one outside. End of the day, city sounds in the background, a thought I couldn’t shake.Something has been showing up in my practice lately — in client sessions, in the community, in messages from Voice Liberation Method students. A pattern so consistent I had to stop and name it.The people who come to me have already done the work.Meditation. Yoga. Breathwork. Talk therapy. Healing modalities I’ve never even heard of. They’ve been on their path for years — sometimes decades. They’ve overcome things. They’ve gotten back on the horse more times than they can count. And they arrive at voice work feeling like they’ve healed almost everything.Almost.There’s still tension in the voice. Still something constricted. Still something that won’t quite let go.This episode is my hypothesis about why. My theory is that the voice holds the last layer — the unresolved traumas we’ve been circling around for years, the ones too difficult to name, the ones we’ve been quietly avoiding while we worked on everything else.And here’s what I’ve noticed: when you finally learn to work with that tension — not push through it, not ignore it, but actually lean into the technique — something shifts. The tension becomes information. A signal. A way of reading the room, reading people, reading yourself in real time.That’s when the voice becomes something bigger than a voice.Leave a comment and tell me — do you relate to this? How long have you been on your healing path? And what brought you to voice work?Prices are going up in May. Join the community now to lock in your current rate.🎙️ Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📬 Free Vocal Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide ✍️ Substack → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

I recorded this one in my car, 15 minutes before yoga. I had to get the thoughts out to you, so no apologies. In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on something I’ve been building out for my community — and it led me somewhere I’ve been wanting to take you for a while: the real reason affirmations work, why most people do them wrong, and what belief actually is at the level of the nervous system.Here’s the short version: a belief isn’t just a thought. It’s a thought pattern that has been playing on a loop for so long it’s gone underground. It’s become background music in your subconscious — and you don’t even know it’s playing anymore. But it’s running the show.And when that looping thought is I have an ugly voice — you can do all the technique work in the world and still wonder why nothing is changing.That’s what we’re talking about today.We also get into:* Why I call affirmations magic spells — and mean it* The connection between radio frequencies, sound currents, and your thought patterns* Why changing your beliefs is exactly like changing your Spotify playlist* A sneak preview of my upcoming series on the metaphysical history of the English language — and why individual words carry more power than most people realizeLinks mentioned:* Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page* Voice Liberation Method ($97): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083* Book a private session: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75* Free Voice Map Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguideSubscribe & leave a review if this episode landed somewhere real. It helps more people find their way here.The Voice Liberation Method is a self-paced course for people who know their voice has been holding something back — and are ready to find out what.Seven weeks. Nervous system science. Classical technique. Chakras and Guided Visualization. Hero’s Journey. Trauma-informed somatic work. All in one place.This isn’t about sounding better. It’s about coming home to the voice that was always yours.→ Get the VLM for $97: VoiceLiberationMethod.comThe harmonium changed my practice. There’s something about the drone — it drops you into your body faster than almost anything else I know. I’ve had both of mine for years and I wouldn’t trade them.Old Delhi Music is where I got them. Colorado-based, independently owned, exceptional quality.→ Use my link for 5% off your order https://bella-payne.kit.com/f76f7a876e Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

What would you sound like if nobody had ever silenced you?That question took on a whole new meaning for me this week.It started at our fourth Courage Circle — watching members of my community share their voices through fear, through shaking hands and racing hearts, through moments where they had to stop, breathe, and start again. It was one of the most inspiring things I’ve witnessed as a teacher. And it cracked something open in me.Because someone left a comment on one of my YouTube videos last week. Totally kind, totally well-intentioned. They mentioned the raspiness in my voice.And I noticed my reaction. The defensiveness. The shame. And I thought — I need to talk about this.This episode is probably the most honest thing I’ve shared publicly. I talk about the raspiness in my voice, where it came from, and why it’s taken me this long to start accepting it. I talk about narcissistic abuse — what it does to your reality, your sense of self, your nervous system. I talk about the coping mechanisms that helped me survive but cost me something. And I talk about what it means to be a voice teacher who doesn’t have a perfect voice.Your voice is a map of everything you’ve been through. I say that all the time. This episode is me reading my own map out loud — for maybe the first time.If you’ve ever felt shame about the way your voice sounds. If you’ve ever been through something that changed you. If you’ve ever wondered whether you can still do the thing you love after the hard years — this one is for you.Leave a comment and tell me about your own voice journey. I really want to know.🎙️ Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📬 Free Vocal Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide ✍️ Substack → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comThe harmonium changed my practice. There’s something about the drone — it drops you into your body faster than almost anything else I know. I’ve had both of mine for years and I wouldn’t trade them.Old Delhi Music is where I got them. Colorado-based, independently owned, exceptional quality.→ Use my link for 5% off your order https://bella-payne.kit.com/f76f7a876eraspy voice and trauma | narcissistic abuse recovery | voice and trauma | trauma informed voice coaching | healing your voice | voice acceptance | courage circle | sound healing | voice liberation | PTSD and voice | how trauma affects the voice | voice teacher vulnerability | healthy voice podcast Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

