George The Tech’s Performer Friendly Podcast

GTT Spotlight: Animation Director, Voice Caster and Coach Andy Lerner

In this episode of the GTT Performer Friendly Podcast, George Whittam talks with voice director, casting professional, producer, writer, actor, and VO coach Andy Lerner about the intersection of performance, audio, and modern voiceover.
Andy shares how he moved from engineering and comedy radio production into directing and coaching, including his work in the SpongeBob SquarePants universe during COVID. He also offers practical advice for newer voice actors on training, rejection, improv, mic placement, and avoiding overly edited, lifeless auditions.
Timeline
00:00 — Sponsor Message00:31 — Sticking With Acting01:49 — Meet Andy Lerner03:29 — VO Atlanta Highlights05:55 — Bridging Tech And Talent08:34 — From Engineer To Studio Builder14:02 — Comedy Commercials Era15:19 — Edgy Ads And Changing Norms18:09 — Joining SpongeBob During COVID22:01 — Directing A Legacy Franchise26:48 — Remote Workflow And Cast Praise29:01 — Fans, Conventions, And Voicelings33:27 — Neurodiversity In The VO Community35:54 — Showrunner Role And ADR Pickups38:56 — ADR Fixes Explained39:50 — Why Andy Coaches Newbies42:41 — Handling Rejection Gently44:50 — What Casting Wants47:44 — Be 401, Not 40050:13 — Training Before Voices51:29 — Mic Placement Mistakes53:21 — Stop Over-Editing01:00:08 — Workflow And Software01:03:14 — TwistedWave Special Paste01:06:05 — Know Your Genre01:09:42 — Workouts And Where To Find Andy01:12:22 — If You Feel Cringe, Quit01:13:49 — Stick With It Anyway01:15:23 — Final Thanks And Wrap

GTT Trusted Partner Profile: Video Game & Animation Voice Casting Director Kim Hurdon

What makes a voiceover audition feel bookable — and what makes casting hit pause?
George the Tech sits down with Kim Hurdon of KH Casting for a deep conversation about the casting side of voiceover, especially in video games, animation, and remote audition workflows. Kim explains why human performance still matters most, why over-editing can hurt more than help, and how actors can avoid sounding processed, artificial, or disconnected from the role.
They also explore the post-COVID home studio divide, the value of hub studios and engineers, video game realism, effort sounds, PCAP, inclusive casting, NDAs, and why booking often comes down to fit — not just skill.
Timeline
00:00 Sponsor and Sound Check01:07 Meet Kim Hurdon02:19 Headphone Geek Out04:39 Audition Mistakes: Editing, Breaths, Music, and Overprocessing08:29 Kim’s Casting Origin Story12:55 The Home Studio Divide After COVID16:01 The Gaming Boom and AAA Workflows18:38 Mics, Movement Rigs, and Remote Recording21:59 Authenticity in Games and Inclusive Casting25:01 Efforts, Levels, and Clipping29:01 Hybrid Workflows and Hub Studios30:57 The Laptop Mic Disaster33:03 Building a Studio Checklist Mindset34:52 Ensemble Sessions vs. Solo Sessions36:26 PCAP Explained38:21 Gameplay Lines and Alts39:09 Booking Fit vs. Skill41:36 Game Timelines and NDAs43:49 NPCs and Long-Running Game Work45:22 Favorite Work and Family49:05 Zoom Auditions and CAVA51:24 AI Laws and Advocacy52:56 Conferences and Community55:15 How to Book More56:09 Coaching Without Overdoing59:02 Where to Find Kim59:15 Final Wrap and Thanks

GTT Trusted Partner Profile: Jodi Gottlieb, Voiceover Coach

In this episode, George talks with Jodi Gottlieb, a voiceover coach with more than 20 years of industry experience and a background working with major networks. Jodi shares how she coaches established voice talent who are ready to raise their game, especially in commercial auditions where subtle, natural choices can make all the difference.
George and Jodi discuss common audition mistakes, why dramatic pauses often work against you, how to use two different reads strategically, and what it really means to “show range” without ignoring the specs. They also explore the impact of AI on the voiceover industry — including Jodi’s concerns about lost opportunities and her belief that audiences can still hear the difference when a performance is genuinely human.
 
00:00 Sponsor and Offer
00:31 Booth Mindset Tips
00:56 Meet Coach Jodi
02:56 Audio vs Video Podcasts
04:17 Remote Sessions Connection
08:23 Who Jodi Coaches
11:37 How She Started Coaching
15:46 Commercial Specs Myth
20:26 Disqualifying Reads
25:31 Directed Auditions Help
27:09 Demo Production Process
29:43 What Makes Demos Work
29:51 Demo Spots Under 10 Seconds
31:16 Variety and Money Voice
33:00 Audition Takes and Specs
35:59 Specs vs Reality in Sessions
38:02 Stop Over Editing Auditions
42:02 Separate Roles and Take Breaks
47:03 AI Voices and Industry Shifts
52:12 Calling Out AI and Audience Detection
56:26 Wrap Up and Contact Info
 

GTT Client Profile: Sara Van Beckum, Voice Actor

George the Tech sits down with longtime client Sara Van Beckham to unpack what it takes to build—and sustain—a voiceover career across multiple genres.
Sara shares how acting training transformed her reads, why SOVAS sparked a major career reset, and how she transitioned to remote work long before it became the norm. She also gets real about vocal health, promo pressure, tech anxiety, and the standards that separate working pros from everyone else.
Timeline
00:00 Sound Check Promo00:21 “Kind, On Time, Good” — The Core Formula00:37 Meet Sara Van Beckham01:52 Conferences & VO Community02:42 SOVAS Wake-Up Call04:22 Switching to Atlas Agency06:51 From Wisconsin to Voiceover08:55 Acting Training & Meisner Influence11:39 NYC Audition Hustle12:49 Going Remote (2013 ISDN Era)14:14 Vocal Surgery & Recovery15:06 Audiobooks as Daily Practice18:44 Cracking the Promo Market19:52 Landing ABC & Fast Turnarounds21:12 What “Pro Turnaround” Really Means21:59 “Kind, On Time, Good” Revisited22:32 Self-Recording Promo Work23:39 The Ephemeral Nature of Promo24:57 Live-Directed Commercial Sessions25:54 Campaigns Come and Go26:45 Relationships with Engineers28:06 Actors as Their Own Tech Team30:31 Tech Anxiety & Triggers32:13 Advocating for Yourself33:39 Confidence & Professional Standards35:34 Everyday Gear Setup36:50 Tribooth Studio Setup37:41 Closing Thoughts

GTT Client Profile: Chris Fries, Voice Actor

George sits down with longtime client and voice actor Chris Fries to talk about what it really looks like to build a sustainable, high-level voiceover career.
Chris breaks down how commercial work became the backbone of his business, why promo is a completely different beast, and how trust—not just talent—keeps you booked on long-running campaigns.
They also get deep into studio design, workflow, and the gear choices that support fast, reliable sessions.
Timeline
00:00 – Sound Check Promo00:22 – Three Traits of Voice Actors01:00 – Ramble and Rapport02:31 – Meet Chris Fries04:04 – Booking Commercial Campaigns06:42 – Why Chase Promo Work09:12 – Session Workflow and Downtime11:43 – Long Running Campaigns12:42 – Becoming the Owl Character16:16 – On Set Ad Libs and Improv22:34 – Tech Talk and Gear Plug24:42 – Building the Home Studio28:05 – Treated Office Workflow29:34 – Video Game Audio Standards31:34 – Motorcycle Commute Era35:02 – Booth Gear Breakdown38:04 – Mic Switching and Cough Mute41:12 – Desk Side Routing and Monitoring43:28 – Phone Patch and TRRS Setup46:21 – Set It and Forget It47:50 – Coaching Origin and Process52:19 – Travel Rig Upgrades & Farewell

