VO Buzz Weekly - podcast cover

VO Buzz Weekly

Chuck Duran & Stacey J. Aswadvobuzzweekly.com
VO Buzz Weekly is the Voice Over web show that gets YOU up close and personal with all the top voice actors as well as voice over agents, directors, marketing gurus and many others.
Last refreshed:
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Download Metacast podcast app
Podcasts are better in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more

Episodes

EP 231 Tasia Valenza: Star Wars - The Clone Wars/Metal Gear Solid

Chuck and Stacey sit down with Emmy nominated actress and versatile voice over actor, Tasia Valenza. Known for her memorable characters like Dottie in the daytime drama, All My Children and in animation and video games, Shaak Ti, Poison Ivy, Sniper Wolf, Kaliyo and Black Dahlia from Metal Gear Solid, Star Wars: The Old Republic, Batman Arkham, Star Wars: The Clone Wars and the podcast Hollywood & Crime. Originally from New York, Tasia talks about knowing early on that she wanted to be a perf...

Feb 05, 201735 min

EP 230 Ben Patrick Johnson: Movie Trailer & Network Promo Voice Over Artist

Chuck and Stacey continue the conversation with iconic promo and trailer voice talent, Ben Patrick Johnson, heard on networks like CBS and FOX and in trailers for Trolls, Philomena, Lilo & Stitch and more. He’s also a 5-time published author, fitness model, and human rights activist. Ben shares how he stays healthy and talks about his home studio and the gear he has in it. He offers some advice to those wanting to get started in the voiceover business that encourages people to build their sk...

Jan 29, 201727 min

EP 229 Ben Patrick Johnson: Movie Trailer & Network Promo Voice Over Artist

Chuck and Stacey Interview Ben Patrick Johnson, one of the top promo voices for networks like CBS and FOX, trailer voice for the new Trolls movie, Philomena, Lilo & Stitch, broadcast narrator and so much more. He is also a published author, fitness model, and human rights activist. Ben shares the story of how he got started working in talk radio in Minneapolis then continuing to work in radio and television upon moving to L.A. After a controversial exit as the on-camera host for EXTRA, he st...

Jan 22, 201735 min

EP 228 Nolan North: Video Games/Blaze and the Monster Machines/Uncharted/Assassin's Creed Voice Actor

Season 6 of VO Buzz Weekly continues with Chuck and Stacey’s conversation with the multi-talented actor, Nolan North, beloved for his hundreds of video game and animation voice over credits like Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed, Deadpool, Destiny, Prince of Persia, Call of Duty, Young Justice, Home, Blaze and the Monster Machines and on camera work like in Pretty Little Liars, Big Love, Port Charles and more. Nolan discusses the types of characters he likes to play and demonstrates the ways he “plays...

Jan 15, 201745 min

EP 227 Nolan North: Video Games/Prince of Persia/Destiny/Call of Duty Voice Actor

Chuck and Stacey kickoff Season 6 of VO Buzz Weekly with accomplished on camera and voice over acting phenom, Nolan North, loved for his work in hundreds of video games like Uncharted, Assassin’s Creed, Deadpool, Destiny, Prince of Persia, Call of Duty and the hit TV series, Pretty Little Liars. Nolan talks about his background that includes degrees in journalism and broadcasting, his experience working as TV reporter and his early years as an actor in New York. He discusses the catalyst for mov...

Jan 08, 201737 min

EP 226 Harvey & Cathy Kalmenson: Voice Over Casting Icons/Creators of Kalmenson Teaching Method

Chuck and Stacey’s conclude their amazing 3 part Interview with Harvey and Cathy Kalemenson, the respected voice over casting directors and founders of Kalmenson & Kalmenson in Burbank, CA and creators of the Kalmenson Teaching Method, a sought after voice over acting curriculum. Cathy offers some great advice to aspiring voice over actors that includes not making a voice over demo before you’re ready and taking time to find yourself and develop your acting and improvisation skills. To those...

Dec 20, 201637 min

EP 225 Harvey & Cathy Kalmenson: Voice Over Casting Icons/Creators of Kalmenson Teaching Method

Chuck and Stacey’s conversation with Casting Directors, beloved teachers and creators of the Kalmenson Method, Harvey and Cathy Kalmenson continues with Cathy describing current trends in commercial voice over reads that she calls “experiential” and explains how she and Harvey try to engage voice over actors to share their life experience with the audience. They tell the story of how they got engaged after 11 years together and the couple shares what they thought of each other when they first me...

Dec 11, 201632 min

EP 224 Harvey & Cathy Kalmenson: Voice Over Casting Icons/Creators of Kalmenson Teaching Method

Chuck and Stacey are honored to welcome teaching and voice over casting icons, Harvey and Cathy Kalmenson to the show. Since 1993, they have been casting and directing radio and TV commercials, animation, audiobooks and video games and are the creators of The famous Kalmenson Method, the highly respected voice over acting teaching program. Originally from Chicago, Cathy shares her background working in talent payment at Leo Burnett Advertising in Chicago then at Abrams Rubiloff in Los Angeles. S...

Dec 04, 201628 min

EP 223 Jim Meskimen: The Master of Celebrity Impressions/Voice Over Actor/Comedian

Chuck and Stacey are thrilled to share the rest of their conversation with Jim Meskimen, versatile TV, Film and Voice Over Actor of The Boondocks and Avengers Assemble, world's best celebrity impressionist, star of the original live show Jimpressions and host of the Celebrity Podcast on YouTube. Jim talks about his most challenging on-camera project to date and his audition philosophy of continuing to put himself out there, not overthinking it and having a fast turnaround. He shares the things h...

Nov 27, 201638 min

EP 222 Jim Meskimen: The Master of Celebrity Impressions/Voice Over Actor/Comedian

Chuck and Stacey are excited to get BUZZ-ed with the incredible Jim Meskimen, TV, Film and Voice Over Actor heard in The Boondocks and Avengers Assemble, celebrity impressionist, star of the live show Jimpressions and host of the Celebrity Podcast on YouTube. Jim talks about growing up in show business watching his mom, actress Marion Ross, who played Mrs. Cunningham in the TV series Happy Days. Jim shares the epiphany he had during a brief exchange with actor Harvey Keitel in Europe that helped...

Nov 20, 201637 min

EP 221 Konrad Zukowski: The Genius Behind The Kaotica Eyeball (Perfect Portable Sound Isolation)

Chuck and Stacey are excited to sit down and chat with, Konrad Zukowski, the creator of the Kaotica Eyeball while he was in Los Angeles from Canada. Konrad talks about how his love of music inspired him to create the Kaotica Eyeball as a portable and affordable solution for sound isolation. The totally custom and patented Eyeball took over 3½ years to develop and perfect with much work, sacrifice and financial expense involved. His genius piece of gear was embraced immediately by top music indus...

Nov 13, 201624 min

EP 220 Sylvia Villagran: Bilingual Voice Talent/Democratic National Convention Announcer

Chuck and Stacey continue talking with bilingual voice talent Sylvia Villagran, known for her impressive work in promos, commercials, trailers, live announce and radio imaging, in both the English and Spanish markets. She comments on the Spanish dialect that is most in demand with respect to national and regional work. Sylvia shares how her desire to give back and share her experiences has lead to starting to coach bilingual voice talent, inspired by her teaching a class for crossover voice tale...

Nov 06, 201636 min

EP 219 Sylvia Villagran: Bilingual Voice Talent/Democratic National Convention Announcer

At long last, Chuck and Stacey sit down with bilingual VO superstar and native Angeleno, Sylvia Villagran, known for her versatile work in promos, commercials, trailers, live announce and radio imaging. You hear Sylvia all over network TV and radio in both the General and Spanish markets on The Doctors, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, the Mun2 Network, and live announcing the Critics Choice Awards, the MTV VMA’s, the Writers Guild Awards, the 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions and the Lat...

Oct 30, 201638 min

EP 218 Kathe Mazur: Celebrity Actor & Audiobook Narrator

Chuck and Stacey continue the fun and insightful conversation with Kathe Mazur, TNT Major Crimes’ DDA Andrea Hobbs, and also award-winning audiobook narrator. She gives sage advice to people wanting to do narration which means discovering if you love reading out loud, are able to do accents, have a good ear for tone, character and reading for clues. She speaks to the challenge of finding subtle nuances of characters of different genders, ages and ethnicities in order to move the story forward. K...

