The Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast

Jesse: Hey Odyssey fans, I'm Jesse.

Bob: And I'm Bob. See, I mean, I'm Bob. Welcome to the official Adventures in Odyssey podcast.

Jesse: Okay, right up front, we need to clear up something from our last episode.

Bob: The Averys sure were a lot of fun, weren't they, Jess?

Jesse: Oh yeah, you know, and I loved your Humphrey Bogart, Bob.

Bob: And I loved your faithful scheming sidekick.

Jesse: Okay, but we should clarify for our listeners. The Averys were all about you retiring, and yet we're still hearing you on the podcast. So, for the record, are you retired?

Bob: Yes. Well, actually, I've been retired for about 6 months now. My last day as a focus on the family employee after nearly 35 years with the ministry was back in March.

Jesse: Okay.

Bob: Elijah Cost has been the club producer since June, but on certain days of the week, you can still find me volunteering over at the Focus Welcome Center in the Kids Radio studio.

Jesse: And of course, you're still right here in the podcast co-chair.

Bob: Well, for a little longer, but before too long, you're going to have a new partner sitting here. I'll try not to be too jealous and you guys aren't having more fun than we do.

Jesse: That's impossible. So, we'll have to make the most of our time together on your last few podcasts. Coming up on today's show, we'll be talking to Kolby Rummell, the voice of a new character in Odyssey, Paxton D. Kleinhauser the Third.

Bob: We'll talk to him about Paxton's personality, Kolby's own road to Odyssey, and that mouthful of a character name.

Jesse: And but first, here's the latest news.

Bob: Most of our listeners know that Album 83 Phase One starts releasing in the club November 5th.

Jesse: They may also know that this album contains nine episodes that released back-to-back with no breaks every Thursday.

Bob: But they don't know the titles of these shows.

Jesse: Until now, it's time to reveal the schedule for the rest of 2026. Are you excited, Bob?

Bob: I'm ready.

Jesse: Okay. Team Building University comes out tomorrow, October 15th. We've already announced that one.

Bob: And we'll have a preview at the end of today's podcast.

Jesse: That's the last episode in Album 82 Learning Curve. Album 83 Phase One starts on November 5th with Ready When You Are.

Bob: Then on November 12th, we've got Fighting Back.

Jesse: And on November 19th is The Influencers.

Bob: Followed by Born for Adversity on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th.

Jesse: Turkey and Odyssey. Sounds like a great day. Moving on to December, we've got The Pen on December 3rd.

Bob: With The Dais on December 10th.

Jesse: Next up is The Vault Part One on December 17th.

Bob: And The Vault Part Two on December 24th, Christmas Eve.

Jesse: And just squeaking in under the wire of 2026 is The Vault Part Three on December 31st.

Bob: New Year's Eve.

Jesse: That's right. And that's the end of Album 83 Phase One.

Bob: I haven't heard any of these shows yet.

Jesse: Me either. But with titles like those, I can't wait to start speculating on what they're about.

Bob: Elijah tells me there will be a comment board in the club where listeners can turn nine episode titles into approximately 400,000 elaborate theories.

Jesse: Okay. Well, and now let's turn our attention to Kolby, the voice of Paxton. His connection to Odyssey goes back a lot further than his first day behind the microphone.

Bob: Let's talk to Kolby now.

Jesse: Kolby, welcome to the podcast.

Kolby Rummell: Oh, thanks so much for having me.

Jesse: You bet. Now let's begin with the character you play, Paxton Kleinhauser the Third. Not to be confused with Robert Smithhauser the First who sits right next to me. So, who who is this guy that you play and what does that Third tell us about him?

Kolby Rummell: Paxton is such a lovable guy. Uh he's energetic, he's funny, full of ideas constantly. I think he's an amazing problem solver, has a confidence that can't be shaken. I think The Third makes me feel that he's very proud of who he is. He's got this confidence that when he says Third, it reminds him maybe of his family, his father, his gramps who come before him. He's himself through and through. That's how I see Paxton.

Jesse: Oh yeah.

Bob: Yeah. Well, you auditioned for Adventures in Odyssey for several years and even had a family member work on the program. What did you know about the show that drew you to it?

