75: Branding with Helen Bee

We've been hosting the podcast for just over 1 year (yay! And BIG thanks to everyone who listens!), but we've not really talked about what either of us actually do. So this month Rob Bee is interviewing Helen Bee about branding. Asking:what the hell branding is anywaywhy it's importantwhy it's NOT about how you soundwhere to start when you're branding our own VO business.For more information about The Voiceover Social visit:⁠The VO Social Website⁠⁠Join the VO Social Email List⁠⁠VO Social Events⁠⁠VO Social local groups⁠⁠VO Social Instagram⁠⁠VO Social Facebook⁠⁠VO Social LinkedIn⁠ About B Double E:Rob Bee and Helen Bee run B Double E - together we help voiceovers to be seen and heard.⁠B Double E website⁠⁠B Double E email list⁠⁠B Double E events⁠⁠B Double E blog⁠⁠B Double E services⁠Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

🎙 In This Episode:Join Helen Bee and Rob Bee (frmo B Double E) as they sit down with the legendary Tanya Rich, one of the UK’s most experienced voiceover artists and coaches. With a career spanning four decades, Tanya has seen it all – from the golden age of voiceover to the rise of AI, from working in radio to becoming the voice of a lift, a water cooler, and an NHS campaign.We chat about:40 years in voiceover – how she started and what’s changedManaging the punk band ‘Discharge’ – unexpected side hustle?Her coaching philosophy – including the mysterious ‘breathing through your arse’ techniqueThe future of VO – what’s next for the industry?Tanya also opens up about her lesser-known disability and the challenges of working in voiceover with a hidden condition.About Tanya RichWith over 40 years in the industry, Tanya Rich is one of the UK’s most experienced and respected voiceover artists and coaches. From voicing major brands like Amazon, Audi, and Coca-Cola to lending her tones to TV, radio, IVR, and gaming, Tanya’s versatility has made her a go-to talent for clients worldwide. She was the first female voice used for IVR in the UK and has remained a pioneer in the industry ever since.Her expertise extends beyond the mic—Tanya is a highly sought-after voiceover coach, having trained countless professionals through RichCraft Voice Coaching and contributed to leading institutions like Bath Spa University. She’s also shared her knowledge through workshops, conferences, and her own podcast, Tanya Talks.Before her voiceover career took off, Tanya had a stint managing the punk band Discharge, proving that her talents aren’t just limited to the recording booth. Whether she’s voicing a high-profile commercial, coaching the next generation of talent, or discussing industry shifts, Tanya continues to shape and influence the world of voiceover with her passion, experience, and signature no-nonsense approach.🔗 Links & Resources:Find out more about Tanya Rich: tanyarich.co.ukWant top-notch voiceover training? Check out RichCraft Voice Coaching: richcraft.bizFor more information about The Voiceover Social visit:The VO Social WebsiteJoin the VO Social Email ListVO Social EventsVO Social local groupsVO Social InstagramVO Social FacebookVO Social LinkedIn About B Double E:Rob Bee and Helen Bee run B Double E - together we help voiceovers to be seen and heard.B Double E websiteB Double E email listB Double E eventsB Double E blogB Double E servicesPodcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

Voicing Animations with Kate HarbourThis month Rob and Helen Bee are joined by the legendary Kate Harbour – a voice actor with more iconic credits than you can shake a script at.You’ve heard her in Bob the Builder, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time, Octonauts, The Secret Show, Chip and Potato, Go! Go! Cory Carson… Honestly, the list goes on, and if we tried to name everything, we’d be here all day. She’s also a master of radio drama (Doctor Who, Robin of Sherwood), comedy (Puckoon, The Big Ben Theory), and Netflix dubs – basically, if you’ve ever watched TV, you’ve probably heard Kate.But she’s not just a voiceover powerhouse – she also teaches. Her Acting for Animation workshops have helped countless VOs bring characters to life, whether at top drama schools or in her own private coaching sessions. So, of course, we had to sit her down and grill her on everything: How did she get into animation? How does she build her characters? What makes a great animation performance? And crucially, how does her approach to teaching differ from everyone else’s?It’s a properly juicy episode, full of insights, laughs, and a fair bit of geeking out over characters. Let’s get into it!We also chat to Annette Rizzo - from Equity’s Audio Committee. She gives us the latest news on Equity's audio audit, BBC audio drama campaign, accessibility for blind/partially sighted for equity website, AI campaign and the Equity audio committee elections.Kate Harbour’s links: Website - kateharbour.com  Acting for Animation workshop - info and booking link - https://www.kateharbour.com/a4a-book-ticketEquity Links: Save Audio Drama at the BBC campaign - https://www.change.org/p/save-audio-drama-at-the-bbcStop AI Stealing the Show campaign - https://www.equity.org.uk/campaigns-policy/stop-ai-stealing-the-show VO Social Links  Great Big VO Social blog -b-double-e.co.uk/the-first-great-big-vo-social-a-review/ Great Big VO Social photo gallery - greatbigvosocial.com/photo-gallery/For more information about The Voiceover Social visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

