Episodes

  • Episode 89 (Voice Coaching, Sound Design, and Amplification in the Theatre)

    Episode 89 (Voice Coaching, Sound Design, and Amplification in the Theatre)
    Jun 1 2025
    For the June 2025 episode, Paul and his guest, voice/dialect coach and IDEA Senior Editor Sarah Nichols, discuss the relationship, or lack thereof, between voice coaches and sound designers in the theatre, with particular emphasis on the use of microphones. Visit the podcast page at PaulMeier.com/In-A-Manner-of-Speaking for more free information related to the topic.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 88 (AI and the Human Voice)

    Episode 88 (AI and the Human Voice)
    May 1 2025
    The May 2025 episode tackles artificial intelligence, or AI. Paul's guests are speech-to-text specialist Michael McAuliffe and dialect coach Tanera Marshall, who worked on "The Brutalist." Paul, Michael, and Tanera, plus co-producer Cameron Meier, discuss AI in the context of human speech in general but especially acting and singing. For free extras and more info, go to the May 2025 podcast page at PaulMeier.com/In-A-Manner-Of-Speaking.
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    54 mins
  • Episode 87 (Rhoticity: Watch Your R's)

    Episode 87 (Rhoticity: Watch Your R's)
    Apr 1 2025
    For the April 2025 episode, Paul discusses rhoticity, the use of the letter R in speech. For more information, visit the page associated with this podcast episode at PaulMeier.com/In-A-Manner-Of-Speaking.
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    18 mins
  • Episode 86 (How Playwrights Hear Their Characters’ Voices)

    Episode 86 (How Playwrights Hear Their Characters’ Voices)
    Mar 1 2025
    The March 2025 episode of "In a Manner of Speaking" is the first to feature a playwright. Paul Meier discusses how playwrights hear their characters voices with Pulitzer Price-nominated James Still.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 85 (The World of Puppets)

    Episode 85 (The World of Puppets)
    Feb 1 2025
    Paul's February 2025 podcast episode is his first to focus on the speech of inanimate objects, specifically puppets. But as you will see from this month's guest, accomplished "Sesame Street" puppeteer Spencer Lott, they can be just as animated as any human. Spencer and Paul discuss puppetry and specifically the art of voicing the characters.
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    48 mins
  • Episode 84 ("Why Animals Talk")

    Episode 84 ("Why Animals Talk")
    Jan 1 2025
    For the January 2025 , Paul and his guest, distinguished Cambridge zoologist Arik Kershenbaum, discuss, in a first for this podcast, the speech of non-humans. Why do animals "talk"? For extra free content, make sure to listen to the podcast at PaulMeier.com.
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    45 mins
  • Episode 83 (“Just How Boring Are You?” Be a Better Podcast Guest)

    Episode 83 (“Just How Boring Are You?” Be a Better Podcast Guest)
    Dec 1 2024
    Renowned singing and voice teachers and authors Gillyanne Kayes and Jeremy Fisher return to the podcast for December 2024 to discuss Jeremy's new book, "Just How Boring Are You?" which examines how to be a better podcast guest. For more information, visit the page devoted to this episode at PaulMeier.com/In-A-Manner-Of-Speaking.
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    44 mins
  • Episode 82 (American and British Dialects in Popular Song)

    Episode 82 (American and British Dialects in Popular Song)
    Nov 1 2024
    Linguist Karen Burgos returns to the podcast for November 2024 to discuss American and British dialects in popular song. She and Paul are joined by podcast co-producer Cameron Meier to examine dialect trends in music from the first decade of the 20th century to today.
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    49 mins