In this insightful episode, Alexa chats with Sami Wong, a speech and language pathologist who helps clients navigate communication challenges such as aphasia. Sami shares her personal journey into speech therapy, inspired by her late father’s recovery from a stroke, and explains what aphasia really is, and the role music and singing can play in therapy. We also dive into Sami’s creative side hustle—her successful Etsy shop where she sells educational anatomy prints for SLPs and voice professionals.

Whether you’re a singing teacher, therapist, or simply curious about language, the brain, and communication, this episode will leave you inspired and informed.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:36 What is aphasia?

5:18 What is neuroplasticity?

7:46 Can you recover from aphasia?

9:53 Compensatory communication activities for aphasia

11:10 Music & aphasia

13:46 What should singing teachers know about the work of an SLP?

15:06 Setting up a side hustle

21:07 Advice on creating an Etsy shop

23:46 Sami’s gift to you

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Melodic Intonation Therapy

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.211 Learning Vocal Anatomy through Mindful Colouring with Eimear McCarthy Luddy

GET SAMI’S PRINT WITH THIS BAST DISCOUNT CODE: BAST10

ABOUT THE GUEST

Sami Wong is a speech-language pathologist based in the Pacific Northwest, specialising in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) and helping clients build confidence, independence, and connection. She recently completed a Ph.D. in Education and Leadership, focusing on return-to-work research for individuals with communication challenges.

Inspired by her father’s experience with aphasia after a stroke, Sami is dedicated to advancing awareness and rehabilitation for communication disorders. Alongside her full-time role, she runs Speech+Language, a small business offering free resources, study aids, and digital prints for SLPs and care partners.

With a background spanning media, fashion, finance, and education, Sami blends creativity with clinical expertise to empower others and advocate for people with aphasia.

SEE FULL BIO HERE

Website

Instagram: @samiwong_

Etsy

BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.

"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more

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Ever wondered how world-class singers keep their voices strong night after night on global tours? In this episode, we go behind the curtain with Mindy Pack — elite vocal coach to stars like Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Sabrina Carpenter, and Justin Timberlake — to explore the science, strategy, and stamina behind life on the road. Discover how artists build vocal endurance, plus the secrets behind Mindy’s legendary 'Vocal 911 Kit' From vocal warm-ups and bodywork to tour prep and mental resilience, this conversation is packed with tips for singers, teachers, and music lovers alike.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:22 Creating a blueprint for a touring artists

11:35 Teacher-Artist rapport

14:38 Giving demonstration

15:58 Choosing keys and set lists

19:00 Treadmill training

21:57 Working with vocal injury

26:21 Mindy’s ‘Vocal 911’ kit

29:30 The Vocalzone debate

31:20 When is the best time for massage, stretch and warm-up?

33:49 What is it like being a vocal coach on tour?

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Singing Teachers Talk - Ep.40 Integrated Skills: Teaching Singing to Dancers

Bemer System

BAST Article - Vocalzone, Saviours or Destroyers?

ABOUT THE GUEST

Mindy Pack is a globally respected vocologist, vocal coach, and voice specialist known for her innovative, science-based approach to vocal performance and health. Blending decades of stage experience with deep expertise in voice science and physiology, she helps singers, actors, and speakers achieve peak performance while protecting their vocal longevity.

As co-founder and director of the SVARA Project with Dr. Reena Gupta, Mindy collaborates with leading ENTs, laryngologists, and speech-language pathologists to provide advanced vocal rehabilitation and manual therapy. She works with clients worldwide from her studios in Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, offering one-on-one coaching, biofeedback sessions, and bodywork focused on vocal endurance and optimization.

Her clients include some of the biggest names in entertainment—Justin Timberlake, Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Noah Kahan, Brandi Carlile, and The Lumineers—as well as Broadway performers, voice-over artists, and emerging talent. Many credit her signature Vocal Tract Reconditioning method as essential to their success on tours, award shows, and global stages.

Mindy is also the creator of The Voice Straw, a groundbreaking vocal training tool used by performers worldwide. Beyond coaching, she is a passionate educator, frequent conference presenter, and humanitarian dedicated to empowering future leaders.

Driven by a lifelong love of voice and performance, Mindy’s mission is simple: to help every artist unlock their full vocal potential.

Website

BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.

"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more

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Who decides what’s in when it comes to singing styles — how do voice teachers keep up? In this fun and insightful episode, Alexa chats with April Young about how changing trends in pop, musical theatre, and CCM are reshaping vocal training. From falsetto and belt to the science of registers and resonance, we explore how singers can stay healthy, expressive, and ahead of the curve. Perfect for voice teachers, performers, and anyone curious about the ever-evolving art of singing.

WHAT’S IN THIS PODCAST?

2:25 What are the current trends in 2025?

6:20 How does one laryngeal register impact the other?

10:46 Visible, audible and sensory clues of TA dominance

12:43 Does imitation have limitation?

15:05 Visible, audible and sensory clues of CT dominance

16:33 The best time to train vocal registers

20:45 Acoustic register shifts and choosing the best vowel

25:58 Training registers alongside trends

45:16 Changing trends in CCM and impacts on the studio

About the presenter HERE

RELEVANT MENTIONS & LINKS

Journal of Singing

‘Mixed Up and Upside Down - Underdeveloped Registers in Men and Women Due to Vocal Trends in Popular Music: Turning Two Pedagogic Challenges into Opportunities in Today's Voice Studio’ by April Young

William Venard

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.152 ‘Tomato, Tomahto’: Understanding Singing Terminology

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.133 Mastering Belt in Musical Theatre

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.200 The Secret to Powerful Belting and Seamless Mixing

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.146 How to Understand and Apply Vocal Acoustic Pedagogy

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.172 Understanding Acoustic Registers

Shenandoah University

The Systematic Approach to Voice Dr Kari Ragan

The Structure of Singing Richard Miller

Hoberman Sphere

Mary Saunders Barton

Singing Teachers Talk Ep.151 How to Sing with Twang

ABOUT THE GUEST

April Young runs a voice studio in Spokane, WA, where she specializes in classical, music theater and CCM techniques and repertoire. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music (Voice Performance), an MVP (Master of Voice Pedagogy), and has served on the faculty of three area schools. In addition to her teaching, April is a soloist and choral conductor.

Her performance experience spans recital, oratorio, and music theater and her session work includes vocals for a title in the Myst computer game series. A published writer, she has contributed to the Journal of Singing through the National Association of Teachers of Singing, authoring an article on vocal trends in popular music and the evolving opportunities these present for voice teachers.

A lifelong learner, April is currently interested in the role voice teachers play in recovery from injuries that impact the singing voice, and she believes that the best teachers never stop being students themselves.

Website

BAST Training helps singers gain the confidence, knowledge, skills & understanding required to be a successful singing teacher.

"The course was everything I hoped it would be and so much more. It's an investment with so much return. I would recommend this course to any teacher wanting to up-skill, refresh or start up." Kelly Taylor, NZ ...more

basttraining.com | Subscribe | Email Us | FB Group