Mike Lenz Voice - A Journey Into Voice Acting

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:

• Moving from ACX royalty-share projects to working directly with publishers
• The real time investment: why 5-10 hours of finished audio takes 30-40+ hours total
• Prep strategies for fiction vs. nonfiction projects
• Getting family help with research to save time

Using Your Musical Background:

• How Sanya's flute and vocal training helps her narration
• Treating your voice like an instrument for better breath control and phrasing
• Avoiding monotonous reads by "hearing" what the author intended

Networking That Actually Works:

• Why relationship-building beats transactional approaches
• How APA committee work and APAC conferences led to unexpected opportunities
• Staying in touch with producers without being pushy
• The power of showing up consistently

Expanding Beyond Audiobooks:

• Getting into political VO and broadcast narration
• Dealing with union rules in right-to-work states
• The reality of competitive commercial and promo markets

Social Media Without the Overwhelm:

• Building authentic presence with help from others
• Choosing the right platforms (Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok)
• Why "good enough" content beats perfect content you never post

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.

• Balance active projects with ongoing training
• Reliability builds lasting relationships: communicate early, deliver clean work, say thank you
• Think like a business owner: proper structure, strategic investments, tax planning
• Community matters: connect with mentors, peers, and people you can help

Whether you're starting out or scaling up your audiobook business, Sanya shares practical advice on production, relationships, and sustainable growth.

Connect with Sanya:

• Book: "A Single Mom's Guide to Raising Black Gentlemen"

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/

Voice 123 15% Discount Code link: https://bit.ly/3BsPSaw

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/

Voice 123 15% Discount Code link: https://bit.ly/3BsPSaw

Check out more episodes over at: https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/

Voice 123 15% Discount Code link: https://bit.ly/3BsPSaw