OK, here it is. I’ve been threatening this abomination for weeks, and I’m finally unleashing it. I recorded this today, and there are no edits whatsoever. Not because it couldn’t use a few, but because I’m fairly lazy. I’m interested in what you guys think of my voice; is it anything like you expected, or way off? Also, how can I improve the podcast, technically? Does it sound OK? What do you think?
And, of course, if you’d like me to answer any other questions, put ’em in the comments section below.
Thanks for reading… and now listening!
[audio:https://thewvsr.com/TheWVSR-Podcast%201.mp3]Download the mp3 [ 17 minutes / 4 MB ]
A little more nasally than I thought and a lot more calmer sounding. Imagining you with your hand whipping through your jiffy pop hair made me think you would sound more high strung. All together though a good voice, very soothing like biscuits and gravy on a cold morning. Also, the ums started to trail off as you got more comfortable with the whole pod cast thing, speaking in front of your “millions” of fans 🙂 You do an awesome job here Jeff and I know I sincerely appreciate it, sometimes this is the only laugh I get out of my day.
I had a “Jeff” voice in my head and now that I’ve heard the podcast, and your real voice, it’s gone. I can’t even remember what it sounded like. It spoke faster than you do, though…
The ums don’t bother me at all, I didn’t actually notice them, just read about them here in the comments… I’m a frequent user of ums myself.
The only downside to this whole thing is that now I can actually get some work done while I’m listening instead of my regular 10-20 minute “break” from work while I read before… this can add up to like over an hour more work I’ll do during the week, without a pay increase. Not cool, Jeff. Not cool.
by the way, Dexter DOES get better. If you can make it through the first season, its worth it.
This article about ChatRoulette has nothing to do with anything we’re all discussing at the moment, but Surf Reporters are the only folks I know who would appreciate the line “fornicating with a head of lettuce”:
http://nymag.com/news/media/63663/?imw=Y&f=most-viewed-24h10
nifty little webcast there Jeff – no hangups with the accent; I am originally from the Wheeling area – Belmont county OH to be exact & I prolly have more of a WV/OH valley accent than you but with a mix of Minn-e-so-dun (think “Fargo”) thrown in from my upbringing here – no matter where I am someone says I have a funny accent as well as having some sort of unfortunate inbred bastardization of 2 distinct vernaculars e.g. yah sure you betch’uns???
Jeff–your voice is eerily similar to my simulated Jeff voice in my head, which makes me happy. It’s also a comforting voice–and I’m happy to report that I love the podcast.
JK sounded as expected from the previous radio broadcasts. I didn’t think the “umms” were bad at all, and I pay attention to such things as I do it myself as I’m required to talk in front of people. Much to my disdain.
However, you have lost your WV accent. Neither good not bad, just an observation. Which leads me to my question for your next podcast:
Now that you have lived around the world (Atlanta, LA, PA) what are your thoughts on WV? And what did others think? (Reporters feel free to chime in) . Just curious.
Nor not not. fuck.
As they say across here,
‘you’ve got a great face for the radio!’
I’ve been to West Virginia, and you suh, do not sound like a West Virginian. There’s no twang. I enjoyed the podcast and thought you did well.
Mark
In my head, I was hearing a slightly higher voice and a faster delivery. The hand whipping through the jiffy pop hair kind of voice…
I heard the earlier podcasts on the radio here in Raleigh, NC. Regardless, your voice is still quieter than I expected. You have a slight accent, but I lived in WV for 6 years. It’s slight compared to those that live ‘up in the hollers’.
You actually sound a lot like my college Poli Sci professor. That’s not an insult, by the way. He’s a wonderful man. [He kind of looks like a Plimptoon, but he’s a wonderful man.]
Nice job Jeff…thanks for trying to expand the site, you’ll only get better at these podcasts thingy’s.
next stop, NPR’s “Fresh Air” with Jeff Kay? hahaa.
Well Done Sir!
I am looking forward to listening to you again soon – can’t wait for you to be more comfortable so you can let loose with the full-on Kay!
Your voice sounds different from the radio spots from years ago. That was due to compression I take it.
I can hear WV. Of course, I am from WV.
There is nothing wrong with a so-called “Appalachian Accent”.
Those who equal such dialects with being dumb, are just going by stereotypes.
You have a great voice for Public Radio. I kept expecting you to announce that it was time for the ” Prairie Home Companion”…
“wind up sunflower car” LOL
P.S. I won’t tell anyone about the photos. If anyone asks, it’s a live feed.
