Yap Sesh #2: Your Vocal Med Kit

Anna: Hey, you want to have a yap sesh? Welcome to Yap Sesh with VoiceProEd, the podcast where we yap about all things voice.

Anna: We're your hosts—I'm Anna Diemer.

Maurice: And I’m Maurice Goodwin.

Anna: Great to see you today! Although, I did just see you recently since we taught a course together this past week. How did that go for you?

Maurice: Yeah, we did! That was the second time we taught Bridging the Gap: Glottic Insufficiency in Singers, but this time it was offered for ASHA CEUs. Doing a live course is always fun—I mean, we literally yap for a living, so getting to yap with other voice people? A blast.

Anna: Yeah! What’s your favorite thing about doing a course live?

Maurice: Honestly? Seeing other humans. We talk for a living, and it’s great to actually talk with people instead of just to a screen.

Anna: Yeah, same. I also love being able to share my clinician inside thoughts—you know, those things I’m thinking while critically listening, analyzing, and coming up with exercises in real-time. It’s fun to have an outlet to share that thought process with others so they can start thinking that way too when working with singers.

Maurice: For sure. And honestly, it’s cool to reflect on where we are. This is our second year as VoiceProEd, and it’s wild to realize that we’re actively doing the thing we set out to do—helping clinicians become better at their craft and exploring their own work. That’s the dream.

Anna: Yeah, and I love the live Q&A. The folks who come to our courses always ask the best questions. So not only do we get to share what’s in our heads and all the research, but we also get to interact in real time, which adds so much value.

Maurice: Exactly. And for anyone listening—if you missed Bridging the Gap live last Sunday, it’s available for replay through March 31st. So, you can still catch it in the comfort of your jammies.

Anna: I mean, you could’ve joined live in your jammies too.

Maurice: True. No judgment here.

Anna: I may or may not be in my jammies right now.

Maurice: Okay, we need to do a jammies episode.

Anna: Oh, jammies. You know, it’s like professional on top, jammies on the bottom.

Maurice: And then we call it Jam Sesh. (Both hosts cracking up)

Anna: Anyway, if you want to catch the replay—oh my gosh, I'm like, bring it back, bring it back. If you want to catch the replay of Bridging the Gap: Glottic Insufficiency in Singers, earn ASHA CEUs, and do some evidence-based learning, go to our website, VoiceProEd.com/Courses. You can purchase and view the replay through the end of March, like Maurice said.

Anna: So, I don’t know about you, but it’s been a little rough illness-wise. You know, it's cold and flu season. We’ve got a little case of the sniffles over here, and I know a lot of people who are sick. So I thought today we could talk a little bit about taking care of our voices—not just what we do, but also what famous people are doing. Lately, people have been sharing what's in their vocal toolkit.

Anna: I figured we could yap about that today.

Maurice: Yeah, as someone who's chronically online, I’ve definitely seen a lot of posts about vocal health toolkits—or as some people are calling them, "vocal med kits." That’s actually what Chappell Roan called hers. I’ve seen a few come across my feed, and before we jump in, I just want to say—when I work with clients, I help them build their own vocal health toolbox. But when we talk about these different kits, it’s important to remember that none of this is a universal recommendation.

Maurice: I think you and I would both agree that everyone’s vocal health toolkit is going to look different. It has to be tailored to you—what feels good and works well for your body. But yeah, let’s jump in. Do you have someone you want to start with?

Anna: I was watching Chappell Roan again earlier today because she is such a VocalMist girly, and I love that. I have fully jumped on the VocalMist train. Most of the toolkits I’ve seen include some kind of nebulizer, if not also a steamer. Do you want to explain the difference for anyone who doesn’t know?

Maurice: Yeah! So, a nebulizer—at least for vocal health—uses saline, and it's typically non-heated. The idea behind nebulization is that the particles are small enough to reach your upper airway, specifically the tissue of your vocal folds, without causing you to cough or choke. If the particles were any bigger, you’d definitely feel that irritation.

Maurice: Steaming, on the other hand, is just heated water vapor. So the biggest difference is the size of the particles and the fact that nebulization is cool, while steaming is warm.

