WE STARTED WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION:
Why don’t traditional voice transition methods work?
In 2020 I met with over 500 trans folx to discover why so many trans folx struggle to transition their voice with traditional methods. I learned that even if you have an unlimited budget, all the time in the world, and practice everyday, you will still struggle to find a clear guide with easy to understand techniques to transition your voice. If this sounds like your story too, let me be clear…
You aren’t failing. The institutions are failing you.
Traditional methods taught by speech therapists don’t work because they were designed for those with voice disorders - not someone transitioning their voice. The research behind traditional methods is conducted on an entirely unrelated control group. Bad input equals bad output. These methods are inherently pathologizing, stereotyping, and ultimately ineffective. Your gender diverse voice isn’t a disorder that needs curing.
Trans folx deserve evidence-based techniques that work.
I decided to abandon what I was taught as a speech-pathologist and start over. I spent 6 months studying different singing techniques, speaking strategies, voice acting methods, and countless other alternative approaches. Sought out the world’s only trans researcher studying voice transition within the community, Lily Clifford. Immersed myself in the online world of Reddit and Discord to learn what trans people were already doing to alter their voices that worked, and through my personal gender exploration, transitioned my own voice as well.
With a whole new lens, I developed the first ever full voice transition curriculum made of brand new techniques and approaches based in science and proven through lived experience.
IT WAS TIME FOR A TRANS VOICE REVOLUTION
FOUNDER, SPEECH PATHOLOGIST,
GENDER VOICE SPECIALIST
meet Nicole Gress (she/they)
Nicole Gress, MS, CCC SLP (she/they), is the founder of Undead Voice. They developed the first-ever comprehensive voice transition curriculum, and is an active educator and trans health activist. Leveraging their curriculum of proven techniques, they lead workshops at global healthcare systems, research hospitals, and gender-affirming health clinics.
Nicole is a born coach and community-builder. They stay connected within their online voice transition platform, Undead Voice Lab, and can be found coaching and guiding 300+ members daily.
Nicole is a passionate thought leader and is leading the conversation on the merits of demedicalizing transgender voice care. Their contributions can be found as a guest on the QueerCME, WildHeart Society, and QueerSLP podcasts, and with 50,000+ followers across their social platforms.
Nicole is gender-fluid and enjoys exploring the entire spectrum of sound in their voice. They continue to develop their voice by taking vocal pedagogy classes and training in all modalities of speaking, singing, and breathing.
Nicole earned their Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from University of the Pacific. They live in Seattle with their husband and furry family of 3. In their spare time, they can be found illustrating graphics for their website, throwing kick-ass theme parties, and trying every new cheese they can find.