For this very special 100th episode of The Audiobook Speakeasy, I invited back some of my favorite guests from over the past five years: Andi Arndt, Jesse Bickford-Coghill, Robin Miles, Amy Rubinate, and Julia Whelan. Edoardo Ballerini and Carol Monda were also planning on joining us, but unfortunately got stuck in traffic and the airport. I didn't have any specific plan for the conversation aside from one important announcement, but we all kept coming back to the importance of a good...

My guest tonight is the CEO of Common Mode Inc., Jess Escalona! Jess tells me about working in a hip hop studio and doing post-production at a television studio while pursuing a degree in music and recording arts from William Paterson University, and finding that the work really didn't suit her; but a meeting with an adviser led to an interview at Common Mode Inc., and that led to immediate employment, and she liked that work so much that she's been there ever since. Jess and I then discuss...

My guest tonight is Hachette Audio producer Lisa Cahn! Lisa and I reminisce a bit about our alma mater, Occidental College: we were apparently there for a year concurrently, but, alas, didn't know each other. Lisa then tells me about her journey from journalism into publishing, including her experience abridging books for audio back when that was the norm, and how she just might be at least partially responsible for the "celebrity narrator" trend (which, thankfully, appears to be waning)....

My guest tonight is director, filmmaker, playwright, and award-winning audiobook narrator Leon Nixon! After a chat about whiskey, gin, and growing in up in Southern California, Leon tells me about his 30-year career as a law enforcement officer in Los Angeles and how he transitioned from that to narrating audiobooks. Then we discuss authentic casting, calligraphy, how important it is to be kind (in business and in general), and more. All this over some Uncle Nearest Tennessee Whiskey and a...

My guest tonight is legendary audiobook producer and director David Rapkin! David tells me a great story about meeting a music legend on the streets of New York many decades ago and starting a career in audio engineering shortly after. He then goes on to discuss some of the many high-profile audiobooks he's worked on over the years, and offers up some great advice for narrators of all levels. All this and much more over an Agua Libre and a Tuxedo No. 2! You can contact David at...

Tonight's guest is Podium Audio casting director Stephanie Cicatiello! Stephanie tells me how she got into the audiobook world shortly after studying about various aspects of the entertainment industry at Drexel University. We then talk about her experiences at Common Mode, Hachette, and Podium Audio. All this over some Caravella Limoncello and a Naked And Famous! You can find Stephanie on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/audiobooksteph/. You can find Podium Audio at...

My guest tonight is Head of Audiobooks at Scribe Media, Jeff Guillot! Jeff tells me how a single plane flight convinced him to move from the East Coast to the West Coast, and how an education in psychology led him to a career in audiobook production. Jeff then tells me about his experiences at Deyan Audio and Scribe Media, and the importance of a good recording space. All this and more over a LaCroix Passionfruit Sparkling Water and a Good Cork! You can find Jeff on Facebook at...

Tonight's guest is prolific romance narrator and founder of Pink Flamingo Productions Sarah Puckett! Sarah tells me how being an avid audiobook listener brought about a career as a narrator, and how important coaching was in the early days of that career. She then describes the genesis of Pink Flamingo Productions, the recent acquisition of Fireside Horror (now Fireside Audio), and plans for the future. All this over a cherry vodka soda and a Bramble! You can find Pink Flamingo...

Tonight's guest is voice actor, vocal coach, and accent and dialect coach Nic Redman! Nic tells me about how her acting background eventually led to a voiceover career. She goes on to describe her continuing education in voice studies, and how that led to being able to help voice actors take care of their voices, as well as how to speak with different accents and dialects. All this over a bog standard, builder's brew cup of tea and a two-orange French Mimosa! You can find Nic online at...

My guest tonight is narrator and medical myofascial therapist Melissa Kay Benson! Melissa tells me how her work as a myofascial therapist and folding laundry led to a career as an audiobook narrator. She goes on to describe how educational spending eight hours a day for two weeks in a cadaver lab can be, and why slouching is really, really bad, but opening up the body is really, really good -- especially for narrators. All this and more over a Sazerac and a Tootsie Roll! You can find...

My guest tonight is audiobook narrator and life coach Melissa Moran! Melissa describes how a career in radio morphed into full-time audiobook narration, and how an event that rocked the narrator community in 2020 led her into life coaching. She then tells me about her coaching practice, and how life coaching is a bit like untangling necklaces. All this and more over some Truly strawberry lemonade hard seltzer and a Bitterscotch! You can find Melissa's acting website at...

My guests tonight are narrators and co-founders of the Narrator Alliance, Will Damron and Reba Buhr! Will shares his background in acting and audiobook narration, and then Reba and I spend a bit too much time talking about our alma mater, Occidental College, before she explains her introduction into the audiobook world. Then they describe the events that led up to the creation of the Narrator Alliance, and the purpose and structure of the meetings. All this over a Vieux Carré, a Kentucky...

