What is the "How do you say that?!" Podcast all about?

Have you ever wondered how voiceover actors create different reads? The "How do you say that?!" podcast is an excellent and fun way of getting a behind-the-scene view while giving a few tips and tricks to fellow voice actors.

The show is hosted by Mark Ryes, and Samantha Boffin, who welcome a new guest each week. (side quest: let’s give them a round of applause because putting out a weekly podcast takes serious dedication and hustle!)

Mark and Samantha choose one script and they ask the guest to bring one too and everyone gives it a go! Proving that there isn't just one way to read a script, there are lots of ways!

Then it's wild card time when they have fun and play with unexpected artistic direction and then ask the guest about their experiences and or tips and tricks about the industry.

While attending The Great Big Voice Over Social in January, Mark asked me to be a guest and I am so honored!

This Episode has bike horns, Florence Nightingale's letters, working with music, building a crescendo, and the technical term: “to gruff it”! The link to the podcast page is here: https://britishvoiceover.co.uk/how-do-you-say-that-with-stephanie-matard/

Or you can listen to the full episode here:

Chapter 1: The Introduction & A Bicycle Horn

Mark Ryes: Hello and welcome to How Do You Say That?!, proudly sponsored by BritishVoiceover.co.uk! Here’s my fabulous co-host, Samantha Boffin.

Samantha Boffin: Hello! And this is my equally fabulous co-host, Mark Ryes.

Mark: If this is your first time tuning in… where have you been?! Here's what the show’s all about: each week, we invite a special guest onto the podcast. We each bring a script to the table — including our guest — and we all take a crack at reading them. It’s proof that there’s never just one way to say a line.

Samantha: We also start every episode with a little “true or false” game to break the ice.

Mark: But before we dive in, let’s welcome this week’s guest — it’s Stephanie Matard!

Stephanie: Hello, hello, hello! I’m so honored to be here, thank you so much for having me!

Samantha: Let’s give our listeners a bit of background: Stephanie is an American voiceover artist who’s been based in France since 2010. She’s now bilingual — English and French — and in 2020, she won the VO Atlanta International Scholarship. She was also nominated for Best International Voiceover at the One Voice Awards in 2022.

Mark: Stephanie records from her studio in Normandy and also works out of top studios in Paris. When she’s not behind the mic, she’s into travel, culture… and French cheese. Naturally!

Samantha: 100% support that last one. Stephanie, what’s a fun fact about you?

Stephanie: Well… I can make a bicycle horn sound with my mouth! I don’t get asked to do it often, but—

Mark: Well then obviously we’re going to need a demo right now.

Stephanie: Yep, I saw that coming. Okay, here it goes…

(Stephanie does the horn sound)

Samantha: That is brilliant!

Mark: I’m genuinely impressed. We can't prove you don’t have a real bike horn under the desk, but I believe you.

Stephanie: If we ever meet in real life, just ask — I’ll do it live. It’s become my signature sound!

 Chapter 2: Florence Nightingale’s Letter – A Museum Script

Mark: All right, let’s dive into our first script! This is one I voiced recently — it’s a letter. Stephanie, can you guess what kind of project it was?

Stephanie: Hmm… sounds like maybe an audio guide for a museum?

Samantha: Spot on. It was for a museum exhibition. These are real letters, so there are some abbreviations and old-fashioned phrasings.

Stephanie: I saw that — I wasn’t quite sure what all the abbreviations meant.

Samantha: They’re taken straight from Florence Nightingale’s letters. For instance, they’d abbreviate the year to just “55” or “56” because it was obviously the 1800s. And the military abbreviations are original too.

Mark: I’ll go first with a read — then Steph, we’d love to hear your take.

(Mark reads the letter)

Stephanie: That was great. I think, for a museum guide, the slower pace really works. And I loved that you read it as if you were writing it — that felt very natural.

Samantha: I literally was writing it out in the air with my hand while reading! It helps me with pacing and tone.

Mark: Alright Steph, over to you — let’s hear your Florence Nightingale.

(Stephanie reads the letter)

Samantha: That was so lovely. Very clear, and I loved the warmth even though you kept a nice authoritative tone.

Mark: Yeah, and your pacing was on point. It’s not easy to strike that balance between being informative and emotive — and you nailed it.

Stephanie: Thank you! I tried to make it dynamic — a bit faster at the start, and then slower and more grounded in the middle.

Samantha: You did that beautifully. It really worked.

Stephanie: Also… I was lowkey excited about playing Florence Nightingale! I remembered that back in 8th or 9th grade, I dressed up as her for a class presentation. I went all in — and my classmates were furious because they knew I was going to get an A!

Chapter 3: A Helmet Commercial – Crescendos & Soundtracking

Samantha: Steph, tell us about the script you brought today!

Stephanie: It’s a 30-second web commercial for a sports brand promoting their helmets. The video takes you inside the factory, showing the hands of the people crafting the helmets. The voiceover represents someone proud of the work — explaining what they do and why they do it.