That’s the question at the center of this episode — and it’s not a small one.This week’s content has a thread running through all of it: how culture, systems, and public humiliation condition your voice. Not just your singing voice. Your actual voice. The one that notices things. Asks questions. Goes off script.Public shaming isn’t random. It’s a control mechanism. It’s what happens when you say the thing nobody wanted you to say — and the culture moves fast to make sure you don’t say it again. It happens in families, schools, religious communities, workplaces. It happened to me on a stage in high school. And for years, I gaslit myself into thinking it wasn’t a big deal.It was a big deal. And pretending otherwise just kept the programming running.This episode is really about Choose Your Own Adventure. Two paths. The one where you shrink back down — and the one where you keep going. The one less traveled isn’t comfortable. But it’s where the real voice lives.You can still choose path B. It’s not too late.Leave a comment and practice saying the thing you’ve been afraid to say. No judgment here. Trolls get deleted.🎙️ The Voice Liberation Method is a self-paced course for people who know their voice has been holding something back — and are ready to find out what.Seven weeks. Nervous system science. Classical technique. Chakras and Guided Visualization. Hero’s Journey. Trauma-informed somatic work. All in one place.This isn’t about sounding better. It’s about coming home to the voice that was always yours. → Get the VLM for $97: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083🌀 Join the Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📖 Unsilenced — 52 weeks of journaling prompts → $22 or free for members 🎵 Old Delhi Music (harmonium, shruti box, sitar) → Click here to get my coupon code for 5% offThe Healthy Voice Writes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Do you end your sentences like a question even when you’re making a statement? That upward inflection — speaking in question marks — is one of the most common voice patterns I hear, and it’s sending a signal you probably don’t intend: uncertainty, self-doubt, and an open invitation for dominant personalities to move right in.In this episode I go further than the YouTube video that inspired it. We get into the deeper why — where this pattern comes from, what it signals to the people around you, and what it has to do with trauma, manipulation, and the long process of reclaiming your own authority.I also walk you through a full meditation and vocal practice to help you develop what I call CEO energy: not aggressive, not performative — just deeply, quietly, unshakeably calm. The kind of calm that comes from a nervous system that has genuinely stopped bracing.This one is for anyone who has ever been overpowered by an aggressive personality and wondered: how do I hold my ground without becoming them?IN THIS EPISODE:The pattern — what speaking in question marks actually communicates to the listener’s brain, and why it’s spreading through our culture at every levelThe music theory connection — resolved vs. unresolved melodies, and what your voice sounds like when it lands with a period instead of a question markWhy aggression is not the answer — and what calm firmness actually looks like in the body and the voiceThe meditation practice — a step-by-step visualization for staying regulated in the presence of someone who has historically destabilized youThe grocery store practice — why low-stakes daily interactions are your most powerful training groundHow to collect evidence — why you need to write down every moment people begin to respond to you differently, and why proof matters when you’re rewiring a long-standing beliefWhy the world needs your voice — specifically yours, with all of its ideas and depth and hard-won wisdomPRACTICE FROM THIS EPISODE:Pause. Make a statement about something you believe. Notice if your pitch goes up or down at the end.Then try the meditation: bring to mind someone who has historically overpowered you. Feel the tension rise. Then consciously let the muscles drop. Breathe. Sigh it out. Make long, open sounds. Practice speaking from that calm, grounded place — not aggressive, not apologetic. Just present.Do this before any high-stakes interaction. Then go to the grocery store and practice. Eyes up. Statements down. Notice everything.JOURNAL PROMPT:Where in your life are you still speaking in question marks — still asking for permission you don’t actually need? And what would you say if you already knew the answer was yes🎤 Get the Voice Liberation Method → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 💙 Join The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 🎤 Work with me 1:1 → https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75 🎁 FREE Voice Liberation Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 📷 Instagram → https://instagram.com/the_healthy_voiceThe Voice Liberation Method is a self-paced course for people who know their voice has been holding something back — and are ready to find out what.Seven weeks. Nervous system science. Classical technique. Chakras and Guided Visualization. Hero’s Journey. Trauma-informed somatic work. All in one place.This isn’t about sounding better. It’s about coming home to the voice that was always yours.→ Get the VLM for $97: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Episode SummaryThis one was spontaneous — I wasn’t planning to record today, but something came up that I couldn’t stop thinking about, and I knew I had to talk about it.I’ve been sitting with this tension for years: the difference between people who have experienced real trauma and are doing the work to heal, and people who have learned to weaponize the language of trauma to avoid accountability altogether.I draw on my own background working in trauma crisis environments as early as 1999, my personal experience navigating this in my own life, and the work of psychiatrist Dr. Hannah Spier — one of the few voices I’ve found willing to name this dynamic clearly. Because the cultural rise of trauma awareness, while deeply needed, has also created permission slips for certain people to stay stuck, stay cruel, and never take responsibility for how they treat others.This episode is not about minimizing trauma. It’s the opposite. It’s about respecting the people who have been through real hardship enough to say: You are stronger than your story. You are not your wound. And you don’t have to stay there.In This Episode:* Why I still put “trauma-informed voice coach” on my profile — and why I expect some people to roll their eyes at it* The difference between PTSD as an injury (recoverable) vs. a chronic mental illness (managed for life)* How certain people use a traumatic history as a badge of honor — and why that’s a red flag* The “woe is me” personality type and how to recognize it in your own life* Why compassion and pity are not the same thing — and how I confused the two for years* My own decade-long battle with PTSD and the 10+ years I didn’t sing on stage* How I found my way back to my voice, and why I built the Voice Liberation MethodThe Voice Liberation Method is a self-paced course for people who know their voice has been holding something back — and are ready to find out what.Seven weeks. Nervous system science. Classical technique. Chakras and Guided Visualization. Hero’s Journey. Trauma-informed somatic work. All in one place.This isn’t about sounding better. It’s about coming home to the voice that was always yours.→ Get the VLM for $97 Mentioned in This Episode:* Dr. Hannah Spier — a psychiatrist whose work challenges overly permissive trauma narratives and one of the few credentialed voices I’ve found naming this dynamic clearly* The Voice Liberation Method — my signature course for people who want to reclaim their voice in a safe, step-by-step environment → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083Journal PromptIs there anyone in your life — or any version of yourself — who has used pain as a reason to stay small, stay angry, or stay stuck? What would it look like to honor what happened and refuse to be defined by it?Work With MeReady to stop whispering and start singing? Book a 1:1 coaching session → calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75 Intro session: $100 | Follow-up: $150Join The Healthy Voice CommunityA space for people who are doing the work — healing their voice, their nervous system, and their lives. I’d love to see you in there. → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-pageSinging Through the Shadows — My Memoir in ProgressI’m serializing my memoir on Substack — a raw and honest account of the years I lost my voice, and how I found my way back. → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comSubscribe & Leave a ReviewIf this episode resonated with you, leave a comment or a review — it helps more people find the work. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode I’m doing something I’ve wanted to do for a while: breaking down the chakra system in plain language for people who were raised with a Western mind.Because the truth is — the chakras aren’t that hard to understand. They just need to be explained the right way. And that means meeting you where you are, not where someone who’s been deep in Eastern philosophy for twenty years is.I also share a personal update: last week was my final week teaching piano students. It was a hard decision, but I’m now 100% focused on The Healthy Voice — which means more content, more depth, and more time to actually serve you the way I want to.In This Episode* Why Western minds struggle with the chakra system (and what actually helps)* My East-meets-West philosophy: Italian classical technique + Indian energy healing* The human being as a musical instrument, the chakras as the notes — and why I use “in tune / out of tune” instead of “balanced”* A breakdown of all seven chakra points and what each one represents* How the Law of Entrainment explains why one out-of-tune chakra affects the whole system* Why “it’s just a coincidence” might be the most effective piece of sophistry we’ve ever been fed* Where to start if you want to begin working with your chakras* How the Voice Liberation Method uses sound healing to tune each chakra pointThe Seven Chakras — Quick ReferenceRoot — Survival, safety, basic needs (food, shelter, money, stable relationships)Sacral — Creativity and sexuality (same energy, different expression)Solar Plexus — Personal power and will — your ability to make decisions and stand behind themHeart — Love, especially love for yourself — the bridge between the lower and upper chakrasThroat — Expression and truth — where your voice actually livesThird Eye — Intuition and self-trust — your inner compass that the school system tried to train out of youCrown — Connection to everyone and everything — the one we’ve been told isn’t real (it is)Resources Mentioned🎓 Voice Liberation Method — sound healing sessions devoted to each individual chakra point → Get it here💜 Join The Healthy Voice Community → the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so🎁 Free Voice Guide → bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide📓 Unsilenced — 52 weeks of journaling prompts → Get it — $22Journal Prompt from This EpisodePick the chakra that made your ears perk up while you were listening. Not the one you think you should work on — the one that made something in you go quiet. Spend a week with just that one. Look up other interpretations. Find art that represents it. Ask yourself: where did this go out of tune in my life, and when did it start?Don’t rush it. One chakra. One week. That’s the starting point.If this episode helped you, subscribe, leave a comment, or share it with someone who’s been trying to find words for something they can feel but can’t explain. That’s exactly who this is for.The Healthy Voice Writes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

