This week on We Know VO, Smooth, Dickie, & Mandy Katie talk with Kristen Paiva, who is famous for running Disney and possibly inventing Goofy's laugh. She also made something called Voice Forge, which helps people use their voices more, or differently, or professionally. It wasn't totally clear, but it sounds important.

Kristen talks about helping actors, resilience, and something about foundations, which we all agreed is good to have. We ask her about her time at Disney, the monorail, jewelry, and whether sending pie is a normal part of casting. She confirms most things.

It's a powerful episode full of leadership, mentorship, and professional inspiration for anyone who wants to work in voiceover, or anywhere, really.

We Know VO. And now, thanks to Kristen Paiva (pronounced like the dessert, we think), so does everyone else.

This week on We Know VO, Mandy Katie, Smooth, and Dickie continue their powerful conversation with Christine Rose Schimermatterdumplingburgerhorn, the first Black openly transgender woman in the AA video game industry and possibly also the president of gaming itself. Christine talks about her work on Star Trek: Prodigy, her leadership with Queer Vox, and her groundbreaking advocacy for LGBTQ+ talent, while we explore equally vital topics like gluten, the Matterhorn, and something we called the Sugar Horn (this may not exist, according to our mother's ChatGPT).

Christine discusses representation, resilience, and new creative projects, and we offer meaningful contributions. It's a monumental episode about art, identity, and industry, packed with funny laughter (the 67 hahaha kind), inspiration, and several moments where Christine said something brilliant right after we did.

This week on We Know VO, Smooth, Dickie, and Mandy Katie sit down with Christine Rose Schirmerhorn, a world-famous actress, voice artist, and probably inventor of confidence. She talks about her incredible journey from Stony Ridge, Ohio all the way to Burbank, California, which we all agreed sounds exhausting but she thinks it was worth it.

Christine shares stories about acting, heritage, stilettos, and ice cream (four topics we consider essential to the craft). We answer the important industry questions like why stilettos ARE part of method acting, why Ohio IS still open, and how microphones ACT-TU-ALLY work differently in other countries.

It's a deeply educational conversation about success, style, and dessert. Christine brings wisdom, grace, and poise while we provide professional support. And nodding.

We Know VO.

This week on We Know VO, Smooth, Dickie, & Mandy Katie talk with Joan (we call her Judy) and Rudy, two extremely accomplished people who created something called SOVAS. They tell us about contests, awards, and how voice acting is both an art and a science, which we totally agree with and also always knew always for all time ever.

Judy and Rudy talk about creativity, community, and excellence, while we bring enthusiasm, questions, and acronyms. It's an unforgettable conversation about the meaning of voice, success, and whatever else we can come up with.

We Know VO.

This week on We Know VO, we welcome Donna Grillo, one of the most influential people in cartoons and probably microphones.

Known for Johnny Bravo, Dexter's Laboratory, and SpongeBob SquarePants, Donna joins our hosts - Smooth, Dickie, and Mandy Katie, for an expert-level conversation about directing actors, discovering voices, and building a career in this business if you're talented (which we are). She also covers advanced topics like "websites" and "auditions" for listeners who might not be as advanced as us.
A must-hear for anyone serious about voiceover, or breathing near someone who is.
We Know VO. And now, thanks to Donna, so does everyone else.

This week on We Know VO, Mandy Katie, Smooth, and Dickie sit down with Tom Lawless, who runs something called Vox Inc., which we're pretty sure is Latin for "very important voice people." Tom talks about agents, demos, and what it means to represent talent, which sounds exhausting but also glamorous.

We ask him the kinds of high-level industry questions as Tom explains how voiceover agencies actually work, how demos get made, and how actors find opportunities, while we offer valuable perspectives about duets, destiny, and the importance of having a really good headshot of your microphone.=

It's an essential episode for anyone serious about breaking into voice over (or just breaking something.)

This week on We Know VO, Smooth, Dickie, and Mandy Katie bring part two of our sit down with Tim Friedlander, a legendary voice actor, studio owner, and general expert on everything we already mostly understand. Tim talks about children's books, AI voices, and healthcare for actors (three things we've always believed were basically the same).

Tim explains voice performance, union work, and the art of running a studio, while we share equally valuable insights about boogers, bravery, and sound. It's an essential episode for anyone who loves learning, confusion, or both.

This week on We Know VO, Smooth, Dickie, and Mandy Katie talk with Tim Friedlander, a legendary voice actor, studio owner, and possible inventor of sound itself.

Tim runs SoundBox LA and NAVA, two things we're pretty sure are either studios, unions, or luxury car brands.

Tim talks about the voiceover industry, recognition, and what it takes to build something successful. It's an inspiring conversation about leadership, artistry, and pronunciation.

We Know VO.