I had a few dream jobs as a child. Being a shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles was at the top of the list. Yes, I wanted to be the person to replace the great Cal Ripken, Jr. I admit, I wasn’t a realist back then.
My other dream was to be a radio DJ. I used to record myself talking into a little boombox and introducing my favorite songs. I probably still have a cassette or two lying around.
There were a few roadblocks to becoming a DJ. The first was that there were very few opportunities. Second, DJs don’t get to play anything they want. You have to adhere to some watered-down corporate playlist. I couldn’t possibly lower myself to such poor standards. 😂
Still, this year has seen me take a small step toward that childhood obsession (not the baseball one). I’ve started hosting podcasts at The WP Minute.
Regrettably, I don’t get to play music. But I do get to talk into a microphone quite a bit. I guess it’s the modern equivalent of a talk radio host.
All the kids are doing it. They pick up a camera and record themselves talking about anything and everything. It’s a natural thing for some. For me, the transition has been harder than I anticipated.
Why is that?
Just a Writer, Living in His Own Head
Writing has long been my most effective form of communication. Words come out with a natural flow that I can’t replicate when speaking. It feels like something I was born to do.
Much like baseball, speaking requires practice. It also involves being around other people – a difficult ask for an introvert.
The beauty of writing is that I can live in my own head. I don’t have anyone looking back at me, and there are no expectations. I feel free to be myself and don’t fear being judged.
On the other hand, speaking with confidence is difficult. I think it stems from my experiences being bullied as a child. I often felt alone and misunderstood. Publicly speaking up and participating meant putting a target on my back. Silence was easy (a statement that reminds me of a great song).
Perhaps that’s why I enjoy writing so much. It has never felt like work to me. Even writing an essay for school was a positive experience.
Recording a podcast isn’t the same as talking into that old tape recorder. Now, there’s an audience. Now, I’m opening myself up to others. Scary stuff! 👻
It’s Good To Face Uncomfortable Challenges
As an adult, I’ve been on a mission to put myself into uncomfortable situations. That’s not to say I’ll do it every day. However, I’ll create a challenge every so often.
My first big challenge came in 2012, when I spoke at a WordCamp event. I hadn’t gotten up in front of a group of people since high school. But I was determined to prove that I could do it.
I remember a few specifics. The crowd was larger than any I had spoken in front of. And I recall stumbling over my words a few times. However, I survived (disco cover break!).
The experience showed me that I was capable of more than I thought. So, I started doing more “uncomfortable” things. Mostly small stuff, like eating solo at a restaurant or conversing with a stranger. I’ve even volunteered to be a guest on other people’s podcasts.
For me, hosting a show is another step in the quest for self-improvement. The crazy thing is that I feel like I’m improving. Little by little (hello, Oasis), I’m more confident in asking questions. The transition between topics is getting smoother.
I probably won’t reach the heights of my podcasting mentor, Matt Medeiros. He’s on that Larry King level that most of us dream of. 😆 But seriously, he has a gift for interviewing people and getting his point across. I’m only hoping to become a reasonable facsimile.
The point is that I’m finding my way through this transition. And don’t worry, my writing isn’t going away. I’m merely expanding into new territories.
Wish me luck!