Tonight's guest is Canadian (and U.S.!) narrator and narration coach Erin Moon! Erin tells me about her moves in Canada and the U.S., how she got her start in the audiobook world on the other side of the mic, and how she ended up in British Columbia, concentrating on audiobook narration. Then Erin describes her role at On The Mic Training and how she approaches audiobook narration coaching. All this over some cool, clear, Canadian water and a White Negroni! You can find Erin at...

My guest tonight is Will Dages of Findaway Voices! Will and I discuss the changes that have happened at Findaway Voices since he was last here at the Speakeasy almost four years ago. Will then tells me all about Marketplace, the newest venture at FV, including a walk-through of an audiobook production using Marketplace tools. All this and more over some tea and a Spicy Paloma! You can find Findaway Voices at https://findawayvoices.com, on Facebook at...

My guests tonight are narrators Emily Lawrence and Emily Ellet! Emily and Emily stopped in to talk about the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association (PANA). They tell me about the roles that they played in creating the organization, how it's structured, and what's required for membership. All this and more over a Paper Plane, Emily Lawrence's favorite beverage (water), and a La Croix! You can find the Professional Audiobook Narrators Association at https://www.pronarrators.org, and...

Tonight's guest is Earphones-award winning narrator Travis Baldree! Travis tells me how he went from programming video games to owning a video game production company, and his transition from that to audiobook narration. We also discuss his prolific work in genre fiction, progression fantasy, and gamelit. All this over some Nikka Coffey Malt Whiskey and a Manhattan Sunset! You can find Travis at https://travisbaldree.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TravisBaldreeNarrator, and...

Tonight's guest is prolific narrator (and TikTok phenom!) Natalie Naudus! Natalie tells me why she suddenly pivoted from being a rising opera star to an audiobook narrator. She also tells me how she was able to narrate in the middle of a construction zone for over a year with some great pre-planning, and describes one of the most unique, natural solutions I've ever heard of to a problem that has plagued many a narrator, including me. (We were interrupted by an internet connection dying, but...

I'm joined tonight by Guy Oldfield, Senior Director at Macmillan Audio! Guy tells me about his unusual path to audiobooks, which includes stints in various journalism roles and live music production. He also shares with me some challenges in audiobook production, and talks about how important it is to know when to ask for help. All this and more over a PBR and a Henry Hotspur's Hard-pressed for Cider! You can find Macmillan Audio at https://us.macmillan.com/audio, and narrators can reach them...

Tonight's guest is the founder of the Aural Fixation romance audiobook fan group on Facebook, Lydia Rella! Lydia tells me about being a voracious young reader, and her introduction into the romance genre at an early age. Then we discuss her motivation for creating a Facebook group for romance audiobook listeners, and what makes a romance audiobook great. All this and more over some coffee spiked with some boozy eggnog and some homemade spiced rum! You can find Lydia at the Aural Fixation...

My guest tonight is independent audiobook producer and director Elishia Merricks! Elishia describes how her focus changed from acting to directing during her time at Royal Holloway (the university, not the prison). Elishia then describes how she found her way into the world of audiobooks after a move across the pond. All this and more over an English Garden riff and a French Laundry! You can find Elishia at http://www.englishgirlinnewyork.org, on Twitter at @elishia_e, and on Instagram at...

My guest tonight is the owner of Mosaic Audio, Amy Rubinate! Amy describes the path she took that led her from being a cabaret singer, to voicing children's toys, to narrating audiobooks. Amy also tells me how the pandemic has changed the way that Mosaic Audio does business, and how important it is to have a generosity of spirit in the audiobook world. All this and much more over some hot water and a rum Negroni! You can find Mosaic Audio at https://www.mosaicaudio.com. This week's Audiobook...

My guest tonight is the CEO of Modern Bar Cart, Eric Kozlik! For the first time tonight, I focus on the "speakeasy" aspect of the Audiobook Speakeasy. Eric Kozlik is a writer and a poet who ended up finding his way into the spirits world and founded Modern Bar Cart, a company whose mission is, "...to make great cocktails available to everyone." Eric and I talk about his education in writing and poetry, and how a roommate's "science experiment" turned into a new career. And although we only...

My returning guest tonight is Studio One and RX guru Don Baarns! Don and I talk about how the audiobook world has changed since he was my guest back on episode 20, from the influx of newer narrators since the pandemic hit to improvements in technology. Don also tells me about his Expert Ears service, a free service he provides to evaluate audio, and his Jumpstart programs for both PreSonus's Studio One and Izotope's RX. All this and more over some lemon-ginger echinacea juice and a SpongeBob...

My guest tonight is audiobook narrator and narration coach Christa Lewis! Christa tells me how a chance phone conversation with audiobook legend Debra Deyan led to a sudden career shift from reading the news in English in Germany to narrating audiobooks in L.A. Christa also describes her approach to narration coaching using some appropriately artistic alliteration. All this and much more over a Blue Moon Belgian White and a Delarosa! You can find Christa online at...