Most on-air embarrassment comes from saying things you haven’t thought through.
That’s why being vague will get you hemmed up in conversation every time.
Vague opinions vanish quickly when you run up against a formidable challenger in the studio—or a phone call from a listener.
Can you defend your point of view?
Do you really think it makes you sound smart to repeat a clever line you heard from a talking head on TV, only to get challenged and realize you have no depth behind it?
Can you articulate it well?
Where is this opinion coming from?
And if I’m not 10 toes down on it—why say it at all?
I believe you should never say things you can’t elaborate on intelligently. Some people will go for the jugular on purpose. They want to position you as having no substance, talking just to be talking. That’s a painful lesson to learn on the air. A nemesis co-host who wants your spot will go for the jugular everytime the opportunity presents itself.
This business runs on ego.
So all the lazy, surface-dwelling DJs—this is a warning.
Preparation isn’t optional at the elite level—it’s the separator.
The mic only reveals the work you didn’t do.
YOU MUST PUT MORE THOUGHT INTO YOUR SHOW!
I tell people I mentor: once it comes out of your mouth, you better be able to defend it and expound on it, because your credibility is on the line.
STOP BEING A SURFACE-DWELLER DJ.
For example—interviewing a political candidate you haven’t researched during a critical election in your city. Most people sound ignorant on the air. Most people ask the mayor softball questions and let them skate out of the studio with nothing of consequence revealed.
What is a “Surface Dwelling” Radio Personality?
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Gives opinions without reasons
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Reacts instead of thinking
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Repeats popular talking points the rest of America is repeating. Not original
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Pitches softballs as questions
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Hides behind “safe” language because you don't know what you are talking about
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Makes lame jokes to cover lack of substance
They say things like:
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“I just feel like…”
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“People are saying…”
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“Everybody knows…”
No depth. No ownership.
Surface dwellers get snared because they just want attention—but exposure is always waiting.
They:
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Don’t think things through
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Avoid writing things down
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Avoid strong opinions
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Want approval more than authority
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Think prep will make them sound “stiff”
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Just want to be liked
A surface dweller gets on the air just to say something.
No depth.
No conviction.
Just noise.
They chase approval, react instead of prepare, and hide behind what they think is popular.
An elite broadcaster opens their mouth with intention.
They’ve already done the show prepand rehearsed and wrestled with their ideas.
They’re not looking for agreement—they’re standing strong in their opinions.
And you can hear it.
It sounds real. It cuts through the airwaves.
Every broadcaster has been a surface dweller at some point. As I told you before, I really grew out of it in 2004. I was 17 years in my career before I learned to let it go. Somebody taught me. Do you want to learn?
Some grow out of it.
Some build a career around it.
And the mic always exposes which one you chose.
Be great every day.
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