Today we’d like to introduce you to JP Karliak and Courtenay Taylor, voice actors and co-founders of NerdsVote. Them and their team share their story with us below:
NerdsVote came into existence when Courtenay Taylor shared some margaritas with fellow voice actor Ashly Burch post-recording session at Cartoon Network. They lamented how they wanted to do more to get out the vote, but how? VO performers spend much of their time isolated in recording studios…Except when they visit fan conventions!! A lightbulb came on! What if voice actors attending “comic-cons” could share why voting matters *while* they were meeting fans? What if pop culture conventions had voter registration opportunities on site?
Excited by these possibilities, Courtenay enlisted the help of friends and voice actors JP Karliak and Mary Elizabeth McGlynn, and NerdsVote was born. Since its founding in 2018, NerdsVote has visited pop culture conventions nationwide, educating fans on the importance of voting, and registering voters with the help of one of our partners, HeadCount. When the pandemic hit in 2020, NerdsVote pivoted to social media outreach, utilizing our “Notable Nerds” network to get out the nerd word that voting is essential to our democracy — Every election. Every time. As premier partners of National Voter Registration Day, NerdsVote is currently mobilizing our Notable Nerds and their fans for a big registration push as we head into this crucial midterm election.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
“Nerds” are not a monolith, and appealing to a diverse number of fanbases and the individual fans therein can be tricky. Not every message is going to land for every person. This is why enlisting so many celebrity voice actors is important because nobody knows how to speak to their fanbases like they do. Having somebody you admire and respect share their values and why something matters will make you feel good about making the same choice. It’s pretty grassroots thinking.
The pandemic was a struggle as conventions were a big part of our outreach, but it allowed us to think more broadly and not rely on in-person methods as our only way of connecting with fans. Now we actually have more options and a wider reach so it grew us in a positive way.
Probably the biggest challenge is that we are a non-partisan group, but resist efforts from local, state, and national politicians to restrict voting rights, gerrymander districts, and generally make voting harder for citizens. Voting is the keystone of our democracy. It doesn’t function without it, and restricting it–regardless of which party is behind it–is wrong.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Voice actor, director, and activist Courtenay Taylor is best known for voicing Jack in the “Mass Effect” series, Ada Wong in the “Resident Evil” franchise, and K.O. in Cartoon Network’s “OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes!” Other notable work includes characters in “American Dad!”, “Destiny 2” and the voice of Kira in 2023’s “Mortal Kombat Legends: Snowblind.” Her advocacy includes animal welfare, women’s healthcare, and voters’ rights.
J.P. is the voice of Boss Baby in “The Boss Baby: Back in the Crib” and Dante Crescendo in “Trollstopia.” He has played iconic characters like Wile E. Coyote, the Tin Man, Willy Wonka, and a slew of Marvel heroes and villains, including Green Goblin in “Spidey and His Amazing Friends.” When not doing voices, J.P. runs Queer Vox (a training academy and advocacy group for LGBTQIA+ voice talent).
What matters most to you? Why?
Getting people involved in steering our democracy. It sounds simple, but it’s something so many are so averse or oblivious to. It does make sense: politics often feel like nothing but gridlock and dire headlines. What effect can one vote have? But we’ve seen local or national races where just few votes made all the difference in every election. And certainly, voting in local elections is where you have the satisfaction of seeing your vote in action, right in your own neighborhood. Voting is a critical action and the keystone of a functioning democracy, but it’s only half the battle; involvement means staying engaged, regularly contacting your representatives, conversing with friends and loved ones, and protesting effectively when what matters is being ignored. It’s your full-throated voice that guides change. Sure, it involves some commitment, but like all hard work, each person’s labor gets easier as more people get involved. So many issues right now demand our urgent attention as a country and as a planet and affect our very survival. If we all do something regularly, change for the better is inevitable!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.nerdsvote.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nerdsvote
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/nerdsvote
- Youtube: www.youtube.com/nerdsvote
Image Credits
NerdsVote
