You're Hearing Voices: Recent Episodes
Dan Hankiewicz
A podcast for the voice over community, where Dan Hankiewicz, your host, interviews the key players in the voice over community, as well as voice seekers and marketing experts.
This week, I'm chatting with Chip Taylor, the head coach of the Hamline University Pipers football team. We discuss the following topics:
- Coach Taylor shares insights into his coaching journey and philosophy, emphasizing player development, leadership, and mentorship.
- Team dynamics, player recruitment, and the balance between academics and athletics. Coach Taylor also reflects on memorable moments and challenges in his coaching career.
- Coach Taylor walks through a typical game week, emphasizing preparation and tough practices. He discusses his coaching influences, interactions with referees, and motivational strategies tailored to individual players.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm chatting with Javier Corrales, professor of Political Science at Amherst College and author of "Autocracy Rising: How Venezuela Transitioned to Authoritarianism." We cover the following topics:
- The rising trend of autocracy globally;
- The autocratic tendencies in El Salvador under President Bukele;
- The erosion of democratic norms and institutions in various countries, including the United States and Hungary;
- Analysis of American political opinion on autocracy and its impact on foreign policy, particularly regarding Ukraine;
- The autocratization process in Venezuela and Maduro's consolidation of power; and
- Examination of the Latino vote and its divisions, with insights into Trump's appeal among certain segments and the Republican Party's shifting stance on immigration.
Check out this week's episode!
Javier's book: https://bit.ly/javierbook
This week, we chat with actor and filmmaker Steve Lichtenstein, creator and star of Never Too Late—a sci-fi short delving into AI, climate change, and the human experience. Steve shares his inspirations, the acting and filmmaking journey, and why he believes storytelling can spark thought and change.
Check out the website: https://www.thenevertoolate.com
This week, Dan engages in a conversation with Robin Bose, India's leading golf journalist. Dan and Robin delve into the transformative impact of LIV Golf and the implications of the proposed merger between the PGA Tour and the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Interview highlights:
- LIV Golf's Genesis: Robin Bose sheds light on the origins of LIV Golf, tracing its roots to Greg Norman's vision of a select group of elite players guaranteed substantial prize money.
- Influence and Expansion: Reflecting on LIV's influence, Robin argues that its coexistence with the PGA Tour has not diluted the sport but rather diversified the field, creating greater opportunities and financial rewards globally.
- Proposed Merger and Future Prospects: Robin offers insights into the proposed merger between Live Golf and the PGA Tour, discussing initial agreements and ongoing negotiations. He outlines the potential structure of the post-merger entity, emphasizing the roles of key figures such as Yasser Al-Rumayyan and Greg Norman.
Learn more about Robin: https://www.thegolfinghub.com/
Don't miss this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Jason Hamilton, aka "the Nerdy Novelist," as he exposes us to the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and creative writing. Jason discusses the dynamic nature of AI tools like Pseudorite and Chat GPT, highlighting their evolving capabilities and the challenges they pose, such as content filtering issues. He emphasizes the enduring importance of fostering human connection in creative endeavors, even in the face of advancing AI technologies. Jason also shares insights into his approach to creating YouTube content that remains relevant in the rapidly changing AI landscape, as well as his future focus on profitability in self-publishing.
Check out Jason at https://nerdynovelist.com/
Enjoy this week's episode!
In this episode, Tahani Mustafa, Senior Palestine Analyst for the International Crisis Group, provides insights into the multifaceted Gaza conflict. From the grim reality under military occupation to the complexities of Hamas's rise and the questionable viability of a two-state solution, we delve into the duration of the conflict, critiquing Israeli actions and exploring intentions behind open declarations by Israeli officials.
Below is a summary of some of the topics we discuss:
Pre-October 7th Situation:
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- Grim reality of Palestinians under military occupation.
- Critique of Oslo Accords as Palestinian capitulation.
Rise of Hamas and Complexities:
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- Lack of progress towards a two-state solution.
- Questionable viability of a two-state solution.
Duration of Conflict and Intentions:
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- War of attrition between Hamas and Israel.
- Criticism of Israeli actions indicating an intent to commit genocide in Gaza.
- Israeli officials' open declarations to remove both Hamas and force Palestinians out.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Steven Heydemann, who serves as the Director of Middle East Studies at Smith College.
We cover the following topics:
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Understanding Middle Eastern Conflicts:
- The intricacies of Palestinian-Israeli relations, dissecting Hamas and the PLO differences.
- China's and Russia's roles in the Palestinian conflict, shedding light on their involvements.
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Insights on Syria:
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U.S. ambivalence and Russia's intervention in Syria, and missed opportunities for early U.S. support.
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Turkey's Position in NATO:
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Turkey's contentious role within NATO, and the value of having Turkey in the Atlantic alliance despite President Erdogan's leadership style.
Check out this week's episode!
In this week’s episode, I engage in a comprehensive 'Israel 101' discussion with Doron Ben-Atar, Professor of History at Fordham University. We explore pivotal historical events, including:
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The founding of Israel: Analyzing the impact of political anti-Semitism in Europe, the Zionist movement's quest for a Jewish state, and the significance of the 1947 UN partition plan.
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The 2000 Camp David Summit and the Oslo Peace Accord: Unpacking the complexities of failed negotiations and underlying trust issues between Palestinians and Israelis.
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Examining Benjamin Netanyahu's leadership and his role leading up to the October 7th terrorist attacks; Israel's evolving international reputation, and the emergence of anti-Israel sentiment within specific American groups.
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Delving into the irrationality of prejudices such as anti-Semitism and their profound impact on Jewish identity and societal dynamics.
This week, Dan chats with Satira Osemudiamen, a storyteller and PR professional, and president of Satira Media and Public Relations.
https://satiramediaandpr.com/
Satira explains that storytelling is a key part of her profession, using words to persuade and invoke action. She emphasizes the importance of tailoring storytelling to different clients and industries, considering their goals and target audiences.
Satira also talks about starting her own PR agency, Satira Media, and the challenges and rewards of entrepreneurship.
She touches on the evolving field of public relations, the impact of technology and social media, and the importance of managing reputation and crisis effectively.