Anna: Yeah, exactly! The size of the particles and the temperature difference are the key things. With steaming, you definitely want to let your voice cool down before singing.

Maurice: Yeah.

Anna: But nebulizing is great because it’s cool—you can do it right before you go on stage. I definitely have.

Maurice: Yeah. So, my vocal health confession? I’ve never nebulized.

Anna: Gasp!

Maurice: Not even as a speech pathologist—just as a person.

Anna: As a person?!

Maurice: Yep. And when I do have voice problems, I always go for steaming. I know there are reasons why someone might choose nebulizing over steaming depending on their needs, but for me, steaming has always felt good. I know some people swear by nebulizing, though. Maybe one day you’ll see me on the pod talking about my nebulizer journey.

Anna: Brand new nebulizer era! Yeah, I guess I’ve been interested in doing more steaming, but I’m kind of on the other side of things because of the convenience. Like, if I’m in the middle of a choral rehearsal and we’re on a break, you’ll see me nebulizing. People are like, What the heck is that? Then I show them, and they hear the difference in my voice before and after.

Anna: I mean, not that we’re sponsored by any of these products we’re talking about today, but the teacher in me loves being able to say, Hey, listen to my speaking voice right now. Then I nebulize for five minutes, speak again, and everyone’s like, Whoa. And honestly, I’m like, Whoa. Because otherwise, how am I supposed to get through four hours of choir?

Maurice: Chappell also had ACT Dry Mouth Lozenges in her vocal health med kit. And that seemed to be a pretty common theme across the toolkits I looked at—people had something to deal with dryness. She had the ACT lozenges, manuka honey, a honey spray for her throat, and something called Voice 37. Have you heard of that?

Anna: Literally the first time I heard of it was when she held it up and said, Here’s this thing. I had no idea. Did you look it up?

Maurice: I did! So, Voice 37—per Google—is an herbal supplement marketed as a remedy for vocal problems. It claims to lubricate the larynx and pharynx, provide essential nutrients, clear mucus, and reduce inflammation. It includes slippery elm, fennel seed, horseradish root, and thyme.

Maurice: And, you know, working in healthcare, we focus on making recommendations based on data. I’m sure there’s some supportive research for some of these ingredients, but at this point, I tend to lean toward: What feels good for you? If you take something and perceive a benefit—even if it’s pure placebo—but it helps you feel better about singing? Great. If wearing special socks helps you hit a C6? Wear the socks. Add them to your vocal med kit.

Anna: Right! Use the spray, wear the socks—whatever works. Obviously, the spray isn’t reaching your vocal folds, because if it was, you’d be choking, and that is not conducive to singing.

Maurice: Those particles are a little too big.

Anna: Yeah. Have you tried any of these, like the ACT lozenges? I’ve never tried them.

Maurice: I think I have! And we’ll get into other ones later, but as far as general throat lozenges go, I’m not typically a dry mouth performer. Dry mouth just isn’t an issue for me when I sing or perform. I have other problems.

Anna: Another lozenge Chappell had was VocalZone, which I also saw in some other toolkits.

Maurice: Yeah.

Anna: Have you tried those? Because I haven’t.

Maurice: I have, and I agree with everyone who says they don’t taste great.

Anna: Aren’t they licorice-flavored?

Maurice: Yep. That black licorice taste? Yuck for me. That would send me in the opposite direction—performing worse after a VocalZone.

Anna: Oh no!

Anna: They have other flavors now! There’s like a honey one and a blackcurrant—

Maurice: Oh, oh, they do honey? Okay, I’d be into that.

Anna: Which is funny because you mentioned Manuka honey, and I actually found out two years ago that I’m allergic to honey.

Maurice: Oh no!

Anna: Yeah. Less good for past me, because as a singer, it was always like, Do whatever feels good, right? Honey in your tea, honey and lemon before you sing—all of it. So I probably consumed way more honey than the average person. And then it turned out to be the most reactive thing I was sensitive to. I was literally slowly poisoning myself.

Maurice: Wow.

Anna: Yeah. But I’m really glad it works for other people. Just… not for me.

