I'm especially good at expectorating.

Becoming a parent gives one certain licenses - frequent bad hair days, the decidedly squishier 'mom' bod, the inability to turn up anywhere on time. In my case, it has also allowed me to test out how many of the lyrics I remember of the Disney classics - all under the guise of educating my months old baby, who within a few minutes of the sparkling castle appearing in the sky should infinitely prefer a cardboard box.

But that doesn't stop me watching Beauty and the Beast for the seventeenth time, and being pleasantly surprised that singing along to Be Our Guest doesn't merge murkily with See My Vest, or the more niche, but markedly more helpful, We Are Stressed, which is probably more apt for me nowadays.

One particular BATB number which revolves around the alpha goon, Gaston, has managed to stay deeply embedded in the recesses of my musical memory, a brilliantly inventive takedown of toxic masculinity before it was #trending, and which I have affixed to this post via a link at the bottom (just in case you don't quite remember it).

Perhaps the tongue-twisting, vocab-expanding nature of the classic Disney tunes that I listened to so often as a child was a contributing factor to my career choice today, and my ability to vocally perform with language so technical I don't understand it - like my work teaching students about mathematics for GCSEPod for example (an incredibly ironic appointment if you know me), or the series of tech heavy videos I recently recorded for IBM Think 2022 (a video you will find below).

The honest truth is that because voice-over by its nature covers such a vast range of subjects, some of which are so far flung and particular that you simply can't become an expert on them with the half a day's notice before recording starts, faking it 'til you make it is a very necessary part of the job description, even if it is written in invisible ink. But I have always been especially good at expectorating, even and especially when I had no idea what it meant, and I believe I may have Disney to thank for that.

If you're still confused about how Disney and IBM can be linked within 500 words, or the verb 'expectorate', you can always, call me, and we'll chat about it.

Until next time, toodles!