Good Aural -The Audiobook Podcast

Send us Fan Mail Audiobooks are getting bigger. Celebrity casts, splashy productions, behind-the-scenes videos, mainstream press. And honestly? That’s exciting. But as audiobooks become more visible, I’ve been wondering whether the career audiobook narrator is actually getting harder to see. In this episode: Why celebrity audiobook casting isn’t really the problem How the pathways to recognition a...

Send us Fan Mail Well, I’ve got some news. I’m pregnant! I’m thrilled to finally be able to say that out loud. I am also deep in the first trimester, and holy cow, it has kicked my butt. I’ve spent most of September doing the absolute bare minimum. I’m getting my work done. I’m answering the emails that need answers. But all of the extra stuff I’m normally doing to grow my career? Not happening. S...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Good Aural , I’m looking at audiobook production through my theater brain and talking about what changes when we stop thinking only like performers and start thinking like members of a much larger creative team. Because talent matters. Obviously. But once you can do the job, there’s another question that matters when producers are deciding whether they want to w...

Send us Fan Mail There is a LOT of discourse happening right now about who is actually qualified to coach audiobook narrators, and I have thoughts. Because on one end, we have incredibly experienced, prolific narrators whose advice may not always apply to someone trying to break into this industry in 2026. On the other, we have newer narrators who are really good at navigating the current hustle a...

Send us Fan Mail What makes a romantic scene genuinely sexy in audio?  For me, it begins with character. What does this person want? What are they afraid to reveal? What changes between these two people because of this encounter? What it doesn't involve is heavy breathing and trying to sound "seductive."  In this episode, we look briefly at the history of romance, from Jane Austen a...

Send us Fan Mail Today, I’m revisiting character work and giving my friend Steve his due ;) After my last episode on nuance and character choices, Steve, who is both a character actor and a dialect coach, pointed out that genre changes the conversation. And he’s right. I still think subtlety is king. But subtle doesn’t look the same in every book. A cozy mystery, LitRPG, middle grade adventure, th...

Send us Fan Mail Lets talk BookTok.  What began as a giant virtual book club is now a major marketing force. Publishers watch it, authors build campaigns around it, and Audible has created a dedicated BookTok destination . In this episode, I talk about how follower counts are becoming part of an audiobook narrator’s professional currency (particularly in romance and LitRPG) and what that means for...

Send us Fan Mail When should you raise your rates and how do you do it without panicking?! In this episode, I’m opening up the hush-hush conversation about money in the audiobook industry. We’re talking about underpricing, scarcity, ongoing series, loyalty rates, invisible labor, and the fear that charging more will make you less castable. Most importantly, I’m giving you a practical plan for movi...

Send us Fan Mail AI use is everywhere. But what does that mean exactly? Did someone use a tool to correct grammar? Did they have it look for redundancy in their writing or did they use it to create a cover, write AND narrate their book?  In this episode, I break down the current AI categories to know in publishing and outline ways that narrators can not just protect their performances, but their m...

Send us Fan Mail This week, I’m talking about the production problem behind duet narration, what audiobooks could learn from audio drama, and the small changes that could make these performances feel FAR more connected. I’m also asking what happens when the cheapest answer to the growing demand for multiple voices becomes AI. Duet narration does not just need two voices. It needs two people who so...

Send us Fan Mail If you're in this industry long enough, you'll get THAT book. That one that challenges your tongue and breath control, the one that didn't get the full editor pass, or the one where the characters and you just don't seem to click.  And I get it. It's hard to get passed. So in this episode we chat about ways to dig in deeper, shift your mindset and do the d...

Audiobooks are more popular than ever and that means that companies are going to compete to keep the consumer attention on THEIR platform. What does that have to do with us? A lot.  In this episode we deep dive into my predictions about the future of audiobook consumerism, the reasoning behind the current shift into streaming, and what we can do to make sure our names are at the top of future go t...

In today's internet landscape, just "Ignoring bad reviews" isn't a viable solution to engaging and building your community and brand online. So, what do we do? How do we wade through the trolls and criticism to create our online presence and be seen as the competent and compassionate audiobook professionals we are?  In this episode, I break down some steps we can take to protec...

My social media feed has been filled with narrators showing off their deepest, growliest, most rumbling male voices. Some of them sound incredible. Buuuuuuut there’s a difference between a voice that sounds impressive for 30 seconds and a voice you can sustain through a ten-book series. In this episode, we’re talking about the anatomy behind your voice, the warning signs of vocal strain, and give...

Feeling like everyone all of a suddenly took a masterclass in Canva while you slept?  Same. This week, I’m talking about the comparison trap, creative block, scarcity mindset, and what happens when watching everyone else succeed starts robbing you of your own momentum. From turning envy into useful information to creating a “proof file” for the days your brain conveniently forgets every accomplish...

his week, I’m talking about queer romance in all it's history, subtext-y, glory. We cover the stories that had to be coded for generations, and the ways those roots still show up in the books we’re narrating today. From sapphic romance and power dynamics to acceptance, vulnerability, and the desire to be truly seen, we’re diving into some of the emotional undercurrents that can make queer sto...

Ladies… have you ever noticed your voice feels a little strained, tired, swollen, emotionally overworked, carrying things it technically shouldn’t have to carry? Weird how that happens. 🙂 But truly. This episode is definitely about estrogen. And definitely not about the exhausting reality so many women in romance audio have been privately navigating for years. So grab a heating pad, a cup of coff...

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,...

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 t...

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 regulat...

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...

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 thi...

If you’ve been told that breaking into audiobook narration is as simple as reading in a closet, making a sample, and hopping on auditions… we need to talk. Because that advice isn’t wrong. It’s just incomplete. In this episode, I’m unpacking why so much of the guidance floating around this industry feels stale and why following it step-by-step might actually be what’s keeping you stuck. The landsc...

What’s trending in audiobooks right now?  Apparently… not prepping. In this episode, I’m digging into the growing conversation around “no prep” narration and why I don’t buy it. We’re talking about the difference between an actor being surprised and a character being surprised, the trust between narrator and listener, and why going in blind might actually be doing your performance a disservice. I...

You know what’s trending in audiobooks right now? Not being a storyteller. Or at least not sounding like one. I’m talking about where audiobook narration started, what we were trained to prioritize, and why listeners today are craving something way more grounded and real. Less performance, more presence. Listen to find out how to actually do that behind the mic. Want to keep in touch? Me, too!  Br...