On The Voice

On The Voice is a podcast for professional voice users navigating vocal injury and recovery. One of us is a voice teacher. One of us is a speech-language pathologist. We’ve both lived through injury, rehabilitation, and reinvention. Each episode brings you raw stories from performers who’ve been there, insight from the doctors and clinicians who treat it, and tools from voice professionals that are changing the way we perceive it. Whether you’re in the thick of recovery, supporting a student, or simply curious about the real life behind the curtain — you’re not alone!

On The Voice is a arts podcast hosted by Mackenzie Bykowski and Jenna Battipaglia, with 25 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Mackenzie Bykowski and Jenna Battipaglia hosts On The Voice, a arts show with 25 episodes published.

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  Episode #2

  Ben Abraham

  Sep 30, 20261h 4mS2

  In this episode of On The Voice, Ben Abraham joins hosts Mackenzie Bykowski, MM, and Jenna Battipaglia, MS, CCC-SLP, PAVA-RV to discuss his experience navigating a cyst on his vocal fold. Ben is an Australian singer-songwriter and recording artist based in Los Angeles. His solo album releases include Sirens and Friendly Fire , and his music has been described as “cinematic folk”, with an overall sound that's spacey, atmospheric, and tasteful. As a co-writer, his credits include Kesha's Grammy-nominated hit "Praying," as well as "Grow As We Go" on Ben Platt's debut album Sing to Me Instead , among others. Ben has toured extensively and continues to write and perform for audiences around the world. Ben walks us through discovering, and ultimately having surgery to remove, a vocal fold cyst. He shares the panic of the diagnosis and why data, not reassurance, is what comforted him. He also describes the unexpected emotion of making his first sounds after vocal rest, and his ongoing rehabilitation with a speech-language pathologist in Los Angeles. Ben explains why, for him, vocal injury in the recording artist world felt less like stigma and more like isolation, with no one to compare notes with. Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical, legal, financial, or other advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. Individual experiences and results may vary — always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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  Episode #1

  Defining Vocal Injury Stigma

  Sep 16, 20261h 1mS2

  In this episode of On The Voice, hosts Mackenzie Bykowski, MM, and Jenna Battipaglia, MS, CCC-SLP, PAVA-RV, kick off Season 2 by finally defining a term they've referenced constantly throughout the show: vocal injury stigma. Where it comes from, why it spreads faster than the truth, and why it keeps singers silent exactly when they need help the most. Drawing on research from Johns Hopkins, McGill University, and ASHA, Mackenzie and Jenna unpack the difference between self-stigma and social stigma, why more than 85% of Broadway singers with a vocal injury never disclose it to their employer or file a workers' comp claim, and how fear of lost income keeps performers pushing through injuries that need rest. They trace the roots of public vocal injury stigma back to two landmark cases: Julie Andrews, whose 1997 vocal cord surgery left her permanently unable to sing and became, in their words, the case that put vocal injury on the public's radar; and Adele, whose 2011 vocal hemorrhage and subsequent tour cancellation offered a more transparent, empowering counterpoint decades later. Along the way, Mackenzie and Jenna share a recent real-world reminder that this stigma is alive and well, and that highlighting individual testimonials of working through vocal injury is the most effective way to combat the spread of stigma. Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical, legal, financial, or other advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. Individual experiences and results may vary — always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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  Episode #22

  That's a Wrap on Season 1!

  Jul 29, 202611 minS1

  Season One is a wrap! New episodes return Wednesday, September 16th . In this special finale, Mackenzie and Jenna reflect on an incredible first year - 21 episodes, 5,400+ plays, 800+ hours listened, and over 2,500 unique listeners reached. Thank you to every guest and listener who made this possible Mackenzie and Jenna share was is to come in Season Two: a new online resource platform, appearances at BroadwayCon and beyond, and some very cool merch. Have a guest suggestion or a story of your own? We'd love to hear from you. ️

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  Episode #21

  Chronically Singing: POTS, Hypermobile EDS, and Hypermobile Spectrum Disorders

  Jul 14, 202659 minS1

  In this episode of On The Voice, Dr. Marita Stryker, DMA, PAVA-RV, and Joanne Bozeman, BM, join hosts Mackenzie Bykowski, MM, and Jenna Battipaglia, MS, CCC-SLP, PAVA-RV, for our first-ever double guest episode. Marita and Joanne are the researchers and educators behind ChronicallySinging.com, a platform dedicated to gathering stories and resources for singers navigating invisible, dynamic chronic conditions. Marita holds a Doctorate of Musical Arts in Contemporary Voice Pedagogy from Shenandoah Conservatory, where she was the first graduate of the program, and is an Assistant Professor of Contemporary Voice and Musical Theatre at St. Olaf College and a PAVA-Recognized Vocologist. Her performing background spans musical theatre, opera, and years as a lead singer on Celebrity and Holland America cruise lines. Joanne has taught singing for nearly fifty years, most recently on the faculty of Lawrence University's Conservatory of Music, and is co-author of the ground-breaking book Singing Through Change: Women's Voices in Midlife, Menopause, and Beyond. Marita and Joanne walk us through the science behind Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS), and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSD) — and how each can directly affect vocal production, from breath support and stability to the way collagen and connective tissue changes show up at the level of the vocal folds and larynx. We dig into what the emerging laryngology research says about vocal injury risk in this population, how dramatically these conditions can fluctuate day to day, and what it means to be strong in rehearsal on Monday and struggling by Tuesday. We also talk candidly about stigma - the pressure singers with invisible conditions feel to prove how serious their symptoms are while also downplaying them so they aren't seen as a liability, and what disclosure really looks like as a professional risk calculation. Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical, legal, financial, or other advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. Individual experiences and results may vary — always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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  Episode #20

  Etai Benson

  Jul 1, 202656 minS1

  In this episode of On The Voice, Etai Benson joins hosts Mackenzie Bykowski, MM, and Jenna Battipaglia, MS, CCC-SLP, PAVA-RV. Etai is an Israeli-American actor who studied musical theater at the University of Michigan and most recently appeared on Broadway as Paul in the five-time Tony Award-winning, gender-bent revival of Stephen Sondheim's Company alongside Patti LuPone. He originated the role of Papi in the ten-time Tony Award-winning musical The Band's Visit , for which he won a Grammy Award as part of the cast recording. Other credits include Broadway and national tour productions of Wicked as Boq, An American in Paris as Adam Hochberg, and the Off-Broadway production of Wonderful Town at New York City Center Encores. Etai walks us through navigating a vocal injury during the original Broadway run of The Band's Visit — the panic of losing access to a critical high note mid-run, the physical tension and body alignment patterns tied to his character that contributed to it, and the recovery work he did with speech-language pathologist Christine Estes. We also talk about what it's like to return to the same role, Boq, across multiple productions and years, balancing vocal demands with early parenthood, and his reflections on originating a role versus stepping into an iconic one. Along the way, Etai shares what it's been like building a life and career alongside his wife, actress Alexandra Socha, including playing romantic leads opposite each other on stage. Disclaimer: The information shared in this podcast is for general educational and entertainment purposes only and does not constitute professional medical, legal, financial, or other advice. Views expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts. Individual experiences and results may vary — always consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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