In today’s episode, I’ll tell you what I’ve been up to in October 2020 and introduce you to my online course, which is called Pronounce Drug Names Like a Pro.   Mentioned in this episode Pronounce Drug Names Like a Pro Online Course National Podcast Post Month  The Business of Pharmacy Podcast  Debbie Irwin, Voice Actor and Medical Narration Coach Highlights from this episode I created an online course called Pronounce Drug Names Like a Pro.  The focus of the course is pronouncing generic drug names.  I also cover brand names briefly too.   I will be promoting the course on the podcast during the month of November.  How am I going to do that?  I accepted the challenge to publish one podcast per day in the month of November.  It’s a challenge called “NaPodPomo.”  It stands for National Podcast Post Month.  (November is National Podcast Podcast month.)  Most of the episodes will be short and explain more about the course:  the problems the course solves, who I created it for, and maybe even share some special guest appearances from some of my students!  Mike Koelzer from The Business of Pharmacy Podcast interviewed me on his podcast, and that episode came out on Monday, October 26.  Visit www.bizofpharmpod.com, pick your favorite podcast platform, and listen to our interview!  Thank you again Mike for the interview!  I started private medical narration lessons with a voice actor and coach named Debbie Irwin this month.  I love working with her!  October has been a very busy month for me for projects.  Some time next week, I should be able to start production on an audiobook.  This month, I have had lots of inquiries and discussions about projects, weekly podcast recordings, and plenty of discussions about future podcast episodes too.  My family and I have our annual family picture session scheduled for October 31, 2020.  (No, we are not dressing up in costumes for Halloween!  Just regular, semi-casual clothes.)  Kids grow up fast!  Taking pictures annually is something we do.  My family is incredibly important to me, and I love looking back at old pictures and remembering how we all looked over the years.  Be safe, and have a great Halloween weekend everyone!

Pharmacist's Voice

Introducing Pronounce Drug Names Like a Pro and an October 2020 update

Today’s episode is an interview with Mike Lenz.  He’s a pharmacist, voice actor, and podcast host.  Mike is someone I look up to, and I have the pleasure of calling him a friend.  Mike and I know one another from the voiceover industry, and he uses his voice to entertain. Mentioned in this episode Website https://mikelenzvoice.com  Podcast https://mikelenzvopodcast.com Mike’s book Paid to Talk - A Journey into Voice Acting VO Success (Online Course) https://vosuccess.com  ACX Profile Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/michael.lenz.1460/ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelenzvo/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/mlenzvoice Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mikelenzvoice/ Sean Pratt, nonfiction audiobook narration coach https://www.seanprattpresents.com  APAC (Audio Publisher’s Association Annual Conference) VoiceZam Player https://www.voicezam.com  Mike Lenz is a full-time SAG-AFTRA professional voice talent, actor, audiobook narrator and podcast producer.  As a voice actor for more than 15 years Mike has worked with clients such as Xerox, Hershey, Dell, Microsoft, Bayer, Coca-Cola and many more on commercials, eLearning projects, real estate videos, corporate and web-based videos, and brand imaging. Mike has also appeared in regional and national television commercials as an on-camera talent and was the host of a local TV talk show in Saratoga Springs, NY for a number of years.  Mike is also an accomplished audiobook narrator with more than 100 titles narrated to date. With titles in genres ranging from Fiction, Entertainment, Science, and Children’s to Christian, Business, Self-Help and History, Mike loves bringing non-fiction and fiction stories to life with his engaging, confident, and trustworthy voice.    Mike is also a Voice Arts Award nominated podcast producer of a popular Voice Over podcast, and the creator of Podcast Snap, a podcast consulting service, helping his clients with every step of their podcast creation and production. Mike is the author of Paid to Talk - A Journey Into Voice Acting and is a frequent speaker at Learning and Voice Over conferences.  He currently lives in Saratoga Springs, NY with his wife and 4 children.  Highlights from the interview Before becoming a voice actor, Mike ran the pharmacy that’s been in his family since 1960.  He is a former Council Member and Mayor of Saratoga Springs, NY.  After his position as mayor ended, he explored his creative side:  screenwriting, film-making, voiceovers, etc.  He enjoyed the communication piece of his public service:  “using his voice.”  After his 1st VO coaching session, he realized he loved it.  The journey began.   2-3 years ago, he become a full time voice actor (made the switch from pharmacist to voice actor). It took > 10 years to make his part-time side hustle his full-time job.   Mike has had some great voice actors on his podcast!  Examples include Harlan Hogan, Rodney Saulsberry, and Tom Dheere.  Mike asks his guests about their journey, obstacles they overcame, lessons they learned, and advice for aspiring voice actors. Mike and I shared a nonfiction audiobook narration coach, Sean Pratt.  We both graduated around the first of September 2020.  For each finished hour of audio for an audiobook, there are several hours of audio engineering after recording.   Building relationships in the voiceover and audiobook industries pays off.  Among other things, referrals keep Mike busy working! Audiobooks, course books for online colleges, etc.   Conferences have changed Mike’s life.  One example is APAC (Audiobook Publisher’s Association Conference).  Meeting people and building relationships led to more work.   The voiceover industry is a giving community with authentic relationships.  We refer our friends because when you give, you receive.  What goes around, comes around.   There was an element of faith in making a leap from pharmacy to VO.  Mike says, “Just get in the boat!” And see where it takes you.  You only connect the dots looking backward.  Mike has demos on his website for IVR (interactive voice response/on-hold messaging), elearning, audiobooks, commercials, and narration.  Mike uses the VoiceZam player to help potential clients find and listen to his demos easily. Outside audiobook publishers, Mike’s clients include podcast clients, elearning, corporate clients, and on-hold messaging.  Everything revolves around his audiobooks schedule.  How does Mike care for his voice?  He does warm-ups, including tongue twisters, humming, and vocal warm-ups.  He stays hydrated and tries to get his sleep.   Mike has done some live announcing.  It’s fun for him, and he has booked the work thanks to referrals from other voice actors. Mike has an online course called VO Success.  It teaches up-and-coming voice actors a good foundation about the VoiceOver industry.  Topics include focusing, performance training, the business of the business, branding, and recording in a home studio.  Lifetime membership (as of October 23, 2020) is $97 USD.  

