Dear Friends,

Last week I went to see Ira Glass, host of the NPR program *This American Life*. Even if they're familiar with his voice most people don't know what Glass looks like since he's behind the veil of radio. Before he let us get a glimpse of him Glass requested the lights stay down, his voice coming to us in the dark, creating suspense and mystery.

This gave us a chance to rest in the luxury of sound, to use our imaginations to picture his words, to envision his stories, which is what radio is all about. Stories. It's all about stories. Remember as a child when you were told stories on the lap of your parents or grandparents in the dark or semi-darkness at bedtime? You could relax and sleep with dreams flavored by fairies and demons and witches and wonderful beings that inhabit other worlds.

If you've never listened to *This American Life* please tune in. It's a great education for finding the right tone and feeling and story arc—and it will give you a pulse on what's going on in America, both in the mainstream and on the fringes. Glass mentioned that no matter when a person tunes in—at the first minute or the 48th—they listen until the end. Quite a feat for any show. Check your local listings for times. This month I'm continuing to focus on radio and what makes a great story.

Warmly,
Susan

P.S. NOTE: I'm changing servers over the weekend for this newsletter. Be aware that given the way technology works there may be a bit of chaos—but hopefully it will all go smoothly. Your patience is appreciated.

THE BIBLE, TESTOSTERONE AND LUCK
How to give your radio audience sex and spirituality

Fables, folklore, Bible stories. In the old days people spoke their stories. Generation upon generation repeated them until they were woven into the fabric of a culture. We've lost most of that. But good stories tend to live on in the imagination and get retold over and over again. When chemistry gets sparked between two people *hot* moments are created. Later we relive those *hot* moments in our minds, never tiring of them. So what makes a story, or a moment *hot*?

1. Do your stories have an *X-Factor*?

Ira Glass, host of the NPR program *This American Life*, talked about Bible stories and what he learned from them. He said that many of them start out with stories like you and me, but then there's the *X-Factor*, something weird happens. He says there are three qualities of a story that make a great radio show.

1. Anybody can relate to it.

2. It's surprising.

3. You can see it.

When you're telling your stories check to see if you have a twist, an *X-Factor*, that makes your audience stop, reflect, or gasp. Is there something counter-intuitive, weird or just plain unexpected that you can highlight? We all love a bit of strange. Give us a taste of that special moment.

2. Does lightning strike?

Glass says for every story he runs he wants lightning to strike. How does he get it? He tries, and tries and tries again. He throws out entire stories he's worked on for months. He reworks segments. He interviews more people, does more research. He experiments until he finds the right mix, the magic formula that will keep audiences tuned to his show. He says, "If you try enough things luck will strike." It's the entrepreneurial mind-set.

Experiment. Go a little wacky. Exaggerate. Try something you've never considered—or have considered and ruled out. Take a chance. Don't wait for lightning to strike, go looking for it.

3. Are you willing to embarrass yourself?

Most people shy away from making a fool of themselves. Don't. Another word for this type of willingness to not take yourself so seriously, is vulnerability. We admire the people who are honest and fresh. Surprising things can happen if you let loose a little and stop worrying about how you're perceived by others. Say something outrageous without censoring it. Respond in the moment with a tear or a laugh or a snort. Speak your mind with passion.

I love the mythologist Michael Meade for this reason. He's a very manly man, but he will get choked up or respond to difficult emotional situations posed by students during his workshops with kindness and compassion that's free of sentimentality or silliness. If you're interested in myths, storytelling and your place and the place of elders in our society, I highly recommend his audio tapes http://www.mosaicvoices.org. You can learn an enormous amount by the way he tells his stories. He's a master at it.

4. Can you use pauses as your music?

The music creates motion and puts a frame on the story and makes it seem like a fable, explained Glass. You can use it to give the audience direction, to tell them when to pay attention or when to reflect. When the music fades or stops, that's your cue. Like traditional storytellers in Africa Michael Meade drums while telling his stories. He uses the beat to speed up or slow down the tension. You can use your voice as a drum by emphasizing words or beats, speaking faster or more slowly to move your audience through a story. You can use pauses as pacing and to give them a chance to breathe in your words.

5. Do you talk in images?

Great writing speaks in image. So does great speaking. The truly captivating speakers speak with poetry, art, metaphor and meaning. For example, Buddhist Zen master, poet and peace activist Thich Nhat Hanh says, "There is a gatha (teaching) that says, 'Words can travel thousands of miles. They are to build up more mutual acceptance and understanding. I vow that my words will be like gems. I vow that my words will be fresh like flowers.'" Make your words fresh like flowers and we will be drawn to them.

What about the testosterone, you mentioned in the heading, you ask? Well, not everything is literal. So see if you can find it in the rhythm or pacing of this little story. You don't have to tell all in order to give audiences what you've promised.

WILL YOU BE IN A TOP TV TALK SHOW?

My agent is pitching my NEW book to New York publishers this week.

If you are going to be featured on news shows, TV talk shows or on other national shows etc. in the next few weeks will you email me?

This is part of a strategy/credibility campaign to show editors the kind of results that my personal work, seminar instruction or written work has had upon people who have taken my advice.

I'm hoping that you, or someone you know who has worked with me in some capacity, can help.

Could you email me the details, (time, show, subject etc.) at: talkshow@prsecrets.com?

FREE* SPECIAL REPORT

This would be a great help. As my way of thanking you I'll give you the first special report I produce. I'm working on creating new products right now and you'll be the first to have it when it's done. The reports will be priced from $7-$29, but you will receive yours at no cost.

BECOME A RICH AND FAMOUS SPEAKER

Do you feel held back in any way?