Kolby Rummell: Yeah, I love Adventures in Odyssey. Ever since I was a little kid, I remember growing up with hearing some podcasts, hearing the show, all that stuff. Um when I was a little guy, I remember going to Colorado Springs to visit family, and we actually got to stop by the Focus on the Family headquarters, and that was such a cool experience. It kind of reminds me of the feeling you get when you know something's great. And uh so, whenever I saw on my auditions, on my email Adventures in Odyssey pop up, I just knew I wanted to nail it.

I knew I wanted to be a part of the show. Uh it was special to me. I think Maya Angelou says, I've learned that people will forget what you said, but and people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel. And I remember feeling really good about Adventures in Odyssey.

Bob: Mhm. Well, good to have you as part of the family.

Kolby Rummell: Oh, thank you so much for having me.

Bob: Oh, for sure. Speaking of family, who was the family member that introduced you to the show?

Kolby Rummell: So, my uncle Scott Rummell, uh he's a voice actor as well, very very prolific voice actor, and he loves this show. I mean, when I told him that I was going to be part of it, he was so excited. He was excited cuz he did it, and it's something that we share together now. Um and yeah, it's just a really really cool thing.

Jesse: Oh, that is really cool. So, tell me what it was about Paxton, right? When when you got the audition material for this particular character, what was your first reaction? Was it like, oh, I love this guy, or I know this guy, or I need to get away from this guy?

Kolby Rummell: Uh I think a little bit of all three. Uh there's there's times where

Jesse: Okay.

Kolby Rummell: you know, I love Paxton because he's fun. He has a great energy about him. And when I'm reading the writing that the writers have for him, it's he means so well. So, you have to love him. The part about knowing this guy, we all have friends, co-workers, family even where it's you know, we know a person who has so many ideas. And and sometimes that leads to the I need to get away because if you're having a a type of day where you don't want to hear all the ideas and you got to get away from them, all that stuff, you know.

So, I feel like it's a little of all three for me, but you know, I I do think Paxton is a fun pal to have in life. And uh it makes life more vibrant, you know what I'm saying?

Jesse: Yeah.

Bob: Yeah. So, what qualities do you and Paxton have in common? And where would you strongly insist that that resemblance ends?

Kolby Rummell: I think where we have resemblance is he's an optimist. He's a very hard-working guy. And and also, I went to business school as well. So, that was kind of the thing where I was like, oh, we both went to business school. Uh and uh he has a lot of fun ideas. And I think my brain is creative and has a lot of fun ideas. I think we're like the full stop happens for me is maybe uh the writing of a memoir. Uh I would say that I'm not sure if I'll ever write my own memoir uh or or even think people would want to read that, but uh he's got this crazy confidence that I'm not sure if I can keep up with that, you know what I'm saying?

Jesse: You know, we we we've heard the character described as endearingly annoying.

Kolby Rummell: Yeah.

Jesse: Okay. So, as an actor, how do you make him like irritating enough to be funny while still making listeners like root for him?

Kolby Rummell: Yeah, that's a fun challenge to have as an actor. I I think with Paxton, um a lot of the writing plays into the comedy of who he is. And the quick to kind of speak slow to listen, that kind of vibe he has. And so,

Jesse: Okay.

Kolby Rummell: I think for me, it's one of those things where I just find him just very relatable. And somebody once told me with these types of characters, you want to find a reason to root for them. You want to find their likeability and and who they are. And that was easy for me to find as Paxton. Um there's just something about him that's so kind of lovable and he's coming from a great place. I feel like he's the type of guy who really searches for the good in others and will only remember the good of them.

And I just

Jesse: Mhm.

Kolby Rummell: I don't know. There's something about him where it was kind of easy to find that balance. Sure, there's times where he might speak up and say something that might be maybe out of place. And that could be the endearingly annoying part that we're talking about. But I do think all of it roots from a place where he he means well.

Jesse: Mhm.

Bob: Yeah. You mentioned his confidence. So, how did you develop Paxton's voice, sort of the rhythm for the character?

