Meet Shannon Torrence | Voice Actor, Podcast Host and Psychic Medium

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shannon Torrence and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shannon, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?
We waste time looking for the perfect lover instead of creating the perfect love. – Tom Robbins, from his book, “Jitterbug Perfume”.

This quote is so personal to me because I spent so much of my life seeking validation and approval from others, and it was through a long journey of healing that I learned that love has to come primarily from within. No one else has the responsibility to nurture us and to meet our needs but us, and while love and intimacy and connection are the whole reason we are here, in my opinion, and are vitally important, we can’t expect anything or anyone outside of ourselves to heal us or to make us feel worthy or lovable or whole. That quote from Jerry McGuire, “You complete me”? That’s not romantic; that’s codependency, Man!

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The road to becoming a professional voice actor was not, as many assume, difficult. Was it financially strenuous and stressful? Absolutely. Did I have to work a million survival and side hustle jobs for years to make ends meet? Of course, I was an actor living in LA! But voiceover itself never once felt like work. When I started, I was a wide-eyed 20-something who didn’t for a second ever even imagine I’d be PAID to do voiceover work. I was working as a customer service rep for a shipping supplies company and was incredibly depressed and unfulfilled so I took acting classes to give myself a creative outlet. I simply did it because I loved it so much, and had fun playing in the studio with other fun actors, and it all happened because of the, “follow your bliss” or, “do what you love and the money will come” principle. I wasn’t focused on the money; I was focused on enjoying the process and having fun.

I definitely experienced some disappointments along the way but there were also so many successes that it all balanced out and there wasn’t time to dwell on the jobs that didn’t pan out.

The most important thing I’ve learned and would like to share is that acting is a competitive business. But it’s selection, not rejection. Don’t try to be anyone other than yourself. What you have to offer is that you are UNIQUELY you. No one else can compete with that. So all you really have to do is to bring authenticity to the stage or the room or the set or the recording booth. Speak from the heart. Don’t ACT; just BE. Know that you are enough and that you are interesting just by virtue of being yourself. You won’t be for everyone and that’s OK. Those with whom you resonate … those are your people – your friends, your lovers, your clients.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I always take visitors from out of town to Malibu Creek State Park or to hike at Griffith Park or at the Hollywood Reservoir. I avoid Hollywood Blvd or Beverly Hills or anything touristy. That’s not what the real LA is all about. At night we’d go to Hotel Cafe to see some of the best live music you’ll see anywhere. For the best avocado toast for breakfast, Mustard Seed Cafe is my hang.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have so many amazing mentors who believed in me, taught me, supported me and gave me the leg up I needed in my acting career and in my mediumship development and it would be too many to list and since I don’t want to favor one over the other, I’d like to recognize my friends and family for loving me, for giving me a sense of home and for giving my life a greater sense of purpose and of belonging. There were so many times I lost faith in and abandoned myself and without the people who showed up and held my hand through the darkness, I’d never have found my way back to the light. I am blessed to have a wonderful family but what I think is so cool is that my LA tribe, my community, was formed by choice. We chose one another as a result of feeling connected and inspired and seen and heard in one another’s presence and because we had shared history and experiences that bonded us.

Website: www.shannontorrencevoiceover.com and magicisrealservices.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/realmagicshannon/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/shannon.torrence

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClyogcP2DV6bJxUkD2Fa9JA