Here's how you can establish a strong connection with your listeners using language and tone in podcasting.

One of the issues I've personally had to work on over the years is breathing. Sounds basic, but with the many people I've worked with to help with public speaking, podcasting included, the main challenge most of them have had has been with rushing and words either tumbling over each other, running together or not coming out at all. Why? Nerves get the better of them and they forget to breathe. I'm fine after the first 20 seconds, then my nerves go and I begin to enjoy myself. But every single time, if I don't focus, I forget to breathe for those 20 seconds and I am nowhere near as clear as I should be. Stopping breathing means I am short of breath, my heart jumps into my mouth and my words run together, making me unclear. So breathe!

A lot of us that have had a corporate background have been taught that we need to 'present' content. We're used to PowerPoint that has a linear flow. Essentially we have been taught to 'talk at' people, when in reality, what we should be doing is 'talking with' people. I have run hundreds of pitches in my time and done a lot of pitch doctoring, which involved having to retrain people away form 'presenting' and towards 'having a chat'. For me, the worst podcasts are those that feel like someone has produced a presentation and I've had to drag my bored self through it. It is my opinion that the best podcasts are those that feel like it's a conversation being had directly with me OR it's a conversation I'm happily overhearing.

This is especially important if you're reading from a script. In my experience doing a few takes helps you get the right delivery for the line. Keeping things dynamic and conversational is the key to keeping listeners engaged.

RE: jargon. IMHO this greatly depends on your target audience. If you have a very small niche topic that only people with that specific interest are going to listen to, then use the common jargon. If you're looking to appeal to anyone outside your niche - limit the jargon as much as possible.

Switch up your words, we all have go to words and phrases but use your synonyms. It can quickly get repetitive and jarring for a listener if you don't have a big vocabulary. Scripting can help in this regard.

I write brand propositions and branding/sales messages mainly for B2B brands. Do you know the number one mistake? They care more about what they want to say, than what their audience wants to hear. I constantly come across business owners and marketers that fail to find out from their audience what they want. Don't under-estimate how powerful it is for a client/customer to feel understood. Over the years, interviewing clients post-pitch (win or lose), the number one reason for picking one business over another was 'they understood me'. Understand your audience and you won’t waste money using formats your audience don’t use, on platforms/channels your audience aren't on, with messages/topics your audience aren't interested in.