Welcome back to the Munn Avenue Muse! Today’s episode features a conversation that’s equal parts heart, craft, and future-thinking. Our guest is Daniel Greenberg educator, ecovillage pioneer, and the voice behind Charlie Levin’s Not So Dead audiobook series.
What does a globe-trotting climate advocate have in common with a career in narration and storytelling? As it turns out: everything. Daniel’s path is a testament to the unexpected ways that passion, reinvention, and purpose intersect.
From Global Sustainability to the Studio
Before he ever stepped into the world of voice work, Daniel spent decades immersed in intentional communities and climate education. He co-founded Gaia Education, served as president of the Global Ecovillage Network, and lived in more than 150 ecovillages around the world from Scotland to South India.
His work centered on helping people imagine and build better systems: more sustainable, more collaborative, more human.
That same spirit led him into audiobook narration through what he calls “the side door.” With no formal experience but a deep love of reading to his daughters, Daniel threw himself into a Groupon course and started auditioning. One of those auditions landed with Charlie. Fast-forward to today: he’s narrated over 25 audiobooks, including the entire Not So Dead series.
Voice, Character, and Empathy
What makes Daniel’s narration stand out is more than a good voice. It’s his approach. In Charlie’s series alone, he had to bring to life nearly 30 distinct characters, spanning genders, generations, and accents. His ability to read with empathy, interpret context, and subtly shift tone without distraction is what keeps listeners engaged and coming back for more.
There’s one moment, in particular, that stood out: a scene about Alzheimer’s in Book Three. Daniel’s own mother has Alzheimer’s, and the emotion in his voice during that chapter added an undeniable layer of depth. Charlie called it “amazing” and it’s easy to see why.
The Audiobook Boom & the Human Touch
The timing couldn’t be better. Audiobooks are growing 20% annually far outpacing print or ebooks and Daniel’s story offers a real-world look at what it takes to meet that demand. From mastering production standards to developing a unique vocal fingerprint, he’s carved out a niche without ever following a traditional path.
Of course, no conversation about narration is complete without touching on AI. While Daniel sees a future where AI replaces many human narrators, he and Charlie both agree: fiction requires empathy. It’s that human dimension, the feeling behind the words that AI still can’t replicate.
Imagination as Legacy
Now based in Ann Arbor (when he’s not in India, Mozambique, or Paris), Daniel’s next act involves writing a sci-fi novel about a mission to Mars gone wrong and the awakening of Gaia. The goal? To offer a compelling, optimistic blueprint for how humanity might move forward.
He also teaches digital storytelling workshops, helping people use voice, images, and video to tell stories of transformation, both real and imagined. “The future is imagining us,” he says. “We get to live into that.”
If you would like to publish your book or your audiobook (or are just dreaming about it), let the MunnAvenuePress.com team help make your dream a reality.
Happy Writing! Charlie Levin, Publisher & Founder
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