Check out this week's episode!
After our annual spring hiatus, we're back with all new episodes!
This week, we're chatting with Andres Mayo, immersive audio designer and immersive engineer from Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Andres has 2 Latin Grammys and 7 Gardel Awards, and credits in over 3,000 albums.
Andres gives us a primer on the basics of immersive audio, and shares how the industry and the technology have changed during his 30 years in the business. One of the noteworthy changes has been the increase in overseas clients that Andres works with, outside of the LATAM market.
Andres has a great passion for promoting the audio engineering industry through Audio Engineering Society, a collaboration of producers, engineers, musicians, where artists and engineers from diverse backgrounds can share ideas and develop a roadmap for best practices in the world of audio.
You can find more about Andres at www.andresmayo.com
Check out this week's episode!
Andresmayo.com
This week I'm chatting with Leo Notenboom of askleo.com. Leo has a popular YouTube channel of the same name in which he answers all manner of tech questions.
In fact, by way of giving himself a job title for his enterprise, he calls himself the "Chief Question Answerer" at askleo.com
We talk about a number of tech issues, including how to preserve digital content after a person dies, why using a password vault is essential for online security, why you maybe shouldn't use your neighbor's wifi, and why you're never too old to delve into the world of tech.
Check out Leo here: https://www.askleo.com
This week I'm chatting with Whit Ingram of beautiful South Jordan, Utah. Whit is known as the "Witty Film Girl," and she specializes in social media campaigns, short films, and commercials.
Whit talks about her early days in film, from doing lots of unpaid gigs for college friends and making mistakes as a rite of passage to get better at her craft. She talks about her efforts to become a well-rounded writer and storyteller, as well as her quest to improve at the techical aspects of filmmaking.
Whit also dispels the myth that it's necessary to go to film school to become a filmmaker, how to get clients to think outside of the box, and why working for exposure is a terrible idea, so don't even ask.
Check out Whit at her website: https://www.wittyfilmgirl.com
This week, I'm chatting with Nerida Bronwen, who is known for her roles in 600 Bottles of Wine, Deadly Women, Lowering Awareness, and her VO work portraying the character of Sashay in Netflix series "LOL Surprise! Winter Fashion Show."
We talk about her early acting ambitions, which stemmed from having supportive parents who loved film, music, theater, and art. We also discuss her move to LA, her early roles in the US, and, of course, her VO work as Sashay in LOL Surprise! Winter Fashion Show.
Check out this week's episode, and check out Nerida at her website:
https://www.neridabronwen.com/
This week, I'm chatting with Jeff Williams, a voice actor from Amarillo, Texas. Jeff is known for his laid-back, everyman, blue-collar style. A chiropractor by trade, he got into VO in 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic when his medical practice slowed to a halt. Jeff recounts his early days as a musician, his medical background, and his early successes in VO, including over $100k in income in his first year. We talk about how Jeff is seeking to expand his VO exploits beyond the freelance and P2P sites, a sober assessment of agency representation, and his desire to break into video games while continuing to grow his business.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm chatting with Heather Dykes, an Instructional Designer from Springfield, IL. (https://www.myhdlearning.com)
We talk about Heather's early days in HR, and her early decision to get involved in designing training programs rather than delivering them.
We delve into the following topics:
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The rudiments of training on leadership development, systems, policies, and "training the trainers" on a multitude of topics;
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What makes for good training and bad training;
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The nexus between the design phase of the training and the delivery of the actual training;
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The training workflow, from diagnosing needs, working with SME develop learning objectives, to L&D consultation, design, review, and finalization;
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How Heather handles revisions and the process of fielding client feedback (VO people take note - specify the number of rounds of revisions in writing!)
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General HR topics such as the much-talked-about "open door policy," and the post-pandemic future of remote/hybrid work.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm chatting with Emmanuel Macaulay Afemikhe, a Nigerian-based voice actor who runs the Voiceover Workshop (https://thevoiceoverworkshop.com).
We discuss how Emmanuel got his start in VO after a stint as a stage actor in Abuja, and how he channels his passion for training and teaching via the Voiceover Workshop, where he has trained over 300 voice over talents. The training at the Voiceover Workshop encompasses not only voice acting, but also marketing and branding.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm chatting with Susie Valerio, a native Brazilian voice actress based in Brighton, UK. Susie graduated in Drama, Film & TV from Brunel University, and she later completed a two-year Meisner Technique program with The Impulse Company in London. Susie does VO in advertising, games, narration and animation, among other genres.
We discuss the following topics:
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How Susie got introduced to VO though workshops in London;
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Susie's initial skepticism at finding Portuguese VO work in the UK;
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Susie's early days working in a casting studio, assisting with casting for commercials and film;
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the appeal for and interest in "International English" voice over;
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why Susie loves working in commercial VO, and the thrill of live directed sessions;
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the danger of overpreparing for an audition, as relayed through Susie's work in casting.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm chatting with Michael Givens, a noted director and cinematographer, who started his career as a photographer in the fasion and music industries before progressing into film. Michael has worked with such luminaries as Sir Ridley Scott, Stephen Frears, and Sean McNamara, among others. Michael also runs the Michael Givens & Associates Acting and Film Institute, where he teaches the Lee Strasburg method with a touch of hypnosis.
We discuss the following topics:
- Michael's recent work on an upcoming documentary called "Our Happy Land," a story of Jewish emigration to the US;
- How Michael prepares himself before shooting a film by intense research, which includes voraciously reading as many as 60 books;
- Michael's aversion to keeping up with trends and how that tendency can distract from focusing on good storytelling;
- The benefits of hypnosis for actors and non-actors; and
- Michael's worldwide travels shooting films and commercials, with a story on how he narrowly avoided going to jail while shooting a commercial in Vietnam.
Don't miss this week's episode!
Learn more about Michael: www.michaelgivens.com
Check out Dan's voice over demos: www.danvoice.com
This week, I'm honored to be joined by Paul Knowlton and Aaron Hedges, the authors of the book "Better Capitalism: Jesus, Adam Smith, Ayn Rand, and MLK Jr, on Moving from Plantation to Partnership Economics."