Many popular and famous speakers got a quick-start on their careers by teaching at adult learning centers throughout the U.S.. People like Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad, Poor Dad), Barbara Sher (Wishcraft—How to Get What You Really Want), Wayne Dyer (Your Erroneous Zones), and Cheryl Richardson (Take Time for Your Life) built their businesses this way.

Now they are all best-selling authors who have PBS specials that sell their books and products in mega quantities. Now they fill halls with thousands of people who buy tens of thousands of dollars worth of their products and contract for their programs and services.

If you want to follow in their successful footsteps to build your own business you'll want this e-book. It's a comprehensive guide to getting into this VERY competitive market—for only $19.95. You'll be in the company of best-selling authors, millionaire business people and Hollywood moguls.

Start to build your empire with integrity and spirit at: http://prsecrets.com/store/sectoskyryou.html

P.S. One of my clients had been rejected from 3 of the top adult learning centers and had given up hope. That's when she called me. She got this e-book, followed the guidelines and was accepted into all three of them the very next day! Make sure your proposal doesn't end up in the reject pile. Go to: http://prsecrets.com/store/sectoskyryou.html

CLICK FOR THE CURE

Let's not forget how prosperous and fortunate we are to be living in the United States. You can be philanthropic without spending a dime. There is something you can do for the children of Iraq and for hungry and suffering children everywhere. Visit: http://www.thechildhealthsite.com. You can click here every day (I do) and then from that link click on the hunger site, the breast cancer site, the animal rescue site and the rainforest site. In other words everyday you can do your part to help women, children, animals and the planet in less than a minute!

A POEM FOR YOU

What does poetry have to do with PR? Everything. Our words carry our intentions and inspire us to action. In the words of Sam Hamill who founded Copper Canyon Press and the below web site: "If poetry does nothing else it elevates our sense of personal responsibility and personal participation in our culture." http://www.poetsagainstthewar.org

Trying to Write a Poem Against the War

My daughter, who's as beautiful as the day,
hates politics: Face it, Ma,
they don't care what you think! All
passion, like Achilles,
she stalks off to her room,
to confide in her
purple guitar and await
life's embassies. She's right,
of course: bombs will be hurled
at ordinary streets and leaders look grave for the cameras, and what good are more poems against war
the real subject of which
so often seems to be the poet's superior
moral sensitivities? I could
be mailing myself to the moon
or marrying a palm tree,
and yet what can we do
but offer what we have?
and so I spend
this cold gray glittering morning
trying to write a poem against war
that perhaps may please my daughter
who hates politics
and does not care much for poetry, either.

~Katha Pollitt

I love the lines: I could be mailing myself to the moon or marrying a palm tree, and yet what can we do but offer what we have?

For all of you who feel hopeless in the face of war I urge you to continue to offer what you have. It doesn't matter what your passion or whatever you're promoting. What else can we really do? We all must contribute in the way that we can. Your words and actions are important, no matter how small you think their impact. You can't ever know who you will reach. Never allow your voice to be silenced.

NEW! FEATURED ARTICLES IN FUTURE NEWSLETTERS (NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS ORDER)

What I learned from Nicholas Graham (the mastermind behind branding Joe Boxer)-Stunts and how you can stage yours.

How to pitch Hollywood (I'll be in Los Angeles soon working with a client to get a TV pilot bought).

KICK START YOUR DREAM BUSINESS

I met Romanus Wolter last week and fell in love with him! He's one of those people whose enthusiasm is enough to get you off your butt to complete your goals. For all you locals in California come to this seminar Learn the "Three Rules to Live By." I'll be there so please find me and say hello.

Wolter is Entrepreneur magazine's designated success coach and you'll have the chance to get motivated with his program, "Kick Start Your Dream Business: Throw Out the Business Plan and Step Into Success."

Sign up today! Find out the details of this program at: http://www.briia.com/

May 14th Pleasanton, CA
6:00 - 9:00 pm
To Register:
Jack: 925.699.0797
jskatz2000@yahoo.com

Throw Out the Business Plan and Step into Success.

COME MEET ME

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
May 6, 2003
How to Get Booked on Oprah and Other Top Talk Shows
The Learning Annex
6:30-9:30pm
http://www.learningannex.com
http://prsecrets.com/classes/sellyourselfoprahla.html
415.788.5500
$39/$44

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
May 21 2003
Power Communication For Women: Communicate with Confidence, Clarity & Calm
The Learning Annex
6:45-9:30pm
http://www.learningannex.com
http://prsecrets.com/classes/powercommunication.html
415.788.5500
$49/$44

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
July 8 2003
How to Get Booked on Oprah and Other Top Talk Shows
The Learning Annex
6:30-9:30pm
http://www.learningannex.com
http://prsecrets.com/classes/sellyourselfoprahla.html
415.788.5500 $39/$44

SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA
July 15 2003
Power Communication For Women: Communicate with Confidence, Clarity & Calm
The Learning Annex
6:45-9:30pm
http://www.learningannex.com
http://prsecrets.com/classes/powercommunication.html
415.788.5500
$49/$44

SANTA CRUZ CALIFORNIA
August 9 2003
August 16 2003 UCSC
9am-5pm
2 Consecutive Saturdays
Sell Yourself Without Selling Your Soul
(for women only)
X494.2 business Administration (1) EDP# 031B82 http://prsecrets.com/classes/ucsc-sywsys.html
800.660.8639
$600 (for both days)

For further schedule information and course descriptions please visit: http://prsecrets.com/speakingkeynotesworkshops.html

QUOTE

In Africa they say: If you tell the truth, you'd better have a horse by the door.

~Michael Meade (In an audio tape called "Images of Initiation")