The last Podcamp. Not in my eyes.

What. A. Weekend. I'm sitting here in a dazed, confuzzled state trying to get all my thoughts together and write this. I could probably wait until tomorrow, but I also know that I should get this down while it's all still semi-fresh in my head. So many things I want to get down from an organizing, attending, and presenting point of view, I don't know where to start. The best way to do this is to just start writing.

*UPDATE: So, it looks like I ended up talking about the big name change. And I did end up waiting until tomorrow. Next post will cover my specific thoughts as an organizer and presenter this year.

The 5th PodcampAZ was this past weekend. Yes, the shirt says "Last." It was our big surprise, but leaked a little bit early. No biggie. I think everyone was expecting some long, drawn out ramble about a big PodcampAZ- podfade. Or that we merged with some other conference that made podcasting a side note. Instead, we on the committee** simply decided to change the name. That's it. So PodcampAZ has now become TechPhx. Since the beginning, although we stuck to the "unconference" rule that Podcamp has stood by for 5 years, it's never been solely about podcasting. PodcampAZ wasn't even created by a podcaster! It was an awesome dude who saw the Podcamp model and understood the innovative possibilities behind it, and me and many other local podcasters were quick to get on board. But PodcampAZ from the start has always been about the tech community and social media in general, and for the most part the conferences each year have been fairly successful. The problem was getting new people to understand what the conference is, and "Podcamp" to the general public simply isn't as easy to explain.

TechPhx is. I'd really be surprised to say the word "tech" to anyone and have them not know what I was talking about. Technology is our present, and our future. Podcasting is part of that technology, and PodcampAZ will be just one track of many next year. When I have more to say about that, you will be the first to know. As a podcaster, I'm very protective of my medium, just like anyone who believes in something they use often, and serves them well. I never would have been pro-active to a name change had I thought podcasting was going to be edged out the way it has in other conferences.

I get it. You have to move with the changes, and incorporate them with what you're doing, rather than struggling to polarize an event that was never that polarized to begin with. It's a big tech-world out there. We want everyone to know they have a place to go, with a strong community that will help them get started, or expand on what they all ready know.

That is what PodcampAZ was, and what TechPhx will continue to be. See you next year!


**Don't sit in the background and grumble about things you didn't like about the event. Join us and be a part of getting your opinions known and turned into reality! Only you can be the change... that Gandhi guy was awesome. And if you thought it was awesome just the way it was- then you should join us too! We're always looking for more bodies to make the organization process run even smoother than it did this year!

The time is now. The place? PodcampAZ.

I use my voice a lot between the radio and podcasting. So, why has it taken me five years to gather up the nerve to speak at PodcampAZ?

I didn't think I had anything worthy to tell you. Sure, I blather on about politics and issues that concern me, hoping that through my reasoning they can concern you too. But what can I possibly teach anyone? Well, I've always been about different perspectives, and getting people to think about things from a different point of view. so that's what I'm speaking about- how you can talk about your extreme beliefs and still have people listen to you. It certainly doesn't have to be politics, this could be about anything that others might find a little bit crazy. My hope is sharing my strategies will start a discussion and get others engaged. Who knows, maybe the only thing keeping you from doing that podcast or writing that blog post is figuring out how best to present it.

See? I have an entire talk lined up and all I'm doing is taking my experiences and sharing them with you. I'm willing to bet you have something to share too, and we want you to share it with us this November at PodcampAZ. Click RIGHT HERE and register to speak. Or, register someone else you think should be sharing their experiences in this crazy, ever-changing tech world. Guaranteed you will be around people the entire weekend who want to know more. Don't be a chicken like me and wait five years- we want to know NOW. We are all worthy of speaking, and we all have something relevant to say.

Your community is calling, and we need you!

http://podcampaz.org/speakers/

I'm a freakin' genius!

Ok, not really. However, this year at PodcampAZ they are doing something new- Genius Panels. For some insane reason they stuck me in one. I guess after 4 1/2 years of podcasting I know a thing or two. So if you want an informal setting to ask questions about podcasting that you have always wanted to ask but never knew where to go to ask them- then this weekend you can.

It's not just Podcasting, either. There are Genius panels for Video, and for that Wordpress stuff that clearly I don't use if you're reading this blog entry. Here's the breakdown:

Saturday:
11:30-12:30 Video Genius Panel
1:30-2:30 Podcasting Genius Panel
2:45- 3:45 Wordpress/SEO Genius Panel

Sunday:
9:00-10:00 Wordpress/SEO Genius Panel
10:15-11:15 Video Genius Panel
11:30-12:30 Podcast Genius Panel

All panels will be in the main auditorium.

I certainly wouldn't call myself a genius, but this is a genius idea. I'm honored to be a part of it- so join us this weekend! The entire speaker line-up is now available if you scroll down on this page, so you can plan your attack accordingly. It's not too late to register (for free, in case that was holding you back).

See you this weekend- and if you see me before I see you, you'd better say hello. I take stuff like that personally, so don't disappoint me!

It's Podcamp AZ Time Again! Yippeeee!

You all know I love this social media stuff. Connecting. Networking. Seeing how I can make all the new ways to communicate (that seem to pop up daily) relevant to me, and incorporating it in real life situations, as well as with my own podcast and radio show. This is where an un-conference like Podcamp AZ comes in. The 4th annual Podcamp is coming to the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe on November 20th and 21st!

4 years of this and it only gets bigger and better- that's what she said!!

