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When Life Gives You Parkinson’s…
April is Parkinson’s awareness month. I used my media connections and talents (such as they are) to share my story of being diagnosed with Parkinson’s in my 40’s, with a son, a wife and a career. I wrote a blog piece, created a podcast, appeared on multiple radio and TV shows (here, here, here and here), and then used Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to amplify the message.
Here is what I look like on @GlobalBC telling the world for the first time that I have Parkinson’s disease. Read my story, see this interview, and listen to the podcast https://t.co/Si0gowjwrC #UniteforParkinson #ParkinsonsAwarenessDay #PDANDME pic.twitter.com/3nJfZ9RQLu
— Larry Gifford (@Giffordtweet) April 11, 2018
The power of radio and podcast is real. The connections we can create are powerful. The shift in perspective, awareness and behavior we can cause is an awesome responsibility.
I was interviewed seven times over a few days by seven different interviewers and I was rarely asked the same question. The tone of each interview was unique to the show – News program, Talk show or Rock morning show. Some were serious and emotional while others were more light-hearted or informational. What I take away from being on the other side of the mic is this…
- It is scary to share a personal story, expose your vulnerabilities and voluntarily step into the media spotlight even when you’ve been in media for 25 years. I have new found respect for the guests we approach each day and ask to bring their personal, intimate, emotional stories to our airwaves.
- Interviewees know if you’re winging it and are unprepared. If someone has agreed to come on your show honor that with appropriate preparation. Interviews are easier and more interesting for everyone if you, the interviewer, has done some prep, mapped out a plan for your questions, are engaged in the conversation, listen to answers and follow your curiosity. If you’re just filling a segment, the interviewee can tell, no matter how good you are ad-libbing an interview.
- Listeners are listening. They listen closely. They hear everything. Listeners want to be informed, entertained, challenged, engaged, and respected. Respect the listener. Make your show matter everyday.
- Sharing stories makes connections. Strangers, friends and colleagues now have another dot to connect with me. For some I’ve inspired to share their owns stories for others they’re just relieved they’re not alone. Never underestimate the impact an authentic story can make.
Please take the time to learn more about Parkinson’s Disease in your community and help share the stories of the people impacted in your community.
INSIDE RADIO STUFF #100
I just recorded and edited the 100th episode of the Radio Stuff podcast. It features an extensive interview with Cumulus and Westwood One personality Jonathon Brandmeier. It also marks the milestone by sharing memories with original co-host Deb Slater and listening back to a few favorite moments. I realized of all 100 episodes this one is among the most challenging. Primarily due to production. This experience reinforced the importance of caring about the details and asking for help when you need it. Here’s how it all came together.
LANDING BRANDMEIER
I had been talking to Brandmeier and his team about doing the podcast even before the new show was announced on WLS and Westwood One. We have mutual friends and had some business dealings in the past year so it wasn’t really ever about IF he’d do it, but WHEN the timing would be right. They wanted to wait until about a month into the new show. Last week I suggested the 100th episode and Johnny made it work.
Our call was scheduled for 10:00 a.m. PDT immediately following his syndicated show. I asked for 30 minutes, we talked for an hour. I started rolling tape and talking to the Radio Stuff listeners while waiting for the phone to ring. I don’t have a phone coupler, so I plug the phone directly into the board, place the phone on the desk. I record my part into a microphone and the phone mic sends my voice to the guest. In this case, I was talking for about 8 minutes before he called. Rolling before the interview is an NPR trick to capture everything. I blogged about it with Anna Sale a couple of months ago. My monologue and our opening exchange become a teaser clip I released 24 hours in advance of the podcast. His opening line to me after I answer the phone is the first thing you hear on the podcast.
THE CLIPS and DROPS
Brandmeier uses a lot of audio during his show and our interview was no different. However, the phone distorted the audio he was sending down the line. So, I had Brandmeier send all the clips after the interview to insert in post. The clips, for the most part, are longer than what he sent down the line, so I had to find the parts he used, edit, insert them and silence the phone version. For example, I used about 20 seconds of the audio from this video in the show.
THE LEVELS
After recording, even though I thought the levels were perfect, my voice entirely dominated Brandmeier’s, so I went through the entire interview and adjusted all my parts to blend more seamlessly with Johnny and then raised the gain on the whole file.
DEB SLATER
Deb recorded her voice on her end and I recorded my voice on my end. She then sent her file to edit in a higher quality audio. I recorded her right after Brandmeier and forgot to unplug the phone from the board. So, that means I recorded her too. I tried to silence the phone quality version of Deb, but I couldn’t get it all. You’ll hear it switch back and forth especially when she’s laughing or talking over me. My mistake. Won’t do it again.
During our chat she mentioned several moments from early Radio Stuff shows that I found after our call and inserted in post production.
ASKING FOR HELP – PART 1
Is that the same fake town cryer from last time? @Giffordtweet
— John Collins (@johnco) May 2, 2015
After receiving that tweet from John Collins about the return of the fake town crier after the second Royal baby was born, I put an all call out for audio of the town crier.
If anyone has audio of town crier announcing royal baby please send!
