Hey there, hero! I'm now subscribed to two newsletters I cannot quit. One is from James Clear, and the other is from Mark Manson. Mark is the one that can't stop using the F word in his book titles. But that bit of profanity can distract you from the power of his writing. And in particular, the writing in his weekly newsletter. In a recent edition,…

Hey there, hero! We get comfy when we have a pattern to look at: we create a life for ourselves, we get into a habit, we get systems in place and we think that's it. It's never going to change. What we have now is what we will always have, good and bad. But is that really true? Does what we have now somehow predict what we'll have in the future? Is…

Hey there, hero! Had a great time on the VOBB (VO Booth Besties) with Jen, Jen and Aleesha: https://www.boothbesties.com/ ...and I had the chance to answer some questions from the attending audience of VO talent. One question that came up was "How do you keep all the voices you create for the characters in an audiobook straight? How do you avoid us…

Hey there, hero! One of the most satisfying things that can happen to us is that all goes according to plan. That you set up a process, and you follow the path, you execute the steps, and it works out perfectly. But ask yourself: how often does that really happen? Not very often, if at all, I would think. It's really difficult, given all the variab…

Hey there, hero! This episode is for you if you feel like you missed the boat. That you're too old to be the artist you want to be. So... We tell ourselves the stories we hear from others. It's convenient and reliable. Sometimes. But sometimes, the stories we tell ourselves are different from the conventional wisdom. And it's actually all a choice.…

Hey there, hero! The little moments in life when we do what we do as performers...record an audition, narrate a chapter in an audiobook, self-tape an on-camera audition...they are juicy, aren't they? I'm wondering what goes through your head, just as you're about to start. To take that "blank page" and add content to it. To change it from nothing t…

Hey there, hero! If there's one thing we don't have enough of, it's time. But there are ways to guard your time and protect what you have. You can even take steps to re-claim that precious commodity. One is fairly obvious. The other can feel a bit dangerous. A bit risky. I'd like to set your mind at ease about that "dangerous, risky" one. How do yo…

Hey there, hero! Our NarrateYourOwnBook.com training course, designed for authors who want to be the voice of their own books, has a lesson in it that shows them how to "claim their title" from Kindle and start the process of producing the audiobook version of their book on ACX. You'd think you'd need some sort of permission to claim a title, but y…

Hey there, hero! I'm just starting the process of taking a course, and I'm looking for advice from you. Whether you formally teach others or not, we all make the move from showing others how to do something to learning how to do things ourselves. What do you do to be as open as possible to the great things headed your way? How do you combat the ass…

Hey there, hero! This episode is a quick reminder that there are a lot of ways to go about doing things in our business. Some are pretty good. Some are uh-MAZE-ing. But some...um, no. Just no. Can you see what's very wrong with the process I came across in the Meetup profile I talk about? Let me know in the comments below. REQUEST: Please join this…

Hey there, hero! It's easy to get into a rut. You get used to doing something, you're not challenged any longer, and it starts feeling monotonous. Even if your goal was to create a reliable ritual. It just gets old. You get stuck. Then Ajarae Coleman jumped in with a new concept. You try to shake things up, and strike out for something more challen…

Hey there, hero! The number one answer to the question I ask when I'm trying to gauge a student's concerns about learning, "What are you most worried about?" is so interesting. And we don't really think about that one moment, that one concern, that everyone in the world has also experienced. It's a universal. And if you give this momentous occasion…

Hey there, hero! If you're as big a fan of language, expression, narration and audiobooks as I am, and if you care about proper usage and what is required to do your own public domain audiobook narration, this is the episode for you. I had a chance to spend some time with Mignon Fogarty, discussing all that and more. Enjoy this visit with one of my…

Hey there, hero! Ever been in the situation where you have an abundance of great choices? An embarrassment of riches when it comes to solutions, any one of which would be great? Does it stop you from making a decision on which to choose? I mean, how often do you have a bunch of options...that are all good? Here's a hall pass for choosing any one of…

Hey there, hero! Knowing your brand is essential, but once we determine the boundaries of our brand we might mistakenly misuse that knowledge. In this episode, I'm going to give you two examples around opportunities and your brand. Your brand can be your first filter, but then...I have a secret weapon for you. And it depends who is asking - if you'…

Hey there, hero! Does the world these days tend to make you angry? I know there are aspects of our existence that piss me off. And I want to delete those things. Don't you? James Clear helped set me straight. You know, the guy who wrote Atomic Habits? He got me again this week with something in his newsletter. Once you hear it (I repeat it, it's so…

Hey there, hero! The consideration you make for a single role in an on-camera or stage opportunity and the many many characters you might play in an audiobook... ...means your personal brand is likely going to be less of a discriminator. You're not auditioning for that one character. You're auditioning for the entire cast. Once you let that marinat…

