HEAR TELL: Judy Rodman

Here is a video recording of the 6.24.21 live interview with Judy Rodman, an award-winning vocal coach, recording artist, stage and television performer, public speaker, author, multi-genre hit songwriter, studio producer and vocal consultant. 

Judy Rodman:  The Responsibilities of Successful Voices

This article describes the framework for an interview with Judy Rodman on June 24, 2021. The interview was part of a series entitled HEAR TELL: Spotlight on Pathfinders, a program of Life Force Marketing

Who is Judy Rodman?

How many people can say they provided backup vocals, arrangements, or voice-overs for Dolly Parton, Tammy Wynette, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, Tom Jones, Elvis Presley AND Ray Charles?

Judy Rodman can; she’s been a working insider in the Nashville music business for over 50 years. (Hear more about Judy’s outstanding background starting at 4:32 in the interview video.)

How did Judy come to HEAR TELL: Spotlight on Pathfinders?

I was lucky to meet Judy recently in Marketing Trailblazers, an online community of marketers, coaches, consultants, authors, artists and other creative business owners who are each on an exciting journey to grow our businesses with smart marketing.  Reading her bio statement, I was a little intimidated, but when we talked on the phone initially, I saw that was not necessary at all.

As you’ll see when you listen to our interview in its entirety, she is a woman of principle, a warm and welcoming person who comes from the heart, operates intentionally from her value system and continually uplifts the people around her. 

In my quest to shine a light on exceptional people doing exceptional things, I want to encourage others to be heard. Judy Rodman is an outstanding example of the kind of person I want to emulate, and recommend to others.

She also is a shining example of someone who’s learned to make the internet her friend. She recently surpassed a statistical milestone that few bloggers ever see: 2 million readers in 14 years. In addition, since she started her podcast a few years ago, she’s almost reached the 200,000 mark on listeners and is now averaging around 1,000 listeners per episode.

The interview ends at 42:00.  (If you stick around after that you’ll notice that I forgot to hit the “End broadcast” button! Hopefully I’ll get better at this!)

What does Judy Rodman stand for?

In addition to what she knows about voice coaching, song arranging, record production, public speaking, and stage and television performing, Judy has a commitment to using the voice as an instrument for good. Her 2020 podcast/blog article “Responsibilities of Successful Voices” caught my eye and was one subject of our interview. Here’s a quote from that podcast:

The voice can be very, very powerful. It can heal, destroy, inspire, shut down, mislead, correct, change one mind, or redirect the trajectory of the whole world in tremendous ways, for better or worse. It’s a slippery slope to unintended harm when we don’t realize what is really driving us and our messages. If we want to be on the side of the angels, our voice’s core ‘why’ needs to be consciously and intentionally about far more than money, fame, or power.”

During our interview, I asked her at one point, why did you choose to write about the responsibilities of the voice, which is somewhat different than many of your other topics? Here’s an excerpt from her response, at 10:35 in the recording.

I believe in the power of the voice and I don’t think people realize their own power, and they don’t use it! They don’t use it; they sometimes just rant or they say what they need to say to make themselves feel better. We all do that. But sometimes we should do that, and then journal, and then burn it!  Because the voice is a 2-sided thing. It’s an interactive sport when you’re speaking or singing TO someone.”

Noting that at the time of the original podcast, our nation was at the height of vitriol, negativity and hatred being spoken, and sung, on the public airwaves, she felt a need to speak out and ask people to stop and consider the impact they were having on others. She continued,

Successful voices are, by definition, getting listened to; therefore, they have responsibilities and too many people don’t think about that.  I want people to think! 

If you’re an influencer, it’s more powerful than a gun — that thing you have coming out of your face — which is your voice! And you need to realize that you have a responsibility, for what? For the response to what you’re saying or singing. 

Because that’s the aim of the voice. The voice exists to deliver messages, and if you’re going to deliver messages, it’s about getting a response to those messages. So, what response are you looking for? 

…And I wrote this post… I rewrote it a few times… and I was scared to write it. I almost wrote it, and I decided I just needed to vent, but then, I’m thinking to myself, ‘Okay. Who am I talking to? How do I want them to respond? Do I want them to just realize I’m angry with them? Or do I want them to think?‘

And that’s what I want. I want them to think; that makes my voice valuable.

If I’m just griping or telling somebody how stupid they are or if they disagree with me or (if I’m) not listening to their voice along with giving them my messages, the voice becomes valueless or, even worse, harmful and can actually add to the negativity, and to, you know, life and death issues. People are getting killed over this, the power of the voice not being used correctly!

So that’s why I wrote it. And I wanted to be so careful to write it so that anybody from any side, if they’re reading it, if they’re good-hearted and they do care about other people, that they can resonate with it. And I didn’t know how it would be accepted.”

I encourage you to listen to the entire interview with Judy Rodman, and share it with others who may benefit. Thank you for your interest in HEAR TELL: Spotlight on Pathfinders.