Trans voice training isn't just about changing how you sound—it's about discovering how you want to show up in the world. Recently, I had the honour of joining Jeffrey Marsh on their podcast, Inner Voice, to talk about voice, identity, and the revolutionary work of helping trans and nonbinary people fall in love with their voices.

If you've ever felt disconnected from your voice, suppressed how you speak to be taken seriously, or wondered if voice feminization training or voice masculinization training could help you feel more aligned with yourself, this conversation is for you.

What We Talked About: Voice as Self-Expression

During our conversation, Jeffrey and I explored something I'm deeply passionate about: your voice is not your destiny. It's a tool for self-expression, a practice, even a game you can play. And contrary to what society tells us, it's absolutely changeable.

We dove into topics that affect so many people in the trans and nonbinary community:

• How transgender voice training can be a powerful step in gender affirmation
• Why traditional medical models often miss the mark (and what works better)
• The versatility of voice—how we all use different voices in different contexts
• Why fem voice training or masculine voice training doesn't erase your authentic self; it can actually refine it

One of my students once described their relationship with their voice as wanting it to be like a bra—something they put on at the beginning of the day for support, wear throughout their interactions with the world, and take off when they're home with people they're comfortable with. That image is so powerful because it captures the reality: many of us code-switch with our voices, and that's okay.

The Bra Metaphor: Voice as a Tool You Choose

This metaphor resonates with so many clients who come to me for gender-affirming voice training (who might call it mtf voice training or ftm voice training). They're not looking to hide who they are—they're looking for a tool that helps them navigate the world more safely, more confidently, and more authentically.

No matter what you're working on—feminine vocal resonance, masculine vocal weight, or something in between—the goal isn't to perform for others. It's to find what feels right to you.

And here's the beautiful part: you can love and accept the voice you have right now and work to change it. These aren't contradictory goals. They're both acts of self-love and self-determination.

Why Trans Voice Lessons Look Different From Traditional Speech Therapy

During the podcast, we touched on some sobering statistics. According to a 2020 survey, only about 20% of speech-language pathologists reported receiving training in providing services to transgender clients, and only 8% had direct experience working with trans people.

This gap in training is exactly why I approach transgender vocal training differently. My work isn't rooted in medical pathology models that treat your voice as something "broken" that needs "fixing." Instead, I use creativity, play, and self-expression.

My background combines physics, jazz voice, and songwriting, and these unusual credentials inform my teaching approach. I help people understand the mechanics of voice (the physics aspect) while exploring it as an artistic and personal practice (the musical aspect). This combination unlocks possibilities that traditional voice training programs often overlook.

Voice Affirmation vs. Voice "Correction"

One thing Jeffrey and I both emphasized: changing your voice doesn't mean you're hiding. It can be a further refinement of how you're healing and expressing yourself.

I've worked with thousands of trans and nonbinary people since 2010, and I've learned that voice training goals look different for everyone. Some people want dramatic shifts. Others want subtle adjustments. Some want to learn techniques they can turn on and off at will. All of these goals are valid.

What matters is that you're in the driver's seat. You're not trying to pass someone else's test or meet someone else's standards. You're designing your own voice.

The Role of Euphoria (and Dysphoria) in Voice Work

Jeffrey shared a powerful story during our conversation about being on the phone with their bank. The representative kept saying "ma'am," and Jeffrey described the euphoria as almost neurotic—a halo of joy vibrating around them. Then the representative went on hold, presumably saw Jeffrey's legal name, and came back frantically "sir-ing" them repeatedly.

That deflation or bubble bursting is something so many of us know. Voice can be a source of gender euphoria when it aligns with how we see ourselves, and a source of dysphoria when it doesn't.

Whether you're looking for an ftm / mtf voice coach, exploring ftm / mtf voice training online, or seeking a transgender voice coach who understands the nuanced emotional landscape of this work, know that your feelings about your voice are valid. The euphoria matters. The dysphoria matters. And you deserve support that honours both.

My Approach: Design Your Own Voice

My signature programs are built on the principle that you are the expert on your own voice. I provide the tools, techniques, and framework, but you decide what feels right.

I also prioritize equitable access. I offer scholarships because I believe trans voice lessons should be available to everyone, not just those with financial privilege. And I train other teachers to do this work because the demand far exceeds what any one person can provide.

What You Can Learn From This Conversation

If you listen to the full podcast episode (and I hope you do!), you'll hear Jeffrey and me discuss:

• Why the way you speak to your pet is different from how you speak to your boss, and what that teaches us about voice versatility
• How voice training can be a practice, not a performance
• The importance of non-judgmental self-awareness when exploring your voice
• Why voice feminization training programs or voice masculinization training programs don't have to follow rigid medical models
• How healing doesn't happen in silence but in expression

Your Voice Is Your Daily Act of Affirming Your Whole Self

As Jeffrey beautifully said at the end of our conversation: "Your voice is not an accident. It is an expression of all the years, all the pain, all the triumph of who you are."

Learning to love your voice and working to change it aren't opposing forces. They're both powerful tools for self-expression. Whether you're just beginning to explore transgender female voice training or voice masculinization, or you've been working on your voice for years, remember: you are worthy exactly as you are, and your voice is an important part of how you present yourself in the world.

Ready to Explore Your Voice?

If this conversation resonated with you, I invite you to:

• Watch to the full podcast episode above and hear more of our discussion about voice, identity, and self-expression
• Explore my other podcast interviews where I dive deeper into specific voice techniques, answer common questions, and share stories from my years of teaching: https://www.reneeyoxon.com/interviews
• Check out my interviews playlist on Youtube where you can also see interviews that I've conducted on my channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNyEgVw4_S_c7nk_NzTyqEbYSo1z0UGwF

Your voice matters. Your expression matters. And you deserve support that helps you sound exactly how you want to sound.