In this voice note, I get personal about something I’ve been noticing across my community — in the comments, in my private coaching sessions, and in my own life: the impact of narcissistic abuse on the voice.I talk about what experts call a “shared fantasy” — when you’re living inside a narrative created by someone else, and you’ve subtly agreed to never challenge it. I share my own experience of being in a relationship for over 20 years where I couldn’t speak my perspective without a fear response kicking in: jaw tension, tight shoulders, a swallowed voice, a closed throat.I also talk about the macro and the micro — how I first noticed these dynamics playing out on the world stage, in institutions, and in communities before I had the courage to look at my own closest relationships. And I share what’s helped me when those old patterns still get triggered: singing.In this episode, I explore:* Why I put out content in so many formats (and the teaching philosophy behind it)* The sociology of shared fantasy — from governments to friend groups to intimate relationships* What covert narcissistic abuse looks like when the person doesn’t fit the “loud and aggressive” stereotype* How living in someone else’s reality creates physical symptoms: jaw tension, throat tightness, blocked resonance, and fear responses* Why healing keeps hitting a wall when you haven’t addressed the dishonesty in your life* How singing — especially moving from minor to major keys — works as emotional modulation* The role of harmonics in shifting your emotional state (and why I teach this in the Sound Healing course)If this resonated with you, here’s where to go next:🎤 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 🌀 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 🎓 The Voice Liberation Method (7-week self-paced course): $97 https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083 📰 Subscribe to The Healthy Voice Writes: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/The Healthy Voice Writes is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Have you ever avoided your instrument? Stopped singing? Felt triggered the moment you tried to create?You’re not broken. You might just be in musical jail.In this episode I get personal about something I’ve never fully said out loud before — the years I couldn’t pick up my guitar because it took me straight back to a before time I wasn’t ready to face. Heartbreak. Criticism. Shame that wasn’t even mine to carry.I talk about what it finally took to come home to it, why our earliest musical wounds can lock us out of our own creativity, and why reclaiming your instrument — or your voice — is one of the most powerful healing moves you can make.In this episode: → Why painful early experiences with music can create an unconscious “ban” on creating → How shame gets attached to the things we love most → The moment I finally admitted my guitar was triggering me — and what shifted → Why your instrument isn’t the enemy — it’s a portal back to yourself → How to take the first small step back toward your own expressionJournal Prompt: Is there something you stopped doing — singing, playing, creating, speaking up — because someone made you feel you didn’t deserve it? What would it mean to pick it up again?🎓 Voice Liberation Method — 7 weeks of trauma-informed voice work to help you free what’s been held back. $97 → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083💜 The Healthy Voice Community → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page🎤 Work with me 1:1 → https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75🎁 FREE Voice Guide → https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🌐 Subscribe → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

🎤 Get the Voice Liberation Method — $97: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083💜 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 🎁 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide WORK ONE-ON-ONE WITH ME: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/A voice note about the power of silence — the intentional kind. How going quiet helped me find myself, why I recommend the Walk and Talk practice to everyone I work with, and a post-launch update on how everything is going with the Voice Liberation Method and the community.Also: why I’m starting to talk about nutrition again, how classical vocal technique and sound healing need each other, and what’s coming next.00:00 The Power of Intentional Silence 03:30 The Walk and Talk Practice 07:00 Nutrition, Veganism, and the Healthy Voice Path 11:19 Post-Launch Update: VLM and Community 15:00 Why Classical Technique Matters for Sound Healing📖 Read Singing Through the Shadows on Substack: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com voice note, podcast, silence, intentional silence, walk and talk, voice healing, trauma and voice, voice liberation, vocal technique, sound healing, classical singing, voice teacher, healthy voice, vegan singer, nutrition for singers, vocal recovery, self discovery, introvert, healing path Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

THE HEALTHY VOICE NOTES — Valentine’s Day Episode Love for Humanity, Love for the SelfHappy Valentine’s Day. In this episode, I’m talking about why we do this work — why we heal, why we dig into the uncomfortable stuff, why we fight to free our voices. And every time I ask myself that question, the answer comes back to love. Love for the self. And love for humanity.I also share about being filmed for a short documentary yesterday — a film about artists and their creative process. We talked about my life as a singer, how The Healthy Voice took off, and my connection to John Lennon, whose raw honesty and deep love for humanity have always inspired me.I get into the tension between healing as a “selfish” act versus healing as service — and why I believe taking care of yourself is one of the greatest things you can do for the world. I talk about shadow work, why I don’t trust the “love and light” crowd who refuse to admit they have darkness, and why 30 years into my own healing journey, I’m still not done. And I’m okay with that.And I share a piece of my song “Great to Be Alive” — a song my husband wrote the lyrics to after a near-death experience, set to music I wrote inspired by 70s gospel rock operas. It’s a love song to another person. It’s a love song to yourself. It’s both.In this episode: — Why healing yourself is an act of love for humanity — The documentary film experience and what it unlocked in me — John Lennon, Imagine, and the “War Is Over (If You Want It)” posters — The difference between real shadow work and performative positivity — Why I don’t trust people who claim to be fully healed — Sharing “Great to Be Alive” and the story behind the lyrics — What’s coming in the community: Letters Never Sent, Yoga for Singers, Sound Healing, Courage CircleLinks: 🎙️ Voice Liberation Method — 7 weeks of guided healing for your voice: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083💜 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📘 Free Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

The number one mistake singers make is comparing their voice to someone else’s. It’s the fastest track to failure — and I did it for years.In this episode, I share the story of how I started singing in the first place. How my family lost everything when I was 10, how three girls harmonizing in my apartment complex changed my life, and how I spent years trying to sound like Celine Dion, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey before realizing the whole approach was wrong. I even tried to switch to the alto section in choir because I wanted to sound like Nina Simone. My teacher sent me back to the sopranos in about 15 minutes.What I talk about:* How losing gymnastics, dance, and art led me to discover singing out of necessity* Why copying your favorite singer gets you only so far — and why it makes you forgettable* The model analogy — embracing your freckles and blonde eyebrows instead of trying to look like everyone else* Why sensation and feeling matter more than how you sound* If you feel good when you sing — no strain, vibrations in your face and chest, energized afterward — you sound good. Full stop.* The documentary being filmed this Friday about me and The Healthy Voice* Singing “I Want a Voice” for the first time in front of an audience — a song I wrote 15 years ago after leaving a destructive relationship, and how it feels completely different in my body now* A teaser of the original recording (the full song is coming in a future chapter of Singing Through the Shadows)Your voice is a product of your genetics, your culture, your environment, the people you’ve been around, the music you’ve listened to, and everything you’ve survived. Stop trying to trade it in for someone else’s.🎤 THE VOICE LIBERATION METHOD: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1-e9c083🌟 JOIN THE COMMUNITY (songwriting workshops at Practitioner + Mastery levels): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📖 SINGING THROUGH THE SHADOWS: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com🎁 FREE VOICE LIBERATION GUIDE: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide📱 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

It’s official — the Voice Liberation Method course is here. In this voice note, I’m sharing the behind-the-scenes story of what it took to get here, what’s inside the course, and the deeply personal journey that made it possible.What I cover:* What launch day feels like after a month-long pre-launch adventure* The first review (before anyone’s even started the course)* Why I hid behind piano teaching for years — and what changed* How Go Play Piano vs. The Healthy Voice taught me that real success comes from facing your demons* The Friday shadow work practice that transformed my healing* Why the course is built as a hero’s journey, not a therapy session* How the chakras, sound healing, and vocal work all connect* What’s coming next: Part 2 — Shadow WorkInside the course: 8+ hours of content across 7 weeks, plus PDF guides, guided meditations, journal prompts, and step-by-step vocal practices.What’s next: The Voice Liberation Method Part 2 — going deep into shadow work and what’s really blocking your voice.🎤 Get the Voice Liberation Method: GET LIBERATED🌟 Join The Healthy Voice Community: JOIN THE COMMUNITY🎁 Free Voice Liberation Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide✍️ Singing Through the Shadows — my memoir, serialized here on Substack Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

