Welcome back to the sound studio!

In this episode, I share an update on what I've been working on across voice, music and storytelling. We wander through the latest developments in my PhD research, the compositional projects currently taking shape in the studio, recent voiceover work, and progress on my radio play, Dad Bought Me A Grave.

It's all go!

For paid subscribers, this week's Secret Podcast goes a little deeper. I talk candidly about the cloning of performers' voices, how I feel about the rapid growth of AI voice technology, and some of the ethical challenges facing the voiceover industry. I also share reflections on trust, transparency and the importance of protecting creative work in a changing landscape.

If you're interested in voice acting, composition, broadcasting, creativity, or simply how creative projects evolve behind closed studio doors, I hope you'll enjoy it.

Find out more about my work at EmmaClarke.com and subscribe to my newsletter at Substack.

Welcome back!

After a short pause spent relocating, composing, researching and attempting to keep several creative plates spinning simultaneously, the podcast returns!!

In this episode, I talk about where I’ve been, what I’ve been working on and how this Substack is evolving moving forward.

We explore the increasingly strange intersection between voice, creativity, communication, technology and identity — particularly at a time when AI-generated voices and synthetic media are rapidly changing the landscape for performers, broadcasters and artists.

I also share more about my ongoing PhD research, which investigates how my background as a voice actor informs the way I compose music, alongside reflections on broadcasting, storytelling, sound, performance and what makes human communication feel emotionally real.

Expect studio notes, behind-the-scenes stories, creative tangents and occasional dispatches from inside the gloriously odd world of media, composition and voice work.

Paid subscribers also receive access to The Secret Podcast: an extended companion episode featuring deeper reflections on AI voices, the changing voiceover industry, artistic identity, creative reinvention, behind-the-scenes PhD insights and the thoughts that emerge once the “official” recording stops.

Thank you for being here. More soon.

For more info about me and my work, here's my official website.

Episode Title: Hire the voice. Not the birth date.

Summary:In today's episode, I’m sharing a personal story about a recent casting experience - and a broader reflection on how voice work is often misunderstood.

When we hire based on numbers instead of nuance, we miss the real magic: the ability of a voice to embody character, emotion, and story, far beyond traditional labels like age.

A professional voice actor is trained to adapt — to sound younger, older, sicker, sexier, cooler — to be whatever the story needs.

This episode is a reminder that in voice acting, the voice itself is the instrument. Not the birthdate behind it.

In this episode:

Why age shouldn't define casting decisions

How trained voice actors shape-shift vocally

The importance of focusing on performance, character, and storytelling

A gentle call to rethink how we cast voices in creative work...

🎧 Bonus for paid subscribers:Paid subscribers get exclusive access to bonus content, where I dive deeper and share a story about one of the most bizarre things a client ever said to me.

Thank you for listening and supporting my work!If you enjoyed today’s episode, feel free to share it or leave a comment — I love hearing your thoughts.

Here's my Substack: https://ebclarke.substack.com

Here's my website: https://emmaclarke.com/

I’m making something new…

I’ve just launched a new feature for paid subscribers called Radar Pings - short weekly voice notes sharing what’s pinging on my creative radar.

* Cool stuff I’ve discovered - music, books, podcasts, random curios…

* Intriguing questions I’m mulling over

* Creative struggles - when the stuff I’m making just isn’t working

* What I’m trying to do better - I mean, like, everything…

* Unexpected moments of joy, wonder, fear…

* …and so on…

🎧 Have a listen to the first FREE Radar Ping at the top of the page. 🎧

🔥 Paid subscribers get other exclusive, bonus stuff too! 🔥

🐣 And until 21st April, you can get 20% of annual subscriptions - that works out at 92p per week!

Think of Radar Pings as audio postcards from my studio. It’s another way of connecting for those who want deeper glimpses into the work I do.

Want in?

📣 Upgrade to paid to receive your first Radar Ping this week. 📣

Thank you, as always, for being here. Whether you’re reading, listening, supporting, or silently cheering - it means the world.

PS. 🐣 Don’t forget, my Easter Annual Subscription Sale is on until 21st April. Get 20% off for 1 year - that’s just £3.66 per month…£0.92 per week!

Thanks for reading Who Do You Think I Am?! This post is public so feel free to share it.

🔥 Paid subscribers get additional content. 🔥

🎙️ So We're Now In A Global Trade War

Emergency Weather Report: Surviving the Creative Storm

Welcome to this emergency episode of The Weather Report — a regular podcast feature on my Substack for creatives navigating the shifting skies of art, culture, and self-expression.

I’m Emma Clarke: artist, broadcaster, voice actor, and creative strategist. Think of this as part forecast, part dispatch, always grounded in lived experience.

In this episode, I share an Emergency Weather Report for April 2025.

With a global trade war brewing and creative freelancers caught in the crosswinds, I unpack what it means — and how we can respond.

