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Community Spotlight – Mike Smith

Mike Smith’s an adventurer at heart who took a big leap from his government job to chase his dream of voice acting. As a former Peace Corps volunteer who served in Albania, Mike’s love for exploration and freedom drove him to leave the nine-to-five life behind. Now, he’s on an exciting journey to live and travel wherever his heart desires, all while building a career he truly loves.

Without an acting background, Mike jumped headfirst into the world of voiceover, learning everything from scratch with determination and grit. A lifelong fan of video games and animation, he found inspiration in the characters he’s admired for years, starting by mimicking their voices and evolving his craft every day.

His ultimate goal is to refine his craft to the point where recording location is no longer a limitation, earn recognition alongside his accomplished peers, and eventually move abroad, creating a fulfilling life fueled by his talent and passion for creativity.

Q: What’s one physical thing you absolutely can’t live without on your career or journey?

I can’t live without a gaming PC. I play a lot of games for enjoyment AND research as to what’s booking and how things sound so that I can do those same types of performances.

Q: What’s something that happened this year that you’re really proud of?

I finally booked a BIG promo partnership with the Dallas Mavericks for the 2025 season. I have wanted to do promo since I began but have only managed smaller jobs until now. Hopefully this will lead to more big promo work in the future!

Q: What’s one of your major takeaways from participating in THNEA classes? 

Mine is personal but I always felt like maybe I didn’t belong because I didn’t grow up acting or interested in the arts (I played basketball forever) but learning from THNEA directors and being able to keep up makes me feel like I can do really big things in the future because of their guidance.

Q: If you can give your past self one piece of advice at the start of your journey, what would it be? 

You will hear lots of people tell you what NOT to do, but believe in yourself and use your strengths to do what you know needs to be done. There is no “right way” to succeed in VO!

You can learn more about Mike on his website, IMDB, and Behind The Voice Actors!

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