The Healthy Voice Notes Podcast — Show NotesEpisode: Voice Liberation Method Update + The Power of ResonanceIn this voice note, I check in with you on a Thursday to share some exciting news: I’m about to record the very last video of the Voice Liberation Method course. It’s been weeks of intense work and I’m really proud of what’s inside.What’s in the Voice Liberation Method: Each of the 7 weeks includes approximately 75 minutes of content broken into short, digestible videos covering a psychological/mindset lesson, a vocal technique exercise, a speech exercise, and a guided visualization set to original music. Each visualization is inspired by a different chakra point and a stage of the hero’s journey — starting with the root chakra and safety in Week 1, and building toward arriving home transformed by the end.This Month’s Community Theme: Resonance. Resonance is the ability to be heard across a room with ease — using your natural resonators (the bones in your face, chest, and skull) to project sound without strain. I also think of resonance as your vocal “sparkle.” When you’re feeling dull or shut down, your tone goes flat. When you lift your cheeks into what I call the “phony smile,” you unlock that bright, resonant quality.In the community this month, we’re exploring questions like: What makes you unique? What lights you up? What could you talk about for hours? And — do you still have access to those things, or did you stop at some point?The Personal Story Behind the Work I share how my own vocal sparkle disappeared when I was around people who didn’t want me to succeed — and returned when those people were gone. I talk about discovering that my smile muscles had become stiff and frozen from years of controlling my facial expressions in an unsafe relationship, and how breaking through that tension felt like the shaking you experience in an intense yoga pose.I also reflect on my years as a classical soprano — music scholarships, being a paid first soprano — and how chronic shoulder tension from growing up with a father with severe PTSD made a professional singing career feel impossible. None of my voice teachers thought to look deeper at what was causing that tension. That experience is exactly why I built the Voice Liberation Method the way I did.Course Launch Details: The Voice Liberation Method launches February 7th. Pre-order pricing is available for two more days, then it goes to full price (still a great deal). Thank you to everyone who pre-ordered — you made this process so much easier.🎓 Get the Voice Liberation Method: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1🎤 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📘 Free Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 📺 YouTube: The Healthy Voice 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

SHOW NOTES:I’m taking a small break from editing the Voice Liberation Method to share something I’ve never talked about publicly.It starts with a yearbook. My senior year of high school. A co-star who went on to star in Hamilton. And years of wondering why I couldn’t hack it.In this voice note, I share:* The math teacher who changed my life in 8th grade — and what I found when I looked him up decades later* The rabbit hole of scandals that unraveled at my performing arts high school* What it’s like to watch classmates become Broadway stars and TV actors while you’re still “just a music teacher.”* The belief system I carried for over 20 years — and the weekend I finally let it go* Why I launched The Healthy Voice the very next weekThis is the story behind the story. The thing I wasn’t sure I’d ever be comfortable sharing. But I think there’s something in here for you.📣 Less than a week left to get the Voice Liberation Method at 50% off → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1🔓 Mastery flash sale ends Monday at midnight Pacific — founding member pricing, 5 spots only. Code: MASTERY2026 → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page💜 Join the community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so🎤 Free Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/Journal Prompt: What old belief about yourself are you still carrying? Where did it come from — and what would happen if you let it go? Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

With the moon in Taurus — the sign that rules the voice — I’m reflecting on dignity. Specifically, how to hold onto yours when you’re dealing with people who don’t understand what dignity means.In this episode, I share a recent experience where someone at a dinner party used a calm, innocent tone to dig into an old wound — the kind of covert manipulation that goes undetected by everyone else at the table. I ended up crying in the bathroom. And the whole time I was thinking: how do I get through this moment with dignity?I talk about my history with manipulative people, why I studied Gandhi and nonviolent resistance, and why I believe responding with dignity — even when you want to explode — is the most powerful thing you can do for your voice and your sovereignty.This isn’t about being passive. It’s about being strategic. It’s about protecting your voice from people who want to silence you.If you’ve ever been cut down by someone who seemed so innocent that no one else noticed — this one’s for you.🎁 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🌟 Voice Liberation Course (50% off until Feb 7): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/checkout/voice-liberation-method💜 Join the Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so🎤 Private Coaching: Intro $100 | Follow-up $150📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/📝 Read the article: KEYWORDSdignity, narcissistic abuse, covert manipulation, voice and trauma, healthy voice, emotional abuse, gaslighting, self-sovereignty, nonviolent resistance, Gandhi, healing journey, voice liberation, manipulative relationships, self-expression, emotional regulation, boundariesSUMMARYIn this episode, Bella reflects on the concept of dignity — particularly how to maintain yours when dealing with manipulative, covert narcissistic personalities. She shares a recent experience at a dinner party where someone used an innocent tone to bring up a painful topic, successfully rattling her without anyone else noticing. Bella discusses her history of studying abusive dynamics, her training at a domestic violence shelter, and how Gandhi’s teachings on nonviolent resistance shaped her commitment to responding with dignity rather than fighting fire with fire. She emphasizes that protecting your dignity is essential to protecting your voice, and encourages listeners to get strategic about handling these personalities rather than getting stuck in victimhood.TAKEAWAYS* Some people demean you in ways that go undetected by others — using innocent tones and calm voices to dig into your wounds* Maintaining dignity in the face of manipulation is a practice, not a personality trait* Fighting fire with fire doesn’t feel good, even when they deserve it* You don’t have to understand manipulative people to protect yourself from them* Responding with calm firmness is more powerful than exploding* Healing is a lifelong process — even when you feel recovered, you maintain your practices* Victimhood gets you stuck on the path; dignity keeps you moving forward* Your voice is the mechanism they hijacked — and it’s also how you take your power backSOUND BITES* “That b***h made me cry.”* “I have to get through this moment with dignity.”* “They get high off of you losing your cool.”* “I don’t entertain victimhood.”* “Victimhood gets us stuck on the path, but we have to keep moving forward.”* “They stole your voice, yes. But through your voice, you get to take it back.”* “I’m grateful I don’t understand them.”JOURNAL PROMPTHas anyone in your life ever made you feel small in a way that others couldn’t see? How did that experience affect your voice — your willingness to speak, to sing, to take up space? What would it mean to take it back?DISCUSSION QUESTION (For Community/Comments)How do you handle manipulative people and maintain your dignity at the same time? What strategies have worked for you? Let’s get strategic together — leave a comment below. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

SHOW NOTES: Resistance, Self-Sabotage & Sharing Your StoryEpisode Summary:In this episode, I get real about resistance — the kind that masquerades as writer’s block, procrastination, or “not being ready.” I share my own journey with self-sabotage, the fears that kept me from promoting my work for years, and why I finally decided to stop hiding. We talk about why sharing your story matters (even when it’s scary), the power of community, and how to reconnect with your creative spark — the one you were born with, before the world told you to be quiet.Key Topics:* Resistance and how it disguises itself* My musical journey and the fears that got in the way* Self-sabotage as a creative person* Why sharing your story helps YOU and others* The importance of community support* Reclaiming your inner child and your creative spark* Everybody is creative — yes, including youMoments That Hit:* “My fear got in the way.”* “I wanted to share my story.”* “Everybody is creative.”Chapters:00:00 Welcome to Healthy Voice Notes 03:07 The Challenge of Resistance 06:00 My Musical Journey & Finding Community 08:56 Reflections on Self-Sabotage 11:46 Why Sharing Your Story Matters 14:50 Embracing Your Unique Voice 17:44 Reclaiming Your Spark 20:39 You Were Born Creative — Don’t Forget ItJournal Prompt:Where are you resisting? What story have you been afraid to share? What would happen if you let yourself be seen?Resources:🎁 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🌟 Voice Liberation Course (50% off pre-order until Feb 7): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1💜 Join the Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page🎤 Private Coaching: Intro $100 | Follow-up $150📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/📝 Substack: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comYour voice matters. Your story matters. Stop waiting for permission. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

