Idiosyncratic Fables

James R. Cheatham
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Leisure
  • Updated Semiweekly

Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone is worthy to be heard. Everyone is a little unique, unusual, and weird in their own way and I want this to be a space that is safe to be just that. I not only want to hear your story, but I want to give you an opportunity to share it. Whether it’s a story that’s personal to you, or if you have a story you want to read, I want you to have the freedom to share it. This is Idiosyncratic Fables.

  1. May 18

    The Fatherly Voice Behind 70+ Audiobooks: John Hopkinson

    Join us for a warm and insightful conversation with veteran audiobook narrator John Hopkinson. With over 70 titles narrated, John is beloved for his rich, resonant voice that listeners describe as a “fatherly embrace of wisdom.” A devoted dad of eight and grandpa of seven, he brings heart, depth, and authenticity to every project. In this episode, John shares his journey into narration, his preparation process inside the booth, and how he builds suspense in thrillers while delivering clarity and impact in non-fiction, biographies, and faith-based works. We explore character development, industry trends, the future of human narration in the age of AI, and what aspiring narrators and authors need to know to succeed. Whether you’re an audiobook enthusiast, writer, or someone curious about the craft behind the voices you love, this episode is packed with practical wisdom, personal stories, and a genuine love for storytelling. Tune in now and discover what it really takes to bring books to life through the power of voice. Check out John's work on his website! https://www.johnhopkinson.com Be sure to join my Discord server here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc #AudiobookNarrator #Audiobooks #Podcast #Narration #VoiceActor #AudiobookProduction #Storytelling #MysteryThriller #NonFiction #WritingCommunity #IndieAuthors #BehindTheMic #Fatherhood #BookLovers

    44 min

  2. May 14

    From Apiary to Audible: Steve Campbell on Becoming a Top Audiobook Narrator

    Join us for an inspiring conversation with award-winning SAG-AFTRA audiobook narrator Steve Campbell! With over 140 titles and 1,000+ finished hours under his belt, Steve specializes in LitRPG, Fantasy, and YA fiction. From high school performer and construction company owner to full-time narrator in just 1.5 years, Steve shares his remarkable journey, home studio secrets, character voice techniques, industry insights, and tips for aspiring narrators and authors. Whether you’re a book lover, audiobook enthusiast, or curious about the craft behind the mic, this episode is packed with stories, laughs, and actionable advice. Listen now and discover the human voice behind your favorite adventures! Where to find Steve: https://www.stevecampbellsvoice.com https://www.facebook.com/steve.campbell.1694059 https://www.instagram.com/stevecampbellvo/ https://discord.com/invite/uvkHtaNPra   Where you can find me: https://www.narratorjames.com https://www.instagram.com/narrator_james/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/narratorjames/ https://discord.com/invite/6JKxwNQQJc   #AudiobookNarrator #LitRPG #FantasyBooks #VoiceActor #Audiobooks #Podcast #Narration #SteveCampbell #BookTok #IndieAuthors #HomeStudio #VoiceOver #SAGAFRTA

    1h 2m

  3. May 13

    Cheryl Holling: Using Your Voice to Move From Fear to Hope

    In this inspiring conversation, we sit down with award-winning voice actor, podcast host, and storyteller Cheryl Holling. From her early days in radio to creating the acclaimed podcast 19Stories: From Fear to Hope during the height of the pandemic, Cheryl has dedicated her career to the power of authentic human connection through voice. We explore how she turned personal challenges into fuel for resilience, why the human voice remains irreplaceable in an AI-driven world, and the importance of storytelling for healing and hope. Cheryl also shares highlights from The Voice Kitchen, her unique show that blends great conversation with food and creativity, plus practical wisdom for voice actors, podcasters, and anyone navigating fear or transition. This episode is a heartfelt reminder that your voice matters — and that it’s always possible to move from fear to hope. Tune in for warmth, wisdom, resilience, and plenty of encouragement you can carry with you long after the episode ends. https://www.cherylholling.com https://www.instagram.com/cherylhollingvo/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/chollingvo/ https://19stories.libsyn.com https://thevoicekitchen.libsyn.com   Join my Discord community here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc   #FromFearToHope #PowerOfVoice #CherylHolling #VoiceActing #PodcastInterview #19Stories #TheVoiceKitchen #HumanVoice #Resilience #Storytelling #VoiceOverLife #WomenInMedia #AuthenticVoice #PodcastGuest #HopefulConversations #WildernessFireProductions #IdiosyncraticFables

    50 min

  4. May 11

    Melissa Gramling Interview: MM Romance Reviews, Narrators & Community

    Join us for a fun, spicy conversation with Melissa Gramling — better known as Little Lissa from the popular YouTube series The Ramblin Gramling Show! Together with narrator John Solo, Little Lissa delivers weekly recaps, hilarious banter, and candid reviews of the newest MM romance audiobook releases. In this episode, she shares how she fell in love with the genre, what makes an audiobook truly shine, her favorite (and most surprising) tropes, standout narrators, and the vibrant community that keeps her coming back for more. Whether you’re a longtime MM romance audiobook fan or just curious about diving in, this episode is packed with honest recommendations, behind-the-scenes insights, and plenty of laughs. Discover your next 5-star listen and get the inside scoop on one of the fastest-growing corners of the romance world. Don’t forget to check out The Ramblin Gramling Show on YouTube for weekly MM audiobook recaps with Melissa and John Solo. https://youtu.be/EXCqz6db5pY?si=FpgqgouI3hDxKXy_   Be sure to join my Discord community too! https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc #MMRomance #MMRomanceAudiobooks #Audiobooks #GayRomance #LGBTQRomance #RomanceAudiobooks #LittleLissa #RamblinGramlingShow #MelissaGramling #SpicyAudiobooks #RomanceTropes #BookRecs #AudiobookRecommendations #MMBooks #RomanceBooks #Bookstagram #BookTok #PodcastEpisode #RomanceCommunity

    24 min

  5. May 6

    Jocqueline Protho: Building The Audio Flow, Amplifying Black Voices, and Her Next Chapter

    In this inspiring episode of Idiosyncratic Fables, I sit down with audiobook industry trailblazer Jocqueline Protho. As the founder of The Audio Flow, award-winning producer, director, casting director, and narrator, Jocqueline has shaped the world of audio storytelling through her dedication to quality, diversity, and mentorship. From her roots in broadcast journalism and religious studies to building a company known for heartfelt Christian titles, children’s stories, and powerful multicast productions, Jocqueline shares her remarkable journey. We explore the creation of her imprints — Three One Six Audio and Nubian Audio — her passion for amplifying Black voices, and the lessons learned while mentoring the next generation of storytellers through programs like Youth in the Booth. Now stepping into an exciting new chapter after her impactful run with The Audio Flow, Jocqueline reflects on the evolution of the audiobook industry, the magic of full-cast productions, casting secrets, and what the future holds for authentic storytelling. Whether you’re an author, narrator, producer, or simply an audiobook enthusiast, this conversation is packed with wisdom, heart, and encouragement to tell your own unique stories. Join my Discord community here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc #audiobooks #audiobookproduction #NubianAudio #ThreeOneSixAudio #TheAudioFlow #BlackVoices #DiversityInPublishing #AudiobookNarrator #IndieAuthor #FullCastAudiobook #ChristianAudiobooks #Storytelling #Mentorship #Podcast #IdiosyncraticFables #AudiobookIndustry #CastingDirector #NewChapter #WildernessFireProductions

