iAndrea

NaBloPoMo 3: Why I podcast ...

2009-11-12T01:07:00.003-05:00

Podcasting is an amazing creative outlet. I love the fact that it gives so many a voice and the ability to share their passion, and if done right, a bit of their life. My podcasting story began almost 3 years ago. In one of those random conversations that often happen at work, my buddy Dani and I got to talking about some of our favorite shows on tv. Dani had recently fallen in love with LOST and I had recently fallen in love with Grey's Anatomy. We swapped DVD collections and next thing we knew, we both had fallen in love with each others shows. It made for great convos once new episodes aired.

I tend to be very curious. One night, I was syncing my ipod and and noticed the Podcast tab. I did a quick google and figured out they were basically online talk/tv shows. I did a quick search for different shows that would pique my interest and came across a network of podcasts that had shows for both Grey's and LOST. One thing led to another and I became an avid listener of podcasts. Today I'm subscribed to over 40 shows. Quite insane really. One of my favorite things about the medium is the ability to bring people together over a common interest. To really build communities of people that perhaps you wouldn't have otherwise met. I'd like to say that I've always had a world view of things, but I have to admit that podcasting complemented by new media have the incredible power to shrink the world.

I am often asked why I podcast, and what's the motivation behind my shows. So that's what I'd like to talk about today.

Why do I podcast?

Being so involved in the communities built around some of the shows I was listening to, I began toying with idea of coming up with a show of my own. The next big step was integrating my ideas and moving past a bit of doubt about wether people would even want to listen to me in the first place. I pride myself in being creative and conquering a new medium turned out to be a challenging, but absolutely rewarding experience. Hosting my own shows just seemed like the next logical step. I have to say that after close to two years of hosting my own shows I still find podcasting a fabulous outlet to share my life, passions, and creativity. The more I thought about it, the clearer it became that the podcasts I enjoyed the most had a fusion of fun and a zeal for whatever it was the host(s) were talking about. I podcast because I want to share all those things, and hopefully offer value and assistance whenever I can.

What's the motivation behind my shows?

I'm passionate about tech and social media but I think people are often afraid of the unknowns in both. I by no means claim to have all the answers, and even though Social Media consulting and Web Strategy is what I do for a living, I refuse to use the term “expert.” For one I'm uncomfortable with making myself sound all knowing. Particularly when speaking about social media. It is ever-changing and so very nimble and that's half the fun. Adapting and taking advantage of the changes and seeing how they can make our experiences more rich. As a result of my constant observations about tech and new media in general, as well as wanting to share my geeky side, Geek Is Chic was born. I really cannot believe this January will mark two years of me recording the show. Geek is Chic has also allowed me to share and benefit something I'm extremely passionate about: Breast Cancer awareness. For the second year in a row I've raised funds for the Susan G Komen Foundation by hosting the Geek is Chic Podcastathon.

I love music, movies, and television. Besides being entertainment, what they have in common for me is that some of the most moving examples of these art forms come with some fantastic quotes. I believe quotes are inspirational, motivational, and they can put things in perspective. A quote can get you out of a funk. A line from a movie or song can find the words you never could to express what was in your heart. I believe that a good quote needs to be shared, and after a few months of having produced Geek is Chic, I decided to dive right in to a daily show, and thus, Daily Quote Podcast came to be. The goal is to share cool quotes, and hopefully a little positivity.

The raison d'être of my podcasts might have originally been to offer me a place to share my love for tech, social media and quotes ... but I can honestly say it's become much much more. I've met people through podcasting that have, and continue to enrich my life every single day. They've allowed me the opportunity to interview and get to know some people in the medium who I incredibly respect. Also, I have people in my life who support and encourage me almost blindly. It's in my humble opinion that it's the digital version of unconditional love. I simply hope that my podcasts have given people one tenth of the value of that I've gotten from fellow podcasters and the listeners to my shows.

Don't forget to leave some feedback ;) Leave it in the comments!

NaBloPoMo 2: Moccha makes me smile

2009-11-09T12:06:00.004-05:00

I know, I know. I've been slacking on getting a blog post everyday. But you know, sometimes life happens and it just doesn't work out. BUT I hope you'll bear with me as I play catch up and post a couple of post a day until we're back on track to get 30 blog posts this month. :)

I've been thinking about exactly what I want to focus and what I want to share throughout the month. I figured I would start with something light, today I'm gonna share one of my favorite YouTube videos. No matter what mood I'm in, this cute little guy going to town on broccoli always makes me smile!

Isn't he the cutest? Did you see his little feet? Gaaah!

I hope he made you smile

Podcasting and blogging for a month?

2009-11-04T23:13:00.004-05:00

You may have heard of National Novel Writing Month or Nanowrimo as it's affectionally called. The website describes it best: "[Nanowrimo] is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30."

I was in awe last year of so many friends who participated in the fun, and many who have done for several years. Serious hat-tip to any and everyone doing NaNoWriMo. Unfortunately I know I simply don't have the time or the discipline to crank out 50,000 words in 30 days. BUT, I can attempt to participate in the fun of national ... months in two ways that I think will be a lot of fun for me, and I hope you'll come in the ride with me. I decided to sign up for National Podcast Posting Month (NaPodPoMo) I have a daily show (Daily Quote Podcast) so I thought to myself, "Ok, yeah, I can handle that." But I wanted to up the ante so to speak. I also signed up for National Blog Posting Month (NaBloPoMo) It's the Fourth and this is technically my first post for it but I figure I can play catch up for those three other entries I'm missing. So I hope you'll listen to my podcasts and that you keep checking the blog for new entries throughout the month as I attempt to produce content on both.

I'd love to hear if any of you are participating in the National Months. Leave links in the comments! Also if you have a suggestion for a blog post or podcast leave those those as well. ;)

Why do we have the proclivity focus on the negatives.

2009-09-16T17:14:00.023-04:00

In life, we all have our ups and downs. But why is it that we all tend to focus on the negative? Why are the media and the news obsessed with the negative and scandalous?

One of my favorite Sex and the City quotes is

Why is it that we only seem to believe the negative things people say about us, no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary? A neighbor, a face, an ex-boyfriend can cancel out everything we thought was once true. Odd, but when it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?

Like a lot of people this weekend, I watched the MTV movie awards. Even though I am a huge fan of Kanye West's music, I was appalled by how rudely he interrupted the young Taylor Swift during her acceptance speech.

I have seen so many people make Kanye jokes left and right, and it was definitely the talk of the town on the social networks. I am by no means condoning West's behavior. However I can't help but notice how all the updates I saw focused on Kanye's terrible faux pas. Yes, it was noteworthy, but what I don't understand why not many mentioned Beyonce's incredible gesture. Do you? When Beyonce won the video of the year award, she ceded her time, and invited Taylor Swift to have her moment.

Even though it was Kanye who disrupted Taylor's speech by saying Beyonce's " was one of the best videos of all time," it was Beyonce who took responsibility for something that was not her fault at all. In doing so making it a better night for Taylor. She did the right thing. Yet, her beautiful gesture is not the one we hear about. We just hear about Kanye stealing the mic, and consequently apologizing on his blog and the talk show circuit. I can't say that I have an answer as to why, as human beings, we have the proclivity to focus on the negatives. What I can say is that I'm choosing to focus on the positives, looking for that silver lining, and fluffing things when they may need it.

