How Audio Makes Photo Memories Stick, with Geoffrey Stern, VoiceGift

Have an idea or tip? Send us a text! What if your photo books could talk back? Not with another app or QR code maze, but with a small, tactile device that lets you record and play stories, songs, and memories at the press of a button. The Dead Pixels Society sits down with Geoffrey Stern, the founder of Voice Gift and the longtime audio mind behind Build‑A‑Bear’s wildly successful “sounds,” to unpack how voice transforms printed images into living experiences—and why that shift boosts both emotion and sales. Stern explains the psychology behind audio as a memory trigger and the practical reasons customers finish purchases when they add their own voice: ownership deepens, abandonment drops, and the keepsake becomes personal. He discusses VoiceGift Play, a $59 handheld recorder that ties numbered audio tracks to photo pages, framed prints, wedding albums, travel books, and recipe collections—no apps, Wi‑Fi, or screens required. With 10 hours of storage, USB‑C backup, and standard MP3 files, it’s simple to share recordings across multiple copies or import music like a wedding playlist to soundtrack an album. There’s also a kids’ version with pictograms and stickers that turns storytime into an interactive, confidence‑building ritual, and accessibility use cases ranging from braille overlays to guided routines for dementia care. Along the way, we talk about the shift from digital overload to analog delight, the “don’t add steps” mantra for photo retailers, and how self‑playing audio breathes new life into printed products without complicating production. From Build‑A‑Bear’s immersive retail lessons to practical upsells for photo labs and online platforms, this conveMediaclip Mediaclip strives to continuously enhance the user experience while dramatically increasing revenue. Buzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched! Start for FREE Visual 1st Visual 1st is the premier global conference focused on the photo and video ecosystem. Independent Photo Imagers IPI is a member + trade association and a cooperative buying group in the photo + print industry. Photo Imaging CONNECT The Photo Imaging CONNECT conference, March 1-2, 2026, at the RIO Hotel and Resort in Las Vegas, N Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Support the show Sign up for the Dead Pixels Society newsletter at http://bit.ly/DeadPixelsSignUp. Contact us at gary@thedeadpixelssociety.com Visit our LinkedIn group, Photo/Digital Imaging Network, and Facebook group, The Dead Pixels Society. Leave a review on Apple and Podchaser. Are you interested in being a guest? Click here for details. Hosted and produced by Gary Pageau Edited by Olivia Pageau Announcer: Erin Manning