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An advertising executive shares strategies for a new market Here is an insightful article from EVP, ECD Jeanie Caggiano of Leo Burnett on how major brands are adapting in order to create a lasting impact on their audiences in an ever-changing digital world.  I have had the pleasure of working with Jeanie and contributing voice over on the notable and humorous ad campaign for United Healthcare since earlier last year.   She says: Evolve or die. It’s as true in business as it is in biology. Just ask Kodak. Problem is, legacy businesses—let’s say those born before the digital age—can’t always move quickly when something upends their model. Legacy agencies, too, have had to evolve or die. But technology hasn’t changed the need to engage people in a great idea. It simply changes how and where we execute it. Caggiano, Jeanie. Disrupt or Be Disrupted: How Legacy Businesses Are Changing The Game . Leo Burnett. Web. 29 Sept 2016. 6 Oct 2016. #advertising #AdaptorDie #digital #disruption #LeoBurnett #television

When the pump takes care of you In our modern, clean-energy conscious world, oil companies evoke images of spills, pollution and even disaster.  Who knew that with some good branding, clever ideas and the voice of a guy named Miles (!) a petrol company could make us look at this whole thing with just a little bit of an open mind and see the actual benefits. In the case of BP and their new interactive gas pump/photo booth/music streaming device (see included Adweek link) they've already done good by some vehicle owners.   Yep, that's right.  When it comes to advertising their products, BP is encouraging a friendly and fun vibe with its service.  And we know how much image means, don't we? After all, with this good an experience at the pump, you may just want to stay forever.  I should know - I played a customer once on the radio . (Word of advice: Just don't stay too long and piss off the person behind you.) Heine, Christopher.   BP's New Gas Pump Engages Customers with Music, a Photo Booth and Trivia . Adweek. Web. 15 Nov 2016. 16 Nov 2016. #BP #Digital #Advertising #Streaming #Music #Voiceover #adweek

New York to Los Angeles in 3 hours sounds pretty wild Remember when I first wrote about having a thing for trains?  I've certainly written my fair share of blog posts about them, but this time it's different (I swear!).  When advancements in transit technology have a hand in potentially delivering something beyond the wildest dreams of the masses, it always seems anything is possible. I first heard of the Hyperloop a few months ago as it was proposed by rising tech giant, Elon Musk - part of the SpaceX program.  Since then, other companies like Hyperloop One have followed suit and begun work on their own system. What exactly is it?  That's where this gets so much cooler than "just train stuff"... Ok, imagine an intricate system of tubes similar to highways, connecting cities throughout the world.  Now imagine that within these tubes, compartments (or pods) contain people and travel at speeds up to 760 mph.  So a trip from New York to Los Angeles in 3 hours sounds pretty wild and also, pretty realistic. Parsons, Jeff.  Futuristic Hyperloop transport system moves closer to reality as new designs for Dubai to Abu Dhabi link revealed. Mirror. Web. 21 Nov 2016. 12 Dec 2016. #future #trains #hyperloop #travel #elonmusk

Some of the world's most brilliant minds tend to have so many of the same habits, don't they? I love hearing about iconic figures and from where they may get their inspiration, especially when it comes to literature.  In our modern digital age, we do see less people reading actual books or talking about profound works that have resonated for them.   Yet the power of immersing yourself into another person's words and/or story can create a lasting impact, as it had here for the late Apple founder, Steve Jobs.  Knowing that his creations were informed by other geniuses, is truly inspiring. Jobs' lifelong interest in the humanities gave Apple a human touch. By combining tech and the liberal arts, Jobs said that Apple was able to "to make extremely advanced products from a technology point of view, but also have them be intuitive, easy-to-use, fun-to-use, so that they really fit the users." We need to see more of this. More geniuses ... Lebowitz, Shana and Baer, Drake. " 14 Books That Influenced Steve Jobs. The Apple founder's lifelong interest in reading about the humanities helped give his company's products a human touch ". Inc.com, 29 Oct 2015. Web. 31 Oct 2015 #apple #stevejobs #books #reading #literature #motivation

