The Audiobook Speakeasy Podcast

My guest tonight in the speakeasy is prolific narrator and coach Hillary Huber! Hillary and I talk about the various careers she had before her husband's coworkers convinced her to help them out with some voiceover work. Hillary also goes into how she stumbled into audiobook work, the value of having a workspace outside the home, and her approach to coaching. All this over a Negroni and Tonic and a classic Margarita! You can find Hillary online at https://www.hillaryhuber.com, and on Twitter at @hillatious. 

My guest tonight in the Speakeasy is The Audiobookworm, Jess Herring! Jess and I talk about her work as an audiobook blogger and marketer after getting degrees in clinical psychology and rehabilitation counseling. Jess also describes what works for her when she's reviewing audiobooks -- and what doesn't. All this over some (very sweet!) green tea, and a P. J. Ochlan Special Three-bitters Manhattan! You can find Jess at https://theaudiobookworm.com and at https://audiobookwormpromotions.com. 

My guest tonight in the Speakeasy is narrator and engineer Paul Heitsch! Paul and I discuss the many audio engineering gigs he had prior to becoming an audiobook narrator (including an opportunity to direct Gary Oldman!). Paul also goes into detail about how he approaches engineering audiobooks, whether he's sending the audio to a publisher or producing the finished audio himself. All of this over some "rare" bourbon: Eagle Rare for Paul, and Wild Turkey Rare Breed Barrel Proof for me! You can find Paul on the web at http://paulheitsch.com and on Twitter at @PaulHeitsch.

Tonight's guest in the Speakeasy is narrator extraordinaire and well-known dialect and accent expert P. J. Ochlan! P. J. and I discuss his early start as a bi-coastal actor, his move from New York to L.A., and his entry into the audiobook world. We also talk at length about his proficiency with dialects and accents and his approach to coaching narrators, and he offers a couple of great tips for aspiring narrators. All this over a (triple-bitters!) Manhattan and some Koval Single Barrel Rye! You can find P. J. at http://www.pjochlan.com and http://www.drdialect.com, on Facebook at pjochlan, and on Twitter and Instagram at @pjochlan.

My guest tonight in the Speakeasy is an accomplished actor and narrator, and is at the helm of audiobook production company Spoken Realms, Steven Jay Cohen! Steven and I talk about his theater background and his entrance into the audiobook world, and how he came to be at the helm of Listen 2 A Book, which became Spoken Realms last year. We also -- eventually -- talk about 2nd Opinion, the software program that he wrote that checks audio files to ensure that they meet user-defined specifications. All this over a local micro-brew and a Mexican Martini! You can find Steven at http://www.stevenjaycohen.com and on Twitter at @stevenjaycohen, and you can check out Spoken Realms at http://www.spokenrealms.com.

My guest tonight in the Speakeasy is voice talent and lawyer Rob Sciglimpaglia! Rob and I discuss his legal roots in real estate deals and family law, and his career transition into a combination of legal work and voiceover/on-camera/entertainment production work. Rob also goes into some detail on some common legal issues that come up in voiceover work in general and audiobook work in particular, and the importance of setting up a legal entity for your voiceover business. All this over some sparkling water (a Speakeasy favorite) and a 14-year-old Oban single malt Scotch! You can find Rob at http://www.voiceoverlegal.com, http://www.robscigesq.com, and http://www.robpaglia.com. If you'd like to donate to Shannon Parks' brain surgery financial aid fund, you can do so at https://www.facebook.com/donate/140396956777293/10215860790775076/. 

My guests tonight in the Speakeasy are Kelly Lytle and Will Dages of Findaway Voices. Kelly and Will talk about how Findaway entered the audiobook world, and the birth of Findaway Voices in the summer of 2017. They also talk about the importance of narrators keeping their information with Findaway up to date, the casting process at FV, and something that rights holders and narrators are always interested in: rates. All this over a Rusty Nail, a cup of tea, and a Gin Gimlet (in spirit, if not in a glass) with Watershed Distillery's Four Peel Gin! You can find Findaway at http://www.findaway.com and Findaway Voices at http://www.findawayvoices.com. And you can find Kelly at klytle@findaway.com, and Will at wdages@findaway.com. And, just in case you're interested, you can find Watershed Distillery at http://watersheddistillery.com; I checked, and they don't distribute west of the Mississippi yet, but you can find their spirits in Ohio and various other places east of the Mississippi.

My guest tonight in the Speakeasy is master narrator and social media moderator extraordinaire Jeffrey Kafer! Jeffrey and I discuss his theater background, including his crippling stage fright. We also talk about his experiences as the moderator of several online/social media groups. All of this over a local beer and a martini! You can find Jeffrey at http://www.jeffreykafer.com.

My guest tonight in the Speakeasy is James Adams, Chairman at Worldwide Audio, Ltd., which is the parent company of Bee Audio. James and I discuss his amazing career, including his stint as CEO of United Press International, his experience in the intelligence community, and his current position heading up the audiobook powerhouse Worldwide Audio, Ltd. James also goes into detail about his thoughts about the future of the audiobook industry. All this over some sparkling water and some straight wheat whiskey! You can contact James at james@beeaudio.com.

My guest in the Speakeasy tonight is audiobook aficionado and fellow podcaster Casey Trowbridge! Casey and I discuss how audiobooks have helped him and others who have visual impairments, from way back in the day when they were still produced on cassette tapes (anyone remember those?). We also talk about what he likes and doesn't like when it comes to audiobook narration, and his vision for podcasting going forward. All of this over some hot chocolate (Casey lives in the Frozen North) and a classic daiquiri (I live in the temperate Southwest)! You can find Casey's podcast, Talking Audiobooks, at http://www.talkingaudiobooks.com, and you can find him on Twitter at @AudiobookCasey and @CaseyInSoDak.