Voices

I listen to a lot of public radio.

I don't suppose this comes as any surprise to most of you who are A) familiar with me and B) familiar with public radio programming.

So, when Acr0nym first suggested I host a podcast, and then, once I made the connection between podcasting and what I listen to every day in my car, I knew I could make a decent go of it. I certainly have spent 1,000's of hours listening to some of the very best and, while I may not be a trained professional journalist like Terri Gross, one thing I know how to do very well is to get people to talk about themselves and topics they care about. Even if I sometimes stutter.

I don't mind hearing my recorded voice. I've been living with this voice for 40 years so I've kind of gotten used to it. Sometimes, when I'm listening to the raw audio making edits, I'll hear myself laugh and start laughing aloud again...not at what's been said but laughing along with and at myself laughing. Which is weird now that I stop to think of it. Regardless...

I have a great, infectious laugh.

Anyway, that's not the point.

The point is that somehow I just knew I could be good at this podcast thing. I may never make any money off it. But I can do exactly what I've been doing and I can do it well. I have more confidence in my ability to do this than I do in my ability to write something enjoyable.

Maybe that's because the podcast isn't about me and my voice but of other people and their stories. When I write it's just me and I often don't think I'm particularly fascinating.

Again, not the point.

On Friday, I received an e-mail from a friend - someone who has made a career out of the public radio business - who, after listening to the Proof of Life episode without realizing it was only the second episode I'd done, said, "this is your destiny". He thinks I have something special. A little raw around the edges, yes, but a diamond in the rough.

I can only get better from here.