If you’ve ever wondered why your “year 2” doesn’t look like someone else’s “year 15,” this episode is for you.

Rider (TV narration, promo, and one of the most compelling keynote speakers you’ll hear at a conference) breaks down the truth behind “overnight success” in voice over, what actually compounds over time, and why talent is only a small part of the equation.

We get into the mindset and attitude side of the game most people ignore, how to stay hungry without burning out, and why you need a mission statement that can pull you forward when you’re not feeling it.

Also, yes… we talk barbecue. A lot.

Listen now, then ask yourself: what are you going to DO with what you heard?

PODBEAN — SHOW NOTES (bullets + links)

In this episode with Rider, we cover:

• Why “overnight success” is usually a 15-year build  

🖱️ Rider Website - https://ridervo.com

🖱️ Marc Scott on Instagram - https://instagram.com/marcscott

* VOpreneur®

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

What happens when a musical theater brain, ADHD, and relentless creativity collide with voice over entrepreneurship?

In this episode, I sit down with Tim Heller, a wildly creative VO talent and the founder behind Tim Heller Creative and Audiobook Bonanza. We talk about what it really looks like to build two businesses at once, why hiring help can expose the gaps in your systems (in the best way), and how to stay productive when your brain wants to sprint in 12 directions.

We also get into Tim’s infamous 1980s German alter ego “Dieter Unz,” why “I don’t do audiobooks” people keep ending up in audiobooks, and how to reframe mistakes so they don’t feel catastrophic.

If you’re trying to scale your voice over business without burning out, this one will hit.

Key topics we cover:

• ADHD productivity, systems, and boundaries that actually work

• Hiring support, delegation, and learning to work “on” the business

• Building Audiobook Bonanza and creating a better experience for talent

• Cringy COVID marketing emails, learning by doing, and failing forward

• Creativity as a business advantage, and why “fun” matters

• Mario Kart tournaments, community, and connection (yes, really)

🖱️ Tim Heller Creative Website - http://timhellercreative.com

* VOpreneur®

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

What does it take to build a voice over career that truly lasts?

In this episode, I sit down with Joe Cipriano for a rare and deeply honest conversation about longevity, legacy, and life beyond the booth. This isn’t a greatest-hits interview or a walk through credits you already know. It’s a real discussion about staying relevant, surviving career valleys, and building a life alongside a long-term creative career.

Joe shares stories about falling off the mountain and climbing back up, why mindset and attitude matter more than hype, and how prioritizing family helped him sustain success over decades. We talk about diversification, relationships, adapting to industry changes, and why longevity is rarely about chasing trends.

If you’re a voice actor thinking long-term, navigating a plateau, or wondering how to build a career that supports both your work and your life, this episode will give you perspective you won’t get anywhere else.

This conversation is about more than voice over. It’s about building a career that lasts.

🖱️ Joe Cipriano Website - https://joecipriano.com

* VOpreneur®

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

Inside the World of Described Video: A Voice Actor’s Niche You’ve Never Considered with Cynthia DePando

Most voice actors focus on commercial, corporate, or video game work — but what about the niches almost nobody is talking about? Today’s episode takes you deep inside one of the most overlooked, underserved, and surprisingly meaningful genres in voice over: described video (also known as audio description).

Joining Marc is award-winning voice actor Cynthia De Pando, who has carved out a successful career in this highly specialized niche, narrating projects for Netflix, major films like Wicked, animated features, and more.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What described video actually is (and what it is not)

• How the craft works — timing, tone, storytelling, rules, and restrictions

• Why dubbing studios are often the entry point

• Why this genre is growing fast thanks to legal accessibility mandates

• What makes it creatively challenging and rewarding

• How actors can position themselves for opportunities

• Why AI can’t simply replace this work

• The surprising places described video shows up beyond film & TV

Cynthia also shares unexpected insights into:

• Describing action scenes vs. quiet atmospheric moments

• Why animated films (like Trolls) can be harder than horror movies

• How described video is used by sighted people, language learners, and multitaskers

• The intense timing required to stay “invisible” while still telling the story

This episode is a must-listen for voice actors looking for niches where fewer people compete — and where the work genuinely makes a difference.

🖱️ Cynthia De Pando Website - https://cynthiadepando.com

🖱️ Marc Scott on Instagram - https://instagram.com/marcscott

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

Voice over can be a lonely business. We spend our days in booths, often on our own, only seeing the outside world through social media notifications and email threads. B

ut success rarely happens in isolation. It happens when we’re pushed, directly or indirectly, by the people around us.

In this episode, Marc shares the honest story behind a question that’s been fueling his own business lately: Who’s pushing you?

From watching Mike Pongracz and Matt Fogarty dominate the commercial breaks during the World Series, to working with coach Brad Hyland, to being challenged by colleagues like Samantha Damiano and inspired by speakers like Rider and Kelly Moscinski… Marc reveals the people who have pushed him to level up. Even when the push stung a little.