Hey there, hero! My grandfather was a funny, smart cookie. He wasn't a performer, rather my grandfather was a plumber. I'm not really shocked anymore at how many lessons I learned from him, even though he was a tradesman, about how to execute my occupation and run my business. One of the basic rules he lived by was to be damn sure he had a measure …

Hey there, hero! Everybody makes mistakes. Everybody fails at things. All. The. Time. Instead of being solely embarrassed about it, and fearful that failure might become the norm, why not make light of your mistakes? Even...celebrate them? You'll hear what I did in this episode. Sound familiar? How did you handle it? Let me know in the comments bel…

Hey there, hero! We may not have control over what happens to us in life. Sometimes, it's our doing. Sometimes, life happens with no input from us. And although we might not be the cause of some event in our life, there is one thing that we can control: how we react to it. And I'm telling you, your choices on how to react are far more numerous than…

Hey there, hero! This one is worth listening to without the distraction of video. Wear headphones or earbuds, seat them properly and listen. And, I'm gonna warn you. I tear up a bit in this podcast episode. Because of the power of human breathing. How breaths are used run the gamut from comedic to tragic to frantic to romantic. And I'm on a mission…

Hey there, hero! It's a pretty simple question, but we might fly right by it because we see it as a huge issue. We face things all the time that have the potential of being an issue... ...but it might be worth taking a moment and determining whether it's actually real or not. When you're worried about something...take a moment and survey whether yo…

Hey there, hero! We hear the phrase "game changer" all the time. And we take for granted that it's a major shift that leads to a victory. Is that always what it means? And is it always huge, monumental or unexpected? I'd love to know how you define a game-changing moment or development or shift. Can you even recognize it? When you haven't experienc…

Hey there, hero! The rest of that quote (from Helen Keller) is really important to know. Life in general, and our chosen path in life (being an artist) specifically, has some twists and turns in store for us. Some unexpected stops, some uphill climbs and some out of control skids. Some bends in the road. Unless...you are watching, vigilant and prep…

Hey there, hero! Taking care of ourselves is paramount - as actors, voice talent, writers and other creatives, we don't have an office infirmary and an in-person support community when we are in need of self-care. And one area where your personal mental and physical health can be threatened is when you choose to disagree with someone's point of vie…

Hey there, hero! I feel like I'm a weird artist. When I'm designing a performance, I work toward something that I can rely on, in a character, in business, in life, and then, if I can, lathering, rinsing and repeating. And I feel like I'm in the minority - I see most other artists achieving great performances, and then instead of repeating those pe…

Hey there, hero! When trying to understand a problem or challenge, while getting to the root of the problem and then on to the solution, we often ask "Why is this happening?" Great question. It's worth getting an answer, and one way to do that is to use a process that some call "about five WHYs" - asking "why?" over and over. Begin with the general…

Hey there, hero! We continue with the second of two episodes hearing from NAVA's Carin Gilfry, and in this installment, she gets a bit more personal about her own decisions when it comes to AI, and in particular why she decided to take the plunge... ...and arrange to have her voice modeled for future AI and synthetic use. You might be surprised tha…

Hey there, hero! One of my fave people in VO is NAVA's Carin Gilfry, and in this first of a two part series, she shares with us how NAVA (the National Association of Voice Actors at navavoices.org) is working on behalf of all voice actors and lots of different areas: DEI, representation, insurance and more. Including...AI and synthetic voices. If y…

Hey there, hero! Do you find the random irregularity and odd, weird opportunities that are the bulk of our business...annoying? Does the lack of a regular, traditional 40-hour work week make you...irritated? I want to help you be at peace with this - and help you with a bit of advice on how to help set up your performer life so that you're prepared…

Hey there, hero! Clara Tristan is an excellent host and a wise woman. She casually dropped that phrase...when you create something, you automatically serve others...with me when I appeared on her podcast. And it so resonated with me, and hopefully for you - specifically because of the type of business we're in. I mean, you can doubt your level of e…

Hey there, hero! As a performer, you've made the choice to be in a very weird, counterintuitive, awesome, creative world. And it has its own quirky way of presenting us opportunities. There's a phrase we dive into in this episode to help us recognize those quiet moments of opportunities: "Listen carefully, because opportunity sometimes knocks softl…

Hey there, hero! There are lots of strategies and tactics to help us to get better at what we do, but there is one thing we will sometimes do that likely won't help at all. And that's guessing. Or listening to someone online who likely is guessing as well. In this episode, I show you why this probably won't work, give you some better options to sta…

