let me ask you all a question I want you to think of the last time you
I want you to think of the last time you
I want you to think of the last time you had a conversation with someone you
had a conversation with someone you
had a conversation with someone you don’t know might have been this evening
don’t know might have been this evening
don’t know might have been this evening when you came to this talk I want you to
when you came to this talk I want you to
when you came to this talk I want you to cast your mind back and think how much
cast your mind back and think how much
cast your mind back and think how much of that conversation do you remember
of that conversation do you remember
of that conversation do you remember think about it how much of that
think about it how much of that
think about it how much of that conversation did you actually hear
conversation did you actually hear
conversation did you actually hear because I’m willing to bet your
because I’m willing to bet your
because I’m willing to bet your conversation went something like this so
conversation went something like this so
conversation went something like this so the other person talks for a bet you
the other person talks for a bet you
the other person talks for a bet you talk for a bit
talk for a bit
talk for a bit they talk for a bit more you tune out
they talk for a bit more you tune out
they talk for a bit more you tune out for a bit you tune back in you say
for a bit you tune back in you say
for a bit you tune back in you say something say something say something
something say something say something
something say something say something you tune out a bit more you’re thinking
you tune out a bit more you’re thinking
you tune out a bit more you’re thinking did I lock her front door
did I lock her front door
did I lock her front door did I send that email then you tune back
did I send that email then you tune back
did I send that email then you tune back in you think oh I don’t know what she’s
in you think oh I don’t know what she’s
in you think oh I don’t know what she’s talking about because I wasn’t listening
talking about because I wasn’t listening
talking about because I wasn’t listening I’ll just nod and smile and she’ll never
I’ll just nod and smile and she’ll never
I’ll just nod and smile and she’ll never notice and it’ll be fine and I need to
notice and it’ll be fine and I need to
notice and it’ll be fine and I need to tell her that story but the thing that
tell her that story but the thing that
tell her that story but the thing that happened to me yesterday because that
happened to me yesterday because that
happened to me yesterday because that was so interesting and I can’t wait for
was so interesting and I can’t wait for
was so interesting and I can’t wait for it to stop talking so I can start
it to stop talking so I can start
it to stop talking so I can start talking and mouth starts moving you
talking and mouth starts moving you
talking and mouth starts moving you start talking and off you go
start talking and off you go
start talking and off you go does this sound familiar yeah it’s
does this sound familiar yeah it’s
does this sound familiar yeah it’s because we all do it all the time every
because we all do it all the time every
because we all do it all the time every day and I’m willing to bet you only
day and I’m willing to bet you only
day and I’m willing to bet you only retained about 30% 40% of the
retained about 30% 40% of the
retained about 30% 40% of the conversation it’s called social
conversation it’s called social
conversation it’s called social listening and we do it all the time and
listening and we do it all the time and
listening and we do it all the time and you’re comfortable with that right
you’re comfortable with that right
you’re comfortable with that right because everybody does it and we do it
because everybody does it and we do it
because everybody does it and we do it all the time now I want you to turn the
all the time now I want you to turn the
all the time now I want you to turn the conversation around how much of what you
conversation around how much of what you
conversation around how much of what you said do you think they remember how much
said do you think they remember how much
said do you think they remember how much of what you said did they actually hear
of what you said did they actually hear
of what you said did they actually hear now you’re all thinking oh my god
now you’re all thinking oh my god
now you’re all thinking oh my god nobody’s listening to a word I say ever
nobody’s listening to a word I say ever
nobody’s listening to a word I say ever and that’s what happens and we do it
and that’s what happens and we do it
and that’s what happens and we do it every day
every day
every day now I want you to imagine what would
now I want you to imagine what would
now I want you to imagine what would have happened in that conversation if
have happened in that conversation if
have happened in that conversation if you had really listened what would you
you had really listened what would you
you had really listened what would you have picked up what would you have heard
have picked up what would you have heard
have picked up what would you have heard you don’t know you might have heard
you don’t know you might have heard
you don’t know you might have heard something that made you go really they
something that made you go really they
something that made you go really they would have taken the conversation down a
