Vocal fry on podcasts. Anyone immediately put off by a voice?

[auberginefortea]

I listen to quite a few podcasts, mainly from the UK and US. Is anyone else immediately put off by certain voices? I really struggle with the kind of vocal fry I sometime hear. It seems that it's often US journalists, and it's a real shame as the topic can sound quite interesting ... but the voice, oh my god.

"BBC SOUNDS! Music, radio, podcasts!" @StoneTheCrone . I hate it.

I struggle to listen to affected voices too, it makes me feel like they're not really interested in what they're saying so my ears switch off.

I listened to a good podcast at the weekend presented by a Scottish journalist, Mick Morton. I was so hooked by his speaking that I binged it. His voice is so clear and he seems passionate in a very understated way. It's called 'The Strange Death of Innes Ewart' for those who might be interested.

@Loopytiles It's a vocal affectation which sounds deep and creaky, for example the ad in which a woman says 'Is Hello Fresh worth the prrrice?'

@beigerage I was just coming on to say You Must Remember This! Fascinating subject, irritating delivery.

Yes, it’s like it’s an automated voice.

I can watch American TV dramas but I otherwise dislike American voices so pretty much all American podcasts are out.

Aagh, where do I start, I’m put off by so many voices, not just affectations such as vocal fry.

I’m ashamed to admit that I sometimes listen to True Crime podcasts to alleviate the tedium of cleaning and the UK one I want to listen to is presented by a man/boy with a partial lisp and such an irritating schoolboy delivery that I end up turning it off, likewise podcasts where there are two giggling “chummy” presenters who talk over one another.

Agree with others that so many voices now on Radio Four are problematic. I like a variety of accents but in a desperate effort to eliminate what I assume they consider to be “posh” they have also, in some presenters, eliminated calm, plain, normal voices with eloquence, seriousness, good diction and clear enunciation. And as pps have said, an understanding that the person they are addressing is an adult with a brain.

And in other instances, particularly Radio 4 plays, there is a particular sort of Radio 4 posh actress whose voice is horribly arch and screechy. And others where the actresses are posh but are pretending to have a cockney accent or whatever which is painful. Why not just use an actress with a cockney accent in the first place?

So I moved from Radio 4 to LBC (along with three quarters of their presenters 😃) and they seem to have a microphone set up where you can hear every breath, snort, smack of lips and clearing of the throat and I can’t stand that either!

I haven’t even bothered with audiobooks because I know I shall be irritated from the outset. And anyway, for fiction, I find it hard to focus on doing something else while keeping track of a plot, my attention has to be on one or the other, so I give up really and listen to music instead.

EDIT: 😃😃 Have just seen that They Walk Among Us, the podcast I mentioned above, has already been mentioned! 😃 How many potential listeners has that young man lost because of his voice? Do us all a favour and let someone else present it please!

Yes, meghan markle has a wonderful audio voice.

I don't know his name because I avoid his narrations but there an american audible narrator who seems to be the default choice for many books who I can't stand his. I don't know why he's become the default choice, he is so dreadfully monotonous that I lose the will to live within 2 minutes.

@StandardLFinegan , I agree regarding Radio 4. There was a phase where it seemed every programme had an irish accent. I can't listen to the Tara and Marian podcast.

Some of the presenters are hard to understand because they don't enunciate clearly.

To be sure.

Yes, I find vocal fry very hard to listen to, because it makes the speaker sound pretentious. Nobody speaks like that naturally, it's a trend they've chosen to adopt, so they're not being themselves.

Vocal fry, dry mouth noises, licking lips noises, slurping noises, atonal voices, any kind of droning styles.... I frequently turn off the radio because of noises I can't deal with even though I'm often missing out on very interesting interviews.

Yes I have misophonia.

With audio books I learned early to listen to the sample copy after spending money on my favourite books only to discover I absolutely hated the voice of the person reading it. Gah.

To balance my hatred of so many things, I used to work with a lass from the Highlands who had the most beautiful voice and incredible soft and accurate annunciation in her speech. I encouraged her to find out about radio work or voice acting as it was just so lovely.

Her voice on young children's audio books would have been amazing. Sadly she didn't fancy it and stayed in health and safety 😂

Agreed. I'm surprised that Brian Cox is so popular because he has a similar voice.
I also hate whispery women. Again, it's the simpering.

How do people have the energy to do this fake voice all the time.

The moment I hear it I switch off.

@senua , I can't bear the trailers. I haven't noticed the 'campness' but it's definitely flat gay mancunian. Things fell a-paaaaurght.

Brian's voice doesn't bother me. It's distinctive and a bit too light.

Ronson and Marianna Spring trailers are annoying because they seem to big themselves up. It might not be up to them but I don't bother listening to them. Even MS's name is annoying, as is one of the Farming Today presenters'. Her parents should have consulted Baby Names about hyphenated/joined-up names

One good thing with radio is that you don't see them, so they can be a friendly big sister or brother or something. I have a soft spot for Alan Smith and Winifred Robinson.

Not vocal fry, and she's a great actor, but I can't listen to Maxine Peake in oop-north dramas on R4. Again, it might not be up to her.

I still find R4 very posh generic south east England.

Agree that Mishal Hussein achieves a warm and empathetic tone without being patronising. Jon Ronson is unlistenable. Also agree on all the hideous noises on R4, why on earth they ever have a character eating while speaking is beyond me.

WhoppingBigBackside I’m so glad you’ve mentioned Winifred Robinson. What a lovely voice she has. And no nonsense.

Definitely. I used to enjoy a podcast called "ologies" but so many of the experts spoke like this and I couldn't bear it.

I also love Kathy Clugston's voice.

@StandardLFinegan She does. It's slightly liverpudlian bur she always sounds warm, kind and interested.
@shearwater2 , I'm trying to think of any generic posh SE England voices on it these days.

Alex Scott always sounds as if she’s trying to suppress a giggle to me.

Yes - love Winifred Robinson! Always sounds so completely genuine.

Another one who had to stop after 5 minutes of ‘they walk among us’ it was so annoying!!