Podcast Performance Lab

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In this show we take the most effective tools from unscripted performance and behavioural psychology and apply them directly to your video and audio content. If you're building a personal brand, B2B show, or a new podcast, you know how you say things matters just as much as what you say. What to expect: Psychology of Presence: Why listeners trust some voices and tune out others (and how to fix "flat" audio). Unscripted Strategy & Exercises: How to speak naturally using tools from performing on stage & behavioural science. Solo Strategy: Best practices for solo-hosted audio & video content. Host: Jen deHaan is the founder of StereoForest. With a background of over 20 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance, Jen brings systems and scientific approach to media production. Work with us: https://www.stereoforest.com

  1. Flat Tone vs. Real Emotion on the Mic: What Listeners Actually Feel

    JAN 8

    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-empathySimulation 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. Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@jdehaan Website at https://stereoforest.com/lab Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/newsletter Produced by StereoForest https://stereoforest.com 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 on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support. Support the Showspan class="ql-ui"...

    18 min
  2. The "Red Stapler": How to Be Memorable & Believable

    JAN 1

    The "Red Stapler": How to Be Memorable & Believable

    You might remember the red Swingline stapler from the movie Office Space. All these years later. You can apply that principle to your episodes to stop sounding like every other show. This episode explores Dual Coding Theory and Concreteness Fading. This science explains why abstract phrases like "an efficient workflow" are forgettable while concrete details like "fast editing with Stream Deck" stick in the brain better. Key Takeaways: Dual Coding Theory: Why your brain processes images and text separately and how to trigger both.Concreteness Fading: Why memory fades over time and how concrete nouns act as "handles" for the brain.The Problem with Jargon: Why "safe" business words and AI make you sound kinda genericThe "Zoom In" Drill: A simple editing exercise to turn more of your words and phrases into specifics. RESOURCES:Dual Coding Studies: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312316469_Concrete_vs_Abstract_words_-_What_do_you_Recall_Better_A_Study_on_Dual_Coding_Theoryhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301008223001120https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/dual-coding-theory (multiple studies) More information about dual coding https://www.instructionaldesign.org/theories/dual-coding/https://plato.stanford.edu/archIves/sum2020/entries/mental-imagery/theories-memory.html Concreteness fading https://www.learningscientists.org/blog/2018/2/1-1 (general)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959475221000839 Random word (suggestion) generators There are many! Here are two options https://www.impromuse.com/ https://www.andismith.com/games/improv-suggestions/ Join the Lab &...

    14 min
  3. Make your voice (and face) sound and look more alive - easy practice drill

    12/26/2025

    Make your voice (and face) sound and look more alive - easy practice drill

    If you feel awkward staring into a camera lens, you are fighting your own biology. Your nervous system interprets the unblinking stare of a lens as a threat or rejection, even if your brain doesn't. This can lead to many things, including causing your facial muscles to go flat and turn into what actors might call "Dead Eyes." In this episode, we use Dr. Stephen Porges' Polyvagal Theory and the Still Face Experiment to explain why your face goes numb when you hit record, and you'll learn how to override it using a specific acting drill. Key Takeaways: The Anatomy of "Dead Eyes": Why your Social Engagement System shuts down when looking at a lens.Why the camera lens triggers a subconscious threat response.Stanislavski’s Circles: How to use the "Medium Circle" to trick your brain into feeling safe.The Drill: My "Talk to the Face" drill to warm up your on-camera presence. ResourcesJoin the Lab & Get the Newsletter: https://stereoforest.com Polyvagal Theory (Dr. Stephen Porges): https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12302812 Stanislavski Circles of Attention: https://www.theatreworkout.com/post/stanislavski-3-circles-of-attention The Still Face Experiment (Dr. Ed Tronick): https://www.gottman.com/blog/research-still-face-experiment Why Still Face was game changer - https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tech-support/202307/why-the-still-face-experiment-was-a-game-changer Still Face Experiment and connection - https://psychhelp.com.au/what-does-the-still-face-experiment-teach-us-about-connection/ Eyes as a Threat: https://psychcentral.com/health/identifying-psychopathic-stare#what-is-it Research on Eye Contact with the Camera: https://jov.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2810811 "Dead Eyes" Podcast by Connor Ratliff: https://headgum.com/dead-eyes Chapters00:00 The Disconnect: Why You Feel Awkward Recording 01:25 Welcome to the Podcast Performance Lab 01:47 Polyvagal Theory: The Social Engagement System 03:25 The "Still Face" Experiment Explained 05:35 Biology: Why the Lens Looks Like a Predator 06:33 Acting Theory: Stanislavski's Circles of Attention 08:41 The Personalization Technique: Speaking to One Person 11:22 Drill: "Talk to the Face" (Using a Photo) 14:36 Advanced Drill: Visualization & Scanning 18:22 Recommendation: The "Dead Eyes" Podcast ========================== About and Support========================== Written, edited, and...

