The Great Voice Podcast

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. 

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

Submarines and Stages: Unexpected Voiceover Journeys

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

• 06:09 Mike Copeland’s Military Background
• 10:48 The importance of the friendly authoritative tone in E-learning
• 19:48 Linzi Lynn’s Performance Background
• 24:11 Creating Scenes to drive performance
• 35:33 Linzi Reflects on the Great Voice Company

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

A Second Act: Turning Retirement into a Voiceover Career

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

Finding Your Voice: A Transition to Voiceover

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

• 02:56 Farrah’s Story from Nursing to Voiceover
• 11:47 Susan Berkley Provides Medical Narration Insights
• 15:01 Susan Berkley teaches Voiceover Techniques and Direction
• 18:04 Todd Colvin from the Air Force to Air Traffic Controller to Voiceover
• 26:54 E-Learning and Voiceover Opportunities
• 30:14 Voiceover Script Practice

 

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

How To Do VO When You Have a Busy Day Job

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

Finding Your Voice: Personal Connections Make Powerful Performances

In this inspiring episode, Susan Berkley connects with two Great Voice students – Andrea Barbour and Cheri Freund. Andrea, a sales agent with a passion for ministry, shares how Susan’s impactful teaching sparked her own voiceover pursuits. Cheri, a digital artist and caregiver, discusses her experience in Susan’s training programs and the powerful transition from the art and music industries to a growing passion for voiceover. 

 

Susan first guides Andrea through a heartfelt, personal read. She shows Andrea how connecting the script to someone in your life can help transform the sound. Then Susan works with Cheri on a corporate read and offers insider tips on crafting relatable, conversational performances. 

Chapters

 

02:52  Connecting the script to a real person

06:13  Using Visualization Techniques in Voiceover

09:10  Creating a Backstory for Voiceover

17:45  The nuances of a corporate script

22:13  Character Development in Voiceover

26:03  Final Thoughts and Future Opportunities

 

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

How I Built This: Susan Berkley reveals the intimate details of how (and why) she built the Great Voice Company

How I Built This: Susan Berkley reveals the intimate details of how (and why) she built the Great Voice Company, an iconic voice over training brand. Plus, meet emerging voice talent Debbie Smith and get inspired by  her journey from nurse to narrator!

In this episode of The Great Voice Podcast, host Susan Berkley interviews Debbie Smith, who brings her healthcare background to the mic. Their conversation unpacks Debbie’s shift from nursing to voiceover with valuable lessons for anyone wanting to pursue Medical Narration VO.

Then Great Voice coach DeBorah Pryor continues her interview with Susan Berkley about how she built the Great Voice Company. Susan Berkley continues. Susan discusses several different voiceover niches, she explores how creativity and work can be surprisingly vital for well-being, and they also discuss the concept of “vocal narcissism” and the teachings of Dr. Norberto Keppe, which shed light on a unique perspective about health and work.

 

Takeaways:

• Debbie’s story highlights the potential for career transitions post-retirement.
• Medical narration spans peer-to-peer and peer-to-patient communication.
• E-learning and other niches in voiceover are seeing significant growth.
• The demand for voiceover surged during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Vocal narcissism can be a barrier for voice actors, impacting delivery and relatability.
• Dr. Norberto Keppe emphasizes how work is essential for maintaining health.
• Exploring various niches can open new paths for aspiring voiceover artists.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction to Voiceover and Personal Journeys
• 02:50 Exploring Medical Narration and Audio Description
• 09:01 Opportunities in Medical Narration
• 15:02 The Impact of COVID-19 on Voiceover
• 18:10 Understanding Vocal Narcissism
• 24:03 Dr. Norberto Keppe and his teachings on work and health
• 30:13 Advice for Aspiring Voiceover Artists

 

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