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]
This episode is a really powerful and thought-provoking conversation. It is a little different, but deeply connected to what we talk about here. Many of you will know Spasmodic Dysphonia as a voice disorder—but it actually sits within a wider neurological condition called dystonia.
My guest lives with progressive axial dystonia, affecting his spine, posture, and movement. While our symptoms show up in different parts of the body, the underlying challenges are strikingly similar – unpredictable muscle patterns, the impact of stress, and the emotional and psychological toll of living with a long-term condition.
His journey spans a successful career as a Clinical Scientist, years of chronic pain, and treatments that didn’t bring the hoped-for results. But what makes this conversation so compelling is the shift from trying to fix symptoms to learning how to live alongside them – particularly through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
We explore identity, loss, and what it means to live with a progressive condition—but also acceptance, resilience, and finding a new sense of purpose.
Leon Maciocia now works as both a piano teacher and a mindfulness teacher, supporting others with long-term conditions through Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy.
This episode isn’t just about dystonia—it’s about learning how to live differently, when life doesn’t go to plan.
DBS – Deep Brain Stimulation
MBCT – Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy.
CBT – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
01865 751111 – wellbeingclinic.com
07894 948869 – oxfordmbct.net
Disclaimer
This podcast’s information is provided for general reference and was obtained from publicly accessible sources. The Podcast Collaborative neither produces nor verifies the content, accuracy, or suitability of this podcast. Views and opinions belong solely to the podcast creators and guests.
For a complete disclaimer, please see our Full Disclaimer on the archive page. The Podcast Collaborative bears no responsibility for the podcast’s themes, language, or overall content. Listener discretion is advised. Read our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy for more details.