Feelings Over Facts

Randy Lane • April 17, 2023

In a recent discussion, Service Broadcasting Head of Content and syndicated show  DeDe in the Morning  General Manager, George “Geo” Cook, coined the phrase, “Feelings over Facts.”

It immediately struck a chord with me. The ultimate goal of all shows is to get an emotional reaction from listeners.

FEELINGS OVER FACTS SCENARIOS

Emotions and feelings are why we go back repeatedly to watch  Yellowjackets or  Ted Lasso. Let’s look at a couple of situations you could discuss on your show and how to stress feelings over facts.

  • Shopping for wedding rings : It would be mildly interesting to give the facts of where you went and the descriptions of the rings you saw. What connects with listeners is how you feel. Did you feel joy, romance, fear, or anxiety?
     
  • Your vacation story : Rather than summarize the places you went and the things you did, get in touch with what you were feeling in those situations. Also, give listeners a peek into your inner dialogue.
     

THE SENSES ARE A GATEWAY TO FEELINGS

Be aware of the emotions connected to your senses. The five senses are not only connected to feelings, but they are also one of the most effective ways to paint a picture in storytelling.

On  Discovery.com , Ashley Hamer notes that  smells  have a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the senses. She says, “The brain has at least 1,000 different smell receptors but only four for sight and touch.”

This may explain why the smell of something can trigger immediate memories or even intense emotions. When I notice the smell of freshly mowed grass, a feeling of nostalgia takes me back to my youth and my first job mowing lawns.

COMMON EMOTIONS

For most radio shows,  humor  is at the top of the emotional list. Rightly so because it’s the number one attribute listeners want most in a personality-driven show. However, those shows that combine humor with a wide range of human emotions tend to be the most successful.

We all go through an array of emotions daily. As you plan content and tell your stories, look for opportunities to express these common emotions:

  • Joy, happiness
  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Guilt
  • Awe
  • Sad
  • Surprise
  • Trust
  • Disappointment
  • Calm
  • Nostalgia
  • Excitement

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou

Photo by  Count Chris  on  Unsplash

< Older Post Newer Post >

Share this article

Recent Posts

Get Interactive

By Randy Lane • September 29, 2026
When I start coaching a show, talents often say:“Nobody calls anymore.” Or: “Listeners in this market don’t call radio shows.” My response is, “That’s interesting, because several of our shows get more calls than they need.” The difference isn’t necessarily the market. It’s often how the show invites people into the conversation.  Airing callers and text […]

Go Analog!

By Randy Lane • September 21, 2026
Jerry Seinfeld wrote every episode of Seinfeld longhand, on a yellow legal pad, with a blue Bic pen. He still writes that way. He’s said the flashing cursor on a screen makes him anxious, like it’s asking, “So, whaddaya got?” Why Start With Pen and Paper?Writing by hand slows you down just enough for ideas to […]

Asking Versus Telling

By Randy Lane • September 15, 2026
In the era of loud, fast-talking announcer DJs, my radio mentor, Todd Wallace, asked my fellow DJs and me, “Would you talk to your neighbor over the back fence like a pukey DJ or just in natural conversation?” Of course we all said we’d talk to them conversationally. Todd concluded, “Talk to listeners on air like […]
Show More