would have taken the conversation down a
would have taken the conversation down a completely different path
completely different path
completely different path a path you don’t know where that’s going
a path you don’t know where that’s going
a path you don’t know where that’s going to lead could have been life changing
to lead could have been life changing
to lead could have been life changing you have no idea because you failed to
you have no idea because you failed to
you have no idea because you failed to connect with that person which is
connect with that person which is
connect with that person which is supposedly what we all want now for a
supposedly what we all want now for a
supposedly what we all want now for a living I speak and I listen because I’m
living I speak and I listen because I’m
living I speak and I listen because I’m a broadcaster I do it every day I Mack
a broadcaster I do it every day I Mack
a broadcaster I do it every day I Mack Intellivision I work in radio I’ve
Intellivision I work in radio I’ve
Intellivision I work in radio I’ve worked in every kind of program you
worked in every kind of program you
worked in every kind of program you could name I have interviewed Prime
could name I have interviewed Prime
could name I have interviewed Prime Minister’s nurses rubbish collectors
Minister’s nurses rubbish collectors
Minister’s nurses rubbish collectors soldiers sailors candlestick makers poet
soldiers sailors candlestick makers poet
soldiers sailors candlestick makers poet bank robbers murderers everybody people
bank robbers murderers everybody people
bank robbers murderers everybody people who had just caught up in a news story
who had just caught up in a news story
who had just caught up in a news story for just one day for the first time and
for just one day for the first time and
for just one day for the first time and last time in their lives and let me tell
last time in their lives and let me tell
last time in their lives and let me tell you everybody everybody has a story
you everybody everybody has a story
you everybody everybody has a story no one is boring never again think when
no one is boring never again think when
no one is boring never again think when you just met somebody oh my god what a
you just met somebody oh my god what a
you just met somebody oh my god what a crashing bore because they’re not a very
crashing bore because they’re not a very
crashing bore because they’re not a very famous TED speaker called Brene brown
famous TED speaker called Brene brown
famous TED speaker called Brene brown who’s a social researcher once said
who’s a social researcher once said
who’s a social researcher once said everybody is a story that can break your
everybody is a story that can break your
everybody is a story that can break your heart or bring you to your knees
heart or bring you to your knees
heart or bring you to your knees and she’s right but how do you get to
and she’s right but how do you get to
and she’s right but how do you get to those stories what’s the key
those stories what’s the key
those stories what’s the key well as well as broadcasting for a
well as well as broadcasting for a
well as well as broadcasting for a living I also teach people to talk and I
living I also teach people to talk and I
living I also teach people to talk and I teach people to listen so I teach people
teach people to listen so I teach people
teach people to listen so I teach people who want to appear in the media or who
who want to appear in the media or who
who want to appear in the media or who give presentations like this how to
give presentations like this how to
give presentations like this how to speak simply clearly from the heart I
speak simply clearly from the heart I
speak simply clearly from the heart I also teach journalists who want to be
also teach journalists who want to be
also teach journalists who want to be presenters who want to be talk-show
presenters who want to be talk-show
presenters who want to be talk-show hosts I teach them they think I’m going
hosts I teach them they think I’m going
hosts I teach them they think I’m going to teach them to ask clever questions
to teach them to ask clever questions
to teach them to ask clever questions what I’m actually teaching them to do is
what I’m actually teaching them to do is
what I’m actually teaching them to do is listen and by teaching what I found was
listen and by teaching what I found was
listen and by teaching what I found was teaching people to talk taught me more
teaching people to talk taught me more
teaching people to talk taught me more about listening and teaching people to
about listening and teaching people to
about listening and teaching people to listen taught me more about talking and
listen taught me more about talking and
listen taught me more about talking and all of those skills in interviews spill
all of those skills in interviews spill
all of those skills in interviews spill over into conversations in everyday life
over into conversations in everyday life
over into conversations in everyday life because a great interview is just a
because a great interview is just a
because a great interview is just a great conversation and we all have
great conversation and we all have
great conversation and we all have conversations every day so how do we do
conversations every day so how do we do
conversations every day so how do we do it well let’s start with listening so
it well let’s start with listening so
