The Great Voice Podcast

Music, Science, and the Art of Voiceover

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students Stan Read and Morrie Barembaum.

 

Stan Read is a seasoned performer with deep roots in music, including time as a backup singer for Harry Belafonte! These days, he’s adding to his entertainment portfolio with voiceovers. He even developed a passion project: writing and voicing heartfelt letters to his grandson. In his coaching session with Susan, Stan works on energy, clarity, and connection, discovering how personal storytelling can bring any script to life.

 

Morrie Barembaum has spent over 30 years teaching astronomy and physics to high school and college students. (He’ll even explain why Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet!) Now approaching retirement, Morrie is turning his love of teaching into a second act in voiceover, with a special interest in eLearning narration. In this episode, Susan works with Morrie on understanding audience and context, helping him translate his classroom skills into engaging voiceover delivery.

 

Listen as Susan helps Stan energize his reads with warmth and personality and guides Morrie in shaping his natural teaching voice for eLearning and beyond.

 

Chapters

• 01:01 Stan Reed's Entertainment Journey
• 18:25 Enhancing Voiceover Performance
• 30:08 Morrie Barembaum Talks Astronomy to Voiceover

Cameras, Clay, Audiobooks! Creative Journeys to the Mic

In today’s episode, you’ll meet Great Voice students Randy Boyum and Kathy Bruins.

Randy Boyum has spent over 35 years in corporate video production as a production manager and behind the lens as a camera operator for live events. Along the way, he launched a second creative outlet in clay animation. Now, he’s inspired to do voiceover work and maybe even narrate his own book!

Kathy Bruins is an award-winning writer and publisher who helps creatives take the next step through her coaching and teaching. She also founded The Well Publishers in Southwest Michigan. Originally drawn to voiceover for audiobooks, Kathy’s Great Voice training opened her eyes to even more possibilities!

Listen as Susan works with Randy on pacing, breath control, and connecting his storytelling to voiceover and to Kathy as she explores character development and powerful audiobook narration.

Chapters

• 03:10 Randy Boyum’s talks about  Clay Animation
• 14:41 Learning Breath Control and Recording Tips
• 20:31 Kathy Bruins talks about Publishing and Audiobooks
• 23:27 Susan Teaches Narration Techniques and Character Development

 

The Financier, the Judge and the Mic

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

• 05:27 George Rodman Talks Jobs and Learning Experiences
• 21:25 Using Sales Techniques in Voiceover
• 27:26 Creating a Unique Character in Audio Drama
• 47:05 Marquis Learns how to be relatable in a Corporate Script

 

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.

You can find George at https://georgethevoice.com/ 

Learn more about Therapy for the World by emailing: support@greatvoice.com.

From Legal Briefs and Marching Bands to Authenticity on Mic

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. 

Warm Reads and Strong Brands: Medical Narrations and Building Your Presence

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

• 05:44 Medical Narration Techniques
• 10:07 Optimizing Voice Performance
• 18:02 Opportunities for bilingual voice talent. 
• 22:08 The Importance of a Professional Website
• 26:36 Leveraging Social Media for Voiceover Success
• 30:15 Building Authentic Connections on LinkedIn

 

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. 

Two New Voices Step Up to the Mic

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

The Farm, The Mic, and The Movement

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

• 02:56 Lisa’s Unique Business Ventures
• 06:10 How Lisa Calms Animals with Her Voice
• 11:58 Finding the Tone and Pace for Audiobook Narration
• 26:13 Christy Harst and Building Doors Campaign
• 36:21 How Women Can Bring Something Unique 
• 40:49 Data-Driven Insights on Gender Disparity in Voiceover
• 47:29 Community Support and Engagement for Building Doors

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.

Wired for Success: Tech Pros Turned Voiceover Artists

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

• 03:00 Jim Strunk’s Transition from Technology to Voiceover
• 06:09 E-Learning Script Analysis
• 11:52 Susan Talks About the Importance of Visualization in Voiceover
• 17:46  Daron's Voiceover Journey
• 26:36 Susan Explains the Importance of Directed Sessions
• 34:04 How to Create a Connection with the Audience
• 37:03 Daron Learns to Select Key Phrases to Bring More Life to a 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 the Great Voice Podcast listeners. 

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