I keep thinking about the radio job that I didn’t get. Leaving my husband and the personal issues that are involved with it out of the equation, I remain so incredibly bummed out about not getting to work in that medium.
I loved doing it.
I have gotten dozens and dozens (and probably more then that, actually) of emails and Direct Messages on Twitter telling me that I should start my own show on Blog Talk Radio.
It would not be nearly as cool, I’d be running it myself and it’s also one more thing that I do without getting paid, but I honestly just LOVE everything about audio work and feel that I would be very good at it.
At this point it’s something I am considering very seriously but need some HONEST feedback.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT ME STARTING MY OWN INTERNET RADIO SHOW?
Would you listen to it?
What would make it more attractive to you?
What KIND of show and format do you think would jive well with my personality? Would you like me solo, with a set co-host, rotating guests, questions and answers, advice, what?
I don’t know if it will happen as it is a lot of work and commitment but I have had enough jealousy even trying to listen to my husband’s show that I know I really want to be doing SOMETHING with the medium because I truly love it.
I’d appreciate any feedback you (and anyone else you know) can give me. What do you think?
P.S. Health update for our family: I am still uber sick. So is the baby. No real improvement for either of us. Christopher’s pink eye is better but now he is sick like the rest of us. James and Jonathan are quite a bit better.
Stumble it!
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I’d totally listen to it. You can do like ask Loralee segments and guests! That would be awesome
I’m all distracted by your pretty blog. I guess I have to click out of my reader more often.
What was it you were asking? Ah, yes… blog talk radio. Yes. I listen to a few shows when I remember. Usually it’s in the middle of the day when Im preparing dinner and the kids are in school. I turn it on in my kitchen and sometimes pop in for a chat. I really really like it. When I remember.
I’ll be perfectly honest- I’ve never listened to a blog radio program. BUT, for you? I would.
Because you’re that kind of awesome. I say do it. It’s about what makes YOU happy.
I think you should go for it! I ran the Open Grove for 5 years – it’s truly great great fun! What do you have to lose??
Yes. I would totally listen and call in. Does anyone have a talk radio show just about Glee? :)
steph
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!
Great ideas. Then we could call in and stuff..or MomTv..
Sometimes doing things gratis gives us the most joy. The lack of payment will give you the freedom to make it what you want and not what someone else prescribes for you. If it’s something you’re passionate about, you shouldn’t deny yourself the opportunity to try it. If it becomes too much, you can let it go. You wouldn’t be the first person to say “enough’s enough.” and put your focus elsewhwere.
Would I listen? It would depend on the timing of the show. I have a hard time listening to live radio with my unpredictable schedule, but I do download podcasts for my commute and travel.
Good luck. Give it a try. Life is too short for “what if’s”
I can’t get past your first three words. My eyes popped out of my head. Once I read on, I understood, but GEEZE. You gave me a heart attack.
I don’t listen to a lot of Blog Talk, so I can’t give you any meaningful feedback. You know I’d turn in for you, though.
And I have no idea what this whole Glee thing is. I gotta catch up.
Oh, boy! I pounded this out quickly and hit publish before getting scared and changing my mind but that is REALLY unfortunate sentence structure, isn’t it?
I am totally editing it. :)
P.S. YOU MUST WATCH GLEE!!!! Go to Fox’s website. All the shows are there. You.will.love.it. :)
I WOULD LISTEN TO IT ALL THE TIME! or whenever i have free time…. I’m a mass communications major, so aside from a public access channel, I can’t think of a better medium than radio to get your personality out in the open. It’s sad, but I don’t know you well enough to judge whether you need a co-host, but I can imagine you as a questions and answers type of host… (in my head) I’m a big fan of radio, and WHEN you do start your show, let me know how I can listen to it… #youvegotafaninme
You should totally do this. It’s proactive and healthy! Plus, you’d be great at it. I like listening to radio shows with different guests and topics but the same main host. DO IT!
I’d definitely be interested in a radio show hosted by you! I’d most likely only download the podcasts, and listen to those when I have time, as during working hours I wouldn’t be able to give my full attention to listening to something while working at the same time. I’d still listen to every show, though!
