VC Radio
Voice Coaches Radio – #666 – Dr Shirley Leads The Way
Voice coaches, radio, everything. Voiceover. Oh, hey there. Did you miss me? Uh, where is that Noisemaker? You know, I, Hmm, you know what? I'll just do it myself. Uh, happy New Year. Uh, my name is Marissa. Welcome back to a brand new episode, the, the very first of 2025 when it comes to voice Coaches radio. And, uh, I hope that you're, you're feeling good as we get into this new year.
Uh, I had the opportunity. To, to chat with Dr. Shirley, who is, uh, one of our former students right before the holiday season, and I wanted to make sure that. You got to hear what she had to say. So that is what we're gonna do today and uh, I hope you're ready. 'cause she had a whole lot going on and, uh, you know, kind of inspiring too to see just how much somebody can have on their plate and, and just not know exactly how to get everything rolling.
Uh, so I gave her some advice, but you'll, you'll see. So, uh, go ahead and take a listen to my conversation here with Dr. Shirley. Um, I'm, I've been doing this for years. It's like a hobby. It's become a hobby for me. But, you know, we always wanted to get paid on some level, but, you know, maybe payment are coming in another way, in another form.
Um, I, I'm, I'm 64 years old, but in high school I was trained in, um, the school, um, radio station. Okay. All right. I got the radio background too, so I get that. Yeah. And I was too shy to, to get on the radio. I wasn't, I wasn't like I am now. I mean, I had a little bit of extrovert. Stuff going on because I was a cheerleader, but then there was a side, a quiet side of me.
I'm like, I don't know if I wanna do this, uh, all the time. Listen, you're, you're talking to the one person that's completely going to understand that because like, you know, I, I've talked about it on our podcast before. It's like sometimes what you really need to do is you need to push yourself outside your comfort zone, right?
Because. I mean, I was like hiding behind my mom when I was 20, you know what I mean? So like, I was just a, I was a scared kid, but like, but I loved entertaining. At the same time, it was like a really weird combo. It was just a matter of allowing myself, just the freedom to just do you know? And so I get it.
You know, I'm really, really very sensitive to wine. So I would have wine a little bit and then, uh, loosen up my lips and then I was, you, you just wind her up. And then I'd go, here we go. We got Shirley telling us the real tricks. It's just get a little tipsy and then, uh, get in front of the microphone and see what happens.
Now I'm on, um, oh, matcha. Matcha does it for me. Okay, so you, so you've had this bug in you for a while? Um Oh, oh yeah. After kids and everything and, um. Life didn't work out. I was a single parent. I was a bus driver with a college degree, and I had, um, a nonprofit. And I, I, I was working as a, um, a, a producer director of a show that I did for 10 years.
And so I met this lady named Debbie, who changed my life, and she's like, just sit in front of the camera and just introduce, you know, serve New England. Uh, used to be, it was, it was an offshoot of Mother Teresa's Cher. And, um, I'm, I'm, I'm writing everything down 'cause I was so meticulous and I'm looking up for the Calvin down like this.
And when I saw myself, you know, on public access, I'm like, oh my God, that was such a botched job. And I called them, I'm like, I'm like, how do I get over this? They said, well, we do have free classes, even non-profit. I'm like. Freeze Good, freeze. Good. So I went and it just became natural to me. And, and then she said, you know, you know what will really help if you knew about editing and, and everything else, and this was the analog studio before everything was digital.
So, I mean, are you talking about like cut and tape and stuff? Yeah, everything. I can do all that. Like that's that one before me. But still, I remember hearing all the horror stories and you know, people top their fingers and whatever else, and trying to splice things together with like minutes to seconds to spare, like, yeah.
That was after that. That was after that. This was more like, uh, you know, they, they had the three quarter tapes. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you would bring in a cd o opening and, um, I just really got into it and I, it was more like this was fun. And you know what, it seems like you've done quite a bit of stuff, obviously, so you've gotta tell me, what did it take for you to go ahead and then hang out with us?
Started a person named Tom. Mm-hmm. You know, helped me and, uh, and then we set up some time at Northgate Studios, which is not too far from where I live. Um, it's, it's more, uh, north of me. Uh, this Bedford, Massachusetts, I just fell in love with. Um. After the demo, I'm like, well, gee, I have to come back to this place and do some of my stuff, do audio books.
