110 episodes

Radio personality and voiceover pro Donna Reed interviews friends in the entertainment biz inside her cozy linoleum free recording studio. Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, listen in and find out why music + media are the conversation starters. Theme song: Mark Sparrow, Song Bird Studios | Booth announcer: Joe Szymanski 

Spotlight Conversations Donna Reed

    • Arts
    • 5.0 • 8 Ratings

Radio personality and voiceover pro Donna Reed interviews friends in the entertainment biz inside her cozy linoleum free recording studio. Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, listen in and find out why music + media are the conversation starters. Theme song: Mark Sparrow, Song Bird Studios | Booth announcer: Joe Szymanski 

    The backstory of BMX Champions, skate parks and rockin' art work with City of Houston executive Sally Bradford

    The backstory of BMX Champions, skate parks and rockin' art work with City of Houston executive Sally Bradford

    Today we're talking all about cool art media and skateboard parks in North Houston with Sally Bradford,  Executive Director for the North Houston Development Corporation. Art pieces are found all around the city of Houston, and Rockstar Energy Bike Park is no exception! Sally is a continuing force behind the scenes, choosing most of the art for children's parts and skateparks - 23 public art pieces in total -  including works at Dylan Park for kids, all three airports in Htown: Hobby Airport, Ellington Field and Houston Intercontinental and more. We also discuss the USA Olympic Skateboard Team, who've recently practiced in Houston as they prepare for the Summer Olympics in Paris this summer; hosting the 2028 UCI BMX Racing World Championships and the 2024 USA BMX Lone Star Nationals April 19-20 at Rockstar Energy Park in Houston. Join us!

    About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

    Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests know media, we're talkin'! Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz; from where they started to how it's going. Join us in my swanky studio where drinks are always on ice; music + media are the conversation starters. New episodes every other Tuesday.

    Social media links, website and more here
    Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

    A very special thank you to friends who helped bring the Spotlight Conversations podcast together:
    Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
    Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

    • 22 min
    Grammy nominated songwriter Bill Lloyd of 80's country rock duo Foster and Lloyd talks songwriting, Nashville, and gigs with Ray Davies and Carl Perkins

    Grammy nominated songwriter Bill Lloyd of 80's country rock duo Foster and Lloyd talks songwriting, Nashville, and gigs with Ray Davies and Carl Perkins

    Traveling up to Nashville today to chat with consummate guitarist and songwriter Bill Lloyd of the 80's country rock duo Foster and Lloyd. Still enjoying the songwriting/session work in Music City, Bill discusses his early start into the music business with MTM (yup, the late Mary Tyler Moore's music company); meeting up with Texan Radney Foster to form Foster and Lloyd, songwriting credits with Beth Nielsen Chapman, session work with The Kinks, Carl Perkins, Ringo Starr and Cheap Trick, to his current work with legendary band The Long Players. He also talks about his new CD 'Look Into It', along with a nod to Nashville's video genius Steve Boyle (of Skid Media and 'Return to Comboland' fame) for his cool 'film noir' contribution for the CD; plus Bill's past work as curator for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and all about that special 20th Anniversary gig with the oh so popular group The Long Players. Join us!



    About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

    Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests know media, we're talkin'! Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz; from where they started to how it's going. Join us in my swanky studio where drinks are always on ice; music + media are the conversation starters. New episodes every other Tuesday.

    Social media links, website and more here
    Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

    A very special thank you to friends who helped bring the Spotlight Conversations podcast together:
    Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
    Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

    • 33 min
    Voiceover pro Dan Nachtrab talks about his career, what it takes to be a pro, and opens up about his new gig as a voice coach

    Voiceover pro Dan Nachtrab talks about his career, what it takes to be a pro, and opens up about his new gig as a voice coach

    In Portland today talking up voiceovers, the business and more with voiceover legend Dan Nachtrab. Dan talks all about how he started in the biz (in radio) to his first commercials (car dealerships) to eventually scoring gigs with Nat Geo, Discovery Channel and more! He also discusses how you can start your own voiceover business, including what you need to set up your studio, where to find training, making money and most importantly, understanding the craft and artistry of being a great voiceover talent. Plus you'll understand exactly what Dan means by bringing your own personal style and life experiences to the mic and why you create the best voiceover performance. Find out more about his voiceover coaching at his website, too. Grab your headphones now and tune in!

    About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

    Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests know media, we're talkin'! Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz; from where they started to how it's going. Join us in my swanky studio where drinks are always on ice; music + media are the conversation starters. New episodes every other Tuesday.

    Social media links, website and more here
    Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

    A very special thank you to friends who helped bring the Spotlight Conversations podcast together:
    Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
    Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

    • 39 min
    ACM Talent Manager Jeff Umberger talks voiceover careers, managing talent, and how his own acting career started it all

    ACM Talent Manager Jeff Umberger talks voiceover careers, managing talent, and how his own acting career started it all

    Fresh from his tour of VO Atlanta this month, ACM Talent Manager Jeff Umberger is in the studio to talk about his story behind the voiceover business. From his beginnings as an actor, to setting up his own talent group 'The Umberger Agency' to becoming a talent manager at ACM Talent in New York, Jeff discusses how he puts together what he calls "a partnership of careers". We also chat about the differences between commercial work and audiobooks; making the move from theatre, television and radio performance to voiceover success; what it takes to guide talent to their next achievement; safeguards for AI and your voiceover past; plus an honest vision of what the year 2044 might look like for voiceover performers! Bring along your love of all things audio and join us.

    About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

    Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests know media, we're talkin'! Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz; from where they started to how it's going. Join us in my swanky studio where drinks are always on ice; music + media are the conversation starters. New episodes every other Tuesday.

    Social media links, website and more here
    Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

    A very special thank you to friends who helped bring the Spotlight Conversations podcast together:
    Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
    Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

    • 26 min
    Film Critic and Texas radio personality T.j. Callahan talks Academy Awards, red carpet moments, and that deep fried butter recipe at Rodeo Houston

    Film Critic and Texas radio personality T.j. Callahan talks Academy Awards, red carpet moments, and that deep fried butter recipe at Rodeo Houston

    In the Houston studio today to chat with former KILT news and traffic reporter T.j. Callahan, talking about how radio life introduced her to a new side hustle as a film critic - and what a gig! T.j. explains how she scores those meetups with famous celebs on the red carpet like Oprah and Claire Foy (The Queen) from 'The Crown'; her work with the Critics Choice Association, Houston Film Critics Society, The Alliance of Women Film Journalists and more. This busy Texas Radio Hall of Famer also discusses her Academy Award picks for Best Film, Best Actor and Best Actress; the new fascination with foreign films; her love of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and the lowdown on those infamous deep fried foods - some you may be hearing about for the first time! 

    About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

    Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests know media, we're talkin'! Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz; from where they started to how it's going. Join us in my swanky studio where drinks are always on ice; music + media are the conversation starters. New episodes every other Tuesday.

    Social media links, website and more here
    Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

    A very special thank you to friends who helped bring the Spotlight Conversations podcast together:
    Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
    Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

    • 26 min
    Matt Cundill, host of the 'Sound Off Podcast' talks audiences, priorities, radio, AI and why 'riches are in the niches'

    Matt Cundill, host of the 'Sound Off Podcast' talks audiences, priorities, radio, AI and why 'riches are in the niches'

    Love these visits to Canada to interview the marketing genius - guru - wizard of all things podcasting:  Matt Cundill, host of the 'Sound Off Podcast' - the Podcast about Broadcast. We cover the whole story about podcasting, from marketing cycles, finding your audience, discoverability (my takeaway from this episode!) and why producing, hosting and marketing your podcast needs to be a top priority  to succeed. This one time radio program director who now heads up his company the 'Sound Off Media Company' discusses radio and AI, why the riches are in 'niches' and as always - finding the right audience. And as if he's not busy enough helping future podcasters become great podcasters, he's also putting together two new podcasts you gotta hear - 'Podcast Super Friends' and 'You May Also Like', which celebrates curiosity and inquisition. Oh, have I got questions for our next podcast episode. Join us!

    About the Spotlight Conversations podcast:

    Tune in as I invite friends inside my cozy linoleum free recording studio to talk about all things media - radio, television, music, film, voiceovers, audiobooks, publishing - if guests know media, we're talkin'! Unscripted and nearly always entertaining, each guest gets real about their careers in the entertainment biz; from where they started to how it's going. Join us in my swanky studio where drinks are always on ice; music + media are the conversation starters. New episodes every other Tuesday.

    Social media links, website and more here
    Follow and subscribe to my podcast here

    A very special thank you to friends who helped bring the Spotlight Conversations podcast together:
    Booth Announcer: Joe Szymanski ('Joe The Voice Guy')
    Theme Song Composer: Mark Sparrow, SongBird Studios

    • 39 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
8 Ratings

8 Ratings

BillJordanVO ,

Donna’s a natural…..

I was honored to be invited to join Donna on “Spotlight Conversations”.
I never had the sense that I was being “interviewed”, rather we just had a conversation.
Donna truly “listens” and asks stellar followups to move things along.
Our 30 minutes flew by, but with a lot packed into them.
I had a blast.
Thanks, Donna!

Jeff Kinzbach ,

You'll Love Donna's Podcasts!

Donna is awesome. We could have talked to her all day. She's done some great interviews and I highly recommend you check them out. You're going to love them.

MikeJElliott ,

Michael Elliott

Donna is such a natural conversationalist. She is truly engaged with her subjects, making them feel completely at ease throughout the interview. I was already a fan of the podcast and was honored to be a guest. Looking forward to the next one!

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