The Great Voice Podcast

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice student Cris Cassell and E. Curtis Johnson.

Cris Cassell, a trained actor, director, and acting teacher whose career has taken her from theater stages to the classroom at the Academy of Art University. Already working in e-learning and preparing an audiobook demo, Cris shares why voiceover appeals to her as a performer who loves creating entire worlds with nothing but her voice.

Curtis Johnson, a retired broadcaster whose voice has been heard on the radio for nearly five decades. After a successful career in rock, country, Top 40, and adult contemporary radio, Curtis has turned his attention to audiobooks, commercials, and voiceover work.

Listen as Susan coaches Cris through a commercial script. They explore the concepts of urgency and high stakes, using visualization and physical movement to bring more energy, authenticity, and emotional commitment to the read. Working on an e-learning script with E., Susan helps him move beyond the familiar “announcer voice” by creating a specific scenario and a real person to talk to. The result is a warmer, more conversational read that feels less like a presentation and more like a genuine interaction. 

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice student Claudett Sanders and Larry Chain.

Claudett Sanders, a preschool supervisor and lead teacher from Sacramento, spends her days reading stories to three-, four-, and five-year-olds. With retirement on the horizon, Claudett is looking to turn her love of reading into a fulfilling voiceover career. 

Larry Chain has spent more than 30 years building relationships and selling everything from motors to industrial components. After years of hearing compliments about his voice and occasionally being mistaken for a robocall, Larry is discovering how the same communication skills that make him successful in sales can translate to voiceover. 

Listen as Susan helps Claudett finesse an audiobook script. Susan coaches her on raising the stakes, helping her explore multiple story scenarios and emotional perspectives. Working on a Subway commercial, Susan helps Larry sharpen his read by focusing on a single, specific listener, transforming the script from a general sales pitch into a genuine one-on-one conversation. 

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice student Anna Kunkin and industry guest Brady Flanagan. 

Anna Kunkin is a bilingual medical interpreter whose years helping Spanish-speaking patients navigate doctors’ appointments and immigration interviews have given her a deep sense of empathy and connection. After growing up partly in Mexico and becoming fluent in Spanish, Anna found a career where advocacy and communication come together.

Brady Flanagan is a voice actor, writer, director and sound engineer based out of Salt Lake City. He is the founder of the Voice Support Community on Discord as well as the creator of the audio drama Rogue Life. Brady and Susan discuss the booming world of audio dramas and why the format has exploded in recent years. 

Tune in as Susan coaches Anna through a commercial read where they work on developing a clear point of view by speaking to one specific person and creating a believable world behind the script. And learn how podcasts are helping fuel a new generation of scripted audio entertainment built around immersive sound, full casts, music, and storytelling “for the ears.”

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students Nan Charters and Andrew Smith, two audiobook lovers who found their way behind the mic after very different careers.

First, you’ll meet Nan Charters. A former publishing professional and legal assistant whose love of books, language, and reading aloud eventually led her to voiceover. Encouraged for years by people complimenting her voice while lecturing at church, Nan finally took the leap during COVID and immersed herself in Great Voice training and certification.

Next, you’ll hear retired IT professional Andrew Smith, who turned a longtime interest in broadcasting and voice work into a growing audiobook career. Andrew shares how one audiobook led to another, including return authors and a new trilogy project, all recorded from a shared home studio with his wife, who is also a narrator. 

Tune in to hear Susan coach Nan on the power of contrast—using a subtle sense of foreboding beneath bright, beautiful imagery to create intrigue and draw listeners deeper into the story. And then Susan works with Andrew on slowing down his delivery and visualizing the scene, helping the imagery come into sharper focus and making the performance more vivid and immersive.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students David Peterson and Omar Masoodi.

David Peterson turned a recent layoff into an opportunity to pursue his long-standing interest in voice acting and character work. Growing his skills with The Great Voice Company and putting himself out there on the pay-to-play sites, David wants to bring his unique voice to animation, video games, elearning and more.

Omar Masoodi is a special education teacher of 35 years and longtime public address announcer with a natural love of storytelling. With experience in radio and a growing presence on Voices.com, Omar shares how consistent daily auditions are already leading to paid work. 

Listen in as Susan coaches David through an audiobook scene, focusing on “raising the stakes.” And with Omar, Susan shows how adding specificity can help bring vague copy to life. But stay tuned, because a special bonus interview where Omar talks about his recent successes on the pay-to-play sites and what he’s learned about scams and how to avoid them.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice student Chef Pam and co-founder and creator of SourceConnect Rebekah Wilson.

Chef Pam is a cook and content creator with a thriving YouTube channel, "Cooking at Pam's Place." She started to create a visual reference for her children, but over time, her love for cooking and sharing her culinary adventures evolved into a full-fledged online presence. Pam wants to bring her personality to voiceover and is working with the Great Voice Company to do just that. 

Rebekah Wilson, Source Elements CEO and co-founder, has spent 20 years building a tool that allows remote collaboration in sound engineering, voice acting, video editing and more. Susan and Rebekah discuss how important SourceConnect has been for the voiceover industry as well as a breakdown of SourceConnect, their plans, and their training program.

Listen as Susan helps Pam infuse her knowledge of cooking into creating a delicious Subway commercial and then learn all about how Rebekah Wilson built SourceConnect to help voice over artists and creatives all over the world work together seamlessly. 

Special deal for Great Voice Podcast listeners - save when you sign up for SourceConnect by emailing [email protected] with code greatvoice26 and unlock exclusive discounts just for listening!

Chapters

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice talent Susie Hackel, a former reading specialist who transformed her lifelong love of storytelling into a flourishing voiceover career.

After walking away from voiceover decades ago (back in the cassette demo days!), Susie restarted in 2020 with The Great Voice Company and today she’s narrated dozens of children’s audiobooks, booked indie games and animation, built steady momentum on Fiverr and the pay-to-plays, and recently signed with Stewart Talent.

Susie shares how she landed her dream children’s narration work, built a strong LinkedIn presence, and branded herself as “Bee Your Voice.” 

Then, listen in as Susan works Susie through a commercial script, uncovering the emotional journey of the spot and elevating the performance beat by beat.

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students Steven Tanner and Mike Shivley (Shy-vlee), two men stepping into voiceover from very different paths.

Steven shares why he sees e-learning as his starting point and how leaning into his natural Midwestern sound could open doors. Susan coaches him on one of the biggest lessons for new talent: why the microphone “eats energy” and how becoming an enhanced version of yourself can transform a read.

Then Susan sits down with Mike, whose career spans Navy service, direct mail sales, and years as an audio engineer in television studios and live sports. They explore the surprising connection between selling through print and selling through voice before Mike steps up to the mic with a carefully prepared Applebee’s script.

Listen as Susan explores script reading techniques, the importance of energy in delivery, and insights into auditions. 

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students and audiobook narrators John Bejarano and Terri Dien, two professionals building exciting audiobook careers alongside their full-time work.

Susan kicks things off with John Bejarano, who shares how a second try at voiceover, thanks to the support of Great Voice training and encouragement from fellow student Terri, led to multiple audiobooks now available on Audible. John talks about narrating epic sci-fi and fantasy titles, including Echoes of the Fallen World and the Smoke series, and the challenge of keeping dozens of characters consistent across long-form storytelling. Susan then coaches John through an audiobook audition, showing how raising the stakes and letting the narrator “know more than the characters” can add depth, drama, and intrigue.

Next, Susan sits down with instructional designer, chef instructor, and audiobook narrator Terri Dien. Terri shares how earning her Home Studio Masterclass certification gave her the confidence to jump into ACX auditions and how just seven auditions in, she landed her first two audiobook offers. With eight audiobooks completed and a ninth in progress, Terri discusses workflow, momentum, and why audiobook narration fits naturally with teaching and storytelling.

Listen as Susan helps elevate audiobook auditions with stronger intention and higher stakes and hear how John and Terri are building fulfilling voiceover careers one book at a time. 

Chapters

Hosted - Susan Berkley

Producer - Salena Metreger 

Music by Darrin Fossella 

Show Opener by Tanya Wade

This episode is sponsored by Full Compass and Less Annoying CRM.

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students Rebecca Cherry and Tanya Wade. 

Rebecca Cherry, MD is a pediatric gastroenterologist with a fascinating specialty: using clinical hypnosis to help patients of all ages manage conditions like irritable bowel syndrome. Rebecca shares how the power of the voice can literally change the way the nervous system responds by helping people learn, heal, and self-regulate more effectively. A lifelong lover of reading aloud and learning, she’s exploring voiceover as a fun, flexible sideline that fits beautifully alongside her medical practice.

Tanya Wade wears many hats: senior director of clinical operations at a community mental health center in Chicago, practicing therapist, and voiceover artist for Season 3 of The Great Voice Podcast show opener. With roots in acting, spoken word, and a lifelong love of voices, Tanya found her way back to performance through voiceover. She shares her powerful personal journey, including meeting her biological mother for the first time and discovering a shared vocal connection, and how creativity and voiceover have become an essential outlet alongside her meaningful work in mental health.

Listen in as Susan gives performance techniques for medical narration, audiobooks, and the nuances of commercial voiceover work. 

Chapters