You’ll hear how:

Inspiration from peers can become a powerful motivator

Coaches, colleagues, and even casual acquaintances can challenge your growth

Being open to the push leads to new opportunities

Complacency creeps in when we stop being challenged

Success is often tied to who you give permission to push you

This episode is a mindset reset every working voice actor needs.

🖱️ Marc Scott on Instagram - https://instagram.com/marcscott

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

Whether you’re prepping for holiday bookings or staying mobile between gigs, travel-recording as a voice actor doesn’t have to be messy.

In this episode, Marc Scott sits down with Jay Preston to uncover how he and his wife log months on the road, set up portable “pillow-fort” booths, and still deliver broadcast-quality voice work from hotels, cars, Airbnbs, and highways.

Learn how to:

Build a mobile VO booth using blankets, frames & sound blankets

Use tools like Source Connect 4 and reliable hotspots to connect from anywhere

Match your home-studio sound when you’re recording on the go

Choose the right gear for travel (microphones, interface, headsets)

Avoid common pitfalls (echo rooms, hotel closets, unexpected hookup issues)

Whether you travel frequently or just want a robust backup mobile recording setup, this episode gives you actionable tips to stay working no matter where you are.

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

For years, Voices.com has been one of the most polarizing platforms in the voice over industry. Some voice actors swear by it. Others swear at it.

In this episode of Everyday VOpreneur, Marc Scott sits down with voice actor, coach, and Top Talent on Voices.com, Gina Scarpa, for an honest, no-holds-barred conversation about what the platform is really like in 2025.

They dig into the controversial history, talk transparently about commissions and “managed services,” and explore what’s changed—plus what still needs work. Gina also shares actionable strategies for optimizing your profile, mastering the algorithm, and landing more auditions.

If you’ve written off Voices.com in the past… it might be time to take another look.

You’ll learn:

The truth behind the “managed services” controversy

How Voices.com’s current algorithm actually works

Why optimization matters more than luck

How to stand out in search and book direct invites

What really drives success (and failure) on P2P sites

Check out Gina's Courses Here - https://courses.ginascarpa.com/ref/marcscott

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

Most voice actors dream about performing in a video game — but few imagine themselves as the monster.

In this episode, Marc Scott sits down with Sébastien Croteau, founder of The Monster Factory, who’s brought to life hundreds of creatures across franchises like Guardians of the Galaxy, Star Wars, and Genshin Impact.

Sébastien explains the art of vocal stunt performance, how to train for vocal distortion safely, and the anatomy behind creating believable screams, roars, and grunts that won’t destroy your voice.

You’ll discover:

How Sébastien built a niche in creature voice acting

What “vocal stunt performance” really means

How to warm up, cool down, and protect your voice

Why most games still use libraries — and how that’s changing

🖱️ The Monster Factory Website - https://themonster-factory.com

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

It’s go-time in the fourth quarter! In this episode, Marc Scott breaks down the four key areas voice actors need to focus on to finish the year strong and build momentum for January.

You’ll learn how to:

Expand your pipeline through consistent outreach

Turn prospects into clients with effective follow-up

Stay visible and top of mind using social media

Use reflection to measure what’s working and what’s not

If you’ve struggled to keep your marketing consistent or you’re ready to make the most of the final 90 days of the year, this episode will help you refocus, simplify, and take action.

🖱️ Marc Scott on Instagram - https://instagram.com/marcscott

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free

If you’ve been sending in auditions and hearing nothing but crickets, this episode is for you.

Veteran casting director Mary Lynn Wissner joins Marc Scott to break down what casting pros are really listening for—and what causes them to hit delete in the first five seconds.

Mary Lynn has spent more than three decades casting voice over talent for top brands like Disney, DreamWorks, Hallmark Channel, HGTV, and History Channel.

In this conversation, she shares audition red flags, commercial trends, and the new rules of self-direction in a world shaped by TikTok, influencers, and even AI.

You’ll learn:

What makes or breaks an audition

Why a pretty voice isn’t enough anymore

How acting and “pre-life” bring authenticity

What casting directors actually control

The growing impact of UGC on reads

Advice for VO talent with a radio background

🖱️ Mary Lynn Wissner Website - https://voicesvoicecasting.com

🖱️ Marc Scott on YouTube - https://youtube.com/@MarcScottVO

* Voice Over Marketing Playbook

* 10 Common Marketing Mistakes VO's Make

* Get an instant $25 credit when you sign up for VoiceZam

* For voice over services:

* Want VOpreneur Swag?

* Join the VOpreneur Facebook Group

If you need guidance with your voice over business or learning how to more effectively market, I can help. Book a 15 minute free consultation with me to discuss your specific needs. https://vopreneur.com/free