At the beginning of this year while driving to work, I turned on the radio to listen to one of my favorite NPR shows, Fresh Air with Terry Gross. But Terry wasn’t on. She had been bumped to an afternoon spot. In her place was another woman’s show I had never heard of. I was bummed.
I listened to the program but I didn’t hear a word the woman said because her voice was so odd it drove me crazy. It was low pitched and creaky. And she spoke so slowly that my brain’s processing speed got all discombobulated.
When I got home from work I told Ye Ol’ Hubby Man about listening to a woman on the radio who had an “awful” voice. I said, I couldn’t believe she had her own show. I said I “wanted to reach through the radio and poke her with a cattle prod and get her to talk faster.” And I would have preferred a higher-pitched voice.” (You know, like how I speak.)
The next day, same reaction. But when I got to work I looked her up on the internet. Her name was Diane Rehm. There are beautiful photos of her on her website. I thought, “Boy, she sounds nothing like she looks.”
I also discovered she was very popular. Hmmm…I figured I had better listen and see why.
Diane Rehm--outstanding radio personality--models a FUCHSIA blazer!
Long story short: I continued to listen to the program—because it’s interesting. Lo and behold, I came to enjoy Ms. Rehm’s voice. It’s distinctive. It commands respect.
It’s also addictive—because it’s an antidote to the hectic world we live in. The slow cadence of her speech makes you SLOW DOWN. It relaxes you. I swear your breathing slows. It calms you down like yoga or meditation. Diane Rehm’s voice is an honest-to-goodness stress reliever!
A few months ago Ms. Rehm missed a few shows because she was having “voice treatments.” I thought, “Oh, NO, don’t change that voice!”
(Luckily when she returned I could not tell the difference.)
More important, I became enthralled with the person behind the voice. Over the months I became a BIG FAN. Now I am at the point of total devotion.
When Ms. Rehm says that a guest is one of her favorites (like Dr. Herbert Benson), I pay close attention. (Bought his book, Relaxation Revolution: Enhancing Your Personal Health Through the Science and Genetics of Mind Body Healing—more on that later.)
Or when she says that Mary Chapin Carpenter is a good friend (lucky Mary) and tells her that she loves her new CD, Age of Miracles, likewise I buy the CD. Or when she mentions that she recently went on a vacation cruise with her guest (Scott Simon from NPR), I wish I were on that cruise, too!
Ms. Rehm displays an amazing combination of intelligence, integrity, and professionalism. Her range of knowledge is considerable. Here are some of the topics of discussion that occur on her show: the news, politics, the economy and finances, the law, business, science, the environment, arts and culture, health and medicine, books and authors, pets, architecture, history, the media, religion, technology, travel, and MORE. That’s a lot of subject matter to cover.
Ms. Rehm’s interviewing and listening skills are superb. She always asks the right question. If people don’t answer the question, she calls them on it. She may have several guests on at a time but never loses control of the discussion. She deftly switches from person to topic to caller to emails.
But her best quality is empathy. She gets what people experience and understands what those experiences mean to them. She responds with kindness and support. When she says (the equivalent of) “I’m sorry for your loss,” you really feel it from her.
Diane Rehm speaking at her 30th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C. in 2009.
Earlier this month Ms Rehm went on vacation. I had severe withdrawal symptoms. Ms. Rehm’s replacements were competent—but that’s it. They did not have the charm, warmth, humbleness, or perspicacity of Ms. Rehm.
One woman replacement (I won’t mention names—but she’s from USA Today) stumbled over a guest’s name—mispronounced it, and then said, “Or whatever your name is!”
I am not kidding. First of all, how unprofessional not to know the correct pronunciation of a name. And second of all, it’s insulting to the person to act like his/her name doesn’t matter. Thirdly, how arrogant to gloss over an error and not have the courtesy/common sense to correct yourself.
YUK! I thought, “Diane Rehm would never have done that!” And if she were listening to the show while on vacation (and I hoped not), she would have been cringing!
I couldn’t wait for Mr. Rehm’s return. There’s a reason she is on the airwaves two hours per day. She’s that good.
Diane Rehm is awesome. I have written over 300 blogs and I am pretty sure I have never called anyone that before.
She won the Peabody Award in 2009 for excellence in radio and television broadcasting.She had to win this award. She personifies excellence.
Likewise then, Ms. Rehm is very much deserving of the Fuchsia Woman NOW Award. It is my pleasure to present her with the Honey Pot Trophy.
Last year she celebrated her 30th year on the radio. Here’s to 30 more—with the SAME VOICE, please!
I listen to Diane Rehm everyday. Wonderful post, thank you.