Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Good Aural -The Audiobook Podcast

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AI use is everywhere. But what does that mean exactly? Did someone use a tool to correct grammar? Did they have it look for redundancy in their writing or did they use it to create a cover, write AND narrate their book? 

In this episode, I break down the current AI categories to know in publishing and outline ways that narrators can not just protect their performances, but their moral code, too. 

Sources and show notes

1. The Atlantic, “Is This What Comes After AI Slop?” — reporting on the disputed Daggermouth allegations, the unpublished study, Wolfe’s denial, and Simon & Schuster’s response.
2. Pozotron, “Audiobook Proofing Service” and “Script Preparation” — the company’s descriptions of its AI-assisted proofing, preparation, and pickup tools.
3. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, “Content Guidelines: Artificial Intelligence Content” — definitions and disclosure requirements for AI-generated versus AI-assisted material.
4. U.S. Copyright Office, “Copyright and Artificial Intelligence” and “Registration Guidance for Works Containing AI-Generated Material” — human-authorship and disclosure guidance.
5. ACX, “Voice Replica Beta Help for Producers” — ACX’s description of voice replicas, narrator control, compensation, and product labeling.
6. SAG-AFTRA, “No Contract, No Work Order for Audiobooks” — union restrictions concerning audiobook digital replicas and AI training.
7. National Association of Voice Actors, “Synthetic Voice/AI Rider” — contractual resource for voice actors.
8. Authors Guild, “AI-Related Model Publishing Contract Clauses” — model provisions covering AI narration, artwork, translation, and other publishing uses.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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This week, I’m talking about the production problem behind duet narration, what audiobooks could learn from audio drama, and the small changes that could make these performances feel FAR more connected. I’m also asking what happens when the cheapest answer to the growing demand for multiple voices becomes AI.

Duet narration does not just need two voices. It needs two people who sound like they are actually having the same conversation.

Show Note Sources: 

• “He Said, She Said: Why Creators and Fans Love Dual and Duet Narration” — Audible
• Interview with romance author and audio producer Lauren Blakely — AudioFile Magazine
• Soundbooth Theater FAQ
• History of GraphicAudio
• “U.S. Audiobook Sales Grew 9% in 2025, to $2.43 Billion” — Publishers Weekly
• NAVA fAIr Voices resources
• SAG-AFTRA audiobook digital-replica guidance
• Julia Whelan on audiobook economics and Audiobrary — Associated Press

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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In this bonus episode of Good Aural, we’re talking about the ACX and Audible royalty changes, why narrators are freaking out a little bit, and what this industry shift could actually mean for your career moving forward.

Because this isn’t just about percentages and payouts. It’s about the growing move toward subscription and engagement-based listening, the uncertainty surrounding royalties, and the very real fear a lot of narrators are feeling about AI and Virtual Voice entering the space.

And honestly? Some of those concerns make sense.

But this episode is not a doom spiral.

It’s a conversation about adaptation.

We talk about why AI may absolutely impact certain corners of the industry, especially lower-budget and high-volume projects, but also why human storytelling still matters deeply. Because narration is not just reading words cleanly. It’s interpretation. Trust. Emotional intelligence. Presence. Connection.

We also get into what narrators can actually do right now:
building a recognizable identity, strengthening your online presence, developing artistic taste, becoming a better collaborator, getting involved in community spaces like Audio Publishers Association and Professional Audiobook Narrators Association, and creating a career that is harder to replace because it is undeniably human.

We also touch on the uncertainty of relying heavily on ACX royalties long-term and why platforms like Chirp, Hoopla, and LibriVox are becoming part of the larger conversation.

Basically:
 the industry is changing.
 But generic is more vulnerable than humanity has ever been.

And the narrators who adapt thoughtfully now are probably the ones who are going to last.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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As audiobook narrators, we spend hours embodying fear, grief, rage, trauma, heartbreak, panic, and vulnerability in order to make stories feel real for listeners. But what happens when your nervous system starts responding to those emotions too?

This week on Good Aural, I’m talking about emotional resilience in audiobook narration. We’re talking trigger warnings, boundaries, nervous system regulation, emotional decompression, and why narrators need better conversations around mental and emotional sustainability in this industry.

Because your body doesn’t always know the difference between experiencing fear… and performing it convincingly.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Everybody keeps asking how to break into audiobooks.

Wrong question.