We discuss the following points:
- The story of "Mr. X," and the propagation of old-style, top-down, plantation-style economics.
- Why the economy doesn't have to be a "zero sum game" in the tradition of Gordon Gekko, and why looking out for the interests of your customers and suppliers can lead to mutually beneficial outcomes;
- Why one of Jesus' most famous teachings, the Sermon on the Mount, is laced with economic instruction for both the rich and poor;
- Why Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations" is often misunderstood as an unfettered endorsement of laissez-faire economics. Paul and Aaron reveal what Smith had to say about the importance of functionality of the state;
- How to engage your ideological opposites on matters of partnership economics, and how to find a common ground centered around the almighty dollar.
"Better Capitalism" is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Better-Capitalism-Plantation-Partnership-Economics-ebook/dp/B095JD4R9P/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=better+capitalism&qid=1667243247&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIxLjc2IiwicXNhIjoiMS43NSIsInFzcCI6IjEuNjEifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=better+capitalism%2Caps%2C93&sr=8-1
Thanks for checking out this week's episode!
This week, I have the great pleasure of talking to a fellow VO pro, Ferlon Webster Jr. Ferlon is based in Detroit, MI, and got his start in the news business, doing videography, editing, and camera work. Ferlon started doing voiceovers as part of his news gigs, but found out that he loved the craft of voice acting so much that he decided to make it his FT career.
We talk about his love of eLearning, his preferred VO marketing methods, his home studio, the performance training he has sought, his early experiencs on P2P sites, and how he has gotten on eLearning VO rosters and continues to seek out eLearning work.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I have the great pleasure of talking to a fellow VO pro, Ferlon Webster Jr. Ferlon is based in Detroit, MI, and got his start in the news business, doing videography, editing, and camera work. Ferlon started doing voiceovers as part of his news gigs, but found out that he loved the craft of voice acting so much that he decided to make it his FT career.
We talk about his love of eLearning, his preferred VO marketing methods, his home studio, the performance training he has sought, his early experiencs on P2P sites, and how he has gotten on eLearning VO rosters and continues to seek out eLearning work.
Check out this week's episode!
Do you love to watch movies? Have you ever wondered how movies actually get made?
Yes, there's the casting and the filming and the editing, but where does the money come from to allow a film to be distributed?
My guest this week is Joanne Butcher, who runs www.filmmakersuccess.com
Joanne focuses on helping filmmakers understand and navigate the process of getting funding for their movie projects.
In short, she helps filmmakers with the money issues. Joanne shows her clients how to tap their own networks to get funding for their projects, and ultimately, how to get butts in the seats.
We cover the following areas:
- Why filmmakers are so focused on writing, directing, and editing, but are oftentimes clueless on how to get distribution for their films;
- Why filmmakers are often horrified at the idea of monetizing their projects;
- The mysterious and opaque nature of the finances of the filmmaking industry, and why Joanne is writing a book about this topic;
- Why filmmakers must learn to make a killer pitch, and how Joanne helps them learn that art; and
- Why film festivals are never a good place to get distribution, and why filmmakers mention the words "film festivals" to investors are their peril.
Tune in for this and much more. Check out this week's episode!
Do you love to watch movies? Have you ever wondered how movies actually get made?
Yes, there's the casting and the filming and the editing, but where does the money come from to allow a film to be distributed?
My guest this week is Joanne Butcher, who runs www.filmmakersuccess.com
Joanne focuses on helping filmmakers understand and navigate the process of getting funding for their movie projects.
In short, she helps filmmakers with the money issues. Joanne shows her clients how to tap their own networks to get funding for their projects, and ultimately, how to get butts in the seats.
We cover the following areas:
- Why filmmakers are so focused on writing, directing, and editing, but are oftentimes clueless on how to get distribution for their films;
- Why filmmakers are often horrified at the idea of monetizing their projects;
- The mysterious and opaque nature of the finances of the filmmaking industry, and why Joanne is writing a book about this topic;
- Why filmmakers must learn to make a killer pitch, and how Joanne helps them learn that art; and
- Why film festivals are never a good place to get distribution, and why filmmakers mention the words "film festivals" to investors are their peril.
Tune in for this and much more. Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm chatting with Mandy McIntyre, the owner of Level-Up Consultants in Cleveland, Ohio. Mandy spent 10 years in the roofing industry before starting this exciting new enterprise that focuses on mental health and wellness.
We cover the following topics:
- How Mandy came to appreciate and understand the role of mental health in the roofing industry;
- What makes a workplace toxic;
- The challenges of being a woman in a male-dominated industry;
- What propelled Mandy to leave a high-level position in a company she loved working for to start her own consulting firm;
- The appropriate way to take the initiative with employees who show signs and symptoms of needing help;
- Mandy's efforts to increase awareness of the issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and leadership in the construction industry;
- Why the construction industry has the highest suicide rate of any industry in the USA; and
- Mandy's plan to launch her firm and make it thrive!
Check out this week's episode!
It was a great pleasure to finally get to meet and chat with Dan Lenard, The Home Studio Master.
Dan is best known to those of us in VO circles as the co-host of the popular Voice Over Body Shop (VOBS) show with George Whittham.
We discuss the following topics:
- The origins of Dan's "Home Studio Master" consulting business;
- Dan's pre-VO jobs in education, radio, and insurance;
- Why so many voice actors make home recording harder than it has to be;
- WOVO - the World Voices Organization, a VO industry trade group, of which Dan is the president, that works to promote the voice over industry and showcase voice actors for the skilled pros that they are;
- Why voice actors should forget about producing "broadcast quality" audio;
- Dan's passion for the Buffalo Bills.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I'm honored to visit with Gamal Hennessy - attorney, author, and business consultant based in New York City. Gamal specializes in boutique entertainment law, helping to guide writers, artists, AV post production folks, and others, through the oftentimes tricky and potentially treacherous waters of contracts and intellectual property law.
We cover the following topics:
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What is a contract, and why do artists need them?
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Why artists should protect their legal interests as if their project will be "the next big thing;"
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Why artists often collaborate on a revenue sharing basis rather than by paying up-front fees;
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Why voice artists need to be aware of the rudiments of trademark infringement when making VO demos;
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Why artists so often sign whatever piece of paper is put in front of them just to get the gig;
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Is the PGA Tour a monopoly, and can the new breakaway Saudi Golf league steal the tour's best players?
Check out this week's episode!
This week on "You're Hearing Voices," I chat with Paul Alan Clifford from beautiful Lexington, Kentucky. Paul is the founder of Trinity Digital Media, a consulting business that helps churches to navigate their unique tech challenges, particularly livestreaming. Paul is an expert in teaching churches how to make the best use of ProPresenter software, and his YouTube tutorials on ProPresenter typically garner 2-3 times as many views as ProPresenter's own videos.
We also talk about Paul's educational background, how he got his first exposure to videography, and when he discovered how technology could be used in the church. We also touch on some unrelated topics such as proper church attire and the future of remote work.
Check out this week's episode!
This week on the podcast, I travel virtually north of the border to Canada to chat with Colleen McCubbin. Colleen is based in Calgary, Alberta, where she runs Siretona Creative. Siretona is a boutique publisher which collaborates with authors to produce excellent books that make a positive difference around the world.
Colleen shares how a weekly newspaper column and a children's book led to the creation of her company, her coaching program for authors, and why certain books are made into audio and others aren't.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I chat with Jeff Rolka, a musician and vocalist who, through his teaching, has helped hundreds of thousands of people to sing better and take great care of their voices. Jeff has a very popular YouTube channel with dozens of vocal warmups for singers that have garnered over 12.5 million views.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I chat with Sonal Bahl, an International Career Coach, former HR director, and podcaster and YouTuber. We discuss the state of work in the post-COVID era, Sonal's social media efforts on both YouTube and LinkedIn, why corporate life gets a bad rap, and why entrepreneurship is overly glamorized at times, and the implications of "The Great Resignation."
Check out this week's episode!
This week, we're chatting with Avia Spitzer, a Hebrew and English voice actress based near Tel Aviv, Israel. Avia studied acting in college, and she got her start behind the microphone in radio, but she found her true passion in voice over. Avia loves everything about recording studios, and the wonder of how it all comes together - her areas of work include a little bit of everything: dubbing, eLearning, commercials, corporate videos, audiobooks, and IVR. Avia also talks about her marketing techniques, and the need for preparation and practice in voice over.
Check out this week's episode!
In this episode, Dan speaks with Andres Macias Hernandez, a voice actor based in Bogota, Colombia. Andres does VO work in Spanish, Italian, and English. His work spans several genres, including E-learning, corporate narration, commercials, audiobooks, video games, characters, and documentaries.
We talk about Andres' entry into the world of VO, his early gigs, the training he has received, his almost-soundproof vocal booth, and his meteoric rise to success in the relatively short period of time that he has been working in the industry.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I chat with Travis Kellerman, an ESG (environmental, social, and governance) and impact strategy officer and cultivator of sustainable tech based in Albuequerqe, NM. We have an "ESG 101" conversation in which Travis leads us through the rudiments of this very complex topic, with examples of the good corporate actors and the not-so-good ones, and why the topic of ESG matters to voice actors. Travis and I also discuss his recent run for an aldermanic seat in Albuequerqe, and what that taught him about retail politics and the concerns of voters at the local level. We also discuss futurism and jujitsu.
Check out this week's episode!
In this episode, Dan chats with Erikka Tiffany Wells, the Sales Manager of Volkswagen of Marion in beautiful Marion, Illinois. Erikka's story is one of perserverence, grit, and sheer determination, as she worked her way up from a minimum wage daycare teacher to a successful automotive sales professional. Erikka describes the unique challenges of being a woman of color in a profession historically dominated by white men, and how she's put her own stamp on her dealership and the industry as a whole by recruiting sales professionals from all walks of life. Erikka is also working hard to change the culture of the auto industry via the Women of Color Automotive Network, where she serves as Vice President.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Ayuma Michelle from Athi River, Kenya. Ayuma is passionate about helping women to tell their unique stories, and to empower progressive women leaders to change the world by developing their own unique leadership skills. We talk about her consulting business, her social media presence, particularly on Youtube, and also her fledgling voice over efforts.
Check out Ayuma at her website: https://www.letsfindyourstory.com/
Don't miss this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Katie Shaffer, Fixed Operations Marketing Manager at Hunter Truck in Pittsburgh. Katie talks about the challenges of creating unique digital content for the trucking industry. Katie shares the unique benefits of "behind the scenes" video content, the inherent dangers of pursuing "vanity metrics" in social media marketing, and why social media marketing campaigns require patience and should not be rushed.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Robb Conlon, host of the "Recruiting Hell" podcast, in which Robb helps his listeners to navigate the sometimes shark-infested waters of job seeking. Through his efforts, Robb has helped to generate over $1.4 million in salaries and benefits for his listeners. Robb is also an expert in podcast production and applies his expertise with Sweetfish Media, a Podcast Agency for B2B brands, and shares some foundational information for people thinking of entering the podcast space.
Check out this week's episode!
In this episode, Dan chats with Harmony Zhang, a theater actress who also recently voiced an audiobook called "The Achilles Battle Fleet." We talk about how Harmony got her start in acting, her early theater work, and the challenges of acting out one character on the stage vs. acting the part of a dozen characters in a fiction audiobook.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with author and leadership development specialist Suzi McAlpine. Suzi, who is based in Nelson, New Zealand, wrote a book called "Beyond Burnout: How to Spot it, Stop It, and Stamp It Out," which addresses how to recognize the signs of burnout, and practical how-to's for leaders to reduce its presence in organizations. We talk about how corporate culture can be a contributing factor to burnout, and the ways that forward-thinking companies confront it head-on. Suzi shares practical tips for voice actors who might feel a bit isolated in their home studios. Also, Suzi takes us on a mini virtual tour of the beautiful city of Nelson, New Zealand.
Check out this week's episode!
This week on "You're Hearing Voices," we talk a little football with our special guest Rico Reese. Rico played college ball at Western Carolina University and then went on to play in the Arena Football League for various teams, including the Alabama Vipers, the Kansas City Command, and the Georgia Force. Rico recently wrote a book, called How to Become Pro: Tips for Amateur Football Players, which I had the pleasure of narrating.
Here is the link to Rico's book: https://amzn.to/31eKqdy
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I speak with Richard Murray of RichToons.com. Rich, who is based in greater Toronto, takes us through his almost 20 years of solopreneurship in character illustration and animation in eLearning and explainer videos and also app design. Rich also talks about his 8-year long involvement in the development of a children's chapter book called "My Best Friend is a Secret Agent," for which he provided the illustrations and layout and the cover art.
Check out Rich's book here: https://amzn.to/3Dhttps://www.amazon.com/My-Best-Friend-Secret-Agent/dp/1989365779/ref=pd_sbs_1/135-2377692-0821324?pd_rd_w=1qGwl&pf_rd_p=3676f086-9496-4fd7-8490-77cf7f43f846&pf_rd_r=KC76PQY8N8ZCX2EXTBY9&pd_rd_r=3c73b237-3d48-4e4e-bc7f-812a07c59b40&pd_rd_wg=Wz29P&pd_rd_i=1989365779&psc=1
....and, check out this week's episode with Rich!
This week, Dan chats with Kuti Biazid, a veteran voice artist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Kuti is the founder of Vocapedia.co. On the VO end of the spectrum, she specializes in corporate training videos and documentaries. During her 30-plus years as a voiceover artist, she has recorded countless tv and radio commercials. She also works as as speech coach, helping working professionals and entrepreneurs improve the way they speak and sound.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Vero López Treviño, an award-winning voice actress based in Mexico City who specializes in commercial VO and dubbing. Her dubbing credits include such A-List actresses such as Lupita Nyong'o, Sandra Oh, Rosamund Pike, Salma Hayek, and others I'm leaving off who are way too famous for a piker like me to not mention. Her corporate credits are equally as impressive, and they include Disney, Dove, Mazda, and many, many more.
Check out Vero here: https://verovoiceover.com/
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan speaks with Sarah Cannistra, aka, The Overnight Trainer. She quite literally became a corporate trainer overnight, and decided to start a coaching business for those seeking a new career path in Learning and Development, or for those who have never worked a day in L&D and want to explore this exciting field. She also has a podcast by the same name, The Overnight Trainer.
Sarah's website: https://www.theovernighttrainer.com/
Her podcast: https://theovernighttrainer.podbean.com/
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan speaks with Brian Kurkjian, a Learning Experience Designer from beautiful Bloomington, Illinois. Brian takes us through his career trajectory from his career beginnings in higher education and his journey to L&D, the process of developing learning and design projects, how he finds clients and tailors learning solutions to individual clients' needs.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, I chat with Kimberly Goh, an Interactive Video Designer from sunny Irvine, CA. Her freelance enterprise is called The Interactive Story (theinteractivestory.com). We chat about how she came to eLearning from a computer science background, and how she became fascinated with began designing interactive storytelling and videos. Kimberly takes us into the world of scenarios, storytelling, and interaction, and the role they've played in shifting the eLearning landscape away from the traditional, passive "school model" of eLearning.
Check out this week's episode!
How do you outshine your competitors on social media? This week's guest, Brooke Miles, shares some insights on how to get started. During the pandemic, Brooke decided to kick her marketing into high gear and threw herself into her YouTube videos, which are quirky, entertaining, and very informative. She teaches everything from how to correctly set up your LinkedIn profile to the best times to post on various social media channels. We chat about that, and much more!
This week, Dan chats with Abbe Holmes, a 35-year veteran voice actor based in Melbourne, Australia. Abbe started doing voice overs as a 17-year old girl, and her career has evolved over the decades from doing high-pitched teenage character reads to commercials, and, more recently, audiobooks. She also has a great passion for coaching prospective voice actors, and you can check out her coaching website at https://voiceovercoach.com.au/.
Check out this week's epsiode!
This week, Dan chats with Ridvan Sağlam, a Freelance Learning Experience Designer based in Muğla, Turkey. Ridvan is a former teacher who combined a passion for learning and technology to pursue the nice of gamification. We also talk about his freelance journey, and how he handles an international clientele.
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In this episode of "You're Hearing Voices," Dan chats with Carmen Vincent, a freelance video producer based in Chesteron, Indiana. We discuss Carmen's journey directly from Valparaiso University to the world of freelance without a stop in corporate America. Carmen has a great passion for documentary filmmaking, as evidenced by a very special project she's working on called "Teacher of Patience," a documentary film meant to educate first responders and the greater community about how to communicate with individuals with Down syndrome and other disabilities.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan travels to Nairobi, Kenya, to speak with Martin Ocholi, an expert in media and communications with experience in Strategic Communication, Media Relations, and Health Communication. Martin talks about his experiences working in academia teaching media relations, and his foray into entrepreneurship by launching Voice Development for Effective Speaking, or VODES. VODES teaches people from all professions and all walks of life on make lasting
impressions in public speaking, acting, presenting, broadcasting and everyday conversation.
Check out this week's episode!
Have you ever been beset by procrastination? Of course you have! We've all been there. My guest this week, David Parker, wrote a book about the topic called "The More You Do, the Better You Feel." Tune in and listen as David explains how learning to deal with procrastination was a key to overcoming depression and leading to a more productive life.
Check out this week's epsiode!
This week, Dan travels virtually to beautiful Darlington, England, to chat with Mark Wilson, the managing director of eLamb LTD. Mark shares with us some of the basics of off-the-shelf learning solutions vs. custom solutions, the unique challenges of pulling together diffuse SME info into something that can be made accessible and beneficial for clients with specific needs, and also the future of post-pandemic work.
Check out this week's episode!
As a solopreneur, how much attention are you paying to the "gray market?" If you don't know what that is, it's probably because you're too obsessed with the cultural and economic whims of Millennials and Gen Next'ers. This week's guest, Mauro Guillén, tells us why we shouldn't ignore folks over 60, as this is a $20 trillion market. Professor Guillen is the author of the book 2030: How Today's Biggest Trends Will Collide and Reshape the Future of Everything."
Check out this fascinating discussion about how generational and economic changes will shape the landscape in just 9 short years.
