Episode 7: Be Yourself — Tips from the London Podcast Show

[Intro]

Hello and welcome back to News Decoder’s Guide to Audio Storytelling. I’m your host, Cathal O’Luanaigh and in this episode, we turn to the experts. We went to the London Podcast Show and spoke to industry professionals, independent podcast makers, podcast promoters and some of the biggest broadcasters in the game.

We found out from them what you should think about in your approach to podcast making. SO listen up, and let’s get into it.

Cathal: For young people getting into podcast, would you have any tips for them?

Nathan from London’s Morley Radio: I guess I think it’s just being true to who you are and just being yourself, not trying to copy what you’ve seen elsewhere. Like, I’ve just listed my favourite podcasts and if I was going to make a podcast I wouldn’t copy what they’ve done because people see straight through that. I think you’ve just got to be yourself and be confident in what you have to offer.

Michelle Levitt, Marketing Director at Heil Sound.
I would say to just go for it. Do whatever you want to do. Podcasting is an interesting space that is filled with tiny little niches that seem to find their way to their appropriate audience. This is definitely an opportunity for you to do, you know, whatever you want to do, whatever feels natural for you and whatever makes you happy.

Jack Bateman, podcast producer for immediate media.

I think just talk about what you’re passionate about. Find..if you’re into it, other people will be into it too and they’ll listen to it. Don’t worry about trying to do what anyone else likes. Just do what you like and you’re passionate about and I think that’s the key point. You’re going to go wherever you like with that.

CO: There you are, well, thank you very much!
JB: Not a problem at all.

Industry professional and podcast fan Shantay.

Shantay: I would say that authenticity is the most important thing when podcasting because podcasts are very personal. You want to make a connection with someone. You’re going to be in their ear and they’re going to be tuning in to listen to your voice specifically, so having that personality that they’re looking for, something that gels well with them, not trying to look for what’s most commercial, what’s most popular is definitely going to make you stand out.

Personal brand strategist Carol Pyke.

Be yourself, because only you’ve got the combination of experience, expertise, failures, mistakes, successes and triumphs. There’s quite literally, nobody else in the entire universe like you. So you bring a perspective that doesn’t exist until you show up. I’ve got a word called ‘flawsome’ and my definition of flawsome is awesome with flavour. So own your flavour and show up unapologetically as yourself.

[Love that, thank you very much]

Podcast creator, Douglas.

Have fun with it. Yeah, have fun.

Podcast content strategist, Sarah Hopkinson.

My top tip for getting into podcasting would be to think about what your voice is first and what you can bring to people and once you have decided what your message is, you can think about packaging it from there rather than thinking about a package and slotting your voice into it. So, think about your individual thing that you’re really crazy about, that you could talk about all day, and then how you can use that to help other people.

Founder of Hubhopper, India’s Podfather Gautam Raj Annand

And if you had one tip for young people who are getting into storytelling, what would that one tip be?
Everybody is horrible when they start. So, don’t feel afraid because that’s probably what you’re feeling currently. There is somebody sitting on the other side who your voice and your stories mean a lot to so you’re doing a disservice to them by not taking the plunge.

Award-winning radio broadcaster, music producer, DJ, Founder of Bruk Out and Big League Productions, and well known for his work with BBC Radio 1Xtra, Seani B.

Be you. Be you. Be honest. I think that podcasting, like the video stuff is an opportunity. When you look at the landscape right now, your typical radio, “Good Afternoon this is …” Like, all of that is out of the window and I saw a change in that, especially when 1xtra came on air 22 years ago. But now, you don’t need to fit into any box, no category, like, whatever you feel that your hang ups may be or — like, even me sometimes, I’ve got a stutter at the best of — look it came out — like I don’t think you need to worry about that any more. It’s about the content. Who you are. If you’ve got a character that can really pop, that’s what people want to see. When you look at the vloggers like Kai Cenat and all of these kind of guys, they break every rule in the game. Especially the rules that I learned at the BBC as a broadcaster, as a presenter. Now, if you’ve got a story to tell, you’ve got something to bring to the world. Get yourself a mic, get yourself a camera and just be you.

CO: Thank you very much Seani
Seani B: All good

[Music]

Hands down the biggest tip that they had was to ‘be yourself’.

Now whilst they may be envisioning different types of podcasts, perhaps many with a host and interviewees situation, the lesson is one which speaks to being authentic and being yourself.

Don’t try to sound like someone else. Your voice, your accent, your thoughts, your approach are what make you you and ultimately what people tune in to hear.

You might use a story structure and style, but inject some of yourself in there. If you’re naturally a funny person, use your humour. If you’re analytical, analyse. When you speak to your interviewees don’t play a role. Be yourself, be open and be honest. That’s what gets you good interviews and what will create good stories.

As with everything, there are rules that you learn in the beginning. These teach you the structures within which you’re going to work. But the fun and creativity is in using those rules where they apply and breaking them when they need to be broken.

Breaking the rules and doing things your own way will give your story its unique flavour.

[Outro Music]

So there you have it, that’s what the experts and professionals had to say. We hope you’ve found the News Decoder Audio Guide to Storytelling useful and can put some of our advice and top tips to use in your own storytelling.

Thank you very much for listening.

And now, we’ll leave it to you to get into it. Good luck.

[Outro]

This podcast was hosted by me, Cathal O’Luanaigh, produced with News Decoder, and forms part of the WePod European Podcasting project — a collaborative, cross-border podcasting project funded by the European Commission’s Creative Europe Programme Fund.

Episode 7: Be Yourself

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