it well let’s start with listening so social listening is clearly not going to
social listening is clearly not going to
social listening is clearly not going to cut it right we’ve worked that out
cut it right we’ve worked that out
cut it right we’ve worked that out because nobody’s listening
because nobody’s listening
because nobody’s listening so what we need to do is something
so what we need to do is something
so what we need to do is something called active listening but what is
called active listening but what is
called active listening but what is active listening active listening is
active listening active listening is
active listening active listening is actually listening paying attention it’s
actually listening paying attention it’s
actually listening paying attention it’s that simple and I learned to teach
that simple and I learned to teach
that simple and I learned to teach listening in a very very unusual way I
listening in a very very unusual way I
listening in a very very unusual way I was teaching a bunch of journalism
was teaching a bunch of journalism
was teaching a bunch of journalism students who wanted to be talk-show
students who wanted to be talk-show
students who wanted to be talk-show hosts in the Middle East they’re all
hosts in the Middle East they’re all
hosts in the Middle East they’re all arabic speakers teaching through
arabic speakers teaching through
arabic speakers teaching through interpreters and they’re all from
interpreters and they’re all from
interpreters and they’re all from different countries and they’re there to
different countries and they’re there to
different countries and they’re there to learn how to do what I do for a living
learn how to do what I do for a living
learn how to do what I do for a living how to interview people so on day one I
how to interview people so on day one I
how to interview people so on day one I pair them up I make one lot the expert
pair them up I make one lot the expert
pair them up I make one lot the expert and ask them what they’re happy to be
and ask them what they’re happy to be
and ask them what they’re happy to be interviewed about the other lot of the
interviewed about the other lot of the
interviewed about the other lot of the interviewers and then I sawed them
interviewers and then I sawed them
interviewers and then I sawed them around they do the interviews two by two
around they do the interviews two by two
around they do the interviews two by two we play it back and we critique it so of
we play it back and we critique it so of
we play it back and we critique it so of course what happens is the journalists
course what happens is the journalists
course what happens is the journalists who are being the interviewer prepare
who are being the interviewer prepare
who are being the interviewer prepare their interviews write their list of
their interviews write their list of
their interviews write their list of questions and guess what when they get
questions and guess what when they get
questions and guess what when they get me interview they stick to their list of
me interview they stick to their list of
me interview they stick to their list of questions they do the interview
questions they do the interview
questions they do the interview equivalent of social listening so while
equivalent of social listening so while
equivalent of social listening so while the person is talking you can see in
the person is talking you can see in
the person is talking you can see in their eyes they’ve tuned out because
their eyes they’ve tuned out because
their eyes they’ve tuned out because they’re thinking about their next
they’re thinking about their next
they’re thinking about their next question which means they miss something
question which means they miss something
question which means they miss something the audience doesn’t but they do and the
the audience doesn’t but they do and the
the audience doesn’t but they do and the interview doesn’t really work I can tell
interview doesn’t really work I can tell
interview doesn’t really work I can tell them til I’m blue in the face to listen
them til I’m blue in the face to listen
them til I’m blue in the face to listen but they’re not listening to me so I
but they’re not listening to me so I
but they’re not listening to me so I decided to play a bit dirty so on day
decided to play a bit dirty so on day
decided to play a bit dirty so on day two I told them okay we’re going to do
two I told them okay we’re going to do
two I told them okay we’re going to do exactly the same thing when I go in and
exactly the same thing when I go in and
exactly the same thing when I go in and we’re going to do these interviews and
we’re going to do these interviews and
we’re going to do these interviews and you’re gonna get time to prepare just
you’re gonna get time to prepare just
you’re gonna get time to prepare just the same as yesterday so I pair them up
the same as yesterday so I pair them up
the same as yesterday so I pair them up tell them what the interviews are about
tell them what the interviews are about
tell them what the interviews are about they prepare their list of questions we
they prepare their list of questions we
they prepare their list of questions we go to the studio and I rather
go to the studio and I rather
go to the studio and I rather theatrically say to them okay have you
theatrically say to them okay have you
theatrically say to them okay have you got your notes yes we’ve got our notes
got your notes yes we’ve got our notes
