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I'm Speaking: Every Woman's Guide to Finding Your Voice and Using It Fearlessly
From Publishers "... Doyle-Mekkes fluidly weaves together practical speaking tips and big-picture advice on how to shore up one’s self-esteem. The reticent will find much to mull over in this confidence-boosting manual.” I’m Speaking is every woman’s guide to creating a clear, confident voice that is authentically hers and then using it fearlessly. Full of effective, efficient, brain-science-based ways to make positive changes to your voice, in your head and coming out of your mouth, I’m Speaking also teaches the reader how to fearlessly use that voice, personally and ask for what you want and get what you need, speak up against toxicity, communicate everything better, have the difficult conversations, and cultivate resilience. Imagine a world without the voices of Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, Gloria Steinem, your mother, your best girlfriend, your midwife, your hair stylist. Do you know a woman whose voice isn’t essential to her career, her family, the world? Women’s voices are essential, and they are powerful. Every woman can harness that power. This is the only book written that gives women the exact tools necessary to solve the common vocal problems they face, and literally reprogram their brains and bodies to be more confident when speaking. Think of how much more centered, how much more confident you would be knowing that you can deliver your message in a voice that makes people want to listen to you. Knowing that, regardless of situation, you can speak clearly and confidently, stay on track (or get back on), relax your body, and even enjoy the moment you’ve worked so hard for. Your voice is the secret weapon to success you’ve always had, but never knew how to use, til now.
230 pages, Hardcover
Published October 15, 2023
22 people are currently reading
191 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Doyle-Mekkes
1 book5 followersJessica Doyle-Mekkes is the Head of Musical Theatre at East Carolina University where she has taught voice and vocal pedagogy since 2017.
Jessica has spent the last 15 years studying the human voice and working as a vocal coach for actors, singers, and public speakers. An internationally published writer and sought after clinician, her debut book,
"I’m Speaking: every woman’s guide to finding your voice & using it fearlessly"
comes out October 2023 from Rowman & Littlefield and was recently listed as one of the publisher’s most anticipated titles of 2023 with women at their forefront.
Jessica works as a speaker, advisor, and clinician to individuals, groups, NGO’s and businesses small and large teaching women how to harness the power of their voices: in their heads & out of their mouths.
Jessica lives in Greenville, NC with her husband Don, their daughters Tallulah and Jolie, and a codependent chihuahua named Sebastian.
Jessica has spent the last 15 years studying the human voice and working as a vocal coach for actors, singers, and public speakers. An internationally published writer and sought after clinician, her debut book,
"I’m Speaking: every woman’s guide to finding your voice & using it fearlessly"
comes out October 2023 from Rowman & Littlefield and was recently listed as one of the publisher’s most anticipated titles of 2023 with women at their forefront.
Jessica works as a speaker, advisor, and clinician to individuals, groups, NGO’s and businesses small and large teaching women how to harness the power of their voices: in their heads & out of their mouths.
Jessica lives in Greenville, NC with her husband Don, their daughters Tallulah and Jolie, and a codependent chihuahua named Sebastian.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 21, 2024
Loved this. The author does a beautiful job of sharing evidence and educating readers while holding our attention by couching the information in anecdotes and examples from her life and others she knows. It’s an easy read but also left me reflecting on myself and my voice in an inspiring way. It’s a delightful balance of thought provoking and empowering. I will probably read it again and reference it in the future for tips on speaking up and out effectively, and for motivation to do so! Highly recommend!!
October 1, 2023
I found this book so timely, as I just returned to work after an 18-month mat leave, and I’m struggling to find my voice and my confidence, getting back in the work came. I’m Speaking completely surpassed all my expectations of the book when I requested it, and I’m already recommending it to friends!!
Some of the areas mentioned in the book are areas I had already earmarked knowing I need to work on, but many of them were things I’d never thought about, and I love love love all the practical strategies and tools she offers for readers (mainly directed at women) to use to improve these areas within ourselves. Like focusing when speaking/ presenting for example. I frequently lose my focus when people say something in the chat, or cough, or leave, or are clearly not paying attention, etc. I’m excited to work on these now after reading I’m Speaking.
I really got a lot out of all the practical information the book provides, in addition to the science backing it. Many chapters she describes a scenario and the work and I found these tangible examples so helpful!!! I also appreciate the chapter summaries at the end, because they are super quick reference guides to everything in the chapter.
I’ve highlighted so many quotes and little parts I want to work on, or share with family and friends and will absolutely be picking up a physical copy of I’m Speaking when it publishes as I want to be able to refer to it frequently.
5 ⭐️ read for me! 🎉💕
Some of the areas mentioned in the book are areas I had already earmarked knowing I need to work on, but many of them were things I’d never thought about, and I love love love all the practical strategies and tools she offers for readers (mainly directed at women) to use to improve these areas within ourselves. Like focusing when speaking/ presenting for example. I frequently lose my focus when people say something in the chat, or cough, or leave, or are clearly not paying attention, etc. I’m excited to work on these now after reading I’m Speaking.
I really got a lot out of all the practical information the book provides, in addition to the science backing it. Many chapters she describes a scenario and the work and I found these tangible examples so helpful!!! I also appreciate the chapter summaries at the end, because they are super quick reference guides to everything in the chapter.
I’ve highlighted so many quotes and little parts I want to work on, or share with family and friends and will absolutely be picking up a physical copy of I’m Speaking when it publishes as I want to be able to refer to it frequently.
5 ⭐️ read for me! 🎉💕
March 1, 2024
I grabbed this book expecting it to teach me ways to he more confident speaking up.
To my surprise, this is a book written by a voice coach and it teaches you how to take care of your voice, posture and breathing for a clearer speech. I also appreciated the advice for anxiety and nervousness when public speaking.
Overall, I liked the book, even though it wasn't the super motivator I expected, I liked the approach she took.
To my surprise, this is a book written by a voice coach and it teaches you how to take care of your voice, posture and breathing for a clearer speech. I also appreciated the advice for anxiety and nervousness when public speaking.
Overall, I liked the book, even though it wasn't the super motivator I expected, I liked the approach she took.
November 3, 2023
A complete 5 stars for this one!
In all fronts, I find myself needing more tools in how I use and implicate my voice: my personal life, my work life and my general social persona. But this book was more than that, and in that way, certain parts spoke to me more than others. There were sections about confidence, overcoming fear and building habits for success that were all speaking to me while reading this. On the flipside though, I know that this will be one of those novels that will be quite timelines in its' advice and one that I will keep coming to again and again. I've booked marked pages and areas that I want to revisit already!
I loved Jessica's (the author's) way of writing, I felt as though her personality really shone through in may of the passages. It felt like receiving advice from a successful and practical older sister that's trying to get you going with equal parts encouragement and tough love. There are practice sections of the book too that are helpful when trying to find the right exercise for finding your voice or your tone and conveying your message properly. I also particularly enjoyed the summary section at the end of the chapters, as they highlighted each major point once more to really drive the points home.
I love this book for myself, but can already see myself gifiting it to close friends and family!
In all fronts, I find myself needing more tools in how I use and implicate my voice: my personal life, my work life and my general social persona. But this book was more than that, and in that way, certain parts spoke to me more than others. There were sections about confidence, overcoming fear and building habits for success that were all speaking to me while reading this. On the flipside though, I know that this will be one of those novels that will be quite timelines in its' advice and one that I will keep coming to again and again. I've booked marked pages and areas that I want to revisit already!
I loved Jessica's (the author's) way of writing, I felt as though her personality really shone through in may of the passages. It felt like receiving advice from a successful and practical older sister that's trying to get you going with equal parts encouragement and tough love. There are practice sections of the book too that are helpful when trying to find the right exercise for finding your voice or your tone and conveying your message properly. I also particularly enjoyed the summary section at the end of the chapters, as they highlighted each major point once more to really drive the points home.
I love this book for myself, but can already see myself gifiting it to close friends and family!
April 26, 2024
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.