Very cool! Not at all what I expected your voice to sound like, but not in a bad way…just different. Keep doing the podcasts. And for the love of God, invite Eninen and/or Sunshine and Mumbles for a visit so that we can hear some stories. If there is any way you could secretly record some of their voices (I know, probably illegal, but I won’t tell) so that we could hear what they sound like, that would be awesome.
That was excellent. Your voice sounds nothing like I thought it would, but honestly, I have no idea how I thought it would sound. You sound more like your from regular ol’ Virginia, then West Virginia. I’m from Richmond, and your accent sounds just like 3/4 of the folks I know. I hope to hear another podcast soon, so keep ’em coming!
Jeff – I teach a class on public speaking and I wouldn’t worry about the “um” breaks. They were not distracting. Now if you start to say “like” every other sentence or clear your throat at thirty second intervals, we’ll need to talk.
The warm tones of a southern gent in exile. Most excellent, cognitive dissonance notwithstanding. I think the “on the page” voice will remain, even though a new, alterna-Jeff has emerged. Can I propose that we submit our favorite WVSR episodes to be read aloud once in awhile?
I very much enjoyed the podcast. I didn’t notice the “umms” until others here pointed them out, but then I’m an ummer myself, so maybe we fellow ummers not only don’t realize that we do it, but don’t notice other people umming either.
Regarding the accent, I’m a lifelong Pennsylvania native (southeastern portion of the state), so I understand why fellow Pennsylvanians say you sound like Gomer Pyle or Ernest T. Bass. Of course, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, but the point is that you do in fact have a southern accent.
Looking forward to the next installment.
Definitely not the Charleston accent! I think you sound fine! I agree with WVULauren: the Charleston-Dunbar-etc. accent can really be thick, depending on the individual, but if you ever had it, I don’t hear it now. I thought it was great. Keep up the good work!
Hey Jeff
I really enjoyed your podcast. I believe you and I have similar word pronunciation. I grew up in Northern Panhandle of West Va, but lived near Warren, Ohio for a few years, then Pittsburgh for a few years, and now near Reading, PA for 13 years, so I have lost most of my twang (or drawl). You speak a little slower than me, and your voice is softer (soothing?)
Many of my customers in the Northeast still tell me that I have a mild Southern drawl, however.
You have a very good radio voice.
Looking forward to your next podcast. Tell us about some more crazy shit that happened at the convenience store or goofy Nostrils stories. Those are my favorites.
Liked the podcast, I can multitask while listening. Jeff can I borrow 1000 dollars? I am planning to drive my solar car to Seattle. I pretty sure I’m gonna break down.
My vote is for a verbal retelling of the McDonald’s “asshole jamboree” story. But any N&N story would be much appreciated as well. I’d actually like to hear the story of their wedding (on a beach, surrounded by a pack of dogs), which I don’t think has been covered in any detail here before.
Enjoyed your ramblings.
Fun.
I spent a lot of time trying to get rid of my NY accent but you can’t get completely rid of it.
You have a pleasing voice.
Go for it.
Love it! You sound a little like my Uncle George.
I was expecting more of a Wally Cox thing with a slight lisp.
But really…all seriousness aside. If you got bad reviews on your voice, would you just quit?
Relax…you’re just talking to your friends.
I liked the relaxed, deep, throaty intonation and slower speed–an improvement on the radio interview and proto-podcasts of several years back.
Question: What are your vices, other than Yuengling?
Sorry, Jeff, but you have no accent at all that I can pick up, Southern or otherwise, you cosmopolitan. And you didn’t live far south enough in WV anyway. Give a listen to folks from Charleston. Whoa! And Welch – forget it! (This, of course, does not apply to Tammie.)
Here in Wheeling, we consider ourselves suburban Pittsburghers: we drink ‘pop’, root for the ‘Stillers’, and say “Yinz” and “red up” a lot.
Today’s quote: “All your problems are caused by invisible people. To eliminate your problems, all you need to do is find them and kill them.” Scott Adams [Dilbert]
Ha. Im fucking wasted. You all rock.
Loved it! No particular question but at some point during the next one could you use the phrase “zoe whistle dick”? I must hear that with your accent.
“Alright fellow midwesterners, next on JazzFM we’ll be playing a set from…” =-) Alright, not totally midwest, but I did think you don’t sound much different from the voices I typically hear…
You’re Jeff Kay?
