Stories From Women Who Walk

Hear All About It! How Radio Broadcaster Catherine Johns Turned Professional Speaker, Communication Expert & Author. Part 1.

Episode Summary

Do you ever wonder (1) if people listen to what you said; (2) what to say to get the professional connections you seek; or (3) how to show up and speak in public with calm and charisma, then this podcast episode is for you!

Episode Notes

Minutes 36:26

00 to 2:00 Intro

Coming to you from Whidbey Island, Washington this is Stories From Women Who Walk. You’ll recognize yourself in these true-life stories from women who are walking their lives while their lives walk them and the lasting difference these journeys have made. I’m your host, Diane Wyzga.

Do you ever wonder if people listen to what you said?

Have you ever wanted to know what to say to get the professional connections you seek?

Does the idea of showing up and speaking give you Stagefright Willies?

If you answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then this podcast episode is for you.

Today my guest is Catherine Johns, a professional speaker and expert in communication who’s joining us from the Windy City of Chicago, Illinois. Today Catherine brings her powerful experiences as a broadcaster in large radio markets to coaching executives and entrepreneurs who want to make meaningful connections at every turn, real or virtual. Catherine also turned her professional speaking skills to a book: Show Up and Shine to help women who’ve been overlooked and unheard in their professional lives.

I invited Catherine to talk with us about her expertise as a professional speaker, what is personal presence and charisma, how to become more confident being heard and listened to in the business arena, and more. Welcome to the podcast, Catherine!

2:00 to 6:00 Start From Where You Are

I read recently that you and your husband took a stroll around your neighborhood meeting up with folks along the way. If I met up with you as you were taking a turn about the block, what’s the first thing I’d notice about you?

Energy! That’s the first thing we notice about most people.
We all carry a certain energy; it’s palpable, visible and tactile
We all have energy; we can shape it and use it, too

So, having some time to walk along together what else might I get to know about you?

Catherine’s first priority is getting to know the host by asking questions and listening closely to the answers
Most people feel under-heard most of the time
A tip to being more charismatic is not what we put “out there” but what we take in
We want to be seen and heard with a willing partner
Quick story: Catherine was talk show host. A favorite regular feature was Bug House Square based on the “loonies” who stood on a soapbox in Washington Square Park to be heard. Catherine opened the radio lines to take calls asking people questions from many many people who just wanted to talk about themselves. These folks waited a long time on the phone - sometimes an hour or more - just for the chance to be heard.
The lesson for Catherine: how to approach people and what we need from each other
Today we still need to be seen and heard

6:20 to 17:25 A Bit of Back Story: Radio Broadcasting Career

I’m a child of radio. I remember my mother listening to a morning broadcast out of New York City called Rambling With Gambling. In my law school years I drove home from class listening to the old Lux Radio Hour episodes like The Green Hornet and Yukon King; the sorts of programs what my dad listened to. Q: So, before we get to your professional speaking and coaching practice and your book, Show Up & Shine, I’d like to know a bit about what brought you to radio in the first place. Question: Would you tell us what was the draw about radio for you?

His name was Byron.
When Catherine was a freshman at Valparaiso University majoring in nursing a fellow in her dorm suggested Catherine go on campus radio because she had the voice for it
This idea was opposite of how Catherine saw herself
Catherine went to the audition because she had a crush on Byron and ended up getting the gig and he didn’t
Catherine stumbled into radio on the campus station: The Station on the Tracks - next to the freight train tracks
Catherine was shown what to do and told, “Now just be sexy.”
Over time Catherine has built 3 different careers on her voice
Lesson: we often don’t know our gift until someone holds a mirror up

Question: What came naturally to you to be able to sit in a studio to learn about and then become a radio broadcaster?

Catherine is curious about a lot of things and about people
Asking questions and listening to what people say
Catherine always loved words
Confused parents when she decided to go into nursing
And then things changed: make yourself available for another opportunity

Host: This is how the road goes: we walk until we can’t. Fortunately, someone pointed out a never considered opportunity

When Catherine decided to change majors and schools to get her degree in broadcasting the head of the department told her “no place for gals in broadcasting.”
At that moment Catherine said, “Watch me!”

And, what happened next?

Catherine dug in, studied and worked her way in only 4 years’ time from graduation to WLS Radio Chicago, a major market radio station!
A gal wound up on a major broadcasting station! It was Catherine. So there!
Catherine eventually got her own show

Question: If a listener is thinking about making a leap into radio or some such place where “gals might not make it” what are highlights that made it all worthwhile, for you

Catherine loves conversation
Radio is all about conversation
Catherine got lucky at WLS Chicago with the advent of ensemble morning show radio concept
Instead of being the News Gal Catherine had an opportunity to develop conversation on the air
Catherine earned Side Chick exposure because Larry Lujack (the host) created space for her
Larry Lujack, also called Superjock, Lawrence of Chicago, Uncle Lar, and King of the Corn Belt, was a Top 40 music radio disc jockey who was well known for his world-weary sarcastic style
If a story was interesting, funny, or entertaining Catherine was in the spotlight where she learned to the craft of telling the story, bringing in the listeners and knowing when to stop
Practical Tip: Knowing when to stop: most people “get high” on energy, excitement, and take it too far
Catherine learned the brilliant Power of the Pause
Catherine’s mantra: “Say it once, say it well and zip it!”
One of the ways people over-talk is by repeating themselves
Make your point well and leave space for the other person to say something, too

17:25 to 34:23 Changing the Narrative: Reinventing Yourself -> Speakers Programs

The broadcasting world came to an end as so many things do, but like so many successful professional women you chose this opportunity to Begin Anew - you reinvented yourself. You took all that wonderful knowledge, experience, ah ha’s and so on and reinvented yourself as professional speaker and coach. Question: Would you let us know how that came about and the experience of moving into the next roll.

