The Greater Voice

She's baaaackkkkk! The Confession

I'm back! Just in case you were wondering!

No blog for over seven months . No blog and no radio show for about six. So, where has the Greater Voice gone? Was it that I gave up on blogging? Gave up on radio? Gave up on MEDIA?? Hardly.But, I must confess I was unhappy with my show. The guests were great: interesting, edgy , powerful. But the production quality wasn't strong and although I COMPLAINED, sending e-mails, calling, insisting on a new producer, the mishaps kept happening.  One day, my new producers broke the news: We just can't give you the high NPR quality you want.

Hummm....Big problem, especially since a.) some of my guests were from NPR b.) All of my guests deserve a high quality interview and c.) my audience deserves a high quality experience and...if they don't get it, they won't listen. NOT rocket science. So, I left. And since then, I've been putting together some really cool shows with relly great guests for my new online show which will be broadcasting on SBTV! That's SBTV.com - www.sbtv.com which gives me a broader audience and better quality productions.

A REALLY COOL NEWSLETTER...MINE.

WANT to hear about my latest interviews? With people like David Hilliard, co-founder of the Black Panthers or (conversely) the John Taylor, Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs under W.  speaking about terrorists and our money, sign up for my e-mail at www.thegreatervoice.com.

MORE NEWS -

For many years, I've been writing articles and opinion pieces distributed through Knight Ridder then the McClatchy Group. One day I get an e-mail from my editor saying he was reassigned and he department was closing down...leaving writers like me stranded.

What ensued was about a dozen calls to editors at the publications which once published my work. And the story was bleak - getting bleaker. No one wants to advertise in the newspaper. No one reads the newspaper. No one has budget for anything. No one is hiring. This was tantamount to clinical depression, with self-pity (lots of it) thrown in. What to do...what to do.

I was busy looking online and found a really great place to send my pieces - one who posts and distributes them, much as McClatchy did. It's www.opednews.com. Take a look - lots up there. In the meantime, I still haven't given up on print publications - just bidding my time until they make a recovery after, we can hope, some economic rehab.

Focus on books!

Well, it's official! I now have a new format for my show - BOOKS. All kinds - on exciting topics and topics with edge.  And speaking of books and edge - I want BLOGGERS to join in. Sorry traditional print folks (and I know who you are), I do think that bloggers have as valid and important a voice as book authors. So, yes, I want bloggers to appear on my show and want to have links to their blogs.

Anyway, this press release says it all!

Radio Host Seizes Challenge - Takes on Experts Susan F. Benjamin, Author and Communications Consultant Defies Odds with New Format for Show

                                                           

                                            Radio personality Susan F. Benjamin is seizing the challenge: she's reformatting her show "The Greater Voice" to focus on books, books, books - and the authors and ideas behind them. And she's inviting book clubs, book bloggers, and bookstore owners to join her.                                        

                                                                               

                                            Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) February 28, 2008 -- Radio personality Susan F. Benjamin is seizing the challenge: she's reformatting her show "The Greater Voice" to focus on books, books, books - and the authors and ideas behind them. And she's inviting book clubs, book bloggers, and bookstore owners to join her.

"Radio experts claim listeners aren't interested in books and my listenership will be zilch," says Benjamin, an author and marketing consultant. "I disagree. Authors bring the most exciting ideas, amazing experiences, and important discoveries to the international front. And on 'The Greater Voice' they get to showcase them."

So, far the public has agreed. Her listenership almost doubled within two months and now includes over 5,000 listeners - without any marketing efforts to speak of. The show has also attracted impressive guests ranging from award-winning novelists, poets, actors, and academics: all who brought their greater voice to the page.

"My voice is only one of many," says author Benjamin. "So, we invite booklovers, book bloggers, and book club members to get their opinions about great reads online and on-air. In fact, we're even giving away publications fresh off the press, for listeners to enjoy, discuss in their book forums, or talk about on The Greater Voice."

Twice a month, Benjamin sends a newsletter announcing new books and upcoming topics to listeners eager to participate. And, she announces opportunities on her show, as well.

Listener and contributor to The Greater Voice, Erika Ostergaard explains: "When reading you can be in a vacuum. The show gives you a sounding board and a place to hear other people's insights - including the authors'."

"The Greater Voice" airs weekly on the VoiceAmerica network at 8 AM Pacific / 10 AM Central / 11 Eastern on The VoiceAmerica Channel. To access the show, log on at http://www.modavox.com/voiceamerica. All shows will be available in Susan Benjamin's Content Library on The VoiceAmericaTM Channel for on-demand and pod cast download and also on Susan's website at http://www.thegreratervoice.com.

