When we lost Brad Venable last year, I was devastated. It was so sudden, and he was so young. I was in a state of shock for weeks. Brad came to Los Angeles with his wife Kathryn to pursue a career in voice over. We met on the picket line during the video game strike of 2016. Brad shared with me his story of nearly losing his voice after a particularly grueling session screaming his head off playing a soldier in a video game. And I don’t mean he was hoarse for a couple days, Brad almost lost his voice in that session… forever. After that, Brad became a fierce advocate for vocal health for actors. He and I were part of the National Voice Over Committee at SAG-AFTRA and were members of the Voice Over Collective, which Brad helped create, which is an informal group of vocal performers who get together to share support and resources with each other. Brad was as selfless, kind and generous a human being as I’ve ever known, and I miss him every time I show up at a meeting and he’s not there, or I direct an actor playing a character that he created for a video game. Brad’s been gone for just over a year now, and I want to introduce you to his widow, Kathryn in Season 2/ Episode 3
With love, Keythe.
Guest: Kathryn Venable Season 2 Episode 3
Teacher at Cahuenga Elementary School and Bilingual Voice Talent at VoiceOver
I met Brad in July 2010 and it felt like a fairytale. We spent nearly two whole days together before he had to go back home. I didn't want to let him go because he was so wonderful and I just knew I had found my person and I was afraid I'd go to sleep and it would have just been a dream. It wasn't a dream, but 10 years, 6 months, and 5 days feels like it was just the blink of an eye and yet it felt like I had been with him forever. And now that it is one year without him, it feels like it was just the blink of an eye when he was gone. How has it been a year? And yet it feels like the longest year of my life. There are so many pictures I love of Brad and of me and Brad. I chose this second one because it was one of the first I took of Brad. We went to Checotah to meet his immediate family for the first time after like a week of dating. We had met his extended family and he had met my extended family. I remember feeling so in love in that moment. Literally 😍🤩 starry-eyed. Over the years, our love for each other just grew and grew. I'm doing my hardest not to relive the events of a year ago. I have done that so much this past year. And it's usually just in the back of my mind anyway. Brad made me feel unconditionally loved. He made me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world. Brad made me feel heard and understood. Hugs to everyone and thank you for those who have been reaching out and offering their love and support 💜