Episode 10: How to Create Your Own Voiceover Path with Sion Dayson — from Teacher to Full-Time Voice Actor

I am enamored by talented people, and I have such respect for hardworking people. Sion is both. As a longtime member of the Voiceover Success Intensive, I’m privileged to have known her for 5 years now, and my respect and admiration for her has only grown as time has gone on. Her smile literally lights up the room, and I’ve been inspired by her commitment to give back to the voiceover community. 

But this might be the most magical thing about Sion: She turned an inherently isolating business into fertile ground for community, support, and lasting friendships. 

In this episode of "Conversational with Carrie Olsen," I lean in with Sion as we discuss the power of combining authenticity with strategic business planning and why building genuine relationships matter more than perfecting every technical detail. You'll discover how to leverage your existing background while staying true to who you are as you build your voice acting career.

Episode Highlights:

• The Serendipitous Discovery - How a sound engineer's simple question sparked a complete career transformation and why following your intuition matters (02:10)
• The Nine-Month Training Strategy - Why intensive preparation before launching can accelerate your success and create confidence for major opportunities (03:18)
• Building Community From Day One - How joining programs, attending conferences, and nurturing relationships became the foundation for a sustainable career (04:13)
• Turning Rejection Into Authenticity - The powerful lesson learned from losing a four-figure job due to a "sparkly S" and how it strengthened career confidence (34:07)
• The LinkedIn Strategy That Works - How authentic storytelling and consistent visibility on social media generates steady work without constant direct pitching (45:10)

3 Key Takeaways

1. Trust Your Intuition But Get The Training You Need

When that inner voice tells you voice acting might be your path, listen to it - but pair that intuition with serious skill development. Sion spent nine months in intensive training before launching her business, working with multiple coaches and taking various classes. This foundation gave her the confidence to tackle major projects like multiple live direction sessions early in her career.

2. Build Community Before You Need It

Voice acting can be isolating, but successful voice actors actively cultivate relationships from the beginning. Join programs, attend conferences, participate in online communities. And don't just lurk - engage authentically. These connections become your support system, accountability partners, and often your source of referrals and opportunities.

3. Embrace Your Authentic Voice Over Perfection

When Sion lost a significant job because a client disliked her "sparkly S," she had a choice: spend months trying to eliminate this natural speech pattern or embrace it as part of her unique sound. She chose authenticity and has continued booking work consistently. Your natural voice and background bring value that AI cannot replicate.

My Perspective

Sion's story reminds me why I'm so passionate about the intersection of voice acting skills and life skills. Her journey from ESL teacher to successful voice actor wasn't just about learning technique - it was about learning to trust herself, build meaningful relationships, and show up authentically in both her work and personal life. 

What's Coming Next..

Next week, we're exploring the psychology of taking direction and how voice actors develop feedback integration skills that transfer to every area of life. We'll cover the three-step framework for getting systematically better at receiving and implementing feedback, whether you're in the booth or navigating everyday relationships and work situations.

Action Step: Start Your Audio Diary Practice

Begin recording daily audio diaries - not for performance, but simply to get comfortable talking naturally into a microphone. Spend 5-10 minutes each day sharing what's happening in your life, your thoughts, or your goals. This practice helps you forget about the equipment and remember how to be conversational and authentic behind the mic.

No special equipment needed - use your phone, computer, or any recording device you have available.

Resources Mentioned

• Blinkist (app for book summaries)
• Voice123 (audition platform)
• Source Connect (remote recording software)
• Business Spotlight Audio (ESL magazine)

Connect With Me

• Connect with Sion: siondayson.com & LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/siondayson/
• Follow me on Instagram @carrieolsenvo
• Text VOICE to 55444 for my free resources
• Leave me a voice message to let me know what you thought of the episode 

Subscribe & Review

If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review on Apple Podcasts! Your support helps us reach more people who need these conversations about authenticity and finding their voice. 🎙

Thanks for tuning in to Conversational with Carrie Olsen! See you next week!