Shaina Wexler’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

Shaina Wexler shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Shaina, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? When was the last time you felt true joy?
Oh wow, I love this question! It may sound a bit silly, but, each weekend, after I’ve gotten my groceries and have them organized in my fridge- this “Christmas morning” type of joy starts to well up inside of me! I look into the fridge and see this bounty of healthy foods and culinary possibilities and just feel giddy while trying to decide what I will create first. I have these really lovely, hand-thrown, pink and cream, pottery bowls that my friend made for me that I love serve my food in. Once I set out these bowls, brew a hot cup of tea, and get my pup settled in beside me, I often just sit there in silent glee- one hand on my pup, one hand on my heart- taking in the richness of the moment. There’s often so much joy built up within me that I can’t help but let out a squeal of delight haha! And, in fact, it’s those types of seemingly mundane, day to day experiences that inspire the majority of the episodes for my podcast, “Daily Magic”. I’m fascinated and uplifted by the fact that, when we slow down a bit and open ourselves to gratitude, we are capable of taking the quotidian and transforming it into something so joyful and magical!

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Absolutely! I’m a vocal coach, singer/songwriter, and host of the podcast, “Daily Magic”. Each aspect of my career at this point is rooted in, and stems from expression, development, healing and empowerment through the VOICE.
Singing has always been so deeply important to me because it allows me to EXPRESS emotion and ideas with such a fullness that words, on their own, just can’t contain. When I sing, it is ultimate freedom, openness, vulnerability and power all at the same time! For seventeen years, I’ve been teaching vocal coaching clients all over the world how to experience all of those aspects of their voice as well! Vocal coaching is such a fulfilling JOY- helping empower people find, open, develop, expand, and claim their voice! I have clients now on Broadway, touring rock stars, recording artists- the list goes on, and I’m genuinely proud to have helped these people live out their dreams! But, for me, my love of vocal coaching goes beyond accolades or an impressive roster- helping people develop their voice, regardless of their age, experience level or goals, emboldens them to step into the fullness and confidence of themselves as a person in really profound ways! Vocal coaching isn’t just for artists or creatives with big dreams- I truly believe that it is of incredible benefit to EVERYONE. Whether singing or speaking, voice is so intrinsic to who we are as humans; it’s a deeply personal aspect of self.
This work is also very personal for me because, in my life, I have experienced circumstances where it wasn’t safe to use my voice to express myself- my wants, needs and desires. When I would attempt to speak up for myself or hold my ground, I would be dismissed or worse. Over time, my voice became diminished on all levels: I lost touch with sense of self, wouldn’t express needs, and my singing voice went completely quiet- I would no longer sing in the shower or hum while I did the dishes; I found myself silenced. And if you know me at all, you know that, if Shaina stops singing- something crucial is going on haha.
My first step towards emotional healing was actually to begin taking MYSELF back through the vocal coaching that I had taught to so many others. As I coaxed my voice back to the surface, exercised it, and reconnected to it, my inner world began to heal along with it! As I remembered how much expansion my voice was capable of, I began to remember how much I was fundamentally capable of as a human! By the time I had gotten my voice back in shape- singing soprano arias with full voice while my windows were wide open haha, I felt able to take on my world again too! Singing is healing! Learning to take up space when we speak is healing! And man oh man, singing is FUN; singing FEELS great in the body! I’m so happy that I can help my clients make all their musical dreams come true, and, the most rewarding part is helping them step into the fullness and ownership of WHO they are in the process! Since I offer my vocal coaching sessions virtually, I am able to work with folks of all levels across the world!
Beyond vocal coaching and my solo albums as a singer/songwriter, it has also become really important to me to use my voice to share joy and uplift with the world which is why I created my podcast, “Daily Magic”. It is now in the midst of season 2 and has nearly 50 episodes so far! I designed Daily Magic to feel like a cozy, supportive corner of the audio world where people can take a respite from the pacing of life and rediscover the wholesome, beautiful moments that are woven through their day to day. The podcast is slow living mixed with mindfulness and the healthy romanticization of the simple moments. It includes uplifting sound stories, encouraging conversation, dazzling visualizations, guided meditations, and grounding breathwork. Everyone looking for a little ray of hope is welcome here!

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Hmm…I’d say that, Shaina Joy Wexler, given to her own devices, is a powerfully joyful, positive creature who loves to sing, twirl, wear pink and give hugs. She is inherently trusting and believes the best about those in her life, yet, she is also, sort of shockingly, in tune with her intuition. She feels life profoundly- the joys and sorrows alike-often feeling the weight of the world around her very intensely.
And yeah, without the adopted belief that she has to always be strong and independent and somehow hold it all on her own- her natural desire would be to be hugged, held, and supported as she traverses her experiences. At her core, Shaina believes in true love and that dreams come true. She loves to turn strangers into friends, pet every dog she passes, and run out into the rain as often as possible.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
What a great question! You know, I think that it was something that I was slowly learning and that was building within me for a while. It finally culminated though and was expressed externally through my, “The Truth of Fantasy” album. The songs on that album were me finally feeling ready to challenge the severely reinforced belief that I had to be perfect, polished, and fully healed in order to be worthy and deserving of love, and gentleness from others. It was this like, “What if the depth of my emotion and my bravery to FEEL it all is actually something that makes me powerful and radiant as opposed to ‘too much’ like I have been told? What if allowing my vulnerabilities and imperfections to show is actually quite human and endearing rather than ‘weakness’ or burdensome to others?” The more I’ve grown to accept and embrace the aspects of myself that I had long considered “imperfect”, the less I’ve been able to be controlled by the disapproval or criticisms of others. I’m also finally able to see that when people choose to withhold their love, support or kindness, it is a reflection of THEM, not of a deficiency within me or the love that I give with my open heart. Choosing to love is powerful. Showing vulnerability is powerful. Choosing to stay soft in a hardened world is POWERFUL.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes. Obviously, we are multi-dimensional, complex beings, and no social snapshot or interview is going to encompass the fullness of who we are. But, that being said, yes. This is me haha. I’m very committed to vulnerability and transparency, and it’s cool because each of the facets of what I do serves to share a more complete and balanced view of me. For example, my podcast, Daily Magic, is a space that quite naturally showcases my very optimistic, hopeful, playful, feminine and sincere aspects, whereas my music has been a really organic avenue for me to express the real depth and breadth of my emotions and my introspective nature. It is a space that has always allowed an unveiled look into my emotional heart, my pains, my insecurities, my romantic hopes and defeats, and my melancholic side.
Vocal Coaching allows for more personal levels of myself to be shared, because it serves as a way to connect with my clients in a more intimate setting. One on one coaching is a space where I can learn and invest in my client’s hopes, goals, dreams and desires for their voice which is very special. It lets me really share my passion, knowledge, experience, and heart through the very empowering outlet of VOICE. Since singing has been an authentic expression of self since I was a little girl, it feels deeply rewarding to get to share that with others.
Even the aspects of aesthetic or polish that you see from my work is very much indicative of the part of my personality that leans heavily towards perfectionism. If someone has touched into each aspect of my work, they will definitely know me on a very genuine level.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
That I lived with joy and poured out love from the depths of my being-refusing to become hardened or bitter by the pains of this life. I hope people say that life felt a bit lighter, brighter, hopeful or magical when they were with me. I hope that people will say that I helped them believe in their own worth, the preciousness of their own voice, and the beauty of their own dreams. And, you know, in saying all of this, I realize that I actually don’t really care much about the story people will or won’t tell about me. At the end of it all- which I’d like to believe is a very long way off- I just hope that people felt genuinely loved by me. I hope they felt sincerely loved.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.shainawexler.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shainawexler/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShainaWexler
• Other:
  *Vocal Coaching with Shaina(Virtual) : https://shainawexlervoice.tumblr.com/
  * Shaina’s Music: https://open.spotify.com/artist/07hMNK5Nk9C7WKciYvPSDB
  *Daily Magic podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/22ooO5NzXSugQeNWSQYUtl?si=0e78de2517a24a49

Image Credits
Teresa Lee Photography
Shelley Buck
Rosie Compton
Jeff Goldberg