POWER/PLAY
A curated 6-month communication mastermind to tap into agency, authentic presence, and power.
You’re unapologetically out to make some waves.
We’re talking industry-shaping, legacy-building, world-changing stuff.
You’ve got the commitment, the drive, the string of successes to prove it.
But ...
You can’t . quite . break . through.
Something keeps holding you back from reaching the next level, whether it’s an “issue with your executive presence” (whatever that actually means), the growing exhaustion that comes with putting your “work armor” on every morning, or fighting to keep Chuck from sales from talking over you at every single meeting.
Here’s the bad news: what got you here won’t get you there.
You won’t be able to take your work to the next level using the same tools and tricks that have gotten you this far. And if you keep trying, you’re going to exhaust yourself, burn out, and eventually stop being able to get back up.
Those strategies that used to keep meetings moving and get people doing what you want? They’re going to get less and less effective.
That work armor? It’s just going to get heavier and heavier.
Chuck? He’s gonna keep on yappin’.
All those moves you’ve learned to make to control yourself and your environment are going to continue to sap your energy and limit your capacity.
Control is no longer enough. You need POWER — the power and agency within your own body, as innate as your ability to breathe, just waiting for you to tap into it.
That’s what Power/Play is all about.
This six month program combines the powerful connection of a mastermind group, the energy of top acting classes and performance training, and the depth of an MBA in communication and leadership presence to provide a real path to power — the kind of power you don’t need anyone else’s permission (or submission) to access.
Our 360° approach addresses it all: how you speak, how you feel, how you take space, how you take action, and how you show the f*ck up. We’re going to give you every tool we can in our time together, so that when we’re done, you walk out the door owning (not renting) your power. And we’ll do it all with play leading the way.
Let’s get physical etymological.
An innate human capacity and a core human need. The single most crucial element for making an impact and getting what you want, particularly in an organization.
See also: the number one thing people run screaming from because they think that it has to do with authority and dominance, when what it’s really about is agency.
POWER
PLAY
How we naturally learn as humans. The opposite of stuffed-shirt “leadership training” seminars held under fluorescent lighting in that hotel out by the airport. The difference between wrapping yourself in a corset of rigid how-tos and must-dos and joyfully, expansively stepping into your natural and inherent power.
You gotta have BOTH to make the kind of waves you want to make.
Plus it’s way more fun. Because really, who says stepping into your power has to be sooooo serious?
How do you get there?
By learning to tap into the
power of your voice.
People have a lot of misconceptions around voice, but think more “how you move through the world and express yourself, and all the amazing and multi-faceted elements that go into that” and less Little Mermaid or (shudder) Toastmasters.
Your voice consists of four components.
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Physical
The size, shape, and health of your vocal cords and resonators, your breath habits, the physical tension (or freedom) in your body, and how “in shape” your vocal instrument is — your voice is a full body instrument.
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Mental
The unique way your thoughts become speech, your frame for interpretation, how you like to prepare (and how prepared you actually are at any given time), and your self-talk.
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Emotional
How you currently feel, what you’re trying not to show, your stress level and coping mechanisms, and how you wish to be seen — a sensory system and the reason we care about what you say.
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Social
Shockingly, you do no exist in a vacuum. (Crazy, we know.) Your voice is necessarily shaped by your family, what languages you speak, your personal communication style, and every social group you’ve ever been a part of, including your current circumstances. We adapt to survive and succeed.
Learn to use each of them with skill and at-will, and there is literally no set of circumstances you can’t work with.
“It just feels like life put you both in my path at exactly the moment that I needed . . .
Everything that happened in the course felt so thought out — like a puzzle, like you were building us slowly, knowing where to push to this place of discomfort, but then bringing us back and giving us that safe space. It really felt so masterful. Exactly the right thing at the right time.
I'm a pretty cerebral human, right? I’m always stuck in my head, for good and for bad. But the grounding in the body . . . I mean something as basic as the breath work! The skills that you gave me pushed exactly where I needed to be pushed.
— Karen, Cohort #2
I knew deep down that what I had to share with the world was important and powerful, but I always felt like I had to put myself in a box of what it was "supposed to look like", and it never felt right. Enter POWER/PLAY!
What I loved most about the course was recognizing that it's not one-size-fits-all, and instead stepping into my own power, style, and voice rather than trying to fit that box. I was blown away by how multifaceted this course was. It connected all the dots for me, and I feel so much more confident at work. I work in a position and field that requires so much facilitation, presenting hard topics, and navigating challenging conversations, and I am infinitely thankful that I took this course and can lean into that part of the job with joy and excitement rather than with dread and fear.
— Patty, Cohort #1
Here’s what you’ll get:
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YOUR Path to Power
The way you access and use your power is unique to YOU -– which is why all those executive development books and leadership skills checklists eventually crap out.
