The B-Hive Podcast: Women In Voiceover

Well, here we are, back with our first guest in the B-Hive after a year-long hiatus! Thanks, all of you, for your patience! It's been quite a year! Now, in truth, I recorded this podcast with Kirsten well over a year ago, so there may be some outdated bits of info, but let's not sweat the small stuff, okay? We're still in Season 3 and the essence of the podcast remains! Kirsten Krohn is my first guest in the Hive hailing from NYC and the first guest I've actually never met in person. She is a VO powerhouse, my friends. At it for over 20 years, Kirsten landed one of the first voiceover jobs she ever auditioned for – as the national brand voice for General Nutrition Centers. She quickly added Strawberry Jello and Godiva to her ‘menu' of jobs. Today, her repertoire includes a multitude of national campaigns, promos, children's books and narrations for Lifetime, The Discovery Channel, The Smithsonian Channel, HBO, and others. In between voice gigs, Kirsten has also had success with on-camera commercial campaigns and has appeared in webisodes, performed in local community shows and continued her theatrical education with periodic classes at HB Studio, People's Improv Theater and continued learning through private coaching. Her most prized creations, however, are her four sons: Caleb, Simon, Oliver, and Asher. Kirsten grew up in the suburbs of New York City and now lives back in the New York Metro region with her husband, Douglas, a pediatrician, and their family. Kirsten has an AMAZING presence of mind, heart, and soul, and aside from her remarkable talent, brings a cool head to her vo business. There are some stellar gems in this one. Take a listen! kirstenkrohn.com 

Amanda Wyatt is a premier independent video-game casting and voice director in Los Angeles with some of the biggest video game titles to her directing/casting credit. Call of Duty Online, the Halo series, Horizon Zero Dawn, Batman: Arkham Knight, the Skylanders series, Assassin's Creed 1 & 2, Crackdown 2, God of War and many, many, MANY more. Check out her IMDB page and you'll see.  Join us in the B-Hive as we discuss Amanda's career, her tips for video game voice actors, how she got into the biz, the importance of mentors, and the ups and downs that come with a full and creative life. Oh and B-Hive Roulette, of course. :-)

Nancy Linari draws on her theatrical skills to bring animated and video game characters to life. Her characters run the gamut from the sexy, macabre Morticia Addams in ABC's The Addams Family to the warm and supportive Aunt May in both Marvel's Spider-Man on Disney XD and in Insomniac's newest hit, Spider-Man on PS4. Nancy had the honor of introducing both Prince Harry and First Lady Michelle Obama, as the live announcer for the opening and closing ceremonies of the Invictus Games Orlando 2016, the U.S. debut of the international sporting event created by Prince Harry to honor wounded and sick armed services personnel. Nancy is an award-winning audiobook narrator and veteran of more than 200 on and off-camera commercials.

Susan Palyo has been working for Voicetrax West since 1990 and has been the resident demo producer since 1996. Susan grew up in Springfield, Illinois. Her passion for music led her to believe that pursuing a degree in Commercial Music from Millikin University in Decatur, IL would be a great idea since she wanted a job where she didn't have to wear a dress. Shortly after graduating, Susan packed up her car and drove to Los Angeles to pursue a career in recording. Susan landed at the famed Cherokee music studios as an assistant engineer. She got to meet lots of cool celebrities, and she didn't have to wear a dress. But, the pay didn't measure up. So, she looked around and landed the position of head engineer at Voice Trax West. After engineering loads of commercial sessions and assisting in demo production under Thom Pinto and Cindy Akers, Susan became the full-time demo producer. Since then she has produced hundreds of demos for many aspiring and successful VO actors including Grey Delisle, Debi Derryberry, Robert Clotworthy, and Stew Herrera. Her demos are respected by all of the top VO agencies in town for their quality and contemporary style. Susan also has a great reputation as an instructor and director and teaches workshops and private studies in commercial and animation voiceover. Susan lives in the San Fernando Valley with her husband, daughter, 3 dogs, 3 cats, and 2 hamsters. She even wears a skirt once in a while.

Heather Dame is currently the VP, Director of Development of Atlas LA. She was tasked by Atlas Talent Agency to move out to Los Angeles 7 1/2 years ago to help develop and start up the new West Coast branch of the company. This included building the foundation of a positive public brand for the company by developing new relationships and engaging clients and buyers in the company philosophy, building new buyer relationships, growing and pitching new areas of business and carefully crafting a successful talent roster to invest in. Heather built Atlas' Animation department from the ground up, as well as had a close hand and partnership with other agents in developing the Los Angeles commercial, video game, and promo/narration/trailer departments. Seven years and four office expansions later, Atlas LA has 7 full-time employees and competes with the top LA Voice-over agencies. Heather heads up the animation department and also works as an agent in the areas of promo, trailer, narration and video games. She is passionate about developing talent and creating new business equally and enjoys the creative parts of agent-ing just as much as the problem solving and negotiating side. She believes in conducting business openly and honestly.

What? Men in the B-Hive? Sacrilege! Nonetheless, here they are. Two of the most prolific voice actors of their generation, and two of the kindest friends I've known. Please welcome Townsend Coleman and Thom Pinto from the podcast studio at VO Atlanta 2018. The creator of VO Atlanta, Gerald Griffith, asked me to host my own podcast while in attendance at the conference, and I threw a curve ball by inviting two distinguished male voice actors in to the Hive. A woman's prerogative, I say! We do a lot of reminiscing - 'cause we're old-school like that - but there are a few good lessons in here, as well. With time, comes wisdom :-) These are two men who'd never want you to put them on a pedestal, and prove it by sharing not only their successes, but their struggles. What a privilege to have them as guests.  I'll be back next time with more WOMEN in voiceover! In the meantime, enjoy these two gems. 

This episode of the B-Hive takes a turn toward a difficult subject: Sexual assault. On February 8, 2018, CNN.com published an article entitled "They're Not Celebrities. Their Voiceover Coach isn't either. But #MeToo Changed Their Lives." In that article 16 women were stated as having been assaulted by formerly esteemed New York voiceover coach, Peter Rofé. As of today, March 7, 2018, more than 50 female voice actors have come forward to say that Rofé manipulated them, exposed himself to them, and/or sexually assaulted them, all under the pretense of helping them "find their vulnerability" for the good of their voiceover careers. The process of this manipulation varied among his victims, and each woman's story is unique. In many cases, he moved slowly - 6 months to a year - to engender their trust. Other times Rofé struck quickly on his prey, as if his behavior was not predatory, but simply an accepted part of his "unique coaching technique."  Every actor knows the value of having a trustworthy and honored coach, and our job as actors is indeed to discover our vulnerability, as we learn to reveal the complexities of the human condition with authenticity, whether on stage, in film, or in the voice over booth.  Voice actors Heather Costa and Becky Poole, both victims of Peter Rofé's sexual impropriety and abuse, join me in the B-Hive to discuss their particular experiences with him. What we discover is that abuse at the hands of a trusted mentor is difficult to parse, often taking years to do so, and that those on the outside looking in are all too eager to blame the victim.  If you or anyone you know has been victimized by Peter Rofé and you'd like some support, please send an email to voiceoverjusticeclub@gmail.com. All communication is treated confidentially.  *photo credit: Kendrick Brinson and Kholood Eid for CNN.  

Here we are on the cusp of a brand new year - ripe with reflection and full of possibility. From stellar voice actors and guests on the podcast, here's a little inspiration for you as dream your own dreams and make your own plans for a bright and shiny future. Thanks for helping make The B-Hive: Women in Voiceover one of the best things of my 2017. Good tidings to you for a great, great year ahead!

This is the first of a two part series. Today's podcast is all about failure, and next week's will be all about looking ahead to 2018. Failure. Ya. Everybody goes through it. And believe it or not it is the cornerstone of success. That's taken me a while to understand, but I've really found it to be true. Yet somehow whenever we experience a failure, we think perhaps we are the only ones who do, that every successful person must lead a charmed life void of any stumbling blocks. So, to help eradicate that myth, I've asked a collection of Women in Voiceover to share their own experiences of failure, how it has shaped them, and how they've used a less than stellar event to shape their goals, their work ethic, and their approach to life. The stories here vary in their degree of "intensity," if you will, but all of the experiences shared here are uniquely valuable and transformative. My hope is that you will discover that your own failures can serve you in positive and productive ways if you are willing to reframe and learn from them.  Huge thanks to the women who participated in this podcast for their willingness to be vulnerable and share some of their most difficult moments. 

Lucky us. Liz Atherton joins me in the B-Hive today, and you are in for a treat. Liz is the owner and Queen Bee extraordinaire of The Atherton Group (TAG) Talent Agency, based in Austin, Texas. Liz has been agenting for a couple of decades now at least, but spent some time in her youth as an actor and singer, lending her voice on occasion to jingles written by her father, who was a prolific and nationally notable jingle writer. Needless to say, she's got advertising and commercial sensibilities in her blood. She is a formidable business woman, yet a kinder, more generous woman you will not meet. Still, my friends, don't let her Texas charm fool you. She's about as strong a woman as they come, inside and out. She's weathered many a storm and still manages to love people and see the world in the most positive light. Liz has some gems of wisdom to impart not just about voiceover, but life itself, so listen up!

Among the most versatile and prolific voiceover artists working today, Roberta Solomon is one of the few women in the industry to achieve a true top tier career. Heard regularly on network and cable television, Roberta has voiced promos for NBC's coverage of the French Open, kicked off ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live with spoof ads, narrated spots for National Geographic's Photo Ark and the docu-series “Europe's Warrior Kings” for Smithsonian Channel. Roberta is the branding voice of an impressive number of TV stations in multiple markets and has imaged hundreds of radio stations in the U.S and Canada. She's co-voiced the Kansas City Chiefs Radio Network for ten seasons. Not only does Roberta possess an epic voice, she also possesses an epic heart. She's got a passion for people and the environment and loves working on projects that reflect her values. All the way from Oregon, welcome Roberta Solomon to the B-Hive!

Ladies and Gents allow me to introduce the one and only Mari Weiss. Mari has a career in voiceover spanning more than 2 decades, doing all kinds of national spots and campaigns over the years, as well as promo, narration, video games such as Mafia 3 and Guild Wars. She does both commercial and theatrical on camera work, and her roots run deep in the theater, having earned a Master's Degree in Acting. I gotta say Mari is the female prototype in voiceover I was thinking of when I started this podcast. Her voice and her face are distinct and ubiquitous, yet I'm fairly sure her name is new to you, primarily because she's spent more time with her shoulder to the wheel working than she has promoting herself or seeking the spotlight. If there's anybody you should attempt to emulate in terms of commitment to the work, Mari's your woman. And frankly, her voice is buttah. Enviable to say the least. 

Carli Silver joins me today all the way from the East Coast! Carli is the Head of Casting at Sound and Fury which is headquartered in Los Angeles but has a solid presence in New York with Carli on board. Prior to landing at Sound and Fury, Carli was an agent at Atlas Talent for nearly a decade, with experience in just about every genre of voiceover including promo, gaming and animation, and her favorite, commercial. She brings keen insight with her to this hour for all voice actors, so get something to write with and keep your ears open! There are lots of gems here. Aside from multitudinous pearls of wisdom, Carli also has an infectious laugh and a solid moral compass. What else can I say, but that we are all lucky she hung out in the B-Hive today!

I have a girl crush on Melissa Hutchison. She's talented, lovely, deeply thoughtful, and has a particular humility about her that I just find so... I don't know... perfect. She is the award winning voice of Clementine in the INSANELY  HUGE video game series The Walking Dead. This role garnered her a Spike TV Video Game Award for best performance, as well as two BAFTA nominations - ya, TWO - and other awards too numerous to list.  She voiced the roles of Mikey and Data in The Goonies, and is currently working on two animated series, Yo Kai Watch and Space Racers. Come on and take a listen.  You're gonna love Melissa as much as I do. I promise.

Mary Lynn Wissner is one of the preeminent voice casting agents in Los Angeles. She's been casting for over 25 years and cut her teeth in the biz with voiceover legends like Don Pitts and Bob Lloyd. Now if you're a voice actor and don't recognize those names, you've got a little homework to do! Never one rest on her laurels, Mary Lynn has consistently adapted to the ever changing landscape of voiceover, and as a result has built a reputation for keeping her finger on the pulse of just about every genre in the field. She even developed an app for voice actors called The Voice Over Self Direction App available for iOS and Android. She created the Meet The Pros and Meet The Agent workshops through her company, Voices Voice Casting, available to working voice actors, providing them the opportunity to learn different skills and gain professional insights from the best of the best. Mary Lynn is an advocate of the highest order for both her clients and the many voice actors she has cast and come to love over the course of her career.

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet Spider Girl! That's right! Melanie Minichino is Ana Corazon aka Spider Girl on the New Marvel SpiderMan on Disney XD. Melanie Minichino is also Queen Isabella on Mr. Peabody and Sherman, and has been the promo voice of Disney Junior for 7 years. She also plays Agent Fortune in Agents of Mayhem, which of course is near and dear to my heart. ;-) This young woman has some great stories to tell, and we even talk about childbirth. Who knew we'd get so personal! Join us, won't you? You'll love getting to know her, I promise.

Voice actor Tina Morasco has a fascinating story. She began her career in voiceover as an agent at two prestigious talent agencies in New York City. Hers is a most unique perspective and one you'll definitely want to hear! She is best known for her work on the insanely popular Love It or List It series of home makeover shows on HGTV. You know I try to edit my podcasts to about 40 minutes, but I'm telling you every story from Tina is CHOICE and is worth the hour spent listening. I'm sure you'll agree! Tina Morasco Website

Jennifer Hale is a force of nature. Seriously. Check out her imdb page and you'll understand why she's called the most prolific voice actress of all time in the genre of video gaming. Her animation credits are pretty astounding, too. And if there were websites for successful commercial careers, well she'd be at the top of that one as well! Not only is she an amazing actor, but she's a woman fascinated by life who loves rock climbing and investing in real estate. She's beautiful inside and out, and I'm willing to bet that after listening to this podcast, you'll see why she is so beloved among all her compatriots in the field of voice acting. Jennifer Hale Website

Chris Anthony Lansdowne: a sweeter, kinder person you shall not meet. It's totally fitting, Providential even, that she was the first ever voice of Barbie, friend to millions upon millions of little kids everywhere, as well as the singular host of the long running, hugely popular radio drama, Adventures in Odyssey. Chris is a woman with a huge heart and is a light in the darkness, I can testify. Her greatest joy is being a role model to kids. Join us as we talk about the ups and downs of being a voice actor, and what it's like to voice an ICON!

Aaaaah... Cissy Jones. Such beauty. Such talent. She's been in this town less than 6 years and has taken it by storm. You gamers will know Cissy from The Walking Dead series of video games, and most recently from her BAFTA Award winning performance as Delilah in Firewatch. Cissy is perhaps the fiercest female voice actor I've met. Don't let this relaxed, contemplative podcast fool you. Cissy's got your number.   Cissy Jones Website

Salli Saffioti is an East Coast charmer with a fascinating history and a brain swimming with characters who come to life in video games and animated series. But she's also well versed in promo and commercial voiceover work. She wanted it all, and she does it all. As you will discover, people like Salli, are, in fact, born for this.  Salli Saffioti Website

I can pretty much guarantee you've heard the voice of Nicole Balick. She was the voice of The Style Network for over a decade, which, if you know anything about the vo biz, is a minor miracle and testament to her staying power. She has voiced national network tv commercials too numerous to put in print, and when you buy Shell gasoline, listen up. She's the one talking to you there on the screen at the pump! Nicole is effortlessly charming, with a rich textured voice, and I gotta say, she gave the best answer so far to the last question in my infamous B-Hive Roulette game at the end of each podcast. You'll have to listen all the way to the end to hear, but trust me, you'll have a good time getting there. Love me some Nicole Balick.  Nicole Balick Website

Really there's only one word to describe Rebecca Davis: Effervescent. And her voice, as refreshing as a cold pop on a hot August afternoon, follows suit.  So it makes perfect sense that she is the inaugural recipient of the Don LaFontaine Voiceover Spirit Award, sponsored by the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.  Rebecca volunteers for Young Storytellers, mentoring low-income elementary school students to discover the power of their own voices through the art of storytelling. She works actively with the nonprofit organization, Women In Animation, serving as its Co-Chair. And when she's not busy volunteering for all sorts of great causes, she can actually be heard doing voiceover things! She's been narrating Vanity Fair's monthly audio magazine (available on Audible.com) for a few years now, and is thrilled to be voicing her first recurring role, that of Fiona, the big brassy new girl in town, in the animated series Lego Friends available on DisneyChannel.com. Oh, and word has it she can't ride a bicycle. Judging from a rather endearing story she tells in the podcast, I'm guessing that might actually be true. But when you're as buoyantly charming and talented as Rebecca Davis, who needs a bicycle?   rebeccadavisvo.com

Virginia Hamilton. Lordy, this woman is a gas to hang out with. With pockets bursting with TV affiliate stations, high profile promo gigs, and a myriad of movie trailers under her belt, Virginia's well on her way to ruling the voiceover genres where mostly men dominate.  Lock the children away for this podcast. We've got some adult themes - addressed in the most childish manner, mind you, but adult nonetheless!  Virginia Hamilton website  

One of 2016's prestigious Benztown 50, Rena-Marie Villano comes to a well-rounded career in voice over via her years of work in Radio. She images stations on Sirius Satellite Radio and radio stations all over the country, including here in Los Angeles, where you can hear her on  ALT 98-7 - L.A.'s New Alternative. As a promo voice, she's been heard on EPIX, DIY Network, and HGTV. She has also worked for The Weather Channel, NBC, The CW and MGM HD. She was the Live Announcer for The Game Awards 2016, and narrated Peggy Noonan's audiobook “The Time of Our Lives: Collected Writings” which she calls an amazing and transformative experience. Rena-Marie's career is rich with perseverance, tenacity, focus, and determination.  When it comes to voice actors who put their heads down, shoulder-to-the-wheel, simply for the love of the work, Rena-Marie is the real deal. Rena-Marie Villano website Benztown 50 Marice Tobias VO Coaching Mary Lynn Wissner Voice Casting and Coaching

Cuban born, Spanish voice actor Yeni Alvarez is a force of nature, and a whirlwind of positivity and effortless charm. She is known for her roles as Carmela in the long running Disney cartoon series, Handy Manny (one of my daughter's favorite's,) Viperine in the TV movie version of the ever popular Monster High franchise: Frights, Camera, Action!, and is heard everyday by hundreds of thousands as the Spanish Voice of Disney Theme Parks worldwide (please keep your arms and legs inside the boat at all times – but… you know… in Spanish!)  So ya, that's her on It's A Small World, and Raiders of the Lost Ark, etc, etc, etc! How cool is that? I don't know about you, but I've got #disneyenvy! Yeni also tells of her rather harrowing journey from Cuba to the U.S. as a young child, and how gratitude and the decision to be happy play a huge part in her success. I loved getting to know Yeni, and I'm certain you will, too.

Celia Siegel is owner and creative extraordinaire at Celia Siegel Management which specializes in branding and marketing for a small roster of voice over talent. She is the first non voice-actor in the B-Hive, and she has oodles of wisdom to share. Celia has nearly 30 years experience in the voice over biz both as a manager and branding specialist as well as talent agent at a couple of the top voice agencies in the country. Celia and I get seriously personal in this one, sharing some of our most challenging experiences and how such experiences have the power to transform and propel us to greater things. If you're facing a seeming insurmountable obstacle, give a listen to this one for some inspiration and a glimpse at what a positive attitude and sense of gratitude can do.

Paula Tiso is a long time, Los Angeles based, multifaceted vo talent whose gifts run deep and wide. You've heard her as Lulu in Final Fantasy X, the evil Jihl Nabaat in Final Fantasy XIII, and as the Laughing Octopus in Metal Gear Solid IV, among other video games (and if you haven't, check out her amazingly complex and creepy performance here: Laughing Octopus.) These days, Paula is rockin' her home studio doing commercial, narration and affiliate promo work, getting ready to launch her 3rd child from home into the big wondrous world of adulthood, and fostering little kitties. Yep. That's right. Fostering little wayward kitties! Paula's nurtured a complex and long-standing career in voiceover while keeping her priorities in place, and she's got a LOT of wisdom to share.

Hanging out with Rebecca Riedy is like drinking your favorite cocktail on the deck of the Titanic and not caring a whit because you're laughing so hard. Wait. I'm not sure that came out right. What I mean to say is that she's so bloody fun to hang out with, your life could be going to hell in a handbasket and you couldn't care less because she makes you forget who you are! I'm not sure that came out right either, but you get my meaning: She's a great hang. You've heard her announce the Emmys and the Grammys. You've heard her on those hilarious spoof spots on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Now meet the affable and entertaining Rebecca Reidy in the B-Hive.

Meet Larissa Gallagher – a sweet and most hilarious sheila, all the way from Down Under. Larissa is a woman of many talents and many accents – including good old Standard American right at the top of the list, so don't go lookin' in the ‘Aussie-Only' VO box, 'cause she busted outta there a long time ago. She's got a big dream to play a juicy lead role in a wacky animated series. Are you listening, Butch Hartman?

What better way to inaugurate a podcast about women in voiceover than with Wonder Woman herself? Rachel's role as Wonder Woman on Justice League Action is her first EVER in an animated series and, even better, it marks the fulfillment of a lifelong dream: to voice a powerful childhood heroine. Rachel's been a voice actor for 10 years, and is also a passionate teacher of acting technique and voiceover technique. She is a former CrossFit trainer, and yoga and weightlifting instructor. She understands well the importance of life-long learning and is herself a humble student, always pursuing and accentuating the positive. In the background, you can hear a bit of the marvelous rain we had here in California this past winter, which makes for a kind of cozy chat. I'm loving Rachel Kimsey. You're gonna love her, too.

Host Kay Bess introduces you to The B-Hive Podcast, highlighting women in voiceover.