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.

This week, Mike and Amanda share seven of their hard-learned pitfalls to avoid when working from home as Voice Actors. From finding your focus, to keeping your passion fires stoked, to managing expectations, to remembering to change out of your PJs…this episode gets into the down and dirty of the dangers to dodge when making your VO career bloom from home. Listen for BONUS tidbits and anecdotes on creative job pitches and the secret formula for booking commercials, too.

In this episode, Mike and Amanda tag-team on a (not-so) terrifying topic: Directed Sessions! There are 5 top things Mike and Amanda have learned about Directed Sessions over the years, and they’re here to share it all; from ways to connect, best practices, how to prepare, what you can expect during a session, and more. Plenty of juicy bonus tips come out in this one, too! Be ready to take notes.

In this episode, Amanda shares her wisdom as she explores a question recently posed by a student of The VoiceOver School: When can I become a full time Voice Actor? As you might imagine, there’s no magical potion or clear timeline to your full time career, but you’ll get there. Amanda shares her own story of going full time, the inspiring stories of well-established colleagues (thanks to a popular FB post she made) and many wise methods for speeding up the process. If you haven’t already, sign up for our newsletter and get all those juicy stories and a lifetime of insider knowledge!

You’ve asked. We’ve listened. In this episode, Mike and Amanda address your burning questions: What does it take to gain that competitive edge? And How do YOU become part of the 20% of talent booking 80% of the work? The answer? Through ACTION. Hear some inspiring examples of how Amanda and Mike took a leap of faith (backed up with some serious ACTION) and got to where they are today! 

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 episode seven, Amanda and Mike talk about how studying your craft is VITAL to your success in VO. They share some of their hard lessons (no dangly earrings or soda pop in the booth!), some of their game-changing lessons (TAKE YOUR TIME) and the many ways their careers have been boosted, buoyed, and bettered by their many coaches over the years. And yes, that’s coaches, plural.