I wanted, I had fun. I didn't wanna leave. How are we gonna get you to go ahead and start doing some stuff and getting paid? Like what's the first steps that you're taking right now? Oh, that's why I'm here. I have my own book. I'm gonna show you. Where is it? It's underneath my computer. I need to, I need to do this on audiobook, but I wanna be very professional about it and do some books come from there.
And I'm a write, I'm a screenwriter, so there's things I wanna do, but it's always that where's the money? Where's the money to invest? So I, I pretty much developed my own LLC. It's called Dr. Shirley Multimedia and investment, um, marketing consultants. Um, yeah, well, I think, you know, it's, it's all about having that plan of action.
Like, I mean, yeah, you, you've already had a little bit of one here by getting the LLC underway and like, not everybody has to do that. Never, not everybody wants to do that. Um, but you've got, you've got some big aspirations, got a lot of things that you wanna do, and a lot of creativity and wheels in motion.
So I think, like, you know, if, if I'm gonna give you any advice in this moment, it's like, mm-hmm. Taking a second, getting out a piece of paper and a pen. Yes. And, and starting to create that step by step plan for yourself. And it can be little steps, right? You know, some, sometimes it's like, you've got too much going on in life, but if I can accomplish just this little tiny task today, yes.
Then I can do a bigger one tomorrow and then a bigger one the next day. You know? And, and sometimes too, it's, it's about like shaking hands and kissing babies, right? You gotta go ahead and like, make sure that people know who you are, what you're doing, what you wanna do, and what your, you know, goals are.
And. What you wanna accomplish. Um, you know, but the only way they're gonna know it is if you tell them. Uh, and that way they can be a part of it and, you know, maybe they can point you in the right direction or, or whatever. But, um, you know, I think, you know, first things first is like making sure that you know.
What you wanna do, like set out that roadmap for yourself so you can start, you know, checking some things off. It can be daunting to start that task, but hey, you've already done the hard part, which was going through the program, developing the skill, and taking everything that you've done in your lifetime to get to here.
You know? Yeah. So. So what's one more bridge? You know, I, I wish you the absolute best. We're about to be, you know, getting into this new year and everything and, um, you know, the, the best thing is that, uh, it's a, it's like a blank slate. You know, you can go ahead and fill it up with whatever you'd like. And anytime that you need us, you know, we're just a phone call or an email away.
Okay? Alright. Thank you. I'm glad that you could hang out with me for a few here on the podcast. We have a brand new episode coming at you next week. And stay safe. Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
Uh, I had the opportunity. To, to chat with Dr. Shirley, who is, uh, one of our former students right before the holiday season, and I wanted to make sure that. You got to hear what she had to say. So that is what we're gonna do today and uh, I hope you're ready. 'cause she had a whole lot going on and, uh, you know, kind of inspiring too to see just how much somebody can have on their plate and, and just not know exactly how to get everything rolling.
Uh, so I gave her some advice, but you'll, you'll see. So, uh, go ahead and take a listen to my conversation here with Dr. Shirley. Um, I'm, I've been doing this for years. It's like a hobby. It's become a hobby for me. But, you know, we always wanted to get paid on some level, but, you know, maybe payment are coming in another way, in another form.
Um, I, I'm, I'm 64 years old, but in high school I was trained in, um, the school, um, radio station. Okay. All right. I got the radio background too, so I get that. Yeah. And I was too shy to, to get on the radio. I wasn't, I wasn't like I am now. I mean, I had a little bit of extrovert. Stuff going on because I was a cheerleader, but then there was a side, a quiet side of me.
I'm like, I don't know if I wanna do this, uh, all the time. Listen, you're, you're talking to the one person that's completely going to understand that because like, you know, I, I've talked about it on our podcast before. It's like sometimes what you really need to do is you need to push yourself outside your comfort zone, right?
Because. I mean, I was like hiding behind my mom when I was 20, you know what I mean? So like, I was just a, I was a scared kid, but like, but I loved entertaining. At the same time, it was like a really weird combo. It was just a matter of allowing myself, just the freedom to just do you know? And so I get it.
You know, I'm really, really very sensitive to wine. So I would have wine a little bit and then, uh, loosen up my lips and then I was, you, you just wind her up. And then I'd go, here we go. We got Shirley telling us the real tricks. It's just get a little tipsy and then, uh, get in front of the microphone and see what happens.
Now I'm on, um, oh, matcha. Matcha does it for me. Okay, so you, so you've had this bug in you for a while? Um Oh, oh yeah. After kids and everything and, um. Life didn't work out. I was a single parent. I was a bus driver with a college degree, and I had, um, a nonprofit. And I, I, I was working as a, um, a, a producer director of a show that I did for 10 years.
And so I met this lady named Debbie, who changed my life, and she's like, just sit in front of the camera and just introduce, you know, serve New England. Uh, used to be, it was, it was an offshoot of Mother Teresa's Cher. And, um, I'm, I'm, I'm writing everything down 'cause I was so meticulous and I'm looking up for the Calvin down like this.
And when I saw myself, you know, on public access, I'm like, oh my God, that was such a botched job. And I called them, I'm like, I'm like, how do I get over this? They said, well, we do have free classes, even non-profit. I'm like. Freeze Good, freeze. Good. So I went and it just became natural to me. And, and then she said, you know, you know what will really help if you knew about editing and, and everything else, and this was the analog studio before everything was digital.
So, I mean, are you talking about like cut and tape and stuff? Yeah, everything. I can do all that. Like that's that one before me. But still, I remember hearing all the horror stories and you know, people top their fingers and whatever else, and trying to splice things together with like minutes to seconds to spare, like, yeah.
That was after that. That was after that. This was more like, uh, you know, they, they had the three quarter tapes. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you would bring in a cd o opening and, um, I just really got into it and I, it was more like this was fun. And you know what, it seems like you've done quite a bit of stuff, obviously, so you've gotta tell me, what did it take for you to go ahead and then hang out with us?
Started a person named Tom. Mm-hmm. You know, helped me and, uh, and then we set up some time at Northgate Studios, which is not too far from where I live. Um, it's, it's more, uh, north of me. Uh, this Bedford, Massachusetts, I just fell in love with. Um. After the demo, I'm like, well, gee, I have to come back to this place and do some of my stuff, do audio books.
I wanted, I had fun. I didn't wanna leave. How are we gonna get you to go ahead and start doing some stuff and getting paid? Like what's the first steps that you're taking right now? Oh, that's why I'm here. I have my own book. I'm gonna show you. Where is it? It's underneath my computer. I need to, I need to do this on audiobook, but I wanna be very professional about it and do some books come from there.
And I'm a write, I'm a screenwriter, so there's things I wanna do, but it's always that where's the money? Where's the money to invest? So I, I pretty much developed my own LLC. It's called Dr. Shirley Multimedia and investment, um, marketing consultants. Um, yeah, well, I think, you know, it's, it's all about having that plan of action.
Like, I mean, yeah, you, you've already had a little bit of one here by getting the LLC underway and like, not everybody has to do that. Never, not everybody wants to do that. Um, but you've got, you've got some big aspirations, got a lot of things that you wanna do, and a lot of creativity and wheels in motion.
So I think, like, you know, if, if I'm gonna give you any advice in this moment, it's like, mm-hmm. Taking a second, getting out a piece of paper and a pen. Yes. And, and starting to create that step by step plan for yourself. And it can be little steps, right? You know, some, sometimes it's like, you've got too much going on in life, but if I can accomplish just this little tiny task today, yes.
Then I can do a bigger one tomorrow and then a bigger one the next day. You know? And, and sometimes too, it's, it's about like shaking hands and kissing babies, right? You gotta go ahead and like, make sure that people know who you are, what you're doing, what you wanna do, and what your, you know, goals are.
And. What you wanna accomplish. Um, you know, but the only way they're gonna know it is if you tell them. Uh, and that way they can be a part of it and, you know, maybe they can point you in the right direction or, or whatever. But, um, you know, I think, you know, first things first is like making sure that you know.
What you wanna do, like set out that roadmap for yourself so you can start, you know, checking some things off. It can be daunting to start that task, but hey, you've already done the hard part, which was going through the program, developing the skill, and taking everything that you've done in your lifetime to get to here.
You know? Yeah. So. So what's one more bridge? You know, I, I wish you the absolute best. We're about to be, you know, getting into this new year and everything and, um, you know, the, the best thing is that, uh, it's a, it's like a blank slate. You know, you can go ahead and fill it up with whatever you'd like. And anytime that you need us, you know, we're just a phone call or an email away.
Okay? Alright. Thank you. I'm glad that you could hang out with me for a few here on the podcast. We have a brand new episode coming at you next week. And stay safe. Visit voice coaches.com for more voiceover news and information.
This week on Voice Coaches Radio Marissa chats with former student Dr. Shirley! She’s had her hands in a lot of avenues within the industry for years…but how do we keep her going and now getting better and getting paid?
