If you’re tuning in for the first time, welcome, and to my longtime listeners, you know that throughout the years you’ve heard me interview some of the most iconic voices behind your favorite commercials, video games, documentaries, etc... But today, I’m pulling back the curtain on a voice that gets much less exposure—but is crucial to running a successful voiceover business as she’s the Unsung Hero of a Voiceover Virtuoso who’s all about the business of sound!

Sandra Russell may not be a name that you’re familiar with, or have a voice you recognize—but her fingerprints are all over the success of one of the top voices in the VO industry; that of her multi award-winning husband Ian Russell, aka The British Voice, who as a side note, joined me as a guest on my other podcast, ‘The Voice Kitchen: where recipes and voice talent blend! Where he shared his recipe of a very British staple, Raised Pork Pie.

Sand ra joins me today to talk about what it’s like being a voiceover wife and mum and how she’s applied her education and business acumen to being Ian’s business manager and creative consultant. Add to the mix, the award-winning voiceover careers of their two daughters, Eva and Lauren, and occasionally when Sandra steps in front of the mic, and you’ve got quite the family affair!

We’ll hear how a Christmas present for a one-day class, launched a lucrative international voiceover career for Ian, to co-running a thriving studio from their family home. Sandra’s story is one of quiet leadership, business savvy, and possessing a keen eye for the right opportunity. Someone we’d all be so lucky to have in our corner, no matter what creative endeavor we’re pursuing.

Join me as I welcome Sandra Russell to 19Stories.

You can contact Sandra, or Ian,or Eva directly via the followng:

Sandra's Business email Address: brillbrits1@gmail.com

Sandra's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brillbrits/

Ian's website(s): ianrussellvoice.com

Eva's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evarussellvoiceactor/

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me for voiceover work, or to host your podcast, reach out to me at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

Outro Insert: "

Proverbs 23:18

"Surely there is a future, and your Hope will not be cut off."

Today marks a very special anniversary in that on June 28th 2020, a year we definitely all remember, I launched this podcast as a way of initially addressing and combating the fear so many creatives were feeling during the pandemic by talking about the tools and or faith they used to move into Hope. These days, I’m still talking with creatives in all mediums about challenges they’ve faced while celebrating their successes and offering some pearls of wisdom for listeners to implement into their own lives.

Speaking of which, I’d like to give a huge thank you to the listeners in the following countries, who as of this date, have downloaded ‘19Stories’ close to 11,000 times; the United States, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Canada, Australia, China, Norway, France, Bangladesh, Spain, Japan, India, Mexico, Kenya, Germany, Switzerland, Hungary and Tunisia. I’d like to give a special thanks to my incredible guests that have been so generous in sharing their stories over these past 5 years. Your trust and openness have been the heartbeat of this podcast.

So, here's to you, and to us, and to many more years of '19Stories: from Fear to Hope'. Thank you for being a part of my podcasting journey. And remember, Like, Follow and share, and of course, stay healthy and Hopeful!

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me for voiceover work, or to host your podcast, reach out to me at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

Proverbs 23:18

You may have heard me quote a former acting coach a time or two on this podcast, that “if you want to bring life into your characters, you have to first live a life in order to have something to pour onto the stage, screen or microphone.” I’d say the same holds true for any good author or storyteller.

Today, I’m incredibly honored to have as my guest, Alex Poppe, the multi-award-winning author renowned for her compelling literary fiction that delves into themes of resilience, identity, and social justice.

After graduating at the top of her university’s undergraduate business school, Alex began her professional career as a business analyst for Mobile Oil and quickly became disenchanted with the corporate culture after, she, and I quote, “hit my head too many times on the glass ceiling and exchanged my corporate life to pursue an artistic one.”

Poppe moved to New York to enroll in the ‘Circle in the Square’s’ two-year professional actor training program. It’s where Alex honed her observation skills and enabled her to quickly identify and address individual student learning challenges after she quit her acting pursuits, got certified to Teach English as a Second Language, moved to Poland for her first teaching assignment, and then eventually to the Middle East spending almost a decade there as an educator in several prestigious public and private universities.

Her experience as an actor, world traveler, humanitarian aid worker and educator in war-torn conflict zones, before coming back stateside to work for USAID, is what Alex pours onto the page.

Alex joins me today to talk about her forthcoming memoir, Breakfast Wine: A Memoir of Chasing an Unconventional Life and Finding a Way Home, which chronicles her transformative journey from that disillusioned corporate professional in the U.S. to an educator navigating cultural complexities and personal upheavals.

You can contact Alex Poppe directly via the followng:

Business email: sallya.poppe@gmail.com

Business website: www.alexpoppe.com

On Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/alex_poppe_author/

On LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sallyalexpoppe/

Order Breakfast Wine at Bookshop.org or your local indie bookstore.

