The most powerful tool a host possesses is humor. It is also the most dangerous. While nothing will create a loyal listener faster than making that person laugh, nothing will turn that person off faster than trying to be funny when you’re not. Nothing sounds worse than the host who is trying to be funny. Nothing sounds better than the host who is. I believe that if you can make someone laugh, consistently, you have a fan for life. If…
Garth Brooks tells a great story you can learn from. Early in his career while he was still searching for his voice, he excitedly brought a demo taped to a friend. “Listen, listen to this song; I sound just like George Jones,” Brooks said. The friend told Garth that his music career wouldn’t take off until he stopped trying to sound like George Jones, and started sounding like Garth Brooks. You need to do the same – stop trying to…
Before ever speaking into a microphone, think about this: who is your audience? I was teaching a news anchoring class to a group of broadcast school students years ago. The students were provided a variety of stories to select from to deliver in the mock newscast. It was a role-play situation and I told them to pretend they were broadcasting the news on radio in Atlanta. I was dumbfounded when one student after another selected their stories completely…
What makes a great podcast host? Humor. Intellect. Curiosity. Passion. Compassion. Vulnerability. Bravado. Ambition. Risk taking. Introspection. Observation. Analytical. Relatable. Can you watch what everyone else watches and see what no one else sees? Can you tell a good story? Can you make me care? Can you make me think? Can you excite me? Can you outrage me? Can you make me feel something? Anything? What does it take to be a great podcast or talk show host? Combine all…
What makes a great podcast? What makes a great speech? What makes a great high school presentation? What makes a great radio talk show, stand-up comedy routine or toast? No matter what form of the spoken word you’re delivering, the attributes to success are the same: establishing a connection with your audience, creating value for your audience, humor, storytelling, entertainment. There is no mystery to what makes a great podcast or talk show and there is no…
When I listen to a radio show or podcast I’ve never heard before, the first 10 seconds are critically important. The first impression your podcast makes is equally as important as the first impression you make when meeting a new person. Nail this first impression and you may have a friend – or listener – for life. Blow it, and I’m on to the next person or podcast. The singular most important attribute to put across in the first 10…