Kolby Rummell: Uh so, I think for the rhythm and the voice, um I would say that comes with a mixture of the amazing writing, uh the finding of how I want to approach the scene, um the creating of the world around us, um and just playing off of the other amazing actors. All of that kind of comes through when we're in the booth together, which is a blast. And a lot of it is I'm a quick speaker. I talk kind of fast just like Paxton. And and finding that rhythm of that quippy, you know, quirky kind of guy, it it comes natural for me.

But I do think a lot of it stems from the awesome writing.

Jesse: You know, I've seen different actors in studio and and what they bring from themselves translates into that character. Like I can think of like Whit Hertford and what he brings to Jay Smouse. If you could put a percentage on how much of Paxton is written into the script and then how much emerges from you and the choices that you make in the studio with the character.

Kolby Rummell: Yeah, yeah. I think uh for me, how I look at it I mean, Paxton would probably say something crazy like 1090. Uh but for me, it's not that at all. I think it's 50/50. I think when you're reading a script, you have this amazing team working on this show that they care so deeply about. And my job as Paxton is to go in there and bring some personality to the words and find the funny, find the fun, work as a great castmate to give people, you know, something to work off of. So, I think it's a 50/50.

We all work on this together and it's such a fun show. I just kind of hope I can bring the character to life the way the team wants it to be brought to life.

Bob: Well, you're off to a great start.

Kolby Rummell: Oh, thank you.

Bob: And Kathy Buchanan now, the director, did did she give you any direction that maybe helped unlock the character and and bring the team together even more?

Kolby Rummell: Yeah, absolutely absolutely. Um I think uh director really leads the charge for all of us. And you know, I remember in the audition process, Kathy was on the call with me and she had expressed to me in the scene with Leo and Sophia where they're kind of trying me out at the ice cream shop. How I really do care for those kids. And I think that really unlocked who this guy is to me because

Bob: Okay.

Jesse: Mhm.

Kolby Rummell: we realize that when we're working with people and and doing all these things that we do in real life, you know, if we come from a place of like, I want to help this person get to the next step. I want to help this person solve this problem. And I know I Paxton says some kind of crazy things to them about like business stuff. But for him, he means so well and he really does want to help solve this problem for these kiddos. And that was where I was like, okay, everything this guy does, he does for a reason.

Uh he might be a little loud about it sometimes, but I think that was the thing that was the key for finding out who Paxton was for me.

Bob: Do you have a favorite Paxton line or a moment so far? And and if so, what made it especially fun to perform in the studio?

Kolby Rummell: Uh there's so many fun moments with Paxton. That's uh he's a he's a funny guy. Uh but for me, I remember the line where it was the ever heard of Harvard Business School and Connie's like, yeah. And I'm like, well, we use two of their textbooks at the

Bob: Yeah.

Kolby Rummell: That was a really fun line where I was just like that was so fun. Or or like even every time he says like, oh, idea or title for my memoir, you know, those kind of things I just really enjoy about him.

Jesse: Well, Kolby, this is your first appearance on the podcast, so we have to break you in right with a

Bob: TRQ.

Jesse: Or totally random question. And this one comes from a listener who goes by Legalessgirl 801.

Bob: Okay. Cool.

Jesse: Uh she wants to know what kitchen appliance is your favorite? And then she adds, mine is an air fryer.

Kolby Rummell: I love air fryers. That's a great a great answer. Uh I kind of want to steal that one. Uh let's you know, I love uh smoothies, so I think I would probably go with uh a blender cuz I love making smoothies. They're just so tasty. So, I'm going to go with a blender cuz you can put all these really good fruits in and make something really tasty.

Bob: Nice.

Jesse: Sounds good. Right. Well, thank you Legalessgirl 801.

Kolby Rummell: Yeah, thank you.

Bob: We've kind of stepped away from Odyssey a bit. Let's keep doing that. Uh just for a minute, your own performing story began with competitive gymnastics and playing Prince Charming when you're 11 years old. How did you get from gymnastics and children's theater to professional voice acting?

Kolby Rummell: That's some good research you guys did there. Uh so, for me, um I think when you're growing up, you try all sorts of things. My parents like, you like to flip a lot, so let's throw you in gymnastics. And uh so, I did. I did that for like 8 years. And it was competitive, you traveled, you do all these things. It kind of takes over your life a little bit. But you learn how to go and perform. You learn how to go and do a routine. And I think that was what started my love for performing.