Interview with Mike Lenz: Pharmacist, Voice Actor, and Podcast Host

Today’s episode is about doing something unexpected.  When you have a disadvantage, you can “flip the script!” Mentioned in this podcast http://napodpomo.org linkedin.com/in/kimnewlove  linkedin.com/in/nathannewlove  Episode 4 of The Pharmacist’s Voice Podcast Online course coming soon!  The theme today is “flip the script.”  I have 3 stories to share.  The first story is about my brand.  The second is about about a mistake I made last year that I have an opportunity to fix next month.  And, the third one is about my husband.   What does flip the script mean?  If you “flip the script,” you reverse your position and do something unexpected.  It’s exactly what I did.  Here’s story number one.  It’s about my brand.  About 4 years ago, I thought I was stuck being a stay-at-home Mom because I couldn’t find a childcare situation that would allow me to work outside the home in a traditional pharmacist role.  It took me years to figure it out, but I flipped the script!  I carved out a part-time job I can do in the margins using my identity as a pharmacist.  I became a voice actor and a podcast host!   Recently, I updated my LinkedIn “about” section.  I felt like I know my brand, and I put it in words.  We all have things inside us that make us “us.”  Writing it down and refining it over time helped me discover my brand.  What I wrote tells others who I am even when I’m not in the room.  I thought I was stuck, but I flipped the script!   Here’s story number two.  I made a mistake last year in November.  I have an opportunity to fix it this November.  All the way back in Episode 4 of this podcast, I mentioned something called NaPodPomo.  It’s short for National Podcast Post Month.  It’s an annual challenge to post one podcast per day in the month of November.  That’s right!  30 podcasts in 30 days.  I planned to launch The Pharmacist’s Voice Podcast during NaPodPomo last year, but it didn’t work out.  I completely missed it and launched December 4, instead.  This year, I’m flipping the script.  If all goes well, I am launching an online course at the end of this month, and I plan to publish short, solo episodes in November to get the word out about the course.  That’s right, I’m accepting the challenge and signing up for NaPodPomo.  I know what I just said about launching a course is a tease, but hang in there.  I’ll share more in 2 weeks during my next solo episode on October 30.   Story number three is about my husband.  For anyone new to the show, my husband, Nathan, lost his job May 1st, due to a RIF = reduction in force.  Essentially, he was downsized after 12 years with the same company.  He is a mechanical engineer.  He’s had a variety of jobs.  He designed the convertible top for the C5 Corvette, engineered cookware for Calphalon, and most recently worked for a solar panel manufacturer.  Automotive, consumer products, and renewable energy are all different industries.  He built an amazing skill set over the past 20 years.  After he lost his job, he flipped the script too!   I’m going to borrow a word from the Japanese language.  It’s Ikigai, which means “reason for being.”  When he was unemployed and trying to figure out what to do, he looked at his “reason for being” employed.  Finding his Ikigai gave him direction and helped him look for purpose in his next job.  He figured out what employers need, what he’s good at, what he likes to do, and what he can get paid for.  This was the brand statement he used on his resume, LinkedIn, and messages he put out on social media:  I develop talent, lead teams, solve problems, and improve processes.   Instead of putting himself out into the world as a mechanical engineer, he put himself out there as the guy who develops talent, leads teams, solves problems, and improves processes.  Guess who needs that type of a guy?  Amazon!  He flipped the script!  Nathan was hired as an Operations Manager.  He started training August 31.  The first two weeks were online training.  Then, he had a short-term assignment with an Amazon fulfillment center about 2½ hours away.  The past 30 days have been hard for my family.  My husband lived in a hotel for 3 of the past 4 weeks.  This is his first week living at home again.  Much respect to all the single parents out there who do it every day, especially military spouses whose partners are deployed.  I know it’s not easy.   Starting November 1, my husband’s permanent assignment will be about 15 minutes from our home.  Until then, he’s been working at another fulfillment center over an hour away.  I’m looking forward to November 1, so our family can finally get into a routine. Maybe you have disadvantage and can do something unexpected to “flip the script” in your life too.                  

Flip the script!

Today’s episode is an interview with Dr. April Jones.  She’s a pharmacist, author, and entrepreneur.  As the parent of a childhood cancer survivor and amputee, she is an advocate for a number of interests, including adaptive sports.  She uses her family’s story to educate others and encourage them to find strength in struggle and purpose in pain.  As an author, she entertains audiences in print, ebook, and audiobook.   Dr. April Jones is not only an Oncology Medical Director for Pfizer, but she is also the author of No Mess No Message, owner of The Drifted Drum Company, a motivational speaker, an avid community volunteer, a mentor, and a leader in the pharmacy profession. Along with her many professional credentials, she’s the mother of an international adaptive athlete/cancer survivor/college student and 2 other busy boys.  It’s her personal journey that makes her an authority on transforming pain into purpose and struggle into strength.   Mentioned in this episode Website www.thedrifteddrum.com *When you buy No Mess, No Message through the website, you can purchase an author-signed copy!  Dr. April Jones can inscribe a special message if desired and/or giving as a gift!   Book link on amazon.com No Mess, No Message.  Finding Strength in Struggle and Purpose in Pain (You can see my review of the book on amazon.com!)  No Mess, No Message is also available online at Barnes and Noble, BAM, Apple, GoodReads, Bookbub, Amazon, Target, and Walmart. Tickets to the Path to Purpose Virtual Retreat can be purchased at www.thedrifteddrum.com/collections/event-tickets.  Use code WELOVEKIM for 10% off!!!  Speakers mentioned in this podcast episode: Dr. Katariina Rosenblatt, PhD, human trafficking survivor, There is Hope for me Foundation Pastor Zane Isaacson - attempted abortion survivor.   Monica Schmelter, Talk Show Host, Bridges on Christian Television Network Fabi Powell, Founder of Josh Powell Foundation - dedicated to synovial sarcoma awareness Jerrica Dodd PharmD - Leadership session facilitator Bryan Heard and Tony Goforth of Crucial Conversation Podcast Email thedrifteddrum@gmail.com  LinkedIn (April Jones) Facebook @dr.apriljones, @thedrifteddrum Instagram @livebeautiful_dr.mom, @thedrifteddrumco, @tylergjonesy  YouTube The Drifted Drum Company, Tyler’s new channel is "College Through Christ" TikTok @drjones_nomessnomessage, and @tylergjonesy   Paralympic Games  Challenged Athletes Foundation Nashville Audio Productions Wesley’s Warrior Foundation I-CAN! = International Child Amputee Network Endeavor Games in Oklahoma Book Launchers Highlights from the interview  April celebrated the 1st anniversary of the release of No Mess No Message in Sept 2020.   April’s son Tyler (cancer survivor) started college this fall.  He’s pre-med for sports medicine and will earn an athletic trainer’s certificate in his Bachelor’s Program.  He wants to specialize in adaptive sports medicine.  When April tried to identify her book’s target audience, she thought it would be cancer moms.  Turns out, her journey is relatable to anyone facing adversity.  It helps prepare someone facing a struggle.   “Meat grinder” analogy = processing what’s happened to you.  What we put in needs to come out better once we’ve processed it.  I related to the book even though I’m an autism mom.  April wanted to help others to be stronger.  If the pain happened, and it’s behind her, and she can’t use it to help others.  It’s compassionate to share with others.  April is a mentor of sorts in the book.  One theme is, “Hang in there!  If I can make it through this, so can you!” Why did April narrate her own book?  To be as authentic and transparent as possible.  Narrating it “her way” was important to her.  She had a professional production team record her book.   April’s friend Angela challenged her to write No Mess, No Message.  Angela founded Wesley’s Warrior Foundation after her son Wesley passed from cancer as a child.  “Helping is healing.”  April committed to sending one chapter/month to Angela until the book was finished.  Wesley’s Warrior Foundation helps alleviate financial burdens.  Families can’t work due to treatments.  Parents need to pay rent and buy groceries.  Angela put her finger on what she needed when she was needy and created a foundation to serve that need.   Asking for help and articulating needs can be difficult.  April was worried about hurting feelings, insurance reimbursement, etc.  You have to do what you have to do or your child will suffer.  Find your voice early because you will have to advocate long-term for your child if they live a long life.   If you don’t know your options and how much better life could be, you just can’t make better choices.  Support groups can be helpful.  Connect with other families that have similar diagnoses and disabilities.  She’s learned so much from others about steps she had not gotten to yet.  You get to end up being a resource to others AND use the info for the benefit of your own child and his care team.  It’s rewarding because you remember how much learning that fact/about that service made a significant and positive impact on your own child.  April attended the Endeavor Games in Oklahoma so she could network with other moms, get support, and learn.  Tyler met athletes and made friends and lasting relationships.  Tyler participated in races and got medals.  It opened his mind to new athletic possibilities and gave him joy. When you start with a disadvantage, it can make you stronger.   Tyler is April’s business partner at The Drifted Drum Co.  As the book was being published, the company was born.  It serves more than one purpose.  Tyler wanted an apparel line.  April wanted to publish other people’s stories.  So, they formed The Drifted Drum Company “The Business of Encouragement.”  The Drifted Drum Company became April’s publishing Brand, and Tyler Vibes Apparel is part of it.  She is developing books with other authors and will publish their stories under her brand.   Events are on the website under The Drifted Drum Company.  Examples include “The No Pity Party” Event and “A Path to Purpose” Virtual Retreat.  “Drifted” = ended up in a place you didn’t expect to be due to external forces directing you.  “Drum” = a vessel that can be emptied out and filled up over and over again. Details about Path to Purpose Retreat:  Tickets can be found at thedrifteddrum.com. See EVENTS tab.  It’s a Virtual event Dec 5, 10 AM-2:30 PM CT.  Cost is $50.  Use the coupon code WELOVEKIM for 10% off the ticket price.  All participants get some swag = her book (digital download) and the companion journal.  There is a great line-up of speakers!  See links above:   Kateriina Rosenblatt, human trafficking survivor, There is Hope for me Foundation Pastor Zane Isaacson - survived his Mom’s attempted abortion  Monica Schmelter, Host of Talk Show Bridges on Christian Television Network Fabi Powell, Founder of Josh Powell Foundation (sarcoma awareness) The Director of The Drifted Drum Co will share about her story of drug addiction and recovery.   One of the workshops afterward will be facilitated by Dr. Jerrica Dodd PharmD.  The book, ebook, and audiobook were released at the same time.  You can download the companion journal to the book by visiting www.thedrifteddrum.com.   April wants to launch the “No Pity Party Podcast” in 2021.  She will focus on sharing messages of inspiration and sharing resources that helped her guests.  If you want to keep up with Dr. April Jones and The Drifted Drum Company, sign up for the newsletter on www.thedrifteddrum.com.        

Interview with April Jones, PharmD, MBA: Pharmacist, Author, and Entrepreneur

On today’s episode, I’ll share a few stories about expectations and tie them into my journey.  You’ll hear about my favorite board game, which is Ticket to Ride, my unplanned pregnancy at the age of 23, and my expectations for episode one of this podcast.   Mentioned in this episode Ticket to Ride https://www.daysofwonder.com/tickettoride/en/usa/ The University of Toledo College of Pharmacy  Purdue College of Pharmacy   Episode One of The Pharmacist’s Voice Podcast  Episode Notes An expectation is a strong belief that something will happen in the future. There’s no plan.  You just expect it to happen.  If I set a goal, on the other hand, it’s specific.  I get to pick how I try to achieve the goal.  Goals can be flexible that way.   When I play my favorite board game, Ticket to Ride, I have some expectations.  I expect to have fun, score as many points as possible, and finish the game.  There’s no plan.  I just expect it to happen.  I believe it will happen.     If you’re unfamiliar with Ticket to Ride, it’s a board game with a train theme.  It’s also available using apps on Apple and Android products.  I love it!  There are at least ten maps.  The Swiss and US maps are my favorites.  Players claim railway routes connecting cities, and the player with the most points at the end of the game wins.  What’s the goal?  To have the highest score.  How do you get points?  Depending on the map, there are several different ways, like completing destination tickets, building the longest train, and scoring the most points with up to 45 wagons.   If you can imagine a map of the United States, a common destination ticket is Los Angeles to New York City.  To complete that ticket, I could travel across the middle of the country through Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, and Pittsburgh to get from LA to New York.  I could travel from West to East or from East to West.  I could even start in the middle of the country.  If I wanted to, I could travel south through Atlanta, New Orleans, Houston, and El Paso on my way to LA.  It’s my journey.  I get to pick the route.  The goal remains the same, no matter how unconventional the route.   Ticket to Ride is practically an analogy for life.  Have expectations.  Play the game.  Live your life.  If you want to accomplish something, set some goals.  Accomplish your goals whether you take the predictable, direct route or the longer, scenic route.  I’ve made it this far on my journey from pharmacist to voice actor by being flexible yet still achieving my goals.  Because of my life circumstances, I’ll admit to taking the scenic route!  I’m making progress slowly, but I expect to move the needle a little more every year.   I need to update my goals this month, but I have my expectations written.  For the next 12 months, I expect to Improve my performance skills  Improve my audio engineering skills Attempt more auditions Book more jobs Increase my income Nurture and develop relationships   Without goals to support those expectations, I’m only having fun being in the game.  I’m looking forward to writing new goals this month and making progress.   Here’s the story about my unplanned pregnancy at the age of 23.   I got married in 2001 when I was still 22 years old, just 6 weeks after graduating with my Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy.  I expected to work for a year to pay off my student loans.  Then, go to grad school.  My choices were: Master’s Degree in Pharmacy Administration from Purdue  PharmD from The University of Toledo.   I earned my Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Toledo (GO ROCKETS!), and the PharmD was the more likely choice.  In less than a year, however, I unexpectedly got pregnant at the age of 23.  I never went to grad school.  Back when I graduated, a pharmacist only needed a Bachelor’s Degree.   When my husband and I were expecting our first child, I was just trying to get through the pregnancy.  I was young, and none of my friends had kids yet.  I didn’t think too much about the birth, childcare, or how my life would change.  Like the free spirit I was back then, I thought I’d figure it out during maternity leave AFTER the baby was born.  We had a son.  He’s 17 now.   I expected an easy labor and delivery.  I expected all the time my husband and I spent in lamaze class would pay off, and I would have an uneventful delivery.  Unfortunately, our son was breech at 39 weeks, and I had a c-section.  My expectations were blown completely apart.  Not only did I have a c-section, but I also had a post-operative infection that lasted so long that I couldn’t even return to work after 12 weeks.  I was out of work for 16 weeks.    Then, another surprise happened.  I thought babies slept a lot.  Not my baby.  The doctors told me my son had “colic.”  Fast-forward 2 and a half years.  He actually had a number of problems, including sensory integration dysfunction and autism.  I didn’t expect a c-section, a post-op infection, an unhappy baby, sleepless days and nights, and eventually a child with a disability.  I know all about unmet expectations.  There are some things, you just can’t write goals for.  It’s ok to change your expectations though and make plans the best you can under the circumstances.  That’s what I did.   When I was learning how to launch my podcast last year, at least a dozen people told me that my first episode would also be my worst episode.  They were kind of right.  It happens to be my most-listened-to episode whether you or I think it’s my worst or not.  The point is that the expectation was set.  Knowing that the first one might be terrible actually helped me reconcile that I had to just get started and not let my expectations or anyone’s judgement prevent me from moving forward.  I made it my goal to improve my delivery, content, and show notes over time.  I feel at peace with everything, and I really do think it’s getting better.  Feel free to give me some feedback using the contact form on my website.  https://www.thepharmacistsvoice.com  Have expectations.  Make goals.  If you come close, give yourself credit, and try to enjoy the journey.      

Expectations: stories about Ticket to Ride, my unplanned pregnancy at age 23, and episode one of this podcast

Today’s episode is an interview with Dr. Eleni Mastro, an independent consultant pharmacist.  I invited her on the podcast because she uses her voice to advocate and educate.  Optimizing drug therapy in the elderly is important.  As an independent consultant pharmacist certified in Medication Therapy Management, Dr. Mastro helps facilities and geriatric patients manage drug regimens, decrease adverse drug events, and reduce costs.  As a result, her patients and clients feel empowered.  Dr. Mastro’s extensive background in pharmaceutical nomenclature and drug safety testing sparked her affinity to medication management.  Dr. Mastro earned her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy at Rutgers University.  She is an active member of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) and the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP).  She is licensed in New York and New Jersey. Mentioned in this episode Dr. Mastro's Website:  www.compliance-reach.com Email:  em@compliance-reach.com Facebook:  Compliance Reach Pharmacy Consulting Eleni Mastro LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/eleni-mastro/ Brand Institute https://www.brandinstitute.com  American Pharmacists Association (APhA) https://www.pharmacist.com American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) https://www.ascp.com Blair Thielemier PharmD linkedin.com/in/btpharmacyconsulting  Pharmapreneur Academy *AFFILIATE LINK* Coupon code for $50 off Month 1 is: VOICE50 Beers List (American Geriatrics Society 2019 Updated AGS Beers Criteria® for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults) Highlights from the interview  Dr. Mastro joined Pharmapreneur Academy with Blair Thielemeier and felt inspired to create a business working one-on-one with patients, their caregivers, and families to educate on disease states and medications.  She also consults with prescribers and care facilities.   Dr. Mastro has a passion for working with the elderly.  Helping patients one-on-one is rewarding to her.  Narrowing down her business services was a challenge, but she feels confident with her choice.   Dr. Mastro shared a success story about working with an elderly gentleman with dementia.  Using her problem-solving skills, Dr. Mastro looked at all the “pieces of the puzzle,” optimized his drug therapy, encouraged an increased activity level, and saw the behavior change he needed.  He felt better and slept better, and his family was happier as a result. Patients find Dr. Mastro in a number of ways:  referrals from healthcare professionals, word of mouth, Facebook, fliers, networking with pharmacies, and her website.  Although the COVID-19 pandemic has been a barrier to in-person meetings, Dr. Mastro has had the opportunity to meet with many patients using Zoom.   Dr. Mastro’s familiarity with the Beers List is important to her business.  Researching medication doses, making recommendations to prescribers (on dose and appropriateness), looking at bloodwork with deeper insight, and make clinical decisions based on data ultimately helps helps her manage drug regimens, decrease adverse drug events, and reduce costs.  One of Dr. Mastro’s favorite resources is the American Society of Consultant Pharmacists (ASCP) website.  The insights, CE, and network of member pharmacists strengthens her knowledge base and helps her be a more effective pharmacist.  COVID-19 and transitions of care are two topics on the ASCP website Dr. Mastro found especially useful in recent months.   One of the best pieces of advice Dr. Mastro has ever had was about imposter syndrome.  Someone warned her about it, and it made an impact on her.  She recognized the little voice in the back of her head (imposter syndrome) that was holding her back.  She pushed it aside so she could move forward with her business idea and feel confident she would succeed.  It’s a turning point so many entrepreneurs face, and she encourages others to recognize the feeling and push forward in spite of self-doubt.   Patients, the adult children of patients, and healthcare providers may not realize they need Dr. Mastro’s services.  Marketing her medication therapy management (MTM) service creatively and getting patient buy-in is one of her biggest challenges.  When she develops a relationship and educates patients and families, they feel empowered and able to advocate for their health/their loved one’s health.   On her journey from Brand Institute to founding Compliance Reach Pharmacy Consulting, many patients, families, other pharmacists, and entrepreneurs have impacted Dr. Mastro.  She says that meeting amazing people is the best thing that’s happened on her journey.   If you are a patient, family member, caregiver, or facility interested in reaching out to Dr. Mastro, please visit www.compliance-reach.com or e-mail Dr. Eleni Mastro em@compliance-reach.com.  

Interview with Dr. Eleni Mastro, independent consultant pharmacist

In today’s episode, I’ll talk about finding a new normal for my voiceover business now that the kids are back to school and my husband started his new job.  Plus, what I learned at the eVOcation Conference. The year 2020 has kept me on my toes and tested the meaning of a “steady schedule.”  My kids went back to school in August, but not all day every day.  They’re happy to be back, and so am I, but this is the first school year that has started out with an alternative schedule and personal protective equipment. [It’s different!] My husband started his new job August 31st.  He’s training to work at an Amazon Fulfillment Center that hasn’t opened yet.  That means lots of online training from home.  I love having him around!  He’ll be out of the house finding his new normal soon enough.    Now, I’m trying to to find my new normal with my voiceover business, managing the house, raising the kids, and being a supportive wife.  No problem, right?  Actually all this change is rocking my world a little bit.  I have less time in my day.  I can handle it.  I just haven’t found my stride yet. I attended an online conference called eVOcation last weekend (Sept 11-13, 2020).  It was about the business of voiceover.  Voice Actors Carin Gilfrey and Jamie Muffet did a phenomenal job organizing the topics, speakers, links, swag bags, entertainment, and so on.  I had a list of four topics I wanted to learn about at VOcation.  Mission accomplished! I walked away with a better understanding of all four of them plus ideas for new personal goals.  1.  Source Connect 2.  Networking 3. Negotiating rates [for voiceover jobs] 4.  Finding work through agents, casting directors, and pay-to-play sites.  I learned which sites are available and best practices for using them.  Overall, great conference.  Definitely worth it!  I learned a lot, met some awesome people, and took pages and pages notes.  I definitely need to write some new goals now that I’m better-informed about the business of voiceover.  

