Behind the Mic With Kirkus Reviews

Golden Voice Grover Gardner surely had fun narrating this rollicking adventure. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minksoff discuss how Gardner doesn’t miss a beat and is spot-on narrating the Texan protagonist aligned with the French, German, British, and North African characters who inhabit the fantastical Kingdom of Mur. The hero, Lincoln Smith, finds the turn of the twentieth century too modern...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Rachel Kushner’s essays, which she narrates with an assured and practiced voice. An admired novelist, she’s a fine storyteller who uses pace well, and gives life to the many real-life characters who fill this audiobook. The collection includes personal profiles, creative nonfiction, literary analysis, and an ongoing immersion into herself. She als...

Narrator Cindy Kay performs Kikuko Tsumura’s deceptively titled work with a fine sense of pacing and an understated affect. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss her precise narration and the warmth in her voice that grounds the unnamed narrator’s sometimes fantastic experiences. She doesn’t want to work too hard, but in the jobs she finds, she does remarkable things, makes discoverie...

Susan Vinciotti Bonito gives Jhumpa Lahiri’s introspective, fragmented fiction—written in Italian and translated into English by the author—a delicate, poignant narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Bonito’s narration that uses a deliberate pace and inquiring tone that suits the internal monologue style, capturing the loneliness of the author’s voice. In this story written...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Alan Minskoff discuss Golden Voice narrator Edoardo Ballerini’s masterful performance of Jonathan Evison’s LEGENDS OF THE NORTH CASCADES. His clear and evocative delivery of the novel works splendidly for this story that exists on several planes. The inner and outer lives of an Iraq War vet and former star football player comprise one plane, and the other focuses on a...

In today’s bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Soneela Nankani, who was named one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators this June. Hear how Soneela’s training in acting and her family’s storytelling traditions have influenced her narration work, what surprised her about narrating audiobooks, and the fun of collaborating with other narrators in multicast projects. Soneela...

Narrator Natalie Naudus brings a quiet intensity to Casey McQuiston’s genre-crossing audiobook featuring August, a prickly loner who tries to lose herself in New York City but instead finds purpose, community, and an unconventional romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this bestseller that Naudus narrates with an immersive and utterly beguiling performance, the perfect fit f...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly talk about the lively and fun full-cast production that brings Varian Johnson’s Eisner-nominated middle-grade graphic novel to life. Maureen and Francine are Black twin sisters forever being mistaken for one another until they start middle school and outgoing Francine, voiced with confidence by Grace Capeless, decides to run for class president. But the...

How better to communicate this vital history of racism in America to young readers than to have the audiobook narrated by a peer? Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this STAMPED adaptation by Sonja Cherry-Paul, narrated by 9-year-old Pe’Tehn Raighn-Kem Jackson with a lively and engaging voice that appeals to younger listeners. Her voice and delivery are unmistakably that of a kid,...

Golden Voice narrator Bahni Turpin’s versatile narration pulls together the many threads in Nicole Glover’s debut novel, a heady mix of historical fantasy, magic, and mystery set in Reconstruction-era Philadelphia. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Bahni’s many skills used to bring this audiobook to life -- and so many other memorable listens. Hetty and Benjy Rhodes, once conduct...

Golden Voice narrator Julia Whelan’s immersive narration and Emily Henry’s rich prose draw listeners into this slow-burn romance. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss Julia’s many narrating talents at play in this audiobook. Poppy is uninspired by her work as a travel writer and missing Alex, her best friend, after a falling out. She texts to see if he’ll revive their summer trip tr...

In today’s special bonus edition of Behind the Mic, host Jo Reed interviews Michael Crouch, who was inducted as one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voice narrators this June. Michael discusses his entry into audiobook narration, the joys of narrating audiobooks for listeners of all ages, and what he finds most special about the profession. Michael Crouch has versatility and impressive skills with bring...

Golden Voice Barbara Rosenblat brings her inimitable vocal energy and joy to every project, and this crisp production with original music is no exception. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss this fairy tale that stars the fairies of SLEEPING BEAUTY,, with Rosenblat going full New Yorker for the good fairy Hazel and dripping with evil for the bad fairy Tormaleen. A curse is cast, a ha...

