How to connect with your audience using your voice ( A TAKEOVER with Nic Redman)

Welcome to "Podcasting in Three Easy Steps" - a takeover with me, Nic Redman. I'm a spoken voice and recording coach.

Step 1: The One-Person Rule

Firstly, remember the one person rule, okay? You are talking to one person in their car, on a walk, or in their house. It's just you and them. So, the more you can picture them as one person, and that can be changing little bits of vernacular like remembering it's not, "Hi guys," it's one person. So, "Hello there. How are you?" or "Thanks for coming back."

Just make sure that lingo is very much aimed at one person. Be as specific as you want with that person as well. Some people have a picture of someone who represents their ideal listener in front of them. Others have an item, like a teddy bear or a banana, as a focal point to help them direct their interaction.

The key is to remember that you're talking to somebody, you're sharing something, you're not talking at them. So, picture who they are and remember it's one person.

Step 2: Shift the Focus

Next, change the focus a wee bit when it comes to your voice. It's so easy as a podcaster to go into recording thinking, "I need to sound friendly, intelligent, and engaging." But actually, being blunt, it's not about you at all, and your voice. It's about your listener and how you want your content and your message to affect them.

So, don't focus as much on how they're hearing you, focus on delivering your message to them and sharing. Try using a technique called "actioning," which comes from the acting profession. It involves filling in this sentence: "I ____ you," where "I" is the podcast host and "you" is the listener.

For example, "I inspire you," "I engage you," "I excite you," "I motivate you," "I tease you," or "I provoke you." Remember, you're trying to actively affect a listener; you're not trying to sound a certain way.

Step 3: Prepare Your Voice

In order for your voice to change and adapt to communicate that action effectively, you need to make sure you've done a warm-up. Prepare your voice physically, including your body, breath, and mind, so that when you start to speak, you're not thinking about your voice at all. It should respond and do what you need it to.

In a voice warm-up, it's essential to release tension. This allows your articulators, the bits that shape the sound, as well as your body and breath, to move freely and adapt to convey your message. With a few warm-up exercises, your voice will be ready to convey the emotion needed to connect with your listener and make that vital connection with your audience.

Join Me in January

You've been listening to me, Nick Redman, on a little takeover of "Podcasting in Three Easy Steps." You can find more of my insights on "The Voice Coach Podcast," available wherever you get your podcasts. If you've found these tips helpful, please join me in January. I'm conducting a three-day masterclass series casually titled "Vocally Free for 2023." There's a link in the show notes, and I genuinely hope to see you there.

Resources

Find out more about Nic at @nicredman and https://nicolaredman.com/

Vocally Free for 2023 Masterclass: https://nicolaredman.com/voice-masterclasses-2023/