Oh, January. The month of relentless goal-setting, family obligations, catch-ups with friends, and wondering why payday feels so far away. It’s exhausting just thinking about it, isn’t it?This month on the podcast, we’re talking mindfulness –because honestly, who couldn’t use a bit of calm right now? We’ll guide you through a simple mindfulness practice you can do anywhere (yes, even while clutching your 5th cup of coffee) and you can download a free self-care journal, exercise and colouring page to keep your mood boosted, your stress levels low and set some gentle goals for 2025.Ready to exhale? Let’s make this January a little less frantic and a lot more manageable. Elroy ‘Spoonface’ Powell, also known as ‘Spoon The Voice Guy,’ or ‘Coach Spoon’,  is an award-winning voice actor, author, and mindfulness consultant with a diverse background in media and communication. His expertise in crafting compelling narratives and engaging audiences has been demonstrated across various platforms, including film, television, and video games. Spoon’s voice work in global franchises such as Dying Light 2, where he won the One Voice Award for Best Male Voice in Gaming, Harold Halibut and Minecraft Legends showcases his ability to connect with a wide range of audiences. Film projects include Star Wars: Episode VII, Fighting With My Family, Jingle Jangle, and Pirates.His experience spans both entertainment and educational projects, focusing on impactful storytelling. In addition to his media work, Spoon is committed to using mindfulness as a tool for personal and community development. His approach centres on reframing limiting beliefs through positive affirmations, helping individuals achieve greater self-awareness, inner peace, and productivity. This holistic methodology has proven effective in fostering resilience and promoting well-being in various settings. Spoon’s blend of voice acting expertise, marketing knowledge, and mindfulness techniques makes him a valuable asset for projects that enhance communication, engagement, and personal growth within diverse communities. https://spoonsvoices.com Free Self-Care Journal & Colouring Page - https://pensight.com/x/spoonface1/self-care-journal https://powellness.org Voice Over Secrets - https://mybook.to/vos  Great Big Voiceover Social -  25th January 2025, at 53two, Manchester, UK - https://greatbigvosocial.com/ Tickets - https://greatbigvosocial.com/tickets/ For more information about The Voiceover Social visit:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Credits:Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

Rebekah WilsonRebekah is the technical co-founder and CEO who co-created the entire suite of Source Elements software. With a degree in music composition and a lifetime of love for technology, Rebekah has focused her career as a composer, electronic music researcher and software developer, with a particular focus on media technology. With her dual capacities in both technical and business operations she is instrumental in building Source Elements into a global company, a connected network of tens of thousands of media professionals who rely on their software to complete their projects.In 2018, Rebekah returned to university to study Networked Music Performance where she merged two passions: music and network technology. Also teaching on the topic at the Royal Conservatory of the Hague, she aims to be part of the future where increasingly sophisticated internet and music technologies emerge. With technological advances in rich audio and video applications, being distant from each other is no longer a barrier when it comes to performing together.https://www.source-elements.com/Great Big Voiceover Social website is ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Tickets now available. GBVOS is on 25th January 2025.For more information about The Voiceover Social visit:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Credits:Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

