We were lucky to catch up with Isabella Tugman recently and have shared our conversation below.

Isabella, appreciate you joining us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’m grateful to able to say that yes, I’ve turned my lifelong dream into a thriving full-time career as a Voice Actor. Every day, I get to wake up and do what I love, but trust me—it’s been a wild, winding road to get here.

From the time I was a little kid, I knew I wanted to have a career in the performing arts. The stage, the screen, the microphone—it all called to me. I threw myself into every corner of the performing arts: theater, film, Shakespeare, dance, opera, you name it! Each experience added a new tool to my creative toolbox, sharpening my skills and fueling my passion. But, passion alone doesn’t pay the bills. So, I took some sage advice—“You can do anything, but not everything”—and decided to focus my energy on building a voice-over career as my foundation.

It wasn’t an overnight success story. I spent years training, experimenting, and adapting to an industry that’s always shifting under your feet. I started small—honing my craft, booking gigs here and there—and slowly built momentum. Life threw some curveballs that tested my resolve (more on that later!), but I refused to let them dull my sparkle. I kept showing up, kept learning, and kept believing in the dream. That tenacity, paired with a lot of hard work, is what got me to where I am today—a full-time voice-over artist living a life I love.

Could I have sped it up? Maybe, with the wisdom I have now. But honestly, every detour taught me something invaluable. And I love the quote: “You never know what worse luck your bad luck saves you from” – Cormac McCarthy.

My biggest milestones have been mindset shifts that have allowed me to enjoy the journey while continuing to level up. I once listened to an interview with Bryan Cranston, where he said “You can’t define success by an outcome that is not your choice,” and that was game-changing for me. At the end of the day, success comes with staying true to yourself, embracing the twists and turns, and never giving up.

To anyone chasing a creative dream, I’d say: Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Show up every day, trust the process, and let your path unfold. Control is an illusion. Do the work you love, release expectations, and enjoy the ride.

Here’s my heartfelt advice for creative entrepreneurs:
1. Set Office Hours: Treat your dream like a priority. Even if it’s just an hour a day, carve out time to move the needle forward.
2. Never Stop Growing: Keep training, keep learning—there’s always room to bloom.
3. Mindset is Magic: Stay grounded, resilient, and humble. You’ve got this!
4. Start Where You Are: You don’t need a perfect setup or endless resources—just your passion and a willingness to begin.
5. Run It Like a Business: Entrepreneurs wear a lot of hats. Learn the skills you lack or find help when you need it.

Isabella, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hey there! I’m Isabella Tugman—call me Izzy—a full-time voice actor and singer with a passion for storytelling. So basically, I talk to myself in a padded box for hours at a time, lol! I bring characters and ideas to life through audiobooks, video games, animations, commercials, radio imaging, corporate narration, phone systems—I’m even the voice of a robot vacuum (yes, really!). While voice-over is my main gig right now, I’ve danced across stages in theater, sung in operas, acted in films, and even produced a few projects behind the scenes. Performing is my oxygen, and I’m so grateful to share it with the world.

My journey started young—I was that kid who couldn’t stop performing, whether it was belting songs in the living room or putting on plays for my stuffed animals. That love never faded, so I chased it with everything I had, diving into every art form I could. Eventually, I found my sweet spot in voice-over—a space where I could tell stories, connect with audiences, and let my imagination run wild, all from my own little corner of the world.

What do I do for my clients? I solve the problem of bringing their vision to life with authenticity and heart. Whether it’s a quirky character, a warm narration, or a punchy ad, I’m here to make it resonate. What sets me apart? I think it’s my genuine love for collaboration and my knack for finding the soul in every script. I don’t just voice words—I weave connections.

I’m proud of so many things, but a few stand out: being featured in WIRED for championing accessibility in the arts, lending my voice to the English adaptation of the Korean hit musical animation Potendogs (which supports animal welfare—a cause close to my heart), and joining the Marvel Universe as Psylocke in Marvel Snap (sharing an IMDb credit with Samuel L. Jackson is pretty darn cool!). Most of all, I’m proud to wake up every day doing what sets my soul on fire.

I’m here to inspire, uplift, and tell stories that matter. It’s all about the power of connection.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Oh, where do I start? Picture this: You’re a wide-eyed dreamer who’s known since toddlerhood that performing is your calling. You’ve been told your 20s are the time to make it happen—your golden window before the clock strikes “give up and get a real job.” You’re 22, fresh out of college, with a job you love, great friends, a little nest egg, and a future so bright it’s dazzling. You’re ready to leap into your dream life.

Then, in an instant, everything shatters. A major trauma—domestic violence—rips your world apart. You lose your home, your job, your savings, even your sweet dog. Worse, you lose pieces of yourself you didn’t know could break: your confidence, your sense of safety, your identity. Your 20s vanish in a blur of survival and healing, and that dream you chased? It feels a million miles away.

But here’s the thing: That fire in me never went out. Even in my darkest moments, I couldn’t let go of performing. Obstacles with my health made a traditional 9-to-5 impossible, let alone a grueling theater schedule, so I turned to voice-over—a beautiful lifeline that let me chase my passion from home, on my terms. It wasn’t easy. Rebuilding took grit, patience, and a whole lot of stubborn hope. But every step—every audition, every gig—brought me closer to myself again.

Today, I’m thriving, healthy, and doing work I adore. It’s proof that resilience isn’t about avoiding the storm—it’s about dancing in the rain until the sun comes out.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Absolutely! I’m a big believer in feeding your mind and soul, and a few resources have been game-changers for me.

First, yoga and meditation deserve a standing ovation. They pulled me through trauma, grounded me, and taught me to find peace no matter what life throws my way. I’m calmer, happier, and tougher than ever thanks to those practices.
Books? Oh, I’ve got some favorites:

1. How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie – It’s timeless wisdom on building real connections, which is gold in any creative business.
2. Find Your Why by Simon Sinek – This one helped me dig deep and clarify my purpose—why I do what I do.
3. The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson – A cheeky, brilliant reminder to focus on what truly matters and let the rest roll off.
4. The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins – It’s all about releasing control and trusting the journey, which has been a lifesaver for me.

And recently, I’ve found faith—a leap that’s brought me so much clarity and alignment. With this final and crucial element, I feel like everything is falling into place, and I’m unstoppable.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://izzyvoice.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/izzyvoiceover/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IzzyVoiceOver/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/isabellatugman/
• Twitter: https://x.com/izzyvoiceover
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCP33zT2AwHGP5p0jL4ixb_A
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/izzyvoiceover
• Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@izzyvoiceover
  IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3201584/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1

Image Credits

Leonard Morales Jr.