Oh, pardon me. For some reason you sounded a little taller on radio.
Nice clean voice, slight accent, a little monotone-well actually a lot monotone.
Your writing sounds more excited/game show host-ish. I almost hear applause when I read something funny you have written, or maybe that is me laughing out loud……
Your voice sounds like my dad’s (that doesn’t mean anything, just an observation)
Does your wife ever sneak on and write incognito?
If I was to actually find a need to buy an iPod…what channel would Jeff be on? Can I listen to bowling too? I like listening to the weather. White noise at night helps me sleep. Just wondering.
I liked it Jeff, how about making it a monthly feature?
I liked the podcast too, Jeff, and I’m not a dialect expert, but you did sound southern to me.
You speak slower than I expected, but now that I think about it, that’s not uncommon for people from the south, the few I know, anyhow.
Keep up the good work.
I wonder what Buck sounds like….
dto: After Jeff amasses a bunch of podcasts, perhaps he’ll make them available on iTunes. I think anyone can make podcasts available on iTunes, though I don’t know any details of how it’s done. Then, dto, you would download the podcasts from iTunes onto your hypothetical iPod, and listen to ’em any time you want. (Or, you could just listen to ’em directly from iTunes.) And I bet you can find a bowling podcast and a weather podcast on iTunes. Note sure about a white noise podcast, though.
It was cool to finally hear you! I’m a Kentuckian living in WV for the past 19 yrs, so I did recognize a little bit of an accent, but only just a little. I don’t think people should total eradicate all traces of their accents, but smoothing out the edges is probably a natural progression, especially if you’ve moved around a lot.
The “uhms” didn’t bother me at all, either. It was casual/conversational – like we were there at your dining room table with you.
I usually listen to podcasts that last one hour or longer, so I’d be cool with you building up to that, if you have the content n’everythang.
I look forward to more.
Loved it and ditto to Alice in WV re: the length.
You sound like you have a cold and are loading up on milk. Phlegmy. I kinda thought it might be this way and I’m ok with it.
And thanks to you I’m now craving pancakes.
Enjoyed listening as opposed to reading specifically because I was able to surf porn at the same time. I’m a multi tasker.
Thanks Jeff!
Very good. VERY GOOD!
I have three questions for the next podcast:
a)Does anyone ever call you “Jethro” instead of “Jeff”, and if so, do you object?
b)How much does it cost to run this bitch (hosting dues, etc)?
c)Do you like my name (T. Farty McAppleass)?
That’s all for the questions.
I loved your podcast. I’d be happy if all of your updates were in that format, but I also love the comments, which I assume can’t be podcasted or whatever. The shit has its up’s and down’s. You’re the king, Jeff Kay, the KING! Funny and interesting.
AAHHHHH!!!! I click play and MY VOICE started pouring out of my computer speakers. Jeff sounds just like me. That is scary, I have a voice doppleganger.
I thought I was listening to NPR. I was waiting for Pete Schweddy to show up. You have successfully suppressed your WV regional dialect and you haven’t yet developed a PA accent to replace it. I guess I was expecting a little more edge. Good listen, though.
Your voice is fine. People comment on my voice all the time. It seems that no matter where I live, people tell me that I have an accent. Even when I was growing up, before I moved away.
I remember escorting my cousin and his date around on prom night, because neither of them had a drivers license. And his date said that I had a unique voice. And that she loved to hear me speak.
This made me want her. I mean who wouldn’t want a woman that loves the sound of your voice and would be pleased to hear it.
I think she turned out to be a skank.
I’m a day late and a dollar short and haven’t been on the computer since Friday. So can’t wait to hear it when I get home tonight!
I think your voice sounds like a northerner too!! Not at all southern. But to me WV is northern compared to OK!! I know – not really a north state but to me here in OK it is.
row after row of arabs in turbans…sweating profusely.
Theater of the mind, baby!
I’m late to the party, but I’m still going to jump in the pool with the rest of the folks, since now I know you read all the comments.
I have a few podcasts under my belt myself, and I think you did a fine job. You’ll shake the nerves out and cut the “ums” and pauses out naturally, when you’re more confident and comfortable. It wouldn’t hurt to write down some notes though, to keep yourself on track. I find that works very well for me. Other than that, keep it up! I look forward to hearing more West Virginia Surf Podcasts!