Listen in to intimate conversations
Personal reflections from actors, entrepreneurs, artists, and communicators exploring the challenges and triumphs of finding—and using—their authentic voices
On the Breath began because I wanted to create a space for the kinds of conversations that rarely fit into interviews or sound bites.
This is a space where people speak honestly about voice—not only as a technical skill, but as something deeply connected to identity, creativity, confidence, and human connection.
Some episodes are practical. Others are simply invitations to think differently.
Guests come from different worlds. They are actors, entrepreneurs, coaches, artists, and communicators. They share a curiosity about what it means to speak with authenticity and purpose.
Together we explore the challenges and rewards of speaking in public and in private; bringing our work into the world without losing ourselves; navigating multicultural identity; living with and moving beyond a stammer; developing vocal technique; and discovering a voice that feels both more capable and more genuinely our own.
Start anywhere
each conversation stands on its own
S2 Ep 8: Public Speaking for Aphantasia & the Highly Visual, with Special Guests
Listen On:On Public Speaking for Aphantasia & the Highly Visual Get ready for a multigenerational, neurodiverse season finale! We talk about aphantasia and hyperphantasia. Plus using imagery to remember what to say when Public Speaking and Presenting. This episode...
S2 Ep 7: A Shy Introvert Puts Her Work into the World, with Sarah Preston
Listen On:On Speaking As An Introvert And More It’s easy to feel drained in a social setting as an introvert. So what do you do when speaking in social gatherings in front of a large group of people makes up much of your work? Listen in as Sarah talks about speaking...
S2 Ep 6: How We Change The World And Empower Others, With Dawnette Palmore
Listen On:On Women Who Truly Empower Others Whose voice does Dawnette love most? “It's the voice of women who truly empower others.” Never underestimate your personal impact, as a parent, as a partner, as a person. Waking up one morning, Dawnette decided to change her...
S2 Ep 5: Secrets of Empowered Performance for Speakers & Actors, with SJ Harrison
Listen On:How To Be An Empowered Speaker And Actor Selfish Actors VS Powerful Speakers! In this 'how to' episode Joan Cardellino speaks about her transformation in public speaking, and Josiah Darwish discusses her transformation in acting for film. I share a theatre...
S2 Ep 4: Behind the Scenes, with Actor Indira Varma
Listen On:The How And Why Of Acting Practices With Actor Indira Varma In this intimate behind-the-scenes conversation with my friend, actor Indira Varma, we get an inside look at her approach to acting and discuss the wonders of the voice in life and death. We also...
S2 Ep 3: Voice & The Hero’s Journey, With Nicky Pattinson: Selling With Sincerity
Listen On:How To Use Your Voice To Sell With Sincerity Is it possible to sell with sincerity? “Shouldn’t every moment be a magical moment of love and that’s created by the voice?" During the Thatcher years, Nicky ran a market stall selling cookies in the North of...
Meet Your Host
Hi, I’m Susan-Jane Harrison
I’m an actor, teaching artist, voice and communication coach. For more than twenty-five years I’ve helped people discover that their voices can be not only more effective, but also more genuinely their own.
My work has taken me from my own training at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London to theatres, classrooms, rehearsal studios, in three countries. Today I’m co-founder of Sweet Thunder Shakespeare, where the same questions that shape this podcast—voice, language, presence, and authentic human connection—continue to inform my work.
On the Breath is sparked by profound curiosity; motivated by my desire to understand how people grow and heal when they expand their vocal freedom. Here you’ll hear thoughtful conversations with actors, entrepreneurs, educators, artists, and other guests exploring communication, creativity, identity, performance, and the courage to bring ourselves fully into the world.
If you’re interested in exploring these ideas further, you’ll also find articles, videos, and information about my coaching throughout this site.