    19 min
  4. A recovery exercise drill to help you get used to hearing your voice

    12/19/2025

    A recovery exercise drill to help you get used to hearing your voice

    If you edit out every breath, "um," and awkward pause because you think it makes you sound more professional, you are actually hurting your authority. Psychology shows that being "too perfect" triggers the Uncanny Valley effect and makes listeners distrust you. In this episode, we look at behavioural psychology (specifically the "Beautiful Mess Effect" and the "Pratfall Effect") to understand why humans who show vulnerability (with that voice you "hate"!) win more trust than those who polish everything. We explore the "pratfall" effect and how it applies to both improv and podcasting. You'll get the psychological facts about how audiences perceive mistakes and understand the importance of failure acceptance in creative fields. I give you an exercise you can try today to practice speaking, using your voice, for your next episode (and it also works great for webinars too). Get some podcasting tips, a useful exercise, and improve your content. Key Takeaways: How podcast editing generally handles errors, versus the spontaneous nature of improv.Why we view our own mistakes as weaknesses but view others' mistakes as courage (The Beautiful Mess Effect).How to use the "Pratfall Effect" to increase your likability as an expert.Why filler words like "um" are actually neurological signals that help your audience process complex ideas.My "Recovery Drill" to train your brain to speak continuously without stopping for mistakes. RESOURCES:Research on the Beautiful Mess Effect (Anna Bruk, University of Mannheim): https://www.bps.org.uk/research-digest/beautiful-mess-effect https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326743464_Beautiful_mess_effect_Self-other_differences_in_evaluation_of_showing_vulnerability Research on The Pratfall Effect: https://ofdblog.wordpress.ncsu.edu/2022/08/22/re-engage-with-your-students-by-being-more-authentic-and-showing-your-humanity/ (see references) https://lup.lub.lu.se/luur/download?func=downloadFile&recordOId=8970932&fileOId=8970933 Julia Cameron’s Morning Pages: https://juliacameronlive.com/ On Filler Words as Signals: https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/um-so-how-filler-words-can-be-effective-communication Episode on Improv and Failing (as fun!): https://youtu.be/RTN5KfE7GZ4 Join the Lab & Get the Newsletter: a href="https://stereoforest.com" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

