The Voice Is Way More Powerful Than I Thought (Maryn Azoff)
The ancients all used the voice for transformation. How did this get lost?
Listen on iTunes, Spotify, or YouTube.
If you like reading or listening to this podcast, feel free to click the ❤️ or 🔄 button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack 🙏
"The voice itself, if you look at the science around it and the oxytocin and the endorphins that are released when we use our voice in this connected way... it was the body's medicine, which is what it actually is."(18:24 in this cast)
Maryn Azoff is a Vocal Transformation expert and teacher whose mission is awakening humanity's innate vocal capacity. After years as a professional singer, a profound spiritual experience at an ashram in Australia led her to discover the deeper healing and transformative powers of the human voice that ancient cultures have known for millennia.
I was excited to have this conversation because while I've explored many modalities for healing and transformation, the power of voice work is largely unexplored for me personally — and seemingly within in Western culture.
As someone who has experienced profound shifts through various practices, I was curious to understand how voice could be another gateway to expanded consciousness and wellbeing.
This episode is great for:
Anyone feeling disconnected from their authentic expression
Those interested in accelerating their spiritual growth
People working with trauma or nervous system regulation
Leaders wanting to speak with more impact and presence
Parents interested in conscious child development
Anyone exploring manifestation and reality creation
Those drawn to sound healing and vibrational medicine
Ideas that really stuck out to me:
Voice Creates Reality: Our voice isn't just for communication - it actively shapes our reality through vibration and resonance. Every sound we make creates energetic patterns that influence our physical world and relationships. It’s why Rigvedas described the human voice as unimanifest for.
Ancient Wisdom Tech: Voice practices have been central to spiritual and healing traditions across cultures for millennia. I think we tend to view these chanting practices as primitive, but what if they knew something we seem to forgotten?
Beyond Modern Performance: While many see voice work as about singing or speaking better, its deeper purpose is awakening our life force and authentic expression. I liked the idea of voice as medicine for our body and soul
Chakra Development: Voice work systematically develops our energy centers from root to crown, creating a nine-month "rebirth" process that parallels human gestation. Each chakra represents different aspects of our development and expression.
Natural Self-Regulation: Just as children naturally hum to regulate their nervous systems, we all have innate vocal tools for healing and balance. We've just forgotten how to use them.
Heart Connection: True voice work can support opening the heart by purifying the chakras and helping you speak from authenticity, vs. the ego.
Physical and Energetic Effects: Regular voice practices can improve everything from immune function to emotional processing to manifestation abilities. The benefits extend far beyond communication.
Maryn's perspective on voice was pretty new to me.
I got so fired up about it, I decided to work with her for a bit and have been doing chanting each morning for the past week. It’s crazy how many suppressed emotions just making sounds is bringing up.
I’m very interested to see where this all goes and hope you enjoy this conversation!
- Scott
If you liked reading or listening to this, feel free to click the ❤️ or 🔄 button on this post so more people can discover it on Substack 🙏
Recommended Resources:
Episode Transcript
Show notes:
00:00 - The Mission of Vocal Transformation
02:46 - Ancient Practices and Modern Disconnection
05:50 - Personal Journey to Vocal Awakening
08:46 - Voice as a Creator of Reality
12:12 - The Power of Thought and Voice
14:59 - Reclaiming Authenticity and Integrity
18:08 - Breath, Sound, and Daily Practice
20:47 - The Role of Voice in Healing
23:58 - Navigating Ego and Authentic Expression
33:51 - The Power of the Heart
36:13 - Rediscovering Love and Hope
40:29 - The Journey of Self-Rediscovery
42:44 - Trusting Life and Overcoming Fear
47:47 - Healing Through Voice and Expression
51:08 - The Process of Rebirth
56:28 - Creating Reality Through Energy
01:01:23 - The Contribution of Every Human Life
01:05:37 - Embracing a New Paradigm of Existence
Oxytocin is huge - that's why studies have shown children experience higher levels of cortisol when texting their parents, vs calling them and hearing their voice, which produces higher levels of oxytocin.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful guest Scott!
Ive been using my voice in breathwork ceremonies recently following the very intuitive sounds that are coming out and it’s been highly activating for the recipient of the breathwork… my voice is a powerful portal in meditation already and I was amazed to witness the potency whilst singing even though I don’t consider myself a « good » singer it’s a different sound… it’s a frequency and vibration… 🌀