ABOUT Susan Benjamin:
Susan F. Benjamin is a marketing and communications author, speaker, and strategist for academic institutions, Federal agencies, international communication firms, and other large organizations. Newspapers from The Wall Street Journal to The Chicago Tribune have featured Susan's novel approaches while her column, The Greater Voice, has appeared in hundreds of newspapers nationwide. Her books, covering everything from business communications to buzz marketing strategies, are available on Amazon.com and bookstores throughout the world. A former professor, Susan mentored academics at Harvard University and MIT. She participated in a White House initiative on Plain Language under the Clinton/Gore administration. Her research includes studies on how language affects responsiveness and has appeared in publications such as Scribes Legal Journal and Employment Management Today. Susan's short stories and poems have appeared in literary magazines and online publications.

ABOUT VoiceAmerica / Modavox:
(OTC.BB MDVX), Modavox is the leading producer and distributor of online talk radio content, streaming approximately 250 hours of live programs and scheduled replays weekly on its Modavox VoiceAmerica™ Network (http://www.voiceamerica.com).  Modavox, Inc. (http://www.modavox.com) is a pioneer in internet broadcasting, producing and syndicating online audio and video, and offering innovative, effective and comprehensive online tools for reaching targeted niche communities worldwide. Through its patented Modavox Central™ technology, Modavox "takes the search out of search," delivering content straight to desktops and internet-enabled devices. Through its proprietary StreamSafe™, WebcastWizard™ and Stream Syndicate™ tools, Modavox provides managed access for live and on-demand internet broadcasting and syndication, content management, online meetings, event management, enterprise communications and distance learning.

Forward-Looking Statements:
This release contains "forward-looking statements" for purposes of the Securities and Exchange Commission's "safe harbor" provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause Modavox's actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated, including the risk factors identified in Modavox's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Media Contact:
Sonja Darte'
VoiceAmerica Network / Modavox, Inc.
Sonja.darte(at)modavox.com
480-294-6404

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Boxing - Yes, Boxing...

                                     Boxing? Yes Boxing!!! Here's why...

 

The guests:Andrew O’Toole, "Sweet William" - Joe Layden, "The Last Great Fight" and OTHERS!! 

One of my favorite parts of hosting the Greater Voice is interviewing people about issues I know very little – and possibly care very little – about. Take science: my interests have always been in the liberal arts – and frankly, I hardly know the difference between a gene and a gem. But my interview with Moria Gunn, an NPR science host who wrote a book on Biotechnology is one of my top ten. And there was Ron Jeremy – a porn star – whose life style couldn’t be further from the one I live and every wanted. Interesting guy? Oh yeah. Nice guy, too.

Still, when we decided to host a show which featured boxing, I was stuck. I want to make the greater voice as interesting as I can for listeners and boxing is, if nothing else - interesting. But I didn’t get it:  why do people set themselves up for a sport where the foundation is totally counter-intuitive. We run from pain and bloodshed – we don’t jump into it. And why do people enjoy watching other people basically pound each other to pulp? I couldn’t figure it out.

The facts about boxing didn’t help. Boxers, typically guys from 17 to around 34 years old, win not because of the grace, dexterity, or even the intelligence of their style but the amount of destruction they can inflict. For example, to win by a knockout, you must knock your opponent unconscious until the count of ten. To outclass your opponent, you must make him endure what Wikipedia calls “excessive punishment…”  Or you can send the fighter into retirement, where he has to stop because his injuries are too severe.

The results are more than prize dollars or the respect of guys at the gym. Being unconscious or even suffering a concussion can cause permanent brain damage- the AMA says that three out of four boxers with 20 professional fights suffer from brain deterioration. The amount of force required to knock a person out is about the same as it takes to kill a person. In fact, more than 200 boxers have died from injuries in roughly 25 years.  The American Medical Association was so alarmed, they called for a ban on boxing as did the Norway, Iceland, Cuba, Iran and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea where boxing is outlawed.

Granted, one 1984 report says other sports are more dangerous. 128 jockeys, 123 skydivers, 56 hang gliders, and three college football players of every 100,000 get killed participating in their sport. Compare that to the 1.3 professional boxers.