Oct 23, 201637 min

EP 217 Kathe Mazur: Celebrity Actor & Audiobook Narrator

Join Chuck and Stacey and their phenomenal guest, audiobook narrator and actress, Kathe Mazur, also loved for her brilliant work in movies like American Sniper and TV shows like TNT’s Major Crimes and The Closer. Kathe recalls some childhood experiences that sparked her desire to be an actor that included her love of reading aloud. She tells the story of how she found her way from the stage to television to audiobook narrating for Penguin Random House, formerly Books on Tape, by way of doing vol...

Oct 16, 201640 min

EP 216 Ivy Isenberg: Animation Casting Director - Call of Duty & Robot Chicken

Chuck and Stacey conclude their interview with Casting Director, Ivy Isenberg of Ivy Isenberg Casting who has more than fifteen years of experience working in animation, video games, film and television like TripTank, Robot Chicken, Jeff and Some Aliens, Call of Duty, Curse of Chucky and YouTube hit, The High Fructose Adventures of the Annoying Orange on Comedy Central. Ivy explains some of the factors for hiring actors which comes down to who completes the Producer’s vision for the project and ...

Oct 09, 201642 min

EP 215 Ivy Isenberg: Animation Casting Director - Call of Duty & Robot Chicken

Chuck and Stacey bring you the respected Casting Director of animation, video games, film and television, Ivy Isenberg of Ivy Isenberg Casting. She is a USC Film School graduate who went on to work at MGM Studios on Stargate and Stargate Atlantis, the Species movies with Natasha Henstridge and now on projects like Comedy Central’s Jeff and Some Aliens, Trip Tank, Robot Chicken and Call of Duty. Ivy discusses her process for casting Performance Capture for video games and animation and why she go...

Oct 02, 201639 min

EP 214 Mary Elizabeth McGlynn: Silent Hill Singer-Songwriter/Voice Actor/Voice Director

VO Buzz Weekly hosts, Chuck and Stacey continue chatting with Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, the award-winning voice director and voice actor of anime, animation and video games like Disney’s Tangled, Naruto, Silent Hill, Ghost in the Shell, Steven Universe, Penn Zero and more. She talks about the trending character archetypes in anime, how to approach audition specs like “natural, not cartoony” and how she handles her own auditions by doing her best work and moving on. She answers what she believes ar...

Sep 25, 201634 min

EP 213 Mary Elizabeth McGlynn: Voiceover Actor & Director

Chuck and Stacey are so happy to welcome the beloved and super talented voice director and voice actor of anime, animation and video games, Mary Elizabeth McGlynn. Known for her work on Tangled for Disney, Naruto, Ghost in the Shell, Steven Universe, Penn Zero and more, Mary Elizabeth talks about some of her most memorable projects and experiences. She expresses gratitude for fellow voice director and actor, Sam Riegel for helping her get her start as a voice director. Mary Elizabeth shares her ...

Sep 18, 201629 min

Recording A Promo Voiceover Demo with Bob Bergen

We are in the studio at DEMOS THAT ROCK in Los Angeles showing you the "behind the scenes" process of recording a professional voiceover demo. In this episode, superstar voice actor, Bob Bergen (voice of porky pig) leaves his animation skills behind and puts all his trust into the hands of Chuck Duran and Stacey J. Aswad while recording his new promo demo. If you've ever wanted to see and experience EXACTLY what goes into creating, recording and producing a professional voiceover demo, DO NOT mi...

Sep 11, 201612 min

Recording A Commercial Voiceover Demo with Bob Bergen

We are in the studio at DEMOS THAT ROCK in Los Angeles showing you the "behind the scenes" process of recording a professional commercial voiceover demo. In this episode, iconic voice actor Bob Bergen (voice of porky pig) leaves his animation chops behind and puts all his trust into the hands of Chuck Duran and Stacey J. Aswad. If you've ever wanted to know and see EXACTLY what goes into creating, recording and producing a professional voiceover demo , this video is a MUST WATCH. Watch more vide...

Sep 04, 201612 min

EP 212 Sumeet Iyengar: Voiceover Agent at CESD Talent

Chuck and Stacey keep the amazing information and inspiration coming in Part 2 with respected Commercial Voiceover agent, Sumeet Iyengar, of CESD Talent in Los Angeles. Chuck and Stacey express huge thanks and appreciation for their VO Buzz Weekly team Matthew Gordon, Paz Fashingbauer and Jeff Castelluccio for their continued contribution and loyalty to the show. Sumeet talks about CESD Talent’s process for signing a client, reasons why clients are asked to leave the agency and his definition of...