Finding a new normal…again

Today’s episode is an interview with Dr. Kimber Boothe.  She’s a pharmacist, healthcare leader, and entrepreneur.  I invited her to be a guest on the podcast because she uses her voice to advance pharmacy practice and educate pharmacists and other leaders through consulting, one-on-one coaching, online courses, and more.   Kimber earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Pharmacy from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy and her Doctor of Pharmacy Degree from the Medical University of South Carolina College of Pharmacy.  Then, she completed her residency training at the Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia Hospitals.  And finally, Kimber earned her Masters in Health Administration (MHA) through the University of Phoenix.   Kimber has more than 15 years’ experience in Health Systems and 10 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry.  Kimber is the founder and CEO of the Kimber Boothe Group where she provides coaching, consulting, courses, and speaking on strategic pharmacy leadership. She calls herself a connector and a pharmovator.  Kimber is the creator of the program Pharmovation®.  It’s a course and system designed to accelerate your pharmacy career, advocate for resources, and advance pharmacy practice.   She is passionate about spending time on the right things to develop others and deliver strategic, focused results. Her motto is Pharmacy Can Do More with More and her goal is to help create 50 new pharmacy positions this year. Previously, Kimber led the pharmacy services for a 4-hospital community health system where she drove innovative strategy for the pharmacy enterprise as System Director of Pharmacy.  She was also the Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services at Yale New Haven Health.      Kimber and I met at the 2018 and 2019 Medipreneurs Conference in Asheville, NC.  It has been a pleasure watching her journey. ? Social media links and websites mentioned in this episode Website www.kimberboothe.com •  Email  kimber@kimberboothe.com •  LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/kimberboothe •  Twitter www.twitter.com/kimberboothe •  Facebook www.facebook.com/kimberboothe •  Instagram www.instagram.com/kimberboothe Medipreneurs https://www.medipreneurs.com Highlights from the interview Kimber’s voice has a BIG impact because she reaches people in so many different ways.   Visit her contact page at kimberboothe.com, where you can sign up for regular e-mails and get a free tool (personal development plan template).  You can also reach her by email and phone or book a call.  Kimber worked in health systems and the pharmaceutical industry.  Her skills include strategic planning, project planning, and strategic execution of initiatives. She launched programs as an entrepreneur and teaches leaders how to include more pharmacists in health systems.   Coaching 1-on-1 Consulting with health systems:  educate and train Online courses and membership 6 years ago, she created “Connector Academy” and “Connector 101.”  They addressed general leadership, career development, work-life development, and more. 3 years ago, she focused more on pharmacy.  She created Pharmovation® and designed it like online programs she has personally enjoyed.  Pharmovation® is an online, 8-module facilitated program.  There are worksheets, a weekly curriculum, weekly calls with peer-coaching opportunities, and a Facebook Community.  One-on-one coaching is available to supplement the course or support other career-development needs.  The program lasts 10 weeks.   She tries to get the word out in a variety of ways;  social media, her podcast, her public speaking appearances etc.  She can reach more people because she has an online course because she only has so many hours in the day she can meet with people.    Kimber’s website has FREE resources for COVID strategic planning.  She is very strategic and organized.  She created some strategic planning assessment tools, like a readiness checklist.  She advocates for health systems creating their own pharmacy incident command structure:  being prepared for vaccines, treatments, workforce, etc.   Her main target audience is current and aspiring leaders in healthcare systems.  Healthcare systems are growing now and adding Ambulatory Care Services, Acute Care Services, home infusion, and specialty pharmacy.  When she first got feedback from students, she made sure she was creating something the students wanted.  What tends to happen is that her students find themselves in leadership roles and need training.  She serves a niche.  She calls her students Pharmovators.  She wants education to be fun and entertaining.  One day, she’d like to have a live event with her Pharmovators.   Kimber does not work in a traditional pharmacist role.  She is a full-time entrepreneur.  Interacting with other entrepreneurs motivated and encouraged her to become a full-time entrepreneur.  Kimber found her passion and her purpose as an entrepreneur.  Things aligned.  People wanted to hire her as a consultant, a 1:1 coach, and saw a demand for her course.  All those things created the perfect time for her to switch from health system pharmacy to entrepreneurship.  She made the leap without a guaranteed paycheck.  It’s worked out amazing.  It’s been a great year.  Working from home but yet supporting others who are responding to the COVID crisis has been rewarding.    Pharmacy is usually asked to do more with less.  Efficiency is different from advancing practice.  We need to staff our pharmacies and clinics appropriately.  Looking at how many pharmacists per primary care provider is something that needs attention.  Budgets should include more pharmacists.  We need to advocate for our profession to the decision-makers.  Kimber talks about numbers because she teaches about business planning and how can you show a ROI while adding pharmacy resources.  How do we staff pharmacies with pharmacists?  Nurses have clear ratios.  They have staffing guidelines.  Staffing for prevention might be different than managing patients with chronic illnesses.  Budgets and benchmarks are important.  What is the right number?  How many prescriptions, immunizations, time counseling, and enhanced services can a pharmacist handle?  What are the right numbers?  Leaders have been asked.  They haven’t given answers.  There needs to be research to help staff pharmacies.  There’s got to be a way to get an answer.  Scenario planning is important.  For example, COVID prompted hospitals to plan for census increases of up to 50-150%.  Staffing for an ICU patients is different from floor patients.  Staffing needs are different for critically ill patients.  Understanding your data is important!  Cost management is important.  Adding people and delivering value is important.   Kimber’s biggest challenge as an entrepreneur was different when she was a part-time vs now that she is full-time.  As a part-timer, time management between her business and her FT job was a challenge.  She likes to balance her “4 quadrants:” self, career, family, and community.  Sometimes the career quadrant can take up too much time.  Finding a balance is a challenge. As a full-time entrepreneur starting in Dec 2019, challenges are different.  Challenges are up to her.  Rabbit holes can happen.  She needs to stay focused on her ultimate goals.  Being part of other groups and programs, and talking to other entrepreneurs can be helpful.  She is part of a group of pharmacist influencers who have pharmacists as clients.  It fits with her mission.  She’s had people want to hire her to do something outside her focus, and she declined those opportunities.  Her goal in 2020 was to create 25 new positions.  She did it in the first quarter.  Her new goal is 50, and she is on-track to meet it! Over the next 5 years, her goal is to add 1,000 pharmacists and technician positions.  This could be front line workers, a medication safety officer, etc. Her Favorite thing about being an educator and having online courses is connecting with people and having a broader audience though the courses.  She enjoys seeing students find success and add positions.  It adds a greater impact to her voice.   What might someone not realize about leaving a traditional role to pursue a job of your own choosing?  It’s a lot of work.  You don’t just get to work on things you want to work on.  You can choose which clients you want to work on.  You can choose which courses you create.  It’s rewarding.  Hiring virtual assistants helps.  She wants to practice at the top of her ability and focus on what she is uniquely qualified to do, so she has some support.  She is learning on her journey all the time. Kimber helps pharmacists in health systems be intrapreneurs.  She’s teaching and supporting people who are trying to be innovative and have an entrepreneurial spirit within their own organization.  Pharmovation starts in January 2021.  See www.kimberboothe.com for information!    

Interview with Dr. Kimber Boothe, pharmacist, healthcare leader, and entrepreneur

On today’s episode, I’ll tell you about my graduation from the Ginger Yoda Dojo and my husband’s new job.   Mentioned in this episode Sean Pratt, audiobook narrator My ACX narrator profile VOcation Conference  Kimber Boothe Highlights After more than a year of being a student, I graduated from Sean Pratt’s audiobook narration program!  Another way to say this is that I graduated from the Ginger Yoda Dojo.  Sean’s nickname is the Ginger Yoda.  He has red hair, and he is a mentor, like Yoda.  I’m not sure where the Dojo part came from, but I think it sounds cooler than the word “School.”  I didn’t make it up, so I’m going with it.   I completed all 14 lessons of one-on-one training.  Sean helped me improve my performance skills and taught me about the business of being an audiobook narrator.  Each lesson was part performance training and part business coaching.  There was homework.  It was very time-consuming and challenging, but I improved.   Sean taught me how to tell a good story, among other things.  Because of him, I’m on the roster as narrator for several platforms, including ACX.  This means I can produce audiobooks for Audible, among other platforms. I worked really hard, and Sean was a fantastic coach.  (Thank you Sean!  I did it!) My husband started his new job this week.  He’s working for Amazon.  He’s training to be an Operations Manager at the new Amazon Fulfillment Center in Rossford, OH.  He likes it, and I’m happy for him!   I’m adjusting to being a stay-at-home Mom again.  The kids are kind of back to school.  I have to work around their schedule and my husband’s again.  I am finishing narrating an e-learning course, and I’m looking forward to an online voiceover conference called VOcation next weekend.  Join me next week for an interview with Dr. Kimber Boothe, a pharmacist entrepreneur, online course creator, coach, and advocate.

Celebrating my graduation from the Ginger Yoda Dojo and my husband’s new job!

