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:

1. How podcast editing generally handles errors, versus the spontaneous nature of improv.
2. Why we view our own mistakes as weaknesses but view others' mistakes as courage (The Beautiful Mess Effect).
3. How to use the "Pratfall Effect" to increase your likability as an expert.
4. Why filler words like "um" are actually neurological signals that help your audience process complex ideas.
5. 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:

https://stereoforest.com

CHAPTERS:

00:00 Improv vs. Podcasting: The Mistake Mindset

01:23 Welcome to the Podcast Performance Lab

02:57 The Beautiful Mess Effect: Why We Judge Ourselves

03:29 Construal Level Theory: The Bark vs. The Forest

05:35 The Pratfall Effect: Competence & Vulnerability

06:58 The Uncanny Valley: Why Perfect Audio Sounds Fake

09:20 The Neuroscience of Filler Words (Why "Ums" are Signals)

14:09 Exercise 1: The Continuous Speaking Drill

17:03 Exercise 2: The Distraction & Recovery Drill

20:19 The Challenge: Leave One Mistake In

==========================

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

==========================

Support

Your 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 Show

1. Like this episode or show and want more? Support us with a one-time tip: https://StereoForest.com/tips
2. 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
3. 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
4. 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
5. Schedule posts? We use Metricool (reasonable for multiple accounts/brands/shows). Support us using our link: https://f.mtr.cool/VZBOZR
6. Support the show and get creative templates and assets: https://share.uppbeat.io/p4od8inwhc2j

==========================

About Jen

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.

Jen's website: https://jendehaan.com

This podcast is a StereoForest production. Made and produced in British Columbia, Canada.