Radio star
A while back, we were contacted by Rachel Quimby, associate producer of BackStory with the American History Guys, a radio program out of Virginia, who asked us what impact, if any, the individual states of our country have on trucking. Hedon and I both sent back a response and figured that was that.
A few days later, Rachel wrote again, asking if we’d be willing to do an interview for the program. I was immediately out, knowing how my brain would go blank the moment I heard the first question. Hedon considered the matter for a few days, then decided she’d give it a go.
Truth is, we didn’t even ask the name of the radio show, or any other reasonable question you might imagine. Both Hedon and I had some mental image of a radio version of “Wayne’s World.”
After Hedon had her interview over the phone, I actually thought to ask Rachel what the name of the show was, and if they had a web site. She responded and I headed to the site to check it out.
I wish you could have seen Hedon’s face as I read the information about the program to her. First came a “Huh?” Then a “Nooo, you’re full of it.” Followed by, “I thought the guy was kidding about interviewing the governor of Pennsylvania.” Then a “Holy crap, I’m going to sound like a complete moron.”
It only got worse from there.
I had heard her end of the interview, and I thought she sounded good, but she wasn’t open to my assurances. She was too disgusted with herself, she said, for just chatting “like a doofus” with Brian Balogh, one of the hosts, who happens to be a Mayo Distinguished Teaching Professor of History at the University of Virginia, among other achievements. She finally decided to blame Brian, for being personable and putting her at ease, and acting like “an ordinary guy, not some “fancy-pants scholar.”
Well, the program is done and is airing now on the BackStory web site. You all can be the judge of whether or not she sounded like a doofus (I think that she did not — in fact, I thought she did a great job).
Hedon’s interview kicks off the program. You can find it on the home page at www.backstoryradio.org. The title is “Laboratories of Democracy: The State of the States.” Or you can subscribe to the free podcast of BackStory at iTunes.
I’ve already downloaded it and listened to it three times (with Hedon in the chair next to me, forced to listen to it as well). Oh lordy, what a hoot. It’s fun to watch Hedon squirm. I’m just sayin’.
Note from Hedon: If you go listen to it, first of all, my accent isn’t that doofus-y in real life. Second of all, they mention my real name, however, be aware, we will be continuing the strict Hedon-only policy on this blog. Third, they took my long, blathering interview and made it sound better than it actually was, I assume due to some magical mystical editing process.
Unbelieveable! Yesterday? The day before? Recently, I was listening to NPR and they had a story about the affect this economy has had on the trucking industry. I didn’t have time to catch the entire thing, but thought of you two. I wonder? Is it the same interview? I will listen at the link when I have time later today and let you know. Exciting!
P.S. I will ALWAYS respect the ‘Hedon’ policy. Absolutely!
P.P.S. Your accent better do us Missouri girls proud! There is nothing better than a little twang to make ‘them’ think they’re dealing with a dork. Make the one two punch of our brilliance all the more powerful!!
Hedon: You were great! Pain the axle, indeed.
Did Rachel the producer say how she’d found you? Wondering if it’s your blog, or via link from Women in Trucking. (FYI, I found you via your trucking lingo post…)
Anyway, your comments were interesting, your voice was fine, and we won’t tell anyone that your real name is Clotilda.
Hedon that was great radio! You sounded very smart. Oh, and young! Just a chicken. Good on ya.
Wow, a real life celebrity! I think you sounded WONDERFUL! Astute and mildly witty. And didn’t sound scared or stupid or uninformed. WOW! I didn’t really detect any accent. Anyhow, GREAT interview~! I’d be sending that link to all my friends, you did wonderfully!
I actually learned alot about what you do. Interesting how every state has different rules. I wouldn’t have thought that. In fact, it seems pretty stupid that that’s not regulated at the fed level.
By the way…LOOOOVE your REAL first name!
You SOOOOO have an accent! I think you sounded great. I’m so proud of you! It’s cool to hear your voice – now all we need are photos of you two and you’ll be full on stripped of all privacy whatsoever!
I’m linking to this interview on my blog since I now know “famous” people.
Good job! Thanks for representin’ the trucking community. You did a fine job!
You did a great job! You really have no accent. NO, you can’t park here, cos we don’t want lot lizards hangin’ around here………
I will have to have a listen (tomorrow when I won’t wake other people up). I wouldn’t worry about how you sounded though. I do this for a living and ALWAYS think I sound like an idiot. And yet people keep requesting me to read their copy. Go figure.
you guys rock!….i thought the interview was great!….i’ve been lurking for awhile…readin…been wanting to write and just been procrastinatin!…but, so glad i didn’t miss this!….and (with right hand raised) i promise to always call you hedon…..great interview!!!
Awww… thanks guys. I really appreciate all the kind words and I’m glad you liked it since apparently it is going to live forever now that Stace has a copy on the iPod.
I admit that it didn’t turn out nearly as bad as it could have. They were really quite kind in the editing process.
MG, I don’t think it’s the same thing. Hope I did the big MO proud with the hick accent.
I can’t remember if Rachel said how she found us, but I know she had read at least part of the blog because she immediately understood why we had to stay first name only due to TWMNBN fears.
Sheila, thanks I’m glad you thought it was interesting. And I kinda suspected you might be the one to appreciate the first name more than anyone else.
So… after it aired and my head started expanding I decided to investigate a radio career. I had visions of being a less shocking and more blathery version of Howard Stern.
Then Stace brought all my grand plans crashing to the ground when she laughingly made a passing comment about how papparazzi would be camped out behind the deck if I did another interview.
That would seriously suck ass. Can you imagine?! I don’t know how that Paris Hilton does it. I could never abide the circus. Oh well… guess I’ll stick to my day job.
Also,
Thanks Decorina, and Stace’s family said I sounded young, too. I don’t know what’s up with that. As much as I smoke I should sound like the gravely-voiced old truck-stop waitress from bad movies. Maybe it’s all the stomping through mud puddles.
And… Thanks Salena! But you’re from New York, you know. If you’re from New York everybody sounds like they have an accent… when really it’s just you.
Punxxi,
I didn’t think about the lot lizzards. Yet another reason to not want truckers around.
Sayre,
That is some good advice. Besides it’s far too late to worry about it now I guess. I do kinda wish I had known how accomplished the three guys were before the interview though. I might have whipped out a few fancy-pants words. I do blame that Brian guy. He was seriously fun to talk to and very ordinary-guy sounding.
Of course since we asked no questions whatsoever before doing the thing, I guess I’m just lucky it wasn’t something like the weekly broadcast from “www.hitlerwasseriouslycool.com” or something equally hideous to contemplate being a part of on the air. Thankfully Rachel seemed quite nice and that perception held up excellently.
And Hi Ruth Ann, very nice to meet you. Glad you did write something. Hope you comment again, but I hear you on the procrastinating though. I haven’t written much lately myself. I think it is because I’ve got several new kick-butt video games. Well and not a lot has been going on in Hagville.