Episode 37
Empowered & Out Podcast with Guest Jerry Ryba
🎙️ Behind the Mic: Jerry Ryba on Voiceover Careers, Coaching Confidence & Showing Up Proud
If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to become a working voice actor — or thought “Hey, I’ve got a great voice, maybe I could do that…” — this episode is for you.
This week on Empowered & Out, I sit down with the legendary Jerry Ryba (aka Rybawitz, aka Jelly) — a talent agent with 35 years in the business and two decades of voiceover expertise. Jerry has helped launch and sustain six-figure careers in voice acting, from animation to national commercials to network promos, all while keeping it real, witty, and deeply human.
We talk:
🎤 What makes a great demo (and what most people get wrong)
🎙️ The difference between commercial, narration, animation & promo VO
🏳️🌈 How the industry is evolving for LGBTQ+ talent
📣 Why confidence — not just talent — is everything
🧠 And yes… we bust the biggest myths about VO (including the “read in your underwear” fantasy)
Whether you're VO-curious, already in the game, or just want some industry tea and Jerry’s iconic quotes, you don’t want to miss this one.
🎧 Listen now and get ready to laugh, learn, and rethink what it means to find your signature voice.
To find my guest, Jerry:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-ryba-5986283/
To connect with Jonathan:
