A talk with Lori Alan
- Jason Bermingham
- Aug 23
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 25
Jason Bermingham welcomes Lori Alan to The Booth Within
Who is Lori Alan?
If you work in voiceover, you already know Lori Alan’s name — and if you don’t, you definitely know her voice. She’s brought to life iconic characters like Pearl Krabs on SpongeBob SquarePants, Diane Simmons on Family Guy, Sue Storm in The Fantastic Four, and The Boss in the Metal Gear video game series. She’s also part of the Pixar family, voicing memorable roles in Inside Out, Monsters University, Wall-E, and the Toy Story films.
But Lori’s impact goes far beyond animation and games. Have an hour to spare? Spend it scrolling through her IMDb page and you’ll see appearances in Grey’s Anatomy, Shameless, Law & Order, Will & Grace, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Nobody Wants This, and more. Moving effortlessly between mic and camera, comedy and drama, cartoons and prestige television — that kind of range is rare. It’s what makes her not just a recognizable voice, but a true artist.
When Lori steps into The Booth Within, she shares her personal journey — how she realizes along the way that she’s booking jobs because of her quirks, and that embracing what makes her different has opened doors. She talks about resilience, about the community that’s carried her through, and about the joy she still feels every time she’s in front of the microphone. With honesty and humor, she tells her story in a way that makes you feel like you’ve known her for years.
She also opens up about the parts of life that keep her grounded outside of acting. A proud “crazy dog lady,” Lori lights up when talking about the dogs that share her home and her life. She advocates for animal foundations; writes, directs, produces, coaches the next generation of voice talent — and still takes a moment to hug the lady who sells bras at the mall, simply because she saw she was going through a hard time and wanted to offer support. At the end of the day, it’s her empathy and sensitivity that make her who she is — as an artist and as a person.
What comes through most in our conversation isn’t just the impressive list of roles. It’s Lori’s warmth, generosity, and perspective on what it means to keep showing up, keep creating, and keep finding joy in the work.
This is Lori Alan — a voice you recognize instantly, an actress you’ve seen time and again on screen, and a person who reminds us why we love this craft.
What will you learn in this conversation?
Here are five takeaways from Lori Alan’s conversation in The Booth Within.
1. Community keeps you steady
“The best gift you can give somebody is to really see them.” Lori reminds us that connection—whether with neighbors, colleagues, or strangers—is what sustains us.
2. Imperfection is powerful
“Please don’t be precious. Don’t be perfect. Be sloppy, messy.” Lori shows that letting go of perfectionism often leads to the most authentic performances—and a freer life.
3. Stay where your feet are
“Stay where your feet are.” Instead of spiraling about the future, Lori urges us to focus on the here and now, and to learn the serenity of knowing what we can and can’t control.
4. Use your voice with purpose
“Be you. Everyone else is taken.” Whether on social media or behind the mic, Lori reminds us (referencing an Oscar Wilde quote) that authenticity is more compelling than trying to guess what “they” want.
5. Well-being is part of the work
“We can’t lose ourselves. Being happy and being healthy for the day—that’s enough.” For Lori, practices like meditation, therapy, gratitude, and caring for her dogs are as essential to her artistry as any audition.
Where can you learn more?
Lori’s website
Lori Alan on IMDb
Lori on YouTube
SOVAS Voice Arts Awards
National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA)
Working on protections for artists in the age of AI
Jay Shetty
Author, podcaster, former monk Lori follows for relationship insights
Animal shelters Lori supports