GTT Client Profile: Marc Graue, Voice Over Legend

What does it take to survive (and thrive) through every era of voiceover?
Studio engineer, producer, and VO talent Mark Graue joins George Whittam to share stories from radio hustle to Hollywood studios, working with legends, and building a career that adapted from analog tape to today’s digital world.
From a near-disastrous timecode session to landing VO work at Hanna-Barbera, this episode is packed with hard-earned lessons on engineering by ear, storytelling in demos, and knowing when to step away.
Timeline
00:00 – Audio service promo00:22 – Cold-call spec spots: the original hustle03:12 – Breaking into Cherokee Recording Studios03:36 – The Van Halen spec spot gamble04:39 – Building a Warner interviews archive06:10 – The open audition that led to Hanna-Barbera07:39 – Buying Studio 5 and going independent10:26 – Moving to Burbank and evolving the business12:47 – Surviving the analog → digital shift15:09 – The timecode session disaster 15:54 – Handling pressure when everything’s on the line16:17 – Why great engineers use their ears, not just meters17:13 – Storytelling secrets in voiceover demos18:01 – Memories of Don LaFontaine20:10 – The “voiceover gypsy” era21:46 – Life beyond LA23:45 – Travel, boundaries, and no mobile rig24:37 – Coaching talent and modern home studios25:32 – Gear graveyard stories27:16 – Where to find Mark 
 

GTT Profile: NYT Bestselling Author David Pogue

What happens when a seven-time Emmy winner realizes his audio isn’t good enough?
We’re re-releasing this episode with CBS Sunday Morning correspondent, Emmy Award winner, and New York Times bestselling author David Pogue to celebrate his new book, Apple: The First 50 Years, which recently debuted on the NYT Best Sellers list.
In this conversation, David joins George the Tech to break down how his echoey home office got upgraded to broadcast-ready sound—without a booth—and why most people misunderstand how to fix bad audio.
You'll also hear about his years covering tech for The New York Times, and why he’s turning down voice-cloning deals in the age of deepfakes.
If you record from home—or care about where tech is headed—this episode hits both.
Timeline
00:00 — Big Question: AI Utopia or Dystopia?
00:30 — Introducing David Pogue
03:30 — What He Actually Does Day-to-Day
07:00 — His Music Background (Broadway → Now)
10:00 — The Windsor Castle Story
16:30 — Why He Needed Help With Audio
18:30 — The Big Misconception: “Just Get a Booth”
21:00 — The Facebook Thread That Changed Everything
23:00 — The Actual Fix
25:30 — The Last 5%: Clarity VX
28:00 — Workflow Friction (Final Cut Issue)
31:00 — Broadcast Reality vs Perfectionism
34:00 — The Challenge of Great Audio + Great Video
36:30 — The “Perfect Zoom Background” Problem
40:00 — AI Tools He Actually Uses
43:30 — Deepfakes: Real Risk or Overblown?
47:00 — Turning Down Voice Cloning Offers
50:00 — AI Lawsuits + Ownership Questions
54:00 — Where to Follow David Pogue

GTT Trusted Partner: Queen Noveen, Live Announcer and Coach

From closet booth to NFL sidelines—Queen Noveen didn’t just break into voiceover, she built her own lane.
In this episode, she joins George the Tech to share how viral moments, relentless hustle, and smart social media turned into real bookings—including the San Francisco 49ers, NASCAR, and NFL Honors.
But it wasn’t smooth. Along the way, she faced noisy apartments, blanket booths, online trolls—and figured it all out in real time.
If you’ve ever wondered how VO careers actually take off today…this one’s a must-listen.
Learn more at: www.queennoveen.com/
Timeline
00:00 – Soundcheck Promo00:21 – Handling online hate00:45 – Meet Queen Noveen01:52 – Closet studio beginnings02:59 – Juggling early jobs04:20 – Moving from Connecticut to LA05:15 – How voiceover found her06:36 – Dealing with noise interruptions08:44 – The “blanket booth” era13:50 – Upgrading to a real home studio15:51 – Self-directing vs. being directed17:06 – Going viral on TikTok20:58 – Managing comments & negativity24:27 – Learning mic technique the hard way26:32 – The story behind “Queen Noveen”28:12 – Turning social media into bookings29:19 – NFL Honors + 49ers breakthrough29:54 – NASCAR opportunity chain reaction31:24 – Inclusion, opportunity, and pushback34:13 – Australia TV interview experience35:43 – Editing yourself on camera38:13 – Launching Ready. Cue. Announce!39:59 – Curriculum + how it started44:16 – Who the program is for46:52 – Measuring student success49:03 – How to enroll50:28 – No “get rich quick” promises52:16 – Wrap-up + community