Alex will be speaking and doing a booksigning of Breakfast Wine at the following locations:

Magic City Books in Tulsa, Ok on June 10, 2025 at 7:00pm pm

The Book Cellar in Chicago, IL on June 12, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Boswell Books in Milwaukee, WI on June 13, 2025 at 6:30pm

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me for voiceover work, or to host your podcast, reach out to me at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

Outro Insert: "Titantium" by Sia

Proverbs 23:18

"Surely there is a future, and your Hope will not be cut off."

It’s hard to believe (at the time of this recording) that it's April, and hopefully we all survived tax day and are able to get out and enjoy some of the beautiful Spring foliage that’s popping up all over.

On this Spring day, I’ve invited Lawrence Payne to join me as my guest. He is an award-winning copywriter, editor, voice actor and composer, who has worked with some of the world's most progressive companies such as Yamaha Digital Musical Instruments, Yamaha Audio, Teac, Hitachi and Brother. Many of them in his capacity as a senior copywriter at Intermart Advertising/Tokyo.

He’s received awards for his creative work featured in prestigious national and regional competitions and he has a reputation for excellence in technical documentation and communications. Lawrence has over 32 years of professional experience covering subjects ranging from music, cultural history, philosophy, religion, robotics, telecom and travel.

Lawrence has contributed widely to consumer and trade publications, including the graphic-design journal How. As a knowledgeable musician and critic, he has written for Guitar Player magazine, served as associate editor at Music Connection magazine and studied with the Latin guitar virtuoso Jorge Strunz. He produces the YouTube channel Deep Space Theater, which features his own musical compositions. Among his recent literary efforts are the books of a Zen Buddhist abbot whose influence is spread throughout Asia to the Americas and Europe.

However, with all of the aforementioned projects, the one title that’s missing from Lawrence Payne’s accomplishments, is as LinkedIn’s Chief Cheerleader and Encourager!

On any given day, you can find Lawrence reposting, commenting and encouraging others on their accomplishments. It’s that kind of generosity and kindness that has brought us together to have a conversation.

You may contact or follow Lawrence via the following:

Business email Address(s): writerhead@msn.com, blueworldeditors@gmail.com

LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrence-payne-b64a532/

Music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdbzKL0rxVV5MXm0fWaLJLg

Music for media: https://desertviewrecordsllc.disco.ac/cat/325091309/artists/9749899

Blog: https://medium.com/@blueworldeditors

Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/creative-drive-lawrence-payne

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me via VO work or to host your podcast, I can be reached at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

"We got it together" insert: Barry White

Proverbs 23:18

"Surely there is a future, and your Hope will not be cut off."

It’s no secret to some of my longtime listeners that I’m originally from Los Angeles; sometimes referred to as the land of the rich, famous and forever young. That “fountain of youth”, has been featured and celebrated in films, commercials and advertising for decades, leading those of us who are now in our more “mature years”, to believe that we’ve become irrelevant, worthless and should claim our rightful spot in the proverbial “pasture”.

Well, Ande Lyons, the guest joining me today, has made it her mission to dismantle age-related stereotypes and explore the limitless potential that comes with experience and wisdom, and she does so as the host and producer of her "Don’t Be Caged by Your Age" podcast.

A seasoned entrepreneur and global startup mentor, Ande seeks to inspire and empower her listeners to thrive at any age, especially after the age of 65.

With over a decade of podcasting experience and more than 800 episodes under her belt, including 250 episodes of her "Startup Life Show” on YouTube, and ‘Your Ink Story’ podcast, she’s passionate about sparking meaningful conversations that ignite change and growth.

As the proud founder of four diverse businesses, ranging from tech to food, Ande has navigated the exhilarating highs and challenging lows of entrepreneurship, gaining insights and stories that she generously shares with her listeners.

She’s taken that generosity to the streets, so to speak, by forming the New England Podcasters Group, a vibrant community of storytellers and creators who gather monthly to collaborate, learn, and grow. NEPG provides a supportive space for podcasters to refine their craft, connect with one another, and expand their reach with their monthly speaker series featuring industry leaders and innovators.

Whether she’s mentoring entrepreneurs, hosting pro-aging conversations, or building community through podcasting, Ande is a source of inspiration and empowerment with anyone she connects with, by helping them to embrace new opportunities and live their most fulfilling lives.

You may contact Ande multiple ways via the following:

'Don't Be Caged by Your Age' website: https://www.dontbecagedbyyourage.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/don-t-be-caged-by-your-age

https://www.linkedin.com/in/andelyons/

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me via VO work, or to host your podcast, I can be reached at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

Outro Music Sample (for this episode): 'That's How Young I Feel' by Angelea Lansbury & Mame Ensemble (Original Broadway Cast Recordning)

Proverbs 23:18

"Surely there is a future, and your Hope will not be cut off."

Welcome to a very special episode that is launching during the week of ‘Podcasthon’; the world’s largest podcast charity initiative, bringing together podcasters worldwide to raise awareness of local non-profits charitable causes.

And what’s more timely and relevant right now, than delving into a discussion of behavioral health with an organization that has been servicing its clients for over 55 years.

