Your “weirdness” is worth money…
Hey Reader, Here’s something to embrace… Your weirdness is worth money. Your third-grade teacher probably called it “talking too much.” Your mom might’ve said you “never meet a stranger.” Your ex definitely complained you couldn’t watch a movie without pausing it seventeen times to comment on everything. But here’s what nobody told you back then: all those things that made you annoying at family dinners? They’re exactly what could make you unforgettable behind a microphone. We’re living in…
Press “Play”…I dare you!
Hey Reader, Let’s start with something “uncomfortable”. (Not recommended in ‘writing class’) I want you to “Press Play” on yourself. Remember when VCRs had that little flashing “12:00” that nobody ever programmed? That’s how most people treat listening back to their own podcast episodes or speeches. They’d rather leave it blinking forever than actually sit down and watch. I get it. Watching yourself on video or hearing your voice played back feels like someone’s running their fingernails down…
You’re not “stuck” with you voice
Hey Reader, I have some good news… Your voice isn’t “stuck”, you know. We walk around thinking, “this is just how I sound”, like it’s some unchangeable fact written into our DNA. Nope. Neither is that mumbly thing you do. Or the way your voice goes up at the end of sentences, like everything’s a question? Or how you rush through words so fast, people have to ask you to repeat yourself. Your voice isn’t some fixed thing you’re sentenced to for life. It’s not like your height or shoe size….
They handed me 10k and sent me to Costco
Hey Reader, You know what nobody admits, but everyone feels? That sinking moment when you’re mid-podcast and you just KNOW people are zoning out. Maybe they’re still technically listening. Earbuds in, volume up. But their brain left three minutes ago to scroll Instagram or plan what’s for dinner. It’s not your fault. Well, not entirely. Here’s the thing: great content isn’t enough. Four Radio stations could play the same songs, but only one had people racing to their cars at 7am to catch the…
Stop trying to be everyone’s favorite flavor…
Hey Reader, Welcome to the inbox party! Let’s get started… Stop trying to be everyone’s favorite flavor! The whole internet’s turning into a giant rabbit hole, and everyone’s diving down their own personal tunnel. We’ve evolved from “Social media” to “Interest media”. You’ve got podcast feeds on artisan pickle-making. Instagram accounts dedicated solely to vintage doorknobs. TikTok channels where people review gas station snacks from the 1980s. (That last one’s actually me on Saturday nights,…
Mike Tyson’s pigeons saved my butt
Hey Reader, Here’s something “Ponder worthy”… Most people think “doing research” means skimming someone’s Instagram bio and calling it a day. You know, the kind where you glance at three posts, notice they like coffee, and open with “Hey fellow caffeine addict!” Real groundbreaking stuff. But here’s the thing about actual research—the kind that goes deep, not just social-media-surface-level deep—it’s basically a superpower nobody’s using. I’m talking about the difference between asking a…
Your grocery list needs more drama
Hey Reader, You know what makes me want to throw my headphones across the room? When someone reads their script like they’re announcing train delays at a bus station. Same flat tone. Same predictable rhythm. Every sentence sounds exactly like the one before it. Zzzzz. Your voice is not a “hammer”. I’ve been judging Radio Star this week – it’s the only International Radio Talent Search, and where I get to hear voices from literally everywhere. And here’s what blows my mind: whether they’re…
The gorilla keeper vs Taylor Swift
Hey Reader, You’re my unicorn, my muse, my reason for spell-checking. Let’s jump in… Oh oh… Your audience is checking their phone again. Not because they’re rude. Because you haven’t given them a reason to care what’s coming in the next three minutes. Or the three after that. Here’s what I learned spending years in Radio… the almighty power of something called “The Tease.” (And no, not that kind.) The kind that keeps people glued to their seats, wondering what’s next. TV nailed this decades…
Your phone knows you’re boring
Hey Reader, Thanks for showing up… you’re rarer than a polite YouTube comment. Here’s something you’ve probably never heard… Your phone knows you’re boring. Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it: watching yourself back is like eating vegetables. Nobody wants to do it, but everyone who does it feels annoyingly smug about it later. Here’s the thing, though. Right now, you might sound like you’re reading a Terms and Conditions agreement out loud. Or maybe you’re doing that thing where your voice…
Your audience already raised their hands
Hey Reader, Just want to say, thanks for being “You”! Ever have trouble reaching your ‘target’ audience? Here’s something I (finally) figured out… “Associations” exist for literally everything! The Association of Professional Sleep Consultants is a real thing. So is the American Sand Sculpting Association. And one of my favorites, the Portable Sanitation Association. (because someone has to champion those porta-potties). There’s literally an association for pet sitters. Professional…