1 00:00:15,356 --> 00:00:15,796 Speaker 1: Pushkin. 2 00:00:19,476 --> 00:00:21,756 Speaker 2: Hello, Hello, Revisionist history listeners. 3 00:00:21,796 --> 00:00:25,116 Speaker 1: Hello, Hello, Hello, Hello, Revisionist history listeners. 4 00:00:25,196 --> 00:00:28,356 Speaker 2: History Listeners, Hello, Hello, Revisionist History Listeners. 5 00:00:30,116 --> 00:00:32,756 Speaker 1: That didn't sound quite right, did it. It's got to 6 00:00:32,756 --> 00:00:36,876 Speaker 1: be more like this. Hello, Hello, Revisionist History Listeners. I'm 7 00:00:36,916 --> 00:00:39,516 Speaker 1: quite grateful that our loyal fans like the sound of 8 00:00:39,516 --> 00:00:44,516 Speaker 1: my voice. But why is that? My dear friend, The actress, director, writer, 9 00:00:44,836 --> 00:00:49,516 Speaker 1: producer Lake Bell is obsessed with people's voices, and frankly, 10 00:00:49,716 --> 00:00:52,116 Speaker 1: I'm a little obsessed with Lake. So it made sense 11 00:00:52,156 --> 00:00:55,276 Speaker 1: for Lake to join Pushkin's ranks with her new audiobook, 12 00:00:55,596 --> 00:00:58,756 Speaker 1: Inside Voice. The book is a deep dive into what 13 00:00:58,796 --> 00:01:02,436 Speaker 1: our voices mean and what they say about us. Lake 14 00:01:02,476 --> 00:01:06,556 Speaker 1: explores the psychology and social science of voice. She talks 15 00:01:06,556 --> 00:01:10,356 Speaker 1: with icons like Drew Barrymore, Jeff gold Bloom, and Pam Greer. 16 00:01:10,996 --> 00:01:14,116 Speaker 1: And when she started questioning herself, she talked to me 17 00:01:14,836 --> 00:01:17,076 Speaker 1: she was struggling with how to write about the phenomenon 18 00:01:17,396 --> 00:01:20,876 Speaker 1: of the sexy baby voice. How could she enjoy and 19 00:01:20,956 --> 00:01:26,396 Speaker 1: respect Paris Hilton. They're Kardashians and various flavors of real housewives, 20 00:01:26,716 --> 00:01:32,236 Speaker 1: all sexy babies, but definitively absolutely not want her own 21 00:01:32,316 --> 00:01:34,756 Speaker 1: daughter to grow up to be one. It made her 22 00:01:34,756 --> 00:01:38,236 Speaker 1: feel like a judgmental jerk. So I was the shrink 23 00:01:38,276 --> 00:01:39,996 Speaker 1: and Lake got on the couch and we had fun 24 00:01:40,076 --> 00:01:42,676 Speaker 1: working through that one. I may even have tried to 25 00:01:42,716 --> 00:01:46,236 Speaker 1: put on a little sexy baby voice myself. Enjoy this 26 00:01:46,316 --> 00:01:49,476 Speaker 1: sample chapter and then go buy yourself a copy at 27 00:01:49,556 --> 00:01:55,236 Speaker 1: Inside Voice, audiobook dot Com, Audible, Spotify, or anywhere audiobooks 28 00:01:55,276 --> 00:01:58,436 Speaker 1: are sold. I'll be back before year's end with some 29 00:01:58,636 --> 00:02:02,876 Speaker 1: bonus episodes of revisionist history. 30 00:02:05,876 --> 00:02:09,716 Speaker 2: When you guys think of like a strong woman's voice, 31 00:02:09,756 --> 00:02:14,836 Speaker 2: what does that sound like? Someone just like fluent and confident? 32 00:02:15,156 --> 00:02:20,596 Speaker 2: Anyone come to mind? Michelle Obama? Yeah, I think just 33 00:02:20,636 --> 00:02:23,276 Speaker 2: arian because she's been very advocated for the God is 34 00:02:23,276 --> 00:02:23,836 Speaker 2: a woman thing. 35 00:02:23,956 --> 00:02:27,716 Speaker 3: So I'm just like Ariana Grande Queen Latifah. 36 00:02:28,396 --> 00:02:30,076 Speaker 2: I would have to say, Michelle Obama. 37 00:02:31,116 --> 00:02:35,116 Speaker 1: Kirsty Ally, I think has a very deep, powerful voice. 38 00:02:35,596 --> 00:02:39,196 Speaker 1: My mom, Yeah, my mom for sure, Yeah, my mom. 39 00:02:39,396 --> 00:02:43,276 Speaker 4: Oprah the same here, I would go, I agree with 40 00:02:43,316 --> 00:02:43,636 Speaker 4: that one. 41 00:02:43,796 --> 00:02:50,596 Speaker 2: Oprah Dafan the Oprah Okay. Lena Horn, yeah, speaking voice too. Yeah, 42 00:02:50,676 --> 00:02:55,076 Speaker 2: Lena Horn is my wife. My life is stronger and 43 00:02:55,396 --> 00:03:01,156 Speaker 2: I really love her and I proud for you. What 44 00:03:01,196 --> 00:03:09,276 Speaker 2: about an alluring sexy female voice? Jennifer Aniston, Angelina, Jolie. 45 00:03:09,516 --> 00:03:10,316 Speaker 1: Kerrie Washington. 46 00:03:10,836 --> 00:03:15,996 Speaker 3: Oh that was good, Angelina, Jolie Coobe, Siri. 47 00:03:16,236 --> 00:03:22,156 Speaker 2: I think Siri? Yeah maybe, Oh you could be different. 48 00:03:22,196 --> 00:03:25,476 Speaker 2: See boys, I don't know. I just think of Catwoman. 49 00:03:26,916 --> 00:03:29,076 Speaker 2: When I think of a sexy woman, I'm like Catwoman. 50 00:03:29,716 --> 00:03:30,556 Speaker 1: Kim Kardashian. 51 00:03:34,516 --> 00:03:37,876 Speaker 2: So your turn. When you think of a strong woman, 52 00:03:38,316 --> 00:03:41,756 Speaker 2: what does she sound like? Does she sound like this? 53 00:03:42,756 --> 00:03:46,596 Speaker 1: We want people who are redefining what it means to 54 00:03:46,636 --> 00:03:51,796 Speaker 1: be strong, to be powerful, to be inspirational, to be aspirational, to. 55 00:03:51,796 --> 00:03:57,836 Speaker 2: Be astoundingly aged, defying or does she sound like this? 56 00:03:58,276 --> 00:04:00,996 Speaker 2: Kylie called Chloe and said, Hey, I want to take 57 00:04:01,036 --> 00:04:04,596 Speaker 2: over your party. Just send me the list. Three seconds later, 58 00:04:04,916 --> 00:04:08,596 Speaker 2: Chloe text me, did you tell Kylie about the parties? 59 00:04:08,876 --> 00:04:11,396 Speaker 2: And I don't know what are you talking about? What party? 60 00:04:12,156 --> 00:04:16,836 Speaker 2: Make no mistake, both of these women are powerful. Another test, 61 00:04:17,316 --> 00:04:19,916 Speaker 2: when you think of a sexy woman, what does she 62 00:04:19,916 --> 00:04:21,596 Speaker 2: sound like? Does she sound like this? 63 00:04:22,236 --> 00:04:23,356 Speaker 1: Isn't this a coincidence? 64 00:04:23,436 --> 00:04:25,876 Speaker 5: I know you you're the one that doesn't like to 65 00:04:25,916 --> 00:04:27,916 Speaker 5: talk about the heat too bad. 66 00:04:28,356 --> 00:04:29,196 Speaker 1: I tell you about my. 67 00:04:29,236 --> 00:04:34,516 Speaker 2: Child, or does she sound like this? I like Barnette's 68 00:04:34,556 --> 00:04:39,596 Speaker 2: sexy voice and laugh a lot. I kind of like 69 00:04:39,716 --> 00:04:42,236 Speaker 2: that he gave off a vibe that he was a player. 70 00:04:43,276 --> 00:04:49,396 Speaker 2: One of the more questionable, nay controversial trends to come 71 00:04:49,476 --> 00:04:54,756 Speaker 2: out of gen Z is the sexy baby voice. What 72 00:04:54,916 --> 00:04:58,516 Speaker 2: is that you say? Let me remind you my evening's 73 00:04:58,556 --> 00:05:01,476 Speaker 2: going amazing because I have a ruse. 74 00:05:02,076 --> 00:05:04,916 Speaker 3: I like was gone for a whole week and still 75 00:05:05,196 --> 00:05:06,556 Speaker 3: all we can talk about is Crystal. 76 00:05:06,596 --> 00:05:08,036 Speaker 1: All we can think about is Crystal. 77 00:05:08,516 --> 00:05:09,796 Speaker 3: I like, don't want to make this a. 78 00:05:09,836 --> 00:05:13,636 Speaker 2: Night about to honor and kick off this discussion. Here 79 00:05:13,756 --> 00:05:16,876 Speaker 2: is a never before seen and heard scene from My 80 00:05:16,996 --> 00:05:19,756 Speaker 2: Future in a World, a film that I wrote, directed 81 00:05:19,756 --> 00:05:23,996 Speaker 2: and start in entirely about the voiceover industry, because, as 82 00:05:24,036 --> 00:05:28,956 Speaker 2: we've already established, I'm clearly obsessed. This deleted scene depicts 83 00:05:28,996 --> 00:05:34,196 Speaker 2: my character Carol, trying to coach a sexy baby into 84 00:05:34,236 --> 00:05:36,156 Speaker 2: finding her true sound. 85 00:05:37,076 --> 00:05:37,436 Speaker 1: Roll it. 86 00:05:37,796 --> 00:05:39,516 Speaker 2: So when he told you here's writing a book where 87 00:05:39,556 --> 00:05:42,116 Speaker 2: you just like, holy shit, that's amaze balls. 88 00:05:43,956 --> 00:05:47,916 Speaker 3: Can I do a vocal experiment on you? Why? 89 00:05:48,836 --> 00:05:49,156 Speaker 2: Why not? 90 00:05:50,316 --> 00:05:51,996 Speaker 3: Because that's a weird question to ask. 91 00:05:52,076 --> 00:05:55,516 Speaker 2: I don't even know you Carol, you were just interviewing me. 92 00:05:55,876 --> 00:05:56,356 Speaker 3: Still weird. 93 00:05:56,756 --> 00:05:58,676 Speaker 5: I'm a vocal coach, I'm a writer. 94 00:05:59,876 --> 00:06:03,316 Speaker 2: Be good for the story. 95 00:06:04,356 --> 00:06:09,876 Speaker 3: Fine, fine, okay, good. So you're just gonna count a ten, 96 00:06:10,356 --> 00:06:12,396 Speaker 3: but when you get to the odd numbers, you're gonna 97 00:06:12,436 --> 00:06:14,196 Speaker 3: use the lowest point in your register, and when you 98 00:06:14,196 --> 00:06:15,916 Speaker 3: get to the even numbers, you're gonna use the highest 99 00:06:15,916 --> 00:06:18,396 Speaker 3: point in your register. And then right after you're just 100 00:06:18,396 --> 00:06:24,116 Speaker 3: gonna speak without thinking. So you're gonna go one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, hey, 101 00:06:24,436 --> 00:06:25,076 Speaker 3: nine ten. 102 00:06:25,476 --> 00:06:34,196 Speaker 5: Here's my voice. 103 00:06:34,356 --> 00:06:39,716 Speaker 3: One two, three, four, five, six seven nine ten. 104 00:06:40,636 --> 00:06:47,476 Speaker 2: Here's my voice. Oh my god. Right, that's so weird. 105 00:06:48,116 --> 00:06:51,756 Speaker 2: It sounds lower, and it sounds. 106 00:06:52,836 --> 00:06:53,556 Speaker 3: A mass pulse. 107 00:06:55,396 --> 00:06:59,196 Speaker 2: Let's make something crystal clear before we delve into the 108 00:06:59,316 --> 00:07:03,196 Speaker 2: sexy baby zone, which is also a no judgment zone. 109 00:07:04,356 --> 00:07:08,516 Speaker 2: This is a safe place to regard and appreciate a 110 00:07:08,636 --> 00:07:13,796 Speaker 2: unique cultural phenomenon. In fact, I have long been inspired 111 00:07:13,876 --> 00:07:16,756 Speaker 2: and in awe of this vocal trend and seek to 112 00:07:16,916 --> 00:07:21,796 Speaker 2: focus on it through a cultural lens. What factors brought 113 00:07:21,836 --> 00:07:24,196 Speaker 2: it into the American English language in the first place, 114 00:07:24,436 --> 00:07:28,156 Speaker 2: and how did it evolve over time for any one person. 115 00:07:29,396 --> 00:07:34,076 Speaker 2: In my formative years, it was Paris Hilton. I thought 116 00:07:34,156 --> 00:07:40,316 Speaker 2: she was extraordinary, hilarious, awesome, larger than life, and there 117 00:07:40,356 --> 00:07:43,836 Speaker 2: was something really special there. Sure, much of the allure 118 00:07:44,076 --> 00:07:48,076 Speaker 2: was the outfits and the status, but there was something 119 00:07:48,356 --> 00:07:52,596 Speaker 2: unique about Paris that nobody else could quite emulate. Nobody 120 00:07:52,636 --> 00:07:59,956 Speaker 2: could get to that level of her stardom. Why the voice? 121 00:07:59,996 --> 00:08:04,796 Speaker 2: She captured the world with a voice that broadcasted both 122 00:08:05,356 --> 00:08:13,156 Speaker 2: little girl submission and overt sexuality concurrently unfathomable feat or 123 00:08:13,596 --> 00:08:13,916 Speaker 2: was it? 124 00:08:14,116 --> 00:08:16,276 Speaker 3: I just have like a drive inside of me, like 125 00:08:17,116 --> 00:08:20,436 Speaker 3: I love creating, I love doing what I do. 126 00:08:20,476 --> 00:08:23,196 Speaker 2: I love making people happy, and I love making money. 127 00:08:23,876 --> 00:08:25,716 Speaker 1: Paris, thanks so much for being here. I appreciate I 128 00:08:25,756 --> 00:08:27,676 Speaker 1: know that he waves been crazy. It was like ninety 129 00:08:27,716 --> 00:08:28,636 Speaker 1: seven degrees. 130 00:08:28,356 --> 00:08:28,716 Speaker 4: Of a day. 131 00:08:28,876 --> 00:08:29,436 Speaker 2: That's hot. 132 00:08:29,556 --> 00:08:30,436 Speaker 1: Did you see that. 133 00:08:30,396 --> 00:08:33,076 Speaker 2: Ross and Rachel might be dating a real life that's hot? 134 00:08:33,276 --> 00:08:34,996 Speaker 1: How would you pronounce Vin Hart's last name in a 135 00:08:34,996 --> 00:08:35,676 Speaker 1: British accent? 136 00:08:35,756 --> 00:08:40,876 Speaker 2: That's hot? It is hot? And yet I want to 137 00:08:40,916 --> 00:08:48,636 Speaker 2: admit that I struggle. Okay, there's a struggle here. If 138 00:08:48,756 --> 00:08:53,876 Speaker 2: my personal cultural north star is creating space for a 139 00:08:53,916 --> 00:09:01,836 Speaker 2: female vocal sound to imbue trustworthiness, all knowing electable authority, 140 00:09:02,916 --> 00:09:08,596 Speaker 2: then how does the rampant trend of the sexy baby 141 00:09:08,716 --> 00:09:14,876 Speaker 2: voice impact that effort? I mean, I can admit that 142 00:09:14,996 --> 00:09:20,036 Speaker 2: I enjoy the wildly moorish entertainment provided by the Audis 143 00:09:20,076 --> 00:09:23,596 Speaker 2: Paris Hilton, the storm that is, the Kardashians and every 144 00:09:23,636 --> 00:09:27,556 Speaker 2: Real housewives of whatever the fuck they're all flooded with 145 00:09:27,596 --> 00:09:31,556 Speaker 2: sexy babies. But here's the kicker. Do I want my 146 00:09:31,796 --> 00:09:35,716 Speaker 2: daughter to grow up and speak like that? The answer 147 00:09:35,876 --> 00:09:40,316 Speaker 2: is hell no. And see now I feel bad. Now, 148 00:09:40,356 --> 00:09:45,876 Speaker 2: I feel like some judgmental jerk. I'm genuinely in an 149 00:09:45,916 --> 00:09:48,996 Speaker 2: existential crisis on this issue. So I opted to phone 150 00:09:49,036 --> 00:09:52,436 Speaker 2: a friend. But not just any friend. I needed a 151 00:09:52,556 --> 00:09:55,596 Speaker 2: deep thinker who also happened to be a best selling author, 152 00:09:55,916 --> 00:09:59,756 Speaker 2: a public speaker type that the whole world has stamped 153 00:09:59,756 --> 00:10:04,516 Speaker 2: an authority on unpacking big and controversial ideas. So I 154 00:10:04,636 --> 00:10:08,476 Speaker 2: turned to the iconic public speaker, best selling author of 155 00:10:08,636 --> 00:10:13,196 Speaker 2: multiple zeitgeist making books like The Tipping Point and Outliers, 156 00:10:13,236 --> 00:10:18,036 Speaker 2: among others, and of course, founder of Pushkin Industries. That's right, 157 00:10:18,756 --> 00:10:23,516 Speaker 2: Malcolm Gladwell. Malcolm has been hearing about my deep seated 158 00:10:23,596 --> 00:10:27,436 Speaker 2: sexy baby struggle four years at this point, and Frankly, 159 00:10:27,476 --> 00:10:29,676 Speaker 2: he's the only person who can flip the script and 160 00:10:29,756 --> 00:10:33,396 Speaker 2: interrogate me on this very issue that I myself have 161 00:10:33,516 --> 00:10:35,036 Speaker 2: brought to the proverbial table. 162 00:10:35,476 --> 00:10:38,276 Speaker 1: Wait wait, okay, hold up, there'd be much more specific 163 00:10:38,276 --> 00:10:40,516 Speaker 1: and break it down. First of all, we have these 164 00:10:40,516 --> 00:10:45,076 Speaker 1: elements that you've identified. Are they all equally important or 165 00:10:45,356 --> 00:10:48,836 Speaker 1: are they they they all play You can't rank them. 166 00:10:48,876 --> 00:10:52,316 Speaker 1: You can't say, sexy baby is sixty percent, this, twenty percent? 167 00:10:52,356 --> 00:10:53,356 Speaker 2: This, No, it's a cocktail. 168 00:10:53,396 --> 00:10:57,476 Speaker 1: It's a cocktail. Okay, number one, the vocal fright. 169 00:10:57,756 --> 00:10:59,076 Speaker 2: I would say number one, pitch. 170 00:10:59,236 --> 00:10:59,556 Speaker 1: Pitch. 171 00:10:59,676 --> 00:11:02,756 Speaker 2: Okay, I would go straight to pitch, because first you've 172 00:11:02,756 --> 00:11:05,716 Speaker 2: gotta this is very hard for me to do, is 173 00:11:05,756 --> 00:11:08,556 Speaker 2: to kind of dial in because I enjoy kind of 174 00:11:08,556 --> 00:11:10,836 Speaker 2: putting all cocktail together because it's like once you have 175 00:11:10,876 --> 00:11:13,716 Speaker 2: a martini, it's like you always want the mix. So 176 00:11:14,356 --> 00:11:18,916 Speaker 2: if I can just get the pitch, it's so we're here, 177 00:11:19,996 --> 00:11:22,796 Speaker 2: and I'm already starting to fry a little bit, but 178 00:11:22,836 --> 00:11:25,956 Speaker 2: I'm trying not to so that I can just take pitch. 179 00:11:26,556 --> 00:11:29,716 Speaker 2: This is pitch. So this is like if I were 180 00:11:29,756 --> 00:11:33,476 Speaker 2: to be talking to you in an intellectual way, but 181 00:11:33,556 --> 00:11:35,036 Speaker 2: I'm just pitched up. 182 00:11:35,516 --> 00:11:39,596 Speaker 1: Okay, yes, now then you layer on that. Now, by 183 00:11:39,596 --> 00:11:42,636 Speaker 1: the way, do you ever we're not talking about Sexy Baby, 184 00:11:42,636 --> 00:11:45,156 Speaker 1: We're talking about Lake Bell. Hi. Do you ever operate 185 00:11:45,476 --> 00:11:46,116 Speaker 1: in that pitch? 186 00:11:46,996 --> 00:11:47,236 Speaker 2: Never? 187 00:11:47,476 --> 00:11:47,716 Speaker 1: Never? 188 00:11:47,996 --> 00:11:52,516 Speaker 5: Okay, yeah, even a a in a sexual encounter, if 189 00:11:52,516 --> 00:11:55,636 Speaker 5: I may, I do not find myself pitching up to 190 00:11:55,916 --> 00:11:59,276 Speaker 5: that level or because that's the only time I could think. 191 00:11:59,556 --> 00:12:00,516 Speaker 2: Sorry, very revealing. 192 00:12:00,756 --> 00:12:02,716 Speaker 1: When you spoke to your children when they were babies, 193 00:12:02,756 --> 00:12:04,876 Speaker 1: did you go off that h No, oh you did. 194 00:12:05,316 --> 00:12:09,156 Speaker 2: No. I would never go this high for anything. But 195 00:12:09,196 --> 00:12:12,116 Speaker 2: first of all, it's you know, it's athletic. That's one 196 00:12:12,156 --> 00:12:14,676 Speaker 2: of the things about Sexy Baby is that it's like 197 00:12:14,796 --> 00:12:17,996 Speaker 2: hard to do, like you have to work hard at it. 198 00:12:17,996 --> 00:12:19,716 Speaker 2: It is an athletic. 199 00:12:19,236 --> 00:12:21,396 Speaker 1: Feat layer in the next thing. 200 00:12:21,676 --> 00:12:26,556 Speaker 2: The next thing would be fry. And I'm guilty of 201 00:12:26,596 --> 00:12:28,396 Speaker 2: a little fry here and there. I think we all are. 202 00:12:28,436 --> 00:12:29,996 Speaker 2: We have a sprinkle of fry. You know, it's like 203 00:12:29,996 --> 00:12:32,276 Speaker 2: a cultural trend. It's like skinny jeans. You know, it's in, 204 00:12:32,956 --> 00:12:34,836 Speaker 2: and then we all kind of adopt it and we 205 00:12:34,876 --> 00:12:39,316 Speaker 2: don't even notice. So notice, no, you know, I got 206 00:12:39,316 --> 00:12:43,116 Speaker 2: a little there. So when you have this and then 207 00:12:43,796 --> 00:12:46,956 Speaker 2: you start adding in the fry, So. 208 00:12:47,116 --> 00:12:49,356 Speaker 1: Teach me how to do fry. Assume I've never heard 209 00:12:49,356 --> 00:12:49,956 Speaker 1: of it. 210 00:12:50,756 --> 00:12:53,676 Speaker 2: Again, I'm not a professional, but I will say the 211 00:12:53,836 --> 00:13:00,476 Speaker 2: fry is a croak. It's in the back of your throat, 212 00:13:02,076 --> 00:13:04,956 Speaker 2: so you're gonna roll it kind of like you're a frog. 213 00:13:06,156 --> 00:13:12,196 Speaker 2: So closer. So so give me like a like why, 214 00:13:12,996 --> 00:13:15,156 Speaker 2: like why close? 215 00:13:15,436 --> 00:13:16,196 Speaker 1: I'm getting there. 216 00:13:16,876 --> 00:13:19,436 Speaker 2: The thing is, you have some you have some, take 217 00:13:19,476 --> 00:13:26,116 Speaker 2: some water, you have some. You're swallowing it, so you're going, ah, 218 00:13:26,796 --> 00:13:29,916 Speaker 2: you're getting stuck in a tightness in your throat versus 219 00:13:29,956 --> 00:13:31,876 Speaker 2: like forward opening it up. 220 00:13:32,076 --> 00:13:32,396 Speaker 1: Just a. 221 00:13:33,956 --> 00:13:34,556 Speaker 2: Yeah, so. 222 00:13:36,476 --> 00:13:38,636 Speaker 1: Getting in. I don't know how to form a word 223 00:13:38,676 --> 00:13:38,996 Speaker 1: with that. 224 00:13:38,996 --> 00:13:41,836 Speaker 2: Too, like why why? 225 00:13:42,756 --> 00:13:45,396 Speaker 1: Why? Why? Wait? Do that? Do? 226 00:13:45,916 --> 00:13:48,156 Speaker 2: Like why? Ah? 227 00:13:48,236 --> 00:13:48,596 Speaker 1: Yeah? 228 00:13:48,676 --> 00:13:49,156 Speaker 2: You see? 229 00:13:49,396 --> 00:13:53,396 Speaker 1: So like why no you don't the fry in the uptalk? 230 00:13:54,236 --> 00:13:58,116 Speaker 1: Is there a place in the sentence where those two 231 00:13:58,156 --> 00:14:01,676 Speaker 1: things operate. So we're always in the upper register, So 232 00:14:01,796 --> 00:14:05,596 Speaker 1: pitch is a constant, but we're not frying everything. 233 00:14:06,196 --> 00:14:09,196 Speaker 2: Uh, fry is like seasoning. You can't fry all the 234 00:14:09,236 --> 00:14:11,556 Speaker 2: way through or else you would just have a croak sound. 235 00:14:12,596 --> 00:14:16,196 Speaker 2: So fry is really kind of like there's a dance there. So, 236 00:14:17,156 --> 00:14:21,876 Speaker 2: for instance, in my normal speech, I would say, for instance, 237 00:14:22,316 --> 00:14:24,636 Speaker 2: and that's a plateau. We're just like on a road 238 00:14:25,196 --> 00:14:31,516 Speaker 2: going forward. For instance, is obviously a classic up talk 239 00:14:31,636 --> 00:14:34,116 Speaker 2: with a little sprinkle of fry and pitch up. 240 00:14:34,556 --> 00:14:37,916 Speaker 1: What work is fry doing? Is it comic? Is it 241 00:14:37,956 --> 00:14:38,676 Speaker 1: for emphasis? 242 00:14:39,036 --> 00:14:41,356 Speaker 2: I think it comes from a place of like sex. 243 00:14:41,596 --> 00:14:45,956 Speaker 2: This is part of the sexy flavor of spice, because 244 00:14:45,996 --> 00:14:48,556 Speaker 2: I think when I've interviewed people, Hey, you know what's 245 00:14:48,596 --> 00:14:51,676 Speaker 2: the most alluring sexy voice in a woman? It tends 246 00:14:51,716 --> 00:14:55,676 Speaker 2: to be croakier voices. It tends to be smokier voices. 247 00:14:56,236 --> 00:14:59,716 Speaker 2: And whether they're high voices or low voices, they all 248 00:14:59,876 --> 00:15:03,076 Speaker 2: seem to have that element in them. 249 00:15:03,116 --> 00:15:07,076 Speaker 1: And it's paradoxical because it's a smoky kind of guttural 250 00:15:07,116 --> 00:15:10,036 Speaker 1: thing that's taking place at a very high Yeah. 251 00:15:10,396 --> 00:15:14,356 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm trying to think of like men who fry, 252 00:15:14,396 --> 00:15:16,156 Speaker 2: because there's a ton of men who fry as well. 253 00:15:16,316 --> 00:15:19,876 Speaker 1: You know who fries? Who fries? Henry Kissinger, he fries. Yeah, 254 00:15:20,036 --> 00:15:21,916 Speaker 1: but it's a it's a kind of German. 255 00:15:21,676 --> 00:15:23,556 Speaker 2: Fry, a Truman fry. 256 00:15:25,036 --> 00:15:27,116 Speaker 1: No, it's a kind of like but it is the 257 00:15:27,116 --> 00:15:27,996 Speaker 1: friendship upset. 258 00:15:28,076 --> 00:15:33,836 Speaker 4: Yeah, I will mistake anything on the proposition that before 259 00:15:33,916 --> 00:15:37,196 Speaker 4: the end of this year, Goebachev will be in Washington, 260 00:15:37,276 --> 00:15:40,636 Speaker 4: and I'll take only a little lesson the proposition that 261 00:15:40,756 --> 00:15:43,236 Speaker 4: before the end of next year President Reagan will be 262 00:15:43,276 --> 00:15:43,836 Speaker 4: in Moscow. 263 00:15:45,236 --> 00:15:47,396 Speaker 1: But wait, you did something else and Sexy Baby that 264 00:15:47,476 --> 00:15:49,676 Speaker 1: you haven't talked about, which is you were also running 265 00:15:49,716 --> 00:15:50,636 Speaker 1: some words together. 266 00:15:50,836 --> 00:15:53,836 Speaker 2: So that's the that is quality. So yeah, that's a 267 00:15:54,036 --> 00:15:57,996 Speaker 2: little I will say that kind of creeps into performance 268 00:15:58,116 --> 00:16:00,276 Speaker 2: a little bit to help me get in there, you know, 269 00:16:00,356 --> 00:16:02,956 Speaker 2: just as an actor and as a performer, for instance, 270 00:16:02,996 --> 00:16:06,756 Speaker 2: with accents, I have either a hand jester or you know, 271 00:16:07,116 --> 00:16:10,516 Speaker 2: a catchphrase to get you into an accent, like Irish 272 00:16:10,636 --> 00:16:14,036 Speaker 2: is pulled Bach on the bull on the bout. I 273 00:16:14,076 --> 00:16:15,836 Speaker 2: don't know if I'll ever need to put anything in 274 00:16:15,836 --> 00:16:18,356 Speaker 2: a bucket, but in an Irish accent probably you know 275 00:16:18,396 --> 00:16:22,756 Speaker 2: what I mean. So like that's like my in there. 276 00:16:22,996 --> 00:16:27,156 Speaker 1: In my experience with hearing Sexy Baby in the wild, Yes, 277 00:16:27,836 --> 00:16:32,076 Speaker 1: in there, sentences without spaces. Imagine typing a set. Yeah, 278 00:16:32,116 --> 00:16:35,156 Speaker 1: there's no punctuation, there's no punctuation whatsoever. It's that that 279 00:16:35,436 --> 00:16:36,036 Speaker 1: irritates me. 280 00:16:36,196 --> 00:16:39,556 Speaker 2: And like what really bothers me about climate change or whatever? 281 00:16:39,676 --> 00:16:43,076 Speaker 2: Is that like we're now working together, and like if 282 00:16:43,076 --> 00:16:46,756 Speaker 2: we could just like work together, like you didn't meet, 283 00:16:46,916 --> 00:16:52,516 Speaker 2: so much more of our power together and like that 284 00:16:52,716 --> 00:17:02,836 Speaker 2: for me is just like swim we're it, meaning we're it. 285 00:17:03,956 --> 00:17:05,876 Speaker 1: If I was like an oil company and I wanted 286 00:17:05,916 --> 00:17:08,156 Speaker 1: to really get people to be skeptical of climate change, 287 00:17:08,196 --> 00:17:11,516 Speaker 1: I would just run of what you just said. 288 00:17:12,156 --> 00:17:17,956 Speaker 2: That's here's the yell. Drying a car like gas or 289 00:17:17,996 --> 00:17:20,236 Speaker 2: whatever is like just like American. 290 00:17:21,356 --> 00:17:23,556 Speaker 1: But there's so there's there's that running together, and then 291 00:17:23,556 --> 00:17:25,836 Speaker 1: there's also a little bit of slurring that you're adding. 292 00:17:25,876 --> 00:17:27,996 Speaker 2: There's no you're right, there's like a little bit of sorry, 293 00:17:28,116 --> 00:17:29,956 Speaker 2: I think that I just want to say something that's 294 00:17:29,996 --> 00:17:34,276 Speaker 2: really important. It's just like it doesn't mean you're not smart. 295 00:17:34,516 --> 00:17:37,276 Speaker 2: The accent and the dialect. Why I have a bone 296 00:17:37,276 --> 00:17:38,996 Speaker 2: to pick with it is because like I am a 297 00:17:39,036 --> 00:17:42,156 Speaker 2: feminist and like I don't want to think of women 298 00:17:43,076 --> 00:17:47,596 Speaker 2: as little sexy babies that can't think for themselves, and 299 00:17:47,676 --> 00:17:52,196 Speaker 2: so it's really hard for me. I really think of 300 00:17:52,236 --> 00:17:56,156 Speaker 2: it as a trend that's gotten out of control. You know, 301 00:17:56,236 --> 00:17:59,436 Speaker 2: it was kind of cute for a beat. It was 302 00:17:59,476 --> 00:18:02,436 Speaker 2: in a movie or two, you know, and there was 303 00:18:02,476 --> 00:18:07,556 Speaker 2: a kind of a texture of sound that was born 304 00:18:07,796 --> 00:18:14,236 Speaker 2: from the California a surfer girl community, valley esque environment. 305 00:18:14,356 --> 00:18:18,836 Speaker 2: But I do think that that compounded with the history 306 00:18:19,076 --> 00:18:20,916 Speaker 2: like before that, where did it come from? It's like, okay, 307 00:18:20,956 --> 00:18:23,956 Speaker 2: there's Betty Boop, And I think that Betty Boop is 308 00:18:23,996 --> 00:18:27,516 Speaker 2: a good place to start just as a reference, because 309 00:18:27,956 --> 00:18:33,756 Speaker 2: it's very distinct. She is sexualized, she's not homely, the 310 00:18:33,836 --> 00:18:35,716 Speaker 2: ideas that she's alluring. 311 00:18:36,036 --> 00:18:38,676 Speaker 1: But there's no fry in Betty Boop. 312 00:18:38,076 --> 00:18:41,636 Speaker 2: Boo, No, there's not. There's not. Betty Boop is kind 313 00:18:41,636 --> 00:18:45,836 Speaker 2: of the original sexy baby though, just as a concept. 314 00:18:45,476 --> 00:18:46,956 Speaker 1: That's the where the archetype comes from. 315 00:18:47,036 --> 00:18:50,356 Speaker 2: Yeah, boo do do boop boop be doop. 316 00:18:50,756 --> 00:18:53,276 Speaker 1: But there's been a great deal of linguistic innovation, yes, 317 00:18:53,316 --> 00:18:57,156 Speaker 1: between then, and how does Marilyn Monroe fit into this evolution? 318 00:18:58,356 --> 00:18:59,756 Speaker 1: That's breathiness, is it? 319 00:19:00,156 --> 00:19:03,796 Speaker 2: Yeah? But she also is broadcasting a bedroom voice, so 320 00:19:04,796 --> 00:19:08,996 Speaker 2: why I just don't know, and a little baby voice 321 00:19:09,156 --> 00:19:14,356 Speaker 2: but you know, oh well listen, peaky. You know that's 322 00:19:14,636 --> 00:19:18,676 Speaker 2: very high pitched. So you've got the grounds there for 323 00:19:18,796 --> 00:19:21,396 Speaker 2: that starting place, which is we didn't really get the 324 00:19:21,636 --> 00:19:24,796 Speaker 2: breathiness in the sexy baby voice. But we got that pitch, 325 00:19:25,556 --> 00:19:31,036 Speaker 2: you know, and that alluring sexy nature of bedroom talk 326 00:19:31,516 --> 00:19:34,116 Speaker 2: that's like outward and being exposed to everyone. I mean, 327 00:19:34,156 --> 00:19:36,236 Speaker 2: that was her whole thing. So that's why I have 328 00:19:36,316 --> 00:19:37,756 Speaker 2: the word sexy in it. 329 00:19:37,756 --> 00:19:40,716 Speaker 1: It's super interesting because if we think of Paris Hilton 330 00:19:40,796 --> 00:19:44,756 Speaker 1: and Kim Kardashian as people who are taking the intimacy 331 00:19:45,276 --> 00:19:48,596 Speaker 1: of the sex tape and kind of taking it public, 332 00:19:49,836 --> 00:19:55,556 Speaker 1: Marilyn Monroe's famous Happy Birthday sung to JFK when she 333 00:19:55,796 --> 00:19:58,236 Speaker 1: was presumably in the middle of having an affair with 334 00:19:58,636 --> 00:20:01,036 Speaker 1: is the same thing, right. I mean, she's essentially saying, 335 00:20:01,036 --> 00:20:02,996 Speaker 1: I'm having an affair with this guy. Right, That's the 336 00:20:03,036 --> 00:20:05,596 Speaker 1: whole point of the happy Birthday thing, is this is 337 00:20:05,676 --> 00:20:08,756 Speaker 1: the way we are when we're in bed together, and 338 00:20:08,796 --> 00:20:10,796 Speaker 1: I'm doing it in front of the entire country. It's 339 00:20:10,836 --> 00:20:14,236 Speaker 1: like such an incredible like it's like this, fuck you 340 00:20:14,356 --> 00:20:17,596 Speaker 1: first of all to Jackie. I mean, it's just but 341 00:20:17,636 --> 00:20:20,316 Speaker 1: it's an extraordinary it is an extraordinary cultural moment. 342 00:20:24,356 --> 00:20:26,036 Speaker 3: Day to you. 343 00:20:28,356 --> 00:20:29,876 Speaker 2: Happy birthday. 344 00:20:32,596 --> 00:20:36,996 Speaker 1: So Paris Hilm comes along in the aughts, right, talking 345 00:20:37,076 --> 00:20:39,596 Speaker 1: like this, and it becomes a kind of sensation and 346 00:20:39,596 --> 00:20:45,436 Speaker 1: it proves quite culturally contagious, and I'm wondering why why 347 00:20:45,476 --> 00:20:49,276 Speaker 1: would the sexy baby voice come back at that moment. 348 00:20:49,796 --> 00:20:52,916 Speaker 2: It boils down to sex tapes, kind of like the 349 00:20:52,956 --> 00:20:55,476 Speaker 2: women that we're talking about. If we're going to bring 350 00:20:55,556 --> 00:20:59,596 Speaker 2: up Paris and Kim, they both had that right. They 351 00:20:59,596 --> 00:21:04,076 Speaker 2: had a sex tape that was leaked. And by the way, 352 00:21:04,116 --> 00:21:07,316 Speaker 2: speaking of another classic voice and a sex tape, pamel Anderson. 353 00:21:07,596 --> 00:21:12,796 Speaker 2: Now that voice, you know, is effective, and so I 354 00:21:12,876 --> 00:21:16,436 Speaker 2: feel like there's something there where it's like taking the 355 00:21:16,476 --> 00:21:22,156 Speaker 2: bedroom voice and broadcasting it and allowing for that intimacy 356 00:21:22,396 --> 00:21:26,476 Speaker 2: to be a part of the brand. Rhymestones. There's no 357 00:21:26,636 --> 00:21:29,476 Speaker 2: such thing as too many rhinestones, because it's hot to 358 00:21:29,476 --> 00:21:31,036 Speaker 2: bling as much as possible. 359 00:21:32,556 --> 00:21:35,916 Speaker 1: You have complicated feelings about sexy Baby, which I want 360 00:21:35,916 --> 00:21:37,636 Speaker 1: to kind of dig into a little bit. You've alluded 361 00:21:37,716 --> 00:21:41,396 Speaker 1: to them here and there, but you have a sexy 362 00:21:41,436 --> 00:21:42,276 Speaker 1: baby problem. 363 00:21:43,956 --> 00:21:47,916 Speaker 2: I have unwelcome judgment in my views on it because 364 00:21:48,596 --> 00:21:52,596 Speaker 2: even in Penning in a World, it was part of 365 00:21:52,676 --> 00:21:56,476 Speaker 2: the you know, sort of joke of it was, what 366 00:21:56,756 --> 00:22:01,076 Speaker 2: is this trend, this plague that is infecting our women? 367 00:22:01,396 --> 00:22:05,196 Speaker 2: And it felt like regression. It felt not like progress 368 00:22:05,636 --> 00:22:09,796 Speaker 2: just on a feminist bent. It is a sound that 369 00:22:10,196 --> 00:22:13,716 Speaker 2: parkens Our ears back to a time when you are 370 00:22:13,756 --> 00:22:16,836 Speaker 2: a child, when you have to ask for things, you 371 00:22:16,836 --> 00:22:22,156 Speaker 2: don't have agency, And so why is that sound? A 372 00:22:22,236 --> 00:22:26,796 Speaker 2: submissive little girl sound somehow sexy. All of a sudden, 373 00:22:27,076 --> 00:22:29,356 Speaker 2: I had a bone to pick with that. You started 374 00:22:29,356 --> 00:22:34,076 Speaker 2: to see women who were in their forties have great jobs, 375 00:22:34,396 --> 00:22:38,076 Speaker 2: their lawyers, their CEO or whatever, and they started to 376 00:22:38,116 --> 00:22:40,596 Speaker 2: have this sound. And that's where I got confused and 377 00:22:40,676 --> 00:22:44,516 Speaker 2: upset because I thought, Okay, so you're saying, especially as 378 00:22:44,516 --> 00:22:49,676 Speaker 2: a mother, society is allowing for or supporting this idea 379 00:22:50,156 --> 00:22:54,476 Speaker 2: that women can sound like little girls and be leaders. 