Episode Details

Many voice actors know the term conversational read—but fewer understand what actually makes a performance feel authentic.

George welcomes Hugh P. Klitzke to discuss the evolution of conversational voiceover, the changing casting landscape, and why coaching has become more important than ever. Hugh shares his unconventional path into voiceover, lessons learned working behind the scenes at a New York talent agency, and how those experiences shaped his teaching philosophy.

They also discuss Hugh's popular Open Studio coaching sessions, the value of letting performers observe real coaching in action, and why creating genuinely helpful free content has become one of the strongest ways to build trust in today's voiceover community.

Whether you're a newer talent or several years into your career, this episode offers valuable insight into developing stronger performances—not just better recordings.

00:00 – Introduction and podcast setup

03:10 – Hugh's musical background and unexpected path into voiceover

10:45 – Working behind the scenes at a New York talent agency

18:20 – Why Hugh eventually began coaching actors

26:40 – Leaving the agency and launching his own coaching business

33:15 – Building the Conversational VO brand

40:30 – Why conversational reads are harder than they sound

49:05 – The philosophy behind Open Studio

58:20 – Helping experienced voice actors solve performance problems

1:08:15 – Creating free educational content that provides real value

1:15:40 – Final thoughts and where to learn more