Aug 28, 201627 min

EP 211 Sumeet Iyengar: Voiceover Agent at CESD Talent

Chuck and Stacey are fortunate to welcome top Commercial Voiceover agent, Sumeet Iyengar, of CESD Talent in Los Angeles to the show. Sumeet talks about his diverse background in finance and the entertainment business, which ultimately led him to become a voiceover assistant, then booth director and now talent agent. Since he started at CESD in 2003, Sumeet explains how his role and job description has evolved and offers advice for things talent should be doing once they sign with an agent from t...

Aug 21, 201625 min

EP 210 Diane McCalley: Tax Preparation Expert and Bookkeeper

Chuck and Stacey continue chatting with their accountant, Diane McCalley of DC McCalley and Associates about more creative ways to handle deductions that factor into the cost of doing your particular kind of business. Hear the best ways to be prepared for meeting with your accountant and the software and tools that the IRS accepts as the standard to document and itemize. Find out what you need to be prepared for if you’re audited, how many years of past tax returns you should keep and key questi...

Aug 14, 201625 min

EP 209 Diane McCalley: Tax Preparation Expert and Bookkeeper

Chuck and Stacey share their amazing accountant, Diane McCalley of DC McCalley and Associates, with their VO Buzz Weekly viewers. For decades, Diane has catered to tax preparation and bookkeeping for creative professionals and businesses and she is flat-out amazing! She breaks down incorporating in layman’s terms from who should do it, to the costs and the differences and benefits of an S-Corp and an LLC. Find out how much of a salary should you pay yourself, the truth about allowances, quarterl...

Aug 07, 201624 min

EP 208 Melissa Disney: As Told By Ginger Voice Actor & Emmys Live Announcer

Chuck and Stacey continue their conversation with versatile voice actor and teacher, Melissa Disney who recalls some of her most memorable projects like playing Ginger in As Told By Ginger and how her grandmother’s voice inspired her for creating the singing voice of Snow White. She explains her relation to the legendary Walt Disney and turns the tables to ask Chuck and Stacey what led them to start VO Buzz Weekly. Melissa talks about her musical influences as a singer/songwriter and the inspira...

Aug 01, 201636 min

EP 207 Melissa Disney: First Female to Voice Movie Trailers and Singing Voice of Snow White

Chuck and Stacey welcome 20-year voice acting veteran in movie trailers, promos, commercials and animation and singer/songwriter, Melissa Disney, who grew up in San Diego in a family of entertainers and musicians. She shares how her experience doing musicals led to voiceover and on-camera work in Los Angeles. As the founder of the LA Voiceover Academy, Melissa offers some techniques for auditioning from being in the moment to believing what you’re saying and explains why she feels it’s so challe...

Jul 29, 201629 min

EP 206 Roger Rose: Network TV Promo Voice Actor

Chuck and Stacey continue the fun and mayhem with voice actor, Roger Rose who talks about how he approaches auditions and the way his improvisation background helps him to tell the story, as well as the importance of trusting your instincts. Roger offers advice to those who want to work in voiceover from building your acting chops, to recognizing that it needs to be treated like a business. He gives props to his talented friends and colleagues like Jim Cummings, James Arnold Taylor, Jess Harnell...

Jul 29, 201629 min

EP 205 Roger Rose: Network TV Promo Voice Actor

Get ready for a wild and wonderful story-filled BUZZ with Chuck and Stacey and their guest, voice actor Roger Rose, former VH-1 VJ, network promo voice for CBS comedies like The Big Bang Theory, 2 Broke Girls and The Odd Couple, live announcer for the Billboard Music Awards, The Grammy’s and the Emmy’s hosted by Jane Lynch. Roger, a Chicago native, tells stories about growing up in a family of entertainers, an experience he had with David Letterman and Jane Lynch and another about his late broth...

Jul 29, 201636 min

EP 204 Nika Futterman: Animation Voiceover Super Talent

Chuck and Stacey read a testimonial from a VO Buzz Weekly viewer and Demos That Rock client, Brent Allen Hagel, who wanted to share some great news. If you would like to inspire others around the world, email Chuck and Stacey your success stories at VOBuzzWeekly@gmail.com and tell us how VO Buzz Weekly is helping you achieve your dreams! The amazing conversation continues with super talented and cool, Nika Futterman, who talks about her experience creating characters that are “outside the box” l...

Jul 29, 201629 min
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android