Hey there, hero! I know there are times when I've told you that it's an advantage to be brief. To be essential. Focused and tight in your communication. One big exception: asking for help or support. Don't worry about giving too many details. When you need help, and you're frustrated, tale a moment to give as much information to the person helping …

Hey there, hero! I'm feeling sheepish. I feel like sometimes I might be failing at reminding you that you're an artist. My priority lately has been you ways to maximize your focus, do your busy work easier and faster, manage your productivity and so on. And with the number of auditions you could be getting, I've given you ways to make that process …

Hey there, hero! If you haven't seen the announcement from Amazon that they are going to give Kindle authors the option to have the audiobook versions of their titles read by synthetic voices, well...it's happened: https://www.kdpcommunity.com/s/article/Invite-Only-KDP-Beta-for-Audiobooks And there's really nothing we can do to stop it. But... ...t…

Hey there, hero! You get a lot of choices in life, and some you very much want to take advantage of. Others, not so much. Some are a hard "no." Especially if you don't feel qualified or up to the task. As a coach, there can be a tendency to not want to be perceived as anything less than a superman. That you're capable of anything and helping anyone…

Hey there, hero! Remember when you couldn't wait to open your inbox...juuuust in case you had gotten an audition or seven while you were away from your email? Remember that feeling of anticipation? Or curiosity? Or joy? You likely had anything but a feeling of dread, right? How do you feel now? Have things changed for you? Do you dread having to do…

Hey there, hero! If you're like me and you're engaged in the pursuit of a successful, satisfying and profitable VO and acting career, you work really hard to get better. Better at everything. Skills. Strategies. Planning. Execution. Results. So things are a bit easier in the long run... ...so you can experience joy and happiness. Let's remember to …

Hey there, hero! The fact is, you're going to make mistakes. And you're going to be disappointed, feel less than and that wish that you could get a do-over. But don't let that be your norm. That's certainly one way to look at it, but there may be another to consider. If you know you're not going to be perfect, if you know that there are times when …

Hey there, hero! Solving problems for yourself or others likely require asking questions. In some cases, those questions are straightforward, and the answers you get will get the job done. But many times, the question being asked isn't quite getting to the heart of the matter. There's more information required, or context needs to be added, or the …

Hey there, hero! "Scary hours." Weird name. Interesting concept. Effective? Why not try out creating a scary hour for yourself and let me know? Might scary hours be an effective way of getting stuff done for you? Or do you have enough in your life that's a little bit frightening already? Let me know in the comments below. REQUEST: Please join this …

Hey there, hero! The strike against the TV/Theatrical/Streaming contracts and the members of the AMPTP continues, now months in for both writers and actors. Writers are really hamstrung in terms of what they can work on, but our strike is slightly different as there are many areas of work, covered by many different contracts... ...many of which are…

Hey there, hero! It might have been a book I narrated. Or it might not. I'm not sayin' one way or the other. But a listener brought up a nonetheless interesting opinion: that there are some print books that should not be made into audiobooks. Too complicated. Too controversial. Too many pictures. Too outdated. Too boring. Too...whatever. Do you agr…

Hey there, hero! I apologize in advance for this episode. Not really, but kinda. I just got off a very difficult Zoom Q&A session, with hundreds of people in attendance, most of which had had questions and had absolutely no idea how to behave in that situation. I have thoughts. And advice. And I need to vent. Once you watch the video, let me know..…

Hey there, hero! There's a gift waiting for you in this podcast episode. I'm going to show you what is waiting for you when you make a definitive choice, and help casting see your take on a character. This ties in with a previous episode on being the casting office's consultant for this role. When you do make that definitive choice, there's power i…

Hey there, hero! I have to admit that there are times when I stop what I'm doing, especially when they are repetitive or mundane, and ask myself an important question: "Does this really matter?" Because I have a tendency toward wasting time on things that, although I'm really good at them, they don't really move things forward for me. We can someti…

Hey there, hero! We spend an awful lot of time planning to get stuff done. Making to-do lists and setting up calendars and workflows and then analyzing if we were on target or need to adjust things. And there are all kinds of apps and processes (hello, Ivy Lee Method) for getting all those best-laid plans squared away. But what about the fairly min…

Hey there, hero! Every so often, like a bolt of lightning, our perceptions about ourselves become crystal clear. That happened to me just a few days ago. Thanks to CNN's story on "dis-influencers," I now know my purpose in life...online. I have a very lucid understanding of what I do with these podcasts and how they benefit (I hope!) you, my lovely…

Hey there, hero! As we sit in a moment of uncertainty. or fear, or disappointment, we might think that this is where it always will be. That this failure or challenge or set of speed bumps in life will never end. I've got three words for you. And I suggest you do what I did with those three words. After watching the podcast - did those three words …