There is no hand gesture, no single word or phrase to add or subtract, no formula to follow. If there were, you would have found it. Instead, you’ll learn the craft of communication, so you can make strategic choices that feel authentic AND powerful.
Covered topics include facilitation, rhetoric, negotiation, dealing with interruptions, managing difficult conversations, and more.
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Tools for Transformation
“Fearless” speaking isn’t a thing . . . but brave speaking is. Gain a bone-deep knowledge of Why Your Body Does That Thing, practice how to channel nerves and fear, and learn how to talk about yourself, your mission, and your brand even in moments of high stress –– which gives you the mental, physical, and emotional infrastructure to make those big industry-changing moves and still feel safe in your self.
We’ll teach you how to access more nuance, color, size, expression, and agency in voice, body language, and presence, via real tools from a variety of disciplines and practices.
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Courage in Community
An intimate, diverse, and carefully curated group of fellow power players who will inspire you, share in your challenges, and celebrate your triumphs. Because (surprise!) authenticity? It happens in front of an audience. This audience will have your back (and your front and your sides) along the path as we collectively take the microscope to the systems we operate in and the choices we make as individuals. Together, we will co-create new possibilities and choices at every step of the way.
As individuals we are strong . . . as a group, we ride at dawn, and we are unstoppable!
“I thought the diversity of the group was amazing. I’ve never been a part of a group of women that diverse in my career, EVER.”
— Grace, Cohort #1
In previous cohorts:
every decade represented from the 20's through the 60's
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50% WOC
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Dozens of industries represented
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In previous cohorts: every decade represented from the 20's through the 60's 〰️ 50% WOC 〰️ Dozens of industries represented 〰️
And of course you get to hang out with us for 6 months. Hi, btw, we’re Casey and Julie!
We co-founded Vital Voice Training to change the conversation about what leaders are “supposed” to sound like.
We help our clients speak, sell, pitch, and present their ideas with authentic confidence, an embodied voice, and a deep connection to their core values.
We teach people shame-free tools and principles for using their full voice and access their full power, while also recognizing that we exist in systems that we don’t have full control over.
We believe in shifting those systems from the inside and challenging them from the outside.
And we know with 100% certainty that your voice is both beautiful and necessary.
We genuinely want you — yes, you — to join us.
Meet a few of our amazing past guest artists!
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Christine Schneider
Body + Alignment
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D Cross
Words + Rhythm
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Mary Poffenroth
Nerves + Fear
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Monique "Fauxnique" Jenkens
Strut + Sass
All the deets:
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30-minute private intro session
You’ll meet and get to know both Julie and Casey before the course begins, and we’ll get crystal clear on your goals.
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6 monthly 2.5-hour group sessions
We’ll chat, practice, vent, explore, and expand. No one disappears here. Individual attention guaranteed, a-ha moments expected.
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The 187-page POWER/PLAY workbook
Your ultimate guide to powerful, authentic communication, beautifully printed for you to make your own.
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Weekly Virtual Labs / Office Hours
45 minutes every week to connect with your cohort, practice your new skills, ask questions, and rehearse anything that’s coming up for you
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One hour of private coaching
Explore whatever communication challenge or opportunity you like at your leisure during the course.
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Top-tier guest artists
Want to learn how to use the power of rhythm to mesmerize? Ask a rapper! Want to learn how to strut like Beyonce into the boardroom? Ask a drag queen!
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Weekly practice prompts and email coaching
Momentum is everything while we learn new, transformative skills. We’ll guide you through how to rehearse between sessions and answer any questions you have.
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Our full library of online resources
Our favorite book recommendations, podcast episodes, articles, videos, and more, at your fingertips
Let’s recap.
You. Us. Some truly extraordinary special guests. And a diverse and welcoming cohort of hand-picked women.
Six months of intensive-yet-human-paced training and practice in creating and walking your path to power.
Your Investment: $7500
If this course is right for you (or someone you know), but finances are complicated, please apply anyway. We will talk.
Also ... if you have a personal development budget at work and need help bringing this up to your boss, click here for a corporate-friendly prospectus and an intro email.
Here’s what happens now:
You’re at a decision point.
That moment right before the curtain comes up, that quiet humming bubble of not yet/almost/omg this is happening here we gooooo!
You already know, right now, whether this is right for you or not.
You know whether that frisson you felt running through your body while you read this was true fear, or the excitement of anticipation at who you could become, and what you could accomplish, if you learn how to tap into the fullness of you.
And you know whether you’re ready to take the next step, ditch that corset of control, and step fully into your power.
So we invite you, right here, right now, to decide.
We truly hope you’ll join us!
Your goals are too big for you to play small. Join us and power up.
PS — Need to sell your boss on it? We’ve got you. Here’s a corporate-friendly PDF prospectus + a simple email intro for you.