Mark: Were there any particular directions from the client?

Stephanie: Yes! It was a directed session with music created specifically for the ad. The music had a clear build — a crescendo — and they wanted something warm, authentic, and inspiring.

Samantha: Okay, we’ll give it a go first, and then you tell us how close (or far) we were from the original tone.

(Mark and Samantha do their reads)

Stephanie: Really interesting takes! Mark’s had more urgency and drive — I could picture quick edits and high-energy visuals. Samantha’s was softer, steadier, which gave it a nice grounded tone.

Mark: Your turn — we want to hear how you delivered it with the music in mind!

(Stephanie reads the spot)

Samantha: Ah, now I hear the crescendo. That made so much sense — and the way you softened at the end was beautiful.

Mark: Yeah, great emotional arc. It really built to something then landed gently.

Stephanie: Thank you! I love working with music. When I don’t have it, I often find a piece that matches the vibe to help guide my read. It really helps me with rhythm and energy.

Samantha: Same here! It can totally shift the mood of a read, especially if you’re stuck delivering multiple takes that feel too similar.

Chapter 4: The Wild Card – Murderers, Movie Trailers & Noses

Mark: All right, folks — it’s Wild Card time! Steph, you get to give one of us a totally different direction for one of the scripts. What’ll it be?

Stephanie: Okay… Mark, I want you to read the helmet commercial… but in the style of a horror movie trailer. Epic, dramatic, suspenseful.

Mark: Oh wow. I’m not a classic trailer voice guy — I’ve never really mastered the “gruff.” Is that the technical term?

Stephanie: 100%! You all knew exactly what I meant, didn’t you?

(Mark reads it in an epic trailer style)

Stephanie: That was amazing! Maybe a touch more mystery on the word “hands” — but honestly, you could totally do this stuff.

Samantha: Yeah, just needed some reverb and it would’ve been perfect.

Mark: Okay Sam, your turn to give Steph a wild prompt!

Samantha: Right, Steph — I want you to read Florence Nightingale’s letter again… but this time, you’re a scheming murderer trying to cover up a crime. William Austin didn’t go home. You buried him under the patio, and no one can know.

Stephanie: Oh my gosh — yes. I’m in.

(Stephanie reads the letter as a sociopath)

Mark: That character is terrifying. So good!

Samantha: I loved that you were clearly enjoying how evil she was. That little glint in your voice — brilliant!

Mark: Slightly afraid of you now, Steph. Not gonna lie.

Samantha: Alright Mark, your turn to give me a weird direction.

Mark: Okay Sam — you’re a character with an extremely long nose. Read the helmet script, but replace “hands” with “nose.” Like… it’s your greatest tool.

(Samantha reads it — and totally nails it)

Stephanie: That was so good! I can totally see that as a cold medicine ad now. Big nose on screen, you selling the remedy. Loved it.

Chapter 5: Global VO Work, Language Power & Life in France

Samantha: Steph, you’re an American in Paris… and that’s a whole movie right there. Has living in France shaped your VO career?

Stephanie: Absolutely. Around 80% of my clients are in France. The rest come from other countries — the UK, Spain, Europe in general, and the US too.

Mark: And most of your French clients hire you to record in English?

Stephanie: Exactly. I rarely work in French because I speak with an American accent — but they need English for international projects, so it works out beautifully.

Samantha: So how do you find clients around the world?

Stephanie: I do a lot of direct marketing. And I really lean into languages. If I could give one tip, it would be: if you know another language, use it. I have my website available in several languages, and when I reach out to someone new, I write in their language.

Mark: Even if you don’t speak it fluently?

Stephanie: Yep! For example, I recently contacted a studio in Portugal. I don’t speak Portuguese, but I used AI to translate my email. I sent both the Portuguese and English versions, and just added a note: “This was translated automatically — please excuse any errors.”

Samantha: That’s so smart.

Stephanie: And people really appreciate the effort! I’ve had several thank me for it and add me to their roster just because I reached out in their language.

Mark: Plus, your pronunciation of French names and places is spot on. That’s such an advantage for international corporate work.

Stephanie: For sure. I often get projects where I have to say French names or brands in English — or even switch between the two mid-sentence. Being bilingual really is a huge asset.

Samantha: It’s a superpower, honestly.

Stephanie: It really does feel like one sometimes!

Mark: Steph, thank you so much for being with us today. What a fun and inspiring episode.

Stephanie: Thank you! I had an absolute blast. It was such an honor to be part of the show.

Being a guest on “How Do You Say That?!” was equal parts fun, thoughtful, and inspiring. A huge thank you to Mark and Samantha for such a warm and engaging conversation — and for celebrating all the weird and wonderful sides of voiceover! If you’re a fellow VO artist (or just VO-curious), I highly recommend giving this podcast a listen. It’s full of tips, laughter, and a genuine love for the craft.

Thanks so much for reading — and if you do check out the episode, I’d love to hear what you think! Steph