Catherine got fired, as so many transitions begin
Radio had been her life for 25 years
Catherine wondered if she was able to anything else; but there were no options to quit
Catherine herself: what did I really love about radio?
Chunking up and chunking down
Chunking up: looking from the mega perspective at what she did: she is a performer
John Landecker was another model on WLS Chicago
John Records Landecker is an American Top40/oldies disc jockey best known for his trademark saying "Records truly is my middle name" and creating Boogie Check, Americana Panorama, and satirical songs and bits based on current events such as "Make a Date with the Watergate", and "Press My Conference".
Chunking down (granular activities): what are the skills, talents, abilities that go into being a Morning Show Side Chick: is curious, asks questions, gathers information, synthesize it, shares what she learns, balanced competing interests, team player, plays well with others
Catherine asked: where to take this tool box outside of a studio, where else to apply
Catherine decided she wanted to speak but didn’t like professional speakers - too much ego
A conversation with a NSA conference attendee revealed her next role: be a trainer
Catherine’s 2 Practical Tips: Get membership in a professional society to learn and be exposed to people who do what you want to do + realize transitions can be time-consuming and depressing and hard; so stick with it through the rough patches
This led to Catherine to a presentation skills position and eventually to professional speaker and communication expert

Host notes themes of luck and resilience + diligence + mind-set to Begin Anew as well as Catherine’s faith that this is the right path as more and more people and venues and opportunities show up. Willingness is hallmark of Catherine’s story. Question: I’m curious: which audiences were you drawn to and how come?

Professional women who were not yet senior executives
Catherine got her training gig because she was open to people
When we are open to people and recognize that there is the chance for “luck”
Story: A friend of a friend of a friend she met in a manicure salon led to an audition in New York; but the feedback was, “Catherine needs work on presentation skills - no eye contact.”
Her experience was in radio for 25 years; there is no eye contact in radio; BUT! It was a key skill Catherine could master and meanwhile was hired for her energy to command a room
What the employer was looking for was a certain kind of energy and Catherine had it

Question: Did you know you had this Super Power of commanding a room, an inherent energy?

The CEO pointed it out to Catherine that she had the certain kind of energy
When Catherine began to think about herself as a person who has influence or sway over a group so much made sense, so much fell into place

Host observes the themes of Catherine’s follow-up, risk taking, persistence until something tangible rewards that. To be successful with the intimacy of radio one would have to have some form of inherent energy and draw in their voice to keep the listener engaged. Question: What is the difference between energy, vibe, charisma, and presence or are they different ways of saying the same thing and, if so, what is that thing?

These words are difficult to define
Catherine thinks of charisma as the energy that happens in interaction
We are charismatic in connection with another
The exchange of energy is a charisma
Many different ways to have charisma
There is that something you want more of

Host: Maybe it’s an energy vibration exchanged between human beings. We as human beings are exchanging energy and looking for those who are receptive to our energy.

Question: Along those lines of connection, you were on a trajectory that would eventually intersect with COVID. As we transition from Zoom to a hybrid way of some online/virtual and some in-person, What’s changed in business, what’s the same, what will still be important?

34:23 to 36:26 Conclusion

Here we are, at the end of the road but not the journey. Thank you for listening to Part 1 of this in-depth Guest InnerView episode of Stories From Women Who Walk with your host Diane Wyzga and my guest Catherine Johns, a professional speaker, expert in communication and the author of Show Up and Shine to help women who’ve been overlooked and unheard in business. We hope you are enlightened and inspired by our conversation about unexpected careers finding you, radio broadcasting, reinventing yourself, and the elusive energy called charisma. We’ll be back in a week with Part 2.

Meanwhile, you’re invited to check out close to 450 episodes of this podcast Stories From Women Who Walk found on Simplecast, your favorite podcast platform, including Android, and my website, Quarter Moon Story Arts. This is the place to thrive together. Come for the stories - stay for the magic. Speaking of magic, I hope you’ll subscribe, follow, share a nice shout out on your social media or podcast channel of choice, and join us next time! You will have wonderful company as we walk our lives together.

ABOUT Catherine Johns

When it comes to communication, Catherine Johns has plenty to say. How can you command a room and connect with the people listening, whether you’re on a stage or at your computer? How do you have real influence on your audience?

All those years on the radio … Catherine was doing virtual presentations before we had a name for them. She established relationships with people she would never even meet in person. So much so, that many still feel a bond with her today. Now we’re all working on Zoom or Teams or Webex. Catherine shows executives and entrepreneurs … speakers and leaders … how to have make a genuine impact with your virtual presentations.

Catherine has a special interest in women who’ve been overlooked and underheard in their professional lives. She wrote Show Up and Shine: Simple Steps to Boost Your Confidence and Charisma for them.

How to Keep in Touch With Catherine Johns

Website: www.catherinejohns.com

Blog: www.catherinejohns.com/blog

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherinejohns/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/catherine.johns.chicago

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Show-Up-Shine-Confidence-Charisma-ebook/dp/B00EKX7I8U/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=show+up+and+shine&qid=1630679282&sr=8-3

Show Up and Shine: Simple Steps to Boost Your Confidence and Charisma by [Catherine Johns]

Production Team: Quarter Moon Story Arts

Music: Entering Erdenheim from Crossing the Waters by Steve Schuch & Night Heron Music

Sound Editing: Dawin Carlisle & First Class Reels