The Courage to Be DislikedWhat happens when your survival depended on being liked?In this episode, I talk about what it takes to be okay with people not liking you—especially if you grew up managing someone else's emotions. Whether it was a parent with a substance abuse problem, an unstable environment, or a relationship where you had to hide parts of yourself just to stay safe, you learned that being disliked had consequences. Real ones.That pattern doesn't just go away when you leave. It follows you. And as long as you need approval from everyone, you'll never be free to be truly yourself—or to use your true voice.We explore:The book The Courage to Be Disliked and Alfred Adler's ideasWhat it means to "manage someone else's emotions"Why being disliked can feel genuinely dangerous (even when it's not)How that fear pattern gets reactivated in relationshipsStarting small: admitting the "weird" things you loveDignity and integrity when you're the only one in the room who disagreesA healthy voice is an honest voice. A relaxed body is comfortable with who they really are. Someone comfortable with who they really are is comfortable being honest.Journal Prompt: What is a subject or topic you love—something you find fascinating, could read about all day—that nobody in your regular life knows about? Why do you keep it to yourself? What are you afraid will happen if they find out?🎁 FREE GUIDE: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 🌟 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📘 VOICE LIBERATION METHOD COURSE (50% off before launch): [insert link] ✍️ SUBSCRIBE TO MY SUBSTACK: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com 📸 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

