Are you struggling to find your unique podcasting voice?
Maybe you can “fake it” and sound good on a podcast, but you struggle when it comes to sounding like you.
Remember, your voice IS your brand.
When you try to copy how someone else sounds, you’re basically just getting attention for their brand. People will say “oh man you sound like…” They’ll think of that other person when they think of you.
Your voice is not only your brand, but it’s your trademark. It’s your unique fingerprint. Develop it. Cultivate it.
I had a heck of a lot of trouble when it came to developing my own unique voice for my podcast. Let’s just say that there was a lot of trial and error. Ironically, I think that most of my problems were up in my head. There weren’t any real problems with my vocal cords.
I’ll admit it — I suffered from IMPOSTER SYNDROME. I was scared that if I started to sound like the real me, then no one would listen to my podcast. I was also afraid that when people criticized my show, it would cut so much deeper. They would be criticizing the real me, rather than some online character that I had developed.
One day, I ended up meeting a podcast listener in person. They were a video production expert and had this massive penthouse in manhattan where they would film commercials. It was pretty sick.
Anyway, I met up with them in the early days of my podcast. They gave me a few tips when it came to my up and coming YouTube channel. I got some great info on the best camera to use, how to do lighting, and even some video editing tips.
We were hanging out eating lunch when the guy leaned over and said, “You know you’re a lot quieter in person than on that show.” He took a bite of his sandwich.
“I kinda like this version of you better. It’s more natural,” he said, taking a swig of a coke can. “They’re both good, but you seem more human to me now.”
I paused and thought a moment. He was right. I didn’t sound authentic on my podcast. I didn’t sound like a human being. After that meeting, I set out on a quest to transform my voice. It led me to many vocal experts and teachers, and eventually, I was actually able to change the way that I sounded.
You can listen to the “before and after” effects of my training here.
Anyway, I wanted to put together a few tips and tricks for any podcaster out there who also is working to transform their voice. Hopefully this will help guide you in the right direction. Remember that no one else can be you. It’s your unique identity. Its powerful, when you embrace it.
1. When Did You Last Sound… Powerful?
Take a second to take inventory of your life. I want you to think back to a time when you ENJOY the way that you sounded.
That could be when you’re hanging out with friends, giving a talk in front of employees, chatting late at night at a bar, or any other scenario that comes to mind.
Chances are that you can think of SOME time when you like the way you sounded. Probably, because you sounded confident, powerful, witty, charismatic, or had the attention of whoever you were in conversation with.
You have sounded good before, so now it’s all about replicating that same mindset, speaking cadence, tonality, and volume when you’re live on a podcast. Do you get my drift?
If you’ve never been happy with how you sounded in life, then you’ll probably want to start to drill into the actual mechanics of voice. This is what I had to do. I had to get a crystal clear understanding of the different components that make up my voice, so that, like a violinist, I could play different notes depending on my mood.
I’ve always been a little shy, awkward, and introverted, so I had to go through this bottom-up process. By the end of it, I had changed the way I sounded on my podcasts, but also in my personal life! I had many people (especially in dating scenarios) take notice of my newfound confidence.
2. Write Down Your Assumptions About Others
I know for SURE that I thought you had to speak a certain way just to get noticed as a podcast host. Not only that, but I saw everyone speaking like they had a “radio announcer voice” so… I just kind of thought that’s what you were supposed to do!
Boy, was I wrong.
You see this in a lot of industries. Some YouTubers will “hype up” the way they talk, because they think that’s what’s required to connect with their audience. Only, there are thousands of examples to the contrary.
You might even think people like Russel Brunson have a certain fast-paced crazy way of speaking, but if you actually pay attention to when they use this voice, it’s ONLY during a sales scenario. They only adopt this rhyme and cadence when they are trying to sell you something. The rest of the time, they sound like a normal human being.
Write down your assumptions of why you have to talk the way you are right now. Maybe you have seen other podcasters doing it that way, so you’re just copying them. Maybe you think you gotta shout in order to get noticed. Who knows. Write it down.
In order for you to ever truly embrace your authentic voice, you’re going to have to let go of all of the reasons you came up with. You’ll have to find counter-examples to prove to your mind that you don’t have to speak that way in order to be heard.
Don’t you get it?
You’re silencing your own voice, because you don’t think anyone would ever listen. You’re afraid, so you’re sheltering it from the world.
3. Make The Decision
You have two paths.
If you can never think of a time in your life that you liked your voice, then you have to commit yourself to improving it. I run a course called the Perfect Podcasting Voice that would greatly help you with this. I’ll show you step-by-step how to master your voice and take control of your podcasting career.
However, if you CAN think of a time in your life that you liked your voice, then it’s all about your mindset.
You need to put yourself in the same mindset as that time you recall in your memory.
This might mean:
- Relaxing yourself before a show
- Going through exercises to get more talkative
- Having pre-show banter with the guest to warm up
- Adopting confidence-building mantras to build up your conviction
- Removing any mental filters that stop you from talking off the cuff
I tend to find that your actual mindset is guided a lot by your environment. Meaning, if you’re around a bunch of your friends who already accept you, then it’s easy to be yourself. But, if you’re around a stranger or someone who you deem as being “higher in status” than you, then you might freeze up.
In these latter cases, you may need to do some more pre-interview warm ups to actually befriend your guest. This way, they don’t feel like some kind of stranger that you’re talking to. You’ll stop being robotic and start being authentic.
To be honest, I think you would also benefit from some vocal exercises to get you into a better mental state, as these exercises are designed to relax you and make you feel more confident.