I’d love to hear you do Q&A’s (maybe asking your readers to submit questions about a certain topic you want to talk about, etc.), have guests or co-hosts, or whatever else. Basically I’m saying YES – whatever you do will be totally awesome. I hope it works out for you to make this a reality! :)
As long as you didn’t go all Glenn Beck crazy, I would listen!
Screw that. You should totally go all Glenn Beck crazy. What fun is it if you can’t be the most extreme ever?! (Totally, TOTALLY joking, btw. Definitely do NOT go all Glenn Beck crazy.)
If you had your show in downloadable format… like a podcast, I would listen. We listen to podcasts all the time.
I’d listen!
I have not listened to Blog Talk Radio, either. However, sometimes doing things for free can get you experiences you may have never had. Then you would have recorded proof of how well you can do radio. I listen to blip.fm and somdradio.fm and they have counters that reflect the number of computers listening. I am sure something as large as BLog Talk Radio would have the same thing. Therefore, you would have numbers to back up your proof. I think you should go for it.
I listen to a couple blog talk radio shows and I would listen to you in a heartbeat!
I think if you did it topless it would be very attractive….
Oh…and you need that squirrel.
Would I be allowed to have a drinking game during the show? :)
I would totally listen. I might not be able to listen every day, as they block all streaming media at my work, but I would do my best to keep up. I think you should consider guest hosts. You have so many interests and talents, it would be great to hear from the people you interact with in your regular life. Definitly put your boys on every once in a while, I bet they are hilarious.
I think you should give it a shot, see if you feel the same way about the blog radio talk show as opposed to the traditional radio. I have a feeling you would click with it, since everything web is your medium… your “natural habitat” if you will. ;-)
I would love to hear you solo and with rotating guests. Give it a shot, allow yourself a little time to figure out the flow and format that works for you.
I’m only an occasional podcast person – the ones I listen to tend to be:
- less than 5 minutes (I’ll occasionally go up to 10, but that lessens the chance I’ll download it).
- focused on a topic; if it’s a show, maybe break things up into segments?
- put out once a week or less frequently, *and* pimped on the author/ podcaster’s blog.
I think that you’d kick butt at this, even if my sporadic listening habits aren’t what you’re looking for in a target audience. :)
I’ve listened to the room 704 gals a couple times, and maybe a couple others, but nothing consistently. I would love to listen to you! I have no clue on format or topics or anything though!!
I would listen. If you love it and have a passion for it go for your dream.
Husfriend has a music radio show that he hosts every Sunday from 8a-10a here in Phoenix. Every week, he gets to share all the fun facts (most of which, since I have the ability to be on the internet all day stalking, I share with him) with the world. He’s streamed internationally and it kills me inside. KILLS ME. I worked in radio for 2 years before I got inexplicably pregnant and was forced to not be a viable radio station programming asset post pregnancy. Childcare in Phoenix is sketchy. Simple as that. I love radio so much, we moved less than a block from the station we both worked at so, when I was done being pregnant, it would be a cake walk, quite literally, to go back. I’ve never had the balls to start up a show on Blog Talk Radio. There were nights I’d lose sleep over the decision to start up a show. I knew all the ins and outs, but I never did it. I wanted Husfriend to savor the glory he still had outside of his 9-5-er. Not to say that I’d be better at it him than he is, but I was his BOSS for Hell’s sake.
All this rambling to say, do it. Be your own pioneer. Shit, I used to have to scout shows to find on-air talent for our station when we were stuck in a bind. Someone may find you, and love you, and offer you a glamorous PAID radio host position. :)
xo
Just do a sex show. You know you want to. :P
If you need a FASCINATING guest, I can make an appearance on the show. We can talk about China or Russia.
I don’t know if I’d listen or not… not because it’s you but because I probably couldn’t hear it from where my computer is located, while trying to also do other stuff.
BUT
I would say, you need to balance the pros with the cons. It might be a bit too much to put on your plate right now, esp. with having a newborn. But, if it’s good therapy for you, it would be worth it to give you something to be excited about.
Just try to think long term. How long will you do the show? How often (once a week or daily)? Will it cost you anything? Is that an expense you can justify to your family? (I’m not nitpicking… I think some “frivolous” expenses are TOTALLY justifiable if they help us grow and cope.)
I know you’re excited but I just wanted to be a voice of reason. I guess that makes me a party pooper. SORRY!