    22 min
  5. Solo Podcast Formats Explained | Storyteller, Teacher, Commentator

    12/09/2025

    Solo Podcast Formats Explained | Storyteller, Teacher, Commentator

    Solo podcasting often gets a reputation for being "easy" because you don't have to coordinate with guests. But without a guest to bounce ideas off of, many hosts fall into the trap of rambling or becoming monotonous. You need a specific architecture to hold your audience's attention. In this episode, I break down the three primary structures of solo podcasting: The Storyteller, The Teacher, and The Commentator. Plus, learn about a fourth BONUS format. We explore the subtypes within these categories too, such as the "Historical Deep Dive" or the "Academic Explainer," and look at real-world examples of successful shows using these frameworks. You will learn how to identify which structure fits your goals and how to pivot your existing show to a stronger format. Here is what you will learn in this episode: The definition and goal of "The Storyteller" format (Narrative focus)How "The Teacher" format builds authority through logic and frameworksWhy "The Commentator" format builds the fastest trust with an audienceThe risks and rewards of blending multiple formats (Hybrid models)How to use a "Cold Open" to hook listeners immediately RESOURCES: Hardcore History (Dan Carlin): https://www.dancarlin.com/Lore (Aaron Mahnke): https://www.lorepodcast.com/History of Philosophy Without Any Gaps: https://historyofphilosophy.net/The History of Rome / Revolutions (Mike Duncan): https://thehistoryofrome.typepad.com/Think Media Podcast: https://youtube.com/@ThinkMediaPodcast and https://www.thinkmediapodcast.comYour Improv Brain (Jen deHaan): https://youtube.com/@YourImprovBrain and https://improvupdate.comThe Humanist Report: https://www.humanistreport.com/Monday Morning Podcast (Bill Burr): https://billburr.com/podcastBetter Online (Ed Zitron): https://www.czm.media/shows/better-offlinespan class="ql-ui"...

    19 min
  6. My "Structured Spontaneity" System for Solo Episodes

    12/02/2025

    My "Structured Spontaneity" System for Solo Episodes

    Full scripts can make you sound robotic, but winging it often leads to rambling and hours of painful editing. You need a middle ground that provides the safety of a script with the energy of a conversation. In this episode, I break down the system I use at StereoForest Studio to organize solo episodes. We move away from word-for-word reading and towards "extemporaneous speaking." This method uses specific bullet points and a rigid structure to keep you on track while allowing your natural personality to come through. Here is what you will learn in this episode: Why "winging it" actually increases your production costsThe definition of "Structured Spontaneity" and why you need itWhich parts of your episode must be fully scripted (and which shouldn't)How to use Main Points and Sub-Points to reduce cognitive load You will leave with a clear framework to organize your next recording session for maximum efficiency and engagement. RESOURCES:About reading scripts without sounding like you're reading: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5F4RFcNoDw The episode about solo formats: https://stereoforest.com/episodes/solo-podcast-formats-explained-storyteller-teacher-commentator/ About extemporaneous speaking: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-rockland-standupspeakout/chapter/four-methods-of-delivery/ StereoForest: https://stereoforest.com CHAPTERS:00:00 The problem with winging it vs. full scripts 02:40 Defining "Structured Spontaneity" 03:14 Why structure creates freedom (The Improv connection) 06:53 What is "Extemporaneous Speaking"? 07:40 Part 1: Fully script the first 30 seconds 09:32 Part 2: Main points and cognitive load 10:12 Part 3: Sub-points for critical data 11:51 Finding your personal level of detail 12:45 Part 4: Fully script the Outro ========================== About and Support========================== Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan. Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@jdehaan Website at https://stereoforest.com/lab Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/newsletter Produced by StereoForest https://stereoforest.com 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 on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support. Support the Showli...

    14 min
  7. How to Read a Podcast Script Naturally (4 Methods)

    11/25/2025

    How to Read a Podcast Script Naturally (4 Methods)

