I Was On Times Radio This Weekend

Given my deep desire to tell others how smart I am and the fact that I thoroughly enjoy praise, it should surprise no one to know that I participated in speech competitions throughout high school. In fact, I was ranked nationally as a public speaker in the Future Business Leaders of America when I was 16 — this is even with the handicap of having a voice that is a little bit gay and tinged with my original Midwestern accent.

Because of my extracurricular background, I’ve hardly ever been one to shy away from talking. Whether it’s about movies on a podcast, watches at on a panel in New York, or my own novel with Monocle, I’m happy to log onto Zoom and tell you everything I know on any topic you throw my way. I’m rusty, of course, perhaps unpolished, some would say, but that’s never stopped me from kibitzing with a microphone in one hand and a few scribbled notes in the other.

All of this is to say that when the email came from Darryl Morris on a Friday morning to be on his show on Times Radio Saturday night, I replied yes almost immediately. This was, of course, after initially thinking they must have the wrong Brett Braley (though, the only other one I know of lives in Florida and owns a store called Knives R Us). But my Forbes article on Andy Burnham’s style had been published the day before and, what do you know, it got me seven minutes on the radio to discuss the changing norms around dressing up in the office and in politics.

So, after rushing to the hotel after my tradeshow was over (and, I’m sorry to say, leaving the bulk of the packing to my coworkers), I did a brief comb-over on my hair, steamed the suit and shirt I had enough foresight to pack with me, and sat on an upturned trashcan, facing the window so all my flaws were at least partially hidden (an old Hollywood trick, since I hadn’t packed any Vaseline for the lens), waiting on Zoom until we went live to discuss if neckties are obsolete, how Zelenskyy’s casual dress compares to Burnham’s, and how this loosening up is affecting the workplace. It was over by the time I caught my breath.

I stumbled a little, stuttered a bit, too; but overall I tried not to dwell too much on the negative and stuck with the positive of the experience, hoping to do it again soon. And if I’m never invited back again, that’s okay, too. Like publishing a novel, going to Dollywood, or shaving my head — I’m happy to have at least done it once in my life and can’t be too greedy for more than that.

Cheers