GTT Spotlight: Ed Moskowitz, Television Sound Mixer and Voice Actor

What do Saturday Night Live, The Golden Girls, and modern voiceover studios have in common?
Ed Moskowitz has worked on all of them—and his biggest lesson after decades in the industry is surprisingly simple: don’t overcomplicate your audio.
In this episode, Ed walks George through his journey from scrappy theater kid to mixing some of the most iconic shows in TV history. Along the way, he shares wild live-broadcast stories (yes, including the Macy’s Parade), the evolution from boom mics to lavs and RF, and why today’s tech sometimes makes things harder—not better.
They also dig into Ed’s current voiceover setup (refreshingly minimal), his philosophy on signal chains, and what actually matters when you’re trying to sound professional.
If you’ve ever wondered how the pros really approach audio—this one’s packed.
Timeline
00:00 Pro Audio Soundcheck Intro00:33 Meet George and Ed02:49 Ed’s Theater Roots04:52 Hollywood Sound and SNL06:37 Studio 8H Sound Design09:56 Snakes, Soldering, and Travel12:35 Macy’s Parade War Stories16:51 Union Work and Sync Playback19:24 Sitcom Factory to Golden Girls24:36 Golden Girls Sound Crew25:56 Larry Sanders Breakthrough31:16 Booms, Lavs, and RF Evolution37:32 Leaving Set for Voiceover41:32 Inside the Booth42:05 Mic Collection Talk44:06 Signal Chain Basics46:25 Analog Control Philosophy48:34 Live Sound War Stories53:58 Voiceover Growth Path58:29 Sennheiser Prototype Story01:02:58 Noise Reduction and Plugins01:09:48 Tech Updates Headaches01:12:27 Wrap Up and Where to Find

GTT Trusted Partner: Chuck Duran, Demos That Rock

Can your audio quality make or break your voiceover career?
In this episode, George the Tech sits down with legendary demo producer Chuck Duran to talk pro audio, modern VO demos, and why your home studio might be the biggest factor in whether you book or get passed over.
Chuck shares his journey from music roots and moving to LA at 13, to a decades-long friendship with Jess Harnell that unexpectedly launched his career producing voiceover demos. Along the way, he reveals why great reads aren’t enough if the audio is bad, how commercial production has evolved into story-driven sound design, and why he now produces demos 100% remotely—so your real studio sound is front and center.
You’ll also hear how custom scripts, simple signal chains, and clean mic technique beat over-processed “radio sound,” and how VO Buzz Weekly’s demo spotlights can help talent get seen by agents.If you’re a voice actor, this episode could change how you think about your studio, your demos, and your career.
 
00:00 Audio Makes or Breaks
00:56 Meet Chuck Duran
02:24 Origin Story in Music
03:04 Frampton Spark and First Guitar
04:31 Moving to LA at 13
06:02 Meeting Jess Harnell
08:18 Roger Rabbit Breakthrough
09:14 Building a Better Demo
12:01 Why Audio Quality Matters
13:42 Demo Demolition Win
15:15 Modern Demo Production
16:59 Raw Audio Costs Jobs
19:59 Soundcheck and Fixes First
20:42 Commercial Production Trends
21:28 Sound Design Tells Story
22:42 Stacy Personal Story
25:18 Custom Demo Copywriting
28:48 Adapting to Industry Shifts
32:27 Remote Demo Business Model
33:33 Studio Quality Matters
36:15 Demo Spotlight Series
41:01 Representation Through Process
41:54 Where to Get Started
43:05 Final Thanks and Wrap