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Summary
Host Laura Sanders explores the power of the human voice in Season 2 of The Deep End, focusing on those losing speech to ALS. The episode features Jules Rodriguez and Patrick Darling, who use AI voice clones to communicate, alongside experts discussing the emotional impact of losing one’s voice. Sanders shares her own experience of a two-hour no-talking exercise to illustrate the isolation and identity loss associated with silence.
Topics discussed
Introduction to Jules Rodriguez and his life
How Jules and M.A. met and their love for music
Jules' ALS diagnosis and loss of natural voice
Season 2 intro: The power of the human voice
Brain science: Why we are drawn to voices
Voice development in utero and infancy
Voice banking and AI clones for ALS patients
Patrick Darling's experience with ALS and isolation
The daily struggles of losing mobility and speech
Classroom exercise: Experiencing two hours without speech
Host's personal experiment with a text-to-speech app
Why losing speech is more devastating than mobility
The gradual decay of Jules' voice on his podcast
Credits and production information
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