Erica Lindbeck on Cyberpunk 2077, Persona 5, Hi-Fi Rush & Voice Acting Realities | XEP Interview

Renowned voice actor Erica Lindbeck joins Luke Lohr and Captain Logun to talk about bringing characters like Misty & Meredith Stout (Cyberpunk 2077), Futaba (Persona 5), Black Cat (Marvel’s Spider-Man), Peppermint (Hi-Fi Rush), and Barbie to life. We dig into what “incidentals” and battle chatter really are, how anime dubbing differs from game work, the emotional weight of roles like Misty, the realities of vocal strain, AI voice concerns, and why Erica would rather be a utility player than “just” a lead. If you love voice acting, Cyberpunk, Persona, Hi-Fi Rush, Spider-Man, Barbie, Demon Slayer, or Helluva Boss, this one’s for you. 👉 Clear takes. No console-war noise. 🔊 iTunes: apple.co/2OL6SSV | Spotify: spoti.fi/33gSiXa 📅 Timestamps are in the chapters below 🎧 Join us live Saturdays on YouTube 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments — we read them all. What's in this interview: Erica’s path from North Carolina to UCLA and LA voice acting Breaking in with anime dubbing, Barbie, and early game work What “incidentals” and “battle chatter” actually mean in games How anime dubbing differs from recording for video games Building a sustainable career as a “utility player” in VO Persona 5’s Futaba, Tell Me Why, Cyberpunk 2077 & more Finding the right voice through character psychology Bringing Black Cat and Peppermint to life on PlayStation & Xbox Misty’s grief, tarot, and why she resonates with Cyberpunk fans AI voice acting, consent, and protecting performers’ voices 00:00 Intro – Welcoming Erica Lindbeck 02:20 Growing up in North Carolina & moving to UCLA 04:35 Early career, Barbie, and first game roles 07:05 What incidentals & battle chatter really are 11:15 Surviving as a working voice actor (utility vs leads) 13:00 Anime dubbing vs video game acting 14:55 Persona 5, Tell Me Why & character-driven stories 18:05 Finding the right voice & the psychology of characters 22:25 Direction, notes, and collaboration with casting 28:45 Press kits, collectibles & not “owning” characters 32:05 Hi-Fi Rush & bringing Peppermint to life 37:00 Cyberpunk 2077 – Misty, Meredith & grief 41:15 AI voice acting, boundaries & consent 43:30 What’s next for Erica & closing thoughts