“Work Related”… but the Truth is, it’s “Life Related” A magazine-style feature based on Lloyd Luna’s Work Related interview with Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales (January 17, 2026) - The Best Filipino Motivational and Inspirational Speaker | The VoiceMaster of The Philippines

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Tuesday, January 27, 2026

“Work Related”… but the Truth is, it’s “Life Related” A magazine-style feature based on Lloyd Luna’s Work Related interview with Pocholo “The VoiceMaster” Gonzales (January 17, 2026)

 


Some interviews feel like they’re only about work… until one line hits you so hard it feels like a punch with a hug. That’s the energy of this Work Related episode hosted by Lloyd Luna, where the conversation moved through voice, principles, industry, human attitude, and technology… and how AI is reshaping the playing field, whether people like it or not.

In a show built for “work-related” issues Filipinos face in companies and business, a bigger issue emerged beneath the surface: attitude. Not just the attitude of individuals at work, but the attitude of systems, cultures, and entire industries that resist change.

Then the guest enters with a tone that’s equal parts storyteller, disruptor, and mentor: Pocholo De Leon Gonzales, known as The VoiceMaster and The AI VoiceMaster of the Philippines.


A Voice Career That Started Before the “Industry” Even Existed

Early in the discussion, Pocholo frames voice not as a job title, but as a human foundation. Before media, before recording, before broadcasting… there was storytelling. Different voices, different characters, different emotions. His point is simple but powerful: voice acting is older than technology itself.

And yet, he reveals something that surprises many: he never began with the mindset of “business.” He began with passion and impact… using voice to create positive change. Money can follow, but purpose must lead.


“There Was No Voice Acting Teacher in the Philippines… So I Became One.”

One of the strongest moments is his blunt explanation of why he started teaching: because nobody was teaching. He describes the industry as historically closed, divided, and guarded. He even calls out the “exclusive circles” mentality and the culture of not sharing knowledge.

His solution was not to beg for a seat at a table.

He built a new table.

That move comes with a cost: you become the villain to people who feel threatened… and the hero to those you empower. His stance is unapologetic:

Sometimes, you’re the villain in someone else’s story simply because you refused to stay small.


The Microphone is the Ear of the People

A surprisingly practical part of the conversation turns technical, and it lands like a masterclass. Pocholo explains microphone handling with a metaphor that even non-audio people can understand: the microphone is like a container… your voice is what you pour into it. If you position it wrong, you waste the “water.”

He points out a truth many speakers ignore:
A lot of people speak onstage for years, but still don’t know how to properly use a mic, manage vocal projection, or maximize vocal potential.

In his world, “voice skill” is not talent alone. It’s craft. It’s discipline. It’s awareness.


The Real Enemy is Not People… It’s “Ugali”

When asked about leadership and the biggest challenge in building something bigger than himself, he doesn’t blame technology, competition, or economics.

He blames human attitude.

Even the best teaching, he argues, can be corrupted when someone is surrounded by corrupt people. He draws a parallel to politics: great intentions enter the system… then the system eats them alive.

This is where the interview becomes less about voice work and more about survival in any field:

You’re not fighting people… you’re fighting patterns of ego, selfishness, and fear.


AI Didn’t Kill the VoiceMaster… It Upgraded Him

The turning point of the episode is when they finally face the big topic: Artificial Intelligence.

Pocholo admits something that makes him believable: he felt threatened first. He felt the fear. The “patay, wala na akong career” moment.

Then he did what most people refuse to do:

He adapted faster than his fear.

He explains AI in simple, street-smart terms:

  • AI output depends on input

  • Bad input equals bad output

  • Great datasets produce great performance

  • You still need human intention and direction

And he says the line that becomes the core thesis of the whole episode:

AI will never replace you. The person who knows how to use AI will.

That single idea flips the conversation from panic to power.


“Killing Yourself to Resurrect”: The Reinvention Principle

Lloyd Luna summarizes the transformation in a striking way: it’s like “killing yourself in order to resurrect.” Pocholo agrees.

In other words:
If your identity is attached to only one way of working, you’ll panic when the world evolves.
But if your identity is attached to purpose and learning, you will evolve too.

He even says something leaders rarely admit:
As a leader, you must be willing to become obsolete… so you can do better things than what you’ve always done.

That is not a tech statement. That’s a life philosophy.


Why the Majority Still Won’t Move

The episode also exposes a harsh truth: many people already know AI is coming… but they still don’t act.

Why?

Because change threatens their self-image:

  • “I’m already number one.”

  • “My voice is beautiful.”

  • “I’ve been here longer.”

  • “I’m comfortable.”

Then something new arrives, and it forces a painful question:
What if I’m not ahead anymore?

Pocholo’s answer is direct: ego blocks growth. Comfort zone kills evolution.


Building for the Next Generation: “AI for the Masses”

The interview ends with a forward-looking note: Pocholo shares that he has created an AI-driven program meant for ordinary Filipinos. The direction is clear: bring AI literacy and AI tools closer to the masses, not just to elites.

The message is consistent from start to finish:

Accept change. Adopt change. Upskill and reskill… or you will be left behind.


The Takeaway: This Was Never Just “Work Related”

This episode uses “work” as an entry point, but what it really delivers is a mirror. It forces listeners to confront:

  • How they react to disruption

  • How they treat learning

  • How they handle ego

  • How they respond to new technology

  • And whether they’re willing to evolve

Because at the end of the day, the workplace is just one stage.

The bigger stage is life.

And the question remains:

When the future arrives… will you resist it, or will you master it?

Because AI is not the enemy.
Your fear, your pride, and your attitude might be.




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