The Voiceover Family Podcast

This week, Mike gets authentic with booth director extraordinaire Everett Oliver (his credits include animation production on The Simpsons and King of the Hill to name a few). They talk about how in-person networking is everything (sorry, millenials!), how to truly stand out in an audition, and the value of having a strong acting foundation and a list of real, authentic characters at the ready.

In this episode, Mike gets Technical with legendary Audio Engineer and Consultant George “The Tech” Whittam. They discuss everything you need to know about setting up your ideal recording environment, choosing the right gear and recording software for you, and how to keep it all affordable along the way. Take a listen and learn about the most expensive thing you need to find in order to achieve competitive sound (it’s not what you think), why having your sound evaluated by a pro is vital, and why ignoring those nagging computer updates isn’t always such a bad idea.

In this episode, Mike chats with 30-year veteran VO Talent and Demo Producer AJ McKay. They cover all facets of AJ’s recipe for VO victory from getting dressed for success, to diversifying your skillset, to not putting all your eggs in one basket. Find out why a Commercial Demo might not be the right one to start with (say wha?), his BIGGEST MISTAKE ever, and why a trusted coach is worth their weight in gold. All this and more…with AJ McKay.

In this week’s episode, Amanda has an incredible chat with powerhouse VO actor Joe Ziega. From AirForce Lieutenant to VO actor-in-demand (owning major roles in Nintendo’s Fire Emblem, Lego City Adventures and The Incredibles), Joe’s journey is inspirational to say the least. Find out how he “Engineers his Serendipity”, stands into his incredible success, and why he treats his corporate clients like kings. He may seem like an “overnight success” to some, but you may be surprised to discover just how many auditions he has done to date (hint: it’s more than 49,000). He’s living proof that putting in the work pays off.

After first meeting virtually 10 years ago through an online casting site, Mike and Brad Ziffer finally get to have a real conversation, and boy is it chock-block full of insights and revelations! Hear about how Brad got his start, his tips for vocal preservation, how he does upward of 60 (!) auditions a day, why he prefers Commercials over Audiobooks, and a whole bunch of advice for new folks looking to crack in to VO.

In this episode, Amanda chats with VO dynamo Jen Knight, where they talk about Jen’s stressful previous life in Health Care, how (with a lot of hard work) her VO Income surpassed her “stable job” earnings…and then some! They discuss everything from the importance of coaching, to how to find the best coach for you, how to get your kids rocking the mic…and the value of a Mentor.  Something to listen for: Jen discovers her own mentor during the interview! What?!?

Theatre school buddies Amanda and Tara reunite 20 (cough cough) years later to talk about Tara’s journey from being a self-producing actor-writer-puppeteer into the wild and wonderful World of VO. Find out how these long time friends REALLY feel about each other. OooOOooo.

(Spoiler alert: It’s a mutual admiration society of epic proportions).

In Mike’s compelling interview with the great Marc Cashman, producer, writer, casting director, instructor, author, speaker and voice talent (!) extraordinaire, they explore the importance of VO workout groups, slating (when and how), the wonderful world of Audiobook Narration (high demand for VO and how to start auditioning today!), Voice Over vs Voice Acting (there’s a difference?) and so much more.

Marc generously doles out fantastic advice to all VO up-and-comers…that reaches established talent, too! Find out what left Mike saying, “You’ve got me fired up!”