Bob: Wow.

Kolby Rummell: Then for me, I was like, I want to try other things, which kind of led me to other sports uh and also uh theater, which my parents were like, you love this saying, you should try this. And uh my first show happened to be Cinderella where I got to play the prince at my local community theater uh and had a blast. And from there, I just kind of continued to do theater sports, theater sports. And it led me to a place in my life where I was like, when I go to college, what do I want to study?

Do I want to study acting? Do I want to study, you know, whatever? I chose business. I had all these crazy jobs and I just kept on coming back to it. I have this love for acting and I really wanted to give it a shot. And it stems from the childhood. Stems from, you know, those fun times on stage and making people laugh and making people smile and you know, God's an artist. He he you look at his creation you go, wow, it's so beautiful how he made that. And there's something kind of cool about the fact that when you're working on shows and you're creating things, it's a little bit of that.

Not not a whole lot of that, but it's a little bit of that where you get that that sense of, oh, I I brought something in this person's life today. I made them smile. I helped them escape from something today. And that's that's really what stemmed for me, my love for acting, I think.

Jesse: Oh, that's cool. And and obviously God put that inside of you, that performance and then being able to bring that out through voice acting and and some really cool credits that you have from uh DC Dark Legion to Anime Dubbing, uh NHL campaigns, even Baby Shark promotions. I haven't heard that, but I want to. Uh so, which voice

Kolby Rummell: For the First Time in Fish Tree, yeah.

Jesse: Nice. So great. Which voice has maybe stretched you the furthest away from maybe your natural voice?

Kolby Rummell: I think for me, I 've gotten to be a part of some video games along the way where they want me to try like

Jesse: Okay.

Kolby Rummell: monster voices and creature sounds and those stretch you. And they're hard to do, so hats off to all the creature voice actors out there.

Bob: Yeah. Well, Kolby, you alluded to God's role in your journey. Uh you also lead worship at your church. And I I I'm curious, how and when did your Christian faith become personal to you?

Kolby Rummell: Mhm. Yeah. I remember when I was a really young kid, about 5 years old, I remember running into my parents' room and saying I accepted Christ into my heart. So, I think when I was a really young kid, I you know, I grew up in a in a Christian family. My parents um definitely led me in that journey. And they actually used to sing at their church um that I grew up at. Kind of followed in their footsteps a little bit on that in the music side of things. But uh when I was 11, I remember going to a church camp where it was uh a really beautiful night of worship.

And I remember looking up into the sky and I was talking to God and I was like, God, I know I'm I am small. I know I am I am just one human. Uh but yeah, I've never seen a shooting star. Can you show me one and ride across the sky? Uh a shooting star win. Which uh people can say it's coincidence. For me, it wasn't because the feeling that I got afterwards was just overwhelming like feeling of God's love over my life where I was like, I can't believe the King of Kings, the Master of the Universe, our Creator

Bob: Yeah. Mhm.

Kolby Rummell: listened to me when I'm just one person, you know? And I think that was where it was like, wow, I can't believe I have this relationship with God and and that he cares about me so much to even hear that one little thing, you know? And uh that led me to years of doing worship leading at church. I started actually that when I was about 12 years old. If I remember correctly, I started playing in the church band and and have done it ever since. Um and so, it's just a a joy and an honor to get to do it, to lead people in worship at church on Sundays.

Jesse: Uh that's so cool. That that story at Summer Camp just makes me think of that was it Psalm 46:10 that, you know, be still and know that I am God. And in that stillness and I'm looking at the sky and seeing just that evidence of of his creative power, of, you know, his his design of the universe. All I mean just

Bob: Yeah. The heavens declare his glory.

Jesse: Yeah. No, I mean amazing amazing. Um you talked about, you know, you how that, you know, worship leading, uh using your voice that way, acting using your voice that way kind of serves different purposes, but in some ways they influence each other too, don't they?

Bob: So beautiful, isn't it? Yeah. Mhm. Sure.

Kolby Rummell: Yeah, absolutely. I mean, when you're worship leading on at church on Sunday, it's an honor that the Lord allows me to have that and it's to lead people singing to him. That's amazing. It's something that I I don't take lightly. And one thing about worship leading versus like the acting uh is it's not a performance, you know? I would be raising my hands, praising God, um singing in the congregation with my

Bob: Mhm. True, true.