In a world where women's voices are often marginalized, Jessica Doyle-Mekkes offers a beacon of hope and empowerment with her book, "I'm Speaking: Every Woman's Guide to Finding Your Voice and Using It Fearlessly." This is not just another self-help book; it is a revolutionary guide that combines practical speaking tips with profound psychological insights.
Doyle-Mekkes, with her extensive background in vocal coaching and research, presents a manual that is both accessible and deeply transformative. The book is structured to take the reader on a journey from self-discovery to fearless expression. It is filled with brain-science-based techniques that promise to reprogram the reader's approach to communication, both internally and externally.
The author's writing style is fluid and engaging, making complex concepts easy to grasp. She encourages readers to imagine a world without the influential voices of Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, or Gloria Steinem, underscoring the importance of every woman's voice. Doyle-Mekkes provides the tools necessary to solve common vocal problems and instills confidence that will resonate in all areas of life.
"I'm Speaking" is a call to action, urging women to harness their inherent power and use their voices to ask for what they want, speak up against toxicity, and communicate effectively. The book is a confidence-boosting manual that will leave readers feeling more centered and assured in their ability to convey their messages compellingly.
In essence, Doyle-Mekkes has crafted a guide that is essential for any woman looking to strengthen her voice and presence in the world. It is a testament to the power of speaking up and the transformative effect it can have on one's life and the lives of others. "I'm Speaking" is a must-read for women ready to step into their power and make their voices heard.
In a world where women's voices are often marginalized, Jessica Doyle-Mekkes offers a beacon of hope and empowerment with her book, "I'm Speaking: Every Woman's Guide to Finding Your Voice and Using It Fearlessly." This is not just another self-help book; it is a revolutionary guide that combines practical speaking tips with profound psychological insights.
Doyle-Mekkes, with her extensive background in vocal coaching and research, presents a manual that is both accessible and deeply transformative. The book is structured to take the reader on a journey from self-discovery to fearless expression. It is filled with brain-science-based techniques that promise to reprogram the reader's approach to communication, both internally and externally.
The author's writing style is fluid and engaging, making complex concepts easy to grasp. She encourages readers to imagine a world without the influential voices of Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, or Gloria Steinem, underscoring the importance of every woman's voice. Doyle-Mekkes provides the tools necessary to solve common vocal problems and instills confidence that will resonate in all areas of life.
"I'm Speaking" is a call to action, urging women to harness their inherent power and use their voices to ask for what they want, speak up against toxicity, and communicate effectively. The book is a confidence-boosting manual that will leave readers feeling more centered and assured in their ability to convey their messages compellingly.
In essence, Doyle-Mekkes has crafted a guide that is essential for any woman looking to strengthen her voice and presence in the world. It is a testament to the power of speaking up and the transformative effect it can have on one's life and the lives of others. "I'm Speaking" is a must-read for women ready to step into their power and make their voices heard.
January 5, 2025
Part physiology (vocal exercises, posture, care & feeding of your vocal cords), part psychology (how to speak up, how to prepare for public moments, how to stand up), this book is full of good advice. It's helpful to be reminded of things we know but ignore (getting enough sleep, hydrating, moving), and challenging to learn new information that's useful and should be incorporated ASAP (record presentations; how to work on improving one's public moments). Too, the reminder to celebrate accomplishments, to be positive, to forgive one's self, and to stand up are well received. A really great birthday pick --starting feeling pretty confident about how I present publicly (and still do!), now I feel better, armed with more tools and information for improvement.
March 2, 2024
The title is extremely misleading. I didn’t realize the author was a vocal coach and the book is more about literally speaking louder and not about speaking up or confidence. The things I learned: the author has an obsession with Jason Momoa and thinks Jillian Michaels & the Kardashians are people we should look up to.
I couldn’t stand all her side commentary. Sorry to be so harsh, but this book was terrible. She chose a great title to capture my attention, but do not read this book.
I couldn’t stand all her side commentary. Sorry to be so harsh, but this book was terrible. She chose a great title to capture my attention, but do not read this book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews