This episode follows Dane Schwartz, a Richmond-based voice actor who moved from finance and corporate marketing into commercial work, corporate narration, and audiobooks. Samnang and Dane also explore fatherhood, discipline, and the mindset shift required to leave a stable career and build something new. We discuss the realities of voice acting, the emotional work behind performance, and why it takes more than a microphone to turn voiceover into a business. Key topics * In this episode, Samnang introduces Dane Schwartz, a college fraternity brother who now works as a voice actor in Richmond, Virginia, with experience in commercial reads, corporate narration, audiobooks, and sports announcing. * Dane shares how his career started in finance at Wachovia Securities, then moved into marketing for technology companies, trucking tech, video games, Snagajob, and GoHappy before he realized he was already doing voice work in practice. * He explains that voice acting is not just speaking into a mic - it is acting, which means learning to convey emotion, character, and intention without relying on visual performance. * Dane describes the mental shift required to leave corporate America and start over in his forties, especially with a wife, two daughters, and the financial realities of building a business from scratch. * He and Samnang talk about regret, authenticity, and how watching a parent decline can force a deeper reflection on what kind of life and career actually matter. * Dane shares that his dad grew up with very little, became a fighter pilot through military opportunity, and taught him to try to live with no regrets. * On the craft side, Dane explains that voice work requires both vocal warmups and emotional access, often by pulling from real memories of sadness, anger, joy, or vulnerability. * He talks about investing in coaching, equipment, software, marketing, and ongoing practice, emphasizing that voice acting is a real business, not a hobby with a cheap microphone. * Dane breaks down how he stays accountable by planning yearly, quarterly, weekly, and daily, then tracking auditions, skill development, prospecting, and business goals. * He also describes the value of an accountability group made up of other voice actors who share wins, challenges, and goals each week. * The conversation expands into improv, where Dane pushes himself out of his comfort zone through live, unscripted performance with Comedy Sports. Samnang and Dane close with a conversation about raising strong, confident girls and why parents, especially dads, matter in helping children take brave steps into their own lives. Connect with Dane Schwartz - IG: @daneschwartzvo LI: Dane Schwartz Sponsorship This season of The Modern Flow Podcast is proudly sponsored by Allora Labs. Allora Labs helps businesses turn real-world audience data into highly targeted, privacy-safe advertising audiences that can be owned, controlled, and reused across platforms like Google, Meta, LinkedIn, TikTok, YouTube, and more. Own your audience. Control the outcome. Learn more at alloralab.com. Special thanks to Danny Murawinski and Allora Labs for supporting The Modern Flow Podcast. MUSIC: INTRO: Water Flows by Robert Rothana Chan aka Angchan and Samnang Man IG: Betekaphon OUTRO: Just Love by Robert Rothana Chan aka Angchang This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit themodernflowpodcast.substack.com
