Reflections
Poetic. Practical. Quirky
Claiming the Fire Within (Part 1)
For much of my life, I wore the “Good Girl” mask well. Calm. Measured. Intelligent. Not too loud. Not too emotional. Not too much of anything. It worked. Things felt stable. But stable isn’t what I’m here for. In the premiere of Season 2 of Soulful Speaking, my new...
The First Spotlight
by Lauri | Education, Thoughts
At seven years old, I was in the backyard playing Brady Bunch with my friends. When they left for the pool, I stayed behind in the garage, lost in the story, fully myself, alive in imagination. That’s when my mom opened the garage door. The light poured in like a...
The ripple effect of finding your voice … ✨
One brave word leads to another. When Amy Vogel first started speaking, it wasn’t on a TEDx stage or at a book launch.It was selling software. In the sales world she adjusted her message to fit the audience and learned how to connect before she even knew that’s...
Soul Suckers Revealed
You know that feeling when something invisible holds you back…From speaking up, showing up, or sharing what’s on your heart. You want to raise your hand… but stay quiet.You dream of being heard… but play it small.You know what you want to say… but your voice feels...
Beyond the Mantra
There’s a moment right before you step up to speak—A breath. A heartbeat. A choice. Will you cling to the script and the plan?Or will you trust what’s alive in the room? I first learned this lesson the hard way while teaching theater at a community college. Each...
Beyond Authenticity
For years, authenticity has been the gold standard in public speaking. And for good reason. Being real, raw, and unpolished can create powerful moments of connection on stages, in boardrooms, on social media. But what if authenticity is just the beginning? After...
Coloring Outside the Lines: Own Your Sparkle
Do you remember the first time someone told you to stop being you? Tina’s 4th grade teacher did just that when she said: “Don’t color outside the lines.” But Tina? She’s a color-outside-the-lines kind of person. She’s got big enthusiasm, big love, a big...
Called, Not Planned: My Path to Soulful Speaking
The Universe called, and I said, “Bleh.” I was busy working my Silicon Valley executive assistant day job while doing theatre at night when I started feeling a nudge ... A strange, persistent whisper:“There’s something more.” I avoided.I resisted.I said no. But...
Beyond the Mask: From Armor to Aliveness
Dana was checking all the boxes. High-level corporate job. Clear path to success. Praise from mentors.But something felt off. She was told to “man up” and lead like everyone else. To speak like someone she wasn’t. And for a while, she did. But deep inside, her soul...