What are YOU going to focus on?

Leave it in the comments!

What I learned from Hurricane Andrew

2009-08-24T18:09:00.010-04:00

Seventeen years ago Hurricane Andrew made an unexpected turn and with brutal force pummeled Homestead Florida. Where our home was. If you know me, you know this is why a bad thunderstorm still makes me a bit uneasy, why I am not a fan of ominous gray skies. August 24, 1992 is a night that will forever be etched in my brain. I will never forget the howling sound of the powerful gusts of wind, how scared I was as we moved from corner to corner as the roof of the house was being torn to pieces by the storm, In turn setting off the ear-piecing alarm of our home security system. I remember my stepdad taking off his belt, tying it to the door knob, and pulling with all his might, in an effort to stop more wind from going into our living room, which would launch the furniture towards the bedroom we were in. My mom and I hid in the closet. She hugged me, and I returned the embrace, all the while getting more and more scared, because all the while I saw fear clearly present on my mom’s face. Something I had never really seen before. I was utterly terrified at the wrath of mother nature, yet oddly comforted by my parents. I knew that when it was all said and done, it would all be okay. I think that’s the power of the innocence of an eleven year old. Loosing your home, and pretty much every possession is devastating, but It just reinforced what my mom had always taught me: that material things come and go, but the important thing is the people we love. We were all okay. At that time, insurance companies had better coverage and response, and genuinely took care of things. They put us up in a hotel, and with was payed for everything that was lost, my parents bought the home they live in today.

The anniversary of Andrew always makes me slow down and be thankful to be alive, appreciative of every year that’s passed since then. I am certainly not that innocent eleven year old kid anymore, but I feel that the lessons and experiences of that night still resonate with me today. I find myself in a transitional period in my life, both professionally and personally I find it more important than ever to appreciate relationships. While filled with change, ambiguity, and perhaps even some unpleasant experiences, I believe that these transitional periods are huge catalysts for personal growth. We learn how to handle whatever arduous situations we may be facing, we learn patience, and perhaps one of the most poignant lessons of all, you learn who’s really there for you.

This year however, something was different. The importance of relationships and patience just seemed heightened. I pride myself in being loyal, forgiving and for the most part an easy going person. There is little I wouldn’t do for my friends, because I love them. It’s easy for me. I don’t call many people my friends. Not because I don’t believe in friendship, quite the opposite, because I believe in it so strongly. So many people loosely call others “friends,” then wonder why they don’t really have someone who they can call in the middle of night if they’re upset, someone who will bail them out of trouble, No questions asked. I think one of the worst things you can do is attach such a special label to someone who hasn’t proven worthy of it. That’s almost as bad in my book as saying you love someone, when clearly, there’s no way you could possibly feel that, or worse yet, to say it when you don’t mean it.

What’s on my mind tonight, thanks to Hurricane Andrew is that the influence of life altering experiences such loosing everything and surviving a hurricane can’t be denied. However, it shouldn’t take such a traumatic experience to remind us to appreciate those around us, to tell those close to us that we love them. I may not be that eleven year old anymore, but there is something powerful about childhood experiences. On a soc nets note, I’m also glad that over the weekend, Facebook brought back into my life two of my favorite people from childhood. Yet another reason to remember the value and friendships. l don’t say this enough, but don’t take those who are important to you for granted. To my friends: I LOVE YOU!!! Thanks for always being so amazing.

What are some of your childhood lessons? Leave it in the comments!

ABC's of ME

2009-07-24T21:39:00.006-04:00

Every once in a while, I get tagged in a note on Facebook that's part of a new meme. I usually feel obliged to play along. So I wanted to thank my buddy Melissa for tagging me and inspiring this blog post.

So Here are the ABC's of me!

A - Age: 28

B - Bed size: King

C - Chore you hate: Laundry. Not so much doing it, as the washer and dryer do the heavy lifting, but you know, putting away, ironing ... Meeh!

D - Don't eat: Red Meat, Peanut Butter, Avocados

E - Essential start your day item: Coffee, strong coffee. If I don’t, I get a mean headache.

F - Favorite board game: Taboo and Catchphrase

G - Gold or Silver: silver or white gold

H - Height: 5 Feet

I - Instruments you play(ed): None :( I've always wanted to learn to play the guitar.

J - Job title: Web Strategist.

K - Kid(s): None yet.

L - Living arrangements: A house.

M - Married or single: Single

N - Nicknames: Drea, Dr. Drea, iAndrea

O- Outdoor activity you enjoy the most: Rollerblading

P - Pet Peeve: Tardiness, Apathy, Selfishness, and people who do not follow the golden rule.

Q - Famous Movie Quote: "Forget Regret, or life is your to miss. No other road, No other way, No day but TODAY!"

R - Right or left handed: Right

S - Sibling(s): Sister and brother.

T - Time you wake up: Weekdays at 6:45. If my body clock doesn’t hate me 9 or 10 on weekends.

U- United States favorite place to visit: Gainesville, Florida,

V - Vegetable favorite: Asparagus.

W - Ways you run late: Traffic, hitting snooze too many times.

X - X-rays you've had: wrist and chest.

Y - Yummy food you make: I’ve been told people enjoy my rice and special black beans.

Z - Zoo favorite: Giraffes. Soooooo cool! Got to feed and pet one once. :)

Geek Is Chic Podcastathon!

2009-07-22T20:23:00.001-04:00

As some of you may recall, last October I stayed up for 24 hours in the hopes of raising awareness and funds for breast cancer research. The podcastathon was a great success. We had some wonderful cohosts including Melissa Thiessen of Girls Gone Geek, Dan Patterson of ABC News, Whitney Hoffman of the LD Podcast and of Podcamp, as well as the music and company of Matthew Ebel. You can find some of the highlights here.

I’m very excited to announce that I’ll be doing it again this year. Starting October 3 at noon EST , and concluding October 4 at noon EST, Geek is Chic Podcast will be broadcasting live for 24 hours to increase breast cancer awareness, and raise funds for the Susan G Komen foundation.

Geek is Chic is a podcast, where technology is fashionable and practical. Nothing could fulfill this creed better than using the technology available in New Media and in web 2.0 to benefit such a worthy cause. We will be live and interactive throughout the entire 24 hours. You can listen to the broadcast, call in, and even chat on Talkshoe.com. We’ll also be showing live video footage during portions of the podcastathon using Ustream.tv. You can find directions of how to join us right here on our website.

I hope you will join us from October 3rd to the 4th. We will have different podcasters stop by, some great live music, some great trivia, and all and all a good time raising funds for a great cause. You can help us reach our goal, “Imagine life without breast cancer.” - Susan G Komen Foundation.

Bring on the coffee!!! Let’s make this year a bigger success than last year!
Your crazy friend,
Andrea :)

FYI : If you're a podcaster, and you're interested in being a co-host, don't hesitate to contact me and let me. I'm excited to have you guys join in the fun.

Sex and the City Wisdom ...

2009-06-26T23:50:00.006-04:00

Since Sex and the City ended, It's become a tradition that every summer I dust of my pink collectors edition series set. It often starts with watching some of my favorite episodes, but quickly turns into having a full out marathon of the series. I think Sex and the City is my favorite show of all time because of how brilliantly it is written. Throughout my adult life, I have found a deep connection with the characters and story lines. The best part of these marathons is that I get to rediscover the show and find new wisdom, as I have grown and changed along the years.

So tonight, I wanted to share of the Sex and the City Quotes that are speaking to me as I make my way through the series again ....

That night I started to think about belief. Maybe it's not even advisable to be an optimist after the age of 30. Maybe pessimism is something we have to start applying daily, like moisturizer. Otherwise, how do you bounce back when reality batters your belief system and love does not, as promised, conquer all? Is hope a drug we need to go off of? Or is it keeping us alive? What's the harm in believing?

Why is it that we only seem to believe the negative things people say about us, no matter how much evidence there is to the contrary? A neighbor, a face, an ex-boyfriend can cancel out everything we thought was once true. Odd, but when it comes to life and love, why do we believe our worst reviews?

Can you really forgive if you can't forget?

After all, computers crash, people die, relationships fall apart. The best we can do is breath and reboot.

Sometimes we need to stop analyzing the past, stop planning the future, stop figuring out precisely how we feel, stop deciding exactly what we want, and just see what happens.

Sometimes second chances work out even better than the first because you learn from your mistakes.

The most important thing in life is your family. There are days you love them, and others you don't. But, in the end, they're the people you always come home to. Sometimes it's the family you're born into and sometimes it's the one you make for yourself.

What does this really mean? The ball is in my court or something? I don't wanna play games. This is not the grand gesture. This is the vague gesture. Which is truly worse than no gesture at all.

... Hope you Enjoyed

Nice guys?

2009-06-07T15:22:00.004-04:00

People often tell me that I'm too nice and warn me that people will attempt to take advantage of my of my good nature & kindness. My first thought: Is there such a thing as being too nice? I live my life following the golden rule, I treat others as I want to be treated. This includes offering the benefit of the doubt, respect, and love. I have a hard time accepting that I should compromise who I am because others might have ill intentions. Don't get wrong, I'm not naive, I don't fall for things easily, and I often see people for exactly for who they are. What am I saying is this, I don't want to give someone the satisfaction of taking away my joy and my goodhearted nature.

I've been thinking about this a lot as of late. Funny how when we feel frustrated, and like we're alone in our train of thought, we discover things that parallel in others. As I was catching up on my RSS reading, I came across the drama that happened between Leo Laporte of Twit.tv and Mike Arrington of TechCrunch.

I have held Leo Laporte in high esteem for years now. I have found him to be one of the nicest guys on the internet. His coverage seems fair, honest, his advice is always candid and right on. I have heard nothing but positive things about how gracious he is with fans when he meets them. He also hosts syndicated radio tech show. I don't know how he has the patience to deal with some of the crazy tech help requests he gets. At any rate, Leo's always had my respect, I wouldn't say he earned more of it because of this, but there was something powerful about seeing someone that is mild tempered like I am, stand up for himself defending his journalistic integrity. I guess what they say is true, beware of the fury of a patient man.

A confession

2009-05-11T19:46:00.006-04:00

Well, it's no secret that I love the interwebs. I love the amalgamation of information, of connections and friendships that are readily available, everything at our fingertips. If you're my friend on Facebook, or follow me on twitter and plurk, perhaps you've noticed I have been a little absent as of late. Also, last week, I made the very tough decision to put both my podcasts on hiatus. I needed a break. A break from social media. I have always felt if you're going to be commited, you should do so fully. It was becoming really hard for me to put the quality of podcast I felt listeners deserved. I have said countless times, that you should join in the social networks and do so with authenticity and an open mind. In sharing your life, geniunely opening up to others. I am ok with sharing, I have been on these sites for years. While I have never been a "wear my heart on my sleeve" kind of a gal, I have admittedly been way more reticent than usual as of late. I'm at a point in my life were I am assessing what my priorities are, trying to figure out what activities to partake in, what relationships to carry with me to the next chapter of my life. What I have realized during this introspective period is that one thing remains true, I am a geek. That's my confession. It may take a little bit for me to get my groove back, for me to go back to the @iandrea you're used to, but I still do love new media. I had to share this video. Because geekadvancement.com is just a plain cool concept.

Seeing this video today was a nice reminder of just how big a part of my identity the internet is. Don't forget ... Geek Is Chic :)

The struggles of Relationships 2.0

2009-04-15T12:06:00.006-04:00

There’s something that’s been on my mind for a while now. I’ve been struggling with the emotions and trying to piece together the words that accurately express my thoughts. What I want to talk about about is relationships 2.0, and how they can go wrong. The reason I’ve been apprehensive about sharing is because for one, it’s something that isn’t talked about often. However, there are always two sides to every coin, so I think it’s only fair the address the untoward aspects of relationships that are formed via social networks.

At some point last week, I read a brilliant post by Brian Solis. It put together my thoughts so eloquently. It touched on two aspects which in my opinion, are the biggest setbacks in social media. For one, that “unknowingly, we're grooming a new generation of status-fueled socialites.” Solis also shares a fantastic quote by Deb Schultz "Technology changes, people don't."

Technology changes everyday. There is always a new gadget or service to try out. Tech is ever evolving, but I fear human nature is persistent, and transcends and shines through in our online life as well. Great people will be just that, no matter where you connect. There will always be gems that stand out in the stream. The same is true of those who possess character traits that are not so appealing. Jealousy can be seen online, insecurities become evident, as do narcissistic tendencies.

The anonymity of the internet allows people to let their worst come out. You can find too many people who have agendas and just want to evangelize. Too many podcast network and community leaders who rarely spend anytime in those communities. Then there’s the gurus, advertisers and spammers. In short there are all sorts of people who behave in ways they never so blatantly exhibit offline.

It is a lot easier to hide behind a computer screen and not realize the power of your words. How there are people on the other side of that screen, made of flesh and bone, with palpable feelings. It is almost effortless for some to attempt to vilify someone without really knowing all the facts. The more deeply we care about something, the more we allow ourselves to be vulnerable, the more susceptible we are to being betrayed or hurt by these types of behavior.

I am a believer in new media. Not only for my clients, but myself. It has brought so many wonderful people into my life. Thanks to twitter, plurk and others I have formed lifelong friendships> Bona fide connections that have profoundly enriched my life. As time elapses and I interact more intensely in these networks ,a lot of the same situations faced with in my offline life found their way online.

Friendship is giving, honestly and earnestly. Friendship is respecting one another. The most beautiful thing is to discover little nuggets of a friend’s character. Learning their likes, dislikes, discovering their expressions and mannerism, what makes them tick. It is with those little gifts like that we can create a friendship, New media allows us to share in 140 characters who we are. If you look at someone’s twitter timeline or plurk profile, it’s a glimpse into who they are, and what’s going on in their life. Quickly replying to facebook status messages also allows us foster those relationships further.

