Podcasts have given a voice to many interesting hosts as of late. As they grow in popularity, so does the opportunity to utilize them as an additional tool in your arsenal. An unlikely pair of storytellers recently teamed up to build a podcast together called Renegades: Born in the USA. Musician Bruce Springsteen and POTUS Barack Obama chat about all things life, love and liberty.
Embrace Relatability
Toward the end of the first episode, Barack outlined his narrative on the presidential campaign trail. That campaign trail was successful in securing him the presidency of the United States. Obama was able to weave together a relatable narrative so that everyone listening felt like they were a part of the story he was telling. Here’s a section of that narrative that we, as presenters, can likely relate to quite easily.
“We’re the storytellers, writers, poets, artists who abhor unfairness and despise hypocrisy, and give voice to the voiceless, and tell truths that need to be told… That’s what America is. Not stock photos or airbrushed history, or feeble attempts to define some of us as more American than others. We respect the past, but we do not pine for the past. We do not fear the future; we grab for it.”
Despise Hypocrisy
This approach reminds us that we don’t need to overthink our narratives. Ultimately, our audiences are going to know if we are who we say we are. As storytellers, it’s our job to weave together a narrative that’s engaging, but that’s also honest.
Tell Truths That Need to be Told
Our main responsibility as presenters is to tell truths that need to be told. We need to define for ourselves the most important facts to be shared. Then, relay them as storytellers accurately to our captive audience. That’s it. It really can be that simple.
Respect the Past
Know that each of the storytellers you look up to has grown through experience. It takes time to hone this skill, so take every opportunity you can to critique your work and strive for better. The past doesn’t have to define you, but it certainly can refine you.
Do Not Fear the Future
Things will continue to change for storytellers. Platforms are evolving all the time. Right now is an exciting time to be alive and bring your stories to life in new ways. Podcasts are not the only new medium, and they’ll surely not be the last. The more true you are to your own voice, the more secure you will be in the inevitable evolution your stage, as you currently find it, will undergo.
The team at Ethos3 thrives on helping presenters live up to their full potential. Let us know where you’d like to grow, and we’d love to give you some tips and tricks on how to take your presentation skills to the next level. Sign up for customized presentation training with one of our experts today!
