Crystal Lee's Unexpected Path to Voice Acting
June 11, 2026 · 1 hr 24 min
Why listen
A biomedical engineer who became a voice actor tells the story of trusting yourself when life changes course.
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In this episode
- How an acting class redirected a career built on two engineering degrees
- What it actually takes to build a voice acting career from a closet booth
- Why hard work and luck both matter when chasing a creative life
- How storytelling through D&D and games connects to professional acting work
About this episode
Voice actor Crystal Lee joins Tawny Platis to make friendship bracelets while talking about unexpected career pivots, Dungeons & Dragons, language, creativity, and learning to trust yourself when life takes an unexpected turn.
Crystal talks about:
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Growing up in a Taiwanese-American household and losing touch with her first languages
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Why Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon and Michelle Yeoh left such a lasting impression on her
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Studying biomedical engineering and earning two degrees before becoming a full-time actor
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The acting class that completely changed the direction of her life
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Discovering voice acting during the pandemic and building a career from a closet recording booth
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How Critical Role introduced her to both Dungeons & Dragons and the world of voice acting
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The importance of hard work, luck, and trusting your instincts when pursuing a creative career
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Why she loves escape rooms, tabletop RPGs, and storytelling in all forms
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Moving from New Jersey to Seattle and eventually finding her home in Los Angeles
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Tarot cards, whimsy, creativity, and finding balance between logic and imagination
Plus, Crystal and Tawny discuss pizza, palm trees, Baldur’s Gate 3, friendship bracelets, and why sometimes the biggest risks lead to the most rewarding adventures.
Every bracelet made during this episode is available for purchase, with 100% of proceeds going to the National Association of Voice Actors.
Remember, every bracelet has a story, and every story helps a cause.
Follow Crystal Lee:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.crystal.lee/
Web: https://www.crystalylee.com/
Follow Tawny:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tawnyplatis/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tawnyplatis
About String and Tell with Tawny and Kristen
Voice actors Tawny Platis and Kristen DiMercurio challenge each other to voice act in deliberately miscast performances every Thursday! After the games, they chat about voice acting, art, and entertainment while they make friendship bracelets based on what they just performed.
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