Blue Note Records' legacy attributed to legendary Producer/Archivist In recent times, it feels like we've been losing important figures in the music community too frequently. Just this month, we said goodbye to saxophonist Casey Benjamin and drummer Albert "Tootie" Heath, among others. But the most recent loss that hit me hard was that of Michael Cuscana, the legendary producer and re-issue maestro behind so much of the best jazz music. Michael Cuscana was a key player in the revival of Blue Note Records during the 1980s and 90s, working alongside then-president Bruce Lundvall. He co-founded the iconic Mosaic Records in 1982, a label that kept the spirit of Blue Note alive through rare releases and comprehensive reissue box sets. For anyone like me who fell in love with jazz and Black American Music through vinyl, Michael Cuscana was a guiding light. Mosaic Records was where you went if you wanted the complete Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Orchestra live at The Village Vanguard or the entire works of Donald Byrd and Pepper Adams. Michael was responsible for carefully archiving original recording tapes and deciding what gems to reissue from the original masters. His impact on the music and the preservation of its legacy cannot be overstated. His dedication to bringing out the best of Blue Note and other jazz classics ensured that generations of music lovers could experience the magic of these recordings. He leaves behind a legacy that will continue to inspire and delight enthusiasts for years to come. Rest in peace, Michael. Photo credit: Jimmy Katz

Burn Book by Kara Swisher is a delightful tech tell-all I've recently started listening to Kara Swisher's podcasts "On" and "Pivot," the latter co-hosted with entrepreneur and NYU professor Scott Galloway. Both are brimming with tech insights from two brilliant minds. Inspired by their discussions, I immediately picked up Swisher's new audiobook, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story. Swisher offers a candid account of her experiences as a tech journalist, sharing her admiration for figures like Steve Jobs and Mark Cuban, as well as her complex interactions with Mark Zuckerberg and Elon. Swisher's confidence and deep knowledge of the tech industry are evident throughout. She is a masterful debater who can hold her own against anyone. With decades of experience, Swisher dissects (or burns depending on how you interpret it) the world of "tech bros" with effortless skill and authority. Her intimate understanding of the tech landscape shines through in every chapter. I highly recommend checking out her podcasts as well: "Pivot" with Scott Galloway, and her solo venture "On." Photo credit: Rey Seven

Discovering the charm of a rail town Subscribe for more trains & such >> Discover the charming town of Waldwick, NJ! With its storybook-like shops, friendly locals, and a unique train-themed ice cream parlor, Waldwick feels like a hidden gem in Bergen County. Beyond its quaint charm, this town is a train enthusiast's dream, just north of the famous Ho-Ho-Kus station. Here I encounter some of my favorite locomotives, including the iconic NJ Transit F40PH-3Cs 4119 and 4120, and the heritage unit 4101. This spot is a diesel-lovers paradise Plus, don't miss the surprise Norfolk Southern sighting halfway through. One highlight of this station is the scenic open walking bridge—an absolute must visit, if you're planning on rail fanning here. Christian is a Voice Actor & Narrator who loves trains, travel, coffee, and all things audio. Follow along ❤️ on Instagram + YouTube

Discovering Connection with Charles Duhigg’s Supercommunicators I just finished listening to Charles Duhigg’s audiobook, Supercommunicators, and wow, it was an eye-opener. As a voice actor and narrator, I felt like he was speaking directly to my craft. Duhigg dives into the secret language of connecting with others, breaking it down into three types of conversations: practical, emotional, and social. What really hit home was the idea of empathy. Duhigg says that understanding and addressing people's needs lets us connect on a deeper level. This is so relevant to my work. When voice a project, I need to be totally aware of my audience - feel what they feel, understand their needs and make that emotional connection. Duhigg’s insights on practical conversations made me rethink how I approach scripts. Clear and effective communication is key, no matter what story I'm telling. It’s about getting the message across without any fluff. Emotional conversations are the heart of storytelling. Duhigg points out that tapping into emotions makes a story stick with you. This is what I aim for every time I step into the booth. I want my voice to move people, to make them feel something real. And then there’s social conversations—the glue that binds relationships. Understanding social nuances can make or break how my work is received. It’s about building rapport with clients and connecting with the audience in a genuine way.