The real question is: what makes you impossible to replace?

In this episode of Good Aural, Brenda talks about the biggest career shift happening in audiobook narration right now and why being “generically good” is no longer enough to build a sustainable career.

The narrators getting cast consistently aren’t just selling a voice anymore. They’re selling perspective, lived experience, and expertise.

Former teachers. Nurses. Gamers. Vet techs. Therapists. Accountants. Disability advocates. Romance readers. Military veterans.

Your background is not separate from your narration career. It might actually be the thing that gets you hired.

This episode dives into:
 • Why ACX isn’t the pipeline it used to be
 • Why authority online matters more than ever
 • How to stop marketing yourself like a beginner
 • The power of niche positioning in audiobook casting
 • And how to become the obvious choice for specific kinds of books

Because publishers and authors aren’t just hiring voices anymore.

They’re hiring trust.

This is Good Aural.

A podcast where we talk about what actually makes an audiobook work, why some performances pull you in and others fall flat, and what it really takes to tell a story people feel.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Everyone says audiobook narration “takes time.”

But no one really explains what that means.

Not just the hours in the booth, but the mental load. The second-guessing. The way your day has to shift to make room for quiet, focus, and consistency. The way your energy gets pulled into the work even after you step away from the mic.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the real time commitment behind this career. What it actually looks like to record, to improve, and to sustain the work over time and why so many people feel like they’re falling behind when they’re actually right on track.

If you’ve ever thought, “Why is this taking me so long?” this one’s for you.

This is Good Aural.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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If you’ve been told that breaking into audiobook narration is as simple as reading in a closet, making a sample, and hopping on auditions… we need to talk.

Because that advice isn’t wrong. It’s just incomplete.

In this episode, I’m unpacking why so much of the guidance floating around this industry feels stale and why following it step-by-step might actually be what’s keeping you stuck. The landscape has shifted. The pipeline has changed. And the skills that get you started are not the same ones that build a sustainable career.

If you’re thinking about making the jump into audiobooks or you’re already in it and wondering why it feels harder than it should, this is your reset.

This is Good Aural.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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What’s trending in audiobooks right now?
 Apparently… not prepping.

In this episode, I’m digging into the growing conversation around “no prep” narration and why I don’t buy it. We’re talking about the difference between an actor being surprised and a character being surprised, the trust between narrator and listener, and why going in blind might actually be doing your performance a disservice.

I break down what prep really means (and no, it doesn’t have to look one specific way), why it matters even more in duet and dual narration, and how skipping it can shift the burden onto your co-narrator. We also get into the idea of authority in storytelling, and why knowing the arc doesn’t kill authenticity… it creates it.

If you’ve ever been told “just react and it’ll be more real,” this one’s for you.

⚠️ Disclaimer + Resources

I do mention AI tools in this episode as a supplement to prep, not a replacement for it. Tools like:

• Pozotron → https://www.pozotron.com
• VO Jumpstart’s Pre-Read → https://www.vojumpstart.com/pre-read

can be incredibly helpful for things like character lists, pronunciations, and quick summaries, especially on larger or more complex texts.

That said, these tools are not 100% accurate and should always be used alongside your own prep and judgment as a narrator.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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You know what’s trending in audiobooks right now? Not being a storyteller. Or at least not sounding like one. I’m talking about where audiobook narration started, what we were trained to prioritize, and why listeners today are craving something way more grounded and real. Less performance, more presence. Listen to find out how to actually do that behind the mic.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Episode 1: The Truth About Audiobook Narration (It’s Not What You Think)

If you’ve ever thought audiobook narration is just reading out loud… this is your first reframe.

In this episode of Good Aural, I break down what audiobook narration actually is—and why having a “good voice” is not what makes a performance work. We talk about the biggest misconceptions, what listeners are really responding to, and why romance, in particular, will expose the difference between sounding good and telling the truth.

Whether you’re a narrator, actor, audiobook fan, or just curious about the industry, this is where we start.

If you’re in audiobooks—or trying to be—drop a comment. I want to know where you’re at in the process.

And if this kind of breakdown is helpful, follow along. There’s a lot more coming.

#audiobooks #voiceover #voiceacting #narration #booktok #audiobooknarrator #acting #romancebooks #podcast #goodaural

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Good Aural is a podcast about what actually makes an audiobook work.

Hosted by full-time narrator Brenda Scott Wlazlo, this show pulls back the curtain on the craft behind audiobook storytelling—from performance and pacing to character work, chemistry, and the choices listeners feel but can’t always name.

With over 250 titles across romance, fantasy, and beyond, Brenda shares real-world insight from both traditional publishing and indie production, offering practical guidance for narrators, actors, and anyone curious about the industry.

Whether you’re behind the mic, casting the voice, or listening with headphones on, Good Aural is where we get honest about what it takes to tell a story people feel.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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If you're in this industry long enough, you'll get THAT book. That one that challenges your tongue and breath control, the one that didn't get the full editor pass, or the one where the characters and you just don't seem to click. 

And I get it. It's hard to get passed. So in this episode we chat about ways to dig in deeper, shift your mindset and do the dang thing. 

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Audiobooks are more popular than ever and that means that companies are going to compete to keep the consumer attention on THEIR platform. What does that have to do with us? A lot. 

In this episode we deep dive into my predictions about the future of audiobook consumerism, the reasoning behind the current shift into streaming, and what we can do to make sure our names are at the top of future go to lists. 

This one is my mark in the sand. Do you think I'm right?

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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In today's internet landscape, just "Ignoring bad reviews" isn't a viable solution to engaging and building your community and brand online. So, what do we do? How do we wade through the trolls and criticism to create our online presence and be seen as the competent and compassionate audiobook professionals we are? 

In this episode, I break down some steps we can take to protect our peace while noting that this is an ongoing conversation that needs more than just my voice talking about it. 

So what do you think? How would you help navigate the judgemental voices while building your career? 

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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My social media feed has been filled with narrators showing off their deepest, growliest, most rumbling male voices. Some of them sound incredible.

Buuuuuuut there’s a difference between a voice that sounds impressive for 30 seconds and a voice you can sustain through a ten-book series.

In this episode, we’re talking about the anatomy behind your voice, the warning signs of vocal strain, and give you some game changing tools that will forever be featured in your MMCs. 

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Feeling like everyone all of a suddenly took a masterclass in Canva while you slept? 

Same.

This week, I’m talking about the comparison trap, creative block, scarcity mindset, and what happens when watching everyone else succeed starts robbing you of your own momentum. From turning envy into useful information to creating a “proof file” for the days your brain conveniently forgets every accomplishment you’ve ever had, this is a conversation for anyone who’s feeling stuck, behind, or intimidated by everyone else’s polished chapter.

Let’s stop scrolling and go make something.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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his week, I’m talking about queer romance in all it's history, subtext-y, glory. We cover the stories that had to be coded for generations, and the ways those roots still show up in the books we’re narrating today.

From sapphic romance and power dynamics to acceptance, vulnerability, and the desire to be truly seen, we’re diving into some of the emotional undercurrents that can make queer stories feel different both on the page and behind the mic.

And as always, we’ll bring it back to the craft because apparently I am physically incapable of not talking about audiobook narration. :)

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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Ladies… have you ever noticed your voice feels a little strained, tired, swollen, emotionally overworked, carrying things it technically shouldn’t have to carry? Weird how that happens. 🙂

But truly. This episode is definitely about estrogen.

And definitely not about the exhausting reality so many women in romance audio have been privately navigating for years.

So grab a heating pad, a cup of coffee, and maybe a paper trail. We’re talking about what happens when collaboration stops feeling collaborative… and why more of us are finally saying the quiet parts out loud.

To the women in this industry: I see you. 

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website. 

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This week, I’m talking about the emotional side of creative work that I think a lot of artists quietly carry around but rarely say out loud.

The weird shame spiral that happens after a bad review, an awkward coaching session, a communication mistake, or a project that just didn’t go the way you hoped. The way those moments attach themselves to the work afterward until suddenly opening the planner, the inbox, or the session file feels emotionally loaded.

As audiobook narrators, our work is deeply personal. Our voices, instincts, and emotional interpretation are part of the product. And when something goes wrong, it’s very easy to start treating those moments as proof that we are failing instead of seeing them as information we can grow from.

This episode is about creative shame, avoidance, burnout, criticism, and learning how to return to the work without turning every hard moment into an identity crisis.

Want to keep in touch? Me, too! 

Brenda Reads Audiobooks Linktree

and Check out my website: Brendascottwlazlo.com

For service inquiries, use the contact me form through my website.