Sound Mind Game

Can we share a lucid dream? Dr. Andrea Williams, Ethical AI UX Researcher and Sound Designer

Dr. Andrea Williams is a UX researcher, designer, and sound artist working at the intersection of sound, technology, and human consciousness. She holds a PhD in Electronic Arts and has over a decade of experience in human-centered UX research and design, including recent hands-on work designing a healthcare app with ethical AI. Alongside her industry work, Dr. Williams explores frameworks like deep listening and lucid dreaming to think through complex problems and design with care. Contact Dr. Andrea Williams via email [dellajune80@yahoo.com] or connect with her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreawilliams-phd/]

What's so real about that voice? Hannah Melbourn, Voice Actor

Hannah Melbourn, award-winning British voice actor known for video games, commercials, and more, helps you appreciate the power of your unique voice. In this episode, discover her career journey and listen to samples of her finest work. We also explore how AI is increasingly shaping voiceover across all sectors. Yet there is hope: Hannah shares the truth of why the human voice will always sound more real to us. Hannah's credits are many but include the following roles: Agrias Oaks ~ Final Fantasy Tactics The Sorceress ~ Path Of Exile II Omeuras ~ Lords of The Fallen II Hannah's commercial credits include spots for Amazon Music and TK Maxx. Follow Hannah on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hannahmelbourn/] and connect with her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-melbourn/] Visit her website [hannahmelbourn.com] where you'll find her direct contact info and more about her work.

What Could Go Wrong? Field Recording in Death Valley | Diego Hodge & Jesse Jones, Game Audio Sound Designers

Sound designers Diego Hodge and Jesse Jones join us to reminisce about that time, not too long ago, when they embarked on their "most dangerous" quest for authentic sound—so far. Diego is a technical sound designer working on the narrative-driven adventure game ⁠Dispatch⁠ [https://store.steampowered.com/agecheck/app/2592160/] at AdHoc Studio. Jesse is a game audio implementor and sound designer with both AAA and indie studio experience. Jesse Jones: Explore Jesse's ⁠REEL⁠ [https://jjonessoundartist.wixsite.com/jjones] and contact him by ⁠email⁠ [jessejones399@gmail.com] and on ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessesjones/]. Diego Hodge: Check out Diego's REEL [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e33BYpZWaRo] and reach out to him by email [diegohodgeaudio@gmail.com] and on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/diego-hodge-audio/].

Final Journey to Christmas: Soundscape by Jan Rouvillain

The year is coming to a close. Take a moment to relax. Close your eyes. Surrender to a fleeting moment, both eerie and enchanting. A legendary steam locomotive departs—then arrives, completing the final leg of its Christmas tour, the gentle murmurs of the wind, birds, and falling snow in the surrounding forest filling the brief gap. Bound for the beloved Christmas market, the train travels from central to eastern Jutland, between Bryrup and Vrads on the Veteran Railway—also known as "Denmark’s Most Beautiful Railway." Note: Please use high quality headphones in a quiet space to experience the full immersion intended here, including the moments of "silence." Recorded, ambient silence isn't "true silence"; it's full of texture. Winter’s quiet isn’t empty—it breathes. Snowflakes drift and disappear into the padded hush, their sound swallowed before it can travel. It’s a stillness so complete, it almost hums. Production Credit: Quiet Forest with Steam Locomotive on Bryrup-Vrads Veteran Railway by recordist Jan Rouvillain. Equipment: Zoom h4n pro. Setup: Level 90, 120 deg. This episode of Sound Mind Game is for educational purposes only and is not monetized. If you experience advertisements, they are imposed by your podcast listening platform.

So you don't have an accent? Laura Markus, American Accent Specialist

Think you don’t have an accent? Laura Markus thinks you do. From subtle pronunciation quirks to the lilts that betray our origins, Laura can explain why we sound the way we do. An American living in Tuscany, she has turned her accent into a career, coaching people who not only want to speak English more clearly but also hope to enjoy all the perks of blending in. Laura empathizes deeply—she’s still working on her own accent. Her Italian accent. She looks forward to the day when no one asks her, “Where are you from?” To keep up with Laura Markus, visit her website Speak with Laura [https://www.speakwithlaura.com/] and follow her on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-markus-fluency-coach/].