Maurice: I’m happy that’s a thing of the past.

Anna: Indeed. No honey for me. No honey in the tea—just let me live.

Maurice: You know what’s funny? I found out I have a mild citrus allergy.

Anna: Ohhh.

Maurice: And I used to drink super citrus-forward teas because I loved the flavor. But then I’d be like, Why does my mouth burn? I never had anaphylaxis or anything severe, but my tongue would burn every time. And I just assumed that was normal. Turns out… it’s not.

Anna: Actually, you are probably allergic to that.

Maurice: Yeah…

Anna: I hope this is the theme here—if it feels good for you, do it. But like, if you’re allergic to the main ingredient in whatever vocal lozenge is trending right now? Maybe don’t do that.

Maurice: So funny. Yeah, for real.

Anna: Like, if you hate it—or worse, if you’re allergic to it—just… don’t.

Maurice: Yeah, do not do it. Speaking of vocal care, I also got the chance to check out Mary Kate Morrissey’s vocal health routine. She’s actually finishing up her run as Elphaba this weekend.

Anna: Wow.

Maurice: Yeah, on Wicked.

Anna: On Broadway?

Maurice: On Broadway, yes! And she has taken over TikTok. It’s basically WikTok at this point. She shares a ton about being an artist—her life, her routine, and how she takes care of her body. And honestly, it’s been fascinating to watch.

Maurice: Getting a peek into what it takes to perform at that level—just the sheer work and energy that goes into keeping her body functioning the way it’s expected to? It’s so much. And that’s before you even factor in the voice. The amount of effort required to stay healthy while performing at that intensity? Incredible.

Maurice: She’s shared multiple posts about her vocal health toolkit, but I wanted to focus on Part 2. A few of the things she mentioned were ginger honey crystals, electrolytes, VocalZone lozenges, and something called Entertainer’s Secret. Have you heard of it?

Anna: Ohhh, this was huge when I was in high school. If it’s the product I’m thinking of, it’s been around forever. It was the thing—like, Oh, I’m about to sing the national anthem at this swim meet? Let me do my little spritz of Entertainer’s Secret.

Maurice: Yeah! So, it’s a glycerin-based throat spray designed to hydrate the mouth, pharynx, and I guess the larynx? Basically, it’s supposed to help reduce irritation.

Maurice: I’ve tried it, and it’s non-medicated, so it’s not like taking medicine—it’s just a spray. But when you use it, it coats your mouth with this… thicker-than-water, slipperier-than-saliva feeling.

Maurice: Do you remember what it felt like?

Anna: No, because… that does not sound great. That does not sound like a thing I need. I think I’m with you—not really a dry mouth person, so I don’t think I need to make it any slipperier in there.

Maurice: But again, for some people, it works. She also had salt for saltwater gargling and Mucinex D, which can help cut down thick mucus if that’s something you struggle with. I’m pretty sure that’s available over the counter, but there’s also a prescription version.

Maurice: What I really appreciated were some of the non-vocal fold-related tools she had in her kit—like a Styrofoam ball and a neck massager.

Anna: That neck massager looked intense.

Maurice: I know! And for me, that is very relatable. I am chronically a neck-tension person.

Anna: Oh, were you getting in there? Because she was like, I’m massaging out my SCM and I was just thinking, my neck could never. But again, I would use the pressure that works for my body, which would be… significantly more gentle.

Maurice: Yeah, exactly. She also had a heating pad, which I love for my shoulders and the back of my neck.

Anna: Not me immediately checking my posture while thinking about my neck and shoulders.

Maurice: Right?! Those were the things that stuck out to me from her kit. Some of the other folks had nasal saline sprays—

Anna: Yes!

Maurice: We’ll get to that in a second. But a lot of people also had things like the Doctor Vox straw phonation system. And from an inside perspective, I always remind people—these are just tools. They’re not the outcome.

Maurice: Blowing into a straw isn’t the skill singers need to develop—it’s about what the tool helps you achieve. So whether it’s a fancy vocal straw, a Doctor Vox system that you order online, or just a simple SOVT shape that feels like it helps you, that’s what matters.