This month we’re talking to an author and publisher/manager about audiobooks and how theyapproach to audiobooks. We cover how they chose narrators for their books, and how audiobooks affect the writing and management of their business. We also have the long awaited re-introduction of ‘News From Equity’ with Annette Rizzo. C.K. (Caimh) McDonnell isthe paranormal pen name of Irish bestselling author Caimh McDonnell. He is a former stand-up comedian and TV writer who now spends all his time writing books as his dogs don’t like it when he leaves the house. When not writing about the adventures of the staff at The Stranger Times, he is the author of the increasingly inaccurately titled ‘Dublin Trilogy’ series (eight books and counting) and its various spinoffs, all of which have beenAmazon bestsellers on both sides of the Atlantic. The Dublin Trilogy has been optioned for TV by Avalon (Breeders, Taskmaster) with Chris Addison at the helm. The Stranger Times has been optioned by Playground (Wolf Hall, The Undeclared War) who are working on the series with Peacock. The Stranger Times won Best Audio at the 2023British Fantasy Awards, a fact Caimh constantly endeavours to drop into casual conversation. He lives in Manchester, where The Stranger Times seriesis set. Elaine OforiAfter over two decades of collecting seemingly random skills across publishing and marketing/communications, Elaine is finally putting them to good use at her publishing company McFori Ink as Head of Stuff/Chief Wrangler, where she spends her days mulling over words.She's taken this love of words one step further and has turned them into fully constructed sentences that are slightly more creative than the reports and strategies she's spent most of her career writing. Her debut novel, co-written with her husband, author C.K. McDonnell, will be published in Germany in 2025.  News From Equity links - Equity Game On campaign details - ⁠https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2024/equity-solidarity-rally-with-sag-aftra-at-uk-games-industry-agm⁠ The story about Dan Dewhirst, which includes links to the AI Toolkit and info on the Stop AI Stealing the Show campaign, is here - ⁠https://www.equity.org.uk/news/2024/actor-s-experience-of-ai-gone-wrong⁠ The radio commercials campaign and survey email is titled ‘ Radio Commercials - help shape Equity’s work’ and will have come from ⁠[email protected]⁠  Cambridge VO Social facebook page is ⁠here⁠.Great Big Voiceover Social website is ⁠here⁠. Tickets available from November 12th. GBVOS is on 25th January 2025.For more information about The Voiceover Social visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

This month we're going through the bits of interviews we had to leave out of previous podcasts. This is all stuff that we simply couldn't fit into the relevant episodes, but it's too good to leave on the cutting room floor.We talk too much!VO Social Finland Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1864087334072036Karen Webber runs ⁠Goodness Marketing⁠: coaching and training for small businesses with big hearts who want to do marketing that feels good, does good and gets good results.Emma Clarke is an award-winning voice actor and writer who works across multiple types of performance and media. She is also a PhD student at RNCM where she is researching how her background as a voice actor influences how she composes music.Paul Brown has been a VO for decades, despite which he has a nagging suspicion that he’s been somehow ‘getting away with it’ for 46 years. He doesn’t know what SEO is, can’t maintain a website, is hopeless at selling himself, thinks that computer games are still loaded from audio cassettes and is utterly baffled by the success of podcasts.Carin Gilfry is a voice actor, singer, conference owner, and the vice president & co-founder of The National Association of Voice Actors. Carin has worked in VO since 2012.Jamie Muffett is a British voice actor based in the Philadelphia region. In his 15 years in voiceover he has worked with some of the world’s biggest companies, production studios, and games developers.Ray Dodd’s coaching is all about Money Mindset without the BS. Her work gives you the tools to break free from oppressive social expectations that are holding you back from reaching your full money-making potential.Ray’s very favourite place to be is infusing nuance and diversity into the conversation around money. For more information about The Voiceover Social visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

This month we're diving into money with Ray Dodd. Money is a conversation topic that's often avoided, but money is essential to us all. So how does our upbringing, our experiences and social expectations impact our relationship with money and our money-making potential?Ray Dodd’s coaching is all about Money Mindset without the BS. Her work gives you the tools to break free from oppressive social expectations that are holding you back from reaching your full money-making potential.Ray’s very favourite place to be is infusing nuance and diversity into the conversation around money. As someone who understands the interconnectivity of culture and business, Ray helps her clients shift their beliefs and liberate themselves from conformity conditioning, paving the way towards making plenty of money without compromising who they are and what they believe matters.Social Links - https://www.instagram.com/ray_dodd/  https://www.raydodd.co.uk/the-pricing-flowchartFor more information about The Voiceover Social visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠  Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

This month we talk to Carin Gilfry and Jamie Muffett about a range of topics including Vocation/eVocation, NAVA and AI. What are these things? Have a listen and find out.Carin Gilfry is a voice actor, singer, conference owner, and the vice president & co-founder of The National Association of Voice Actors. Carin has worked in VO since 2012 for nationally recognized brands like CVS, Citibank, Disney, Estee Lauder, Pfizer, Volkswagen, and many more. She has brought to life characters in video games including Starfield, Saints Row, and Voice of Cards. And she narrates several True Crime series for the Oxygen Network. Carin is passionate about educating voice actors about artificial intelligence, and helping to shape contracts and legislation around AI for the good of actors everywhere. For more info: https://www.gilfrystudios.com/Jamie Muffett is a British voice actor based in the Philadelphia region. In his 15 years in voiceover he has worked with some of the world’s biggest companies, production studios, and games developers. He works primarily from his own studio in Bucks County, PA, and studios in NYC and Philadelphia. Past and current clients include: Google, Starbucks, Warner Brothers, Lucas Film, LEGO, Porsche, Mercedes, Ubisoft, Samsung, McDonald's, NBC, EA Sports, ESPN, Marriott Hotels, Amazon, Etihad Airways, FIFA, Disney, IKEA, National Geographic Channel, and many more.For more info: https://www.jamiemuffettvo.com/AI Recourses for Voice Actors (including NAVA AI rider) - https://b-double-e.co.uk/voice-over-and-ai-make-sure-you-are-in-control/VOcation and eVOcationThe voiceover industries only conference dedicated entirely to the business of VoiceOver!Tickets are now on sale for our next event is our virtual conference, eVOcation, held September 20th-22nd exclusively online!https://www.vocationconference.com/NAVA (National Association of Voice Actors) https://navavoices.org/For more information about The Voiceover Social visit: ⁠⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find us online: ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠  Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.

This month we interview 2 veterans of the Voiceover Industry in the UK. Paul Brown and Emma Clarke have over 80 years of experience between them, and they join us to share their wisdom.Emma Clarke is an award-winning voice actor and writer who works across multiple types of performance and media. She can be heard in radio and TV commercials, corporate presentations, toys, games, apps, public transport and almost anything that needs a voice. Her clients include Astra Zeneca, BBC, Bauer Media, Chevrolet, Classic FM, Coca Cola Enterprises, Global Media Group, Google, L'Oréal, KIA, Transport for London, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Nike, Sky, Sony, Tesco, Toyota, Unilever, Virgin. She is best known as one of the Mind The Gap voices on London Underground, and played the part of the Starship Avalon in the Hollywood blockbuster movie 'Passengers' alongside Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt. She is also a PhD student at RNCM where she is researching how her background as a voice actor influences how she composes music.VO has been Paul’s sole source of income for decades, despite which he has a nagging suspicion that he’s been somehow ‘getting away with it’ for 46 years. After all, how can anyone get paid just for reading aloud into a microphone for that long without someone smelling a rat? In that time the world of audio recording has changed out of all recognition, but Paul has remained doggedly the same. He even uses the same microphone. And the same underwear. He doesn’t know what SEO is, can’t maintain a website, is hopeless at selling himself, thinks that computer games are still loaded from audio cassettes and is utterly baffled by the success of podcasts. Let’s find out how he’s still alive.For more information about The Voiceover Social visit: ⁠⁠⁠The Voiceover Social Website⁠⁠⁠ Email us ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Subscribe to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠See which events are coming soon⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Find your closest VO Social group⁠⁠⁠ Find us online: ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook Page⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Facebook Group⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠  Podcast sponsored by ⁠⁠⁠B Double E⁠⁠⁠.Theme tune by Rob Bee.All audio production by Rob Bee.