We can have all these different services notify our phones, even have desktop clients. We are constantly connected, and at times the data stream can be overwhelming. That’s were the perfect world of web 2.o begins to crumble. We can update every single service, in essence sharing who we are. If you’re doing it well, you’re responding to those who are seeking to connect with you. But I pose a question ... are we just getting lazy and taking building relationships for granted?

I’m not naive, I don’t have the expectation that every @ reply is going to result in finding your new best friend. Yet it is undeniable that relationships of any kind require work. If someone tweets about a favorite band, a tv show, or favorite meal, that common interest might pique your attention, and it certainly is a wonderful start to a potential connection. But if you don’t get a chance to talk about the back stories behind those statements, they become trivial information you probably won’t recall further down the line anyway. What do you have then besides a nice acquaintance?

If we don’t push forward and and delve deeper by making a more private connection through a Direct Message, Private Plurk or any other medium we are limiting ourselves to superficial interaction. There are some people in your timelines that stand out, those who you wanna learn more about. When we connect with people, it is only human nature to want to learn more. We seek the company of those who enrich our lives. The natural progression I have seen is getting off the websites and interacting via im, later on progressing to voice chats and further down the line exchanging phone numbers and ideally getting to spend time together in person.

Facebook, Twitter, Plurk and all the other social networks are fantastic ways to keep the banter going, to keep in touch, and to develop friendships ... but a friendship cannot live exclusive on these services. Nothing can compete with phone calls that last hours, with hanging out, with listening to those favorite tunes, watching tv with, or sharing your favorite meal with a friend. Making memories together is something that just can’t be shrunk into 140 characters. Lord knows we try when sharing :)

I want to reiterate, I’m not saying you need to seek out every person on your follower list. I’m not suggesting you should only interact privately, nor am I saying that you should share your phone number or screen names indiscriminately. That’s would be irresponsible, and counterproductive. What I hope you guys get out of this is that you shouldn’t take people for granted. Don’t neglect doing the heavy lifting that it takes to have a relationship. Don’t let yourself be limited by 140 characters. Direct Message, Private Plurk ... IM each other ... chat on the phone ... and if geography isn’t against you ... MEET.

What’s the point of being in social networks if it isn’t to be sociable and to make connections?

What do YOU think?? Leave it in the comments. I’d love to hear some of your adventures in relationships 2.0.

Gratitude!

2009-03-10T00:38:00.011-04:00

I'm often inspired to write by things I see in the soc nets. Today was no exception. However, the inspiration came from somewhere completely unexpected: my college friend Serg. He has one of the best senses of humor, and lord knows he can work and inspire a room better than just about anybody I know. I have always been a huge fan of Serg's Status updates, they're guaranteed to make you think or literally bust out laughing at work. (Don't judge, you know you check Facebook at lunch too!) I recently connected with my Serg on twitter after seeing his status saying he wanted some twitter friends. It's been great to be more interactive with him there! Then, last night he tweeted a link to a new VLOG he'd recorded.

Serg was right. Even in these tough economic times, even during the hardest of personal trials, there is always something to look to with a little bit of positivity. So I wanted to answer Serg's questions. Here's my attempt:

What are you grateful for?

For my mom. She's simply the most amazing woman I know, truly one of my best friends.
The fantastic friends I have. I couldn't make it through with out their encouragement, support, and all the joy they bring to my life.
The fact that I have a job that allows me to do something I love everyday. A job that affords me the opportunity to travel, and meet some incredible people.
For coffee. It's instant Andrea in the morning ;)
For the internet. It makes life so much easier, it helps us learn explore, and shrink the world ... all while connecting with new friends and rediscovering old friendships.
For contact lenses and sunglasses.
For iPhone Applications.
For hair clips.
For office supplies.
For lifelong memories.
For pools, lakes, and oceans.
Finding inspiration in the least likely of places.

What brings you joy?

Making someone smile.
Feeling a genuine connection with people.
Growing into a better woman every day.

Do you snort when you laugh?
Honestly ... From time to time, I have been known to let out a snort or two, but we all know I'm notorious for my giggling.

So, now I ask YOU:
What are you grateful for?
What brings you joy?
Do you snort when you laugh?

Leave it in the comments!

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Let me tag YOU in a note, and let's share 25 random things

2009-02-07T14:47:00.028-05:00

One of the interesting things in social media is when the popularity of something becomes viral. I have seen this happen from time to time with YouTube videos, new podcasts, and even different software or web services. However, in the over four years that I have been on Facebook, I have seldom seen anything like the phenomenon of the "25 random things" note that has been running rampant the past couple of weeks.

I'm very active in most social media networks. Particularly on Twitter, Plurk, an of course Facebook. However, I have different parameters for whom I interact with, and who I'll add. I have all my accounts set to private, not necessarily because I have something to hide, but because as a woman, I have to be careful online. I'm very open to add people on Twitter, a bit more selective on Plurk. Although I have the largest amount of connections on Facebook, I have the most stringent policy of who I'll add there. I'll only add people with whom I've had some significant interaction with.

Parameters aside, once I make a connection, I'm in it for the long haul. I believe that once you join a network, you should be an active participant. You don't have to be on every network, but BE THERE in the ones you are. I use ping.fm to quickly update all my soc nets, but part of being a good steward of community, and building relationships is checking the responses you are getting, and having communication with those who are making an effort to interact with you. Different people communicate in varying ways, so why not be open to it? At the end of the day, isn't it about building relationships one person at a time? To me, the Facebook note "25 random things" is a perfect way to share a little more about yourself and to get to know more about your friends.

The concept is pretty simple. Write 25 random things about you, and tag 25 friends. At quick glance, it seems a bit like a chain letter, but the only similarity is the mass dissemination. It doesn't mandate you do it, or sentence you to bad luck for not doing so. It's merely a creative way to open ourselves up. You tag 25 people who you are now telling "Hey, I want to know 25 random things about you!"

Some have very vocally cried foul! Claiming that it's an "inappropriate use of tagging" some even dubbing it "bad internet etiquette." I couldn't possibly disagree more. The first qualm they have is that the note "doesn't talk about them." The fact that I selected YOU among the 25 people I tagged means I want to share these random things about me with YOU, and in turn, I want YOU to share 25 random things about YOU. Clearly, the note is about YOU!

Perhaps the most dissaponting complaint is that of "an inbox filled with notifications." I've had my share of notifications, and have been tagged in the note several times. But you don't hear me belly aching. On the contrary. I have 25 random things about myself, and have made a concerted effort to comment on those who have choosen to share with me. Oh, and with that, I've also had to "put up" with more notifications as others responded after me. At the end of the day, it's a small price to pay to get to know someone on a deeper level.

The Internet is an amazing new medium to not only share our lives, but to maintain old connections and create brand new friendships. That is something I believe to the core of my being. I think this note is a prime example of it. To earnestly share about yourself, and if you allow yourself to be open, if you believe in community, and in those relationships you've build online, to learn more about those that are opening themselves to you.

I think a lot of people have some evaluating to do. They need to assess why they joined social media networks, why they make connections on those networks, and what their words and actions say to those who genuinely want to make a connection with them.

Thanks everyone who's read my 25 random things note, but above all, Thank You to every single one of you who wanted to share 25 random about yourselves with me. It has sparked some wonderful conversations. I have learned at least one new thing about all of you.

So I’ve been podcasting for a year … and what have I learned?

2009-02-01T12:18:00.006-05:00

Friday, January 30 marked the one year Podiversary of my first podcast, Geek Is Chic. I’d be remiss not to talk about the journey and what I’ve learned along the way. By nature, I am a very curious person. So one night, playing with iTunes, I was intrigued by this whole podcast category. I had recently gotten into LOST. Doing a quick search I hit on a gold mine. The amazing world of LOST Podcasts. I had no idea just how much this would literally change my life. I became an avid podcast listener. (Let’s not get into how many I’m subscribed to, ‘cause really, it’s a little out of control.) Going to live shows became part of my routine, and before I knew it, and against my better judgement, I joined twitter.

Now, if you know anything about me, you know that relationships are paramount in my life. I love to meet new people, and every once in a while, I even let some in. What I found completely disarming was that I began to see bona fide communities built around podcasts. Meeting people at live shows was great, and often turned into following one another on twitter. Human nature is interesting, and when we enjoy someone’s company, we tend to want more interaction with them. So, here I was, building relationships online, and taking it to that next level and sharing my im client screen names, and even my cell phone with a few of these wonderful people. I’ve talked about it before, and how amazing it’s been to connect with these new friends and get to spend time with them. But where I’m going with this, is that I realized that if done right, a podcast can not only enrich your life with its content, but with the community of people who listen to the show.

The idea of doing a podcast was very alluring. However, I didn’t just want to do a show for the sake of doing it. I wanted it to be about something I was passionate about. I wanted to genuinely share a little of piece of me, and hopefully offer some compelling content along the way. I also felt I needed to pay it comforward, and try to be a good steward of munity online. So after much thinking I decided I wanted to do a show about Tech and Web 2.0. I have always been the techie friend of the group, the one that solves all the technical problems and what not. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more comfortable in my own skin, and rock the label of “Geek” proudly. I have always thought Geek was Chic, and with the new modern tech, people are coming on board.

Thus, Geek is Chic was born. I still cannot believe it’s already been a year. I want to thank everyone who came out to the Anniversary show with special guest Liana Lehua. I also want to thank each and every one of you who have sent in amazing emails and voice mails. Time has flown by, and man, have I learned a lot! I never thought podcasting was easy, but I learned just how much goes into producing even a short show. I have overcome technical difficulties, and enjoyed those lightbulb moments when I come up with the topic for the next show. One of the highlights of the year has to be the Podcastathon. I stayed up for 24 hrs and ended up raising over $700 for the Susan G Komen foundation. I have played and tweaked my sound, and I think somewhere along the way I have found my voice and style, and an amazing group people who every day remind me that Geek is Chic. :)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

2008-12-25T11:05:00.011-05:00

Merry Christmas Everyone!!
The holidays are absolutely my favorite time of the year! It's an opportunity to spend time with family, with friends, share traditions, and though corny, it's the time to be merry! I love to see the holidays decorations and everyone getting in the holiday spirit, no matter what holiday they specifically celebrate.

So I will share a holiday fun ....

My special Holiday dance for you guys:

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

The best Christmas Tweet Ever:

and my new favorite Christmas song:

I celebrate Christmas, but I wish you all this best during this time a year, no matter what your holiday may be.

My top 5 Moments in 2008

2008-12-23T11:43:00.012-05:00

I love many things about social media, but what I love the most, is that if done right, it not only allows you to share your life with some amazing people, but if you actually look past the superfluousness and geography, you can actually forge a bona fide connection, and some very real friendships are born and fostered. I have shared a little bit of my experiences previously. The beauty is that out of the blue, you can have a tweet, plurk, or facebook status get you out of funk. What is also delightful is that you can also find inspiration from your new found friends. I found it yesterday in my dear friend Alison (Otherwise known as @AlisonL everywhere in the interwebs) Alison never ceases to amaze me in her quest to find beauty in everyday little things, in her ability to find something special in everyone, and how in how she constantly manages to inspire me to think positively. Yesterday was no exception.

She pinged her message, and very shortly after I began to see so many beautiful responses throughout all soc nets. Alison's message and call for reflection had made many be a little introspective in the middle of their hectic afternoons. Myself included. So here I am, about to share my top moments with you thanks to Alison.

Soooo in no particular order, here are my top five moments.

Podcamp NYC I had only been podcasting for a short time, and while I'll admit I was hesitant to attend such a huge event, but I am so glad I took to leap and did. It was a complete rush to share in my geekiness with like minded people. It was amazing to meet so many people who have inspired me to produce content. It was wonderful to make new friends with some honestly brilliant people. To physically meet some of the friends I'd made online, and even people who listen to my shows. Most of all it was fun with amazing people in NYC! It was not only significant for all those reasons, but because it ignited my passion for New York again. It's what made me "want to be part of it" To quit making excuses and finally follow my dreams!
Running away to spend time with friends. In July, as part of my month long celebration, I traveled to the windy city, and got to partake in the amazing weekend that was the Girls Night in Meetup. It was amazing to again meet friends I'd made online. It was a weekend of fun, good times, and most of all, good company. I'd like to think that was one of the biggest building blocks to a relationship that means the world to me now. My friendship with Kim. Funny how on my new years post she commented that she'd like to get know me better this year. And boy, has she! Later, in the fall. I was longing for something to center me as a lot of changes transpired in my life. I made a completely spontaneous decision to get on the interstate and head to Gainesville and spend time with my sisters. I made the 4 hour drive beginning at 5 pm! I was back at my desk at 9 am the next morning. Let me tell you. It was worth all the sleep deprivation. Sometimes we just need to get away.
The Geek is Chic Podcastathon. This was perhaps my biggest undertaking yet in my new media life. What made this memorable was that from the second I announced it, the support and encouragement I recieved was humbling. It was great to have my friends to bounce off ideas off of, get swag from, and most of all help me stay awake. Being up and in front of a camera and mic for 24 hrs is tough. Let me tell you! I was honored that everyone joined in the fun, that they all opened their hearts and wallets to a cause that is so important to me! I think it's fair to say that we brought some awareness and when it was all said and done, we raised over $700 for Susan G. Komen. Which isn't half bad during these tough economic times.
Gator Football. I love love love love my Gators. I am a proud alumna and I completely bleed Orange and Blue! This season has been amazing. Even with our loss to Ole Miss (by one freeeeeeeeaking point!!! Nope, I'm not bitter.) Timmy Tebow managed to rally the troops and deliver on his promise that no one would play harder, and that no team would work harder. The Gators beat out anyone who they faced on the field by over 40 points pretty much the rest of the way through. Beat the number ranked team, manned up in the SEC of all conferences, and are now heading to the big game. They are playing for the National CHOMPionship, in Miami no less. So I say Let's go Gators. If you're not a Gator, you're GATOR BAIT!!!
Getting a job offer in NYC. So NYC has been a life long dream. I mentioned that Podcamp NYC ignited my passion. The opportunity presented itself, and now in a few short weeks, I will be heading to NYC to head up the New Media Department of the new office for the firm I'm working for. I'm beyond myself with excitement, with happiness. I cannot wait for this new chapter in my life. It's gonna be a life changer, and perfect end to the wonderful memories of 2008.

Thanks again Alison! It was truly a beautiful idea. I encourage all you reading to take a second and think about your top 5 moments in 2008.

Getting Perspective

2008-12-13T22:30:00.021-05:00

I'll start of by saying that the end of last week and most of this week were filled with some incredibly challenging experiences. It doesn't happen very often but I was admittedly in a serious funk. I'm normally a very positive person, I love to smile. I am notorious for my giggle fits, and for finding humor in just about everything. I am seriously easily amused! I digress, but I guess the point I'm trying to make is that being down in the dumps is not the perspective with which normally I asses the world.

You might be expecting me to sulk or drag on about what had me in funk. However, I fear I must disappoint you. For one, I refuse to play the role of Eyore! (I'd be Tigger If I had to choose anyways) Also, the why of my blaahs is truly irrelevant to the reason why I am writing this post. I want to hone in on how as a result of my funk, I began to loose my positivity, to loose sight of just how good I really have it. I think it's fair to say to that every so often we all get caught up in stress, in problems, or just let ourselves be overwhelmed by a difficult situation. In short, we loose perspective. During this past week and half that was definately the case for me.

It's funny though how things have a funny way of working out. I was given a reality check twice during those crappy days. It was after a Grey's Anatomy Podcast recording and Cliff of GSPN got me to call, and I did a post show chat with him and Steph. Filling him on my newest adventure, my move to NYC.

Shortly after he released that episode, and I had begun my little funkified state, I randomly got a tweet.
From someone whom I don't interact with on a daily basis. It was a pleasant surprise, and actually, it was what made me actually be a little social on the interwebs that day.

It made me smile, and it actually made me tweet. I responded to Anne. There was no way I could not acknowledge her. She had cheered up me and probably had to idea. She had no idea what I was thinking or feeling, but for some reason or another she felt compelled to be excited for something that means the world to me, my move to New York.

While that fact alone blew me away. I wasn't prepared for her response. There it was. I'm not only a lucky, but a very lucky girl! Anne was right. I have so many great things in my life currently, and so many amazing things to come in my future. Why was I letting negativity get the best of me?? Of course, moving on and recentering is much easier said than done.

Let's fast forward to Wednesday of this week. Some of the other circumstances that had been plaguing me were still lurking, but that afternoon I had to make an easy, yet difficult decision. I was going to be responsible for changes in lives. The consequences of that decision would carry on for years. This was daunting. I hopped on the train heading home. My mind was racing, evaluating every single detail of what had just transpired. I put in my earbuds listening Kanye's new album, trying to clear my head, or at least have the music be louder than my thoughts. Suddenly, the music stopped. I had a call from a friend I hadn't spoken to in a little while. She's a journalist, she writes for the Miami Herald, and there really isn't much she hasn't seen, or much that gets to her. She sounded super excited. She asked me if I was close to downtown. I said yes, and told her where I was. Her immediate response: "Meet me at the Hard Rock Hotel in 15 minutes. I'm gonna sneak you in to a meet and greet/press conference. We're gonna meet Tim Tebow!"

Now, if you know anything about me. You know I am a proud UF Alumna, and a HUGE Gator fan. I have the hugest "crush" on Timmy Tebow. He's an amazing quarterback, and a really nice and humble guy. He was incredibly nice and sweet, even while I was a complete bumbling idiot meeting him! My crappy day had been totally redeemed. I was so giddy and in such a good mood. I pinged that I got to meet him and the responses I got ran the gamut. But by far, the best one was from my old friend Kristy, on Facebook.

There it was again, and so I wouldn't miss it, Kristy hit the all caps. I AM A LUCKY WOMAN! :) There was nothing else to do but to Thank Kristy for reminding me, and for giving me perspective. The perspective I needed at that very moment. Honestly, life is too short. We all go through our ups and downs. That's life. We cannot control the circumstances or the situations we may have to face, but we can control our outlook. That in itself is pretty empowering. I learned a lot these past two weeks. For one, to appreciate even more the serendipity of online interaction, reconnecting with an old friend, and above all, that I AM a lucky girl. A very lucky girl.

Life doesn't have a do-over button.

2008-09-25T19:41:00.008-04:00

I always find Chris Brogan’s commentary to be spot on, to be insightful and always compelling. I was listening to Chris Brogan’s new book Personal Branding in the audio format recorded by Rob Blatt. Although the main focus of his book was personal branding, something he wrote towards the end was what impacted me the most.

“Life doesnʼt have a do-over button, and you learn really quickly who gets mired in the past and whoʼs focused on making the experience of the present and future better”

If you know anything about me, you know I’m a sucker for a good quote. Not only is that a fabulous quote, but it made me take a second to evaluate just how this fits into my life and thinking at this very moment. These past couple of months have been filled with a lot of personal challenges and some great victories. While I do not regret any the decisions that have brought me to these crossroads, I can’t help but take a second to appreciate how being in a transitional period of any kind can serve as a great litmus test for any relationship. You realize who is genuinely there for you, who is there only superficially, and often are surprised to find support, love, and encouragement where you least expect it.

I am in no way perfect. There are things about myself that I am making a conscious effort to change. It is uncanny how Brogan’s quote covers the two most challenging aspects I am seeking to change. I want to focus less on the past. I don’t hold on to the past with resentment, that’s not how I’m built, but I often overanalyze things in the past as some sort of precedent.

I have an uncanny memory, and sometimes I surprise myself with what I recall. What I want to do is to shift my focus, not ignoring the lessons of the past, but remembering that they are behind me. That people change, life itself changes, and that I should enjoy right now for the gift that it is. They don’t call it the present for nothing right? As far as the future, it’s still unwritten, and I have a lot of great ideas and goals that will be my crayons to write all over it! I might even doodle outside the lines!

Besides disappointing others, my biggest fear is to be hurt. To be let down by someone I let in. While I am very outgoing and social, there are very few people whom I share the most intimate details of my life. Even with them, it’s a struggle for me. For one, I don’t like to make things about me. My first instinct is to be there for my friends, not to seek them being there for me. It’s easier for me internalize things, digest them, and once I have an assessment or a handle on the situation, I am more apt to share.

Perhaps this is my way of claiming authority over a situation I have truly have no control over. Its hard for me to verbalize that something is bothering me, or that something is just not right in my little world until I have had some time to process it. My huge problem with this defense mechanism of mine is that often, my friends who know me well enough, can pick on my slight behavior changes and realize something is wrong. I hate that when I get in my deep thought and hermit mode, I am alienating them, when they are seeking me out to be there for me because they love me.