You’ll hear:

Why this isn’t collapse, but recalibration

The five things freelancers need to do now to adapt and stay visible

A call to create the kind of work this moment demands: steadying, strange, truthful

This episode is part strategy, part survival kit.

🔒 For paid subscribers:

The Extended ForecastYou’ll also receive:

🎧 Open Studio Tape — an unscripted audio reflection on how I weather creative turbulence in my own practice

To access this, upgrade to a paid subscription — and support independent, interdisciplinary work in the process.

💌 Subscribe to my Substack: https://ebclarke.substack.com

Get new episodes direct to your inbox.

You can find out more about me and my work on my personal website: https://emmaclarke.com/

🎙️ Show Notes

Episode Title: The Ground Is Shifting. So Am I. Subtitle: This month's Weather Report: global noise, inner clarity, and what’s next.

In this episode of The Weather Report, I share what’s stirring in the wider world—and inside my own creative life.

🌍 The external weather includes:

A global mood of disruption and resistance

The quiet cultural pivot back to real voices and crafted work

Longer days inviting more focus, space, and intentional creation

🌿 The internal weather?

Launching my new art business and website

Starting work on the score for an indie film

Protecting space to compose, reflect, and build slowly

Softly evolving my income streams to align with where I’m heading next

This is the kind of episode I record to stay grounded. I hope it helps you do the same.

🔒 Bonus content for paid subscribers:

A sneak peek from my memoir-in-progress

A deeper studio reflection on composing for screen

What I’m building slowly in the background (and why I’m not rushing it)

Subscribe or upgrade here: https://ebclarke.substack.com

Explore more of my work:

🎨 Visual art and graphic scores: emmaclarkeart.com🎙️ Voice, sound, and story: emmaclarke.com

Thanks for listening—and for being part of this thoughtful, creative space.

Episode Notes: "Past My Sell-By Date? Ageism in Voice Acting"

Episode Summary:What happens when your voice—once the go-to for major brands—slowly fades from the commercial scene? In this episode, I take a deep dive into ageism in voice acting, particularly how it affects women. From once booking high-profile campaigns to suddenly being asked to voice care home ads and funeral planners, I share my personal experiences of how the industry sidelines female voices as they age.

We’ll explore the ‘shelf life’ myth, the problem with photo requests in an audio industry, and how industry bias allows men to ‘mature’ into authoritative voices while women simply ‘age out.’ Plus, I’ll break down how we can challenge these biases and reclaim our space in the industry.

In This Episode:

🔹 A personal story: how my bookings shifted from high-energy brands to ‘mature’ voiceover requests🔹 The ‘silent drop-off’—when major clients stop calling without explanation🔹 The myth of a voiceover ‘shelf life’ and how it disproportionately affects women🔹 Why casting directors are now asking for headshots in a voice-only profession🔹 The industry’s obsession with youth and how it fuels gendered ageism🔹 How we can push back against this bias and stay relevant

Two Versions Available:

🔓 FREE LISTEN: The core episode is available to all subscribers.🔒 PAID LISTEN: For my wonderful paid subscribers, I’ve included an extended version with bonus content at the end, where I share additional behind-the-scenes insights and strategies for navigating this industry shift.

Resources & Links:

🎧 Listen to the full episode now.📩 Join the discussion in the comments—have you experienced ageism in voice acting?🔒 Paid Subscribers Only: Get exclusive insights & behind-the-scenes content.

Support the Show:

If you found this episode valuable, consider upgrading to a paid subscription to support independent content like this. Your support helps keep these important conversations going and allows me to create even more in-depth episodes.

👉 Share this episode with anyone who needs to hear it. Let’s make this a conversation the industry can’t ignore.

Find my Substack here: https://ebclarke.substack.com

For more info about me and my work, here's my personal website: https://emmaclarke.com/

🎙 Episode Title: "When the Big Gig Disappears: How to Handle a Pulled Campaign Like a Pro"

🔊 Episode Summary:In today’s episode, I share a real-life experience—one that most creatives, freelancers, and voice artists will relate to. A global campaign I was commissioned to voice was suddenly canceled. No warning. No final product. Just gone.

If you’ve ever had a major project disappear at the last minute, you know how disheartening it can be. But over the years, I’ve learned how to reframe the loss, move forward, and stay ready for the next big opportunity.

In this episode, I cover:✅ Why campaigns get pulled (and why it’s not about you)✅ How to reframe the setback so it doesn’t derail you✅ Why a near-miss is still a vote of confidence✅ How to keep momentum and motivation after a project falls through✅ Practical tips for bouncing back stronger than before

💡 Have you ever had a major project pulled at the last minute? How did you handle it? Let’s discuss!

🔗 Links & Resources:

Subscribe to my Substack for more insights

Follow me on LinkedIn

More about my work

📩 Stay Connected:Got thoughts on today’s episode? Drop me a message or share your experience in the comments!

🎧 Listen Now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Your Preferred Podcast App

#Podcast #FreelanceLife #CreativeBusiness #Resilience #ClientWork #Voiceover