— Larry Gifford (@Giffordtweet) May 2, 2015
It worked! I received this email a few days later;
Dear Larry,
You asked on Saturday for a clip of the town crier announcing Kate’s baby.
Here’s how 680 News in Toronto reported it.https://soundcloud.com/bandanachap/royal-birth-town-cryer
Downloadable WAV (but from internet feed), 12MB, 1:10.
There’s a lesson in how radio has no borders any more.
Journalists in London capture the sound, and beam it around the world.
An all-news radio station in Toronto edits the announcement into their piece, broadcasts it to their listeners in Toronto, and right around the world on the internet.
A listener travelling on a train in Britain hears the piece, thinks “that might be interesting”, hits rewind on his mobile app, records it for posterity, and makes it available.
Congratulations on Radio Stuff 100, and here’s to many many more.
All best,
Weaver
ASKING FOR HELP – PART 2
After realizing the town crier was going to be a topic of discussion, I again asked twitter followers for help.
If any one wants to do their best Royal Town Crier impersonation and offer a royal decree for Radio Stuff’s 100th episode. I’ll play it!
— Radio Stuff Podcast (@theradiostuff) May 5, 2015
Geoff McQueen saw it and tagged DJ Dapper Dan and within an hour it was done. DJ Dapper Dan also had some thoughts on the fake town crier.
“That chap Appleton did not have the permission to cry from the Royal Family, they just said they didn’t object and that he should consult the relevant local authority which he failed to do as far as we know over here. Anyway he is not a bona fide Town Crier as you have to be appointed by a Lord of The Manor, A Local Authority or Similar level of accepted Government Body. He is not, never has been and is not likely to be. But fair play to him, he got a lot of publicity!”
ASKING FOR HELP – PART 3
I also reached out directly to Radio Today host Trevor Dann to see if he would offer a toast for the 100th episode. Trevor has been a supporter and reoccurring guest over the course of two years and I was happy he agreed to record a little something for the show.
CONCLUSION
I sometimes wonder why I go through all the hoops I do to create a show each week, but it is because I want it to be great. I don’t always hit out of the park, but when all is said and done I’m usually extremely satisfied with the product and proud to put my name on it. Johnny said it in the interview and I believe it to; you have to do the show for yourself first and not worry about who is listening.
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Unsolicited Advice: Don’t Do This
98.5 The Sports Hub hosts Toucher and Rich interviewed Rick Pitino today. Listen.
It was a brief but memorable conversation.
Toucher: We are joined by Rick Pitino, former coach of the Celtics, current coach of the Louisville Cardinals who won the national championship. Rick Pitino, hello!
Pitino: Morning, guys.
Toucher: You stink. You ruined the Celtics.
Toucher then hung up
Here’s the deal. Yes, it went super viral. Yes, they’re getting a lot of attention. Yes, ratings may even go up. But that doesn’t mean YOU should start insulting and hanging up on guests.
– The first show to do it gets the attention. The second show to do this will be seen as wannabe-jerks… or not seen at all, because no one will care that it happened again.
– There are very few sports radio stations that have brands to support such on-air antics; The Hub, The Ticket in Dallas, who else?
– It’s not a great way to build relationships in the business (and this business is about relationships and access) and chances are Toucher and Rich will find some guests they want to interview who are Pitino sympathizers who refused to join them. I’m sure they don’t care. But, that’s their brand, their show, their swagger.
The lesson here is be yourself, be passionate, spontaneous, unpredictable, unique and compelling. Create moments on your show that resonate with your fans.
Lessons Learned From Charlie Sheen
By now you’ve seen the coverage of Charlie Sheen on the Dan Patrick Show. It was on CNN, Fox News, Vanity Fair, The Hollywood Reporter, Entertainment Tonight, USA Today, New York Post, LA Times, Philadelphia Inquirer and the Times of India to name a few. Not bad exposure for The Dan Patrick Show on one guest.
So how’d they book him? They asked.
My sources say the Danettes had Charlie’s number from a previous appearance, gave him a ring, and asked if he’d come on the show. He said yes.
So what are the lessons to be learned from Charlie Sheen?
- Ask for what you want. Sometimes the biggest obstacle in front of your success is just asking for what you want; asking a guest to be on your show, asking your boss for a promotion, asking anyone for help of some kind, etc. In this case, asking Charlie Sheen to join the DP Show for a few minutes. Just make the call, ask the question – the worst thing that can happen is that you’re told “No.”
- Keep records. Hosts and producers need to keep every number of every guest, regardless of how important you deem them in the moment. You never know when you may need it again.
- Spread the word. When a guest makes news on your show, in this case Charlie Sheen saying he’s ready to go back to work, tell everyone about it. Don’t assume everyone who cares about it heard it on your show. Immediately, the audio and a news story about the interview appeared on www.danpatrick.com, the producers were twittering about the interview, and undoubtedly a press release was quickly written and released. This is cheapest, most impactful promotion you may ever have for your show.
So you may ask how this guest was appropriate for the Dan Patrick show. Charlie is a big sports fan, resonates with the core demo with his movie and TV roles, and recently talked with the UCLA baseball team (a.k.a. the timely hook.)