149 - Melissa Mirren Interview

In this episode of The Mike Lenz VO Podcast, I sit down with the incredibly versatile Melissa Mirren, a professional voice actor with over eight years of experience spanning commercials, corporate narration, e-learning, animation, and video games. Melissa shares her path from childhood performances and college theater to a multifaceted voiceover career shaped by persistence, creativity, and personal transformation. A former therapeutic recreation specialist and motivational speaker, Melissa brings a unique blend of heart and hustle to the VO world. We dive deep into her early days booking work through agencies, platforms, and direct clients; the evolution of her career from commercial reads to character-driven animation; overcoming major life challenges—including a vocal surgery, a ski injury, and a period of caregiving during her children's health crises; her return to full-time voice work in 2023 with renewed purpose and momentum We also talk about her fast-growing presence on TikTok, where she showcases her character work through creative dubs and voiceover sketches—plus her upcoming plans for community engagement and collaborative projects. In this episode, you'll learn: how to pivot your VO niche and embrace versatility; strategies for recovering professionally and vocally from setbacks; the role of resilience and real-life experience in shaping your creative voice; tips on editing, syncing, and refining character reads for social media success. Melissa’s story is a moving reminder that your creative journey doesn’t have to be linear—and that sometimes the detours shape your most compelling work. Listen now on your favorite podcast platform, and connect with Melissa at @melissamiranvo on TikTok or melissamirren.com. Check out more episodes over at: https://mikelenzvopodcast.com/ Voice 123 15% Discount Code link:  https://bit.ly/3BsPSaw