Still, that statistic doesn’t address the bigger question: why do some people box? And others enjoy watching it. In preparing for this show, I did get an answer, though. I found that boxing has a remarkably long history. Homer discusses it in the Iliad and boxing became an Olympic sport in 688 BCE. Throughout its history, boxing remained popular, in spite of numerous efforts to ban it, including the Christian emperor Theodeesius in 393 CE. Now, not only has boxing persisted in its popularity but it’s expanded with more and more women boxers participating from the US to Zambia – much to the chagrin of many who consider it a manly sport.

And, no question, even the most disapproving among us know names like Jack Dempsey, Sugar Ray Robinson, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Mike Tyson, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, and Sugar Ray Leonard.

 Then, there’s what I can only describe as the event of Mohammad Ali. Several years ago, my then four year old son and I were in Dupont Circle in Washington DC. A block away from us, I saw a gaggle of people and a stretch limousine in front of Starbucks. As we walked closer, I saw the limo belonged to Ali and the gaggle of people were fans surrounding him. He was signing autographs while smiling and chatting and looking as happy as his fans to experience the whole thing.

What does all this tell us? That boxing, in spite of its brutality, is part of our culture, our history, and our tradition. And why? Because we want it. Somehow boxing addresses something primal in us. Or maybe it unleashes impulses in a controlled setting – unlike, say, the chaotic violence of street fights. Boxing is real, too: so different from, say, the cartoonish wrestling matches we see on TV. And so, we get our ringside seats, place our bets, and continue watching one of the oldest professions around.

 

 

 

 

 

 

From Vietnam Rice Paddies to Parisian Heroin Addicts

The Greater Voice Radio Show...

Here are the stats...

The National Endowment for the Arts says that more than 40% of kids under 44 did not read a book last year. And, on this show last fall, Lisa Adams of Why We Read told us most American males only read one book a year and most females read only nine. So what are they doing?  The New Strategist Publications survey says Americans watch more TV than any other activity outside of sleeping and work.

What are they watching? I don't GET it. Do they have different programming than I do??

Book Recommendation

I interviewed Maxim Jakubowski  for the show - he's the part about Parisian heroin addicts. I really liked the book he edited - a collection of  stories from the underbelly of Paris - most  involving drugs and alcohol. I really liked him, too - he was an easy interview - really forthright.  He also contributed to the book - his favorite character is a stripper/hit man.   I asked why and he said that stripper lives inside. Amazing. I wonder what his inner (female) stripper looks like. But he so unflinchingly pushed the envelope - I love that kind of energy.

As for the stories - you can imagine they push the envelope, too. Perfect for people who commute to work. Open the book, read a story, reach your destination and you've had a complete experience in another universe. Taps into feelings and experiences most people forget, ignore or never had.

About the show...

The Feb. 22 show focused on international literature. So why bother with something as specific as that? Here's the answer, via anecdote.I live in a small town in West Virginia. I’m not far from Washington DC but still, our lives, especially my son’s life experience, is pretty limited. To make matters even narrower, I’m a lenient mother as are most of the other mothers – and, actually, the fathers – in my town.

 Three times a week, though, my son takes a martial arts class with a man everyone calls Master Lee. He’s a black belt from South Korea, former military guy and rumor has it, former body guard to the South Korean president. And, he carries with him, not only his weapons, uniforms, and martial arts stances, but his personal and cultural heritage.

 When the kids enter the studio, they must take off their shoes, bow to the mat and stand. Quietly. In even rows according to height. No talking. Have a wrinkle, smudge of dirt on your uniform? 100 push-ups. Forget your weapon? 100 push-ups. Start to cry because your feelings are hurt? Or a task is too difficult? Suck it in or --- 100 push- ups.

 Granted – for mothers like me the whole routine is rather painful to watch, especially the crying part. We are of a generation that teaches our kids – especially the boys - it’s ok to cry! Be in touch with your emotions. But not so for Master Lee. Even more, for him, self-esteem is not something that you just have but something you must earn. No belts unless you pass the tests. Miss a move? The onus in on you. Late for class? Your problem – don’t blame your mother. As for Master Lee’s approach to discipline? Oh please, don’t even ask!!

 So, you’d think parents drag the kids kicking and screaming. But there they sit, long-haired, in hippie-style jeans, watching Master Less prepare for class. I’m talking about the parents. As for their kids – those who never had a bottom slapped or a punishment more than a two-minute time-out? They’re warming up, straightening their uniforms, and getting in the severe rows he requires for the class. Master Lee brings challenge, a sense of belonging and something else – a different perspective on life, on who they are, and what’s possible in their lives and in the world.

