What It's Like Speaking on a YouTube Series

By Marina Krivonossova on February 8, 2021

I’m a big fan of stepping out of my comfort zone and trying new things. Just recently, I took the first step in trying something new by agreeing to speak on a podcast about my experiences working in the Netherlands as an American (Episode 4, 13:45 to 18:35). This was already a huge step for me, since I feel like I have a tendency to stutter when I’m nervous (and the last thing you want to do when your voice is being recorded is to stutter!)

But the other month, I took things a step further and agreed to take part in a YouTube series hosted by a mathematics professor, Rio Banerjee, who likes to present his students with a well-rounded world view. His expertise goes beyond the area of math, and he really values sharing real and honest world experiences with his students. That’s why he invited me to speak on his series where he interviews various individuals on the topics he finds most interesting and potentially relevant to their current situation and future experiences. I’m here today to share with you what it’s like speaking on a YouTube series that you know is going to be published online for the world to see.

Snapshot from Rio Banerjee’s ‘In Conversation With…’

It’s incredibly nerve wracking. Every word you say is recorded. Every facial expression you make. Every random twitch of your eye. Every little thing about you is on display for the world to see. I like to believe I can present myself rather well in person, but doing so over video is an entirely different experience.

How I confronted it? I realized that the best thing I can do is try to forget the camera and focus on the conversation at hand. We talked about so many different topics — from politics, to school, to life experiences, to relationships, and every little thing in between — so after a while, it was easy to forget that there was a camera staring at my face and recording my every little move.

It’s really, really fun! I was incredibly fortunate to be invited to speak with a person whom I connected with on a professional and personal level. The conversation flowed easily, and it never seemed forced.

How I made sure it stayed fun and relaxed? The best thing I did for myself was going with the flow and trying not to focus too hard on saying the right thing. The way you present yourself to the world should be natural. Don’t fake it, as your audience will notice!

It’s a unique experience. I’ve been interviewed for jobs on what feels like a million different occasions. I’ve had to talk about myself to colleagues, to employers, to dates — you name it. But I’ve never had to share my experiences with the entire world while being recorded. And you know what? After taking that risk and putting myself out there, I realized it’s not as difficult as I thought.

What was the most important thing to remember? To stay honest and true to myself. As I mentioned before, the worst thing you can do is fake it, because people will be able to tell. So, I made sure I shared my stories honestly and openly, ensuring that I come across the way I would in real life: as my true self.

Have you ever tried something new and stepped out of your comfort zone, only to realize you actually really enjoyed the experience? If you have a story like that to share, post about it below!

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format