All of These Lines

‘So many stories of where I’ve been, and how I got to where I am.’

Somewhere along the way I became a storyteller. At first I was paid to pen stories for publication with articles appearing around the world in different languages. Like most journalists I began as a reporter and made my way into features and long form stories while simultaneously writing my first book. I was writing about my favorite subject too so this was a perfect fit as I transitioned from professional sport to becoming a hack. Fast forward to having changed lanes from wielding a pen to being on camera until I landed where I belong in broadcast and then podcast land. The synchronicity between these mediums was painless as I transitioned.  On reflection the method I was moulding was entirely subconscious.. From the formal scripted ecosystem that is broadcasting I found my home in the unscripted world of Planet Podcast. And it’s the most natural style of interviewing that rhymes with my personality and journalism technique.

Over the years I have interviewed hundreds of athletes, artists and celebrities. And each time of course I’m sharing their story. My job is to turn on the microphone and keep the conversation going. The key of course is that the interviewee is relaxed and trusting of their interviewer. And that trust has to be earned. A level of comfort found, which puts them at ease and leads to insightful and in depth conversations. 

With podcasting as with other mediums I have the story arc in mind, I’ve researched my subject and may or may not have met my guest down the line prior to recording. My shows are one take, as live to tape which keeps the guest on message if they know there will be no interruptions, no breaks. Some people are nervous to begin with and concerned that they will stumble but they almost never do.  Once they start to share their story, it becomes a trip down memory lane, happily reminiscing about a life and career in the arts.

Everyone has a story and when someone says theirs is nothing special, I know that’s not true. In the words of Brandi Carlile: ‘All of these lines across my face, tell you the story of who I am. So many stories of where I’ve been, and how I got to where I am.’ 

And those stories… they are rich with experiences lived and loved. They are what we’ve become. Without those stories we wouldn’t be were we are right now. They have shaped us, formed us, created a personality with edges rough and smooth. Over time those edges become curves; the hills and valleys of a life traversed, of challenges faced, of adversity overcome, and of arriving at a place where we hope to belong. 

My podcast guests have usually reached a point in their career where they feel settled in the environment that suits their nature, that feeds their soul and enables them to achieve their potential as creative and purposeful, reaching goals, checking boxes and being their true selves. But it would be rare that the journey was smooth and straightforward. Artists are known for compromising in order to create art. Starving artists are everywhere. 

Listening to their stories as they share them with the world is a privilege. I don’t take it for granted. I love to hear how the artist’s childhood and formative years shaped the artist they have become.  The stories are special, and of course unique because they reveal how people think, not just what they’ve done. We want to know how their artistic talent emerged from their experiences and the thinking behind their work.

One of the benefits of podcasting is that the conversation is not restricted to fit a broadcast schedule. It’s free flowing and we go wherever it takes us which results in an authentic and sincere dialogue.  A few times guests has said to me afterwards that it felt like a therapy session because they were talking about things they had not spoken of for a long time or not at all. They often share very personal accounts of traumas and triumphs as they reflect on the memories, the joy that their art has given them. My job is allow them to be themselves at ease in our fireside chat. And if the listener feels they were sitting there with us then I have done my job. 

Everyone of us is a storyteller. Every day we share our stories – long and short. When I slip into the room all I’m doing is turning on the microphone, pouring my guest a drink and offering them a comfortable chair. Then I sit back and listen. And I hope you do too. As Brandi says‘…these stories don’t mean anything if you’ve got no-one to tell them to.’

©️ Chris Stafford 2026