I brought Lisa into our conference to lead communication workshops for a group of 17 veterinarians…read moreand veterinary business owners. Her sessions were engaging, practical, and incredibly relevant to the challenges we face in clinical and leadership roles. The feedback from my colleagues was overwhelmingly positive--they felt more confident communicating with both clients and team members. I highly recommend Lisa for group workshops and individual coaching within the veterinary field or any professional setting where communication is key.

This review is long overdue. I recommended Lisa to one of my clients during a major conference…read more (pre COVID). They were concerned about their speakers accents and stage presence. I watched the speakers during a runthrough prior to her workshop and after and all I have to say is wow! What a difference! With only a limited amount of time to work with the group she made such an amazing impact. Lisa was very responsive and addressed all of my clients concerns. I would highly recommend Lisa to anyone looking to improve their public speaking skills.

Enrolling in Empowerhouse Acting Studio's 2-Year Meisner training program was one of the best…read moredecisions of my life!!! My Experience:I've grown so much as both an actor and an individual through Melissa Thompson Esaia's 2-year Meisner program at Empowerhouse. She created a safe and supportive space where I could be vulnerable and explore parts of myself that I don't normally express in my daily life. Her feedback is thoughtful, empowering, and always focused on growth. She understands that we're learning and we're not here to be "good" and"perfect." We're here to show up, do the work and do the best we can, and trust in ourselves (and also have fun)! On days when the work felt thin, Melissa acknowledged my efforts and gave helpful feedback and suggestions for what I can try next time and how I can make the work feel more earned and strong. I appreciate Melissa's sensitivity and gentle approach to teaching! Melissa assigned scenes that stretched me beyond my comfort zone. I'm naturally soft, fun-loving and bubbly, so I really appreciated being given characters that were messy, complex, and emotionally rich. It helped me discover sides of myself I didn't even know I had. I've taken her teaching with me to my personal life, and that has helped me feel more free, present, and grounded. If you're an actor looking to take your craft to the next level, I highly recommend Empowerhouse Acting Studio!! I've also taken Improv Workshops with Otis Gates, and they were so much fun! It was my first time ever taking an improv class, so I was definitely nervous, but Otis brings a vibrant energy and created such a warm, welcoming, and joyful environment. His class helped me loosen up and feel more at ease in my body. I highly recommend Otis's Improv workshops regardless of your experience level. Whether you're trying improv for the first time or you're an experienced improv-er wanting to continue working on your craft, you'll definitely enjoy the class! The Breath and Body Workshop with DeAnna Driscoll was another amazing experience. Her class was incredibly grounding. We worked with breath and movement to connect more deeply with our bodies. I've always wanted to explore and expand my vocal range, and this workshop really helped with that. I was shocked to hear myself accessing a vocal range two octaves lower than I normally speak! This workshop was only 2 days, but those were 2 powerful days! I felt so grounded and present in my body, and have continued to use her teachings in my daily lives. I highly recommend the breath and body workshop! Overall, you're in excellent hands at Empowerhouse. Whether it's Meisner, improv, or breath and body workshop, the quality of the training and the heart behind it is unmatched. I can't recommend it enough! Logistics:The 2-year Meisner program consists of 6 sessions, each about 3 months long, all taught by Melissa. Classes meet 1-2 times a week for 3 hours each. You're paired with a scene partner every session, and outside rehearsal with classmates is essential for getting the most out of the work. The Improv Workshop runs for three days, with each class lasting three hours. The Breath and Body Workshop is two days long, also three hours per class. Bonus: there's plenty of street parking and pricing is very reasonable!

I will begin this review by addressing all those actors and aspiring actors out there looking for a…read moresolid training program that builds a strong foundational craft in the art of acting and provides a suite of tools to use when building a truthful character and scene. If this is why you are reading this review, I can assure you that you will find all this and more in the Empowerhouse Acting Studio Meisner Program. I was fortunate to enroll in a class led by the founder of the studio, Melissa Thompson Esaia. Melissa is a kind and supportive teacher, while also holding her students to the high standard required to grow as an actor. This class requires commitment and trust and if you are willing to make this commitment you will surprise yourself with the growth you will see as an actor. The program breaks the process of acting down to its simplest form and then builds on itself in beautiful and surprising ways. Each of the six sessions provides unique gifts that build on each other as the program progresses. Session 1 taught me what it means to be truly present and connected to a scene partner. Session 2 taught me how to build a life in my imagination. Session 3 taught me how to bridge the gap between myself and a character who is radically different. Session 4 taught me how to truly find the meaning behind a character's words. Session 5 taught me how to embody a character in both body and mind. Session 6 taught me how to bring it all together to collaborate with a partner in the truthful experience of living out a scene. After completing the program, I feel comfortable in calling myself an actor and feel armed with the tools of craft needed to take on any role. Beyond the Meisner Training program Empowerhouse Acting Studio also offers other classes and creative events that I have found incredibly rewarding. The Business of Acting and Audition Class is a must for anyone ready to take their skills into the professional world. It was a wonderful class to take after the Meisner Program. I have also taken breath and movement classes that have allowed me to more deeply connect with my own body when working on stage and camera work. I have also participated in fun events like a 24 hour film festival that is a blast and improv jams that are welcoming of improvers of all levels. While I have taken classes at several of the other major Bay Area Theatre companies that offer them, the classes just don't compare to the dedicated attention I received at Empowerhouse. I came to this studio and the Meisner program looking to become a better actor and it delivered on this many times over. I was not expecting to gain a deeper understanding of myself as a person. The greatest gift and superpower an actor can receive is a greater understanding of themselves. Beyond the tools and the craft, this deeper understanding of myself is the greatest gift Melissa and the Empowerhouse Acting Studio Meisner Program gave me.

I spent a wonderful Sunday here!…read more The owner asked me to come in and teach a class, so I did. I hadn't been to Voice One before. I can tell you it's a wonderful facility with great ownership and management. The students here are and welcoming to new people. As a professional Voice Actor for 20 years, I feel that the education they are giving their students is top-notch. They have wonderfully defined coursework and everything is mapped out to gear students for success. I have a friend who teaches here and she is also very fond of the school. She and I are both very honest people, and we appreciate that being reflected by the owner of Voice One. The integrity is lovely to be behold. If you were looking to learn about voice acting or any of the other things they teach here don't hesitate to sign up.

Took a number of classes and really couldn't recommend any aspect of their approach to teaching…read more Most, but not all, of the instructors seem jaded, burnt out, and obnoxious, sally in particular. There didn't seem to be any effort to build meaningful connections between instructors and students, their attitudes seem very detached, joyless, and transactional.

Audrey is the best writing coach I've ever worked with. She is attentive, kind, and offers great…read moreediting advice. Audrey's rates are also the most affordable I've found. I highly recommend working with her!

Had a great time taking private lessons from Ximena on a weekly basis, she had a curriculum,…read morelessons, books and cultural activity. I became somewhat fluent and went to Chile towards the end of my classes. Highly recommend.

I have been studying with Easy Spanish Para Ti (ESPT) for almost one year now and I can say that I…read morelove it! Stephanie has always been so nice and accommodating from the moment we first spoke. I have had a few teachers since starting and they were all wonderful. However, my current profesora, Grace, has been nothing short of wonderful! All of the students I have met have enjoyed there experience at ESPT and all recommend it. I recently traveled to Mexico for two weeks and my experience was amazing, as I could completely converse in Spanish (with some gracious understanding by the locals) and got around with no problem. Many were impressed with how much I've learned when I told them I had been studying full time for only a year. I highly recommend joining me at ESPT if you want to accelerate or begin your Spanish journey.

Travia has been incredible to work with. She gave me practical tips and tools to feel more…read moreconfident when speaking in public and helped me get my nerves under control so I can clearly deliver my message. She also played a huge role in helping me refine my business pitch. What I had in my head felt scattered, and she helped me flesh it out into something clear, focused, and easy to communicate. One of the things I appreciated most was her ability to pivot our sessions based on what was going on in real time. Whether I needed help preparing for something specific or working through a challenge, she met me where I was and guided me through it. Travia is incredibly positive, encouraging, and truly a joy to work with.

I have had the pleasure of hearing her speak, lead a session at one of the local libraries and have…read morea one-on-one session. I have been blown away by her ability to listen intently and interpret what she has heard into coherent, productive feedback. Because of her, I have a more clear direction for next steps which gives me more confidence and less apprehension about my professional and personal future. I know that she can help you too.

I've been a part of Toastmasters on Campus for 9 months now, and it's been such a privilege to be a…read morepart of this community and look forward to the meetings each week. There's a reason why this club has received the President's Distinguished Club Award for 10 years in a row, and counting! Before I attended my first meeting, I assumed I would be so intimidated by all the great speakers and thus too nervous to speak in front of them. But when I came to my first few meetings, I was simultaneously so impressed by the speakers, so warmly welcomed by the members, and so supported in my goal to improve my public speaking, that all I really felt was community and encouragement. Because of how organized, structured, and supportive the club is, my public speaking has evolved from speaking quietly with shaking hands, stiff legs, and very many "ums" and "likes", to speaking with much more confidence, a louder voice, less filler words, and more poise and ease moving about the stage. I feel more comfortable and much less fearful. Toastmasters has a structured yet flexible curriculum to help you achieve your public speaking goals, leadership goals, and life goals. It's a method that is tried and true to help you improve your speaking, and it's a community that you'll want to keep coming back to. I've made any friends in this club from diverse backgrounds, and have learned so much not only about public speaking, but also about many people's experiences, perspectives, and stories. :) I couldn't recommend it enough.

I have been a member of Toastmasters on Campus for about 5 months now. I look forward to our…read moremeetings every single week. My public speaking skills have improved dramatically. I have a lot less social anxiety now, enjoy deeper connections with my friends and family, and have an easier time meeting new people. I speak in front of the camera a lot for work, and now I feel a lot more comfortable doing so. I am so excited for my next public speaking gig, as I know I have improved a lot. I'd like to start speaking in contests to expand my comfort zone even more. I have made great friendships in the group. Now, we have 12-15+ people showing up every week, and everyone's skills keep getting better.

I have been taking the online class format with Ju for several months. I am a heritage Mandarin…read morespeaker, with strong conversational skills. I decided to take lessons with Ju to improve reading and writing skills, as well as more deeply advance my knowledge of Mandarin. I opted for her online learning format, because it is better suited for my busy schedule and just as effective as compared to in-person. Ju is knowledgeable and patient, always willing to explain concepts. I like her customized curriculum and homework that she tailors to each student. For advanced and heritage speakers, she can create personalized lesson plans to target specific areas of improvement. I highly recommend Ju for advanced Mandarin speakers as well as in general, for your custom goals for Mandarin learning!

Working with Ju has been a total delight AND a well-structured and paced introduction to Mandarin…read morelearning. She follows a well-regarded textbook, but using both spoken, character-based, and auditory inputs that have helped me solidify learning from week to week. Ju's style is also quite personable and I have enjoyed chatting with her about things like family, where we live, and general cultural references. For those who want to study Mandarin, I think it's important to say that because the language is unlike many Romance or Germanic languages, it requires daily attention in order to flex new muscles of both tone and visual character learning. Ju has been helpful and patient helping me put together a homework structure that really helps me retain information, combining use of Skritter (app) as well as listening and reading.