Thirty Years After My First Mic: Why I’m Finally Launching My Podcast
Introducing The Power to Flourish Podcast—A new show on psychology, creativity, and well-being for gifted, multi-talented women.
Coming September 2025
From Hiding My Voice to Sharing It With the World: A 30-Year Reflection
Thirty years ago, as a shy, socially anxious 17-year-old senior in high school, I was unexpectedly handed a microphone.
Through a strange set of circumstances (still hard to explain all these years later), I found myself chosen to be the lead singer of a local band. Up until then, the only people who’d ever really heard me sing were…well, no one.
I grew up as the oldest of four in a bustling household, and I never wanted anyone to hear my voice. Yes, I had grown up singing in choirs, but somehow that felt different—safely nestled amongst other (louder) voices. I could easily hide.
When it came to my own voice, I’d wait for the rare moments when the house was empty—something that hardly ever happened—just so I could sit at the piano and let myself sing freely. Otherwise, maybe I’d hum in the car. But put myself in front of people? No, thank you.
So you can imagine the leap it took for me to step on stage for the first time. One day I was singing quietly to myself, the next I was singing into a microphone in front of an audience.
Terrifying? Yes. But somewhere deep inside, I knew I had to step out from fear and onto that stage.
Living a Double Life: From Straight-A Student to Lead Singer of an Indie Rock Band
Andrea, lead singer of Silverscene, circa 1995
I remember it almost like I was living a double life. One moment I was Andrea—the soft-spoken, straight-A student who preferred hiding at the piano when no one was home. The next, I was this other version of myself: a 17-year-old girl standing under blinding stage lights, singing my heart out to audiences often twice my age.
What began as a “small step” into singing with a local indie band quickly grew into something far bigger. Before long, I was recording albums and performing in venues beyond the Hampton Roads area in VA—traveling to Richmond, Washington, D.C., and even stepping onto the legendary stage at CBGB’s in Manhattan after winning the regional Ticketmaster showcase.
It was never part of my dreams or plans—yet there I was. Stage after stage, city after city, equal parts exhilarated and terrified.
At first, I could hardly believe it was me. My hands trembled, the microphone felt heavy, and my voice wavered as though it belonged to someone else. Over time, though, something shifted. I began slipping into fun stage outfits, even experimenting with brightly colored wigs—like an alter ego had been born. Out there on stage, it felt like I had borrowed courage from some larger, braver self.
And yet, beneath the wigs and the lights, it always felt like two versions of me coexisted: the performer who could belt out lyrics with a band and the girl who still hesitated to let her own family hear her sing.
“It was never part of my dreams or plans—yet there I was. Stage after stage, city after city, equal parts exhilarated and terrified.”
The Universal Struggle: Why So Many Smart, Creative Women Hide Their Voices
Maybe you’ve felt something similar.
Perhaps your version wasn’t a stage and a microphone, but a blank canvas, a manuscript, a business idea, or even just telling the truth about who you are.
Maybe there’s something inside you that longs to be seen, yet part of you still whispers: What if it’s not good enough? What if they don’t understand? What if I’m not ready?
That tension—between hiding and expressing—is something I’ve carried with me for 30 years. And if you’re a creative, multi-faceted woman, I suspect you know it well too.
We all have those parts of ourselves we’d rather keep tucked away. The paintings we don’t show. The songs we don’t sing. The ideas we don’t pitch. The truths we don’t speak out loud. Because to let them out feels risky. Vulnerable. Like stepping onto a stage with the lights too bright.
But here’s what I’ve learned: hiding may feel safe, but it also keeps us small. It robs the world of the beauty, wisdom, and creativity only you can bring.
“Hiding may feel safe, but it also keeps us small.”
Decades of Wrestling with My Voice: Learning to Speak Up and Be Heard
Fast forward three decades, and I’ve spent much of my life still learning how to put my voice out into the world. Sometimes it’s been singing on stage (now as a worship leader at my church and women’s ministries), sometimes presenting at a national conference, sometimes speaking to a small community group.
And every time, even now at 47, there’s still a little girl inside of me who would rather hide in the back of the room. Who wants to let someone else take the microphone. Who thinks maybe it’s better to stay quiet.
But there’s also a wiser, older, braver version of me—the one who knows: It’s time.
Time to speak.
Time to sing.
Time to share decades of professional learning, personal stories, and the wisdom of so many women I’ve walked alongside.
Because it’s not really about me anymore. It’s about the women who need to hear my voice.
“I’m launching this podcast not because it feels easy, but because women need to hear our stories.”
Launching The Power to Flourish Podcast: A Legacy of Hope for Women
I do it knowing that my daughter and now my brand-new granddaughter will one day have this legacy to listen to—that they’ll know their mother and grandmother chose courage, even when fear felt easier.
And I do it with the hope that this message of resilience, encouragement, and beauty ripples through generations, not only in my own family, but in the families of many, many women across the globe.
That’s why I’m launching The Power to Flourish Podcast.
I still feel a little bit of fear, but I feel a lot of hope. Hope that my voice reaches the women who need to hear it. Hope that it offers comfort, inspiration, and maybe a gentle nudge to those who are still holding back their own voices.
So here I am, stepping up to the mic once again.
And now I want to turn the questions to you—
Questions to Reflect On:
Where in your life are you still hiding your voice?
What would shift if you let yourself be fully seen and heard?
What’s your “double life”—the part of you the world doesn’t see?
Whose life might change if you chose to speak, sing, or create openly?
What legacy do you want your voice to leave behind?
Remember, your voice is not just for you—it’s a gift meant to ripple outward. Every time you choose courage over silence, you create space for another woman to do the same. My hope is that this podcast becomes a companion on your journey, a reminder that you are not alone, and that flourishing is possible—even in the face of fear.
I would be honored if you’d listen to The Power to Flourish Podcast with an open heart, and share it with a woman in your life who longs to flourish—not only for herself, but for the generations behind her.
With heart—and a voice no longer hidden,
Dr. Andrea
Ready to explore this further?
Let’s begin the next chapter—one that honors your brilliance, your beauty, and your whole self.
You’ve spent so long taking care of everything and everyone. What if it’s finally your turn?
If you’re ready to reconnect with your inner peace, realign with your purpose, and flourish from the inside out—I’d be honored to walk with you.
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Meet Dr. Andrea Lein
I’m Dr. Andrea Lein—psychologist, speaker, and guide for brilliant women who are ready to live life beautifully. Here, I share reflections on emotional well-being, intentional living, modern motherhood, and the art of flourishing—because a beautiful life isn’t a luxury, it’s your birthright. More about me →
✨ Live life beautifully.
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