I don’t ever want my friends to feel that I don’t appreciate their concern, or think that I don’t trust them enough to tell them what is going on. I am making a concerted effort to be more open, or at least help my friends fill the puzzle pieces in my head a lot faster. Chris Brogan’s quote reminds me to move on, and to appreciate the amazing people,whom I love dearly, that are here to support me in whatever crisis I may have. Those who with their friendship and affection make my present better, and are the biggest supporters of the extraordinary things my future holds. So there you have it. It’s on the blog, on the interwebs, so my dear friends, I give you full permission to call me out on bs if you see me obsessing or analyzing the past, or going into hermit mode. After all we could all use a little accountability!

I challenge you to right now go appreciate those who make your present better !!

Geek Is Chic Podcastathon! Raising funds for the Susan G Komen Foundation.

2008-09-20T02:21:00.009-04:00

I have become in love with new media, I have said that over and over again. But I am always amazed at the power of what new media and web 2.0 can do. I host a podcast called Geek Is Chic. I have been doing it for a while now. In getting involved in this Web 2.0 world I began to realize that I could provide entertainment and knowledge, but actually make a difference. I felt compelled to do something for a cause I am passionate about, Breast Cancer Awareness. I am proud to announce the Geek Is Chic Podcastathon raising funds for the Susan G Komen foundation. The event will take place on October 11 at noon EST, and concluding October 12 at noon EST, Geek is Chic Podcast will be broadcasting live for 24 hours to increase breast cancer awareness, and raise funds for the Susan G Komen foundation.
Geek is Chic is a podcast, where technology is fashionable and practical. Nothing could fulfill this creed better than using the technology available in New Media and in web 2.0 to benefit such a worthy cause. We will be live and interactive throughout the entire 24 hours. You can listen to the broadcast, call in, and even chat on Talkshoe.com. We’ll also be showing live video footage during portions of the podcastathon using Ustream.tv. You can find directions of how to join us right here on our website.

I hope you will join us from October 11th to the 12th. We will have different podcasters stop by like Liana Lehua of Girls Gone Geek and various other Podango productions, CC Chapman host of Accident Hash and Managing the Grey, Whitney Hoffman of the LD Podcast and Podcamp movement, Cliff Ravenscraft of GSPN.tv and many more. We’ll also have some great live music by Carlos Bertonatti and Matthew Ebel. There will also be some great trivia, and all and all a good time raising funds for a great cause. You can help us reach our goal, “Imagine life without breast cancer.” - Susan G Komen Foundation.

Bring on the coffee!!!
Your crazy friend,
Andrea Zuñiga :)

FYI : If you're a podcaster, and you\'re interested in being a cohost, don't hesitate to contact me and let me. I'm excited to have you guys join in the fun.

LET US KNOW YOU'RE COMING, RSPV AT THE FACEBOOK EVENT!
DONATE TODAY!!!

Leave us a comment
listener line (786) 693-2290
email contact@geekischic.org

Download the Podcastathon Promo
Special Thanks to Kim Fenolio and Alison Lukan for lending their voice talents to the promo!
Make sure you Subscribe or Leave an itunes review for Geek Is Chic!

Andrea Zuniga
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Smitten ...

2008-08-05T23:54:00.027-04:00

I have fallen hook line and sinker for the world of New Media. I have said it before, but believe it bears repeating, If you had told me last year that I would forge significant relationships online, I would honestly look at you like you where a crazy person. It seems like such a far out concept, but it is one that today, I believe to the core of my being.

Sometime in sp ring of last year, Thanks to my friend Dani I got into the show LOST. Lost is some of the best written television currently on the air. It's romance, action, comedy and mystery brilliantly rolled into one. It's a captivating show, and the viewing experience is enhanced by sharing theories and just the excitement about the content with other people. I started playing with my itunes and discovered some Podcasts all about Lost. I got all excited and decided to explore. I searched for Grey's Anatomy, another fave show at the time. I noticed that GSPN came up as the author for podcasts about both shows. I decided to check out these podcasts, and I was blown away. Little did I know I would not only fall in love with podcasts, but that thanks to these two shows, I had just discovered not only three of my favorite podcasters today, but three people I can genuinely call my friends. Cliff Ravenscraft, the executive producer of the Generally Speaking Production Network, His lovely wife, Stephanie Ravenscraft who cohosts the Weekly Lost Podcast with him, and who at that time co hosted the Grey's Anatomy podcast with Kim Fenolio. These three amazing people where the solid foundation for my love for social media and new media as a whole. I would venture to say that they probably are completely unaware of the impact they had on me then, and on my life ever since.

Thanks to the three of them and their wonderful shows, I fell in love with podcasts. Today, I am an avid podcast listener. I am subscribed to about 40 different podcasts, and I even produce my own show called Geek Is Chic. Since these shows where recorded live, I began to notice familiar faces at the shows and began to interact. Shortly after, I signed up for the micro blogging site Twitter and began to form deeper connections with those I was interacting with during live recordings. Though it may seem mundane, the simple answer to twitter's question "What are you doing?" opens a door into someone's life, it lets us see the idiosyncrasies of their day. The perception of anonymity allows us to take of the masks so to speak, look past superficiality, and get to know and love people for who they are.

Stripping away the superfluousness allows us to forge relationships, meaningful and lifelong friendships. Friendships that with time and interaction transcend the computer screen and keyboard. Friends we can text anytime, call up and talk to for hours about nothing, and everything. Friends who we travel hundreds of miles to see. I can honestly say, I would not have it any other way. Don't get me wrong, I am not in anyway saying that they are replacing my close circle of friends. The friends I have made online are like a piece of the puzzle I never realized was missing.

In April this year, I traveled to New York City for Podcamp NYC. An unconference about the social media movement. I met some incredibly talented and brilliant people people there. It was a rush to be with like minded people, meet listeners of the show, and great friends like Chef Mark who was the most amazing tour guide. This was also where I first met Cliff and Stephanie Ravenscraft. I had an incredible time, I cannot wait to repeat it!

Sometime in June when Twitter began to have some serious scalability issues, I began to see word of Plurk popping up left and right. I was totally skeptical, I got some private messages asking me to join, but it wasn't until Kim actually took the time to email me, that I actually decided to follow the Link and actually sign up and add people on the site. I am so glad I did!! The fact is twitter is open to dialogue, but often times you don't want to be a spammer and have a full out conversation on there. Also its hard to follow the conversation sometimes as others tweets come through in the middle of a conversation. However, the conversational model of plurk, allows for just that, free flowing threaded conversation. It has solidified some of my most significant online relationships.

On plurk I have created incredible relationships with the women of the Plurk Girl Mafia, Melissa, Alison, and Beth. They have been an incredible comic relief and support system for me during the past couple months of my life. This summer has been filled with a lot of transitions in my personal life and career, and they have been there to hear me vent, support me in my sometimes insane decisions, or just to make me laugh at some random and inappropriate joke.

The amazing thing is when you have the opportunityunity to actually meet. To end my birthday month with a bang, I got to travel to meet friends again for the Girls Night In Podcast Meetup. GNI is another show that has a great story behind its creation, and a wonderful community around it. I got to meet the incredible hosts of show, Jaime, Rachel, Maggie and Kim! Funny how it all comes full circle? I had gone from a girl wanting to get a LOST fix, to a podcast obsessed freak, who had now met the three people who inspired her love for new media and social networks. The icing on the cake was that at the meetup I also got a chance to meet fellow Mafia member Melissa, and some of the other wonderful members of the GNI community.'

What prompted me to actually write this post was that today our little online community was rocked by a really difficult day, and what I saw was simply marvelous. Last night, a tornado touched down where Kim lives. Thankfully, she and her family are fine, but they are obviously dealing with with the aftermath of the storm. It was remarkable to see how from the second that Kim sent tweets and plurks about the green sky and sirens, a floury of concern erupted. Even from people who have not even met her in person! As she shared her story, the beauty of the compassion and genuine concern for her, and family was moving.

The day was coming to an end, I was heading home, when I get a frantic call from my mom. She was putting away dishes, a dish broke, and she sliced her hand. She was scared because she couldn't get the bleeding to stop. My first instinct, after making the most ilegal u-turn of my life, was to use ping.fm to update my social networks. I had spent the better part of my day worrying, and watching the concern for my friend in Indiana, and although my situation was no where near as serious, or life altering, I was now on the receiving end of that concern. I got so many @ replies and comments and all sorts of well wishes for my mom, that it really made the panic induced from all that blood, and the waiting for her to be taken care of that much more bearable. I want to again thank everyone who sent well wishes for my mom and every single person who has opened up to me, and forged a relationship online with me. I thank God every day that you all are in my life! I can't name every single one of you, but you know who you are ... and I truly do appreciate and love you guys.

Ooodles of love,
your friend Andrea

New York City and Podcamp NYC

2008-05-02T12:14:00.026-04:00

One of the coolest things by far that I have done this year is go to Podcamp NYC.

It was an amazing experience for a myriad of reason. For one, I absolutely love New York City. I got the opportunity to catch up with my great friend Lisa who now lives in Maryland because she came up to NYC and spent the weekend with me, and even attended Podcamp. God Bless her for putting up with my nerdy ways. I also got the opportunity to meet some of my favorite podcasters : Cliff and Steph from GSPN.tv , CC Chapman from the Advance Guard, and our amazing New York City tour Guide Chef Mark Culinary Media Network.
(Thanks to Mark for being such a great host!) from the

Thursday was amazing, even from the madness that ensued early on. Upon checking into the hotel I left to grab a quick bite to eat. An older lady got run over right in front of the hotel. After all that, I finished unpacking and headed for Times Square. The lights where calling my name. I could not be in New York City and not see a Broadway play. I saw my favorite, RENT. I had third row seats, and thanks to the little lottery thing, I got a pretty sweet deal on them! I'm very glad I got to see it again before it goes off broadway. Nothing like Rent on Broadway. After that I went to the coolest Apple Store EVER, the fifth avenue store. Gah! It was mind blowing to see it at night. It has got to be the coolest glass box anywhere.

Woke up early Friday to head over to Podcamp. As I headed for the crosswalk with Lisa, in the middle of all the city commotion, I heard a familiar voice. It was Mark, I turned around and screamed "Mark!!" and two seconds later Cliff and Steph came up right behind him. It was hilarious that I would find them not by spotting them in the crowd, but by recognizing Mark's voice. It made me realize just how much these podcasters have transcended my ipod and become bona fide friends. After this we became like the 5 musketeers and did podcamp and our evenings out together. We ate lunch at Chipotle, because we all love it, and after an afternoon of sessions we went to the the official podcamp party at ReBar, which makes a mean Pineapple and Malibu, after that we headed to Super Fine right across the street in Dumbo, for one of many more amazing meals with the group. What made it interesting was to be in a place with such like minded people. People who love to produce content, reach their audience, and just carve their spot in the new media playground. The coolest thing was coming back to the Hotel to find Matthew Ebe l, my favorite safe artist playing the piano in the lobby, and taking song requests. He was so down to earth and sweet, and was the icing on the cake of a pretty great night!

Saturday we got a little bit of a later start as the sessions began at 10. The first highlight of the day was to meet Sharon and Christine, who are also part of the wonderful GSPN community AND listen to my show! It was delightful to meet them at the first session, and to get to spend time with them throughout the weekend. Later that afternoon, I headed to a session about politics, and the plus was that I got to meet CC Chapman! Politics and podcasting, now that's my sweet spot. CC was super nice and friendly and very charming for putting up with my excitement in meeting him. After reconvening at the hotel, we decided to go Les Halles, Anthony Bourdain's former restaurant. After dinner, we headed to a very moving experience at Ground Zero. It was moving to the see the fire house right across the street, and to see not only the big hole in the ground, but the big gap in the NYC skyline.

Sunday was relaxed, checked out, and headed to the gspn.tv meetup. But before brunch I had to make one last stop at the Apple Store, I just had to get that Apple TV! I had brunch and had to part ways with the musketeers rather early because I had to head back to reality, back to Miami. At least my flight was amazing, and not delayed. It has been hectic since my return home, but I wouldn't change a minute of my New York and Podcamp experience for anything in the world!

I want to again thank Chef Mark for being such an amazing guide to the city, for finding such great places to eat, and just overall taking care of us all. I want to thank Cliff and Steph for sharing your New York experience with me, thanks for spending most of your time in NYC with me. It was my pleasure to meet you guys in person. I also want to thank Lisa for making the long drive into the city, and for putting up with widgets, rss feeds, and twitter talk all weekend.
I also want to say how great it was to meet Sharon and Christine at Podcamp. I look forward to interacting with you guys online!

New York City is always amazing, and this particular trip was spectacular for several reasons. Not only did I get to catch up with an old friend, but I also met some of the friends I have made through podcasting and new media. It was a much different trip to New York than any I have ever taken before. Podcamp was very cool, largely in part to its unconference style. It was a perfect balance of organization and spontaneity. The sessions where inspirational, educational, and well balanced. I think everyone that went got something out of them, and learned something new. The new media spirit, the constant flash of cameras and clicks of keys made the perfect soundtrack to the wonderful spirit of an amazing conference. I encourage everyone to attend a Podcamp close by, it will make you think of all the wonderful things that you can do possibly do with the content you make. Let the podcamps be your bridge to new media!!!

I'll be posting my pictures from my trip to flickr and facebook ... so keep an eye out for those!

Smile ...

2008-04-28T22:27:00.002-04:00

I had to share the cuteness, It makes me soooooooo happy.

Enjoy

Love,
Andrea

PS
Post to come soon about my AMAZING Podcamp NYC experience

WHAT???

2008-04-08T19:30:00.004-04:00

As some of you may know, ABC's hit show LOST is one of my favorite shows of all time.
I particularly enjoy when it makes me think, and wonder WHAT???

2008-04-01T11:58:00.001-04:00

Mobile post sent by iandrea using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Twitter

2008-03-12T23:16:00.002-04:00

I love the world of new media, I think that social networks, podcasting and all the other oodles of fun things online are an amazing way to connect with friends, and to meet amazing new people. One of the best ways I found to do so is twitter, a microblogging service. I can't do Twitter justice.

I figured that I would share this video that explains twitter in plain english.

Now that you see the video, I hope you'll sign up!

Once you do make sure to add me: iAndrea