How Brain’s Fear Of Public Speaking Led To A Career In Radio

The fear of public speaking.  It ranks high in nearly every survey of things that we fear the most.  I was no different.  I hated to speak in front of people.  But my fear actually led to my career in radio.

When I was in high school, like many teenagers, I hated speaking in front of people.  I was OK with my friends, but up in front of the class?  Not good!  I took a public speaking course my sophmore year, but I just couldn't break out of my shell.  That's when my parents stepped in.  My senior year, they informed me that I was going to go out for Individual Speech.  I was horrified!  I couldn't believe they were going to make me do this.  They told me I could pick whatever category I wanted, so I searched and finally found the perfect one.  The only speech category where you are hidden from everyone!  It was just you, and a microphone....Radio News and Broadcasting!

True to their word, my parents let me do radio news.  And it turned out, I was pretty good.  I made All State, and at districts was offered a job at a local radio station in Anamosa.  I worked there for 2 years, and then got an internship at KHAK in 1995.  The rest, as they say, is history.  I went from being scared to speak in front of my class, to screaming to a crowd of thousands at a place like the Great Jones County Fair!  Take THAT fear of public speaking!  And....thanks Mom and Dad.