Anna: I wanted to ask—going back to supplements, I’ve seen people taking bromelain, which is an extract from pineapple. I’ve never tried it, but it’s supposed to help with inflammation. As the medical professional in the room, do you have thoughts on that?

Maurice: I don’t have big thoughts, but yeah—bromelain from pineapple is often talked about for vocal cord inflammation. There’s also something called Voice Rescue, which people use for similar reasons.

Maurice: What’s interesting to me about these kinds of anti-inflammatory supplements is that if inflammation is significantly affecting your ability to voice, I don’t think these things are necessarily harmful. But I do think we need to take a step back and ask: What’s causing the chronic inflammation in the first place?

Maurice: If someone feels like they have to take five different products just to be able to go on stage, I’d want to look at what’s going on in their voice use and recovery process. Again, I don’t think these supplements are inherently bad, and if the data supports them, great! But what’s keeping the body in such a state of inflammation that it constantly needs external intervention?

Anna: Right, it’s kind of like how people talk about menthol—too much of it numbs everything. If you’re always numbing your throat, you don’t have a good sense of what’s actually happening in your voice.

Anna: As singers, we need to be able to recognize when things feel off—like, Oh, I’m getting a little scratchy, or I feel some inflammation, so I should adjust what I’m doing. That should be part of your actual vocal health strategy, not just I’m going to take this supplement and pretend everything’s fine.

Maurice: Exactly. So… what’s in your vocal health toolkit?

Anna: I feel boring compared to all these singers with their massive vocal health cornucopias. But I do have my go-to lozenge—I’m a Ricola guy.

Maurice: Classic.

Anna: Original Ricola, specifically. It can’t have sugar free—bad for the tummy. But original Ricola is my go-to.

Anna: I’m literally looking around my studio right now because this stuff is just sitting here at my keyboard. I also always have a fidget—

Maurice: Hmm.

Anna: I always like to have something for my hands to do.

Maurice: Yeah.

Anna: I’ll even do this while I’m teaching. I have a small fidget that’s discreet enough to keep in my hand where no one can see it. Sometimes I just need to work out a little extra energy—my body needs to be moving.

Anna: I’m a big straw-in-water, water-bubbles person. But I also ordered an Acapella Choice, which is technically a medical tool for clearing mucus from the lungs. But singers and researchers have used it for SOVTs, so I figured I’d try it. I wouldn’t say I carry it around with me, but it’s one of my favorite ways to warm up when I know I’ll be singing for an extended period. I go nice and slow—real easy.

Anna: My average warm-up? I’m doing the dishes, putting away my laundry, and lip-trilling, then suddenly—OK, time to teach. So warming up for singing looks a little different. It’s slower, deeper, and I use more tools than just a basic vocal function warm-up. Like, some days, I’m just raw-dogging it—throwing out some lip trills and calling it a day. That’s what I did before today, right?

Anna: What about you? What’s in your vocal health toolkit?

Maurice: One thing that’s been a game changer for me—especially when I’m using my voice a lot—is nasal rinsing. Living in Houston, Texas? Yeah, I am a nasal rinser through and through. At this point, I’m rinsing my nose religiously. I just use the, um… what’s it called? The squeezy bottle?

Anna: Yeah, the Neti Pot, but the squeeze version.

Maurice: Yes! The squeeze bottle. The squeezy.

Anna: The squeezy.

Maurice: Yeah, that’s what I use to clean my sinuses. And what’s funny is—I recommended nasal rinsing to people for years before ever doing it myself. But now? I definitely notice a difference, especially when I’m spending a lot of time outside.

Maurice: I’m also an electrolyte water drinker. Essentia, or however you say it, or any kind of pH-balanced water. That’s my thing. And I know it’s part routine, part peace of mind, but whatever helps me feel good is what I lean toward.

Maurice: I’m not a big hot water drinker before singing. And, of course, I’m a straw phonation/back-pressure vocal health kind of person. If I were in a more intense performance period, I’d definitely add food to my toolkit. I need to eat to feel good at all times. So honestly, half of my vocal health toolkit would just be snacks.

Maurice: And yeah, I’d also do steaming—because again, that’s what feels good to me. Maybe you’ll hear me ranting and raving about nebulization soon. We’ll see.

Anna: We’ll see. The snacks are a good point. I have go-to meals I eat before a performance or choir concert—things I know will sit well, keep me satiated, and won’t make me too full.

Maurice: Yeah. Yeah.

Anna: And post-performance snacks, too—because singing makes you hungry immediately.

Maurice: I don’t know why I never thought about this before, but I saw a TikTok from Olivier Rodriguez—who’s both a chef and a vocal coach. They were talking about how they create meals specifically to help artists stay regular and avoid any surprises while they’re on the road.

Maurice: And that really applies to this whole vocal health med kit concept—it’s all about consistency. How do I make sure I stay consistent, and that my voice stays consistent, even when everything else around me is changing?

Anna: Exactly.

Anna: So y’all—hit us up on Instagram or Facebook! Let us know what’s in your vocal toolkit. What kind of tea do you drink? What lozenges do you use? Are you Team Steaming, Team Nebulizing, or both?

Anna: Let us know—we’d love to yap with you and keep this conversation going!

Maurice: Are you Team Steam?

Anna: Team Steam or Team Nebulize… well, it’s time for our final segment, which is Tool Time!

Maurice: Tool—Tool Time!

Anna: This is the part of the podcast where we talk about what vocal tools we’ve loved this week. We’ve already covered a lot of physical and vocal health tools today, so honestly, this whole episode has kind of been a Tool Time episode. But specifically—have there been any go-to voice exercises for you this week?

Maurice: Yeah! I actually just posted on Instagram about how vocal exercises don’t have to be complex to be effective. So this week, I’ve been keeping it really simple—just single-pitch vowel exploration in different parts of the range.

Maurice: I’ll do something in modal voice, then something in head voice or a different register, and explore the differences in resonance, tongue and jaw position, pharyngeal space, and soft palate movement. Then I’ll take it to the middle range, where things might feel less stable, and see what’s adjusting or compensating to create balance.

Maurice: It’s really just about keeping things simple and building self-awareness—helping people tune into how their body is coordinating to create the sounds they want.

Anna: I love that. How can we make singing easier for our singers?

Anna: This week, I’ve been doing a lot of Acoustic Assumptions, a technique created by Sandy Hirsch, who just retired. She was an SLP who did incredible work in gender-affirming voice.

Anna: If that’s an area you’re interested in learning more about, definitely look up Acoustic Assumptions. It’s all about resonance, which seems to always be a hot topic. I feel like we’re constantly coming back to resonance—how to explore it, how to work with it.

Anna: In this case, I was working with people who wanted a brighter resonance in their sound. We took sentences and read them super slowly, really focusing on the mouth positioning for each vowel and consonant. And turns out R is a big suspect in the back.

Anna: Like, a lot of times, we create R sounds way back in the vocal tract. But if we can bring R forward into a smaller resonating space, we can maintain that brighter resonance without consonants disrupting it as we go.

Maurice: Nice.

Anna: So, what’s next for VoiceProEd?

Maurice: Big news! If you’re listening to this, you might be one of the first to hear—Achieving Competence as an SLP Working with Singers is coming back this March!

Anna: So stay tuned! If you don’t already subscribe to our newsletter, that’s the best way to get direct updates about our upcoming courses, blog posts, and research reviews. Also, follow us on Instagram and Facebook at @VoiceProEd and check out our website, voiceproed.com. We’ll be announcing Achieving Competence very soon, and I cannot wait.

Anna: This is one of my favorite courses because I get to yap about things like finding a comfortable range on the piano and fach—which, by the way, is something so many people ask about. This course is a big one for me, and I’m so excited we’re bringing it back.

Maurice: Thanks, everyone! We’ll see you—well, we’ll talk to you soon.

Anna: Talk to you soon! Byeeee!

Outro: You’ve been listening to Yap Sesh with VoiceProEd, with your hosts, Anna Diemer and Maurice Goodwin. The information shared in this podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only and should not be considered medical or clinical advice. If you’re experiencing voice or communication concerns, please consult a licensed professional.