Podcast Summary: Everyday VOpreneur® with Marc Scott

Episode Title: Why Your Audition Isn't Booking; Insights from Casting Pro Mary Lynn Wissner
Date: October 9, 2025
Host: Marc Scott
Guest: Mary Lynn Wissner (Casting Director, Coach – Voices Voicecasting, The VO Pros)

Overview

In this episode, Marc Scott welcomes veteran casting director Mary Lynn Wissner for an insightful discussion about commercial voiceover casting in 2025. They deep-dive into why auditions may not book, how trends have changed, the nuances of conversational reads, and actionable strategies for improving self-directed auditions. Mary Lynn leverages over 35 years of casting experience to reveal what really makes talent stand out—plus her take on AI, “the pretty voice problem,” and how actors can keep up with the ever-evolving industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Mary Lynn’s Journey into Casting (02:47–08:38)

• Not a childhood dream: Mary Lynn originally wanted to be a Broadway performer and then a reporter.
• Industry roots: Grew up in LA with a father in TV production; did commercial acting as a teen.
• Entry to VO world: Hired as an assistant agent at Don Pitts, a major player in early VO representation. Learned by directing legends like Orson Welles and Casey Kasem as a young adult (05:36).
  • Quote: “Don was so chill... he used to just say, ‘Yeah, go direct Orson Welles there in the booth.’” (05:36, M.L. Wissner)
• Moved into casting: Didn’t enjoy being an agent; found her calling at The Voicecaster and ultimately started her own company, Voices Voicecasting, in 1990.

What Does a Casting Director Really Do? (08:38–13:57)

• Role explained: Hired by ad agencies or production companies to find “the right voice,” reaching out to both agents and unrepresented talent, including students.
• Selection process:
  • Receives anywhere from 200–500+ auditions per job.
  • Curates submissions based on specs, narrows down from 500 to 50, then to 25, then submits to clients.
  • Level of influence varies; sometimes picks the winner, often acts as “gatekeeper.”
• Industry changes: The net has widened beyond LA/NY, but Mary Lynn values curation over mass submissions.

Memorable Casting Experiences (13:57–17:10)

• Cites emotional projects like History Channel’s “The Color of War” (casting Peter Coyote as narrator, diverse WWII voices) and the award-winning Chevron talking cars spots, for which she recruited people “in the wild” at the mall.
  • Quote: “They said, we want you to go out in the wilds and find people... I would go to the mall and just say, ‘If your car could talk, tell me what it would say.’” (15:00, M.L. Wissner)

Industry Trends: What’s Booking in 2025? (17:23–25:29)

• Conversational, but contemporary. Real, authentic, sometimes slightly cynical or snarky voices remain in demand, but the flavor is shifting.
  • Quote: “2015 conversational is not 2025 conversational.” (09:09, M. Scott; 19:27, M.L. Wissner)
• Awareness of pop culture and social media is vital; current speech patterns (influencer, TikTok, faster, less enunciated, lots of gesticulation) affect reads.
  • Quote: “Conversational now is dictated on the way our platforms out there, social media, television... the vernacular, the things that are going on.” (20:11, M.L. Wissner)
• User-Generated Content (UGC) and influencer reads affect commercial style, especially for youth-oriented brands.
  • Gestures, physicality, and authenticity increasingly shape voiceover delivery.
  • Quote: “Try a spot... just the regular way, and then try one where you’re doing all this [gesticulating]. It seems like overkill, but you will hear the difference.” (24:08, M.L. Wissner)

Social Media Metrics & Casting (25:29–26:39)

• Not currently a deciding factor in commercial VO casting; occasionally in animation or video games for cross-promotion.
• The earlier trend for requesting follower counts has faded.

What Makes an Audition Stand Out? (27:18–31:16)

• Mary Lynn’s Process:
  • First pass: Only listens to first line, sometimes two.
  • What stands out: Not a beautiful voice, but a compelling, natural intro that feels like “talking to me, not reading.”
  • Common pitfall: The “hard start” – hitting the first syllables hard (“Did you know…”), clearly reading, not engaging.
• Quote: “Remember, you all sound the same to me because you fit the specs... what makes me lean in is when they take that first line and they pull me, the bored, jaded casting director, into the read. Because they’re talking to me, not reading to me.” (28:19, M.L. Wissner)

The Importance of "Pre-Life" and Acting (32:02–39:01)

• Don’t fall in love with your voice: Most audition failures stem from focusing on vocal quality over acting.
• Pre-life: Create the reality behind the words—who are you, where are you, why do you say the first line?
  • Even for copy starting with “Introducing…” you need to invent a scene/reason, just like on-camera acting.
  • Quote: “Stop falling in love with your voice. You’re already in voiceover because you have a great voice… Now let’s focus on the acting.” (32:02, M.L. Wissner)
• Suggests taking on-camera commercial classes to strengthen acting skills for VO.