    52 min

  6. Apr 27

    “Mom Is Better”: How Sarah Kisko Turned Family Feedback into a Voice-Over Career

    From reading books aloud to her auditory-learner father as a young girl, to producing homemade book CDs for family and friends, Sarah Kisko always had a natural gift for bringing stories to life. The real turning point? When her own kids started turning off other audiobooks, declaring that “Mom was better.” That honest feedback gave her the push to go professional — all while homeschooling her family. In this episode, Calgary-based audiobook narrator and voice-over artist Sarah Kisko joins us to share her incredible journey. We explore how she developed her clear, confident, and captivating voice — expressive and energetic for fiction, calm and knowledgeable for non-fiction. Sarah opens up about the craft of narration, the realities of the booming audiobook industry, balancing recording sessions with family life, and what it’s like listening to audiobooks during long walks with her two massive Great Danes, Titan and Venom, in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies. Whether you’re an avid audiobook listener, aspiring voice actor, or simply love stories about turning passion into profession, this conversation is full of warmth, practical insights, and inspiration. Sarah's website: https://www.sarahkiskovo.com Sarah's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahkiskovo/ Check out her own books: https://www.claireoxton.ca , https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G57Y573G   Join my Discord community here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc   #MomIsBetter #AudiobookNarration #VoiceActorLife #CalgaryVO #PodcastEpisode #wildernessfireproductions #idiosyncraticfables #sarahkisko

    31 min

  7. Apr 20

    Ordinary Boy, Extraordinary Trials: The Heart Behind Timeaous Spark and the Luck Curse

    In 2023, Evan Kidwell stood up at a leadership conference and made a public promise that terrified him: he would publish his first novel by the end of 2024. No safety net. No excuses. Today on the show, debut author Evan Kidwell (writing as E.K. Kidwell) joins us to share exactly how that scary promise became the award-winning YA fantasy Timeaous Spark and the Luck Curse. Set in the breathtaking world of Mythantas, this 332-page epic follows an ordinary boy named Timeaous as he faces deadly Trials at Mythica High in a power-obsessed society that wants to break him. Think Harry Potter’s magic school colliding with the high-stakes intensity of The Hunger Games — wrapped in a heartfelt story about resilience, bullying, and finding your own kind of magic. Evan opens up about turning childhood pain into powerful fiction, the real-life leap from dreamer to published author, and what it felt like to earn a Silver Medal in the 2025 Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards for Young Adult Mythology — just two years after making that bold commitment. If you’ve ever felt like your dream was too big or too late, this conversation will light a fire under you. Whether you’re 12 or 52, Evan’s journey reminds us that courage and resilience are the real superpowers. Grab your copy of Timeaous Spark and the Luck Curse on Amazon today (search E.K. Kidwell). Follow Evan’s story and stay inspired — links in the show notes. Evan's Website: https://www.timeaousspark.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evan_kidwell_author/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565907646755 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Timeaous-Spark-Curse-K-Kidwell-ebook/dp/B0DJGYLK35   To be a guest on the show, fill out the contact form on my website: https://www.narratorjames.com To join my Discord community: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc   #IdiosyncraticFables #WildernessFireProductions #TimeaousSparkAndTheLuckCurse #EKKidwell #SilverMedalYA #MythantasChronicles #YAFantasyDebut #FromPromiseToPublished #AuthorInterview #ResilienceThroughFantasy

    46 min

  8. Apr 13

    From Stuffed Animals to Spicy Scenes: Inside the Booth with Lexi Evans

    With 130+ audiobooks narrated for USA Today & New York Times bestselling authors, Lexi brings spice, heart, and serious booth-fogging energy to every performance. We talked her wild journey from reading to stuffed animals as a kid, her insane character prep process, duet narration magic, and why she truly lives in every book. If you love romance audiobooks that make you laugh out loud, cry in traffic, or blush in public… this episode is your next listen.   To find Lexi Evans online, follow the link to her website: https://www.lexievansvoice.com To watch her perform live on TikTok, click this link: https://www.tiktok.com/@lexi_evans_voice   To join my Discord server for behind the scenes content and live narration, click here: https://discord.gg/6JKxwNQQJc

    59 min
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About

Everyone has a story to tell. Everyone is worthy to be heard. Everyone is a little unique, unusual, and weird in their own way and I want this to be a space that is safe to be just that. I not only want to hear your story, but I want to give you an opportunity to share it. Whether it’s a story that’s personal to you, or if you have a story you want to read, I want you to have the freedom to share it. This is Idiosyncratic Fables.

Information

  • Creator
    James R. Cheatham
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright {2024} All Rights Reserved
  • Show Website
    Idiosyncratic Fables