So You Had A Podcast?
A Podcasters Reality Check
In the summer of 2019, I started a podcast called Brain Dipping. I was excited to undertake a project where it was my responsibility to encourage and expand on “interesting conversations.”
I attempted to model my interviewing style after notable podcasters such as; Joe Rogan, Tim Ferris, Jordan Peterson, and the word poet himself Russel Brand.
What I did not anticipate was the vast amount of self-scrutiny that would follow suit.
I had just finished my first interview. I thought to myself, “Hey, that wasn’t that bad.” Next came the dreaded editing process. I would take notes on the conversation and identify the areas in which I could improve and publish it in no time… or so I thought.
A two-hour editing project for an hour podcast eventually became a two-day event.
Nails on a chalkboard were preferable to the sound of my voice. It was torture. Every second was excruciating because, for the 5th time in 10 minutes, I interrupted the interviewee with a subject that had zero relevance to our already disastrous conversation.
Podcasting illuminated a fatal flaw in my ability to converse.
I had the listening skills of a six-year-old child.
I led into conversations that had no immediate relevance to my guests. Occasionally, I would even start daydreaming, and you can imagine how uncomfortable that was for both parties when it was my turn to respond.
Talk about instant karma.
I sat through my random rambles on the 5th dimension that did not pertain to any sense of the discussion — the abundance of missed opportunities to connect with the interviewee genuinely. I relived every moment of awkward silence a hundred times over. Most pronounced was my underlying need to appear smart, which tormented me with every word I uttered.
At this point, we can call this self-induced trauma, but the fact of the matter is I had to face the reality of my shortfallings.
If this is an authentic representation of my abilities to communicate, why would anyone sit through this? Why would anyone attempt a genuine conversation with me when I did not recognize the value in their words? How might I be failing in everyday conversations?
Podcasting elicited more growth and self-awareness in communication than all my years at college combined. I asked myself, is what I am saying resonate? Am I allowing them to flesh out their ideas completely?
My mentality shifted.
I sought to be more interested than interesting. I worked on making people feel heard. I recognized that we all crave to be understood. I let go of my ego… as much as I could…and pushed myself to be present; embrace the chemistry of the conversation.
Podcasting gave me that insight, and although I still might have the attention span of a goldfish, I like to think that when someone speaks to me, their words will not fall on deaf ears.
