28. Debbie Irwin: There's More to Medical Narration Then Big Words
Release Date: 09/20/2026
28. Debbie Irwin: There's More to Medical Narration Then Big Words
Tales From the Booth Podcast
In this episode of Tales from the Booth, host Paulette Lifton sits down with award-winning voice actor and narrator Debbie Irwin for an insightful conversation about one of voiceover’s most expansive—and often misunderstood—genres: medical narration. Drawing from more than two decades in the industry, Debbie explains how the specialty found its way into her career and why it encompasses far more than pharmaceutical commercials and complicated terminology. From hospital and academic content to e-learning, explainers, medical devices, important safety information, and more, she reveals the...
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27. Vernon Scott: The Secret Isn't Voice Acting—It's Acting
Tales From the Booth Podcast
In this episode of Tales from the Booth, host Mimi Maynard sits down with acclaimed dubbing director, voice director, and actor Vernon Scott for a candid conversation about a simple but often overlooked truth: great voice acting begins with great acting. Drawing from decades of experience in film, television, ADR, loop groups, and dubbing, Vernon shares the lessons he's learned both in front of the camera and behind the microphone. From his early years as an actor to becoming one of the industry's most respected dubbing directors, Vernon offers a refreshingly honest perspective on performance,...
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26. Joe Fria: Casting Beyond the Voice—What Great Directors Really Hear
Tales From the Booth Podcast
In this episode of Tales from the Booth, host Mimi Maynard sits down with acclaimed dubbing director, filmmaker, actor, and industry advocate Joe Fria for a candid conversation about performance, casting, and the art of bringing characters to life. Drawing from his unique journey from stage actor to sought-after director, Joe shares how his experiences in front of the microphone have shaped the way he works behind it. From discovering his creative calling in directing to building a career rooted in storytelling, Joe offers an honest look at the lessons that have informed his approach to...
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25. Gregg Berger: The Voice of Legends, Monsters, and Heroes
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️ Gregg Berger: The Voice of Legends, Monsters, and Heroes In this episode of Tales from the Booth, host Paulette Lifton welcomes legendary voice actor Gregg Berger—a performer whose unmistakable voice has powered some of the most iconic characters in animation, video games, and television for over four decades. Fans around the world know Gregg as the mighty Grimlock from Transformers, the lovable Odie from Garfield and Friends, and the fearless hero from The Tick. His voice has also appeared across countless beloved franchises including G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, Teenage Mutant...
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24. Michael Scott: Voices That Play, Fight, and Feel Real
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️ Michael Scott: Voices That Play, Fight, and Feel Real In this episode of Tales from the Booth, host Paulette Lifton welcomes Michael Scott—a powerhouse performer, director, and educator whose work spans film, television, animation, and the full spectrum of modern voiceover. Known for his distinctive, award-winning voice, Michael has helped define characters and campaigns for some of the world’s most iconic studios and brands—from Warner Bros., DreamWorks, HBO, Netflix, Disney, Nickelodeon, and Hulu to global names like Apple, LEGO, Nike, Pepsi, McDonald’s, Toyota, Verizon, and...
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23. Gene Vassilaros: Casting Characters That Breathe, Break, and Belong
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️ Gene Vassilaros: Casting Characters That Breathe, Break, and Belong In this episode of Tales from the Booth, animation casting and voice director Gene Vassilaros joins host Paulette Lifton for a deep dive into the creative heartbeat of animation. From shaping iconic voices that define entire worlds to guiding performances that balance comedy, vulnerability, and truth — Gene’s storytelling instincts and sharp ear for authenticity have made him one of the most trusted voices in the booth. Together, Paulette and Gene unpack the delicate art of casting chemistry: finding that perfect...
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22. Andy Roth: The Art of Voice Casting and the Humanity Behind Performance
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️ Andy Roth: The Art of Voice Casting and the Humanity Behind Performance In this episode of Tales from the Booth, renowned casting director and voice coach Andy Roth joins host Mimi Maynard for an illuminating conversation about the human side of voice acting — where authenticity, empathy, and instinct meet craft and precision. From his early work casting some of animation and gaming’s most memorable voices to mentoring hundreds of actors around the world, Andy shares his philosophy on what truly makes a performance click. He and Paulette dive deep into what casting directors...