This week's episode features Cynthia Kimola, an English and Swahili VO artist based in Nairobi, Kenya. Cynthia got the VO bug as a young girl listening to radio adverts and imitating them for the adults in the room. She is a journalist by training, and she's been in the VO biz for the last 10 years specializing in regional and International TV & radio ads, eLearning projects, features, documentaries, explainer videos, podcast intros, phone prompts, animations and audiobooks.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, we travel virtually to Alexandria, Egypt (not Cairo) to chat with Alaa Abou El-Nour. Alaa is a trilingual voice over artist, who offers her services in Arabic, English, and Turkish. She discusses her passion for language learning, and the unique challenges presented by doing VO gigs in each language for clients all over the world.
Check out this week's episode!
This week Dan travels virtually to Lagos, Nigeria to speak with author, broadcast journalist, and social activist Ify Onyegbule. Ify has been in the field of broadcast journalism for over 20 years, having worked at and managed various radio stations. She currently hosts The Daily Report on Star 101.5FM and also contributes to the website www.ddailyreport.ng. Ify is also a social activist who isn't afraid to tackle tough and sometimes uncomfortable issues such as rape and child abuse, and she has no fear of using her journalistic platform to hold accountable those in power.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, we venture back into the wonderful world of e-Learning and Instructional Design. Dan chats with Tiffany Vojnovski, a writer, storyteller, learning designer, and design thinking practitioner based in Detroit, Michigan. Tiffany is a former NYC public school teacher who has a great passion for writing about learning and instructional design, and she currently practices her learning evangelism with Sweet Rush, Inc., a firm that focuses on analysis and curriculum mapping, live and virtual classroom training, and innovative use of emerging technologies.
Don't miss this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Tanya Peterson, a mental health writer and educator based in Eugene, Oregon. Tanya is the author of 12 books: five novels and seven self-help books and journals, including "101 Ways to Stop Anxiety: Practical Exercises to Find Peace."
We have a very frank discussion about anxiety, the mental health impact of COVID upon our society, and practical tips and strategies for dealing with social isolation.
Check out this week's episode!
Freelance February may be over, but the entrepreneurial drive burns on in this week's guest, Mauricio Lopez, the CEO of Go English Live, an English language translation, interpretation, and e-Learning company. Mauricio works to combine his dual passions of teaching and e-Learning to help his clients gain English fluency.
Check out this week's episode!
As a freelancer, you must be willing to toot your own horn. But, how do you pick the right words to do it? Our guest this week, Bob Bly, the author of "The Copywriter's Handbook," drops by with some pearls of wisdom.
This is the final installment of our "Freelance February" series, and it's one you won't want to miss!
Are you an introvert? It's ok, you're amongst friends. In this episode of "You're Hearing Voices," Dan chats with Tom Albrighton, the author of "The Freelance Introvert." Tom shares with us his journey from the corporate world to freelance copywriting, and why you can use your introversion to your advantage to have a fulfilling and lucrative freelance career.
Check out this week's epside!
This week, I chat with Elaine Pofeldt, journalist and author of "The Million Dollar, One-Person Business." Elaine shares some of the success stories from her book of people who have taken a side hustle and converted it into a thriving enterprise. We also talk about the factors that have given rise to an increase in freelancing, how to navigate the gig economy, if college is still worth the investment, and why a visit to Tony Soprano's home is worth the trip no matter the economic climate.
Check out this week's epsiode!
This week, Dan chats with Laura Briggs, freelance writer, coach, entrepreneur and author of "The Six Figure Freelancer." Laura takes us through her journey from school teacher to doctoral student to "accidental freelancer," and now to professional communicator and PR expert and best-selling author.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan has the great pleasure of chatting with Issongo Elenga, a freelance Instructional Designer based in Paris, France.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan travels to swinging London to chat with Lithuanian VO artist Eva Believer. Eva is an actress, singer, teacher, model, and, of course, a voice artist of the highest caliber. She does VO work for clients all over the world, and she shares her story of her journey from Lithuania to the UK.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, we travel down I-55 to St. Louis, MO, to visit with April Watts, a voice talent who specializes in commercials, narration, and e-Learning. April spent many years in the corporate security field, and takes us through her VO journey. We discuss such topics as A.I. voices, P2P sites, the value of VO coaching, and much, much more.
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This week on the podcast, we visit with Youmna Elahdal from Cairo, Egypt. Youmna is one of the top Arabic voice actors on Upwork, and she shares her story on how she got into voice acting, her work in commercials, corporate narration, e-Learning, dubbing, and many other exciting fields. Youmna does work for clients all over the world, and hers is a fascinating story.
Check out this week's epsiode!
This week on "You're Hearing Voices," we dive into the world of scriptwriting, copywriting, and explainer videos with our guest, Ame Proietti, who specializes in all of the above.
Check out this week's episode!
This week on "You're Hearing Voices," we delve back into the world of Instructional Design and e-Learning by visiting with Anu Gopu, a freelance ID from Toronto, Ontario. Anu takes us through the process of identifying what the learners need to know and how to tailor solutions to fit each specific client's unique needs, how to cull and condense the voluminous pearls of wisdom from subject matter experts, and what voice over folks can do to make life easier for the ID crowd.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan visits with Andrew Bartlett, the founder of OOT Box Media (Out Of The Box Media), located right here in beautiful Springfield, Illinois.
Andrew was bitten by the entrepreneurial spirit at a very young age, and left the comforts of a secure corporate job to strike out on his own into the world of video production. Over time, his efforts have expanded to brand development, social media marketing, and website design.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Sofia Zita, a voice actress based in Caracas, Venezuela who specializes in dubbing, e-Learning, commercials, and narration. Sofia talks about her background in theater and music, and how she has been finding work in the American market in both Spanish and English.
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One of the great things about the field of voice acting is the diversity of professional backgrounds that voice actors have before they enter VO. I don't have a background in stage or screen acting, and neither does my guest this week on the podcast, Mike Kent, a VO pro from Denver, CO.
However, Mike journeyed to San Francisco to seek out the acting training that he lacked to bolster his VO acting chops. It's a fascinating story!
