The VoiceMe Podcast

Episode 042 - Burnout and The VO Reset

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, Information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za - The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of VoiceMe, and today we’re tackling something raw, real, and deeply human: burnout.
Topics in this episode:
Creative burnout and how to reset
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Whatsapp - Andrew Sutherland (Bigmouth Studios & VoiceMe)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 041 - SAGA and The Fight for South African Actors Rights

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast — information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za, the South African search directory for voice artists and related services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of voiceme.co.za, and in this episode, I want to talk about one of the most urgent and critical issues facing the creative industry in South Africa today: the rights of actors and performers, and the complex, ongoing fight to secure fair treatment, legal protections, and sustainable careers in this space.
Topics in this episode:
Why SAGA is crucial for industry reform
The real threat of AI to voice and performance work
What the 2025 Competition Commission exemption means for rate recommendations
Horrific real-world examples of performer exploitation
And most importantly: what you can do today to create change
Links:
SAGA Website - https://www.saguildofactors.co.za/
SAGA on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/saguildofactors/
SAGA on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/southafricanguildofactors/
SAGA on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/saguildofactors/
SAGA on X - https://x.com/SAGActors
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Whatsapp - Andrew Sutherland (Bigmouth Studios & VoiceMe)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 040 - Decoding Scripts Like a Director

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, Information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za - The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of VoiceMe and in this episode and today we’re exploring not just how to read a script, but how to solve it — like a director, analyst, or emotional interpreter.
Topics in this episode:
A 5-step process to uncover subtext and emotional purpose
How to direct yourself with intent (even when no one else is)
Real examples of adapting the same line for different genres
Methods to sharpen interpretive skill
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Whatsapp - Andrew Sutherland (Bigmouth Studios & VoiceMe)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 039 - AI, Ethics & The Future

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za – The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of voiceme.co.za, and in this episode, I’m talking about a subject that’s has been unsettling for a lot of us – the rise of AI in the voiceover industry, and what it means for human voice artists like you and me.
Topics in this episode:
What AI voice technology can and can’t do
Why clients still prefer human voice artists
Real-world examples of AI voice limitations
The role of emotion, nuance, and improvisation in VO
Ethical concerns around AI training and voice cloning
Contract red flags to watch out for
How to protect your voice rights
Ways to stay relevant and future-proof your VO career
Embracing your uniqueness and adding more value
Building community and advocating for ethical standards
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 038 - Sinemivuyo Mpulu, The VO Factory & The SA Voiceover Awards 2025

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za – The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of voiceme.co.za, and in this episode my guest is Sinemivuyo Mpulu. A South African voice artist, radio and TV host, and the founder of The Voiceover Factory, one of the country’s largest voiceover training communities and creative force behind SA's first Voiceover Awards.
We Spoke about:
His early love for performance and finding his voice through dramatic arts
The need for a local voiceover community and how The Voiceover Factory became that home
His viral “TikTok Billing” series and what it taught him about showing up online
The SA Voiceover Awards launching this October—and why they matter so much for our industry
Links:
https://www.savoiceoverawards.co.za/
https://www.instagram.com/thevofactory/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-voiceover-factory/
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 037 - Demystifying Voiceover Agents

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za – The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of voiceme.co.za, and in this episode, I’m talking about voiceover agents. I got the chance to interview two amazing agents from South Africa, Carlynn de Waal Smit from Contractors Artists and Sarah Woodward from Tongue Twisters, to demystify the most common questions artists have about agents.
Topics in this episode: 
What a VO agent actually does day-to-day
Common misconceptions about representation
How to professionally approach an agent
What makes voiceover demos stand out (or not)
The realities of voiceover work booking frequency
How rates and industry standards are evolving
Links:
https://www.contractors.org.za/
https://www.tonguetwisters.co.za/
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 036 - From VO Side Hustle to Full-Time

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za – The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of voiceme.co.za, and in this episode, I’m talking about how to take your voiceover side hustle full-time.
Topics in this episode: 
Knowing when you’re ready to make the leap
Building systems to treat your VO like a business
Marketing yourself consistently (and confidently)
The mindset shifts those separate hobbyists from pros
Avoiding common mistakes that derail your growth
And a step-by-step plan to make the transition on your terms
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 035 - Mindset Matters - The BE A VO PRO Mindset

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast - information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by VoiceMe.co.za - the South African search directory for voice artists and related services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of VoiceMe.co.za, and in this episode I wanted to touch on the business side of this career and specifically the growth mindset you’ll need to have to enter the world of voiceover.
Topics in this episode:
 Mindset Matters – Limited vs. Growth Mindsets
The BE A VO PRO Framework
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 034 - Neuromarketing Principles in VO Marketing

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast – information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by VoiceMe.co.za – the South African search directory for voice artists and related services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of VoiceMe.co.za, and in this episode I want to explore something a bit brainy but very useful: neuromarketing principles and how we can apply them to voiceover marketing right here in South Africa.
Topics in this episode:
Neuromarketing Principles in VO Marketing
✅ 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁: Make your rates and services appear to be a plus for your clients.  
✅ 𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗜𝗹𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: Show the prices in the smallest amounts possible.  
✅ 𝗥𝘂𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝟯: Provide clear service packages to assist the decision-making process.  
✅ 𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗔 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁: Get your clients involved in the process so that they appreciate what you do even more.  
✅ 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲: Use free services as a way of converting leads to paying clients.  
✅ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁: Make your standard rate look like a steal.  
✅ 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗼𝘅 𝗼𝗳 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲: Don’t offer too many choices with your products or services to avoid confusing your customers.  
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA

Episode 033 - Casting Voices Authentically

Welcome to the VoiceMe Podcast, information and advice on the world of voiceover, presented by voiceme.co.za – The South African Search Directory for Voice Artists and Related Services. I’m Andrew Sutherland, founder of voiceme.co.za, and in this episode, I wanted to go into the topic of authentic casting in the world of voiceover. We’ll be looking at some fantastic guidelines from the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA) in the USA, but we’re going to connect these principles to something a lot closer to home—the South African voiceover scene. Whether you’re a voice actor, a casting director, or just curious about why representation matters, this episode’s for you.
Topics in this episode:
The Value of Authentic Casting
Understanding Language & Identity
Writing Transparent Casting Calls
NAVA's Best Practices for Authentic Casting
https://navavoices.org/authentic-casting/best-practices-for-authentic-casting/
 
More Info:
VoiceMe - voiceme.co.za
Profiles & Pricing - voiceme.co.za/support#pandp
Support - support@voiceme.co.za
Phone - 0861 VOICEME (0861 864 2363)
Facebook - @VoiceMeSA
Twitter - @VoiceMeSA
Instagram - @VoiceMeSA
LinkedIn - @VoiceMeSA