Old school! That’s how I felt the moment I stepped into the studio at UBD for a podcast recording. This country has repeatedly taken me back to the ambiance of the 80s and 90s in Indonesia—times that were so simple yet meaningful, and full of cherished memories.
This time, I was being interviewed for a campus event. This has been a common occurrence since I was a lecturer in Jakarta, Medan, and now in Bandar Seri Begawan. In the past, I even did it in Utsunomiya while studying in Japan.
We often feel nervous during such recordings. It can make us stutter, forget what we want to say, and so on. It’s completely normal. Not knowing who is watching or listening—having no certainty—creates a sense of insecurity.
Since the only person we know is listening to us, and whom we can see, is the host, the most effective way to eliminate that nervousness is to focus solely on the conversation partner. Problems arise if, while speaking, we still imagine the reactions of the audience—whoever they might be. So, based on my experience, to eliminate all feelings of discomfort, it’s best to temporarily forget about who will be listening.
When talking to the host, also based on my experience, it’s much better to set your mind from the beginning that you’re not recording. Just chat as you would in everyday life. Jokes, humor, intonations, and expressions usually come out naturally.
Enjoy the show!
