My Voice, My Way
Podcast Description
A podcast about Speech disorders. Hi, I'm Margaret Stoddart. I suffer with a voice condition called Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia. I have suffered with this condition for around 6 years and have had various forms of treatment including, Speech and Language, Laryngeal Massage and now Botox. The purpose of starting these podcasts is to raise awareness of these conditions as I believe there is not enough known in the UK, despite 10% of the population suffering from related conditions. I am an Area Contact Leader for Dysphonia International. If you would like to share your experiences please do get in touch and I will arrange to 'chat' with you. Together we can raise awareness!
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
Focuses on speech disorders such as Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia, with episodes featuring personal narratives about treatments and daily challenges. Examples include discussions about the impact of these conditions on personal lives, treatment updates, and interviews with friends and family.
Welcome to “My Voice, My Way” – the podcast that gives a voice to those living with voice disorders.
I’m your host, Margaret Stoddart. I live with a complex voice condition – a combination of Muscle Tension Dysphonia and Spasmodic Dysphonia – and I’m also proud to serve as an Area Contact Leader for Dysphonia International, supporting others across the UK who are living with these often misunderstood conditions.
I created this podcast to raise awareness and start honest conversations about what it really means to live with a voice disorder.
Each episode, I speak with people who understand voice disorders from the inside – fellow sufferers, voice users, and expert clinicians, including ENT specialists, speech and language therapists, and clinical psychologists. Together, we explore the challenges, the treatments, the emotional impact – and the resilience it takes to reclaim our voices.
Whether you’re living with a voice disorder yourself, supporting someone who is, or working in voice care – you’re in the right place. This is a space for shared stories, practical insights, and above all – connection.
This is My Voice, My Way. Let’s get started.
Contact email: [email protected]
Today I’m joined by Aileen Markey. Aileen is originally from Ireland, has lived in different countries around the world, and now lives back home in Ireland. She was diagnosed in 2020 with spasmodic dysphonia and benign essential tremor – but her voice changes actually began in the early 2000s. She noticed subtle hoarseness and a slight shake. And When she sought help, she was told everything was fine and it was likely acid reflux. So she carried on. After referrals and assessments during COVID, she finally received her diagnosis.
Aileen works as a HR professional in a global company — so her voice is central to her career. In this episode, we talk about navigating diagnosis during COVID, managing a condition that sits in that “borderline” space, dealing with other health challenges, and learning how to respond to those everyday comments like, “Are you sick?”
This is a conversation about advocacy, resilience, and the emotional work of coming to terms with a voice that doesn’t always behave the way you want it to.
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