We all understand that how you sound has a big part to play in an audio format like podcasting and while this is true it isn’t everything. Let’s look at a famous Australian duo that have been in the audio world for over 12 years, Hamish & Andy. They were told that their nasally tones wouldn’t make it in the industry and look at them now, they had a very successful radio career which led onto a successful podcasting career. Now you may have the deep velvety tones of Morgan Freeman and that is wonderful and to be honest this will help tremendously in your podcasting, what I’m trying to say is that you don’t need that.
What you do need is to learn Tone, Speed and Words. This comes with, like everything in life, time, practice and dedication and I’m sorry it’s not any easier than that. These three elements are super important to ensuring your audience stays engaged and continually listens without any exhaustion.
WHAT’S YOUR TONE?
We’ll start off with Tone. Having the right tone set for your podcast can change it from a good podcast to a great podcast. You may have the best idea and people are listening but it could be that little bit better. A great example of using tone not only in speech but sounds in post production is the true crime podcast called ‘Casefiles.’ Throughout his entire pod he has a dark and eerie tone, even through the ads that he records he keeps the same tone so the listener is fully immersed for the entire podcast.
It can be anything from being bubbly to being comedic to being mysterious. Whatever your natural style is is usually the way to go but you just amp it up a little bit. Majority of the time your podcast will reflect you and your personality, which is helpful for the tone because all you need to do is be a little more over the top to engage more. In saying this, there are plenty of pods where conversations, especially sports related topics, are very casual and the tone of the episodes go up and down depending on the passion of what they are talking about. A great example of a sports podcast that does this is The Bill Simmons podcast, where he discusses multiple sports with many different people but also does monologue pieces on what he is thinking.
HOW FAST YOU TALKING?
Speed is an aspect we tend to struggle with in any form of public speaking. The nerves get the best of us and what we do best is that we rush the way we speak so we don’t have to continue talking. I remember as a 12 year old writing a 5 minute speech for an English assignment on a topic I barely cared about. You practice it and time it at home but when it comes to presenting, for some reason you just seem to rush it. Luckily podcasting is a format that isn’t live, it can be adjusted and re done. Keeping that in the back of your mind as you begin can bring a calm over you.
Timing of your speech also allows the listener to understand what you are saying. For example, if you are interviewing a wildly intelligent guest and they have just said something brilliant in passing and you being aware of this, stop and ask them to repeat it. This is all in the category of speed of your pod, because the speed you set for yourself to hear is the speed your listeners will hear. There is also adding pauses to moments where you can allow the listener to take in what they have heard.
WORDS HAVE POWER
This all comes together with the words that you speak. Words are the most powerful thing that anybody can have, they can build people up to go out and fight wars, they can also tear people apart to breaking point. Podcasting being a medium where you specifically use words, I would recommend them being used wisely. If you are doing a monologue based pod, you want people to be hanging on every word that you say, if you are a couple of friends who are chatting about your latest night out you want to have your own lingo.
I’ve found that some of my favourite tv shows, movies and podcasts are the ones that you can requote or use the lingo that they use. There is something about it where you feel a part of a community that enjoys this one thing. The way to create this is something that I like to call naturally intentional.
Naturally intentional basically means that you are intentionally putting your natural self out there. You aren’t putting up a face for the listeners or trying to be the perfect person for them, but what you are doing is being you and being you is what will make people want to listen. The next generation craves wholeheartedly for genuineness and genuineness does not mean you have to be good or bad or moral or upright, it means that it has to be you and people can hear that in every aspect. So have your own lingo, speak to your audience the way you want, don’t hold yourself back. Because, when you hold yourself back, people stop listening.
PUT IT ALL TOGETHER
In the end, we all have our own taste, our own way of doing things and it’s important to stick to that. These little bits of advice are purely to help give a direction to what you are doing. Think of it like sheep in a large field, they have so much space to roam around and enjoy the grass, but there is still a fence around them for their protection.
Let’s recap:
Happy Podcasting :)
Poly Studios