SHOW NOTES: THE WOUNDED HEALER & EMOTIONAL EXPRESSIONShow Notes: Chiron, Your Wounds, and the Deadening of Emotional ExpressionEpisode Summary: In this episode, I reflect on the alternative health movement and why it still feels "alternative" even though the world has opened up so much. I share about my grandfather the chiropractor, the archetype of Chiron (the wounded healer), and how your deepest wounds become your greatest healing superpowers. I also talk about something that's been concerning me for years: the deadening of emotional expression in voices — especially in younger generations and California culture — and why connecting emotion to your voice is essential for singers, speakers, and anyone who wants to be heard.Key Topics Covered:The alternative health movement: why it still feels "alternative" even with Substack, YouTube, and online platformsMy grandfather the holistic chiropractor (a naturopath before it was possible)The 90s awakening: Oprah, bookstores, and the mainstreaming of holistic healthWhy "alternative" medicine is actually ancient — and Western medicine is the true alternativeChiron: the wounded healer archetype in astrologyHow your deepest wounds alchemize into healing superpowersMy Chiron in Taurus: voice, beauty, identity, feminine expressionThe deadening of emotional expression in modern voicesCalifornia chill vs. Southern/East Coast/Italian expressivenessWhy emotional connection to voice is what makes singers and speakers powerfulIt only takes one person to change the energy in a roomQuotable Moments:"What is called the alternative is actually ancient. Western medicine is the new thing. It's the alternative.""The thing that hurt you, once it becomes healed, it alchemizes into a healing force.""My Chiron is in Taurus, and Taurus rules the voice. Of course.""The deadening of emotional expression in the voice has reached a level that I find deeply concerning.""It only takes one person. Once you decide to show yourself as you really are, and you do it with kindness and compassion, people respond.""This is not a purely selfish journey. You heal yourself first, then you use those powers to help others."Chiron Explained:Chiron in astrology — The wounded healer. Shows where your deepest wounding lies.The wound — Your greatest sensitivities and vulnerabilities.The healing — As you heal, the wound transforms into a superpower.The gift — You use your healed wounds to help others on the same path.On Emotional Expression:Where I grew up (the South), emotional expression was natural. If you didn't have it when you sang, you didn't go far.In California, I noticed a "chill" that deadens expression — especially in younger people. And it's spreading.The singers and speakers who rise to the top? They're the ones who connect their deepest emotions to their voice.Journal Prompt: Where is your Chiron? What wound have you been healing that might become your greatest gift to others?Resources:🎁 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🌟 Voice Liberation Course (50% off until Feb 7): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1💜 Join the Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page🎤 Private Coaching: Intro $100 | Follow-up $150📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/📝 Substack: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comConnect with Me: Do you feel like the world has opened up — or does it still feel like we're the "alternative"? And where do you fall on the emotional expression spectrum? Let me know in the comments on YouTube or Substack.Your wounds are not weaknesses. They're superpowers waiting to be unlocked. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Episode Summary: In this episode, I share an update on the Voice Liberation Method course and explore why I’ve built it around the Hero’s Journey framework. I explain what the Hero’s Journey is, how it applies to your healing path, and why thinking of your life as an epic adventure can help you stay on the path when things get hard. I also talk about the archetypes — the hero, the mentor, the allies, the trickster, and the shadow — and how they show up in voice work and in life.Key Topics Covered:* What the Hero’s Journey is (Joseph Campbell’s storytelling framework)* The archetypes: hero, mentor, allies, trickster, shadow* Why beloved stories (Wizard of Oz, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings) all follow this pattern* How your healing journey mirrors the hero’s journey* Why voice students quit faster than piano students (vulnerability and ego)* The throat chakra as a crucial point in the healing path* How systems (relationships, religions, professions) can impose their will on us* Perspecticide and the false self* Why we don’t cave into victimhood — we learn and keep going* Course update: Week 1 recorded, 7 guided visualizations completeQuotable Moments:* “You’re the hero. I’m your mentor. The Healthy Voice community is the allies.”* “Singing is different from piano. People have a lot more ego involved because their voice is their core identity.”* “Part of our greatest challenge on this quest called life is to recognize when our will is being challenged, when our perspective is being threatened.”* “We don’t cave into victimhood because that’s how you get stuck in the shadows.”* “Every single moment is a pathway point in your epic quest called life.”* “We’re warriors. We’re healing path warriors and heroes.”Journal Prompt: Have you ever thought about your own life as an epic adventure? What part of the hero’s journey are you in right now?Course Update:* Week 1 fully recorded* 7 guided visualizations complete (one for each chakra)* Each week will have 1+ hour of content* Includes: vocal technique, massage/stretch routines, speech work, guided visualizations, vocal exercises* Launches February 7th — 50% off pre-order nowResources:🎁 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🌟 Voice Liberation Course (50% off until Feb 7): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1💜 Join the Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page🎤 Private Coaching: Intro $100 | Follow-up $150 Book Here📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/📝 Substack: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comConnect with Me: Leave a comment — have you heard of the Hero’s Journey? Have you ever thought about your life as an epic adventure? I want to hear from you. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Your Body Remembers What You ForgotHow to Release Physical Trauma Through Bodywork and VoiceEpisode Release Date: January 2026Episode SummaryThis episode was inspired by a comment from a viewer who experienced being choked by a boyfriend over two decades ago and wanted to know how to release the trauma still stored in her body. Bella goes deep into how physical trauma gets trapped in the body, why it stays there, and two powerful practices that helped her release her own stored trauma.Timestamps0:00 - Introduction and Context 0:30 - Understanding Trauma and Its Origins 3:22 - The Impact of Physical Abuse 10:16 - How Trauma Manifests in the Body 21:25 - Releasing Trauma: Bodywork and Healing Practices 29:52 - The Power of the Voice in Healing 38:04 - Conclusion and Call to ActionKey Topics CoveredTrauma Doesn't Always Start in ChildhoodSome people end up in abusive relationships despite having loving parentsSensitive people and empaths can be targeted regardless of upbringingAggressive, controlling personalities seek out sensitive peopleWhy Trauma Gets Stuck in the BodyThe body remembers what the conscious mind forgetsWhen we can't process fear through shaking, crying, or screaming — it stays trappedAnimals shake off trauma naturally; humans often suppress the response to "save face"The subconscious mind takes notes on everything, especially life-threatening experiencesBella's Personal ExampleNearly drowning in Nice, France in the MediterraneanSuppressed the urge to sob and shake afterwardDeveloped a fear of water that had never existed beforeDemonstrates how unprocessed trauma creates new fear responsesSurprising Sources of Body TraumaSurgery (even voluntary) is a violation the body remembersAnesthesia creates amnesia but the body still holds the memoryChildhood tonsillectomies may contribute to voice blocksCar accidents, broken bones, any physical violationTwo Practices for Releasing Physical TraumaIntentional BodyworkFind a massage therapist you trustShare enough information so they can help (not everything — they're not your therapist)Bella chose to work with a male therapist because male energy had caused her traumaMeet regularly with the intention of releasing stored traumaSobbing during massage = trauma releasing (this is normal and healing)Sound Healing / Voice WorkBella's method combines classical vocal technique, chanting, and sound healingYour voice becomes your own internal massage therapistVocal vibrations can locate and break up blocked energyThis practice was pivotal in Bella's healing — "If I hadn't figured this out, I wouldn't be talking to you right now"The Walk and Talk PracticeTake your phone, go outside, walk and talk to yourselfThe left-right rhythmic motion calms the nervous systemAfter 10 minutes, you naturally open upUse it to process emotions OR to practice feeling your voice with no audienceQuotes from This Episode"The body remembers what the conscious mind forgets.""If a male energy is what triggered this fear response in my body, then a male energy is going to heal it.""If I had not figured out this method of voice work, I wouldn't be talking to you right now.""Your voice becomes your own internal massage therapist."Resources MentionedFilm: The King's SpeechAuthor: Jonathan Goldman (sound healing pioneer)Author: Stewart PearceVoice Coach: The Holistic Voice Coach (Marge)Singer: Gina SalahComedy: George Carlin's bit on "Soft Language"Journal PromptWhere in your body do you hold memories of violation — whether from abuse, accident, or surgery? What would it feel like to finally release it?🎤 FREE Voice Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 🌟 Voice Liberation Method Course (50% off until Feb): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1 💜 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Sound Sensitivity & Inherited TraumaEpisode SummaryI explore my lifelong sensitivity to sound and its possible connection to inherited trauma from my dad, a Vietnam veteran. I share a vulnerable story about experiencing my first public panic attack in Las Vegas and the conversation with a scientist friend that opened my eyes to epigenetic trauma. This episode dives into the science behind how hypervigilance can be passed down through generations—and I offer hope for those who experience sound sensitivity by reframing it as a potential gift for music and voice work.Timestamps00:00 Introduction to Sound Sensitivity02:56 Panic Attack in Las Vegas05:46 Understanding Sound Sensitivity08:54 Cultural Influences on Sound PerceptionKey TopicsThe Las Vegas Panic Attack A crowded restaurant in the Venetian hotel triggered my first public panic attack—an experience that led me to question where this response came from.Epigenetic Trauma Research shows that children of Vietnam veterans and Holocaust survivors can inherit sound sensitivity through changes in DNA, particularly related to hypervigilance.How Sound Sensitivity Feels I describe the experience as feeling sound "hit" my energy field—like pressure or a punch that creates a physical jolt in the body.Cultural Context Growing up in Southern Baptist culture where shouting was normalized made it difficult to talk about or understand my sensitivity.Coping Strategies Earplugs have been a game-changer for navigating overwhelming sound environments like sporting events.The Gift in the Shadow Sound sensitivity often indicates a natural aptitude for music and voice work—the same sensitivity that causes distress can become a creative superpower.Key TakeawaysSound sensitivity can be inherited from parents who experienced severe traumaHypervigilance is the nervous system's way of protecting you—it's not a flawSensitivity tends to decrease with age and desensitizationIf you're highly sensitive to sound, you likely have an ear for music and voiceResources MentionedResearch on epigenetic trauma in children of Vietnam veteransStudies on Holocaust survivor descendants and inherited hypervigilanceContinue the JourneyVoice Liberation Course — My trauma-informed approach combining vocal technique with sound healing. Pre-launch sale: 50% off until February.Journal Prompt: When has your sensitivity to something (sound, energy, emotion) actually served you? Where might there be a gift hiding in what feels like a burden?Work with Me: Book a private voice coaching session to explore your unique voice in a safe, supportive container.Join the Community: Connect with other sensitive souls reclaiming their voices in The Healthy Voice Community.Read the Series: This episode connects to Chapter 3 of Singing Through the Shadows—my memoir series combining essays and original songs on Substack.Get Unsilenced: 52 weeks of journaling prompts to help you find words for things you couldn't say. → $22Subscribe: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comInstagram: @the_healthy_voiceFree Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Raw Emotion in Performance: How to Stop Holding BackI was working on the final week of my Voice Liberation Method course today — the Integration — when I got so excited about one of the practice paragraphs that I had to stop and share it with you.It’s not just a speaking exercise. It’s a mantra. Here it is:The art of speaking freely demands three things: the breath to sustain, the truth to speak, and the faith to keep going. Today, I dedicate myself to this path — not because it’s easy, but because it’s mine. I feel the depth of this decision in my heart. I believe in the dream beneath the fear. These are the things that matter: clarity, courage, and the commitment to keep breathing through. This is the voice I was born to use. This is the path I was born to walk. This is the life I was born to live. And I will not be silenced. Not anymore. Not ever again.I want you to read that out loud. Right now. Feel it in your body.The Timid PerformerRight after working on the course, I taught one of my beloved piano students — a brilliant composer I’ve been teaching for about nine years. She wrote this beautiful, emotional piece. And she played it in a very... mechanical way.I could feel what she wanted to express. But she was holding back.And I realized: I do too.There was a time when I didn’t. As a teenager, I was an unfiltered performer. I would stomp the ground. Fill the whole room with sound. To me, it wasn’t a performance unless you were fully losing yourself in it.I credit my Italian upbringing merged with my Southern dad in Northeast Florida. Italians are known for big emotions — think opera, think Sinatra. Southerners don’t hold back either — think gospel, think blues. I grew up believing that raw, uncensored expression was just... what you did.Then life happened. Adulthood put the fear in me. And for about ten years, I couldn’t sing in front of people without freaking out.I can do it now. But I’m still not all the way back to that raw, unfiltered performer I used to be. I’m working on it.The ExerciseSo how do you get the raw performer to come out?I asked my student to think of her favorite crazy characters from film.She didn’t skip a beat: Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction. Kathy Bates in Misery.I said, “You clearly know what I’m talking about.”Those characters are unforgettable because they have no filter. No censor. No sense of holding back. Every raw emotion pours out of them.That is what makes a great performer.I’m not saying you need to be a psychopath. I’m saying you need to access that part of yourself that doesn’t care what anyone thinks. The part that feels so intensely that it HAS to come out.Think of your favorite unhinged characters. What would it feel like to perform with even 10% of that energy?The TrilogyI’ve decided the Voice Liberation Method is going to be a trilogy.Thinking about it this way frees me up. I kept wanting to put more and more into the first course, but you don’t want to overwhelm your students. So Part 1 will be epic on its own — and then there’s more to come.Part 1: The Voice Liberation Method — Release what’s blocking your voice. Find your foundation.Part 2: Journey Through the Shadows — Shadow work meets voice work. Learn to express the emotions you’ve been suppressing.Part 3: The Return — The performer awakens. You’re ready to share your voice with the world.First things first. Let’s get Part 1 done.✍️ Journal Prompt: Think of your favorite “unhinged” characters from film, TV, or literature. What is it about them that captivates you? What would it feel like to bring even a fraction of that raw, unfiltered energy into your own expression?🎤 Want to go deeper? I work with people 1:1 on releasing the blocks that keep their voice stuck. Book an intro session here.💜 Join The Healthy Voice Community Live sessions, Courage Circles, and a space to practice finding your voice with others who get it. Learn more here.🌑 Singing Through the Shadows A memoir series combining essays and songs. Stories I’ve never told. Sounds I’ve never shared. Watch and Read. 📓 Unsilenced: A Year of Journaling Back to Your Voice Journaling helped me find words for things I couldn’t say. It unsilenced me. 52 weeks of prompts. Get it here — $22.Subscribe so you don’t miss a post → Learn about The Voice Liberation Method HERE. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

The Empath's Voice — Why Sensitive People Lose Their Voice (And How to Get It Back)Episode Release Date: January 2025Episode Summary:I open up about what it really means to be an empath — and why so many empaths struggle with their voice. I explore the difference between "empath" and "highly sensitive person," address the controversy around these terms, and share a breakthrough moment with a teenage student that changed how I teach. If you've ever felt like you lost yourself trying to read everyone else's emotions, this episode is for you.Key Topics Covered:What "empath" actually means (and why I prefer it over "highly sensitive person")The debate: Are empaths born or made through survival?How hyper-vigilance erases your sense of selfThe good news: How empathy becomes a superpower for learning voiceThe story of the teenage student who learned to sing through feeling, not techniqueWhy voice practice is healing for empathsHow manipulators target empaths — and how to take your power backLearning to talk to yourself the way your inner empath needsQuotable Moments:"An empath is somebody who feels so much from other people that it affects your whole life.""At some point, you lose awareness of your own energy, of who you are. That's who I'm addressing in The Healthy Voice.""What I couldn't explain to her, I modeled for her — and she used her gift of sensitivity to feel in her own throat what I was doing.""That shame? That is the voice of the manipulators. That is not your voice.""Your empath is more like a sweet child. Would you really yell at a sweet child who just needs to be taught differently?""Every time you declare your own individuality, you inspire other people to do the same."Journal Prompt:Where in your life have you lost yourself trying to read everyone else? What would it feel like to turn that sensitivity inward — toward your own needs, your own voice, your own truth?Resources:🎁 FREE Voice Liberation Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🎓 Voice Liberation Method Course (Pre-order $47): https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page-1📓 Unsilenced: 52 Weeks of Journaling Prompts — $22: rawveganbella.substack.com/p/unsilenced-a-year-of-journaling-back🏠 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📰 Subscribe to the newsletter: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/Book Mentioned:The War of Art by Steven Pressfield Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Why I Hid My Songs for 20 Years — Show NotesThe Comment That Sparked This EpisodeA listener shared that they also have a stash of hidden songs — not because of perfectionism, but because they were in a relationship that made them feel too small to share their art.That comment brought everything back.From Celebrated to SilencedI was lucky. I went to an arts high school where weirdness was currency. The stranger you were, the cooler you were. I was rewarded for being different. I had fans. I had people emailing me after shows telling me how much they loved my songs.Then I got into a relationship with someone who found my uniqueness embarrassing.He would wait until we were alone, then tell me everything I'd done wrong. At first, some of it seemed reasonable. But over time, the criticisms piled up. I started to believe them. And I hid my songs — the same ones I'm releasing now — because I thought maybe he was just telling me truths everyone else was too polite to say.That's not how it works. The world is full of people who would love to tear you down. If people were celebrating me, it wasn't because they were being nice. It was because the spark was real.What I've Learned About This DynamicThe word I've landed on — reluctantly, because it's overused — is narcissistic abuse.From what I understand, people like this often target people who are liked by others. You become an accessory to their image. But they can't let you have too much power. So they keep you small. They destroy your self-worth so you don't leave.I spent over 10 years trying to recover from that programming.The Therapist Wisdom That Changed Everything"There are some things you will never understand — and you should be grateful for that."I used to think I needed to understand someone's behavior to forgive them and move on. But some behavior doesn't make sense. And if it doesn't make sense to you, that means you're not like them.That realization set me free.Your Spark Is Still AliveIf you're still listening to this — if you watch my videos, if you're doing the work — your spark is still alive.Even if your voice still shakes. Even if you freeze when someone asks you a question. Even if you feel like you're still deep in the trenches of that silenced program.It's not dead. It's just waiting.Keep going. One practice at a time. One moment at a time.The world needs your unique voice.Timestamps00:00 Morning Reflections and Podcasting Journey 02:56 Embracing Authenticity in Art and Voice 05:48 The Impact of Relationships on Self-Expression 09:03 The Power of Uniqueness and Acceptance 11:58 Overcoming Negative Programming and Self-Doubt 15:05 Reclaiming Creativity and Personal Voice 17:58 Understanding Toxic Relationships and Their Effects 20:46 Liberation Through Self-Acceptance 24:08 The Journey of Voice Liberation and Future AspirationsJournal PromptHas anyone ever made you feel like your uniqueness was a problem? What would it mean to reclaim that part of yourself?Links🎁 FREE GUIDE: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide🎓 THE VOICE LIBERATION METHOD: https://bella-payne.kit.com/products/voice-liberation-method-course-pre-order💙 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📖 READ THE BLOG: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com📖 SINGING THROUGH THE SHADOWS (Memoir): https://rawveganbella.substack.com/p/singing-through-the-shadows-chapter-66b🎤 BOOK A SESSION: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75📷 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Why I'm Done Hiding My Imperfect Voice — Show NotesWhy I'm Making My Memoir FreeI've decided to remove the paywall from my memoir and music video series, Singing Through the Shadows. Inspiring people to share their own stories matters more to me than making a few dollars off my art.What This Series Is AboutGiving my younger self a chance to be seen and heard. She had opportunities, but low self-esteem, fear of rejection, and some legitimate reasons to be afraid held her back. These songs were recorded a long time ago and never released — until now.The Problem with Perfectionism in MusicThe music industry has moved further and further into manufactured perfection:80s/90s: Real singers with incredible voices (Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion)Late 90s: Manufactured groups, factory-produced sound2000s-now: Auto-tune and technology so sophisticated that human voices sound like AIBy the time AI music arrived, I thought — what's the difference? Music has sounded machine-made for years.Why Imperfection MattersMy recordings have out-of-tune notes. I recorded them in a living room studio in the early 2000s with no auto-tune. And that's okay — because that's what a human voice does.Now I crave imperfection. I want to hear voices shake. I want to hear someone miss a beat and recover. It tells me I'm listening to a real human being.My Challenge to YouYou have a story. You have something unique to say. You've been through something, learned from it, and you're still going — that's a hero's journey.Share it. Write it. Sing it. Film it.You're here because you're reclaiming your voice. Now use it.Read the SeriesSinging Through the Shadows (now free): www.thehealthyvoicewrites.comLeave a CommentDo you also crave imperfection in music? What do you think about the hyper-perfectionism of the industry? Let me know.🎁 FREE GUIDE: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguideThe Voice Liberation Method:  https://bella-payne.kit.com/products/voice-liberation-method-course-pre-order💙 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📖 READ THE BLOG: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com🎤 BOOK A SESSION: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/ Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Perspecticide — When Your Perspective Was KilledEpisode Release Date: January 3, 2026Episode Summary: In this episode, Bella introduces the powerful term "perspecticide" — the killing of someone's perspective through psychological manipulation and coercive control. She explores how survivors of long-term abuse (domestic violence, ritual abuse, growing up with alcoholic parents) often struggle to trust their own reality, and how this directly impacts the voice and authentic self-expression. Bella shares insights on why healing the throat chakra requires rebuilding trust in yourself and your truth.Key Topics Covered:Why "perspecticide" is a more accurate term than "gaslighting"The three types of abuse that create vulnerability to coercive controlHow survival mode hijacks the nervous system and creates chronic tensionWhy abuse survivors struggle with self-expression (it's not just fear — it's lost trust in one's own perspective)The chakra system as a framework for understanding blocked expressionWhy women leave abusive relationships an average of 6-8 times before leaving for goodReclaiming sovereignty over your voice, breath, and truthQuotable Moments:"Perspecticide is the killing of someone's perspective — the manipulation of the way they view reality.""You can always tell when someone asks 'why don't they just leave?' — it's because they've never been in that situation.""If one chakra is out of tune, the whole instrument sounds off.""Sovereign means totally in control of your will, your perspective, your breath, your truth, your voice."Practices Mentioned:Vocal warm-ups and muscle stretchingThe audible sigh for releasing chest tightnessBreathwork for returning to centerJournaling, singing, songwriting, poetry, art-makingThroat chakra mantra: "I speak my truth"Journal Prompt: Where in your life have you stopped trusting your own perspective? What truth are you afraid to speak — even to yourself?Resources:🎁 FREE Voice Liberation Guide: https://bella-payne.kit.com/freeguide 📓 Unsilenced: 52 Weeks of Journaling Prompts — $22: rawveganbella.substack.com/p/unsilenced-a-year-of-journaling-back 🏠 Join The Healthy Voice Community: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page 📰 Subscribe to the newsletter: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/Connect with Bella: If this episode resonated with you, I'd love to hear your thoughts. Leave a comment, share your experience, or reach out on Instagram. Your perspective matters — and the world needs your unique voice. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Happy New Year — and welcome to the first episode of Healthy Voice Notes on podcast platforms!In this voice note, I go deeper on a topic from my recent video: the difference between grief and victimhood.Grief is normal. Complex trauma may never fully go away. But victimhood is when you start to enjoy the grief — when you romanticize the sadness.I also share something personal about my dad, a Vietnam veteran, and why I still cry when I play the MASH theme song on my piano.Growing up with a Vietnam vet parent meant silence. We didn't talk about it. And I've never seen anyone address what that was like for our generation.My hope is that by sharing my story, I'll help others find somewhere to go with theirs.In this episode:→ The difference between grief and victimhood→ Why complex trauma may never fully disappear→ My experience growing up with a Vietnam veteran father→ The code of silence among children of war veterans→ How I use music to process grief→ Announcement: The Voice Liberation Method course (pre-order now!)🎉 PRE-ORDER THE COURSE: https://bella-payne.kit.com/products/voice-liberation-method-course-pre-order$47 now (regular $97) + 1 FREE month in the community💙 JOIN THE COMMUNITY: https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page💙 SUBSCRIBE TO SUBSTACK: www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com💙 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/the_healthy_voice/💙 YOUTUBE: youtube.com/@thehealthyvoice Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