"Un-Conference?" Podcamp? What the heck is that?" you may ask. Basically, it's for anyone who is interested in new media (podcasting, blogging, or video blogging for example), and would like to learn more about it and see how to make it relevant in their life. The un-conference part comes in because you don't just go and sit listening to others tell us what they know about new media. YOU are as much of a part of Podcamp as anyone. No one is deemed an expert, although we all have different levels of knowledge about new media and its relevance. Which makes it perfect for anyone to attend, since we all contribute and we all learn something new.

If you want to know more (and if you're surfing around on the internet then I bet you might be), head over to Podcamp AZ's awesome website at http://podcampaz.org to get all the information you need. Find out more about what podcamp is, why Arizona is becoming a bigger new media hub every year, and even see some of the speakers lined up. Then go ahead and register- it's TOTALLY FREE. Seriously, I'm not kidding. Although we do still need some sponsors, so check out the sponsor page and pass it around if you think you know of any sponsors. Podcamp AZ is entirely run by volunteers and sponsors, which makes it everyone's conference. One big happy geeky family!

Register now for Podcamp AZ 2010!

What are you going to do this year that really scares you?

This question was asked of me on Twitter recently, by my friend and fellow GS leader Sara. I am always in awe of Sara and how she can have a dozen things going on and still have time for more. She also does freelance writing all over the place, and she wrote a recent entry on her Mom-blog regarding taking risks. It's a very good read, as is all of her entries there. She's just amazing, and has a very logical yet fun-loving way of looking at life and raising her family.

Ok, now that I've probably made her blush good and red, back to the question at hand. I was a bit thrown off by the question when it was asked. See, I'm not a new year's resolution person. I need short-term goals, something I can see the end of. College didn't work because I didn't see any end in sight (among other more personal reasons). However, when I went and had my legal training, I was able to complete the 8 month program. It was tough, and right after I began I became pregnant, but I could see the end and for me it was realistic and attainable. So at the end of each year I can't just say "I'm going to lose weight and eat better this year." because I know (as most of us truly know) that it lasts about a month or two, then boom you are right back where you started in December, making the same old resolution to follow half-assed again.

As for doing something that scares you, that happens all the time. I travel by plane once or twice a year, and I am extremely frightened of air travel. I know, I know, it's not a rational fear yadda yadda yadda... but regardless it is still a fear and I face it every time I get on a plane. I'm nervous every time I put out a new podcast, because I know my views are extreme and many do not agree with them. I open myself up to some really mean people who don't know how to express disagreement in ways other than hurtful personal attacks. However, rather than shutting up and not speaking my mind, I continue. It doesn't get easier, I just learn to ignore it better. ;-) I also recently stepped out of my comfort zone by becoming a Girl Scout Leader. I absolutely HATE being in charge, so this was a big step for me after not doing any leading since my PTO days back in 2004-ish. That led to stepping out in another way, which was camping. I freaking hate being outdoors, unless it's a day hike and I have a place inside to go to after.

I'm not a dare-devil type. It's not a fear, it's just the simple fact that I have no interest. Sara and my other good friend Kimber recently went and did the trapeze. I didn't quite get the draw. My husband skis, and I feel so bad because I have absolutely no desire to do so. Same with rock climbing, which my younger daughter loves. I just prefer my feet on the ground.

Now I can see the argument that I don't try these things because I am a big chicken, and if I just let go and did it I'd become hooked and never want to stop. My answer to that is, why? I don't complain about not doing these things. I don't find myself wishing to do them. If I'm happy the way I am, why should I push myself by doing things I *don't* want to do? I grew up living in fear, and worked hard and took great risk for the life I have now. Having a comfort zone doesn't necessarily equate to living in fear.

I like less-extreme risks, which were also mentioned in Sara's blog post. I had toyed with the idea of participating in Pat's Run for several years, but was easily able to talk myself out of it for years. After reading Jon Krakauer's book about Pat Tillman this past fall, I was finally moved to the point of committing to participating. Kimber has been participating every year, so she was very willing to help me train. My goal is to run the whole thing- no walking. This will be a challenge to someone who has never seriously ran since Jr. High. Again, a short- term goal. I began training in November, and the run is in April. I've managed to stay focused and committed so far (thanks to having someone to train with). I'll let you know how it goes.

Perhaps achieving this goal will give me the confidence to do something else I've wanted to do- and that's speak at Ignite Phoenix. I have a dozen ideas to speak about, and it's the perfect setting. Five minutes of speaking, and you finish just before you get to the point of crying or passing out (kind of like Pat's Run). I'm good behind the mic, but being in front is something I'm just not as confident doing. Then there is Podcamp AZ- which is right up my alley. I can always speak there too, and would like to. I've been at the podcasting thing long enough that there has to be *something* I can offer to others, right? I get a personal test of my knowledge soon by speaking about podcasting to Sara's GS troop in a couple of weeks. This definitely qualifies under "scary", since tween girls are probably the most judgmental of any age group out there.

But for now, I will stick my toes in the water a little at a time, without any regret that I didn't just jump right in. I jump if needed, but I have nothing to prove to myself. If you're a go-getter, good for you, I will be right there to cheer you on. I choose to live in my comfort zone and step out when needed or moved enough to. And be perfectly happy that way too.

That's the bottom line anyway, right? Doing what makes you happy.

So do it.

Know What I Did Last Podcamp AZ?

Had a most excellent time, that's what! Today happens to be a big blog blast to promote the 2nd annual Podcamp AZ this November 1st and 2nd. Rather than write a big post here- I'll just direct you to the post I wrote over on AZ Central:

Podcamp AZ Coming In November!

Maybe I'll see some of you there!

Attention Arizona New-Media types!

Won't you join me? I'm so very excited for the first annual Podcamp AZ- it's sure to be a blast! Click on the invite for more info, or head HERE.