What's New August 12, 2025

Five in Ten with Valerie Geller

David Rogerson

Guest contributor

This is the first article in David Rogerson’s new interview series 5 in 10.

In a world where attention spans are shorter than ever (thanks, TikTok!), we’re kicking off our new series Five in Ten with…—five quick questions with inspiring voices in media, designed to be read in ten minutes or less.

First up: Valerie Geller. Valerie is an international broadcast coach, author, and media consultant, and she’s heading to Sydney for her Creating Powerful Radio & Podcast Workshops starting Friday, August 22nd, 2025.

If you work in radio or podcasting and you’ve ever thought, “I want to grow my audience, sharpen my skills, and tell stories that truly connect,” this is your moment.

I caught up with Valerie for a candid chat about what to expect from the workshops, why now’s the perfect time to invest in your craft, and how you can become truly unforgettable—on air or in the podcast space.

David: Welcome to our first “ 5 in 10 “ chat Always good to catch up with you after seeing you at conferences and workshops in so many places over the years. What can participants expect from your August workshops in Sydney? Are there any new topics or approaches you’re excited to share this time?

Valerie: Thanks David and always good to chat with you as well. In my experience today’s media landscape gives audiences endless options — and their attention span is shorter than ever. You can’t afford to be boring for even a moment. That’s why we’ll focus on powerful engagement techniques, authentic personality, humour, curiosity, and, most importantly, storytelling that makes people care.

We’ll cover new material, but the foundation remains the same: Tell the truth. Make it matter. NEVER be boring.

By the end of the sessions, you’ll know how to:

Get, keep, and grow your audience.
Be a more powerful producer, presenter, or programmer.
Create compelling, memorable content.
Enhance your storytelling skills.
Expand your brand.

These methods will make you a stronger communicator and also help you connect more deeply with your audience.

In Sydney, I’ll be running three separate workshops at the Australian Film Television and Radio facilities. :

Creating Powerful Radio & Podcasts
Creating Powerful Radio – Master Class
Training the Trainers

David: What are the biggest benefits for radio and podcast professionals who attend these workshops?

Valerie: Think of it like “polishing the diamond.” If you’re already working in the industry, these workshops give you a jumpstart to your next level of performance. You’ll walk away with fresh techniques, tailored directly to your work, that you can apply immediately.

It’s the difference between buying a cookbook and inviting the chef into your kitchen to guide you as you cook.

Because I work globally, I’ve collected proven techniques from all over the world that work across radio, podcasting, streaming, and other media.

We will cover:

Keeping audiences engaged across platforms.
Finding great stories on “slow news” days.
Understanding why listeners stay — and why they leave.

And yes — you’ll be participating. This is not a “sit back and watch” workshop.

David: With AI dominating media discussions at the moment, will it be part of your workshops?

Valerie: Absolutely. AI is here to stay, and if you don’t embrace it, you’ll be left behind. But — and this is important — AI is a tool, not a replacement for human connection.

Think of AI like a hard-working intern. It can transcribe, translate, research, organize, and edit… but it still makes mistakes. You have to vet everything before it goes on air.

The broadcasters and podcasters who will thrive are the ones who use AI to work smarter, while keeping the human heart in their content.

David: Do you have a favourite success story from a past workshop you could share with me?

Valerie: One of my favourites was during the Olympics. A reporter covering archery said:
“OK, here’s what she’s got to do… hit a black target, the size of a grapefruit, across three football fields…”

In that moment, you could see it in your mind — that’s the power of visual storytelling in audio.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege to coach some amazing Australian broadcasters — Angela Catterns, James Valentine, Wil Anderson, Red Symons, Adam Spencer, Richard Fidler, Fran Kelly, Virginia Trioli, Ali Clarke, James O’Loughlin, Macca, Julia Baird, Andy Park, Richard Glover, and more.

It’s a thrill to hear them on-air the next day, applying these techniques and sounding even more engaging. I can’t wait to work with the next generation in Sydney this August.

David: I will be there with Radioinfo’s Steve Ahern at select workshops in the Australian Film Television and Radio facilities in Sydney. For those now planning on attending, convince me why they should register right now?

Valerie : Good question. And timely as well David. Because waiting for your station’s training budget is often a losing game. Budgets get cut, and many on-air talents get little or no ongoing coaching.

If you’re serious about your craft and want a long, creative career, you have to invest in yourself. These workshops are designed for the broadcasters and podcasters who take their growth seriously.

And for managers and program directors — many have never been trained in how to aircheck effectively. That’s why I’ve included the Training the Trainers session. It’s about giving leaders the tools to develop talent fast, without draining creative energy.

The truth is, these techniques work far beyond radio: whether you’re delivering a wedding toast, a sermon, a sales pitch, or a courtroom argument — the same principles apply.

David the best people in this industry are the ones who never stop learning. This is your chance to work directly with me, in a room, on your own material, with proven tools you can use immediately. We’ll work with your material, in the room, so you leave ready to create powerful, unforgettable content. From sharpening your storytelling to using AI smartly (without losing the human touch), you’ll get techniques you can use immediately.

David: I’m convinced Valerie. Count me in then ! And a reminder that — seats are limited. If you want to become more powerful on the air, in your podcast, or in any form of storytelling . you’ll get techniques you can use immediately. Thanks for sharing your insights Valerie and we look forward to seeing you in person soon.

📅 Dates: Starting Friday, August 22nd, 2025
📍 Location: AFTRS , Moore Park: Sydney, Australia
🎙 Workshops: