What? You look like that?

Here's what's funny about hosting a radio show: people are shocked when they find out how you look.

I've mostly avoided this until recently - as I also appear on TV ("Beat the Press" on Boston's PBS station, WGBH).

But over the last few months, I've had several people look at me and say: "Wow, it's weird to put a face with the voice!" or "Oh, you look different than I thought!"

I know the feeling.

As a devoted NPR listener, I used to think Robert Siegel looked pretty much like this:

And Terry Gross looked like this:

Obviously. Anyone who had listened to them knew that.

Except that I was totally off on both counts, and it was a little mind-blowing (and unpleasant) to have my well-entrenched visions shattered.

Behold, Robert Siegel:

And Terry Gross:

Whahah?!?

And now I'm going to be one of those hosts whose picture perplexes and disillusions listeners? One of those people who was supposed to be blond with glasses or tall with curly brown hair.

Or, worse, people will imagine that I look like some famous movie star, as - apparently - they do with other radio hosts, if Buzzfeed is to be believed.

Aaargh. Maybe radio hosts should stay in the bunker. Or become Salinger-like recluses. I'm taking it under serious consideration.

BTW, what radio personality - NPR or otherwise - were you shocked to see in person? What did you think they looked like?