As Featured On: Honey How Was Your Day?
I was stoked to join my good friends on their podcast, Honey, How Was Your Day?. Kat and Honi spend each week connecting with someone in a unique field of work and ask about their livelihood: How was your day? What do/did you want to be when you grow up? What do you love or hate about your job? How do you know if you’ve had a good day?
Being on a podcast is weird. I’ve spent years self-promoting, examining my values and purpose, going to therapy and experiencing the intense metamorphosis that is early twenties survival. I’ve also done hundreds of interviews and work presentations, but a recording living on the internet indefinitely - potentially in infamy - is daunting and intimidating.
The day of my interview I hopped on with Honi and Kat and burst into a soliloquy on my nerves. Yes, they are my friends and yes, very friendly, but I’ve also been in PR and marketing long enough to know that things can always go sideways, even in safe spaces. They assured me that everyone said that, that they could cut anything truly heinous and to relax and enjoy it. I did. Once wrapped, as with most interchanges, I played my responses back in my head to make sure I hadn’t said anything uncouth, embarrassing or worse - offensive. All I could do was pass off my headshot and bio and wait.
Throughout the entire process, the girls were angels: equal parts ideators, babysitters, co-conspirators, encouragers and fun-havers. Regardless, as we approached publication, my anxiety mounted. What if I said the wrong thing (likely)? What if I hated my voice? What if I was irrevocably married to some random observation that I prattled off? I soldiered on with mild anxiety and a determined let-go of what I couldn’t control.
When it aired, I cringed at the sound of my voice in the promo. I’ve always decently liked my voice, especially for singing, but it’s bizarre to hear it on play for a long stretch of time. At the end, I settled on liking it and feeling proud of how I represented myself. All my respect and godspeed for those podcasters and celebrities who do this whole thing often.
Please enjoy my voyage on one of my favorite podcasts, Honey How Was Your Day?, and listen along with my smart friends as they continue their quest to break down subjects’ days, good and bad. Massive thanks and respect for Honi and Kat who have beautifully constructed a thoughtful and engaging podcast. Their ability to ask solicitous questions, craft meaningful conversations and be really really good listeners and moderators is a rare one. Savor it.
Here are my tips for any time you’re doing an interview, presentation or performance. They’ve helped me out so far, so I find they’re worth sharing.
Take some time to self reflect on your values: write out your talking points, brainstorm and think about the key things you’d like your audience to walk away with. For me, iPhone notes are key. I furiously jot down thoughts during a run or before bed (sometimes branding literally keeps me up at night). Suspend judgment and write away, at least for a little bit.
Always always always practice what you’re going to say out loud, to yourself, to a friend. I practice interview talking points while throwing the ball for Ollie. No matter how awkward it feels, find a space where you can say things out loud - at least once - before the big show.
It’s not going to be perfect. You’re going to say “like” a lot, you’re going to misspeak a time or two, you’re going to hammer points a few times (case in point, me and the word “fun”), you’re going to cringe at the long silences. Just accept it and do your best.
Have fun! (Shocker.)
And finally, here are the talking points I scribbled down in my Notes prior to recording. Take a listen and see how many I hit.
Working at Starbucks is telling stories and solving problems.
Early experience as a freelance copy writer illuminated the copycattedness of the working world: my client, a 40-year old business woman, directed me to go to competitors’ sites and copy what they had written.
Fun, life goal = love. Went through a really hard season: gaslighting, diagnosed as bipolar, suicidal, took time off of work, a total breakdown. And then what followed was an intensive reckoning of self- remembering how strong I am, how powerful, the things I love and am good at. An intense rebound of self love. Like sometimes I get worried I’m a narcissist.
Mental health and dark thoughts: some of that stuff doesn’t go away, but it does change and it does ebb and flow.
S*n Sk*n - vanity, based on the idea that loving yourself, spending money on skincare, taking selfies- is bad. Subvert the idea of considering these to be sins and celebrate them instead.
It doesn’t have to be perfect - you can always fix it later. Take a look at any company today and you will find a shit show. Look at some of your favorite companies and start to see if they have any mistakes on their page.
Branding = mood board, go on a long run and turn it over in your head. Look at your past Pinterest posts, journal entries and see if anything is still true, or any patterns.
My story is serendipitous but also unknowingly being prepared. Like opportunistic but I didn’t realize I was doing everything to prepare for what was to follow.
If you can’t decide, don’t. Or make two brands.
Not fake it til you make it, but declare it until it’s true
Make time for play. Life is always more important than work.
