Permission to Speak

“Samara Bay—the speech coach who’s helped Ruth Negga, Gal Gadot, and others perfect dialects on film—offers an empowering take on public speaking.”—Vanity Fair“A totally beguiling and richly informative primer for anyone who struggles to say out loud what they think.”—Soraya Chemaly, author of Rage Becomes Her“Permission to Speak goes beyond the easy ‘use your voice’ platitudes that power hashtag-girlboss memes… .The book never shies away from frank talk about the ways systems of oppression have squelched and silenced some voices, and at every turn, [Samara] Bay offers practical and doable exercises… . Bay writes with humor and ease, sharing stories from her own experience and those of her clients.”—Mindful“No one knows more about voice than Samara Bay. This is a brilliant, user-friendly guide to speaking up. I love it.”—Viv Groskop, author of How to Own the Room“Women, people of color, and other historically excluded folks are taught not to be too big, too loud, too demanding, or too ambitious. This book gives them permission to speak up—and command the room.”—Rachel Rodgers, author of We Should All Be Millionaires“Samara Bay’s brilliant expertise helps us understand that when we find our permission to speak, we are able to step into our full power as women. She encourages us to abandon our formed habits, which are almost always serving someone else, and shows us what it means to use our narratives to be heroes who change the way we are heard in the world.”—Eve Rodsky, New York Times bestselling author of Fair Play“Permission to Speak is bursting with charm and originality, clear-eyed critiques, and gentle nudges, like the greatest business bestie in your ear, whispering the courage you need to speak up and take over.”—Carolyn Childers, co-founder and CEO of Chief, and Lindsay Kaplan, co-founder and chief brand officer of Chief“An encouraging, practical guide to public speaking … A generous companion for building confidence.”—Kirkus Reviews“Bay’s tone is spirited and encouraging, and there’s no shortage of takeaways for curious readers. Anyone looking to sharpen their speaking skills will want to give this a go.”—Publishers Weekly

Samara Bay coaches rising business leaders, political hopefuls, and public figures who need to speak in a voice they recognize as their own to truly make waves. She runs workshops and speaks at organizations around the world to support a new, diverse sound of power. In Hollywood, she helps movie stars integrate good acting with good accents, and has coached clients including Gal Gadot, Pierce Brosnan, Penélope Cruz, Ricky Martin, Terry Crews, Rachel McAdams, Ruth Negga, and Anjelica Huston. She has a BA from Princeton University and an MFA from Brown University. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, son, and dog, Moxie.