got your notes yes we’ve got our notes show me your notes they show me then
show me your notes they show me then
show me your notes they show me then it’s if you like your questions these
it’s if you like your questions these
it’s if you like your questions these are our questions I then see a trick you
are our questions I then see a trick you
are our questions I then see a trick you pick up a waste paper basket
pick up a waste paper basket
pick up a waste paper basket snatch all the pieces of paper put them
snatch all the pieces of paper put them
snatch all the pieces of paper put them in the rubbish bin and throw it in a
in the rubbish bin and throw it in a
in the rubbish bin and throw it in a corner and I go you’re interviewing
corner and I go you’re interviewing
corner and I go you’re interviewing somebody else about something else
somebody else about something else
somebody else about something else you are no time to prepare get in the
you are no time to prepare get in the
you are no time to prepare get in the studio I will show cue and your earpiece
studio I will show cue and your earpiece
studio I will show cue and your earpiece and off you go you know that moment when
and off you go you know that moment when
and off you go you know that moment when Wiley coyote runs off a cliff
Wiley coyote runs off a cliff
Wiley coyote runs off a cliff realizes he’d run out of road and his
realizes he’d run out of road and his
realizes he’d run out of road and his eyes come out on stalks times that by 10
eyes come out on stalks times that by 10
eyes come out on stalks times that by 10 and those are the faces in the room so
and those are the faces in the room so
and those are the faces in the room so we did the interviews we go back in the
we did the interviews we go back in the
we did the interviews we go back in the classrooms they all looked like they’re
classrooms they all looked like they’re
classrooms they all looked like they’re going to the executioner they don’t want
going to the executioner they don’t want
going to the executioner they don’t want to see it back and I’m going I’m not
to see it back and I’m going I’m not
to see it back and I’m going I’m not going to show it back to you I’m not
going to show it back to you I’m not
going to show it back to you I’m not interested in what you asked I’m
interested in what you asked I’m
interested in what you asked I’m interested in how it felt and the answer
interested in how it felt and the answer
interested in how it felt and the answer I always get back is a version of
I always get back is a version of
I always get back is a version of liberating and I asked them what did you
liberating and I asked them what did you
liberating and I asked them what did you do that you didn’t do yesterday and you
do that you didn’t do yesterday and you
do that you didn’t do yesterday and you see the light bulbs go off over their
see the light bulbs go off over their
see the light bulbs go off over their heads listen why did you listen we had
heads listen why did you listen we had
heads listen why did you listen we had to we had no choice because we didn’t
to we had no choice because we didn’t
to we had no choice because we didn’t know what to ask next unless we listened
know what to ask next unless we listened
know what to ask next unless we listened and did you enjoy the interviews yes
and did you enjoy the interviews yes
and did you enjoy the interviews yes they really enjoyed it and their skills
they really enjoyed it and their skills
they really enjoyed it and their skills as interviewers went from there to there
as interviewers went from there to there
as interviewers went from there to there in 24 hours but the most interesting
in 24 hours but the most interesting
in 24 hours but the most interesting thing was these people who’d never met
thing was these people who’d never met
thing was these people who’d never met each other before from different
each other before from different
each other before from different countries and different cultures sitting
countries and different cultures sitting
countries and different cultures sitting in a classroom became a group in the
in a classroom became a group in the
in a classroom became a group in the space of a couple of hours they got
space of a couple of hours they got
space of a couple of hours they got closer as people in a couple of hours
closer as people in a couple of hours
closer as people in a couple of hours they connected with each other and they
they connected with each other and they
they connected with each other and they stayed connected and at the end of the
stayed connected and at the end of the
stayed connected and at the end of the course they all said to me that day
course they all said to me that day
course they all said to me that day changed my life I was stunned and they
changed my life I was stunned and they
changed my life I was stunned and they went it completely changed me because
went it completely changed me because
went it completely changed me because now I think differently about talking to
now I think differently about talking to
now I think differently about talking to people and that’s what happens when we
people and that’s what happens when we
people and that’s what happens when we truly connect with another person
truly connect with another person
truly connect with another person because we’re listening to them because
because we’re listening to them because
because we’re listening to them because they know they’re being listened to