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21. Jonathan Reiner: The Heart Behind the Hustle and Being a Talent Manager.
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️ Jonathan Reiner: The Heart Behind the Hustle and Being a Talent Manager. In this episode of Tales from the Booth, Emmy-winning showrunner and talent manager Jonathan Reiner joins host Paulette Lifton for an intimate conversation about passion, perseverance, and the business of show. From his early days as an entertainment journalist to producing for major networks and founding The PaRé Way (launching October 2025), Jonathan shares the lessons learned from a career built on both creativity and compassion. Hear how Paulette and Jonathan’s friendship began at the That’s...
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20. Sebastian Zancanaro Localization Expert and Dubbing Casting Director
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️Tales from the Booth Podcast: Sebastian Zancanaro Localization Producer and Dubbing Casting Director Sebastian’s impressive resume includes: 🎥 Director, Producer, Writer, Actor, and Casting Director 🎭 Specialist in Creative Dubbing & Localization 🏆 Society of Voice Arts & Sciences nominee for Casting in Motion Picture Animation 🏅 Winner of Outstanding Dubbing in an Animated Motion Picture for Deep Sea With over 13,000 hours of dubbing across 85+ TV shows & films, and 3,258+ dubbed episodes aired globally, Sebastian is a powerhouse in the world...
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19. Jeff Howell Master of Commercial Voice Over & Dubbing Pro
Tales From the Booth Podcast
🎙️ Tales from the Booth Podcast: Jeff Howell Master Commercial VO & Dubbing Pro. With over 30 years in the voiceover industry, Jeff Howell has worn every hat—agent, casting director, producer, dubbing director, and coach—shaping some of the most recognizable voices in media. His credits span Emmy-winning animation, award-winning promos, major ad campaigns, and audiobook collaborations with icons like Leonard Nimoy. From Magic: The Gathering to Netflix and HBO Max dubbing, Jeff brings a rare mix of creative vision and performance expertise. In this episode, he shares his...
info_outlineIn this episode of Tales from the Booth, host Paulette Lifton sits down with award-winning voice actor and narrator Debbie Irwin for an insightful conversation about one of voiceover’s most expansive—and often misunderstood—genres: medical narration. Drawing from more than two decades in the industry, Debbie explains how the specialty found its way into her career and why it encompasses far more than pharmaceutical commercials and complicated terminology. From hospital and academic content to e-learning, explainers, medical devices, important safety information, and more, she reveals the extraordinary range of work available within the medical world.
Together, Paulette and Debbie explore why difficult pronunciations are rarely the greatest challenge. The real skill lies in making dense, technical material clear, conversational, and meaningful. Debbie explains how she breaks down long sentences, researches unfamiliar terminology, finds the story hidden inside statistics, and determines whether she is speaking to a patient or a healthcare professional. At its core, medical narration is still acting—requiring preparation, a clear point of view, and a genuine connection to the person receiving the information.
The conversation also moves beyond performance and into the business of building a sustainable voiceover career. Debbie encourages actors to use their previous professions, personal interests, professional associations, and existing relationships to uncover opportunities. Through her “Debbie’s Data Dump Doc” exercise, she helps performers recognize that everything they have done can become part of their voiceover business. She and Paulette also discuss thoughtful persistence, relationship-building, creating a competitive medical demo, the importance of including a dry sample, and practical ways to train using pharmaceutical inserts, healthcare websites, and other real-world medical copy.
Whether you come from a healthcare background, are considering medical or corporate narration, or simply want to become more confident with demanding copy, this conversation is a powerful reminder that preparation, curiosity, and the experiences you already have may become some of your greatest assets.
Follow the Voice Masters team for more inspiring conversations:
🎧 Instagram: @voice.masters
🌐 Website: voice-masters.com
🎤 Paulette Lifton: @paulette_lifton
🎬 Mimi Maynard: @maynard.mimi