What if the key to deeper joy, authentic connection, and a sense of belonging has been inside you all along?

In this conversation with Fiona, a vocal advocate for reclaiming singing as a daily practice, we explore why singing—whether alone or in community—is one of the most underrated pathways to joy and human connection. You don't need perfect pitch or years of training. You don't need to be "good."

You just need to remember how to use your voice.

Fiona walks us through:

— Why humans are wired to sing and what we lose when we stop

— How your voice can be a tool for personal joy and emotional regulation

— The science of group singing and why it creates belonging faster than other practices

— How to release voice shame and reclaim this fundamental human practice

— The simple act of singing as an anchor for joyful, connected living

— Practical ways to bring singing into your daily wellness and community

This episode challenges the silence that's been normalized in modern life and invites you to rediscover your voice as a gateway to authentic joy, deeper relationships, and meaningful community.

If you've ever felt something missing in connection, if you're searching for practical ways to experience more joy and belonging, if you've forgotten how to sing—this conversation is an invitation to remember.

Guest: Fiona Maria, Vocal Advocate & Singing Facilitator (@singhighsinglow)

Host: Anthony Hartcher, Clinical Nutritionist & Wellness Educator Show: Joyful Mate Podcast

TOPICS: Singing for joy • Voice reclamation • Belonging and community • Human connection • Emotional regulation • Authentic living • Joyful relationships • Voice shame • Inclusive wellness • Daily wellness practices • Community building • Singing benefits • Personal development • Lifestyle wellness

Chapters and timestamps

00:00 - Intro & Welcome

00:40 - Who is Fiona? From Performer to Facilitator

02:25 - Singing Isn't an Art Form—It's a Human Practice

03:41 - The Choir Culture Problem & Voice Shame

06:26 - Hormonal Benefits of Group Singing

08:42 - Evolution & Why Humans Need to Sing

09:15 - Corporate Applications & Team Bonding

20:00 - Singing as Personal Wellness Tool

24:00 - Singing for Anxiety, Stress & Mental Health

25:09 - Building Your Wellness Toolkit

27:22 - The Ripple Effect: Regulating Yourself & Others

29:00 - How to Connect with Fiona & Closing

What if your team's performance isn't about motivation—it's about connection? In this episode, I sit down with Nina Witenden, founder of The Gold Room and emerging leaders coach, to explore how authentic communication and values-based leadership transform workplace culture and personal fulfillment. Nina's story is remarkable. When she took over management of a struggling team with 44% performance, she didn't implement new processes or push harder. Instead, she asked a simple question: "What matters to you?" That single question changed everything. Within one cycle, her team moved from 44% to 136% performance. But here's what she learned along the way: the real issue wasn't productivity—it was disconnection from purpose.

In this conversation, we dive deep into:

✓ The 14-step communication process that transforms manager-employee relationships

✓ Why understanding your team's "why" is non-negotiable for performance

✓ How to show up authentically at work (even when corporate culture feels inauthentic)

✓ The "pinstripe suit strategy"—why many of us operate from a false version of ourselves at work

✓ Having difficult conversations with confidence and compassion

✓ Work-life integration vs. work-life balance (and why that matters)

✓ Know thyself first—why self-awareness is the foundation of great leadership

✓ Making 90,000+ hours at work actually mean something

Whether you're an emerging leader, a seasoned manager, or someone wondering how to find more meaning in your career, this episode offers practical insights and permission to lead (and live) authentically. Nina's journey from corporate management to coaching emerging leaders will inspire you to ask yourself some tough—but beautiful—questions about what matters most.

Resources:

Connect with Nina: thegoldroom.com.au

Email: nina@thegoldroom.com.au

About the Joyful Mate Podcast:

We explore conversations on wellness, leadership, purpose, and personal growth. New episodes every week.

Do you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders? If you're an empath or a highly sensitive person, caring deeply about others — and the state of the world — can leave you drained, overwhelmed and stuck in survival mode. In this episode of the Joyful Mate Podcast, Anthony Hartcher talks with Liz Moyer, founder of We Heal For All, about how to turn sensitivity into a trained skill rather than a burden. Liz shares her journey from international development and social impact work to building We Heal For All — supporting people who are done grieving the world alone and ready to find their place in changing it.

You'll learn:

- Why empathy sits on a spectrum, and how to become "exquisitely skilled at giving"

- How to fill your own cup first and manage compassion fatigue and news overwhelm

- Why self-love and self

-compassion are the foundation for connecting with others

- How AEDP therapy heals attachment trauma through emotion-centred, relational work

- How to create constructive space for worry, trauma and climate anxiety — and let emotions live out their full wave

- How healing circles, resonance practice and embodied empathy build emotional safety in community

CONNECT WITH LIZ MOYER:

Website: https://www.wehealforall.comBook — "When the World Hurts" (audiobook releasing this fall): https://www.wehealforall.com/bookSubstack: https://wehealforall.substack.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizkmoyer/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wehealforallFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/wehealforallKeep an eye out for her upcoming calendar of healing circles.

Enjoyed this episode? Follow the Joyful Mate Podcast so you never miss a weekly episode, leave a rating or review, and share it with someone who feels deeply. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes to help you discover more joy, happiness and fulfilment in your life.

This podcast is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical or mental health advice.