These cooler temperatures are sure doing a number on everyone’s immune system these days. I don’t think there’s a single person here at the station whose health hasn’t been impacted in some way or another within the past month or so.
Last week, I was grappling with the common cold. You might have heard some sniffling or rogue coughing during The Morning News. It happens. But it brings up a fun question that most people don’t think about: how are you supposed to talk on the radio when you’re sick?
Obviously, radio isn’t the only field where you’re expected to have a functioning voice box for an extended period of time. Just ask any customer service representative, teacher, retail worker, or flight attendant- to name a few. In these positions, it’s likely frowned upon to call out because you’ve lost your voice. The case is certainly the same for radio. And, frankly, I feel pretty useless if I stay home with an otherwise fully-abled body and a respectable amount of energy to take on the day. The need to be useful often outweighs the urge to use up a sick day. So, off to work I go. Now what?
Before I even leave the house, I’ll give my throat a few sprays of Chloraseptic before I hit the road. I’ve used this product for sore throats my entire life, and it’s my first line of defense as soon as I feel even remotely scratchy while speaking. It provides a temporary numbing effect so that you can tolerate swallowing for a brief period of time. And yes, you’ll get over the vaguely “cherry” flavor after a few seconds.
I start off every single morning at KGMI with two cups of fresh green tea. If I’m feeling under the weather, I’ll replace one of those cups with Throat Coat. This herbal tea is a godsend. In college, this was the greatest gift you could give to any voice major. It was so popular during the winter that people would give up their practice rooms for a single bag of Throat Coat.
Now that I’ve put it that way, it’s slowly dawning on me that music schools truly are their own brand of weird. But I digress.
Just like the Chloraseptic, Throat Coat has its own unique flavor that may not be everyone’s cup of tea (pun fully intended). The main ingredient is licorice root. I’m not sure if that’s the main soothing ingredient, but the box makes a point to mention slippery elm bark as a featured supplement. I don’t think licorice on its own would produce the silky, comforting feeling I get after a sip of Throat Coat. The tea’s effects last much longer throughout the day, and it’s such a relief after trying to talk on-air for an extended period of time without it.
For a quick fix, you can never go wrong with a standard cough drop. The only issue in radio is that those drops take a while to dissolve- and sometimes, I don’t have the time to get through a whole cough drop before I have to turn my mic back on. This is especially useful for after the show ends, when I’m not talking quite as much but my throat is still not at its prime. I’ve been sucking on some Ricola Honey + Herbs recently, which brings me to my next note: honey is your friend! A spoonful of some local honey is a sweet and tasty temporary reliever for a sore throat. One of the biggest ingredients I missed the most when I had to go on a super-restrictive diet earlier this year was honey (it’s very high in fructose), which is a shame considering its benefits.
Some will argue that nebulizers and humidifiers do the trick for them. I don’t have either of those things, but I can replicate the effects by throwing my shower on full heat and sitting in the steam for a good few minutes. That helps draw a bit of moisture back into my parched throat. And you certainly can’t go wrong with a good bowl of soup. I prefer a classic Campbell’s Chicken Noodle.
These are all tips and tricks that I’ve found have worked best for me over the years that I’ve worked in radio. Even if you’re not paid to talk non-stop, I’d say that these are still some helpful handy hints should you lose your voice or come down with a sore throat. Let’s hope neither of those things happen anytime soon.