Remember when…

80skids

I stumbled across this photo on Digg.com and wanted to share it with all of you.

It instantly took me back to my own childhood (though I was never as ‘cool’ as these guys). One of the greatest gifts God could give a children’s minister would be the ability to remember what childhood felt like.

I pray that God will help you remember yours, so you can minister more effectively to the children God has entrusted to you.

(Click the pic to make it great biggie.)

How To Help Someone Tell A Funny Story

listen

Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and something they say reminds you of a similar story from your own life? We all have. But what about when everything they say reminds you of something else and you feel the need to share every thing, every time? At what point have you stopped swapping stories and started to hijack the conversation to make it all about you? This can be a common thing, especially when trading funny life stories.

You can’t be a good storyteller without being ready to listen to someone else’s story. Here are some tips to help you be a better listener… and storyteller.

1. Pay Attention

The attention you pay will be the attention you are repaid. (You can quote me on that if you want) It’s a spin-off of the Golden Rule. Listen to others the way you would have them listen to you. Do you want someone texting while you’re sharing? Do you want them nodding like a moron the whole time you’re talking because they’re waiting for a pause so they can interrupt? No! Then be the listener you want them to be.

2. Keep Your Responses Relevant

Does your input compete with the situation shared by the other party or does it enhance it? To often we share our version because it’s “better” or “worse” than theirs (ie: “You thought that was bad? Listen to what happened to me last summer!”) or we’re trying to prove that we’re even funnier. This is passive-aggressive at its root and not the foundation for a comfortable conversation.

Your responses should be just that, responses. This person is sharing something with you that they care about. They’re not trying to out-do you or brag. People typically share things because it was exciting to them and they want to share that feeling with their listeners. If you will go into each conversation with this assumption, it will make it easier for you to be a listener and a participant without being a topic derailer.

3. Ask Questions Instead Of Relating

The typical thing to do after someone shares a story is to come back with a similar happening in our own world. It’s our attempt at relating but it waters down the conversation and steals the thunder of the storyteller. When we don’t have a way to relate, commonly we will respond with a statement, “That sounds awesome,” or simply, “Wow”. This hands the ball back to the storyteller… but gives them nowhere to go. The best response is to start asking questions. Pull more of the story out of them. You’ll see their face light up at your interest, and as an added bonus, you don’t have to think of a way to relate!

4. Bait Your Hook

When the storyteller is done, then it’s your turn. Do yourself a favor though, give them just a title and tagline before you read the entire article. Put just a bit of your story out and see if there’s any interest before you waste their and your time. It may sound something like this:

“You know, one time I fell down a cliff too. It’s the tumble that nearly killed me.”

See how that pulls you in? I just made that up but even I want to hear the rest of that story.

Your Turn

What tips would you have for our readers? What do you hate about folks who can’t listen? Share your thoughts in the comments!

How To Tell…

howtotell1

I was looking up an article I wrote on How To Tell A Funny Story to see how it ranked in Google’s search results. Google begins offering suggestions as you type, showing you popular search words/phrases. I took a screen shot of what was being suggested because it made me sad.

I know why it affected me… what does it say to you? (click to make it big)

5 Ways To Help Your Podcast Stand Out

5ways

There are approximately 20 million podcasts available for download across the world. Most of them are probably crap. For many, that’s okay. They just want the experience of doing a podcast, they don’t really care about the listener. But for many of us, though we don’t have the greatest equipment and resources, we want to sound like we do. Since we’re poor and ill-equipped we have to find more creative ways (read: cheaper) to pull off that professional air we’re going for. Here are a few tips that I give when someone asks me how to help their podcast stand out from the crowd. Continue reading

7 Ways To Convince Your Wife To Podcast

wife-podcast

Over the past year I’ve been asked several times, “How did you get your wife to podcast with you?” Though there’s no guarantee that what worked for me will work for you, I’m going tell you how I did it. Hopefully you’ll get some pointers that will help you reach your couple’s-casting goals.

1. Ask her

Don’t tell her. Don’t nag her. Don’t demand it. Just start by asking… and don’t be surprised if she is appalled by the idea. Think of your asking like a seed. Plant that seed and give it time to grow. Don’t kill your chances by getting angry if she doesn’t share your passion for recording right away.

2. Keep asking

This is not the same as nagging. Once a week or so, remind your spouse about your original request. Restate how much you would enjoy it if they joined you behind a mic. Help quell their fears about the sound of their own voice (most folks hate how they sound to others). Again, you’re not nagging here, you’re watering that seed, keeping it as a possibility in the back of their mind.

3. Make it easy Podcasting takes a lot of time. For the hour you spend recording, plan on at least a half-hour of pre-show prep and up to 2 hours of post-production work. Recording can be stressful if there are children, chores or other distractions. Find a ‘hole’ in your week where there is nothing else going on. This may mean you have to make a hole by helping more around the house. Maybe you can work out a trade. Your time for a little of hers. If you can make podcasting more fun than not podcasting… chances are good that you’ll get your co-host!