I just posted a video that might be a little uncomfortable to hear.Not everyone who’s been through trauma is on a healing path. Some people are stuck in victimhood. And there’s a big difference.In this voice note, I share a bit about why I made this video, my time working at a women’s shelter, and what it means to be a healing warrior.🎥 Watch the full video: Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

Two days after Christmas. Completely fried. Spent yesterday watching Dirty John and being silent.And it got me thinking about something most people don’t appreciate: how much energy it takes to speak.Not just making sound — but pulling up vocabulary, forming sentences, anticipating confusion. It’s exhausting. Especially when you’re already depleted.In this voice note, I’m talking about:→ Why the holidays wipe me out (and probably you too) → The foundation: sleep, food, water — and why most people are malnourished → Why bouncing matters for your energy (lymphatic system) → Finding articulate speakers to model (and why I loved Christopher Hitchens) → What makes someone a great speaker — and a red flag I watch for → Why speaking well is a skill that can be learnedAlso: Would you want these voice notes as a podcast? Let me know.💙 Bella🎤 Work With Me 1:1 → Book a session: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75💙 Join the Community Live sessions, Courage Circles, and a space to heal your voice. → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📖 Singing Through the Shadows My memoir in essays and songs. Chapter 1 is FREE. → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com✨ Unsilenced 52 weeks of journal prompts to reclaim your voice. → Get it - $22: https://rawveganbella.substack.com/p/unsilenced-a-year-of-journaling-back Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

This one got personal.I’ve been thinking about why I almost didn’t start The Healthy Voice. Why I hesitated for so long.It wasn’t about the work. It was about who I might attract.I spent three years working in social work — domestic violence hotline, the shelter, sitting with women fresh off of a crime. I saw a lot. And I learned something about myself in that work.I don’t do pity.There’s a difference between compassion and feeling sorry for someone. Compassion is an even exchange. Pity is power over. And I didn’t want to build something that attracted people who wanted to be pitied — or who pitied themselves.I wanted to find the proactive ones. The ones who are honest about what they’ve been through, aware of how it’s held them back, AND still moving forward.Turns out... that’s exactly who showed up.In this voice note, I’m talking about:→ The holiday patterns that keep coming up (even when we think we’ve let them go) → Why I was scared to start this platform → The difference between pity and compassion → Why healing is a skill — like learning an instrument → Why community matters (and why I did this alone for way too long)If any of this resonates, leave a comment. Share something about your journey. That’s the whole point of this — none of us should have to do this alone.💙 Bella🎤 Work With Me 1:1 → Book a session: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75💙 Join the Community Live sessions, Courage Circles, and a space to heal your voice. → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📖 Singing Through the Shadows My memoir in essays and songs. Chapter 1 is FREE. → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com✨ Unsilenced 52 weeks of journal prompts to reclaim your voice. → Get it - $22: https://rawveganbella.substack.com/p/unsilenced-a-year-of-journaling-backFree gets you started. Paid gets you the full memoir, weekly voice notes, exclusive videos, and a deeper connection to the work. 💙 Come all the way in. Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve been thinking.I teach voice work. I talk about using your voice to heal, to express, to connect.And yet here I am... only writing to you.There’s something funny about that.So I’m trying something new: Voice Notes.Just me, talking to you. Unscripted. A few minutes of whatever’s on my mind — reflections, behind-the-scenes moments, things I’m learning, things I’m processing.No editing. No perfection. Just my voice.It feels a little vulnerable, honestly. Which is probably why I should do it.This first one is free.I’ll share a couple more free ones over the next few weeks. After that, voice notes will become a perk for paid subscribers — a little something extra for those who want to go deeper with me.Think of it like having me in your ear. A voice memo from a friend who happens to be obsessed with healing through sound.Let me know what you think. Hit reply — I read everything.And if this lands for you, there’s more coming.💙 BellaP.S. If you’re not a paid subscriber yet and you want to make sure you get these once they go behind the paywall: → Subscribe here:🎤 Work With Me 1:1 → Book a session: https://calendly.com/hello-bellapayne/75💙 Join the Community Live sessions, Courage Circles, and a space to heal your voice. → https://the-healthy-voice-community.circle.so/untitled-page📖 Singing Through the Shadows My memoir in essays and songs. Chapter 1 is FREE. → www.thehealthyvoicewrites.com✨ Unsilenced 52 weeks of journal prompts to reclaim your voice. → Get it - $22: https://rawveganbella.substack.com/p/unsilenced-a-year-of-journaling-back Get full access to The Healthy Voice Writes at rawveganbella.substack.com/subscribe