Permission To Speak

Find your voice and use it to lead us to a better future, with this game-changing blueprint for redefining what power and authority sound like-from a Hollywood communication expert.

Anyone who has ever been told "You should speak up!" during a meeting at the office, a group project at school, or even a conversation among friends can attest to the misunderstanding at the heart of that demand. For those of us-including women, people of color, immigrants, and queer folks-who find it hard to speak up, the issue is not just about willpower. Many of us have internalized the same messages since birth: that because of the pitch of our voice, the accent we possess, or the slang we use, we will not be taken seriously. Power, we're told, sounds like the mostly white, straight, wealthy men who wield it.

Samara Bay-one of the most in-demand speech and dialect coaches in Hollywood-has made it her mission to change that, and with Permission to Speak she presents a fun and practical road map for making big cultural change while embracing our natural strengths. Drawing on her experience plus the latest research in public speaking, linguistics, and social science, she identifies tools for unlocking the potential in each of our voices-whether you're an entrepreneur, a new political candidate, a creative type with a bold vision, or a mom going back to work.

In Permission to Speak, you'll discover:
• How to find the balance of strength and warmth to help land your message
• Exactly what to do before a high-stakes scenario so your voice, your mind, and your spirit are ready
• How to turn habits like vocal fry, upspeak, and other "feminine markers" into tools
• Your voice story: why you talk the way you do, what's wonderful about it, and what you've outgrown

Giving yourself permission means more than landing your message-it's about showing up when you show up and finding joy in speaking to your public. With simple tools, big ideas, and a whole lot of heart, Permission to Speak offers a revolutionary take on public speaking and a new definition of what power sounds like. Namely, you.