    You have written the perfect script. But the moment you press record, your voice goes flat and you sound like you are reading a textbook. News anchors use teleprompters every day and sound natural, so why is it so hard for the rest of us? In this episode, I break down four specific techniques to fix that robotic delivery. We look at the trade-offs between reading word-for-word and improvising, and how each method impacts your editing time and cognitive load. I also share the specific method I use for my own shows to balance accuracy with a human connection. Here is what you will learn in this episode: The trade-off between natural delivery and post-production editing timeHow to use the "Look Down, Look Up" method for short-form contentTechniques for scan-reading a teleprompter effectivelyHow to use "Reference Cues" and bolding to anchor your memoryThe "Reference and Improvise" workflow for long-form episodes The goal is to sound like the expert you are. Resources Mentioned:Previous episode on script formatting: Podcast: https://stereoforest.com/episodes/solo-podcasting-workflow-voice-to-final-script/ Video: https://youtu.be/LixDbzNYRXE Anchor words: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1244288/full Newsletter: https://StereoForest.com/newsletter CHAPTERS 00:00 The problem with reading scripts 02:22 Balancing delivery vs. editing time 03:57 Method 1: Look down, look up (Short-term memory) 05:26 Method 2: Scan reading (News anchor style) 06:50 Method 3: Reference cues (Anchoring) 10:24 Method 4: Reference and improvise 12:31 Choosing the right technique for you ========================== About and Support========================== Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan. Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@jdehaan Website at https://stereoforest.com/lab Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/newsletter Produced by StereoForest https://stereoforest.com 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 on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support. Support the ShowLike this episode or show and

    15 min
  8. Solo Podcasting Workflow: From Voice Dictation to Final Script

    11/20/2025

    Solo Podcasting Workflow: From Voice Dictation to Final Script

    In this episode, I share the system I use at StereoForest to bridge the gap between writing and speaking for your solo podcast. And I‘ll help you understand the "modality mismatch" concept and why it’s important for scripting your episodes. What you learn in this episode: Why traditional writing styles create a disconnect with podcast listenersThe science behind "modality mismatch" and how the brain processes spoken textHow vocal dynamics and variety directly influence perceived authorityThe three-step system to write scripts that sound natural/human I cover a workflow you can use immediately for forming your solo scripts that includes dictation, signposting (discourse markers) and performer formatting and why they help your recordings. Resources mentioned: Vocal dynamics: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/communication/articles/10.3389/fcomm.2020.611555/full https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4765198/ https://www.gsb.stanford.edu/insights/big-data-approach-public-speaking https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6662577/ Voice to text (no affiliation with any of em - I use MacWhisper, Things, and Notion): Mac Whisper: https://goodsnooze.gumroad.com/l/macwhisper Whisper Notes: https://whispernotes.app/ Flow: https://wisprflow.ai/ Google Keep: https://keep.google.com/ Notion: https://www.notion.com/ Things (my fave to do app): https://culturedcode.com/things/ Otter AI: https://otter.ai/ Granola AI: https://www.granola.ai/ StereoForest newsletter: https://stereoforest.com/subscribe Chapters: 00:00 The problem with sounding like a bot 01:53 The science of monotonous delivery 03:55 Step 1: Dictate your notes 05:12 Understanding modality mismatch 08:38 Step 2: Add signposts for the listener 11:24 Step 3: Format the script for performance 13:03 Visual example of script formatting 15:02 Summary and next steps ========================== About and Support========================== Written, edited, and hosted by Jen deHaan. Find this show on YouTube at https://youtube.com/@jdehaan Website at https://stereoforest.com/lab Get StereoForest’s newsletter for podcasting resources at https://stereoforest.com/newsletter Produced by StereoForest https://stereoforest.com 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 on StereoForest. This show is produced by an independent HUMAN artist directly affected by the state of the industry. StereoForest does not have any funding or additional support. Support the ShowLike this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://StereoForest.com/tipsspan class="ql-ui"...

    17 min
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In this show we take the most effective tools from unscripted performance and behavioural psychology and apply them directly to your video and audio content. If you're building a personal brand, B2B show, or a new podcast, you know how you say things matters just as much as what you say. What to expect: Psychology of Presence: Why listeners trust some voices and tune out others (and how to fix "flat" audio). Unscripted Strategy & Exercises: How to speak naturally using tools from performing on stage & behavioural science. Solo Strategy: Best practices for solo-hosted audio & video content. Host: Jen deHaan is the founder of StereoForest. With a background of over 20 years in tech, education, & instructional design and 10 years in improv and performance, Jen brings systems and scientific approach to media production. Work with us: https://www.stereoforest.com

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