Radio personality Howard Stern joined the America's Got Talent judging panel in season 7 and said he has learned a lot over time about being completely honest - and tough - in his critique.

The judge threatened to quit the show back in 2012 when he got emotional about the judges denying a 7-year-old aspiring rapper the chance to move forward in the competition. He went on stage to console the child, who began crying during his critique, and said, "This job is too rough for me, I don't really wanna do it anymore," Stern continued to be upset as he walked backstage, saying, "I'm not cut out for this, man. I'm shaking. I can't do it, man. I can't do it." 

The radio jock has come a long way since then, he told Enstars on Tuesday at Radio City Music Hall in New York, where the season 8 contestants performed for the first time in front of a live crowd. Stern talked about his tough judging habits and other things the show has taught him.

"The surprisingly thing is I learned something about myself: that I can actually go on a television show and not make it about me," he joked before adding. "This is about the talent. This is about giving them a constructive voice, offering them something that's meaningful. I watched the legendary Simon Cowell and Pierce Morgan, and I always enjoyed their honesty and their serious attitudes. You've got to be serious about the judging." 

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Stern sits on the judging panel with Howie Mandel, Heidi Klum and Mel B. Without comparing himself to them, Howard admitted that he tells the contestants sometimes what they do not want to hear but he feels like it is part of his job. On the other hand, he does not think he is difficult to impress. 

"I'm tough. You know, I'm a bit harsh because I know what's at stake. I know what it takes and I dont want to misled anyone," he said. "I think its better to know the truth then to have somebody be a pollyanna and say 'oh you were great, you were great, you were great.' That's not what we're looking for and when you come on a show like this you cant expect that to happen . You can't." 

His own talents may not cater to a competition such as the one he currently judges. The 59-year-old was mostly known for his behind-the-microphone appeal before he became a judge on a nationally televised, reality show competition. Stern does not think a lot of his talents "lend themselves to this kind of thing," meaning the opportunity America's Got Talent provides to hopefuls. Putting himself in the shoes of contestants he sees up on stage, he does not think he would even have a chance at winning such a competition.

"Its really strange because in my career, I wouldn't have been be suited for something like this. I do something long form. I'm a guy on the radio," he said. "And the way I built my career was years and years of going to small markets, winning audiences over. It's a very slow kind of growth so I don't know that you can go on the stage and do a radio show. I made a movie about my life but you can't go on this stage and act and win this thing."

He continued on to say that he prefers sitting in the judge's seat, using his experience to help others achieve their goals.

"Having said that, as a judge, I've built a career over 40 years and what I'm trying to help someone do is to have that kind of success," he said. "To find something unique, something that pops on the stage and if I can help somebody do that, I've done my job."