Page 34 - August 2020 Voices
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FIELD NOTES
by trade, but his life-lesson, self-help articles are
powerful and moving. Really makes you think.
We are two very different personality types. I
am 100% extrovert, and Joe is 100% introvert. But
Todd Lemense— I needed a new mentor to help me prepare for
This wasn’t my first try at self-help podcasting. my first Toastmasters contest. I’d had mentors
Last year, I took two months off from work and before, without any real progress. Not sure if it
started my own show. I spent what was left of was because I needed to listen better, or maybe I
my money, and even more on time. I recorded just wasn’t working with the right person for me.
about 14 shows with guests from all over the Well, last year, I didn’t just win at my Club. I won
world. I really didn’t know how to interview and third in Division!
learned quickly that asking the right question was After that, we started to work on writing
extremely important. Even though my guests weekly speeches. We met every Tuesday for
and I were very enthusiastic, I was unhappy breakfast, write, and visit. Even though we are
with the finished project. There were some very different kinds of people, we found that we
good points, but the show was choppy. It needed have one thing in common. We both love to learn.
structure, and real take-aways for the listeners. We talked about Science and History and how
Not being overly critical but still candid - I they have a lot in common. Our conversations
couldn’t put this podcast out into the world. got so intense, we finally said we needed to
I was even more disappointed in myself for record them. We wanted an archive and to share
wasting my resources and all of my guests’ time. our life lessons and research. Working with Joe
I thought, “Well, I tried.” and gave up way too Anthony and creating The Re-engineered You
soon. I dabbled in podcasting but I didn’t commit. self-help podcast has been one of the toughest,
It never even crossed my mind to swallow my most rewarding projects I have ever done.
pride and ask for some help.
I know Joe Anthony from Storymasters Joe Anthony—
Toastmasters club. He is an amazing evaluator I’m skittish as a collaborator. Even as a DTM,
and speaker. He uncovers fascinating stories and who’s learned to shout ‘Yes!’ at opportunity, I’ll
facts through his research. He is a fantasy writer still make a show of pulling out my calendar
34 ONE COMMUNITY