Remember about three years ago when I told you to start podcasting (and you didn’t know what a podcast was)? I still think you should!
If it becomes logistically possible for you to do – then do it. The experience would be invaluable. And you can take recordings of your best work and make demos that a radio station could then assess for the potential value on their air.
And I would listen – even though I might not be able to call in.
Also – what a cool way to record what is going on in life around you/in the world (depending on how personal you get) for your kids to listen to later on in life. I know you’ve already got the blog, but how cool to take an audio snapshot of a moment in time when your kids are young?! Super cool.
I wouldn’t find the time to coordinate my schedule to listen to anything on a live/radio type feed, but I would listen the hell out of a podcast from you! I’m an on-demand kind of girl. In fact, I would so look forward to a podcast from you that I will be really bummed if you don’t do one. Just tape your live show and release in a podcast format for the rest of us lazy asses who need to be able to listen on our own time. Woo hoo!
I didn’t even know about BlogTalk Radio but I would definately check out your program. Don’t overwhelm yourself right now but it’s definately something to consider. You know what they say…do what you love and the money will follow.
At least that’s what I keep telling myself every time I write an article for under $10!
Doing stuff for yourself, just because you enjoy it, is a great reason to do things. So, *encouragement*!
I have a hard time listening in to shows or podcasts. I’ve only listened to one of the Room704 shows. I’d definitely be interested to check you out, though. ;)
I’d LOVE for you to have a talk show! I love reading your blog but would rather “hear” you! Though, I do work, so listening for me would be better if it were in the evening.
Best wishes for your new adventure! A
I would listen to it for sure, but then again, before I found the interwebz and a way to make a living off it, I was in radio.
DO IT. :)
If you love it, we will come!
I will be honest-I have NEVER listened to any type of Internet Radio show. Ever.
But if YOU were on it, I’d check it out for sure. :)
You’d be GREAT at it, I already feel that reading your blog is like listening to a dear and hilarious friend on hte phone. IMHO you should do it as long as it is viable as per Texan Mama’s thoughtful musings. I’d love to hear you!
But I have to admit that with my cluelessness and behind the times electronica (podcast requires an ipod, yes?) I have yet to ever download a podcast and my schedule doesn’t allow me to tune into anything radio/tv/internet regularly (the only reason I can ever pick a show on tv is the dvr) so I, myself, would probably not listen super regularly. But if was linked from your blog and in segments of 5-10 minutes I would definitely try it!
I’ve listened to quite a bit of ESPN Radio, and that has convinced me that radio shows and podcasts usually work better with two people than one. One person alone usually starts getting repetitive and talking in circles. Two people (or, just as good, one person interviewing another person who’s a good talker) may get off on tangents, but who cares as long as it’s entertaining? So my advice would be to try to get some interesting guests, with maybe short introductory and/or concluding remarks by yourself.
GO for it. I haven’t ever listened to it, but I would. Just find your niche and go for the gold. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I think you would be absolutely wonderful.
FYI, a podcast does not require an iPod! Woot woot! You can use iTunes to download the podcast, but you can listen to it on your computer using iTunes. But lots of people download the file, without using iTunes, to their computer and listen to it iPod-free.
An mp3 player just gives you more flexibility as to when and where you listen. But you can play the audio podcast on your computer while you surf around the internet or cook dinner or anything else.
I heart podcasts. I listen to them while I grocery shop (yes, on the iPod).
You answered your OWN question “I’d be running it myself and it’s also one more thing that I do without getting paid, but I honestly just LOVE everything about audio work and feel that I would be very good at it.”
even if no one is listening…it’s what YOU want to do. Do something that excites YOU. It’s ok…it’s YOUR life.
Not to get LOREAL on you, but “YOU’RE WORTH IT.”
i’ve listened to various internet radio shows or podcasts, and some are downright hilarious. with your wicked sense of humor and the crazy things that happen in your life, i think it’d be a great idea. it would probably help destress yourself too.
your first guest must be the baby burrito in all this snoring and teething glory.
