Be mindful of the "TPO" of your voice depending on the broadcast time and medium
Jane Su hosts numerous radio and podcast programs, including "Jane Su: Dancing Life," "Jane Su and Mika Horii's OVER THE SUN," and "Chat Next Door," and her voice connects with listeners. After listening to her programs, you're always left with a bright, lingering feeling that makes you want to move forward in life. Sue says she controls her speaking style to suit the broadcast time and the characteristics of the medium.
"Podcasts are something people actively listen to, but radio is a medium that pops up unexpectedly in people's lives, being broadcast on the streets and in restaurants. So I'm careful about how I speak and the content of the show so as not to disturb people's lives. 'Life is Dancing' is a daytime show, so I try to speak as clearly as possible and raise the tone of my voice a little... I'm conscious of making it blend into the daytime slot without becoming a distraction.
But I think we all naturally acquire this "TPO for our voices." Just like the way you speak when chatting with friends is completely different from the way you speak when giving a presentation at work. On the other hand, podcasts are listened to for different lengths of time, so I don't pay much attention to tone. "OVER THE SUN" is closest to the way I normally speak, and I imagine it as a program that can be listened to casually. "Chat Next Door" often contains content that makes listeners stop and think, so I set the broadcast time to a short 15 to 20 minutes."
In audio-only media, he asserts, "listeners make their judgments almost entirely on tone of voice."
"For example, even if the topic is reasonable, if you speak in a rough tone, that impression will be strong. I am careful not to create unnecessary misunderstandings. I imitate the speed at which I speak and the pronunciation of the end of words from the announcers I work with, and I also listen to the broadcasts again. I think that people who feel inferior about the way they speak can improve by imitating someone they admire. It's something you can practice."
When speaking, it is important to imagine how the other person will feel.
During the interview, the word "service spirit" came up many times. He sees "speaking," "communicating," and "reading" as completely different actions, and makes sure to distinguish between them.
"When you 'speak,' the subject is always yourself. When you 'read,' the subject is the manuscript, and when you 'communicate,' the subject is the listener. 'Speaking' refers to a situation where you are simply talking to someone next to you, and it is not content that a third party can hear and that will be of some use. On the other hand, 'communicating' means delivering content that will be listened to by people who are physically or psychologically distant. I think that what I do with audio media is always 'communicating.'"
He never aspired to be a personality, but after appearing as a guest on a program in 2011, he received a series of offers and entered the world of radio. Because he is being asked to do something for work, he takes pride in facing the microphone and puts the listener, rather than himself, in the center of attention.
"I'm always conscious of not letting the listeners who take the time to listen get a bad experience. I don't like to make them follow my own instructions, like 'I want you to listen like this' or 'This is what I want to convey.' To be honest, I think most people don't want to listen to someone who has something they want to say. The most important thing is to think about how to speak in a way that will make the other person enjoy it, and when to speak so that they can understand. Worrying about the other person's reaction, thinking 'They might dislike me if I say this', is just self-preservation and makes you the focus of attention.
Instead, imagine what emotions your attitude will evoke in the other person. I think that spirit of service is important when communicating. Even at work, if you base your response on the other person's reaction, you'll be influenced by their mood. I don't set my standards there, and I always put 120% effort into any job I take on. If I receive another job from the same person after delivering the job, I feel a sense of satisfaction that I've successfully communicated my message."
In the "Soudan wa Dōru" life advice corner, listeners of all ages and genders ask for advice every time. Although Sue remains calm, she answers each and every one of them sincerely, using the best possible words to answer them.
"Life advice can be a powerful drug depending on how it's handled. Even if it seems like I'm answering questions, it can also be a tool for the host to boost their own stock. For example, if I get angry at a question that makes you feel irritated, the listener might say, 'Good job, Jane Su!' and feel better. But that would be disrespectful. I always approach my show with the intention of answering only the concerns of the person asking for advice."
The listeners are "people from the same neighborhood." They maintain a distance that doesn't interfere too much.
"OVER THE SUN," which he presents together with Mika Horii, has approximately 800,000 monthly listeners. The show is so popular that an event for the show will be held at Nippon Budokan in Tokyo in March 2025. When asked what listeners are like, he likened them to "people from the same neighborhood."
"When we meet, we exchange a few words, like, 'How are you?' We maintain a distance where we don't interfere or judge each other excessively, which may be why our mutual aid members (the name given to our listeners) are so supportive. Everyone seems to enjoy meeting up offline voluntarily, and we feel like we're just providing a place for them to do so."
Additionally, radio program production staff tend to be highly relegated due to personnel transfers, etc. For this reason, the team at "Life is Dancing" has decided on "three promises to listeners" and shared them with the entire team.
"1: As it is a lifestyle information program, it introduces things that listeners can try immediately that day (or at the very least within the month). 2: It becomes a place for listeners to belong. It doesn't make them feel like 'I feel uncomfortable here.' 3: It makes daily routines exciting. It makes everyday tasks like laundry and cooking more enjoyable."
Once we shared the idea that this was the one thing we wanted everyone to stick to when creating the segment, the core of the program production remained consistent even when the members changed. We created a slogan that puts the staff at the center and makes it easy to understand. This is also a way of communicating."
Jane Su's Rules for Speaking on the Radio
- Be conscious of your tone and choice of words so as not to disrupt the listener's daily life.
- Permeate every statement with a spirit of service.
-Define the metrics you want to promise to listeners and share them with your team.
