Nan Goldin's story in 'All the Beauty and the Bloodshed' Nan Goldin, a true artistic visionary, captures emotions like no other. Her photography, combined with tireless activism, has left an indelible mark on history. During my senior year of college, while perusing the photography section of a used book store, I stumbled upon a compilation of photographs by various artists. Within this collection, I discovered a few selections from Nan Goldin’s iconic book, The Ballad of Sexual Dependency. I found myself drawn to her exploration of mood, grounding the viewer in intimate human experiences. There was an undeniable authenticity to her work, devoid of staging, that spoke to me on a profound level. In Laura Poitras' film "All The Beauty and the Bloodshed," Goldin's story unfolds against the backdrop of New York City in the tumultuous 1970s and 80s, spanning the AIDS crisis and beyond. This era provides the canvas upon which Goldin’s narrative takes shape. Prepare to be moved.

This past weekend I attended the Voice Over Cafe Podcast's 2nd Annual Holiday Mixer in New York.  As a resident of this great city, it was a real treat to be able to hop on the subway to Mustang Harry's, just shy of Madison Square Garden and join in the celebrations with some fabulous folks.  If you are a casting director, producer and/or agent and didn't attend, you missed a good time to mingle with potential (and very bookable) clients. And I have to thank fellow voice talents Trish "the Dish" Basanyi and Terry Daniel (who I FINALLY got to meet after all these years) for coordinating such a wonderful party! Events like these also have a way of putting things in perspective for me.  I'm able to reflect on what I am grateful for as a voice talent, things many of us I feel often take for granted when there is either a draught in work/gigs or we're getting in our own way.  And believe me, I'm certainly "known" for getting in my own way.  Between Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas, I figured it would be good to create a list of what matters most to me in this profession, rather than dwell on the inequities and most commonly debated topics, for a change. So here goes... For career longevity, health and prosperity. 1.) Having a functioning and healthy voice 2.) Hot water and lemon in the morning 3.) Coffee before an edgy, wry read 4.) Referrals from close colleagues 5.) Referring a close colleague and them booking the job. 6.) The early morning session with an international client. Gets you up and ready. No time to waste. No messing around. Stay sharp and focused. 7.) Very thoughtful (and highly unneccesary) care packages from fellow talents. Those pickles were delightful, Kelley Carruthers Buttrick! 8.) Discovering how to properly use Mac track pad with Twisted Wav without developing carpal tunnel. 9.) Voice Talent friends who talk about their favorite music and hobbies. 10.) Being physically brought in to audition for a casting Director. Remember those?  And knowing how crazy their lives on the other side of the table are.  Hello! Perspective! 11.) A no-fear approach to cold-calling. 12.) When a client expresses concern over an audition not being what they originally wanted but in the session you nail the read on the first take. 13.) When clients are articulate and clear in their intentions and communicate what they want. A true blessing. Thank you! 14.) In a session, when everyone is on the same page. 15.) When the producer asks if she can take a picture of you in the booth to send to her daughter. That's about as close to celebrity status as I'll get. And it makes me so happy. 16.) Being appreciative that you were hired and not taking things personally even when, after 30 takes of the same line,  the director asks you to do 30 more. 17.) Knowing that auditioning is imperative no matter what stage of my career I'm in. Entitlement in voiceover can burn bridges..FAST! I keep an open mind. 18.) Having audio experts as friends who are kind enough to give you a second opinion or a swift butt kicking. No gating!  Thanks Uncle Roy! Yep, you too Jordan Reynolds. 19.) Spending less time on social media. And more time out in the world! 20.) Cultivating outside interests and maintaining a healthy lifestyle in spite of the isolation challenges this career may bring. It's about finding that balance. 21.) Walking out of the session, and everyone's smiling. #voiceover #gratitude #motivation #networking #NYC #voicetalent

It's just that we're not used to it. As a freelancer, pausing shouldn't be scary. There are days when I wake up and have nothing to do.  People in my field will argue that this is the time to aggressively and relentlessly market ourselves, leaving no stone unturned and making lasting impressions on potential clients.  But is it really?  I know other voice over artists who are probably sending out mass mailings to thousands of production companies because they can't afford to feel inactive - can't afford to pause for a single moment and reflect, or develop a new strategy during this "down time". Market, Market, Market, Hustle, Hustle, Hustle Treat your business like it's an online shoe store. Baloney. This is where I disagree wholeheartedly. When do we ever get a moment to reflect on what we're doing if we're constantly requiring ourselves to be "on"? We're forcing ourselves to believe we have to be busy, active marketers, or that merely getting in front of as many people as possible is the key to building long-lasting relationships. Persistence persistence persistence. Sure, but at what cost? There's nothing scary about pausing and should never be. For a moment. For a few days.  Or a few weeks (Well, hopefully not that long) but an ample amount of time to really let it all sink in. That time can be the most overlooked part of our busy lives, no matter what field we find ourselves in. Pausing on a daily basis is perfectly fine.  Every once in a while, it's a reminder that breaking from our everyday activities serves us well.  The problem is that we don't often focus on taking a break unless it's a planned vacation - to an exotic location or romantic weekend getaway. The usual excuse vacation.  We hear it all the time, don't we? "Oh, I've been working so hard, I need a vacation!" or "I just need to get away for a few days," or the sadly all-too-common daily escape of, "I really need a drink." We say these things because we know too well the challenges of truly releasing our everyday connected selves and taking a break from our overactive minds. In this recent article from "Science of Us" Tanya Basu writes: So go ahead. Put on those noise-cancelling headphones, close your eyes for three minutes, and say or do exactly nothing. Those three minutes might be the key to a more productive and happier subsequent 23 hours and 57 minutes. I remember when I first started charging my iPhone in the kitchen last year.  I'll admit it was different not having something to stare at before drifting off to sleep, but one thing I've come to know: that phone isn't going anywhere.  It will be there tomorrow morning when I wake up and, plus, it's been for my eyes and overall sleep patterns.  I've been able to focus on getting some quality sleep without having to expect anything from anyone or from the phone in general. Now I wake up looking forward to checking my email on my iPhone, having shut everything down the previous night. So, when you cleanse your mind of any digital activity, whether that's scrolling through everyone's Facebook status, baby and puppy photos, or new engagement ring, or your favorite viral video on YouTube, you rid yourself of some trivial expectations. In the long run you do more good than harm.  Stop driving yourself nuts. Basu, Tanya. "Shut Up and Bask in Silence For A Better Life" Science of Us. Web. 19 Nov 2015. 1 Dec 2015 #motivation #health #voiceover

CTDOT Orders Alstom Train Cars to Modernize System Exciting news! Governor Ned Lamont just announced plans for 60 new CT rail cars, arriving in 2026. These modern marvels are definitely worth the anticipation. While I'll miss the old diesel trains, it's clear CT is keeping up its competitive edge. Time to enjoy some quality rail fanning before the transformation! 🚄💨

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.