Why I Social

Miri Rodriguez (@MiriRod) is Sr. Lead Community and Social Media Support at Microsoft. She is an avid speaker and we had the opportunity to catch up face-to-face for the first time at Social Media Strategies Summit in San Francisco.  As you'll hear, in this episode recorded live from SF, Miri is full of energy and one of the brightest guests to date!  Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Miri and I discuss: How she got her start at Microsoft What traveling around the world has done to impact her views What she was discussing at Social Media Strategies Summit And of course, Why Does She Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing with real-times streaming analytics

On this week's episode, Chris is amused by the title of a tabloid story (which is also a legit story) about traveling to Mars. Plus, Amir finds a new drone that he needs to spend his life savings on.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. The New DJI Mavic Pro (Casey Neistat - Video) 2. Twitter Finally Lets Everyone Create Their Own Moments (TechCrunch)  3. Netflix Crashes, Jessica Jones and Luke Cage Weigh In (CinemaBlend)  4. Coming Soon To A Cubicle Near You: Facebook at Work (USA Today) Honorable Mention: The Legit Article Worth Reading: Elon Musk Mars Exploration (New York Times) The awful (yet hillarious) title from a tabloid story mentioned on the show here (IE: the funny title)  5 (HOT TOPIC) Meerkat Built A New App In Secret (The Verge) Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! You can also submit your stories at bit.ly/fivefavorites. 

Tim Sohn (@sohnsocialmedia) is the founder of Sohn Social Media Solutions. He also comes from a journalistic background which includes times as a writer, reporter, and editor.  The conference he chairs, C4 DigiCon, is fast approaching in October. It will focus on the four C's of Create, Communicate, Collaborate and Connect.  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Tim and I discuss: His love of journalism The starting of Sohn Social Media Solutions How he got involved with C4 DigiCon  And of course, Why Does She Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing with real-times streaming analytics. Our platform provides you with an end-to-end solution  to ignite your conten

On this week's episode, Chris is preparing for his trip to Social Media Strategies Summit in SF and Amir reminisces about Google Glass. Plus, a rare Pokemon (story) appears.  This week's Five Favorites:  Honorable Mention: The Story Behind The Smartphone Terror Alert in NYC (CNN)  1. Introducing Spectacles (Snap Inc)  2. Snowden on Google Allo: "Don't Use It" (The Next Web)  3. Pokemon Go Is Doing Just Fine (Wired)  4. Facebook Apologizes For Overstating Video Metrics (New York Times) 5 (HOT TOPIC) Twitter May Soon Get Formal Bid (CNBC) Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! 

Berrak Sarikaya (@BerrakBiz) is a Community and Marketing Strategist for Amplify Your Biz - which she founded in 2010. Our conversation also comes just as she has returned from the popular conference, CM World. Berrak's story is one full of life lessons as she shares her personal journey which includes time at Google and her decision to move west to Seatle.  Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Berrak and I discuss: The decision to move to Seatle  Her life as a "Googler"  Why she ended up creating Amplify Your Biz And of course, Why Does She Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing with real-times streaming analytics. Our platform provides you with an end-to-end

On this week's episode, Chris is running on coffee fumes and Amir has (as expected) made sure he has the new iPhone - even if his girlfriend is teasing him about the color of the phone. Plus, both Amir and Chris can't avoid Twitter in the news.  Shoutouts in this episode to Christin Kardos and Katy Spencer Johnson.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. Twitter Introduces New Customer Service Display Options and Tools (Social Media Today) 2. Twitter's New, Longer Tweets Are Coming (The Verge)  3. Facebook Live Coming to Desktops, Laptops (Social Times)  4. YouTube Gets its Own Social Network With The Launch of YouTube Community (TechCrunch)  5 (HOT TOPIC) Game Time for Twitter: Jack Dorsey's Big Bet On Live Events (Fast Company)  Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! 