You probably see where I’m going here. International literature has the same influence on readers as Master Lee does on kids. It takes us to new places. Gives us a new sense of who we are and the possibilities in the world and our own lives. Especially poignant since a National Geographic-Roper survey tell us that nearly half of all kids between 18 and 24 don’t know where news-breaking countries are on the map.

 This leads to another point. What if we were to insist that every English class from grade six up – had an international literature component? And every college had a mandatory International Literature 101? Granted we’d have to make the classes fun. The students would have to enjoy them – and we’d resist giving them those angst provoking tests. Of course, if they didn’t pass, that would be ok. We wouldn’t want them to struggle. Well, maybe. I wonder what Master Lee would say about that?

To Hear The Greater Voice- Check the Archives at The Greater Voice.                                           

Food, Food, Food...and cooking....

I don't get cooking. Trust me, I do plenty of it most nights, every morning, and sometimes at lunch. I do it because I MUST - if I don't who will? And every time I cook, I complain. But I have before me a small stack of cookbooks which remind me that, even if I don't recognize it when I'm in the act, I'm taking part in culture, history, and a sort of science.

That's why my favorite part of any cookbook is the section about the foods - not how to make them. For example, in "The Complete Book of Indian Cooking" you get, essentially, a crash course in the history of Indian. Apparently, India has 2000 ethnic groups. I say apparently, because when I interviewed the author,  Suneeta Vaswani, she said no one knows how many ethnic groups are in India...the book did say 2000, though. Tomatoes, meanwhile, a staple of Indian food, made a presence first in the 16th century with European explorers and more assertively under the British rule in the late 1800's. Granted, this may not seem riveting - but it does prove that many a mouthful is about invasion, occupation, recovery, and, in some cases demise.

Other cool facts - these from the cool facts laden book "The Take-Out Menu Cookbook" by Carla Snyder and Meredith Deeds:

- The French eat approximately 500 million snails a year and 45 pounds of cheese per person.
- Americans (in 2002) ate 7.2 pounds of beans each
- Frankfurter sausages came to Germany via the Chinese and to the states via Germany in the 19th century (yes, there is NO purely American food)
- There are more than 40,000 different varieties of rice
- For half the world's population rice is a staple

If these facts aren't fascinating, maybe this one is: garlic is ten times more powerful when crushed in a garlic press. On the show, Snyder recommended cutting it for a subtler, better flavor. On my dreaded cooking excursion last night, I tried that but must admit - I like the strong, garlicy flavor better.

The food show will broadcast in early January on www.thegreatervoice.com.

Tomi dePaola really IS a nice guy

Tomi dePaola, who authored and more to the point illustrated lots of children's books, is a really great guy. By far, the easiest interview I've ever done, mainly because he has such a great sense of humor. Last year, when I was co-hosting another talk show with a veteran host, I received this invaluable piece of advice: "Don't laugh. If you do, you'll lose your credibility." It's invaluable because it proves some advice is really bad, off-the-mark advice. I laughed all the way through the interview. So did he. So, will my listeners (I hope). It was great.

Interestingly, dePaola was a classically trained artist who always wanted to create children's books. Since he was four, he said. He's probably the only person I know who fulfilled an ambition they had since they could process information. As for me, if I followed my ambitions, I'd be Julie Andrews right now.

The interview is on Thursday, December 6 and in the archives after that. I'll definitely play it again. He's great.

It's at:www.thegreatervoice.com.

Out Stealing Horses, NY Times Best...

The New York Times Book Review just chose Per Petterson's book, Out Stealing Horses (Greywolf, 2007) as one of the best of 2007. No doubt - it's subtle, well-crafted, and beautifully written, thanks in part to the skill of translator Ann Born. Set in Norway, the author's home, the book is a coming of age story, entirely free of cliche and over-statement. A consistently compelling read. (I tried to get Petterson for the show, but he doesn't like to give interviews in English and his publicist didn't know how to reach Ann Born.)

What I just said, by the way, is pretty amazing. I get about 20 books a week to review for the show and countless press releases. I review each of them for style, content, and relevance before booking the author. And what I've discovered is, if you like to read, you must be willing to sacrifice. With fiction, many books have great plot but sloppy language (think Grisham). Or they have both, for a few chapters, then leave you stranded with neither. Nonfiction can give you great ideas but the language is so dry a lobotomy is more appealing. I'm not sure why this is the case - although I have a few guesses.