It might not sound like an announcer but are we telling a story? As voice actors, we're constantly riding the wave of change in our industry. Casting specs are like the compass guiding us through this sea of opportunity. They're not about faulting casting directors or clients; they're more like snapshots of what brands are craving at the moment. Our job? To interpret these snapshots and bring them to life in our own unique way. It's a bit like walking a tightrope – balancing patience, talent, instincts, and keeping cool in the whirlwind of trends, deadlines and snap decisions. Think back a decade. The buzzword in casting specs was "conversational." Brands wanted voices that felt like grabbing a drink with a buddy – laid-back, friendly, and definitely not like an announcer. But fast forward to today, and we've taken a quantum leap. Now, the goal is to sound unlike any typical voiceover artist. They want raw, unpolished, even a tad inexperienced – a far cry from the rehearsed "conversational" tone we've grown used to. What's wild is that sounding conversational has kind of become a cliché in itself. Striving for authenticity, that overly slick, commercial vibe just doesn't cut it anymore. We have had to step up our game, investing in top-notch home studios to give us that pro edge. It's the difference between sounding like a seasoned pro and someone recording an audition on their iPhone in a noisy store. But are our studios, our sound - even that turning us into predictable dinosaurs? Recording on the go in an airport - is that the new authentic? Maybe so. For me, embracing this shift means reinventing my voice and tackling the challenge of sounding fresh and green, even after years of delivering polished performances for satisfied clients. It's reinventing and retraining my voice, abandoning the comforts of muscle memory and embracing vulnerability. While scary. it's a journey, with its fair share of bumps, but it's also a testament to our adaptability as artists in a constantly evolving field.

An Amtrak Getaway from Springfield to New Haven Subscribe for more trains & such >> In the past three months alone I've taken the Vermonter twice, once to Northampton and most recently to Springfield, MA, a recently upgraded train station still in partial disrepair. On the way back home from a random day of railfanning at Springfield, I was fortunate enough to take a surprisingly super fast Amtrak Hartford Line from Springfield MA to New Haven. Our train was a short one, led by Heritage Locomotive unit 145 with two veteran Amfleet Passenger Cars. At times it felt like we're going to fly off the track. But the crew was wonderful. I figured, if they're not worried, I'm not worried. Christian is a Voice Actor & Narrator who loves trains, travel, coffee, and all things audio. Follow along ❤️ on Instagram + YouTube

Watch footage of the city in the 1970s New York City in the 1970s was a world away from its current bustling, polished state. It was a time of contrasts: Studio 54 parties alongside riots in the Bronx, a burgeoning music and art scene set against the backdrop of peak advertising culture and political upheaval. Recently, I stumbled upon insane footage from this era on my YouTube feed, and it made me reflect on my own experiences. I experienced a brief taste of NYC in the 1980s as child as well has having lived there for nearly 20 years so I feel fortunate to have witnessed a slice of its dynamic history. Looking back, the city was a melting pot of creativity, grit, and resilience during those times and beyond, leaving an indelible mark on those who experienced it.

As a former NYC resident, I thought I knew all the secrets of the city's iconic landmarks. However, it wasn't until this morning that I stumbled upon a fascinating discovery: the New York Public Library's book train. Although it was unveiled back in 2016, I somehow missed hearing about it during my time in the city. The concept is simply ingenious – an entire system operating beneath the library's floors, designed to transport books efficiently from one location to another. Each compartment of the book train is capable of carrying up to 30 pounds of books and can navigate both vertically and horizontally throughout the library's intricate network. Every library should adopt this system.