Hear the remarkable story of Katherine Johnson, one of the brilliant NASA mathematicians who made the Mercury program a success, brought to life through Golden Voice Robin Miles’s skilled narration. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Miles’s engaging narration style, capturing the wonder, triumph, and grit of the author. Johnson tells her own inspiring life story, including her batt...

Narrator Dion Graham conveys the dreamy quality of Milo’s imaginings, along with a weighty message, in his captivating delivery of this thoughtful children’s story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Graham’s skill and evident fun in bringing this picture book adaptation to life. Milo imagines and sketches the stories of passengers he sees on the subway, but soon realizes the conclu...

Narrator Emily Woo Zeller skillfully steers the dramatic plot of Susie Yang’s audiobook. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb discuss Golden Voice narrator Zeller’s skills in narrating this story full of twists. As a rebellious teen, Ivy Yang was sent to China after her mother discovered her shoplifting. Years later, back in Boston, she enters a relationship with a teenage crush, and just whe...

Narrator JD Jackson exudes the perfect jazzy style for F. Scott Fitzgerald’s short story. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Michele Cobb talk about the Golden Voice narrator’s skills at bringing this story about class and regret to life. Merlin Grainger’s entire life is a series of missed moments and frustrated hopes, punctuated by the mysterious appearances of a dazzlingly beautiful woman he dubs Caro...

AudioFile’s Robin Whitten and host Jo Reed discuss the remarkable vocal agility of narrator Michael Crouch, newly named one of AudioFile’s Golden Voice narrators. He is brilliant at helping listeners make an emotional connection with characters; he has a versatile voice, bringing stories to life with fluent accents, subtle shifts, and exceptional timing. Michael gives listeners a powerful bond wit...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss new Golden Voice narrator Soneela Nankani and her animated and lively storytelling style. Her clear connections with characters draw listeners into any story, helping listeners share all the feelings in roller-coaster romances like ACCIDENTALLY ENGAGED by Farah Heron. Her skills with accents mean audiobooks come alive with her narrations, and she...

Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss the many talents of narrator Cassandra Campbell, one of AudioFile’s 2021 Golden Voices. Cassandra does a spectacular job narrating historical fiction and is able to convey all of the pertinent details that set a story in time and place. She explores the emotional tone of each character, and her voice has a lightness about it that seems to convey h...

AudioFile is excited to announce three new Golden Voice narrators for 2021 — Cassandra Campbell, Michael Crouch, and Soneela Nankani. AudioFile’s Robin Whitten tells host Jo Reed about this lifetime achievement award that goes to the stars of the narrating universe. AudioFile has bestowed the Golden Voice prize on just 34 voice artists, including George Guidall, Bahni Turpin, Simon Vance, Edoardo...

You don’t have to be a grandparent to enjoy this brief but compelling compendium of wisdom on grandparenting. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Robin Whitten discuss this fun listen from Paula Span, a professor of journalism and author who narrates her lively guide to grandparenting with warmth. She explores issues to help ease the transition into grandparenthood—the dilemma of what to be called as a g...

First Nations theater artist Jennifer Bobiwash captures the enthusiastic voice of first-grader Jo Jo Makoons in her lively narration of Dawn Quigley’s audiobook for young listeners. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed all the many reasons she loved listening to Jo Jo’s stories as told through Bobiwash’s expressive narration. Jo Jo is seven years old, proudly Ojibwe, and growing up with h...

Dual narrators bring reverence and joy to Floyd Cooper’s audiobook about the June 19 anniversary known as Juneteenth. Host Jo Reed and AudioFile’s Emily Connelly discuss this audio adaptation of the much-loved picture book. Tyla Collier’s youthful voice portrays Mazie, who is tired of being told “no.” Then, in Rhett Samuel Price’s deep, rich voice, Mazie’s father explains the story of their enslav...

Poet and journalist Clint Smith’s debut work of nonfiction captivates as he explores the ways that we confront and reckon with the legacy of American slavery. AudioFile’s Emily Connelly tells host Jo Reed of the power of hearing the work in Smith’s own voice, which moves with a poet’s rhythm as he takes listeners to former plantations, on historical tours, and to Angola Prison. Listeners meet thos...