Interpreting Copy, Self-direction, and Audition Psychology (39:01–45:14)

• Self-direction tips:
  • Break down specs, even wordy ones, to basic archetypes (“Ryan Reynolds type = snarky guy”).
  • Develop personal triggers or reference points for each core commercial style.
• "Pretty voice" syndrome: Many slip into an artificial, elevated “mic voice” instead of authentic delivery.
  • Quote: “We put the headphones on and we love our voice... the biggest mistake. Because... you’re actually pitching up your voice. It masks anything unique.” (42:44, M.L. Wissner)

Overcoming Radio/Announcer Habits (45:14–46:14)

• Radio and news backgrounds can ingrain rigid VO habits; it’s a tough obstacle, but “there are tricks for that.”
• Record yourself “off-mic” and compare to when you step into the booth.

The AI Conversation (46:15–52:32)

• Current impact: Minimal in major commercial casting, but seen in non-union, government, or “utility” VO (e.g., tags, audio description).
• Emotional reads: Mary Lynn is skeptical AI can replace authentic commercial acting, at least for now.
  • Quote: “The power and drama of those kinds of spots... I don’t know how that’s going to play out.” (48:35, M.L. Wissner)
• Both guest and host express concern for the industry’s future and counsel preparedness but not panic.

Learning from Mary Lynn: Coaching & Workshops (53:10–55:19)

• Mary Lynn offers private coaching, plus group workshops as part of The VO Pros (thevopros.com).
• Classes now available via Zoom—accessible globally.
• Promises upcoming video content and is active in conferences and guest speaking.

Final Advice & Encouragement (56:56–57:23)

• Casting directors want you to book: “We’re on your side—we want you to get a booking, because then I’ll get hired again.”
• The industry is tougher but “the cream rises to the top. Stay on your game.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

• 00:00 [M.L. Wissner]: “Stop falling in love with your voice.”
• 09:09 [M. Scott]: “2015 conversational is not 2025 conversational.”
• 28:19 [M.L. Wissner]: “What makes me lean in... is when they take that first line and they pull me, the bored, jaded casting director, into the read. Because they’re talking to me, not reading to me.”
• 32:02 [M.L. Wissner]: “Stop falling in love with your voice… Now let’s focus on the acting.”
• 42:44 [M.L. Wissner]: “We put the headphones on and we love our voice... the biggest mistake. Because... you’re actually pitching up your voice. It masks anything unique.”
• 46:15 [M. Scott]: “I need to secretly record myself while I’m sitting on the couch doing it. Because the read on the couch is always so much better than the read when I ultimately get in.”

Timestamps: Important Segments

| Section | Topic | Timestamp | |------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------|--------------------| | Mary Lynn’s Story | Breaking in, early days, starting her company | 02:47–08:38 | | Casting Director’s Process | What the job entails, relationships, submissions | 08:38–13:57 | | Memorable Castings | “Color of War”, Chevron spots | 13:57–17:10 | | Trends & “Conversational” | 2025 industry trends and style shift | 17:23–25:29 | | Social Media & UGC | Metrics in casting, influence of social reads | 25:29–26:39 | | What Books & Why | How Mary Lynn listens, what stands out | 27:18–31:16 | | Pre-life & Acting Focus | Creating reality, acting trumps “voice” | 32:02–39:01 | | Self-direction | Tips, triggers, overcoming “pretty voice” | 39:01–45:14 | | The AI Question | Threats, limitations, real-life impact | 46:15–52:32 | | Coaching & Opportunities | How to learn from/connect with Mary Lynn | 53:10–55:19 | | Closing Encouragement | Industry pep talk, “cream rises to the top” | 56:56–57:23 |

Summary/TL;DR

Booking commercials in today’s market is about realness, not just a great voice. Mary Lynn Wissner demystifies the casting process: she listens for authenticity, acting, and something different—in the first line of your audition. The “conversational” trend has evolved and is shaped by pop culture and social platforms. The best way to level up: focus on acting, develop pre-life for your reads, and practice self-direction techniques. While AI isn’t eating the big-brand VO world—yet—talent can stay competitive by staying current and making bold, real choices every time they hit “record”.

Key actionable advice:

• Don’t lead with the “pretty” voice.
• Create a reason and a scene for every read—acting matters.
• Be aware of current speech trends—TikTok, influencer, and UGC styles.
• Learn to take risks in your first line—make the casting director want to listen to more.
• Coaching and ongoing study are essential—work with experts like Mary Lynn and never stop learning.

For more from Mary Lynn or to train with her:

• Voices Voicecasting: voicesvoicecasting.com
• The VO Pros: thevopros.com