Show Notes: erickrheam.com/098

What does it really mean to "find your voice"? In this episode, Erick sits down with master voice coach, author, and musician Barbara McAfee to explore how we show up, communicate, and connect.

This conversation goes beyond communication tactics—it dives into identity, self-expression, and the hidden power of how we sound. Barbara breaks down how your voice is not fixed, but a dynamic tool that can be developed, expanded, and aligned with your purpose.

If you've ever felt like you're holding back or not being fully heard, this episode will challenge how you think about your voice—and what's possible when you unlock it.

• Your voice is not fixed. It can be developed and expanded over time.
• How you say something matters just as much as what you say.
• You have more vocal range and flexibility than you think.
• Limiting beliefs often restrict how you express yourself.
• Your voice reflects your identity and influences your impact.
• Expression is a skill that improves through intentional practice.

This week, pay attention to how you communicate:

• Notice your tone in different situations
• Experiment with how you say things—not just what you say
• Ask yourself: Am I choosing my voice, or defaulting to it?

Barbara is a master voice coach, author, keynote speaker, and singer/songwriter who merges lessons from 12 years in organization development with the transformative power of sound.

Her bestselling book, Full Voice, is based on her 25+ years as a voice coach, supporting people from many professions to find their voice, whatever that means to them.

Since 2013 she has been certifying other Full Voice coaches to carry the sacred work of "midwifing voices" into full expression. Her approach shifts the way people think about and use their voices forever.

Her TEDx talk on Full Voice has received over 100,000 views.

Barbara has produced eight CDs of mostly original music and is founder of the Morning Star Singers, a volunteer hospice choir in the Twin Cities.

She lives up the street from the wild and scenic St Croix River in St Croix Falls, Wisconsin, USA

Website: https://barbaramcafee.com
TED Talk: Bringing Your Full Voice to Life
Books: Full Voice | Vocal Intelligence

Your voice is more than a tool—it's a gateway to your identity, influence, and impact. When you learn to fully express it, you don't just communicate better—you show up differently.

1. Subscribe to the podcast
2. Rise Above Chaos book
3. Work with Erick
4. Connect with Erick: erickrheam.com
5. Get the Rise Above Chaos Planner

• Find your voice

Show Notes: erickrheam.com/097

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Show Notes: erickrheam.com/096

One of the most powerful habits in the Rise Above Chaos system is surprisingly simple: write things down. In this episode, Erick explains how the act of physically writing your thoughts, goals, and vision can transform the way your brain processes ideas and recognizes opportunities.

Drawing from personal experience—including the moment he wrote down what a meaningful life looked like during a difficult season—Erick shares why putting pen to paper can shift your perspective, clarify your priorities, and activate momentum in your life.

• Why writing activates deeper cognitive processing in the brain
• How physically writing ideas strengthens neural pathways and memory
• Why writing down goals reduces mental clutter and increases focus
• The role of the Reticular Activating System (RAS) in recognizing opportunities
• Why ideas trapped in your head create stress and distraction
• How writing down your vision helps your brain detect opportunities around you
• Why Erick still relies on handwritten planning every day

When you write something down, your brain engages multiple regions at once—including language, memory, and motor function. This multi‑sensory engagement strengthens neural pathways and helps ideas become more concrete and memorable.

The brain has limited working memory. When goals remain in your head, they compete with dozens of other thoughts. Writing them down removes them from that mental loop and allows your brain to focus on execution instead of storage.

The Reticular Activating System filters the millions of pieces of information your brain processes every second. When you write down a goal or vision, your brain tags it as important and begins scanning your environment for opportunities connected to that goal.

Writing things down works because it strengthens neural pathways, clears mental space, and programs your brain to recognize opportunities. Sometimes the first step toward clarity and momentum is simply picking up a pen and putting your thoughts on paper.

What is one goal, vision, or idea that has been living in your head that you need to write down today?

The act of writing is more than organization—it's transformation. When you commit your thoughts to paper, you signal to your brain that this matters. And once that happens, everything begins to change.

1. Subscribe to the podcast
2. Rise Above Chaos book
3. Work with Erick
4. Connect with Erick: erickrheam.com
5. Get the Rise Above Chaos Planner

• Write down what a meaningful life looks like to you