they know they’re being listened to
they know they’re being listened to really listening to so that’s one half
really listening to so that’s one half
really listening to so that’s one half of a conversation because a conversation
of a conversation because a conversation
of a conversation because a conversation is a game of two halves so that’s the
is a game of two halves so that’s the
is a game of two halves so that’s the listening so what about the speaking now
listening so what about the speaking now
listening so what about the speaking now what I’ve noticed when I’m teaching
what I’ve noticed when I’m teaching
what I’ve noticed when I’m teaching people to speak is that if they feel
people to speak is that if they feel
people to speak is that if they feel intimidated the way many of us do when
intimidated the way many of us do when
intimidated the way many of us do when we speak to a stranger what happens when
we speak to a stranger what happens when
we speak to a stranger what happens when you speak to a stranger
you speak to a stranger
you speak to a stranger we grandstand we try and be more
we grandstand we try and be more
we grandstand we try and be more impressive because we’re nervous it’s
impressive because we’re nervous it’s
impressive because we’re nervous it’s natural we don’t want to look stupid in
natural we don’t want to look stupid in
natural we don’t want to look stupid in front of our peers so we make ourselves
front of our peers so we make ourselves
front of our peers so we make ourselves bigger we use big words we use
bigger we use big words we use
bigger we use big words we use highfalutin language and that language
highfalutin language and that language
highfalutin language and that language does one thing it distances us from the
does one thing it distances us from the
does one thing it distances us from the person we’re trying to talk to it
person we’re trying to talk to it
person we’re trying to talk to it doesn’t bring us closer
doesn’t bring us closer
doesn’t bring us closer doesn’t make us connect the place I
doesn’t make us connect the place I
doesn’t make us connect the place I really noticed this is when I’m teaching
really noticed this is when I’m teaching
really noticed this is when I’m teaching people to give presentations or teaching
people to give presentations or teaching
people to give presentations or teaching people to be interviewed in the media
people to be interviewed in the media
people to be interviewed in the media because what happens then is they run
because what happens then is they run
because what happens then is they run into the mother of all distancing
into the mother of all distancing
into the mother of all distancing language the self replicating algorithm
language the self replicating algorithm
language the self replicating algorithm of our time jargon we all hate it don’t
of our time jargon we all hate it don’t
of our time jargon we all hate it don’t we
we
we I’m willing to bet at the water cooler
I’m willing to bet at the water cooler
I’m willing to bet at the water cooler in work you use it yourself somebody
in work you use it yourself somebody
in work you use it yourself somebody comes up to you and talks fluent jargon
comes up to you and talks fluent jargon
comes up to you and talks fluent jargon at you two minutes later you’re speaking
at you two minutes later you’re speaking
at you two minutes later you’re speaking fluent jargon back pointless four letter
fluent jargon back pointless four letter
fluent jargon back pointless four letter acronyms pfl A’s it’s like a Scrabble
acronyms pfl A’s it’s like a Scrabble
acronyms pfl A’s it’s like a Scrabble bag on acid and nobody knows what
bag on acid and nobody knows what
bag on acid and nobody knows what anybody is saying that is distancing
anybody is saying that is distancing
anybody is saying that is distancing language we do it all the time it’s an
language we do it all the time it’s an
language we do it all the time it’s an extreme example but it is the
extreme example but it is the
extreme example but it is the weapons-grade version of distancing
weapons-grade version of distancing
weapons-grade version of distancing language so for a bit of fun what I’ve
language so for a bit of fun what I’ve
language so for a bit of fun what I’ve done with my students is to rewrite a
done with my students is to rewrite a
done with my students is to rewrite a famous speech in public sector jargon to
famous speech in public sector jargon to
famous speech in public sector jargon to show them just how distancing that
show them just how distancing that
show them just how distancing that language can be a great speakers know
language can be a great speakers know
language can be a great speakers know that this stuff doesn’t work if you want
that this stuff doesn’t work if you want
that this stuff doesn’t work if you want to connect to somebody you have to speak
to connect to somebody you have to speak
to connect to somebody you have to speak from here you have to speak from the
from here you have to speak from the
from here you have to speak from the heart and you have to speak simply it’s
heart and you have to speak simply it’s
heart and you have to speak simply it’s not dumbing down it’s speaking simply
not dumbing down it’s speaking simply
not dumbing down it’s speaking simply but if you’re running for Jurgen that’s
but if you’re running for Jurgen that’s
but if you’re running for Jurgen that’s not what you’re going to do so here’s