I don’t know, Loralee… I may not be saying what you want to hear, but maybe now just isn’t the right time. Maybe doors will open up to you with your husband doing it- probably they will! You have a tiny little one which can be incredibly exhausting, as you know. (remember our long talks in college- remember how blunt I can be?) Sometimes we lose out on oportunities we hoped to get, to open the pathways for oportunities we never dreamed we’d get. I think the future holds bigger and better things for you in due time! Be happy for Jon, be happy for yourself- it will come!!!!
No, I ABSOLUTELY know what you mean. I tend to bite off more than I can chew.
I wrote a novel down below but I am giving myself a month to really think about it(and get better…a lot of this might be coming from laying here being totally sick and feeling like helpless hud…I totally get that.)
I may end up doing it once a week. It really wouldn’t be hard. BUT..still really thinking about it. I have to be sure that I can at least commit to a trial length to see. (And that in itself requires thought)
Anyhoo…you always gave great advice. And I can be all over the place, so it’s a good thing to think and weigh all the pros and cons. And there definitely are cons here. :)
I’m mulling it over and will call you later and we’ll chat. Get better dangit!
If it’s something that will make you happy, then by all means do it. I think you would be fantastic in radio. I would totally listen to you. You have a great voice, interesting things to say, you’re all kinds of smart and informed. Go for it!
I know that this is something you ‘think’ you want right now… Remember I love you and read you all the time. I know about all the other issues you have to deal with.
However, I’m wondering if this is the right time for an endeavor like this. All four of your guys need you to be there for them. Especially Aaron. Give him as much of yourself as you can while he is young. They grow up and away much too quickly…
You still have health issues and I worry that stretching yourself even farther could make them worse. How much of your time would be taken up each day if you did this? Can you do it from home? (You can tell I don’t understand much about it…)
Who would watch the baby while you do this? Please don’t think I’m being mean, you know I love you and care about you and want you to be healthy and happy.
It will be your decision, but please weigh all the factors involved. If you are not truly ready physically, mentally, and emotionally to do it, then it could end up being one more thing that would ‘haunt’ you. And you do not need a failure at ANYTHING at this point in your life!
I adore you, Sharon…you know me really well and have been reading this blog for a long time and I am always happy to have “Voices of reason”. There is NOTHING more important than my kids, especially the baby right now. I just know I’m struggling a bit and when that happens I’ve learned that tiny changes are a good thing.
I initially was thinking bigger then what I have settled on in my head, I think.
It’s something I could do from home absolutely. I think (if I did it) I would start of wayyyyyyy slow and just do an hour show once a week (again, from home) instead of the 3 I was thinking of initially. And I’d probably do it at a time when the baby is asleep or hanging out with his dad.
I really don’t want to make my life harder, just more enjoyable and being totally envious of Jonathan isn’t helping. (Of course a lot of that is how it went down but it’s beyond that…I really enjoy doing it)
I have been doing a lot of thinking about it (as a way of not stressing overly about other things) and I think it could be really fun.
I’d give it a three month trial period to see how it goes and only do it once a week. It isn’t a huge time commitment and honestly…I think I already have half of them planed with guests and cohosts and topics.
I’ve decided to give myself the rest of the month to REALLY think about it and see how hard it is to set things up.
My friends (room 704) do the same type of format. They do it by phone once a week and they really like it. I plan on picking their brains to see what they think.
Love you big time!
Hi Loralee, I would totally listen to your radio show and would tell everyone I know about it! I have only been reading your blog a few weeks, maybe 6 weeks, and I love love love it! Your honesty and rawness (in the nicest possible way I mean that) is inspiring, and I really don’t think you know how brave you are for not only living your day to day life in the way that you do, but for having the guts to share it with the rest of the world, warts and all. It would be awesome if it was interactive, at least every now and then, but how would you screen out the weirdos? (and do you want to)? I think if you are thinking so much about this with everything else you have going on in your life, it must be something you are destined to do. Best of luck with it all, no matter what you choose to do!
I haven’t ever listened to anything online other than Pandora… so any advice from this front would suck. What I DO know is that you are awesome and have a contagious personality.
Loralee, I just read your comment on my comment. You are such a dear! I didn’t realize it would only be once a week, and for only an hour. That sounds like something that would be totally within range! Pardon all the !!!!!s….
It would give you something positive to think about and plan for. Yes, I know you love your new little one, and would not do anything that would put him in jeopardy. (Oh, how I wish I could just give him a hug!)