Narrator Mentorship
About the Program and Our Producers
Launched in 2021, the Penguin Random House Audio Narrator Mentorship Program is an initiative for actors new to audiobooks, offering them the opportunity to work with our team of producers to strengthen their craft and gain industry knowledge. We believe that publishing and casting should be entirely inclusive and we created this program to widen the playing field for every actor who participates in the program. Over a six-month period, mentees will be guided by their mentors in individual coaching sessions, producing demo samples, and preparing for and completing an audio audition.
Currently, we are a bicoastal team of more than 20 audiobook producers, with nearly 300 years of combined experience. We produce approximately 1,900 titles per year and have garnered 19 GRAMMY® Awards and 111 Audie Awards®.
How to Apply
1. You’ll need to answer 17 questions about yourself and your skills. You can preview the questions here.
2. The application requires that you include a link to a brief narration sample via Soundcloud (instructions here). If you have not uploaded your sample already, please do so before you begin your application. A reading sample is required. Commerical VO samples will not be considered.
3. Fill out the application via Survey Monkey as directed.
4. Submit the application between Monday, August 12, 2024 and Friday, August 30, 2024 at 11:59 PM EDT. All applicants will be contacted directly about their status via email before the end of December.
**Incomplete applications will not be considered.**
Mentorship Alumni
We’ve received thousands of applications from around the world, and more than 70 narrators have participated in the program over four sessions since 2021. The vast majority of mentees who have completed the program thus far have gone on to narrate audiobooks for Penguin Random House Audio and other publishers, using the skills they developed during this mentorship.
See a couple of our mentees interviewed on our Meet the Voice YouTube series:
Philip Hernandez and Aixa Kay
Have Questions?
From eligibility to submission guidelines and more—we have the answers.
Listen Up
Check out these audiobooks narrated by mentorship alumni
See what our producers and mentorship alumni have to say about the program