not what you’re going to do so here’s
not what you’re going to do so here’s this speech you’ve all heard it I
this speech you’ve all heard it I
this speech you’ve all heard it I guarantee you’ve all heard it but this
guarantee you’ve all heard it but this
guarantee you’ve all heard it but this time I’m going to do it in public sector
time I’m going to do it in public sector
time I’m going to do it in public sector speak and I want you to see if you can
speak and I want you to see if you can
speak and I want you to see if you can guess what it is and to see how you feel
guess what it is and to see how you feel
guess what it is and to see how you feel when I say it so here it is we commit
when I say it so here it is we commit
when I say it so here it is we commit our partners and stakeholders to a
our partners and stakeholders to a
our partners and stakeholders to a pugilistic solution in area based
pugilistic solution in area based
pugilistic solution in area based initiatives such as coastal regions we
initiatives such as coastal regions we
initiatives such as coastal regions we also wish to extend it to areas of
also wish to extend it to areas of
also wish to extend it to areas of agricultural usage open pathways and
agricultural usage open pathways and
agricultural usage open pathways and areas of rural elevation capitulation
areas of rural elevation capitulation
areas of rural elevation capitulation will not be acceptable as an outcome
will not be acceptable as an outcome
will not be acceptable as an outcome anybody feel anything
anybody feel anything
anybody feel anything you moved motivated cause you know
you moved motivated cause you know
you moved motivated cause you know didn’t understand it I didn’t understand
didn’t understand it I didn’t understand
didn’t understand it I didn’t understand it and I wrote it what if I do the
it and I wrote it what if I do the
it and I wrote it what if I do the original because the original was
original because the original was
original because the original was written by a man who knows or who knew
written by a man who knows or who knew
written by a man who knows or who knew the power of simple language to connect
the power of simple language to connect
the power of simple language to connect heart to heart mind to mind
heart to heart mind to mind
heart to heart mind to mind we shall fight on the beaches we shall
we shall fight on the beaches we shall
we shall fight on the beaches we shall fight on the landing grounds we shall
fight on the landing grounds we shall
fight on the landing grounds we shall fight in the fields and in the streets
fight in the fields and in the streets
fight in the fields and in the streets we shall fight in the Hills we shall
we shall fight in the Hills we shall
we shall fight in the Hills we shall never surrender same speech how do you
never surrender same speech how do you
never surrender same speech how do you feel now passionate patriotic courageous
feel now passionate patriotic courageous
feel now passionate patriotic courageous moved if you’d heard the first version
moved if you’d heard the first version
moved if you’d heard the first version at the Annual General Meeting of Great
at the Annual General Meeting of Great
at the Annual General Meeting of Great Britain PLC facing a hostile German
Britain PLC facing a hostile German
Britain PLC facing a hostile German takeover you would have done absolutely
takeover you would have done absolutely
takeover you would have done absolutely nothing but the stacker one you’d really
nothing but the stacker one you’d really
nothing but the stacker one you’d really have felt something even as a member of
have felt something even as a member of
have felt something even as a member of an audience because we don’t listen as a
an audience because we don’t listen as a
an audience because we don’t listen as a collective we listen as one person one
collective we listen as one person one
collective we listen as one person one set of ears to hear the information one
set of ears to hear the information one
set of ears to hear the information one brain to process the information one
brain to process the information one
brain to process the information one heart to respond to the information we
heart to respond to the information we
heart to respond to the information we listen as one person what Churchill knew
listen as one person what Churchill knew
listen as one person what Churchill knew he was speaking to one person he was
he was speaking to one person he was
he was speaking to one person he was actually speaking to millions but he was
actually speaking to millions but he was
actually speaking to millions but he was speaking to one person and when that
speaking to one person and when that
speaking to one person and when that poured out of bakelite radios up and
poured out of bakelite radios up and
poured out of bakelite radios up and down the land in June 1940 in every
down the land in June 1940 in every
down the land in June 1940 in every scullery in Britain he knew what effect
scullery in Britain he knew what effect
scullery in Britain he knew what effect he was going to have and everybody
he was going to have and everybody
he was going to have and everybody remembers it so I’m going to finish with
remembers it so I’m going to finish with
remembers it so I’m going to finish with a story about communicating and speaking
a story about communicating and speaking
a story about communicating and speaking with true simplicity that has stayed
