Voice of the Month – September 2025

Bio

Osahenrumwen Christabel Iguodala is a 24-year-old Biotechnology student from Edo State, Nigeria, whose journey into voice acting feels almost destined. Growing up, her mother often traveled and would leave her and her siblings with stacks of cartoon CDs in different languages. Hours spent absorbing those voices and characters unknowingly laid the foundation for her passion.

In 2021, a casual suggestion from her Media Team Head at church nudged her to try voice acting. At the time, she didn’t even realize it could be a professional path. But the spark caught fire, and by 2023, Christabel committed fully to pursuing voice acting as a career.

The Interview

1. Tell us about yourself and how you started in voiceover.

My name is Osahenrumwen Christabel Iguodala, but most people simply call me Erun. Interestingly, my journey into voice acting started quite by accident in church. What began as a small, unexpected opportunity quickly grew into something I fell in love with, and over time, it blossomed into the career I now passionately pursue.

2. What inspired you to pursue this career?

I was first inspired by my Media Team Head in church, who encouraged me to explore voiceover. That nudge lit a spark in me, and once I started, I knew this was a path I wanted to follow.

3. Who has inspired you the most in the voiceover industry?

The very first person who inspired me in this industry was VoiceofSteph. I stumbled upon her online, and her zeal and passion for the craft resonated with me so strongly. Beyond her, I also draw inspiration from talents like Tcode, Jamal-Deen, Shebly Young, Brizzy Voices, Peter Baker, ‘A VO’s Journey’, and many others whose work continues to shape my growth.

4. What kinds/types of voiceover projects have you worked on, and which of them excite you the most?

I’ve had the privilege of working with brands such as MTN and Freddy Hirsch, as well as international clients on commercial ads. My portfolio also includes narrations for YouTube channels, documentaries, audio dramas, and voicing characters for kids’ animation.

At the moment, I’m recording an ad for a major international company. While I enjoy the variety, I must say—animation is my absolute favorite. Every time I get to bring animated characters to life, it fills me with pure excitement.

5. What are some of your proudest Voiceover moments and why?

My proudest moment will always be landing my very first voiceover gig. For a long time, I doubted it was even possible, so securing that job was a huge milestone. It proved to me that my voice had value and that I could truly build a career in this field.

6. How do you approach character development for a voiceover role? (Describe your creative process.)

Whenever I take on a character, I immerse myself in the script—reading it multiple times until I fully understand it. I pay attention to details such as the character’s age, role, and behavioral traits, which guide me in shaping their voice. I also research and listen to references of similar characters to help me embody the role authentically.

7. Walk us through your workflow; how do you prepare for a voiceover session or recording?

My preparation always starts with my mind. I make a few faith confessions to center myself. After that, I do vocal warmups, run a couple of test recordings, and once I’m confident in the sound, I dive into the actual session.

8. How have you been improving your skills?

Growth for me has been intentional. I practice consistently, take courses, and study materials online—especially through YouTube. Continuous learning keeps me sharp and evolving. I also listen to a lot of voiceover podcasts – Voiceverse being one of my top five.

9. What challenges have you faced, and how have you overcome them?

One of the hardest moments in my career was losing my first high-paying narration job due to poor pronunciation. It hurt deeply, but instead of quitting, I committed to improving.

I started reading aloud every day, listening to podcasts and audio dramas, and I even created a private YouTube channel where I practiced narration. I also studied accent guides and worked relentlessly on my delivery. Today, I can comfortably voice in over seven different accents. That setback became the fuel for one of my greatest strengths.

10. What are your career goals in the VO industry?

My biggest dream is to voice a character in a Disney animated film. Beyond that, I want to be featured in at least 100 animation projects, video games, and audio dramas. I want my voice to travel across worlds, touching audiences in different ways.

11. What’s the most ridiculous fee you’ve ever accepted for a voiceover project, and how did it happen? 

When I was starting, I accepted free work and even as little as ₦3,000. At the time, my only focus was building a portfolio and gaining experience. I would voice projects for friends or anyone who asked, just to have work samples. Looking back, it was all part of the journey.

12. Have you ever worked with an annoying or overly demanding client? Tell us your most unforgettable ordeal! 

Absolutely! One that stands out was a campaign for a pharmaceutical company in Saudi Arabia. The client was very unresponsive but extremely demanding. I must have recorded the script ten times because I had promised unlimited revisions, being that this was my first big gig.

My inexperience with big corporate companies was very evident in this project. After all that stress, he ended up choosing the very first take I sent. It was exhausting but also a valuable lesson in setting boundaries. 

13. What advice would you give to other upcoming voiceover artists?

My advice is simple: Never give up. Your voice is unique and valuable—someone out there is waiting to hear it. Keep practicing, keep learning, and remember that there are more than enough clients to go around.

14. Where can people find your work and connect with you?

You can connect with me on my website, Upwork, Fiverr, Voices123, on Voices . com: Erun Iguodala, on Casting Club: Voiceof_e, or directly via email.