Now the confession (not spicy, I'm afraid): I generally prefer fiction to nonfiction. Still, much of the nonfiction seems better these days. Here are two I highly recommend - the authors British:

- Winged Wonders by Peter Watkins and Jonathan Stockland. This British pair put together an amazing book about birds - not exotic birds but the exotic aspects of ordinary bids such as the pigeon (AKA dove), the raven, and the rooster. In our interview, Stockland revealed a wonderful excitment about the cultural and symbolic worth of these creatures.

- Taj Mahal by Diana and Michael Preston. If you are a closet soap opera lover, here's the real deal. The story of an empire (with all the sadistic, power-mongering, and amazing trimmings) that led to the building of the Taj Mahal and other great monuments of the Moghul empire in he 15 and 16oo's. An informative read - a page-turner, too.

PLEASE - know any great reads, especially fiction? Let me know!

New Format for Show and Tomi dePaola

Creating a radio show is an interesting process. You need to find your own voice and find ways you can bring out the best from your guests. But, you also have to give your listeners what they really want to hear - and will remember.  So, I decided to open the show to listeners in a substantive way: invite them to contribute ideas, recommend books, music, movies, on the show, and send questions for the guests. I don't want a typical open phones talk format, though. It's too reactive and after-the-fact. I'm trying for a more integral approach.

Next show: I'm really EXCITED about interviewing Tomi dePaola, the children's book author and illustrator. He has some great art, a great voice in his latest book Front Porch Tales and North Country Whoppers. All told in a Maine accent and pretty funny. A good read for adults, too. Thank GOD - some really cool, innovative children's books are out there, not the usual simple, predictable stuff. Otherwise, I feel for the kids whose imaginations are stunted enough by TV and video games...and the parents who get stuck reading them.

What it takes for a good children's book: (Says me):

- Rhythmic sentences
- Intricate language (trust me, kids from 2 up CAN handle it)
- Illustrations with edge
- Plot - ANY plot will work. Just something, please. Our kids aren't idiots. They deserve it!!

Other books on my must read list:

- The Jazz Fly - told in a real jazzy style with a CD in case parents are shy...author is Mathew Gollub.
- Nina Hess' book A Practical Guide to Monsters - a GREAT collection. Nina actually researched the monsters so her book has a detailed, energetic and realistic feel - no Disney here!

The show will be on December 5 and in the archives after that...I'm going to send an announcement to listeners asking what they want me to ask Tomi and for their recommendations on children's books.

All comments - even those that strongly disagree with me, are really welcome!

Porn

I interviewed Ron Jeremy, the porn celeb, yesterday. Frankly, I never heard of him. But, as I soon learned, everyone else has. Most people said things like: "I've seen four of his movies...why would you want to interview someone like him."  All of them had a judgment  about him, yet everyone knew him and were familiar, should we say, with his works.Clearly, he has a place in many people's lives. A place they deny? Dislike? That reminds them of what? Unacceptable desires? Loneliness? Anyway, that's  precisely WHY I wanted to interview him. Porn, and Ron Jeremy, are part of the living breathing world...but what he had to say, in some ways, really surprised me.

The Trick to a Good Interview

So, what is the trick to a good interview, you may ask. A few things - at least according to me. One is that the questions should be interesting and complex enough to bring well thought-out answers from the guests. Questions that really tap into the substance of the matter-at-hand, that really ignite a willing response that's really fresh.

Next, the host must really listen to what the guest is saying and ask the questions the responses really inspire. Questions that the listener will appreciate, too, and will learn from and care about. I know it sounds easy, but it's not.

Then, there's the matter of guests. I'm tempted to bring on guests who align themselves with my interests...environmental, animal-rights people, for example. But this show is called The Greater Voice - not The Susan F. Benjamin  show and there's a reason. I want to hear the voices that matter most to the people I interview - whether or not I agree or even care about the subject matter. So, for example, I interviewed a guy Clayton Cramer who wrote a book about guns in America. He's in favor - a gun in every pot - although he didn't appear hateful or overly dogmatic. I won't say where I stand, except that I don't identify that closely with the subject matter. But the interview was great. He knew his facts, was articulate and interesting, and gave me (and hopefully my listeners) insights into matters I rarely think about. (He'll be on December 6, I believe.) And THAT is what makes a good interview.

Oh, by the way. I don't want anyone with distinct viewpoints on the show. I was all set to have one guest when I realized he was starkly antisemitic - a true neo-Nazi, as was his publisher. Trust me. So, I'm canceling.