Podcast Coach Tim Wohlberg
Tim Wohlberg on Apple Podcasts

Kill the Encouragement

This is a bad habit that a lot (and I mean a lot) of podcasters have. The regularly interject with uh-huhs and yeahs when their guest or co-host is speaking. You may think that you’re being encouraging but you’re just being annoying.

As you know, my background is in radio and I’ll tell you what I do to you if you insisted on doing this. MUTE. But, I wouldn’t be happy about it because it makes a lot more work for me (and it will for you when you have to edit your podcast). But, that’s not the only reason you should shut the hell up when someone else is talking.

Let me welcome you into the earholes of your listener. Now, we don’t know what they’re doing but we presume they are listening to your podcast somewhere other than a soundproof room. So, there’s stuff going on. Other sounds. Which means, they don’t need any more sounds to distract them from what your brilliant and beloved guest is saying. Inside these earholes, they just want one good thing to listen to and it ain’t your uh-huh, mmm, yeah, yeah, yeahs! Can it!

Now, let’s swing our point of view to the guest. Presumably, they know what they are talking about. And, since you invited them on their show, we also presume they’re pretty good at talking. So, what makes you think that they need you vocally nudging them along? I know you think you’re encouraging them but unless you have a show where you interview shy, 6 year-olds, they don’t need your help to get their message out.

What’s more, your encouragements are annoying and disruptive to their flow and the conversation. The guest might think you want to actually say something. They might lose their train of thought. They might just think that you’ve got an issue with anyone other than yourself getting air time on your show.

Same goes for your co-host – unless your co-host happens to be a timid toddler – don’t shower them in constant uh-huhs.

There are a few more reasons that you might think interjecting with encouraging sounds is a good idea and I slay each and every one of them in this podcast. Hint: it has to do with someone being a narcissist…but that’s not you, right?

Take 5 minutes and find out why you need to kill the encouragement. It might be just the tip you need to sound more like a pro and gain more fans.

Podcast Coach Tim Wohlberg
Podcast Coach Tim Wohlberg
Podcast Coach Tim Wohlberg

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