Join us for an in-depth conversation with Khaya Fraites the voice behind Violet Sorrengail in the beloved Fourth Wing Dramatized Audiobook series. As a writer, director, and voice actor, Khaya shares her unique perspective on bringing characters to life across multiple creative mediums.

In this episode, we dive deep into her journey from theater to voice acting, the preparation that goes into voicing iconic characters like Violet, and how she navigates the business side of the industry. We also explore her work as a filmmaker, her writing process, and how AI is impacting voice actors today.

Whether you're a Fourth Wing fan curious about the voice behind Violet or an aspiring creator looking to learn from a multi-talented artist, this conversation offers valuable insights into the creative process.

TIMESTAMPS:
1:02 Sundance and Films
2:14 Theatre Acting v. Voice
3:22 Favorite books growing up
4:33 Popcorn Reading
5:32 Becoming a Voice Actor
7:12 Preparation for Voice Acting
8:18 Bring Characters to Life
9:43 Preparing your Voice
11:30 How to Direct Voice Actors
12:42 Playing Violet Sorrengail in Empyrean Series
14:24 The Pressure of Playing Violet Sorrengail
16:02 Recording Iron Flame and Onyx Storm
16:43 Zodiac Academy
17:24 Recording Time
17:39 Business Side of Voice Acting
18:14 Marketing Yourself as an Actor
20:15 On Community
21:23 Being Underestimated as an Actor
23:10 People Using AI on Her Voice
24:36 Navigating the AI world as a Voice Actor
28:03 Acting Advice
29:42 Making Short Films
33:12 Self-Financing Films
34:34 Writing, Acting & Directing
37:02 Writing Process
39:02 On Potentially Writing A Book
40:12 Last, Now, Next Books
41:45 Rapid Fire Questions
43:38 Favorite Line by Violet Sorrengail
45:36 What would you like to see more of in the book world?
45:49 What would you like to see less of in the book world?

CONNECT WITH KHAYA:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khayafraites/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@khayafraites
Website: https://www.khayafraites.com/
Twitter/X: https://x.com/khayafraites

🔗 CONNECT WITH US:
Download Bookum to start your own book club: www.bookumapp.com

📚 ABOUT BOOKUM CREATORS TALK:
A podcast exploring the creative minds behind your favorite books, content, and stories.

#fourthwing #voiceacting #bookpodcast #creativeprocess #audiobook #booktok

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

In this powerful episode of the Bookum Author Talk Podcast, we sit down with Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Dr. Marcia Chatelain to explore her groundbreaking book, Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America. We trace the hidden history of McDonald’s in Black neighborhoods—from post-civil rights era franchising to protests, advertising, health, and economic empowerment.

This is not just a story about fast food, it’s about how Black America was both empowered and exploited by one of the most iconic brands in the world.

Timestamps
1:15 – Sinners & The Great Migration
2:55 – Growing up with McDonald's
4:13 – Fast Food Habits as Kids
5:53 – Black Neighborhoods Before McDonald's
7:51 – Sit-ins at McDonald's
9:42 – Pine Bluff Protest
11:55 – Black Ownership in McDonald's
14:10 – Black Restaurateurs
16:30 – Franchising vs. Sole Ownership
18:02 – Black Capitalism Movement
20:00 – Generational Wealth
21:30 – McDonald's in Black Communities
23:20 – Programs McDonald's Provided
24:40 – Relationship with McDonald's
26:32 – Byron Allen and McDonald's
27:42 – McDonald's and Black Ad Agencies
29:07 – Challenges for Black Franchisees
30:33 – Decline in Black-Owned McDonald's
33:35 – Ray Kroc’s Legacy
35:34 – McDonald’s Hidden History
36:48 – The Power of the Black Dollar
38:20 – Target Boycott
40:20 – Black Economics and Target
42:02 – Black Celebrity Restaurants
45:33 – Historical Clarity for Black Entrepreneurship
47:33 – MLK Assassination vs. George Floyd DEI Moments
49:44 – Fast Food & Health Issues
52:12 – Food Deserts and Grocery Access
54:45 – Where Do We Go from Here?
56:30 – Writing Process
57:23 – Perfect Writing Day
59:31 – Book, Podcast, & Doc Recs
1:00:56 – Writer’s Toolkit

📚 About the Book:
Franchise: The Golden Arches in Black America reveals the complex history of McDonald’s and how fast food became a site of both opportunity and inequality in Black communities. It won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for History and the James Beard Award for Writing.

Get your copy of the book - https://www.marciachatelain.com/

For more book conversation and to start your own book club, download our new app - www.bookumapp.com

Other Resources mentioned in this episode:
Supersizing Urban America: How Inner Cities Got Fast Food with Government Help by Chin Jou
https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/S/bo14193313.html

Documentary: The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution (Louis Nelson Jr., 2015)
https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/documentaries/the-black-panthers-vanguard-of-the-revolution

Rip Curtain – Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/show/rip-curtain

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!

We talk about everything from Hogan’s record-breaking WCW deal to the NWO’s cultural crossover with hip-hop, Monday Night Wars, and Dennis Rodman. If you're a wrestling fan, this is a must-watch.

Timestamps:
1:15 - Current WWE
2:21 - John Cena turning Heel
3:35 - Watching Wrestle as a kid
5:23 - Hulk Hogan Signing to WCW
10:52 - Hulk Hogan & Pop Culture
12:02 - Hulk Hogan v. Andre The Giant
13:21 - Record Deal for Hulk Hogan
17:24 - The Formation of NWO
18:02 - Hulk Hogan joins NWO
24:22 - Trash throwing Trash in WCW
29:10 - Hip-hop's Influence on NWO
35:01 - Dennis Rodman Joining the NWO
37:34 - NWO growing too large
40:14 - Monday Football v. Monday Night Wars
42:44 - NWO International Impact on Culture
48:12 - Sting (Anti-Hero) v. NWO (Cool)
51:17 - DX's Impact on Culture
52:44 - How the book came together
55:32 - Writing Process for the book
57:23 - Getting the interviews for the book
57:44 - Meeting Eric Bischoff
1:01:03 - Writing the Book as a journalist
1:03:50 - Rapid-Fire Wrestling Fan

📘 Buy Marc Raimondi’s Book – Say Hello to the Bad Guys
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/734430/say-hello-to-the-bad-guys-by-marc-raimondi

Places to find more from Marc Raimondi:

Twitter/X: https://x.com/marcraimondi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcraimondisports/?hl=en

👇 Download our new social book club + book networking app
www.bookumapp.com

This Podcast is to brought you by Bookum - The book communities NEW and BEST way to host dynamic online book clubs.

Download the App and Start your Book club today at www.bookumapp.com

Catch all of conversations live on the Bookum App Nooks!