Today we’d like to introduce you to Nevin Stoltz.
Hi Nevin, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve been drawn to creating. Whether I was spending hours building elaborate LEGO worlds with my brothers, sketching whatever captured my imagination, painting alongside Bob Ross on PBS, or building models in my basement, I found joy and purpose when creating.
As I got older, that passion expanded into acting. I spent years performing in school plays before eventually discovering graphic design in high school. The moment I opened Photoshop for the first time, I was hooked. It combined art with technology in a way that completely clicked for me, and it ultimately led me to Penn State University, where I studied Graphic Design.
Like many creatives, my path wasn’t exactly a straight line. While I continued freelancing as a designer, I spent much of my adult life managing restaurants to pay the bills. It was rewarding work in its own way, but that creative spark was always fighting to be the dominant driver in my life. Around 2018, I found my way back to acting, working on productions in the Portland, Oregon area and reconnecting with the storytelling side of myself. When the pandemic brought much of the film industry to a standstill, I decided to pivot into voice acting instead of waiting for things to return to normal. I built a home studio, immersed myself in learning the craft, and landed my first voiceover client before the end of 2020.
Today, I have the privilege of lending my voice to commercials, corporate narration, e-learning, animation, video games, and audio dramas while continuing to offer graphic design services for businesses, entrepreneurs, and fellow voice actors. I’ve also had the opportunity to produce an independent project called Fogtown, which has given me an even greater appreciation for the collaborative process behind great storytelling.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all. I think one of the biggest misconceptions about pursuing a creative career is that talent alone is enough. In reality, success often comes down to persistence. As we say in the voiceover industry, it’s not a race, it’s a marathon.
For years, creativity was something I fit around a full-time career managing restaurants. There were plenty of weeks where I worked fifty or sixty hours, yet I still found myself designing, auditioning, or learning new skills whenever I had free time. It wasn’t always easy balancing financial stability with the desire to build a creative career, but I never wanted to let go of that dream.
Then, just as I was gaining momentum in film and acting, the pandemic brought everything to an abrupt halt. Like so many others in the entertainment industry, I suddenly had to rethink my path. Instead of seeing it as the end of something, I chose to see it as the beginning of something new. I invested in a home studio, dedicated myself to learning voice acting, and slowly began building a business one client at a time.
Even today, the challenges haven’t disappeared. Creative industries are constantly evolving, technology is changing rapidly, AI is invading every aspect of our world, and competition is fierce. However, I’ve learned that growth comes from adapting rather than resisting change. Every obstacle has pushed me to develop new skills. Every detour taught me something valuable and ultimately led me to opportunities I never would have discovered otherwise.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
If I had to sum up what I do in one sentence, I’d say I’m a storyteller who happens to work in several different creative mediums.
My primary focus today is creative direction and storytelling. Whether I’m voicing a commercial, designing a brand identity or website, producing an independent project, or writing narration for a nature documentary, the objective is always the same: communicate an idea or tell a story that connects with people.
Because I’ve worked across so many creative disciplines—graphic design, branding, acting, voiceover, video production, writing, and photography—I tend to approach projects differently than someone who specializes in only one area. Instead of seeing isolated pieces, I naturally think about the bigger picture. How does the visual design support the message? How should the script sound? What emotion should the audience walk away with? Every creative decision should reinforce the story being told.
I’m probably most proud of that versatility. I’ve spent years learning how these various disciplines complement one another and I have a personal rule to learn something new every day. That’s allowed me to wear many hats on projects, collaborate more effectively with other creatives, and help clients solve problems from multiple perspectives.
Ultimately, that’s what sets me apart. I don’t see myself as just a designer, a voice actor, or a producer—I see myself as a creative partner. My goal isn’t simply to deliver a logo, a voiceover, or a finished video. It’s to understand what my client is trying to communicate and then use whatever creative tools are needed to bring that vision to life.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
While my free time to consume media is limited, it’s usually spent listening to or watching podcasts across my various fields.
For voiceover, my go to podcasts are The Everyday VOpreneur from Marc Scott, VO Buzz Weekly with Chuck and Stacy, and VO Boss with Anne Ganguzza.
For design, it’s Design Matters with Debbie Millman and The Collective Podcast.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nevinstotz.com
- Instagram: http://instagram.com/nevinstoltz
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nevin-stoltz/
- Twitter: http://twitter.com/nevinstoltz