This week, Dan chats with Mr. Charles Gibson, an expert in direct response copywriting and scriptwriting. Chuck is also a video marketing consultant, and he shares with us some tips about to grab and hold the attention of prospective customers, the importance of authenticity in branding, and leveraging the power of video in marketing.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Liz Willits, a copywriting an e-mail marketing expert based in Philadelphia. Liz shares with us some of her expertise on cold e-mailing, content marketing, and how to warm up cold prospects.
Check out this week's episode!
In this week's episode of "You're Hearing Voices," Dan chats with Kevin Beckman, a freelance videographer from sunny San Diego, CA. Kevin shares his experiences working in broadcast television and local TV news in the land of Ron Burgundy. Kevin and Dan discuss the freelance lifestyle, where Kevin finds his clients, the technical challenges of videography, and how many drones he's crashed while out on live shoots.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Devin Winter, owner of In2Motion Media, a video production company based in Minneapolis.
Devin eschewed the traditional college route and followed his passion of making videos and spun that passion into a thriving small business.
Check out this week's episode!
The best marketing and branding advice that I can give to voice actors? Don't take branding and marketing advice from voice actors!
This week, Dan chats with Kristin Taylor, the co-founder of True Brand Consulting in Vancouver, Washington. Kristin has worked with major brands like Starbucks, Moonstruck Chocolate, and Danner Boots.
Kristin shares her wisdom on the following topics:
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How to identify your ideal client;
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How to leverage the power of LinkedIn, and why so many people do it wrong;
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The power of being yourself and injecting your personality into your brand;
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The culinary delights of Kristin's hometown of Champaign, Illinois and Vancouver, where she currently calls home
Check out this week's epsiode!
She can sing at your wedding or your funeral; she can do the voice of a Southern Belle, a crying baby, or an evil KGB agent. Maybe you need an e-Learning narration or an in-store announcement - she can do that too! Her name is Natalie Nightingale, singer and voice actor from Leicestershire, England, and this week, we talk all about her music career, her theater and improv background, and how she found new opportunities in voice over work during the COVID pandemic.
You won't want to miss this week's episode!
It goes without saying that Fiverr is a platform that always generates controversy in the VO world. No matter your opinion of Fiverr, the fact is that there are several voice talents making very good money on there.
My guest this week, Dane Scott, is one of those Fiverr success stories. Dane has been doing voice overs since the late 1970's, and shares his story of transitioning from radio to VO, working on agency jobs in Wisconsin, and, of course, his Fiverr journey.
In addition to being a successful VO talent in his own right, Dane also coaches aspiring Fiverr talents on how to optimize their gigs to get noticed.
Check out this week's episode!
This week, Dan visits with Dane Scott, from the Green Bay area of Wisconsin.
This week, Dan chats with Abdisamad Ali, the managing director of ELXA Media, a voiceover and dubbing agency in based in Nairobi, Kenya.
Abdisimad talks about his background in local television, and his full-time transition to voice over seven years ago. However, growing his own VO career was but one of the many goals that Abdisimad has achieved. During that time, he has built ELXA media into a major player in the African VO market, landing several big-name clients, including Coca-Cola, MTV India, Discovery learning alliance, Craft WW, McCann Worldwide, amongst others.
Abdisimad's enthusiasm for and love of the craft of voice acting is apparent and quite infectious.
Tune in to this week's episode!
This week, Dan chats with Mr. Remi Ogunpitan, the managing director of Nigeria's leading digital production company, IBST Limited.
Remi tells his story of how working on video production projects while in the British armed forces peaked his interest in making a career out of video production and digital media, and how he started IBST from scratch.
IBST now boasts a wide range of clients such as Coca Cola, Airtel, ESPN, CNN, just to name a few.
Dan and Remi discuss the commercial process, the changes that Remi has observed in his 30-plus years in producing digital video content, and the unique demographics of Nigeria and the challenges of serving an ever-changing market.
Tune in to this week's episode!
This week on "You're Hearing Voices," Dan speaks with Janie Vu, an instructional designer based in Calgary, Alberta.
Janie takes us through her progression from her academic background in Organizational Psychology and working in academia developing an online career development course for students to her current role as a freelance instructional designer.
Janie helps us understand how training courses are developed in a manner that learners gain actionable knowledge, and how clients keep track of relevant data so that employees are getting the training that they need.
We also explore her experiences as a freelancer, how she finds clients, and an exciting new venture she's working on to help artisans sell their crafts online.
Check out this week's episode!
This week on the podcast, I have the great honor of speaking with Lawrence Shum, the president of Núcleo de Criação, an audio production company in beautiful São Paulo, Brazil, specializing in all manner of business communication.
Lawrence got his start in radio, and turned his efforts to voice acting, and now spends his time expanding the reach of his company with the help of voice talents from all over the world. Join us for a sneak peak into the world of audio production for the corporate market, where the demand for all manner of English VO accents in the global market is growing daily.
PS - Lawrence is always looking for new talent! If you are an English native VO speaker with an interest in educational or corporate projects, here's how to get in touch with him: https://www.nucleodecriacao.com.br/en/contact-us/
This week, I speak with Yukiko Fujimura, a bi-lingual voice artist from Sendai, Japan. Yukiko has done VO work for prestigious brands such as Google, Microsoft, IBM, PRADA, Zurich, Amazon, among others.
Yukiko talks about her ten-plus years as a news anchor, and her transition into voice over. In addition to her VO work, she also coaches fellow voice actors in Japan on how to get work in the international market.
Yukiko shares with us 7 key tips on getting more VO work in the international market.
This week, Dan chats with Dorin Sovarosi, aka "Dorin the Videographer," from beautiful Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada.
We talk about his ten-plus years in the videography industry, how he got his start, how he finds his clients, evolving trends in the videography industry, and a client horror story that serves as a reminder to always cover your assets from a legal perspective.
Check it out, and be sure to subscribe!
This week, Dan travels virtually to Australia to chat with Emily Walker and Steve Corney about e-Learning.
Emily is the founder of Change Republic, Australia's very first marketplace for freelance learning, training and development professionals and providers.
Steve is the Chief Learning Strategist at Learn Awesome, an e-Learning consultancy shell that handles everything from storyboarding through to development and design.
