Do you have a voice for podcasting?
Do you have a voice for podcasting?
Yes.
I can’t tell you how many era people tell me: “I want to produce a podcast for my organization, but I don’t have a excellent voice.”
Yes, you do.
Unless you have a serious speech impediment, you have a voice for podcasting. For sure, having pleasing pipes is a plus, but there is so much more to podcasting than nice vocal tone and apparent diction. Can you do research? Can you structure a tale? Can you interview people? Can you engage your listeners?
I listen to plenty of podcasts where the host’s voice is far from perfect, but the content is valuable sufficient to entice me to tune in again and again.
Of course you can capitalize on your natural talents by learning how to use your microphone effectively and, if needed, to modulate your voice. Listen to yourself without being too critical. Is your voice too high? Try bringing it down by relaxing your throat. Do you speak very quickly? You may need to work on slowing down, taking time to breathe, and not swallowing any syllables.
I wonder how many of us despise the sound of our own voices. I reckon we need to be critical sufficient of ourselves to want to increase, but not so critical that we cringe when we replay our own podcasts!
What do YOU reckon? How vital is a podcaster’s voice?
Please see these related posts:
- The podcast voice (an answer to a apprentice’s question)
- How to make the most of the voice you have (interview with voiceover expert Joe Cipriano)