What do you prefer, Beck or Rebecca?

It was the Treasurer asking.

I’m fine with either, I told Jim Chalmers in a quick exchange we had before recording an interview.

I quite like the candid small talk you have with politicians just before the microphone goes on.

Usually I ask what people have eaten for breakfast to check sound levels. Any simple question that helps me adjust the volume so that it sounds clear on radio.

“What’s your nickname?” I asked, since Mr Chalmers had checked my preference.

Jimbo, Jimmy, Jimbolicious I joked.

He really, really doesn’t like being called Jimmy.
I get it. I really don’t like being called Becky.

We agreed that we’d both know how the interview went based on the names we called each other throughout. For the record, he started with Rebecca and threw in one Beck. I stuck with Treasurer.

We talked a lot about tax. Multinational tax, stage three tax cuts and the return of the fuel tax. Now you know why the nickname chat was a pleasant starter.

It’s a funny thing to have a bunch of politicians’ phone numbers in your mobile contacts.

Once I accidentally got included in a Premier’s family group chat. When a baby photo popped up on my phone without context, I let the now ex-Premier know and I was promptly removed.

Too many names in my phone means that I sometimes make mistakes with messages. I got confused when a former Prime Minister’s advisor once sent me a courteous text saying they thought I’d done a decent job with an interview. “With who?” I shot back. “The Prime Minister,” they responded. I was mortified.

During one busy election campaign, I also repeatedly sent messages to an interstate media advisor about school pickups because they shared the same name as one of my parent friends. I wonder if it made me seem disorganised or just a mum juggling life? Hopefully the latter.

The unofficial moments of radio are so often the best indication of the true personality of a guest.

“Was that ok?” Is the most common question I get asked after an interview. Usually by the most talented and humble people. “Did I babble?” Yes, I say, but that’s what you’re here to do. It’s talk radio.

So many people want a photo with their headphones on to prove they were in a radio studio, which is a good reminder to me it’s a job that can give anyone a little thrill. It’s good to be reminded of that.

Recently I had a world renowned neuroscientist on my show and he was so excited about being on the radio. As he was walking out of the studio he said “Thank you, I said everything I wanted to say!” Imagine that? From a brilliant brain. It made my day.

This week I’ve also spoken to a lot of people who’ve struggled to find words. Families without homes because of the February floods. Six months on, they’re exhausted. They’ve cried, cleaned and now they want clarity.

Sometimes the best thing I can do is get out of the way of someone telling their story even if they can’t speak. A trembling breath, a gut wrenching pause or a sound caught in someone’s throat can say more that words.

I told the Treasurer about those people too. In a week dominated by his jobs and skills summit, Jim Chalmers said he’d do his best to listen. I hope those families felt heard, otherwise I haven’t done my job.