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Flat Tone vs. Real Emotion on the Mic: What Listeners Actually Feel
If you try to sound professional by flattening your voice into a "newscaster" tone in your podcasts or videos, you are actually making it harder for people to listen. Science shows that listeners physically mimic the tension in your voice. Basically, if you feel nothing, then they feel nothing.
This episode looks at Simulation Theory and Emotional Contagion. I go over how your vocal prosody triggers the mirror neurons in your listener's brain. This biological link is why that "NPR Voice" thing often doesn't work all that well in podcasting, and why you need to use techniques to connect.
Get better at communication and public speaking to improve your next episode.
Key Takeaways:
- Why listeners physically mimic the emotions they hear in your voice.
- Why sounding objective or impartial creates a barrier to connection.
- Mirror Neurons: How to trigger the "audio-motor link" in your audience's brain.
- A simple script analysis and practice drill to inject genuine emotion into your episodes.
RESOURCES:
- Emotional Contagion: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/mirror-neurons-critical-development-empathy
- Simulation Theory: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2865077/
- Prosodic Cues: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4588126/
- Deep acting: https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/deep-acting-at-work/
- Newsletter: https://stereoforest.com
About and Support
==========================
Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.
Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com
SupportYour support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry.
Support the Show- Like this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://performance.captivate.fm
- We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz
- We have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8ndd
- Transcriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqk
- Schedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZR
About Jen
Host: Jen deHaan has a background of almost 30 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance.
Jen's website: https://jendehaan.com
Made and produced by Jen deHaan in British Columbia, Canada.
26a6eff0-f277-11f0-8b8c-c172a4fa91ca
d8054720-f316-11f0-9304-01077eeac229
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By Jen deHaanIf you try to sound professional by flattening your voice into a "newscaster" tone in your podcasts or videos, you are actually making it harder for people to listen. Science shows that listeners physically mimic the tension in your voice. Basically, if you feel nothing, then they feel nothing.
This episode looks at Simulation Theory and Emotional Contagion. I go over how your vocal prosody triggers the mirror neurons in your listener's brain. This biological link is why that "NPR Voice" thing often doesn't work all that well in podcasting, and why you need to use techniques to connect.
Get better at communication and public speaking to improve your next episode.
Key Takeaways:
- Why listeners physically mimic the emotions they hear in your voice.
- Why sounding objective or impartial creates a barrier to connection.
- Mirror Neurons: How to trigger the "audio-motor link" in your audience's brain.
- A simple script analysis and practice drill to inject genuine emotion into your episodes.
RESOURCES:
- Emotional Contagion: https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/mirror-neurons-critical-development-empathy
- Simulation Theory: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2865077/
- Prosodic Cues: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4588126/
- Deep acting: https://bigthink.com/neuropsych/deep-acting-at-work/
- Newsletter: https://stereoforest.com
About and Support
==========================
Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan.
Contact Jen at https://jendehaan.com
SupportYour support will help this show continue. Funds will go towards hosting and music licensing for this show and others. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry.
Support the Show- Like this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://performance.captivate.fm
- We love our podcast host Capitvate.fm! Contact to ask me anything, anytime. You can support the shows by signing up with Captivate here: https://www.captivate.fm/signup?ref=yzjiytz
- We have our newsletters on Kit.com. We also have our tip form with them, and sell products on their platform. Easy, and they don't take a cut! Check Kit out and support the show using this: https://partners.kit.com/ijdkivtf8ndd
- Transcriptions by MacWhisper. I use and love the Pro version (subscription free!) - you can get it too using this link: https://gumroad.com/a/20303251/ivpqk
- Schedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZR
About Jen
Host: Jen deHaan has a background of almost 30 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance.
Jen's website: https://jendehaan.com
Made and produced by Jen deHaan in British Columbia, Canada.
26a6eff0-f277-11f0-8b8c-c172a4fa91ca
d8054720-f316-11f0-9304-01077eeac229