Today’s episode is an interview with Bill Larson:  voiceover talent, announcer, and one of my accountability partners.  I invited him on the show because he uses his voice to educate and entertain.  His experience as a medical narrator, in particular, might be of interest to my listeners who are healthcare professionals. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Bill graduated from Columbia College Chicago with degrees in radio broadcasting and public relations. He began his audio career as on-air disc jockey at a rock music station in Chicago during his college years.  Then, he became a producer for an AM Talk Radio station.  After that, he worked in public relations and promotions in the movie business.  He worked for 20th Century Fox, Loews Cineplex Theaters (now AMC Theaters) and, finally, for Walt Disney Pictures. Bill began his full-time voiceover career 10 years ago.  Currently, he does a variety of voiceover work.  He records voiceovers for commercials, e-learning projects, medical narration projects, and sleep stories.  Bill records audiobooks too.  Bill loves to help people and provides audio description for online streaming services to aide the visually impaired.  Bill also does announcer work.  He is one of the in-stadium announcers for the Philadelphia Eagles pro football team in the NFL here in the US.  Bill is also an in-stadium announcer for the Trenton Thunder (AA affiliate of the New York Yankees).  Bill is a busy voiceover professional, and I’m happy to call him a friend. Social Media Links and products mentioned Instagram billivorylarson LinkedIn Bill Larson www.bearhugvo.com (COMING SOON!) The WatchList with Pattie and Bill (podcast) Electro-Voice RE320 Microphone Audio-Technica ATR2100X-USB microphone Sony MDR-7506 Headphones  Highlights from the interview After attending the American Council for the Blind Conference, Bill became interested in providing audio description.  Bill genuinely enjoys helping others.  Providing audio descriptions for the visually impaired is a something Bill enjoys.  Bill provides medical narration voiceovers.  It combines two things that will help someone:  narration and medical terminology.  He enjoys the challenge of it and has clever ways of preparing for jobs and researching pronunciations.   Bill is known for audio description, general narration, medical narration, and sleep narration.  He is available as an audiobook narrator also.   Working for the Philadelphia Eagles is a dream come true for Bill.  He loves being an in-stadium announcer for them, and he has a Super Bowl Ring because he was part of the organization when they won a Super Bowl!   Bill and his friend Pattie have a podcast called The WatchList with Pattie and Bill.  They talk about movies, TV shows, entertainment news, gaming, and more.  It’s a fun show! A stand-alone microphone and a pair of headphones are recommended for anyone who is on a podcast or wants to sound great on Skype, Zoom, and other online platforms.  

Interview with Bill Larson: voiceover talent, announcer, and accountability partner

Today’s episode is about getting out of my comfort zone, trying new things, taking risks, and growing.  I’ll talk about some experiences I’ve had this summer working on my business and an update on my family.  Mark Zuckerberg once said, “The biggest risk is not taking any risk. In a world that’s changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking any risks.”  I appreciate that statement.   This has been a summer to remember.  My husband, Nathan, and I have been together for 27 years and married for 19 of them.  This is the first summer he’s been home in more than 20 years.   For anyone new to the podcast, my husband lost his job May 1, due to a reduction in force, or RIF.  He offered to take over for me with the kids and managing the house.  He’s doing a great job.   For the first time since I started my journey from pharmacist to voice actor, I’ve been able to work on my business full-time.  After more than 2 years of training part-time “in the margins,” I recorded a medical narration demo on March 11, right before my children’s school district went online-only due to the Pandemic.  I became a homeschool teacher for my two teenage children, and I struggled to work on my business after my husband came home in the evenings.   When my husband told me I could work on my business full-time, I felt a little like a deer in the headlights.  I had goals, but I never had time to work on them aggressively.  I’ll get to the point quickly here.  The biggest lesson I learned this summer is that working full-time as a voice actor isn’t like turning a light switch on.  I didn’t have an agent.  I wasn’t on any pay-to-play sites.  I was just starting to direct-marketing to potential clients.  There was still a lot for me to learn and do.  Plus, I’m still finishing my audiobook narration course with Sean Pratt.  I am scheduled to graduate September 2.     Between May 1 and now, I have learned a lot.  I got out of my comfort zone, tried new things and took some risks.  Some of the things I tried made me uncomfortable, and that’s ok.  I grow when I’m uncomfortable.  We’re not talking reckless and irresponsible.  I’ve been selective about the opportunities I’ve chosen to pursue.  Let me give you some examples: Expanding my network on LinkedIn and other social media sites.  Proactive auditioning.   Creating new demos for the audiobook platforms on which I’m listed as a narrator.  Tried a pay-to-play site.  I’ll try another one in mid-September. Learned to accept silence.   “You can be the ripest, juiciest peach in the world, and there's still going to be somebody who hates peaches.”  This quote by entertainer Dita Von Teese is a gentle reminder for me to stay authentic to my brand and keep trying.   A little bit of discomfort goes a long way in terms of personal development.  When I injured one of the joints in my left foot, I became a swimmer.  The doctor told me that if I wanted my foot to heal, I couldn’t do any high-impact activities or attend group cycling class for months.  I was devastated.   I joined a swim class as soon as I could.  I conquered beginner, intermediate, and advanced lap swim classes to become a proficient swimmer.  I have even competed in adult swim meets!  I was able to participate in triathlons too.  After at total of 16 weeks of swimming, my foot healed enough for me to return to group cycling class.   If I hadn’t tried swimming due to a foot injury, I would not have gotten in the water.  If I hadn’t become a swimmer, I wouldn’t have tried triathlons.  I was very uncomfortable swimming at first because of my asthma and lack of stroke development.  In the end, I became a skilled swimmer and a competitor.  Going outside my comfort zone took me places.  I took a risk, tried something new, and grew…just like I grow all the time on my journey from pharmacist to voice actor. Family update!  (I recorded this episode on August 20.)  My two teenaged sons returned to school this week.  My older son with autism goes every day.  My younger son who is typically developing goes Wednesday and Friday.  The other 3 days are online from home. This summer, my husband, Nathan, opened up, put himself out there, took his own risks, and grew.  After working at the same company for more than 12 years, he had to rewrite his resume, update his LinkedIn profile, and figure a few things out.  He had to figure what he loves to do, what he’s good at, what the world needs, and what he could get paid to do.  It paid off!  He had several interviews and recently accepted a job offer.  He starts August 31.  I’ll announce the company in the next solo podcast Friday, September 4.  Call me superstitions, but I don’t feel right announcing it just yet.

