The Great Voice podcast is a valuable way for you to grow your voice over performance skills by listening in as voice over expert Susan Berkley coaches members of the The Great Voice community. 

You’ll come away from each episode with actionable tips and techniques to use in all your auditions and recording sessions. 

It’s like having a free voice over training library on your smart phone to enjoy anywhere you go!

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students George Rodman and Marquis Jones.

George Rodman spent over 40 years in the financial industry, retiring in 2022 as Director of Broker Dealer Services for a major FinTech firm. Now, George has a second act in voiceover.

In this episode, George shares how he transitioned from finance to the mic, what he's learned along the way, and about  a legendary cold call that landed him a multi-million-dollar client (yes, really!). 

Listen as  Susan helps George bring an audio drama character to life that plays to his strengths: age, presence, and that signature gravel in his voice. 

Marquis (pron. Mar-KEE) Jones has lived a remarkable life—military veteran, judge, and now, voice actor. After over a decade in the U.S. Air Force and a prestigious legal career, including time on the New Jersey family court bench, Marquis is embracing a new kind of service: storytelling through voiceover. He shares what inspired his creative shift, how voiceover and therapeutic learning have helped him grow. Plus, how Therapy for the World, a weekly class rooted in the teachings of renowned Brazilian psychoanalyst Dr. Norberto Keppe with Susan Berkley, has been transformational for both his craft and his personal life.

Listen as Susan helps Marquis transform a corporate script into a personal conversation, unlocking the voice of a friendly hardware guy talking to his buddy Frank.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for Great Voice Podcast listeners.

Learn more about Therapy for the World by emailing: [email protected].

In today’s episode, you’ll meet VO dubbing artist Vanessa Garcia and Great Voice student Clay Browne.

Vanessa Garcia is a 20+ year litigation paralegal, who found the voice over community during the pandemic. She used lockdown to train, network and grow her voiceover skills. Now Vanessa is an emerging live dubbing artist who has recorded VO projects for Netflix! They talk about opportunities as a live Spanish/English dubbing artist, how auditions work, and how walking in to record means walking in cold - with no script! 

Then, Susan speaks with Clay Browne, a retired high school band director of 32 years and a former Apple Store Genius Bar tech expert. He's looking for a fulfilling retirement career and voiceover offers him flexibility and an outlet for creativity. Susan works with Clay on an eLearning script where she coaches him on how finding the right “mumble in” can dramatically alter the read and help you create a warm and friendly tone.

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

In today’s episode, you’ll meet emerging voice talent Michael Whalen and industry guest Stacy Berro.

Michael shares his journey from a career in the Air Force and the North Carolina Department of Transportation to becoming an audiobook narrator in retirement. He’s doing extremely well and  has recorded 37 books to date!

Because Michael also wants to do medical narrations, listen  and learn as Susan coaches him  through a medical narration script with tips on  how to use warmth to improve your delivery. 

Then, Susan talks with Stacy Berro about being bilingual in voiceover, the importance of having a professional website, and effective strategies for leveraging social media, particularly LinkedIn, to grow your business. You’ll learn how to build authentic connections, expand your network and maintain a consistent public persona in social media. 

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

In today’s episode, you’ll meet emerging voice talents Garrett Holcombe and Rob Klein.

Garrett, a certified financial planner from Georgia, has already landed VO gigs for a dinner theater trailer and a short documentary. Rob, a longtime High-Performance System Specialist, and community chorus singer, is drawn to audiobooks and the storytelling side of voiceover. 

Listen and learn as Susan coaches Garrett through an e-learning script and helps him explore delivering multiple takes that give directors more flexibility in the edit room.

Then, Susan helps Rob build a vivid scene around an audiobook narration—raising the emotional stakes and transforming his read.

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for Great Voice Podcast listeners

What do a farm and a bold voiceover campaign have in common? Heart, hustle, and the power of being heard.

Lisa Roberts (Mimi) found her voice among the animals on her farm—literally. With a natural ability to calm creatures big and small, she’s discovering that same soothing presence translates perfectly behind the mic with the help of The Great Voice Company.

Christy Harst, a former college athlete and lifelong sports fan, got tired of being told there was no place for women in promo voiceover. So she built one. Her “Building Doors” campaign reimagines male-dominated genres by showcasing female voices in sports, tech, construction, and more—sparking real conversations (and real hires) at major brands.

Join host Susan Berkley as she coaches Lisa on channeling her calming voice into audiobook work, and sits down with Christy to explore what it takes to shift industry norms—and how you can help.

Visit https://www.buildingdoorsvo.com/ to learn more!

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

What does tech and creativity have in common? In the world of voiceover, more than you’d expect!

Jim Strunk spent decades selling in the tech industry, building network connectivity, security, and data centers. As a former Private Client with Susan Berkley and The Great Voice Company, he’s taken that same strategic approach to mastering both the craft and business of voiceover.

Daron Macke, an IT professional and musician, knows how to harmonize data and creativity. His dynamic voice caught the attention of The Great Voice Podcast team, winning him a contest that made him the official voice of the show.

Join host Susan Berkley as she chats with Jim and Daron about their tech-driven paths into voiceover, the power of visualization in performance, and why a strategic mindset can be a game-changer in this industry.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for the Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

To sign up for the Show Notes and be notified when a new episode posts go to: GreatVoicePodcast.com

Passion for voiceover can come from unexpected paths—just ask Mike Copeland and Linzi Lynn.

Mike’s journey has taken him from submarines to sheriff’s offices, with a passion for technology guiding him every step of the way. Now, he’s channeling that experience into voiceover, blending precision with personality to create compelling reads.

For Linzi Lynn, the spotlight has always called. From gracing the London Palladium stage to painting in the South of France, creativity runs through her veins. Voiceover is her latest artistic outlet—bringing characters and stories to life with her rich, expressive voice.

Listen in as Susan Berkley chats with Mike and Linzi about their diverse backgrounds, the art of voiceover, and the techniques of bringing scripts to life. Discover how the friendly authoritative tone is essential for e-learning projects, and learn how building characters and scenes can elevate your audiobook performance.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for the Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

To sign up for the Show Notes and be notified when a new episode posts go to: GreatVoicePodcast.com

Retirement doesn’t have to mean slowing down—it can be the perfect time to launch a brand-new career. Just ask Robert Weible and Nita Drakatos.

Robert spent decades as an aerospace test engineer, making sure aircraft components could withstand extreme conditions. But ever since high school, people told him he had a great voice. Now, as he approaches retirement, he’s putting that voice to work. He’s diving into this new adventure, exploring how voiceovers can supplement his retirement—and maybe even help him retire a little sooner.

Then there’s Nita Drakatos. With a background in ethics and compliance, she spent years ensuring employees followed the right path. Along the way, she created e-learning content and corporate communications, unknowingly building the foundation for her future in voiceover. Now, five years into her journey, she’s proving that retirement is just the beginning of a whole new career. 

Listen in as Susan and Nita discuss how Nita used the four ways to launch her VO career—through personal connections, freelancing, auditioning, and pay-to-play platforms. 

Chapters

03:51 Bob’s Transition to Voiceover in Retirement

13:10 How to add interest and "deliciousness" to all your reads

33:19 Nita Explains How She Used Networking to Find Voiceover Jobs

38:02 The good, the bad and the ugly of VO freelance platforms

46:21 Nita Shares the important Lessons she Learned from Audiobook Projects

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for the Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

To sign up for the Show Notes and be notified when a new episode posts go to: GreatVoicePodcast.com

Farrah Evans spent 21 years as a nurse, but deep down, she always knew she wanted something else. With her late husband’s encouragement still on her mind, and her retirement from nursing, she took the leap into voiceover, and you know what? She’s already rocking it in audiobook narration! Listen to Farrah talk about blending her medical background with her voiceover aspirations and how Susan Berkley helps her craft the right tone for medical narration

And then there’s Todd Colvin. He’s an air traffic controller and a former Air Force Combat Controller with a steady, commanding voice to match. But it was his son who inspired him to take a leap into voiceover. Todd’s calm, authoritative delivery is perfect for e-learning scripts, and with Susan’s guidance, he’s learning how to blend friendly warmth with authority. Oh, and thanks to his security clearances? Military e-learning might just be his next big niche.

This final episode of Season 1 isn’t just about voiceover—it’s about discovering who you are, embracing your unique experiences, and finding the courage to create something new.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for the Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

To sign up for the Show Notes and be notified when a new episode posts go to: GreatVoicePodcast.com

In this episode of the Great Voice podcast Susan Berkley interviews and coaches two members of the Great Voice Community who are growing their voice over businesses despite the demands of their day jobs. 

You’ll meet Lee Riley, an accomplished corporate professional who enjoys narrating audio books in his spare time. Lee takes you on an audio tour of his home studio where he just finished narrating his third audio book, despite a crushing work schedule and some really noisy crickets in his backyard! I think you’ll really get a kick out of Lee’s ingenious soundproofing hack.

You’ll also meet Chad Engelbert, who leads a team that produces 60,000 vinyl records every day for major labels like Sony Records and indie labels like Thirty Tigers. Yes, vinyl is still going strong, and Chad gives us a fascinating inside look at this niche corner of the music industry.

As always, each episode is filled with actionable takeaways on how to improve your voice acting skills, as Susan coaches emerging voice talent guests.  

Chapters

03:16 Best practices for home studios.

06:20 Exploring Voiceover Techniques

19:42 Transforming Voiceover Reads

23:26 Character-Driven Performance

34:15 E-Learning Script Coaching

45:39 Chad's Home Studio Setup

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Daron Macke

This episode is sponsored by Less Annoying CRM. Go to https://greatvoice.com/crm for an exclusive deal for the Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

To sign up for the Show Notes and be notified when a new episode posts go to: GreatVoicePodcast.com