Good Aural -The Audiobook Podcast

Episode 9: The Hidden Burnout Behind Avoidance

This week, I’m talking about the emotional side of creative work that I think a lot of artists quietly carry around but rarely say out loud. The weird shame spiral that happens after a bad review, an awkward coaching session, a communication mistake, or a project that just didn’t go the way you hoped. The way those moments attach themselves to the work afterward until suddenly opening the planner, the inbox, or the session file feels emotionally loaded. As audiobook narrators, our work is deeply personal. Our voices, instincts, and emotional interpretation are part of the product. And when something goes wrong, it’s very easy to start treating those moments as proof that we are failing instead of seeing them as information we can grow from. This episode is about creative shame, avoidance, burnout, criticism, and learning how to return to the work without turning every hard moment into an identity crisis. Want to keep in touch? Me, too!  Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree [https://linktr.ee/audiobookbrenda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7b6b6a26-64bf-46f7-9d20-8a2c1bcd76c3] and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.

Episode 8: Audible's new Royalty Share + Virtual Voice Push - Let's talk about it.

In this bonus episode of Good Aural, we’re talking about the ACX and Audible royalty changes, why narrators are freaking out a little bit, and what this industry shift could actually mean for your career moving forward. Because this isn’t just about percentages and payouts. It’s about the growing move toward subscription and engagement-based listening, the uncertainty surrounding royalties, and the very real fear a lot of narrators are feeling about AI and Virtual Voice entering the space. And honestly? Some of those concerns make sense. But this episode is not a doom spiral. It’s a conversation about adaptation. We talk about why AI may absolutely impact certain corners of the industry, especially lower-budget and high-volume projects, but also why human storytelling still matters deeply. Because narration is not just reading words cleanly. It’s interpretation. Trust. Emotional intelligence. Presence. Connection. We also get into what narrators can actually do right now: building a recognizable identity, strengthening your online presence, developing artistic taste, becoming a better collaborator, getting involved in community spaces like Audio Publishers Association and Professional Audiobook Narrators Association, and creating a career that is harder to replace because it is undeniably human. We also touch on the uncertainty of relying heavily on ACX royalties long-term and why platforms like Chirp, Hoopla, and LibriVox are becoming part of the larger conversation. Basically:  the industry is changing.  But generic is more vulnerable than humanity has ever been. And the narrators who adapt thoughtfully now are probably the ones who are going to last. Want to keep in touch? Me, too!  Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree [https://linktr.ee/audiobookbrenda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7b6b6a26-64bf-46f7-9d20-8a2c1bcd76c3] and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.

Episode 7: Your Nervous System Doesn’t Know It’s Fiction

As audiobook narrators, we spend hours embodying fear, grief, rage, trauma, heartbreak, panic, and vulnerability in order to make stories feel real for listeners. But what happens when your nervous system starts responding to those emotions too? This week on Good Aural, I’m talking about emotional resilience in audiobook narration. We’re talking trigger warnings, boundaries, nervous system regulation, emotional decompression, and why narrators need better conversations around mental and emotional sustainability in this industry. Because your body doesn’t always know the difference between experiencing fear… and performing it convincingly. Want to keep in touch? Me, too!  Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree [https://linktr.ee/audiobookbrenda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7b6b6a26-64bf-46f7-9d20-8a2c1bcd76c3] and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.

Episode 6: You're Already the Expert. Act Like it.

Everybody keeps asking how to break into audiobooks. Wrong question. The real question is: what makes you impossible to replace? In this episode of Good Aural, Brenda talks about the biggest career shift happening in audiobook narration right now and why being “generically good” is no longer enough to build a sustainable career. The narrators getting cast consistently aren’t just selling a voice anymore. They’re selling perspective, lived experience, and expertise. Former teachers. Nurses. Gamers. Vet techs. Therapists. Accountants. Disability advocates. Romance readers. Military veterans. Your background is not separate from your narration career. It might actually be the thing that gets you hired. This episode dives into:  • Why ACX isn’t the pipeline it used to be  • Why authority online matters more than ever  • How to stop marketing yourself like a beginner  • The power of niche positioning in audiobook casting  • And how to become the obvious choice for specific kinds of books Because publishers and authors aren’t just hiring voices anymore. They’re hiring trust. This is Good Aural. A podcast where we talk about what actually makes an audiobook work, why some performances pull you in and others fall flat, and what it really takes to tell a story people feel. Want to keep in touch? Me, too!  Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree [https://linktr.ee/audiobookbrenda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7b6b6a26-64bf-46f7-9d20-8a2c1bcd76c3] and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.

Episode 5: Time, Energy, and the Listening Toll (No One Tells You This Part)

Everyone says audiobook narration “takes time.” But no one really explains what that means. Not just the hours in the booth, but the mental load. The second-guessing. The way your day has to shift to make room for quiet, focus, and consistency. The way your energy gets pulled into the work even after you step away from the mic. In this episode, I’m breaking down the real time commitment behind this career. What it actually looks like to record, to improve, and to sustain the work over time and why so many people feel like they’re falling behind when they’re actually right on track. If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this taking me so long?” this one’s for you. This is Good Aural. Want to keep in touch? Me, too!  Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree [https://linktr.ee/audiobookbrenda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=7b6b6a26-64bf-46f7-9d20-8a2c1bcd76c3] and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.