Founded in 1970, Buckelew Programs encompasses a combined 137 years of experience serving the North Bay, here in California. With programs in Marin, Sonoma, Lake and Mendocino Counties, Buckelew’s mission is to promote recovery, resilience and Hope (something we’re big on in this podcast) by providing behavioral health and support services that enhance quality of life through their 5 Core Programs: Counseling, Service Navigation, Substance Use Recovery, Supported Housing, and Suicide Prevention. Buckelew is tirelessly working to destigmatize the value of mental health, in the services they provide to foster healthy people and communities.

Chris Kughn is Buckelew’s CEO, and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and has served at the helm of Buckelew since May of 2019 He has more than 20 years of experience in the public, private and, nonprofit behavioral healthcare systems. Prior to Buckelew, Chris served in several executive management roles in Solano County and the Marin County Department of Health and Human Services, including Division Director of Adult and Older Adult Services. His passion and commitment to nonprofit behavioral health services began with his work serving adults, children, and families in juvenile justice, crisis stabilization and adult homeless systems.

With a B.S. degree in Psychology from the University of Pittsburgh and an M.A. degree in Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. He is a member of the California Association of Social Rehabilitation Agencies (CASRA). Chris tends to his own mental health through mountain biking, cycling, scuba diving, and a gift that I’ve had the pleasure of enjoying; a keen sense of humor.

To contact Chris Kughn driectly:

Business email Address: chrisk@buckelew.org

Business website: Buckelew.org

Buckelew's socials:

instagram.com/buckelewprograms

facebook.com/Buckelew.Programs

For more information about Buckelew's Bike + Hike 4 visit their event page: https://buckelew.org/bike4buckelew/

For more information on Podcasthon week: https://podcasthon.org/

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me via VO work, or to host your podcast, I can be reached at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

Outro Music Sample (for this episode): 'Big Chief' by Professor Longhair and Earl King

Proverbs 23:18

"Surely there is a future, and your Hope will not be cut off."

Until next time, stay Healthy and Hopeful!

If you’re a regular listener to my show, then you know by now that I’m always excited to introduce you to intriguing creatives who are making a positive impact in their fields of expertise.

Today, I’m especially excited for this conversation as in some ways I feel like this particular guest and I have been doppelganger’s in both experiences and creative choices. She also happens to share one of my core beliefs that it’s never too late to pursue one's dreams.

Now a full time voice and on-camera actor as well as a voice over coach, Jennifer “Jenn” Sims, was deep into her career as the Director of Broadcast at one of L.A.’s top ad agencies, she worked on 100s of commercials with talent agents and casting directors and listened to thousands of voice actor’s auditions. She also directed voice actors, including Emmy and Oscar winners; such as Donald Sutherland as the voice for a national healthcare campaign and produced network promos starring the incomparable voice legend, Don LaFontaine, to name a just few.

As glamorous as the world of advertising appears to be in the content it creates, it can also be, as Jenn says, very toxic, and her work environment was becoming increasingly so, prompting Jenn to reflect on what she really wanted to do when she began her career in the first place; that of being an actress; as she spent years honing her quirky sense of humor while studying comedy and improv at The Upright Citizen’s Brigade, The Groundlings, (which landed her on-camera commercials for Uber, Snapchat and WebMD) and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles. It was during a recording session, that Jenn realized her passion for acting was undiminished and made the decision to quit her job to pursue a full time career in voice over!

However, in Jenns own words, she was “older” than most people who pursue full time acting. And for anyone who is familiar with how youth oriented show business is; especially in Los Angeles, it wasn’t exactly a text-book recipe for success.

Leaving that coveted Director of Broadcast position was a huge risk but one she was willing to take, and so Jenn took that leap. I’d like to extend the net by welcoming Actor, Storyteller, Coach and “Smarty Pants”, Jennifer Sims to 19 Stories

Contact Jennifer Sims via the following:

• Business email:

• jennifersimsvo@gmail.com

  Business website:

  • https://www.thejennsims.com/

  Business website: Instagram

  https://www.instagram.com/thejennsims/

  Inquire about classes and private coaching at:

  voiceactorcoaching@gmail.com

  Demos

  https://soundcloud.com/jennifersimsvo/sets/jennifer-sims-voice-over-demos

If you enjoyed this episode, make sure to follow 19 Stories wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts. It would be greatly appreciated if you gave a nice review and shared this episode well :-)

To give feedback or a story idea: 19stories@soundsatchelstudios.com

To listen to my demos: https://www.cherylholling.com/

To contact me via VO work, or to host your podcast, I can be reached at: cheryl@cherylholling.com

Follow me on Instagram: @cherylhollingvo

Theme Song Credit: 'Together' by For King & Country

Outro Music Sample (for this episode): 'My Girl' by The Temptations

Proverbs 23:18

"Surely there is a future, and your Hope will not be cut off."

Until next time, stay Healthy and Hopeful!