4. Duplicate your equipment

If it’s important for you to podcast with your wife… prove it! If her voice is as important as yours, give her the same equipment you’re using. Make sure her ‘spot’ in the room is just as comfortable. You don’t want her sitting in a metal folding chair behind your desk while you’re enjoying a $75 Walmart office chair. Don’t toss her a $14 headset mic and expect her to feel valued. What if you can’t afford another mic? Give her yours and you take the headset. I know it seems to make sense that the host would have the best equipment… but we’re investing in the long term. You can always save and buy a mic later… but there’s no point if you don’t have a co-host by then.

5. Interview her

When she finally does relent to your wily ways, she’ll most likely do so begrudgingly. Like a child trying brussle sprouts, she’ll be willing to give it a chance, but if it doesn’t go well, she’s done. So it’s important to make her feel like a natural. One of the most common things I hear is, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “No one will care.” So help her with both of those fears by creating a list of interview questions for your first show together. Give them to her in advance so that she can prepare responses. Then when it’s time to record, start asking those questions. She’ll feel comfortable with the topic. She’ll be more confident and informed. And trust me, internet people love to hear ladies talk! It’s a win, win!

6. Make it a win

Speaking of win. You’ve got to make the first experience an enjoyable and memorable one. The first show is not a time to critique her mic technique, how many times she says um or smacks her lips. If you want to lose your co-host before you even have one, start trying to perfect her from the get-go. Don’t pick. Don’t make fun. Better your humor be self-defacing than making her the butt of your joke. You might even consider not releasing your first. Let her know it’s a “pilot” episode (you can always release it later once you get a listener base, fans love that kind of stuff). It may help her relax.

7. Make it fun Here are some of the things I’ve done to make podcasting as enjoyable for her as for myself.

  1. Set our show email to send her a copy of each email. This allows her to get the same feedback as I do and involves her in the show. It reminds her that people like what we do throughout the week.
  2. I got her a Twitter account. She doesn’t update it much, but she sees that she has followers and it reinforces the fact that her time podcasting is well spent.
  3. I gave her a segment of the show called “Ask Jenn”. I knew she would love getting questions from our listeners and answering them on the show. It gives her a value beyond just responding to a host. She’ll tell you this is her favorite part of the show… and I’d wager it’s one of the listener’s favorite parts as well.
  4. It’s okay to not record. If it’s been a weird week, a bad day, or if anything at all is awry… we don’t have to record. No pressure. I very much want to do a consistent show… but even more than that I want a good show that not only entertains and informs… but also bonds myself and my wife together. If we’re not both in agreement, the show will not be good and the experience will not bond. Often just taking the pressure of “WE MUST RECORD NO MATTER WHAT” off will allow for a show when otherwise it would have been to much. Podcasting must be enjoyable… and solution to stress, not the cause of any.

I hope these tips will work for you. Podcasting with my spouse has become the highlight of my week. It is a truly rewarding experience in every way. If I or Jennifer can help you in your podcast journey in any way email us at geeklovesnerd@gmail.com. Do you have any tips or comments? Post them in the comments!

Song: If My Wife Knew (She Would Slap Me)

Since we didn’t get to put out a show last week, I thought I’d give a little something extra. Here’s my first geek song, “If My Wife Knew”.

Lyrics are after the jump. Enjoy and share-alike!

If My Wife Knew

My wife is great she let’s me do the things I like to do,
but there’s always been a limit to the geekenies, it’s true.
I can have a podcast and I can draw picture online.
Even World of Warcraft would be fine.

The Wii is great she likes it to, the 360 and iPod too.
she doesn’t mind my friends online as long. As they don’t show it’s fine.
my twitter doesn’t bother her, my skype instead of call.
But there’s some things she won’t allow at all.

If my wife knew she would slap me.
If my wife knew she would slap me.

I’ve never dressed up as a Jedi, though it is something I’d like to try.
I’ve never painted a figurine, played Warhammer back in a comic book store scene
I would like to call myself by my online name you see
Mr. NLCast your table is ready.

I’ve never participated in a flash mob, never worked EB as my job.
I’ve never been to a convention, not E3, not New Media, not Dragon.
I’ve never watched all 6 Star Wars movies in a row,
But I take my lappy in the bathroom when I go.

I try to hide my secret shame. I’m not ashamed but I should be
When she sees me dressed like C3-PO I can only hope
that she won’t laugh at me, just long enough to leave.
These aren’t the droids she’s married to you see.

I’m to far gone it’s not my fault my wife knew what she did,
when she settled down with this here geek and had a couple kids.
I’m hoping that they’ll look like her but become geeks themselves.
It’s looking good but still to soon to tell.