The VO Confidence Episode

·14 min·1 clip

John and Tina tackle why voice actors feel like imposters even when told they have great voices.

John and Tina introduce the episode as the VO confidence episode, focusing on common psychological barriers in voice acting. They start by addressing the imposter syndrome, where people with good voices doubt their abilities. Tina shares examples from students who feel uncomfortable despite progress. The hosts note that people often deflect compliments, saying 'decent voice' instead of embracing praise. John explains that clients call you for a reason, emphasizing external validation. Tina discusses how even professionals like herself critique their own voices after 35 years in broadcasting. The conversation shifts to feeling silly in the booth when asked to express emotions. John argues that natural conversation is always emotional, so voice actors should attach feelings to scripts. He points out that with no visual cues, the voice must convey everything, and engineers aren't watching you. Tina advises using animation since no one sees you, and it's easier to pull someone back than push them. Next, they tackle the fear of getting started, comparing it to any career where you must seek jobs after training. John mentions that if you complete their program, you're ready, but hesitation persists. They explore general fear of new things, failure, and the unknown. John suggests viewing failure as a learning opportunity, not a negative. He shares a story about wrestler PJ Duke, who lost to the top-ranked opponent but came back to win, illustrating resilience. The hosts discuss rejection in voiceover, with John admitting a student got a job over him. They conclude that rejection is part of life and voiceover, encouraging persistence. The episode ends with a promo for their intro webinar at voicecoaches.com with discount code POD.

As heard by us

A coaching conversation that treats confidence as part of the work.

Voice Coaches Radio frames the conversation around a simple but useful idea: a good voice is not enough to get someone started. John and Tina lean into imposter feelings, the hesitation that can surface even after students begin the program, and the reminder that the room is not…

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Why you'd press play

When imposter feelings make you freeze, this one gives you a booth-side nudge.

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