Living with Less Plastic on APR
It happened like this:
My husband got a new job; he met a kind man and struck up a conversation about public radio. This particular man is a Director at Alabama Public Radio. They set a lunch date to talk more, and they found themselves talking about single-use plastic. My husband mentions our plastic podcast from the Spring, and they toss out the possibility of a radio segment. A few weeks later, I have a conference call with APR representatives, talking through the possibility of Living with Less Plastic.
A few weeks after that, I’m driving the hour from Birmingham to Tuscaloosa, pulling up at Bryant Denny Stadium and walking into the Digital Media Center and APR headquarters for a larger meeting exploring this possibility. As I sat in the room, I kept thinking, “How did I get here? Me, with my little voice and big nerves?”
We make a plan, I meet some people, I find out what I need to do. Time to get working. I write and practice recording. I take another trip to Tuscaloosa in September, meet with a speaking coach and record in the studio. I come back home and record some more. I write, practice, record, listen, critique and try again. With guidance and coaching from Brittany Young at APR, Living with Less Plastic aired its first segment this week.
It’s funny where life can take you. I spent most of my childhood and adolescence painfully shy. Public speaking was a nightmare, speaking up in class made me dizzy, I was always “the quiet girl” at school.
It has taken awhile, but I eventually found my voice. To be able to use my voice to share a message I’m so passionate about is a gift to be taken, no matter the nerves.
My first segment is now live and on air, an introduction to my background and our mission to reduce plastic waste. From the time I recorded this up to now, I know I am daily growing more comfortable with speaking up, literally and figuratively. With my first episode, I’m stepping out despite my fears and criticisms, and I’m looking forward to getting better, to finding my confidence and encouraging others to live a life with less plastic. To find out more about my bi weekly program, check out my page on apr.org.