Getting out of my comfort zone

Today’s episode is an interview with Allie Xu, The Chinese Medicine Pharmacist.  She’s an Australian Pharmacist, entrepreneur, holistic health coach, Period Pride Advocate, and Chinese Medicine student. The information, opinions, and recommendations presented in this Podcast are for general information only.  This Podcast should not be considered professional medical advice. Allie was born and raised in a fourth-generation medical family in Shanghai, China and moved to Australia when she was 15 years old. She’s a registered pharmacist and holistic health coach.  Currently, Allie is completing her Master of Chinese Medicine with a major in Acupuncture. As a holistic health coach, she is passionate about showing the connection between emotion, mind, and body.  She uses Eastern and Western Medicine philosophies and coaching methods to assist her clients to first notice imbalances and then work to achieve balance.  The goal is to maintain optimal health and avoid chronic illness—both mental and physical—down the line. She is the Founder of the Global Pharmacy Entrepreneur Community, the host of Pharmacy Entrepreneur TV on YouTube, and the host of Pharmacy Entrepreneur Podcast.  Allie invites Pharmacists from different parts of the world to network and develop an Entrepreneur Mindset and skills.  Social Media, contact info, social media, and websites alliexu@alliexu.com Global Pharmacy Entrepreneurs YouTube Channel Pharmacy Entrepreneur Podcast LinkedIn   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/allie.xu https://www.facebook.com/GlobalPharmacyEntrepreneurs - facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/globalpharmacyentrepreneur - facebook group Instagram Highlights from the interview Allie advocates networking, collaborating, connecting people, and building relationships.  She helps pharmacists who feel trapped in a traditional pharmacist role.   The Global Pharmacy Entrepreneur Community was founded to connect innovative pharmacists from different parts of the world who want to learn about entrepreneurship, mindset, and skills so they can be healthier and happier both mentally and physically.   She helps people who are experiencing gender-based discrimination, humiliation, and oppression, especially women.  Allie advocates Period Pride.  She joined a “hack-a-thon” at the University of Queensland to help remove the shame and stigma associated with menstruation.  Her team partnered with an Australian charity group called “Share the Dignity,” which distributes period products to women who are homeless, at-risk, and/or experiencing domestic violence.  Donated period products are available, however, some women are too ashamed to ask for them.  Allie believes that period shame and stigma need to be addressed in young, school-aged girls (age 12-18).  Advocating Period Pride important to Allie because health professionals can talk to young women about this topic and make a difference.  The period is a natural process, and we shouldn’t be ashamed to talk about it.  Safety is an issue, and the right products need to be used.  Men and young men need to be educated too so they can support the women they care about.  Use #periodpride to show your support of Period Pride.   Allie is also an educator.  She educates pharmacists to take time to find their motivation, core values, vision, strengths and weaknesses, personality, “why,” and more.  Have a vision first.   Allie is pursuing her Master of Chinese Medicine with a major in Acupuncture.  Some may seek acupuncture to improve sleep, energy, and stress levels.  She will graduate and become a practitioner in 2021.  Some of the students in her class are chiropractors, general practitioners, naturopathic practitioners, and nurses.  She may pursue a PhD after the Master of Chinese Medicine so she can specialize.  She is exploring her options now and trying to figure out what problems she wants to solve.   Allie is a holistic health coach and life coach.  She uses Eastern and Western Medicine.  She uses tools to assess physical health, emotional health, financial health, relationship health, career health, creativity, environment, and family history.  Her clients are women.  She helps them find their purpose and what drives them.  Then, she addresses the mind-body connection and helps them regulate their emotions and stay motivated.   Allie became interested in practicing Chinese Medicine because of family influence.  Allie was raised knowing both Eastern and Western medicine.  Allie was curious how Chinese Medicine could help prevent disease and lead to a long, healthy life.  Plus, she wanted to understand her heritage more deeply from the Chinese Medicine point of view. Allie also uses her voice on social media.  She has a YouTube Channel, a Podcast, and a Facebook Group.  She interviews successful pharmacist entrepreneurs from different parts of the world.  She also interviews entrepreneurs in other industries (ex:  tech and business).  It helps expose pharmacists to other entrepreneurs.  The opportunities a full-time pharmacist has to network are limited.  Allie can provide a service to them through her social media channels.  She believes that the entrepreneurs who consumer her content are growth-minded and innovative.  She truly enjoys getting to know entrepreneurs from around the globe, building relationships, collaborating, and networking.  Allie invites people to share questions and accomplishments on her platforms.  Check out Allie’s social media channels:   Global Pharmacy Entrepreneurs YouTube Channel Pharmacy Entrepreneur Podcast LinkedIn   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/allie.xu https://www.facebook.com/GlobalPharmacyEntrepreneurs - facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/globalpharmacyentrepreneur - facebook group Instagram What’s a typical week like for Allie?  She works as a pharmacist in a community practice setting one day/week.  She is a student.  She consults online.  She is an advocate and a networker.                        

Interview with Allie Xu, The Chinese Medicine Pharmacist

Today’s episode is about why I go to conferences and what I hope to accomplish at them.  I’ll talk about pharmacist conferences, VoiceOver conferences, and just for the fun of it motorcycle shows - because they’re the closest thing to motorcycle conferences I know, and I love motorcycles.   Mentioned in this episode VOcation Conference Sept 11-13, 2020  APhA (American Pharmacists Association)  Medipreneurs  OPA (Ohio Pharmacists Association) Cleveland International Motorcycle Show Why do I go to pharmacist conferences?  I need the CE, and I want to meet other pharmacists!   Pharmacist conferences I have attended The Annual Meeting of the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) Medipreneurs Conference Ohio Pharmacists Association (OPA) Annual Meeting and Midyear meeting CE stands for continuing education.  As an Ohio Pharmacist, I need to earn 40 contact hours of approved CE every 2 years.   What kind of CE do I get at conferences?   General CE Law CE Medication safety and patient safety CE Which session topics do I pick?  Law, medication safety, patient safety, trending topics (ex: provider status), classic topics (ex: asthma management), anything that interests me (ex: autism), and anything that will help with my volunteer work (poison prevention, medication safety, and addiction disorders).   The Annual Meeting of The Ohio Pharmacists Association was postponed from April to August.  Then, it went virtual.  I love the LIVE conference for the in-person networking.  Without the meals, the trade show, the poster presentations, and other activities, it’s just not the same.  I feel a little bad not attending because I want to support OPA, but it’s just not the right situation for me.  If the midyear meeting in November or the annual meeting next April are LIVE, I’ll be there! I’ve only been to one voiceover conference, and it changed my life!  A voice actor friend told me about a conference called VOcation last summer.  VOcation focuses on THE BUSINESS OF VOICEOVER.  It applies to every level from beginner to advanced and every genre from animation to audiobooks.  The conference was on Broadway in the upper west side in New York City. Why would I go to a VoiceOver conference in New York City?  What did I hope to accomplish there?  For my trip to the big city to be a success, I had to walk away with a plan for a demo and ideas on how to get work.  When I looked at the sessions offered at the conference, it was easy to pick which ones to go to because I had those two goals. What do I hope to learn about at VOcation this year?   Source Connect and Directed Sessions Networking Negotiating contracts:  usage rights, rates, session fees, and so on Finding work through agents and using pay-to-play sites All sessions will be recorded and available for 14 days afterward.  I’m looking forward to this conference, and I really appreciate that everything is recorded because I don’t think I can sit in front of a computer all day in my house without my husband and kids finding me!   I met great people at VOcation last year.  Voice Actors are FUN PEOPLE with great stories and creative personalities.  I was inspired by them.  Discussing struggles and successes helped me grow too.  Some of us formed an accountability group.  We call ourselves “The Accountabilibuddies.”  We meet every other Thursday and talk about what we’ve accomplished, what we’re working on now, what’s next, and what’s in our way.  We challenge and support one another.   One of my accountabilibuddies will be on the podcast Friday, August 31.  His name is Bill Larson, and you’re going to love him.  He definitely uses his voice to entertain.  But, he also does medical narration.  Any pharmacists listening to Bill might be interested in how a non-pharmacist succeeds in medical narration without a healthcare background.   I love motorcycles.  I go to motorcycle shoes and events, which are like conferences.  Everyone has hobbies.  This is one of mine. Two motorcycle events I LOVE Cleveland International Motorcycle Show Mid Ohio Just like pharmacist conferences and VoiceOver conferences, motorcycle shows and events bring together like-minded people.  People who go to motorcycle shows, love motorcycles.  People gather to check out what’s new, what’s for sale, and - best of all - test drives.   Some people would say that the best day of their life was they day they got married.  I would agree with that.  Others would say that the best day of their life was the day their child or children were born.  I would rank the birth of my two sons at the top too.  Next is line is July 10, 2015.  I test-drove a BMW motorbike with AN ENTIRE FLEET of other BMW motorbikes.  Every single BMW motorbike being sold that year was lined up for test drives.  We rode in a pack on some twisty, hilly roads in the middle of Ohio, and it was amazing!  Everything was green and blooming.  The riders were all being safe.  Truly, it was one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life.  If I close my eyes, I can still remember being in the middle of the pack. Everybody has their thing.  Whatever you love, do it!  And, enjoy it.  If going to conferences and learning about new things and connecting with like-minded people sounds good, do that too.  