380 00:22:54,716 --> 00:22:58,756 Speaker 2: And that for me was difficult because I don't want 381 00:22:58,756 --> 00:23:01,116 Speaker 2: my daughter to think that that's how you're supposed to sound. 382 00:23:01,196 --> 00:23:04,196 Speaker 2: I don't want my son to think that women should 383 00:23:04,236 --> 00:23:06,796 Speaker 2: sound that way. And I feel bad for feeling uncomfortable 384 00:23:06,796 --> 00:23:09,516 Speaker 2: because I think that women should sound. However, the dam this. 385 00:23:09,516 --> 00:23:11,196 Speaker 1: Is why I don't understand. I don't understand why you 386 00:23:11,196 --> 00:23:13,196 Speaker 1: feel bad about being uncomfortable. 387 00:23:13,596 --> 00:23:17,996 Speaker 2: Because I'm a woman. We feel badly for judging other women. 388 00:23:18,836 --> 00:23:22,956 Speaker 1: But hold on the argument that you're making in your book, 389 00:23:23,676 --> 00:23:25,836 Speaker 1: is that a lot of the way we sound is 390 00:23:25,836 --> 00:23:30,196 Speaker 1: a choice. So women, a certain group of women have 391 00:23:30,396 --> 00:23:34,956 Speaker 1: chosen either consciously or unconsciously, to sound this way. They 392 00:23:34,956 --> 00:23:38,516 Speaker 1: don't have to sound this way, right, They have options. Yes, 393 00:23:38,956 --> 00:23:41,716 Speaker 1: our voice is our own. We control the way we sound. 394 00:23:42,796 --> 00:23:45,436 Speaker 1: And you're simply saying that's a bad choice or a 395 00:23:45,476 --> 00:23:46,716 Speaker 1: problematic choice. 396 00:23:47,236 --> 00:23:52,876 Speaker 2: You are saying that I should feel comfortable with feeling uncomfortable. 397 00:23:53,036 --> 00:23:57,196 Speaker 1: Yes, well, I'm wondering why you're so conflicted about the 398 00:23:57,236 --> 00:23:59,396 Speaker 1: fact that you find this voice to be an issue. 399 00:23:59,476 --> 00:24:04,476 Speaker 2: Okay, So because, for instance, I have a pal let's 400 00:24:04,476 --> 00:24:09,916 Speaker 2: call her RS, and she has a very high pitched voice, 401 00:24:10,516 --> 00:24:14,876 Speaker 2: naturally off the truck. Okay, So she's not putting it on. 402 00:24:15,876 --> 00:24:19,916 Speaker 2: She just has that voice. I love her. She's so sweet. 403 00:24:20,316 --> 00:24:22,916 Speaker 2: She's got a little fry then a little uptalk. But 404 00:24:23,396 --> 00:24:27,716 Speaker 2: she's a mom of three, she works hard, and I 405 00:24:27,996 --> 00:24:32,436 Speaker 2: just know her. And so it's people like that where 406 00:24:32,476 --> 00:24:35,836 Speaker 2: I go. I know she's not putting it on. I 407 00:24:35,876 --> 00:24:39,916 Speaker 2: also understand that she's probably not a vocally obsessed person 408 00:24:40,196 --> 00:24:43,316 Speaker 2: and isn't thinking about it so much. And so when 409 00:24:43,356 --> 00:24:45,636 Speaker 2: you say it's a choice, I concur that it is 410 00:24:45,676 --> 00:24:48,276 Speaker 2: a choice. Once you listen to it, and once you're 411 00:24:48,276 --> 00:24:50,356 Speaker 2: aware of it and you're in the room with it. 412 00:24:50,476 --> 00:24:54,716 Speaker 2: But I think that it's important in my research on 413 00:24:54,796 --> 00:24:58,396 Speaker 2: this to allow for there to be space for that's 414 00:24:58,476 --> 00:25:02,636 Speaker 2: just how they speak, but when it's something that's like 415 00:25:03,636 --> 00:25:09,796 Speaker 2: plaguing someone and they're kind of using it as a tool, 416 00:25:10,396 --> 00:25:13,596 Speaker 2: especially when it comes to a woman of a certain 417 00:25:13,676 --> 00:25:18,436 Speaker 2: age who's imbuing this sound that's of a young woman. 418 00:25:19,116 --> 00:25:22,756 Speaker 2: You know, I think in our voices, let's own it. 419 00:25:22,916 --> 00:25:25,756 Speaker 2: Let's own it that it's sexy to sound your age, 420 00:25:25,836 --> 00:25:28,276 Speaker 2: or it's sexy to sound like a mature woman. 421 00:25:28,636 --> 00:25:28,836 Speaker 3: You know. 422 00:25:29,356 --> 00:25:31,956 Speaker 2: I know that's not their natural sound, especially after giving 423 00:25:32,036 --> 00:25:36,796 Speaker 2: birth twice. Your voice changes after birth, you know it should. 424 00:25:37,156 --> 00:25:41,916 Speaker 2: It's a it's an experience, but also chemically, hormonally, your 425 00:25:41,956 --> 00:25:47,316 Speaker 2: voice changes, and that's a privilege. Aging is a privilege. 426 00:25:47,636 --> 00:25:48,396 Speaker 2: So own it. 427 00:25:52,756 --> 00:25:55,676 Speaker 1: That was an excerpt from Lake Bell's Inner Voice, which 428 00:25:55,796 --> 00:25:59,916 Speaker 1: is a delight. Go get your copy today at Inside Voice, 429 00:25:59,956 --> 00:26:05,196 Speaker 1: audiobook dot Com, Audible, Spotify, and everywhere audiobooks are sold.