Although Emily and Steve are technically competitors, they have worked together on many projects, and share a wealth of knowledge on how e-Learning projects get made, who uses them, and what the future holds for the industry.
Check out this week's episode of "You're Hearing Voices!"
This week, Dan chats with Adam Tunikowski, the CEO of Juice, a full service visual effects and sound studio based in Warsaw, Poland.
Of course, visual effects must be seen to be fully appreciated, and Adam and his team create some really cool stuff, so check out their website: http://juice.pl/
We talk about Adam's formative years in the video production/visual effects field in New York, the founding of Juice as a collaboration of talented and passionate visual effects professionals with diverse backgrounds and skills, and how the company evolved from taking on projects just for the fun of it to a profit-making enterprise with a global reach.
Check out this peek into the fascinating world of visual effects!
This week, Dan chats with Aparna Desai, CEO of Ventura Learning Technologies, a Learning Technology Solutions company in Pune, India.
Aparna draws on her 15 years of e-Learning experience to help us understand some basics:
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- Who makes e-Learning, and who uses it?
- The key phases of e-Learning development: Instructional Design, Graphic Design, course development, and then….voice over!
- The background and core mission of Ventura Technologies, from establishment in the Indian market and the company's evolution into 11 countries
- Why shorter “micro modules” are the new trend in e-Learning
- Why India is an untapped market for e-Learning voice over
- The unique aspects of the Indian business culture
Join us for this scintillating episode of "You're Hearing Voices"!
This week, Dan chats with best-selling author and branding expert Sean Pillot de Chenecey about his excellent book, "The Post Truth Business: How to Rebuild Brand Authenticity in a Distrusting World."
We discuss the following topics:
-- How do businesses build and maintain "reputation capital"?
-- How brands can differentiate themselves in a highly commoditized, highly competitive marketplace;
-- How "adland" has evolved since the days of Don Draper, and what factors influence the decisions that we as consumers make regarding the brands we choose to associate with;
-- The worst, most tone deaf ad in the history of modern advertising;
-- Why it is essential for today's brands to be trustworthy, reliable, and competent;
and finally....
-- Will Artificial Intelligence and voice synth technology put voice actors out of work? Sean has some interesting (and perhaps reassuring) thoughts on this topic!
How much do you know about e-Learning? If you're like me, maybe you've done some e-Learning VO work, and would like to do more, but some basic, foundational knowledge of the e-Learning industry would serve you well.
In this week's episode of "You're Hearing Voices," Dan chats with Mr. Mike Blum, e-Learning Specialist and Program Manager at the College of William and Mary in beautiful colonial Williamsburg, Virginia.
We talk about the basics - what is e-Learning? Who uses it? How is it made? Where is it most widely used? What does the future hold?
Tune into this week's episode of "You're Hearing Voices!"
In this week's episode of "You're Hearing Voices," Dan chats with Amanda Mahr, an American voice actor based in Berlin, Germany.
Amanda can be heard narrating audiobook summaries on Blinkist.com, which is where I learned about her work.
We talk about how she got her start in theater and acting, her VO work for Blinkist and her studio work for her corporate clients, the unique characteristics of the European VO market, and a special song that she wrote at age 5 about wanting to be an archeologist.
Don't miss this week's episode of "You're Hearing Voices!"
In this episode of You're Hearing Voices, I speak with Joyce Padilla, a digital marketing expert based in Toronto.
Marketing can sometimes be the achilles heel of the voice acting industry, and Joyce is here to help us demystify and understand these essential components of marketing our services online.
We delve into the following topics:
- How to establish social proof
- How to reach and service your clientele
- How many touch points are needed before a client will buy
- The importance of authenticity in digital marketing
- Building trust and relatability with prospects
- Brand building techniques
- Building your own e-mail list
- Common marketing mistakes
Tune in to this week's edition of You're Hearing Voices!
In this week’s episode of “You’re Hearing Voices,” I speak with Chris Bullock, the Vice President and General Manager of Capitol Radio Group, which comprises seven radio stations that serve Central Illinois.
We discuss the following topics:
--How local radio still plays a vital role in the 24/7 media landscape in the 21st century
-- How broader trends of declining trust in the media impact the day-to-day work of local news reporting
-- Why local businesses still choose radio as an advertising medium;
-- Where local radio stations go for voice talent, and;
-- The types of commercial VO reads that local small businesses want (hint - the “conversational read” strikes again!)
Join us for another captivating episode of "You're Hearing Voices!"
As a voice artist, have you ever wondered how an explainer video is made? Do you know what explainer video end user clients want in an explainer video VO read? When you submit auditions to online casting sites, what happens to them? Who listens to them, and for how long?
All good questions.....
In this week's episode of the "You're Hearing Voices" podcast, I speak with Andy Wonnacott of Electric Storm, a video and animation company based in Cape Town, South Africa that serves clients all over the world. Andy was kind enough to take us behind the scenes of the explainer video production process, and he takes us step-by-step from the initial client inquiry to the finished product, and where voice artists fit into the picture.
In this episode of You're Hearing Voices, Dan chats with veteran voice actor Darren Stephens of Chicago. Darren talks about his 25-plus years in the business, notably his work for the Corona Hotline commercials, Lee Jeans, and what it takes to get started in the voice over business. Dan and Darren also talk about:
- styles of voice over reads
- voice over niches
- agency representation
- Darren's work coaching new talents
- the charms of the Ukranian Village neighborhood of Chicago
- how Darren can help the aspiring voice talent to learn more about the business via his Voiceover Exploration
- and finally, a special shout out to our esteemed governor, JB Pritzker.
Join us for this intoxicating episode of You're Hearing Voices!
In this premier episode of You're Hearing Voices, your host Dan Hankiewicz speaks with Keiter Feliz, a Spanish language radio personality, voice actor, and podcaster. Keiter takes us on a journey from his native Dominican Republic to Toronto, Canada, recalls his start in radio, and shares insights into his daily life as a bi-lingual Spanish and English voice actor. We explore the story behind his #itscooltohaveanaccent hashtag. Join us for this premiere episode of You're Hearing Voices!
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