Kolby Rummell: my church family. Uh it's just so happens that I believe the Lord uh allowed me to have a singing voice that allows me to serve that purpose at church. And um there's nothing more beautiful than getting to hear people sing to God. In in voice acting and voice over acting in general, it's one of those things where it's like we are telling stories that are written and created by other people, you know? So, our job is to serve the story that we get as actors, but in a way it all comes together because I believe that God calls us to work.

He calls us to to do these things. And how do I allow my work to be of constant worship to God? That's a question that I ask myself all the time as a voice actor. How do I allow me to serve his story? And uh that's my prayer every day. And that through these jobs that I get as a voice actor, hopefully it touches somebody's life and then touches their eternal story cuz this is just something I get to do. It's both are honors, both are blessings. But having that, I'm always going to come back to church on Sunday and worship lead definitely affects how the week goes and the things that I do and say and things I audition for, all that stuff.

It all plays together.

Bob: Yeah, I think one of the cool things, Kolby, about joining the show at this particular time in its history is that you're going to get a chance to see multiple generations who have grown up on Odyssey. You parents who are excited about it not just because they're raising their own kids of it, but they grew up on it too. Uh so, Adventures in Odyssey having that kind of history of teaching children biblical truth, what does it mean to you as a Christian, as a father to become part of that?

Kolby Rummell: Oh, it's such an honor. My son, he's 8 months old, so I don't think he understands the stories yet. Uh but one day he will. And there's something so special about being a part of Adventures in Odyssey. I I'll tell you what, I'm over the the time I've been a voice actor, there's only been one time where I've teared up a little bit getting a role on anything. And it was this because I just felt like there was something so special about being a part of a story that has an an eternal effect on people's lives.

Um you know, Matthew 9 says, then he said to his disciples, the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. When I go into the studio, I want to be one of those workers. And I want to

Jesse: And not yet.

Kolby Rummell: remind people who I come across just who God is, who Jesus is. I hope that I share the love of God, the care of God to these people so that uh I can have an effect that way. And this show just allows me to do it uh even easier cuz Adventures in Odyssey it does make an eternal difference. And um I really couldn't be more ecstatic to be a part of it.

Jesse: Well, Kolby, it's been amazing to talk with you. And you know, maybe a few years down the road you can bring your son to Focus on the Family just like you visited as a child. And uh

Kolby Rummell: I would love nothing more.

Jesse: Love to show you around, go down the slide here, all that kind of fun stuff. But we are we are so ecstatic having you part of the Odyssey family. And just thank you so much for your time today.

Kolby Rummell: Please, please.

Bob: Yeah.

Kolby Rummell: Oh, thank you so much for the time. And and it's it's it's an honor of a lifetime.

Bob: You can hear Kolby in Now Hiring and The New Adventure coming tomorrow. Tell us a little bit more about that one, Chris.

Chris: Now in The Adventures in Odyssey Club, Connie and Paxton decide the employees at Wit's End need a morale boost.

Guest (Male): Team Building University.

Kolby Rummell: I create the itinerary and plan organization transforming exercises, and we'd order one of those long sub sandwiches to share.

Chris: I'm going to give you a chance to see this through.

Guest (Male): But the exercises don't go as planned.

Guest (Female): First you let me fall on my face, and now you want me bald.

Kolby Rummell: Hair is temporary. Team building is forever.

Chris: Is employee morale worth all this?

Guest (Male): Find out now in The Adventures in Odyssey Club.

Jesse: Team Building University releases on The Club October 15th.

Bob: While you're on The Club, you can check out that schedule for the rest of the year. And be sure to listen to the latest Imagination Station audiobook. It's number 18 Trouble on the Orphan Train. This one has horseback bandits, a train robbery, and Eugene missing in time.

Jesse: Wow, you don't want to miss that. But that's all for this edition of The Official Adventures in Odyssey podcast, our presentation of Focus on the Family.

Bob: Visit us at adventuresinodyssey.com or call us at 1-800-A-Family. I'm Bob.

Jesse: And I'm Jesse reminding you that with God in your life, every day is an adventure. *