I like the content, but I have to admit Mike Johnson's constant and incessant "uh's" are quite distracting. I actually stopped listening to their previous podcast because his nervous habit became so pervasive. It's better now, but still distracting.

This is something taught in Public Speaking 1A. A common tool used to break this habit is for someone to ring a bell every time the speaker says "uh". If Adam rang a bell every time Mike says "uh" he would cure him of this in one episode.

Also we could have Mike ring a bell every time I mumble. The show would be one big Christmas carol!

Seriously, thanks for the input. We both are always trying to make the show as good as possible and appreciate all the feedback we have received in this forum.

Thanks for the reply Adam. I really do enjoy the content. I'm going to give you guys another shot, we'll see how it goes!

Sean

Edit: You could also give Mike a stack of red birds at the beginning of the show, then make him give you one every time he says "uh". His stack wouldn't last ten minutes the first show, but eventually he would get to the point where he gets to keep a chip or two by the end of the show.

I haven't noticed this at all. I think Mike is a great speaker, a pro I would say. Adam, you are also a good speaker, but as you said, it's not always easy to hear you through the radio.

oh, I definitely do it. It's a crazy subconscious habit. Instead of pausing when thiinking of what to say, which most broadcasters and humans in general do(think Jim Rome's long pauses for example), I blurt out a quiet 'um'. I don't even know I'm doing it. It means I'm thinking of what to say.

Basically I talk when I think(insert joke of choice here) and some people rightly find it annoying. It's tough to control because I only notice it if I listen back to a show, never when it's actually happening.

I've never noticed this either to be honest..I hope I don't start picking up on it now it's been pointed out!

Seriously though, love the show and i think you two guys Mike and Adam are great.

I didn't notice the uhh's before, but I'm sure I will now. Thanks a lot, OP.

Misery loves company. Sorry!

Mike's "uhh's" don't really bother me but if they bother you I would strongly suggest skipping this week's interview with Gus Hansen. What can I say though, Gus' English is a lot better than my Danish.

The "uhms" are very annoying and should be dealt with. The nervous laughter is annoying as well.

It's not even a matter of laughing at your own jokes, it's just a forced laugh that tries to get whoever you are talking to to laugh with you, but it's very weird because most people aren't fake enough to laugh everytime because you are not really being funny. When you use that little tactic people pick up on it, but they just don't say anything and play along a little bit to be polite. They really think you are a d-bag for doing it though, it's pretty clear in how people respond to it.

When you are funny people will laugh, you don't need to use that awkward technique of laughing when no jokes have been made. If you can't stop saying "uhm" and you can't analyze poker why are you doing a poker radio show? Start asking some controversial questions or even basic questions like do you read/post on 2+2.

Hey Dinkin,

Sorry it bugs you, man. While you are obviously entitled to your opinoin, saying people think I'm a d-bag might be going a little too far. I notice that the majority of your posts seem pretty negative (troll-ish as the say in 2p2 lingo) so at least I'm not the only one you have taken a shot at.

As far as not analyzing poker, I think most people realize that my role on the program is to steer the conversation, raise topics and to let Adam and our excellent guests provide the more indepth poker advice. On many occasions it's been made clear that I represent the recreational players which does make up about 95% of the audience.

All the best and while I was aware of the 'uh's'' I truly didn't even know about the laugh thing you mentioned.

Don't sweat it Mike. It's a great show, keep it up. If there is a d-bag here, you're not it.

Agreed. I purposely titled the post "one suggestion" and not "one complaint". Having a public speaking background, this little vocal tick just jumped out at me and I thought I'd point it out for Mike's benefit. I think Mike and Adam do a great job with the podcast and certainly didn't post to bait the trolls.

If you feel something is wrong with it change your ways, if you don't just chalk me up as a troll and ignore it. Maybe the d-bag comment is out of line, I don't think it is. I'm just being honest with you. Let me try to clear up where I am coming from for you.

Your interactions with anyone on the air are of a professional nature, most people on the show are not going to tell you how they really feel about it. They will provide clues with their behavior though and how they engage you in return.

How do you feel when someone is laughing at stuff that is not funny and putting pressure on you to laugh with them in a fake way because of the professional setting that you are in? This is like a boss who makes bad jokes and forces that uncomfortable laughter and doesn't realize that all his employees resent him. Things either become very phony and/or forced when you do this kind of stuff in a conversation or people have to start ignoring things you say which cramps the flow of an interview.

It doesn't bug me that much. I can put up with all the quirks, I just want you to be aware of it. It's worth it to hear the nugget or two of poker knowledge that comes out in an interview or tip segment. I'd put up with uhms and fake laughs for the knowledge Bryce dropped any day.

Don't take it the wrong way, you do a decent job on the show. I think you just need to relax and slow down a bit when you speak. Don't be afraid to take that Jim Rome pause to get your thoughts straight.

I'm not trying to put you down. You may take it that way, but I don't know how else to tell you what the deal is. I'm not trolling you. I don't expect you to try to argue against what you are doing, it's understood that it's a behavior/people skill that you probably are not that aware of. I'm just making you aware of it so the show gets better. I don't think bringing this to your attention is as uncomfortable as the fake laughter in the actual show.

Do you have anyone that is brutally honest with you about your radio presence? If you have the thick skin for it, it's only going to help you. I don't mind giving you advice. If you take the time to read my posts, it's the least I can do for you. If there is anything that I've posted that is not true I'll gladly retract it, but I'm not going to apologize for bringing the truth even if it is unpleasant for some people.

war - pokercast karma, orenthal jokes, & glove compartment toys

out

Hey Dinkin,

Thanks for the follow up. Taking the time to clarify does at least show that you are interested in the show and not just being critical to be mean-spirited. That's cool. I am all for constuctive criticism, and encourage it. I truly believe that this show belongs to the 2p2 community and our job is to provide the listeners what they want to hear in a poker show.

Having said that, I just can't agree that calling someone a d-bag because you don't like their laugh is 'constructive'. You say you aren't trying put anyone down but I think most would agree being referred to as a d-bag is a put down in anyones books.

Perhaps we just have a different definition of the word and should leave it at that.

Cheers,

MJ