In this episode of The Mike Lenz VO Podcast, I’m joined by audiobook narrator Emma Faye—a 2026 Audie finalist, 2024 SOVAS nominee, and the narrator many in the industry know as the Clean Reads Queen.
Emma has built a thriving audiobook career by staying true to her values and creating a highly intentional brand around clean, wholesome storytelling. She has narrated more than 170 clean-read titles across genres including closed-door romance, YA fantasy, middle grade, nonfiction, and Christian books. She’s also the founder of Cats Meow Productions, a boutique audiobook production company focused on bringing more clean-read audiobooks into the world.
In this conversation, we talk about Emma’s journey from acting and film school to full-time audiobook narration, the challenges of building a niche career in a competitive industry, and the power of saying no to the wrong projects so you can make room for the right ones.
We also discuss:
What “clean reads” really means in audiobook narration
Building a brand around your values
The realities of marketing and outreach as a narrator
Coaching, social media, and creating systems that work
Why there is real power in protecting your boundaries
If you’re an aspiring narrator, or any creative professional trying to build a career that aligns with who you are, this episode is filled with practical insight and encouragement.
To check out ohter episodes head over to mikelenzvopodcast.com!
In this episode of The Mike Lenz VO Podcast, I sit down with voice actor Mike Previti to talk about building a sustainable voiceover career later in life—and what it really takes to make the leap from “safe” to creative fulfillment.
Mike’s journey began with childhood acting gigs in the Boston area, shifted into years as a touring musician and singer-songwriter, and eventually led him back to the microphone—this time as a full-time professional voice actor. We talk candidly about leaving a high-stress corporate job, betting on yourself, and doing the slow, steady work required to grow a VO business.
We also dive into:
Why the voiceover industry is not linear—and why that matters
The role of social media in building visibility and credibility
Networking, workshops, and unexpected referrals
Faith, patience, and trusting the long game
Mike’s three key principles: Be patient. Be intentional. Honor the work.
If you’re an aspiring voice actor—or a creative professional navigating a transition—this episode offers both practical insight and honest encouragement from someone who’s walking the path.
Learn more about Mike at MikePrevitiVO.com
To check out ohter episodes head over to mikelenzvopodcast.com!
Rosie Okumura returns to the Mike Lenz VO Podcast with one of the most unusual (and inspiring) career paths in voiceover: she turned a deeply personal moment—when her mom was scammed—into a viral YouTube crusade that now reaches millions.
In this episode, Rosie breaks down how she built her VO career in Los Angeles, how her “smart assistant” and voice-matching skills became a niche advantage, and how her live scam-baiting streams evolved into a powerful platform for educating viewers while exposing scammers through comedy and improvisation.
You’ll also hear the behind-the-scenes reality of internet fame—privacy risks, boundaries, and “parasocial” dynamics—and why (for Rosie) the bigger threat isn’t always the scammers…it can be the wrong kind of follower attention.
Then the conversation takes a sharp (and fascinating) turn into Rosie’s newest chapter: launching a private investigation firm, IRL Investigations, where her VO skills unexpectedly translate into real-world investigative work—process serving, surveillance, fraud cases, and finding answers for clients who just want the truth.
In this episode, we cover:
The exact moment Rosie realized she’d gone viral—and what happened next
How voice skills + improv can become a “live demo reel” for clients
Staying safe online when your audience explodes
The difference between “influencer” and “content creator” (and why it matters)
Why Rosie believes you’re never done learning—no matter how far you’ve come
If you’re a voice actor, creator, or someone building a multi-hyphenate career, Rosie’s story is a masterclass in turning a curveball into momentum—and staying grounded while you grow.
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/irlrosie/
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_0osV_nf2b0sIbm4Wiw4RQ
On this episode, Mike gives an update on his career including:
Join Mike for this exicitng update full of great information and inspiration.
IIn this episode, Mike sits down with audiobook narrator and author Sanya Simmons to talk about her path from classical musician to becoming a voice actor and audiobook narrator.
Building an Audiobook Career:
Using Your Musical Background:
Networking That Actually Works:
Expanding Beyond Audiobooks:
Social Media Without the Overwhelm:
From Author to Narrator: Sanya talks about her book "A Single Mom's Guide to Raising Black Gentlemen" and how her parenting experience shapes her storytelling approach. Plus, how her sons contributed to both the book and audiobook.
Whether you're starting out or scaling up your audiobook business, Sanya shares practical advice on production, relationships, and sustainable growth.
Connect with Sanya:
Real talk about building a thriving audiobook career while keeping your sanity and artistic integrity.
Check out more episodes over at: https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/
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In this episode of The Mike Lenz VO Podcast, I sit down with the incredibly versatile Melissa Mirren, a professional voice actor with over eight years of experience spanning commercials, corporate narration, e-learning, animation, and video games.
Melissa shares her path from childhood performances and college theater to a multifaceted voiceover career shaped by persistence, creativity, and personal transformation. A former therapeutic recreation specialist and motivational speaker, Melissa brings a unique blend of heart and hustle to the VO world.
We dive deep into her early days booking work through agencies, platforms, and direct clients; the evolution of her career from commercial reads to character-driven animation; overcoming major life challenges—including a vocal surgery, a ski injury, and a period of caregiving during her children's health crises; her return to full-time voice work in 2023 with renewed purpose and momentum
We also talk about her fast-growing presence on TikTok, where she showcases her character work through creative dubs and voiceover sketches—plus her upcoming plans for community engagement and collaborative projects.
In this episode, you'll learn: how to pivot your VO niche and embrace versatility; strategies for recovering professionally and vocally from setbacks; the role of resilience and real-life experience in shaping your creative voice; tips on editing, syncing, and refining character reads for social media success.
Melissa’s story is a moving reminder that your creative journey doesn’t have to be linear—and that sometimes the detours shape your most compelling work.
Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and connect with Melissa at @melissamiranvo on TikTok or melissamirren.com.
Check out more episodes over at: https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/
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On this episode of The Mike Lenz VO Podcast, I chat with bestselling author Grace Worthington, whose sweet romance novels are as heartwarming as they are hilarious.
I had the pleasure of co-narrating a 4 book Renovation Romance series for Grace and we had so much fun talking about that process!
We explore her creative journey from the musical theatre stage to the world of romantic fiction—and how she brings characters to life with humor, wit, and emotional authenticity.
Grace Worthington eats, breathes, and geeks out over sweet romcoms. So it’s no surprise she believes that laughter and love are a cure-all for just about everything in life. After a stint in musical theatre (where she often played comedic roles), Grace now writes novels full of witty banter, lovable characters, and small-town charm. Her inspirations include ‘80s and ‘90s romcoms, beachside towns, and her own family’s delightful chaos.
We also discuss:
Her transition from actress to author
The behind-the-scenes of how we collaborated to bring her Renovation Romance series into audiobook form
How she approaches tone, pacing, and voice in her stories
Why being “willing to be bad at something in the beginning” is key to finding your creative voice
Whether you're a narrator, author, or creative entrepreneur, this episode is packed with wisdom, heart, and lots of laughter.
Check out more episodes over at: https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/
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On this episode of The Mike Lenz VO Podcast, I’m joined by Carmen Seantel, an emerging audiobook narrator whose warm, soothing, and expressive voice is already making an impact in the industry. Carmen is passionate about bringing stories to life and believes in the power of audiobooks to create a safe and accessible space for all readers.
We’ll dive into her early journey in narration, from working with top coaches and immersing herself in ACX.com to attending the Audiobook Publishers Association Conference—where she overcame social anxiety to network with colleagues, publishers, and producers. Carmen shares her experiences navigating the industry, the lessons she's learned along the way, and how her personal background brings authenticity to her performances.
If you’re just starting out in audiobook narration or looking for inspiration on breaking into the industry, this episode is packed with insights and encouragement. Tune in for a candid and inspiring conversation with Carmen Seantel!
Check out more episodes over at: https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/
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Marisa Blake is a Latina Actor, Voiceover Artist and Musician. You can find her on screen in
Netflix’s Florida Man, DC’s Swamp Thing and Spectrums Original Long Slow Exhale.
She haswon multiple awards for her audiobook narrations, including a 2023 Audible’s Best of for Dykesto Watch out For, featuring Jane Lynch ,Carrie Brownstein, and Roberta Colindrez, an
AudioFile’s Best Audiobooks of The Year 2020 for We Are Not From Here by Jenny Torres
Sanchez and an Earphones Award for Arianna Davis’ What Would Frida Do. Marisa was
recently nominated for a 2023 Audie Award for her work in Across A Hundred Mountains by
Reyna Grande. She takes pride in, and has immense gratitude for the opportunity to voice
Latine Literature.
She is currently the Spanish Voice for Kohls in the US, and one of the regularSpanish voices for Sherwin Williams in the US and recently did a bilingual campaign for Frito-Lay. Marisa voices everything from promos to E-learning, commercials to IVR, and even somevideo games and animation! She voices the promos for her local new station and you can alsofind her performing with local bands behind the microphone, the cajon or the drum kit. She isa proud Mama to three of the coolest dudes on the planet.
To read the full transcriot of this episode and to listen to other episodes, head over to miklenzvopodcast.com, and please leave a rating and review wherever you listen to this podcast!
A graduate of Johns Hopkins University, Cris Dukehart is an Audie Nominee and Earphones Award Winner, and has recorded over 300 audiobooks across multiple genres.
On this episode we talk about Cris's journey into the VO and audiobook world, and her amazing journey from a little cottage in Pennsylvania to her mountaintop house in the Caribbean.
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Jamie Muffett is a voice actor, podcast producer, audio engineer and educator who divides his time between New York City and Philadelphia, PA.
He's worked with some of the worlds biggest companies, production studios, and games developers. He work primarily from his own studio in Bucks County, PA, and studios in NYC and Philly.
Past and current clients include: Google, Starbucks, Warner Brothers, Lucas Film, LEGO, Porsche, Mercedes, Ubisoft, Samsung, McDonald's, NBC, EA Sports, ESPN, Marriott Hotels, Amazon, Etihad Airways, FIFA, Disney, IKEA, National Geographic Channel...
Jamie has lectured on voiceover at Syracuse University, He's a Backstage Magazine 'Expert', he hosts the 'VO School Podcast' and he holds a monthly VO workshop at his studio in Philadelphia. He is also co-chair of VOcation Conference held in New York City every September.
Jamie's website is https://www.jamiemuffett.com/
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Growing up on the outskirts of Memphis, Tennessee in a large extended family, Roy Worley learned the art of storytelling from his grandpa, Paw Neely who instilled a strong sense of family, hard work, and a love for Christ. As an extrovert, Roy loves being around people, talking and laughing over a strong cup of coffee. These days Roy and his wife Rebecca call the Chicago area home.
After earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Education, Roy felt God’s calling upon him to commit full time to preaching and teaching the Word of God and entered Mid America Baptist Theological Seminary in his hometown of Memphis where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. Over the years he has served as both a pastor and foreign missionary. He and his wife were privileged to live in Chile for six years where they shared the Lord’s message in Spanish (yep, he’s fluent), helping Chilean Christians learn how to study the Bible for themselves and how to share their faith with whomever was interested.
Now, when not working as a full time voice actor, Roy is the Pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church where he has the privilege of teaching the Bible, supporting his fellowship with love and kindness, and ministering to those who are hurting.
His warm, clear, baritone voice can be heard narrating videos, directing people in phone messages and narrating audiobooks (non-fiction, fiction, western novels and kids books).
Roy is honored to call companies and organizations like Tiffany & Co, Firestone, Pizza Hut and Wounded Warriors his voice over clients and publishers like HarperCollins and Macmillan have tapped into his deep baritone well for audiobook narration as well!
When not recording, Roy enjoys lifting weights, expanding his creativity by spending time outside in his large backyard planning his spring vegetable garden and creating beautiful landscapes of vibrant flowers, shrubs and trees. He also loves to imagine he’s on his own DIY home improvement show, refinishing and repurposing old furniture and remodeling his own home, embarking on what he calls his “fifty year remodeling plan”, which his wife promptly gifts him with a loving roll of her eyes.
While Roy has travelled widely and lived in several different countries, his warm southern charm and ubiquitous sense of humor are still his faithful companions.
Hi, I'm Mike Lenz.
I'm a professional voice actor, the author of Paid To Talk - A Journey Into Voice Acting, and the host of a popular podcast, Mike Lenz Voice - A Journey Into Voice Acting. I really appreciate you stopping by!
I love being a voice actor and helping clients give voice to their projects, but my life didn't always look this way. In fact 10 years ago my life looked a lot different than it does today.
Back then I was running my small brick and mortar business and serving as Mayor of my hometown. I'd been involved in politics for about 10 years and really thought that politics was my future. I’ve always been a creative person and I enjoyed the communication part of serving as Mayor - speaking to groups, and doing radio and television interviews.
But honestly, the pressure was draining every creative bone in my body.
Fortunately for me, I lost my re-election bid, and although I was disappointed at the time, that event forever changed the course of my life and led me down the path to the world of professional voice acting where I am today - and I’m loving every minute of it!
After leaving politics, I had a lot of free time to explore other passions. One of those passions - screenwriting - led me to a filmmakers group, and at one of our meetings, a marketing representative from a voice training company came and passed out flyers. I decided to check out the company and as soon as I took my first lesson I was hooked.
Getting trained was a lot of fun and it was an exciting day when my demo CD’s arrived in the mail. But that excitement was quickly tempered by the fact that I was now faced with the prospect of trying to go out into the world and get a voice-over job…and I didn’t have a clue where to start.
Well, I can tell you that having spent a good chunk of change on my training and wanting desperately to get my first paying voice-over gig, I spent countless hours scouring the internet and doing research on the industry, cold-calling radio stations and production studios, and handing my business cards and demo CD's to everyone. Slowly but surely, the work started to come my way and I’m thrilled to now be able to record audio books, voice eLearning projects and explainer videos, voice commercials, and interview amazing and inspiring people on my podcast, all from the comfort of my home recording studio.
As much as I love helping my clients, it's also very important to me to help others who might not be as far along on their journey. That's why I wrote my book, created my online course and launched my VO podcast. I meet so many incredible people and I'm thrilled to share what I've learned and learn from them as well.