Episode 383 – Finding An Unstoppable Voice Through Storytelling with Bill Ratner

What does it take to keep your voice—and your purpose—strong through every season of life? In this episode of Unstoppable Mindset, I sit down with my friend Bill Ratner, one of Hollywood’s most recognized voice actors, best known as Flint from GI Joe. Bill’s voice has carried him through radio, animation, and narration, but what stands out most is how he’s used that same voice to serve others through storytelling, teaching, and grief counseling.

Together, we explore the heart behind his work—from bringing animated heroes to life to standing on The Moth stage and helping people find healing through poetry. Bill shares lessons from his own journey, including losing both parents early, finding family in unexpected places, and discovering how creative expression can rebuild what life breaks down. We also reflect on 9/11, preparedness, and the quiet confidence that comes from trusting your training—whether you’re a first responder, a performer, or just navigating the unknown.

This conversation isn’t just about performance; it’s about presence. It’s about using your story, your craft, and your compassion to keep moving forward—unstoppable, one voice at a time.
 
Highlights:
 
00:31 – Hear the Flint voice and what it takes to bring animated characters to life.
06:57 – Learn why an uneven college path still led to a lifelong acting career.
11:50 – Understand how GI Joe became a team and a toy phenomenon that shaped culture.
15:58 – See how comics and cartoons boosted classroom literacy when used well.
17:06 – Pick up simple ways parents can spark reading through shared stories.
19:29 – Discover how early, honest conversations about death can model resilience.
24:09 – Learn to critique ads and media like a pro to sharpen your own performance.
36:19 – Follow the pivot from radio to voiceover and why specialization pays.
47:48 – Hear practical editing approaches and accessible tools that keep shows tight.
49:38 – Learn how The Moth builds storytelling chops through timed, judged practice.
55:21 – See how poetry—and poetry therapy—support grief work with students.
59:39 – Take notes on memoir writing, emotional management, and one-person shows.
 
About the Guest:
 
Bill Ratner is one of America’s best known voice actors and author of poetry collections Lamenting While Doing Laps in the Lake (Slow Lightning Lit 2024,) Fear of Fish (Alien Buddha Press 2021,) To Decorate a Casket (Finishing Line Press 2021,) and the non-fiction book Parenting For The Digital Age: The Truth Behind Media’s Effect On Children and What To Do About It (Familius Books 2014.) He is a 9-time winner of the Moth StorySLAM, 2-time winner of Best of The Hollywood Fringe Extension Award for Solo Performance,  Best of the Net Poetry Nominee 2023 (Lascaux Review,) and New Millennium "America One Year From Now" Writing Award Finalist. His writing appears in Best Small Fictions 2021 (Sonder Press,) Missouri Review (audio,) Baltimore Review, Chiron Review, Feminine Collective, and other journals. He is the voice of "Flint" in the TV cartoon G.I. Joe, "Donnell Udina" in the computer game Mass Effect, the voice of Air Disasters on Smithsonian Channel, NewsNation, and network TV affiliates across the country. He is a committee chair for his union, SAG-AFTRA, teaches Voiceovers for SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Media Awareness for Los Angeles Unified School District, and is a trained grief counsellor. Member: Actors Equity Association, Screen Actors Guild-AFTRA, National Storytelling Network • https://billratner.com • @billratner
 
Ways to connect with Bill:
 
https://soundcloud.com/bill-ratner
https://www.instagram.com/billratner/
https://twitter.com/billratner
https://www.threads.net/@billratner
https://billratner.tumblr.com
https://www.youtube.com/@billratner/videos
https://www.facebook.com/billratner.voiceover.author
https://bsky.app/profile/bilorat.bsky.social
 
 
About the Host:
 
Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.
 
Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children’s Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association’s 2012 Hero Dog Awards.
 
https://michaelhingson.com
https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/
https://twitter.com/mhingson
https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson
https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/
 
accessiBe Links
https://accessibe.com/
https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe
https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/
https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/
 
 
 
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Transcription Notes: