From Rocko to Reno 911: Carlos Alazraqui Breaks Down Voice Acting
Mad Props with Chris Schnabel
05/04/26
•70m
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What does it take to create some of the most iconic voices in animation?
In this episode of Mad Props, host Chris Schnabel sits down with legendary voice actor Carlos Alazraqui—known for bringing characters like Rocko, Denzel Crocker, and roles in Reno 911! to life.
Carlos dives into:
- How he created voices for Rocko, Crocker, Lazlo, and more
- The improv and real-life inspirations behind iconic characters
- What it’s like hearing your voice come out of characters fans love
- Why nostalgia hits so hard for fans (Rocco, Spyro, Fairly OddParents)
They also talk about:
- The impact of conventions and meeting fans in person
- Behind-the-scenes stories from animation, gaming, and live events
- His documentary project Mr. Big and bringing a 60-year-old film idea to life
If you love cartoons, voice acting, animation, or behind-the-scenes stories from your favorite shows, this episode is packed with insight and nostalgia.
Follow Carlos Alazraqui
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carlosalazraqui
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carlosalazraqui
See Carlos:
Come to our Comicpalooza Panel 5/24 at 4:15 pm
Follow Mad Props
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madpropspod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madpropspod
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Follow Chris Schnabel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisschnabel
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.schnabel
Mad Props is a Schnabel Studios Production
Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Voice Acting Legend Carlos Alazraqui
04:30 – The impact of Rocco, Spyro & iconic roles
07:00 – Seeing your voice come to life for fans
10:00 – Why nostalgia hits so hard
12:00 – Creating the Crocker voice (Fairly OddParents)
15:00 – Improv and influences behind voice acting
18:00 – Building characters from real-life inspiration
21:00 – Practicing voices & developing range
24:00 – Sound-alikes vs original characters
27:00 – Playing roles on Family Guy & new shows
30:00 – Hearing yourself in new characters
32:00 – Ocean plunges, routines & mental reset
36:00 – Daily routines & staying energized for conventions
39:00 – Soccer, LAFC & passion outside acting
44:00 – Why live sports feel like “real-life comics”
48:00 – Fan culture, community & identity
52:00 – The “Mr. Big” documentary explained
56:00 – Film festivals & future distribution plans
59:00 – Social media, branding & fan engagement
01:02:00 – Con experiences & interacting with fans
01:05:00 – Reno 911 stories & cosplay moments
01:07:00 – Outro
Previous Episode
NASA Engineer Turned Author, Zach Taylor
April 27
•55m
What’s it like to work at NASA... and then go write a novel about rockstars?
In this episode of Mad Props, host Chris Schnabel sits down with NASA engineer and author Zach Taylor to dive into two completely different worlds—space exploration and storytelling.
Zach shares:
- How he became a NASA engineer and what the job is really like
- The pressure behind working on missions that impact human spaceflight
- Why space exploration still matters (and what’s holding it back)
- The reality of NASA funding, missions, and long-term goals
- His journey into writing and publishing his debut novel Rockstar Echoes
The conversation then shifts into Zach’s book, exploring:
- The inspiration behind Rockstar Echoes
- Fame vs. the grind of making it in the music industry
- Building complex characters and long-form storytelling
- The realities of being an independent author
🎧 Subscribe for more conversations with athletes, creators, engineers, and storytellers.
Follow Zach Taylor
Instagram & TikTok: https://www.instagram.com/@ZachTaylorBooks
https://www.tiktok.com/@ZachTaylorBooks
Buy Rockstars: Echoes: https://bit.ly/4czPn2D
Follow Mad Props
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madpropspod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madpropspod
X: https://www.x.com/madpropspod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madpropspod
Follow Chris Schnabel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisschnabel
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.schnabel
YouTube: @Chris.Schnabel
Mad Props is a Schnabel Studios Production
Chapters
00:00 – Intro
02:00 – Chris announces Comicpalooza appearance
03:30 – Meeting Zach through Reddit
04:00 – How Zach got into NASA
06:30 – Life as a NASA engineer & pressure of the job
08:30 – Managing teams, workload & mission stress
10:15 – Why Huntsville is “Rocket City”
12:15 – NASA launches & witnessing history
14:30 – Why space exploration still matters
16:45 – Funding challenges & political impact on NASA
19:00 – Why getting to the Moon is so difficult
21:00 – Conspiracies, perception & public understanding
24:00 – Why Zach started writing
26:00 – Inspiration behind Rockstar Echoes
28:00 – Writing process & publishing journey
30:00 – Independent publishing vs traditional publishing
32:45 – Fame vs grind: themes of the book
35:30 – Female perspective in rock music storytelling
38:00 – Music industry realities & gender dynamics
41:00 – Research process behind the story
42:30 – What Zach wants readers to take away
44:30 – Future books & series expansion
47:30 – New project idea: “Skinsuit”
50:30 – Where to find Zach & his book
52:30 – Outro
Next Episode
Welcome to Mad Props, host Chris Schnabel opens up the mailbag and answers listener-submitted questions about the podcast, his career, sports media, dream guests, behind-the-scenes stories, favorite interviews, and what it takes to keep Mad Props growing.
Chris talks about the evolution of Mad Props, how the podcast got its name, the early days of interviewing guests, and the moments that helped shape the show into what it is today. He also shares stories about past guests like Rob Paulsen, Phil LaMarr, Carlos Alazraqui, Julius Thomas, Ava Bunn, Jordan Ta’amu, Momo Sanogo, and more.
This episode also dives into:
- How Chris prepares for interviews
- The hardest parts of podcasting
- Guests he wants to bring back
- His dream guest
- Working in sports media and content creation
- Gonzaga, Hartford Athletic, and career lessons
- Favorite baseball memories
- YouTube rabbit holes, tornado videos, basketball, fitness, and personal stories
Chris also previews his first-ever Comicpalooza panel, “The Art of Interview,” happening May 24 at 4:15 p.m. at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
If you’re a fan of Mad Props, sports media, podcasting, interviews, animation guests, voice actors, content creation, or behind-the-scenes podcast stories, this episode gives you a deeper look at the host behind the show.
Follow Mad Props
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madpropspod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@madpropspod
X: https://www.x.com/madpropspod
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/madpropspod
Follow Chris Schnabel
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisschnabel
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chris.schnabel
YouTube: @Chris.Schnabel
Mad Props is a Schnabel Studios Production
Chapters:
00:00 – Intro
01:00 – Why Chris is doing more solo episodes
02:00 – Comicpalooza announcement
04:30 – How to submit mailbag questions
06:00 – When did podcasting feel like something real?
08:30 – The guest who changed Mad Props
11:00 – Keeping in touch with former guests
13:30 – Hardest interviews to prepare for
16:00 – Gonzaga and getting back into sports media
18:00 – How Chris got into filming sports
19:30 – Biggest interview lessons learned
22:00 – Guests canceling and podcast frustrations
23:30 – Favorite Hartford Athletic social media moment
24:30 – Dream Mad Props guest
26:00 – Does Chris get nervous before interviews?
31:00 – What people misunderstand about Mad Props
32:30 – How much planning goes into an episode
34:30 – How Mad Props got its name
38:00 – Advice for sports media and content creators
39:00 – Episodes Chris wishes more people discovered
42:00 – Hobbies outside podcasting
44:00 – YouTube rabbit holes and tornado obsession
46:30 – Swapping lives with a former guest
47:00 – Unfinished guest ideas and screenshots
51:00 – What makes someone fun to interview
52:00 – Biggest irrational fear
53:30 – Weird YouTube rabbit holes
56:30 – What people assume wrong about Chris
57:30 – Final Comicpalooza plug
59:00 – Outro
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