Will Fanguy (@WillFanguy) is a teacher turned blog editor for Piktochart (@piktochart). With a background in English, writing, and education - he brings a unique blend of talent to the infographic company. His personality shines (as you hear on the podcast) and his background includes pushing for and achieving innovation in multiple workplaces.  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Will and I discuss: How technology has played a major role in his entire life How he left education Why he joined the Piktochart team And of course, Why Does He Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing with real-times streaming analytics. Our platform provides you with an end-to-end s

On this week's episode, Chris is bummed that Samsung messed up the Note 7 while Amir gets amped about the new iPhone!  All this and more on this week's Five Favorites! This week's Five Favorites:  1. How Netflix is Growing The Popularity of Narcos Through Smart Social Media Marketing (TheDrum.com) 2. Snapchat Cut Local Stories Curators in Shift For Live (Bloomberg Technology) 3. Instagram Killing Off Photo Maps (Mashable)  4.iPhone 7 Impressions: 10 Things (Video by Marques Brownlee)  5. Samsung Recalls Galaxy Notes 7 (US News)  Five Favorites and the Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by Zoomph - Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites! 

Josh McCormack (@JoshMcCormack) is the owner of InteractiveQA. There's a good chance you've seen something he's worked on (and have no idea, until now).  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Josh and I discuss: How Josh went from history major to IT/web How he ended up starting InteractiveQA How social media has played a role in his business and personal life And of course, Why Does He Social?!  (Stay tuned at the end for a special announcement about an upcoming show!)  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish. Excl

In the introductory episode of Five Favorites, hosts Chris Barrows (of Why I Social) and Amir Zonozi (of Zoomph) break down some of the top stories of the past week in social media, digital marketing, and technology. Find out what Five Favorites is all about and dig right in with the Five Favorites of Episode 0!  The Five Favorites of Episode 0:  1. NBC's 12 Billion Dollar Olympic Bet Stumbles Due To Millennials (Bloomberg) 2. Google Will Soon Start Punishing Mobile Sites That Show Hard To Dismiss Pop-Ups (Tech Crunch)  3. NPR's Mailbag Says Goodbye to Comments (NPR) 4. Twitter to Pay Influencers (Twitter)  5. Snapchat Unpublishes Facebook Page (VentureBeat) Five Favorites and the Why I Social Podcast is sponsored by Zoomph. Don't forget to send Amir and Chris YOUR favorite stories of the week using #FiveFavorites!     

Tim Smyth (@HistoryComics) has been a social studies teacher for over 15 years. He's not your average teacher, however, innovating in the classroom on a daily basis. His unique style of bringing comic books into the class as part of the curriculum has opened the doors for him to speak at a variety of conventions including San Diego Comic Con.  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Tim and I discuss: How did he get interested in history? What challenges did he face (if any) making comics part of his curriculum?  What's it like to speak at Comic Con?  And of course, Why Does He Social?!  (Stay tuned at the end for a special announcement about an upcoming show!)  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph

Adam Leidhecker (@AdamLeidhecker) is Director of Social Strategy at Otto Radio. Originally recommended to the podcast by alum Vincent Orleck, Adam is a dad and the creator behind multiple starts-ups. You can see one of those projects at   http://portsmithco.com/.  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Adam and I discuss: Why the start-up life is so appealing to him How he got into podcasts? What drew him to his current job at OttoRadio?  And of course, Why Does He Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom start tofinish. E

Jessica Bates (@Jesserker) is a self-employed digital strategist who's resume includes previous employment at places like the American Lung Association and The World Wildlife Fund. She's an experienced digital strategist who has based herself in the Washington D.C. region.  Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Jessica and I discuss: The importance of activism in her life How she became self-employed Also, a mandatory "Mean Girls" themed five favorite!  And of course, Why Does She Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolution toignite your content, your marketing and yourbusinessfrom