with true simplicity that has stayed
with true simplicity that has stayed with me for many many years about 20
with me for many many years about 20
with me for many many years about 20 years ago when I was a very young
years ago when I was a very young
years ago when I was a very young reporter I was sent to Africa to film a
reporter I was sent to Africa to film a
reporter I was sent to Africa to film a bunch of British schoolchildren who had
bunch of British schoolchildren who had
bunch of British schoolchildren who had raised money for a big international
raised money for a big international
raised money for a big international charity and the money was being spent in
charity and the money was being spent in
charity and the money was being spent in Africa so the children are being sent
Africa so the children are being sent
Africa so the children are being sent out to me and a camera crew rock up in
out to me and a camera crew rock up in
out to me and a camera crew rock up in Africa with them and it’s a tough place
Africa with them and it’s a tough place
Africa with them and it’s a tough place this is a tough country infant mortality
this is a tough country infant mortality
this is a tough country infant mortality rates off the chart child killing
rates off the chart child killing
rates off the chart child killing malaria temperature of 45 degrees female
malaria temperature of 45 degrees female
malaria temperature of 45 degrees female genital mutilation of girls of 8 they
genital mutilation of girls of 8 they
genital mutilation of girls of 8 they marry them when they’re 12 women get
marry them when they’re 12 women get
marry them when they’re 12 women get married have babies till they drop dead
married have babies till they drop dead
married have babies till they drop dead aged about 45 there is no clean water
aged about 45 there is no clean water
aged about 45 there is no clean water available it’s a tough place they live
available it’s a tough place they live
available it’s a tough place they live in huts with grass roofs the toilet is a
in huts with grass roofs the toilet is a
in huts with grass roofs the toilet is a communal hut in the middle of the
communal hut in the middle of the
communal hut in the middle of the village which is a pit you can imagine
village which is a pit you can imagine
village which is a pit you can imagine what that’s like in
what that’s like in
what that’s like in which is a 45 to 50 degrees so these
which is a 45 to 50 degrees so these
which is a 45 to 50 degrees so these children are there and I interviewed
children are there and I interviewed
children are there and I interviewed them all at the beginning we filmed them
them all at the beginning we filmed them
them all at the beginning we filmed them through two weeks as they go around the
through two weeks as they go around the
through two weeks as they go around the villages and I interview them at the end
villages and I interview them at the end
villages and I interview them at the end and at the end they sit down we do
and at the end they sit down we do
and at the end they sit down we do set-piece interviews one by one and
set-piece interviews one by one and
set-piece interviews one by one and these are brilliant kids they are
these are brilliant kids they are
these are brilliant kids they are fantastic they are passionate they are
fantastic they are passionate they are
fantastic they are passionate they are committed they do things they raise
committed they do things they raise
committed they do things they raise money their academic mostly middle class
money their academic mostly middle class
money their academic mostly middle class that area Deitz they are really really
that area Deitz they are really really
that area Deitz they are really really brilliant teenagers but they know that
brilliant teenagers but they know that
brilliant teenagers but they know that this footage is going to be seen when
this footage is going to be seen when
this footage is going to be seen when they get home by their peers that
they get home by their peers that
they get home by their peers that teaches their parents so what do they do
teaches their parents so what do they do
teaches their parents so what do they do they grandstand of course they do we’d
they grandstand of course they do we’d
they grandstand of course they do we’d all do it so they try news big words in
all do it so they try news big words in
all do it so they try news big words in big language and they’re trying to be
big language and they’re trying to be
big language and they’re trying to be profound because they what they
profound because they what they
profound because they what they genuinely feel is profound but the way
genuinely feel is profound but the way
genuinely feel is profound but the way they express it and I don’t remember a
they express it and I don’t remember a
they express it and I don’t remember a single thing any of them said but then
single thing any of them said but then
single thing any of them said but then was one child the last child who
was one child the last child who
was one child the last child who interviewed who was younger than all the
interviewed who was younger than all the
interviewed who was younger than all the others he was from a less well-off
others he was from a less well-off
others he was from a less well-off family not very erudite not very
family not very erudite not very
family not very erudite not very academic really difficult into you
