Pro Skater to Full-Time Voice Actor (My Story)

From Skateboarding to Voiceover: How I Accidentally Built My Dream Career

Have you ever had a dream that stayed with you for decades?

Maybe it was something you wanted to do as a kid but life got in the way. Maybe you convinced yourself you missed your chance. Or maybe you're still waiting for the "right time" to go after it.

Today, I want to share my story because if there's one thing I've learned, it's this:

It's never too late to pursue something you've always wanted to do.

A Phone Call That Changed Everything

My journey started in Knoxville, Tennessee.

I was about 14 years old when I called a local radio station to request a song. The DJ who answered was incredibly friendly, and when I heard my request played on the air, something clicked.

That moment sparked a fascination with radio broadcasting.

At the same time, another passion was developing.

Like a lot of kids in the 1980s, I watched Back to the Future and became obsessed with skateboarding. Seeing Marty McFly cruising through town made me want a skateboard immediately.

So while I couldn't exactly walk into a radio station and get a job at 14 years old, I could skateboard.

And that's exactly what I did.

Chasing a Skateboarding Dream

Throughout high school, I dedicated myself to skateboarding.

I practiced constantly, competed whenever I could, and gradually got better and better.

By the time I graduated, skateboarding had become more than a hobby. I was competing seriously and beginning to build a name for myself.

Meanwhile, that dream of working in radio never completely disappeared.

My First Radio Job

After high school, college wasn't in the cards for me at the time.

So I decided to take a shot at radio.

In 1995, I literally walked into a local radio station and asked if they were hiring.

Believe it or not, they hired me.

I started doing on-air work, recording promotional spots, and operating syndicated radio programs. It was everything I had hoped it would be.

But there was one complication.

I was still skateboarding.

And not just casually.

I had turned professional.

Choosing Between Two Passions

As my skateboarding career continued to grow, I found myself at a crossroads.

I was in my early twenties, and I knew that if I was ever going to fully pursue professional skateboarding, this was the time.

So I made a difficult decision.

I left radio and committed myself to skateboarding full-time.

Looking back, it was the right move.

You only get one chance to pursue certain opportunities, and I wanted to see where skateboarding could take me.

From Professional Skater to the X Games

Eventually, I transitioned from competing into the business side of skateboarding.

I worked with ESPN and the X Games, helping manage skateparks around the country.

At the time, I thought that was going to be my long-term career.

Voiceover was still there in the background.

I would occasionally book projects through word-of-mouth referrals, but I wasn't actively pursuing it as a business.

Then something happened that would eventually change everything.

The voiceover industry evolved.

The Voiceover Industry Changed

While I was focused on skateboarding, technology was transforming voiceover.

Years earlier, voice actors typically needed agents, local studios, and access to major markets.

Now the internet was changing the game.

Home studios were becoming common.

Online auditions were becoming available.

Voice actors could work with clients around the world.

The problem was that I didn't fully understand this new landscape.

I knew how voiceover worked in the old days.

I didn't yet know how to succeed in the new version of the industry.

When Life Gives You a Push

Eventually, the X Games skatepark business faded away.

The parks closed.

I found myself needing a more traditional job and went to work for a technology company in Phoenix.

Ironically, I was still doing voiceover work there as part of my communications role.

Meanwhile, I had built a small recording booth at home and was trying to figure out how to make voiceover a bigger part of my life.

Then one day, the company eliminated my position.

Just like that, my job was gone.

At the time, it felt devastating.

Looking back, it may have been the best thing that ever happened to me.

Discovering The Voiceover Blueprint

Like most people, I turned to YouTube looking for answers.

I spent hours researching microphones, demos, auditions, marketing, and everything else related to voiceover.

That's when I discovered The Voiceover Blueprint created by Bill DeWees.

I started watching his videos and immediately connected with his teaching style.

Eventually, I joined the program.

And things started changing fast.

I learned:

• How to create demos

• How to market myself

• Where to find voiceover work

• How to build relationships with clients

• How to treat voiceover like a real business

Most importantly, I started taking action.

And the results followed.

Building a Full-Time Voiceover Career

As I applied what I learned, I started booking more work.

Then more work.

Then even more.

Before long, voiceover became my full-time career.

Looking back, losing my corporate job was the push I needed.

The universe basically said:

"It's time."

And I listened.

Coming Full Circle

Because I had experienced success using The Voiceover Blueprint, Bill eventually invited me to contribute to the training program.

I started teaching webinars.

I shared marketing strategies.

I helped new voice actors avoid the mistakes I had made.

After all, who better to teach the material than someone who had gone through it firsthand?

Then in 2024, something incredible happened.

Bill reached out and told me he was ready to retire.

He asked if I would be interested in taking over The Voiceover Blueprint.

The very program that helped launch my career was now being entrusted to me.

It was an incredible honor.

Today, I continue working full-time as a voice actor while also helping aspiring voice actors build their own careers through The Voiceover Blueprint.

And Yes, I Still Skateboard

One thing people often ask is whether I still skateboard.

Absolutely.

In fact, I probably skate more now than I did when I worked a traditional 9-to-5 job.

The flexibility that voiceover provides has allowed me to spend more time doing what I love.

I even built a skateboarding pool in my backyard that doubles as a swimming pool.

Over the years, some of the world's top professional skateboarders—including Tony Hawk—have visited and skated it.

Not bad for a kid who got inspired by Marty McFly.

It's Never Too Late

There's one final lesson I want to leave you with.

I'm 54 years old.

And this year, I started another lifelong dream.

Stand-up comedy.

It's something I've wanted to do for decades.

For years, I talked myself out of it.

Then finally, I decided to stop waiting.

Today, I'm performing stand-up comedy in front of hundreds of people.

Why?

Because dreams don't have expiration dates.

Whether you're 24, 44, 54, or 74, it's never too late to start something new.

The Bottom Line

There is nothing particularly special about me.

I wasn't born with unique advantages.

I simply kept moving toward the things I wanted, even when the path wasn't clear.

If you've been thinking about getting into voiceover, starting a business, pursuing a passion, or trying something you've always dreamed about, consider this your sign.

Take the first step.

You never know where it might lead.

It certainly worked out better than I ever imagined.

Ready to take the next step? I'm hosting a free 1-hour webinar this Tuesday night at 6:00 PM Pacific / 9:00 PM Eastern where I'll go deeper into everything it takes to start a voice acting career from home—including how to land your first gigs with little to no upfront cost. Plus, everyone who shows up gets a free copy of my book, The Voiceover Blueprint (audiobook and ebook). Sign up using this link.

Download My Latest Beginner Mistakes in Voice Over - Quick Start! https://thevoiceoverblueprint.com/beginner-mistakes

Discover the Voice Over Blueprint™: https://thevoiceoverblueprint.com/vobp

The content on this channel is for educational and informational purposes only. While I share tips, strategies, and guidance based on my experience as a professional voice actor, there is no guarantee of earning income or securing voiceover work by using the information provided. Results vary depending on individual effort, skill level, market conditions, and other factors. Viewers should use their own judgment and take personal responsibility for their voiceover career decisions.