If you’re looking for trans voice training online, you’ve probably noticed: there are a lot of us out here. So how do you know who to trust? And more importantly, how do you know who’s right for you?

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when every platform is flooded with voice coaches, speech-language pathologists, TikTok creators, and trans folks sharing their journeys. The good news is that there are great teachers and resources out there, but you’ll want to do a little vetting before you invest your time, energy, or money.

That’s what this post is here for: to walk you through the questions to ask, the signs of trustworthy creators, and the red flags to watch out for.

Prefer to watch instead? Here’s the full video. Or, keep reading for the full breakdown.

Understanding Who’s Out There

In a recent conversation with speech-language pathologist Nora Mahon, we broke down the main categories of gender-affirming voice providers. This framework applies just as much to online creators as it does to in-person instructors:

• Speech-language pathologists (SLPs): Often trained in clinical settings, with expertise in vocal health and pathology.

• Voice teachers (like me): Usually come from music, singing, or acting pedagogy.

• Nontraditional trainers: Trans folks who taught themselves and now share their experiences.

All of these approaches can be valid, it just depends on your goals and circumstances. For example, if you have a vocal health concern, you might want an SLP. If you’re primarily interested in expression, artistry, or lived experience, a voice teacher or nontraditional trainer could be a great fit.

The key is knowing where someone’s knowledge comes from and whether it matches your needs.

How Creators Make Money

Transparency matters. Here are common ways online voice teachers earn a living:

• Selling lessons, courses, or membership programs

• Working through insurance (more common for SLPs)

• Using affiliate links for recommended tools

• Ad revenue from platforms like YouTube (usually very small for queer and trans creators)

• Creator funds (not always available, depending on country)

There’s nothing inherently shady about any of this. Teaching takes skill, and content creation takes time. What matters is whether a coach is upfront about how they’re paid and what you’re actually getting for your money.

In my case, selling courses is what allows me to keep creating free YouTube videos, resources, and community workshops. I want as many people as possible to access gender-affirming voice resources, whether or not they can afford a paid course.

Signs of a Trustworthy Creator (Green Flags)

Here’s what I recommend looking for:

• They engage with comments, questions, or community feedback

• Their work is being discussed, reviewed, or recommended by others

• If they’re not trans, they collaborate with and support trans voices

• They don’t pretend to be the only authority

• They admit when they don’t know something or when they’re not the right resource

Personally, I back this up by offering a 12-week money-back guarantee on all my courses, plus scholarship spots for those who need them. I also collaborate with organizations like Seattle Voice Lab, Plume, and Point of Pride to expand access to free workshops.

Red Flags to Watch Out For

Some signs that a creator might not be the best fit:

• Rigid, binary language. If someone insists, “this is how men sound” or “this is how women should sound,” that’s a red flag.

• Defensiveness or evasiveness about qualifications or methods.

• Lack of community engagement. If comments are off, feedback is ignored, or everything feels like a sales funnel.

• Overpromising results. If there’s no mention of challenges, you’re not getting the full picture.

• Toxic positivity. “Just believe in yourself” isn’t a strategy, it’s pressure.

• Accessibility oversights. No captions, no discussion of different learning needs, no consideration for disability.

Red flags don’t always mean “this person is terrible,” but they do mean you should pause and consider whether they’re the right fit for you.

You’re Allowed to Shop Around

This part’s important: you don’t have to commit to one coach, one program, or one method forever.

• You can try something and decide it’s not right.

• You can learn from multiple people at once.

• You can build your own mix-and-match approach.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to be a voice expert to make good choices. Ask questions. Look for transparency. And trust yourself when something doesn’t feel like a fit.

If a resource doesn’t work for you, don't let that reflect on your abilities. It just means you haven’t found the right guide yet. And there are plenty of us out here who would be honoured to support you, including me.

If you’d like to go further, I invite you to join my free 60-minute class. In it, I’ll show you how gender shows up in the voice, how voice training actually works, and how to find an approach that fits you.

I’d love to hear from you: what do you look for in a trans voice coach or content creator? Drop your thoughts in the comments on the YouTube video above! Together, we can build a directory of trusted voices.

Thanks for reading and I hope this helps!