Why I go to conferences

Today’s episode is an interview with Dr. Jerrica Dodd.  She’s a pharmacist, entrepreneur, coach, and leader.  I invited her on the podcast because she uses her voice as a patient advocate and because she coaches women pharmacist entrepreneurs. Dr. Dodd earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, a Master of Science in Pharmacy Administration from The Ohio State University, and a Master of Science with a focus in Applied Pharmacoeconomics from the University of Florida.  She completed her pharmacy practice and administration residency at The Ohio State University Medical Center.  Dr. Dodd has been a pharmacist for 22 years.  She transitioned into full-time entrepreneurship after a 17-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, where she had multiple roles within Medical Affairs. She has also managed a hospital pharmacy, and has experience in retail pharmacy. Recently, she completed a Nutrition Health Coaching Certificate from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition.  And, currently, she is enrolled in the Institute of Functional Medicine.  She aims to introduce a functional medicine perspective to the management of patients in her care at Your Pharmacy Advocate, LLC, where she is the Founder and CEO.  Dr. Dodd has also spoken on many stages across the country and is the proud Executive Editor of PharmaSis Magazine, which Celebrates Women in Pharmacy.  Dr. Dodd enjoys traveling, reading, teaching Zumba, cooking, and attending cultural events. With her background in pharmacy and leadership training and her passion for people, Dr. Dodd enjoys encouraging people to be their best and to get the most out of every opportunity that life presents. Her favorite scripture is Luke 12:48…”to whom much is given, much is required,” and Dr. Dodd endeavors to live life giving back from the abundant ways in which she has been blessed. Websites and social media links mentioned in this episode https://drjerricadodd.com https://www.yourpharmacyadvocate.com https://www.pharmasismag.com Purchase PharmaSis Magazine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874L1X73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_a1VLEbF88E49H https://www.medipreneurs.com https://www.ascp.com Instagram @doctorjdodd @PharmaSisMag @YourPharmacyAdvocate LinkedIn   https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjdodd Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jerrica.l.dodd https://www.facebook.com/YourPharmacyAdvocate https://www.facebook.com/pharmasismagazine Highlights from the interview Dr. Jerrica Dodd advocates for patients in her consulting practice. She educates women pharmacist entrepreneurs how to pivot in their careers and build a business that will help them live a life they love.  She also advocates for them to become their own advocates. Jerrica and I met for the first time at the first Medipreneurs Conference in Asheville, NC in April 2018.   Jerrica’s Dad told her that, “Every challenge or obstacle is there to prepare you for the next one.”   Jerrica serves a number of roles:   Coach women pharmacist entrepreneurs Functional medicine care provider Leader and public speaker Executive Editor (PharmaSis Magazine) A typical week involves a mix of her many roles:  from working with a patient to coaching a single client or a group of clients to public speaking and networking.  Jerrica shared a success story about a patient she coached.  Using Jerrica’s input and ideas, the patient lowered her Hemoglobin A1C from 10.1 to 6.3, without changing her medications!  Good food-shopping and preparation choices, dietary and nutrition changes, movement/exercise improvements, and more led to the lowered Hemoglobin A1C.  The patient’s trust in Jerrica and the patient’s meaningful changes led to the success.   How do patients and coaching clients find Dr. Jerrica Dodd?  Website, word-of-mouth, and social media.  Check out the links (above) in the show notes! PharmaSis Magazine celebrates women in pharmacy.  The first issue went from idea to print in 90 days!  To buy a copy of PharmaSis Magazine, shop the link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0874L1X73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_a1VLEbF88E49H.   COVID-19 and racial injustice have affected Dr. Jerrica Dodd’s business.  She lost two family members as a result of the coronavirus, and she counsels her patients about making good food choices instead of comfort food choices during the pandemic.  Recently, she took a break from social media in response to racial injustice in the US.  In 2020, she will Chair a Task Force for Racial Equality with ASCP (American Society of Consultant Pharmacists); the goals are to make changes within the profession of pharmacy through education, awareness, and research. If you are interested in working with Dr. Jerrica Dodd, visit her website or social media links (see above).  An initial consult is available at no charge to explore whether a working relationship and the timing of the coaching is right for both her and her clients.  Patients need to be ready to take charge of their health, and pharmacist entrepreneurs need to be ready to dream.      

Interview with Dr. Jerrica Dodd: pharmacist, entrepreneur, coach, and leader

Toastmasters International toastmasters.org I delivered my ice breaker speech to my Toastmasters Club on July 10, 2020, from my computer via Zoom.  The title of the speech was “Good Timing.”  I also delivered the same speech in this episode.  Doing it live is different from the recorded version.  I’m not sure which was better.   What is Toastmasters International?  According to their website, Toastmasters International is a non-profit educational organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills through a worldwide network of clubs.  There are more than 16,800 clubs in 143 countries, and there are more than 358,000 members.  The organization was founded in 1924, and their headquarters are located in Englewood, Colorado USA.  Toastmasters International helps people from diverse backgrounds become more confident speakers, communicators, and leaders.  Membership is affordable. Toastmasters uses a structured curriculum to build skills, and an ice breaker speech is the first speech a member gives on their path through the curriculum.  This was an opportunity to tell my Toastmasters Club Members about me, why I joined Toastmasters, and my goals for being in the club.  The length is supposed to be 4 to 6 minutes.  There’s a helpful worksheet with suggestions for content and transitions on the member website.  Toastmasters makes it pretty easy to craft a speech.  My club assigned me a mentor, and she helped me get started.  What does Toastmasters have to do with my journey from pharmacist to voice actor?  Here are 3 highlights.   1.  Toastmasters is helping me become a better podcaster.  I use less filler words and avoid bad grammar because Toastmasters has helped me with awareness about both.  2.  Toastmasters gives me an opportunity to speak in public without preparation on topics that I do not pick.  Extemporaneous speaking is another name for it.  3.  I get to use my voice and get feedback before the meeting ends.  When I gave my ice breaker speech, I got feedback in less than an hour.  An experienced evaluator told me what I excelled at, what to work on, and how to challenge myself as I move forward in my Toastmasters journey. Join me Friday, July 31, for episode 29, an interview with Dr. Jerrica Dodd, a pharmacist, entrepreneur, and leader.  Then, join me for my next solo episode on Friday August 7.  I plan to talk about conferences - pharmacist conferences and voiceover conferences.   

Toastmasters is helping me become a more effective communicator

Join Ohio pharmacist Kim Newlove on her journey to become a voice actor. Episodes include a mix of solo podcasts about Kim’s personal transformation and interviews with a variety of people who use their voices to advocate, educate, or entertain. This podcast is intended for anyone who enjoys a good story and likes rooting for an underdog. Will Kim succeed in the voiceover industry? Subscribe, and find out!

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Pharmacist's Voice

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