Welcome to the third episode of Why I Social Sessions - where we bring you short discussions focused on one-singular topic. This is not your standard Why I Social episode where we learn about a guest - but instead - we focus on important topics impacting the social media space today. Today, on Why I Social Sessions, Why I Social alums Casie Shimansky and Cody Stevenson join the podcast to discuss the good, the bad and the ugly with Instagram Stories.  On Episode 3  1. What are the pro and cons of Instagram Stories? 2. What could have Instagram done better?  Following the conversation: I'd encourage you to use the hashtag #WISSessions to share your thoughts on Twitter and Facebook.  This Week's Question(s):  Do you think Instagram took too many direct features of Snapchat?  Music for Why I Social Sessions is "Voice Over Under" by Kevin McCleod  "Voice Over Under" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Benson Hendrix (@desertronin) is Social Media Manager at University of New Mexico. His journey into higher education professionally (as we spoke about originally at eduWeb Digital Summit in Denver) is one that is tied to own personal journey. As a believer in the power of storytelling, his background in journalism parallels much of his journey and plays a major part in why he's found success.  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Benson and I discuss: His journey in higher education (both personally and professionally) How journalism shaped his career Why storytelling matters And of course, Why Does He Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestream

John Lee Dumas (@johnleedumas) is the host and founder of EOFire. He's also the creator of a Free Podcast Course. His story is one that stems from passion - leaving the world of 9-5 jobs - to pursue podcasting. Social plays a crucial role in the way John interacts with his audience - to the point that a snap led to John joining me on the podcast! Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, John and I discuss: Leaving the world of 9-5 jobs. Why he wanted to create a daily podcast. What makes podcasting such a useful medium? And of course, Why Does He Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-endsolu

Kasandrea Sereno (@KasandreaSereno) is an Academic Advisor for the Communication Department at the University of South Florida. In addition, she also serves as a Lead Advisor for the university. She's also the creator of #HigherEdSocial - a Facebook group dedicated to social media professionals in Higher Education.  Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Kasandrea and I discuss: How she got into (and stayed) in Higher Education How she built a social community on Facebook What she's talking about at eduWeb Digital Summit And of course, Why Does She Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBarrows or @WhyISocial using #WhyISocialGuest  The Why I Social podcast is brought to you by Zoomph. Zoomph transforms digital marketing withreal-timestreaminganalytics. Our platform provides you with anend-to-end

Kristy Gillentine (KrisGillentine) is Vice President of Public Engagement for Drive West Communications. She initially came on my radar after her starting of a new Twitterchat, #ChatSnap and was later referred to me by podcast alum Chris McManamy.  What makes Kristy unique is her strong journalistic background across every sort of medium possible. Print, broadcast, you name it, she's done it! Her drive and journalistic instinct is the reasons she's been so successful - as you'll hear in this week's episode!  Join me this week for a conversation with Kristy Gillentine This Week on Why I Social, Kristy and I discuss: What is Kristy's family connection to journalism How she started #ChatSnap The difference between writing for journalism, broadcast and social media And of course, Why Does He Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on the show? Tweet me at @CBa

Dean DeLisle (@deandelisle) is the Founder and CEO of Forward Progress. He's also a well-known speaker on the Social Media Strategies Summit. Dean is also a father and an outstanding storyteller whom has impressed me with something new and innovative every time we've met.  During this week's podcast, Dean tells a story about how ended up at Merrill Lynch. I would implore that people take a listen. At the heart of this show is people - and people, relationships, is never more important than in the story Dean tells.  Join me this week for a conversation with Dean DeLisle This Week on Why I Social, Dean and I discuss: What his experiences in the restaurant business taught him about relationships How he went from busing tables to working with computers at Merrill Lynch  Going into business for himself And of course, Why Does He Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like

Diana Wolff (@Di_Wo) is the President of LRG Communications and an experienced business woman with a background in writing and B2B. I first had the opportunity to meet Diana during a #LinkedInChat many years ago.  Over the time I've got to know Diana, I've been impressed with her background and her ability to educate those in less social businesses on the value that social media will offer them. Her unique client-base at LRG Communications is one that requires a strong, social lead and she has served that role well for many years.  Get to know Diana this week on Episode 81 of Why I Social... This Week on Why I Social, Diana and I discuss: New York City in the late 80's and early 90's The importance of relationships (both social and off-line) How she found herself as a Vice President. And of course, Why Does She Social?!  Share your thoughts on this week's episode with #WhyISocial Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher Radio, Soundcloud and Google.  Follow at @WhyISocial. Do you have someone you'd like to see on th