academic really difficult into you
academic really difficult into you because he didn’t have much to say so he
because he didn’t have much to say so he
because he didn’t have much to say so he sits down we set up the interview again
sits down we set up the interview again
sits down we set up the interview again we interview him it’s not much of an
we interview him it’s not much of an
we interview him it’s not much of an interview he can’t say more than a
interview he can’t say more than a
interview he can’t say more than a sentence at a time and I’m thinking okay
sentence at a time and I’m thinking okay
sentence at a time and I’m thinking okay well so what we’ve got we’ll just how to
well so what we’ve got we’ll just how to
well so what we’ve got we’ll just how to play with this and then something made
play with this and then something made
play with this and then something made me stop and I thought just listen to him
me stop and I thought just listen to him
me stop and I thought just listen to him just don’t say anything just sit and
just don’t say anything just sit and
just don’t say anything just sit and listen so I did sat in silence which is
listen so I did sat in silence which is
listen so I did sat in silence which is not something journalists do very often
not something journalists do very often
not something journalists do very often and he looked off into the distance at
and he looked off into the distance at
and he looked off into the distance at the village we’d been in and all these
the village we’d been in and all these
the village we’d been in and all these children running around lots of little
children running around lots of little
children running around lots of little children
children
children not many taller children because most of
not many taller children because most of
not many taller children because most of the little ones don’t make it past four
the little ones don’t make it past four
the little ones don’t make it past four and he sadly thought now this boy is
and he sadly thought now this boy is
and he sadly thought now this boy is from Liverpool he was a scouser
from Liverpool he was a scouser
from Liverpool he was a scouser so there’s anybody from Liverpool in
so there’s anybody from Liverpool in
so there’s anybody from Liverpool in this evening forgive me for doing the
this evening forgive me for doing the
this evening forgive me for doing the accent but it keeps sod lends power to
accent but it keeps sod lends power to
accent but it keeps sod lends power to his words and he looked at me and he
his words and he looked at me and he
his words and he looked at me and he said
said
said at home people complain if they’ve got
at home people complain if they’ve got
at home people complain if they’ve got dishwashers out here they don’t even got
dishwashers out here they don’t even got
dishwashers out here they don’t even got dishes and that’s it he stood up he said
dishes and that’s it he stood up he said
dishes and that’s it he stood up he said his piece and he walked off I turned to
his piece and he walked off I turned to
his piece and he walked off I turned to my cameraman fresh from a war zone
my cameraman fresh from a war zone
my cameraman fresh from a war zone cameraman his artist nails and he looked
cameraman his artist nails and he looked
cameraman his artist nails and he looked at me nailed it they went absolutely
at me nailed it they went absolutely
at me nailed it they went absolutely he said something true he said something
he said something true he said something
he said something true he said something from the heart and he said it simply
from the heart and he said it simply
from the heart and he said it simply with 20 years on and I still remember it
with 20 years on and I still remember it
with 20 years on and I still remember it I bet you’ll remember it too I don’t
I bet you’ll remember it too I don’t
I bet you’ll remember it too I don’t know what he’s doing now he’s a grown-up
know what he’s doing now he’s a grown-up
know what he’s doing now he’s a grown-up now
now
now he could be exploiting dishwashers to
he could be exploiting dishwashers to
he could be exploiting dishwashers to Africa I don’t know I’m sure he’s doing
Africa I don’t know I’m sure he’s doing
Africa I don’t know I’m sure he’s doing something amazing I really hope he is so
something amazing I really hope he is so
something amazing I really hope he is so I want to close by saying to you next
I want to close by saying to you next
I want to close by saying to you next time you’re in that conversation with a
time you’re in that conversation with a
time you’re in that conversation with a stranger remember no one is boring
stranger remember no one is boring
stranger remember no one is boring everyone has a story and ask yourself
everyone has a story and ask yourself
everyone has a story and ask yourself why you’re in this conversation do you
why you’re in this conversation do you
why you’re in this conversation do you want to impress or do you want to
want to impress or do you want to
want to impress or do you want to connect with that person be present be
connect with that person be present be
connect with that person be present be curious pay attention but most of all
curious pay attention but most of all
curious pay attention but most of all say something true listen to something
say something true listen to something
say something true listen to something real and learn something thank you
”
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