I had a serious problem with Episode 80. The conversation I had with Robot Entertainment Community Manager Justin Korthof was too much fun. It could have lasted for two hours. Quite frankly, I'm considering breaking my no-repeat-guest rule to get him back on my show. But enough about the future, let's get to the present. Episode 80 is about all facets of community management. From video games to major motion pictures. From Geocities to Twitter followers and Facebook 'Likes'. There's also a heavy...
Apr 27, 2011•1 hr 19 min
Episode 79 has arrived and with it, a fantastic conversation with Area 5 co-founder Jay Frechette. Jay has had quite the journey through the video game industry. We talk about his start at Electronic Gaming Monthly, his transition to the 1up Show, life as a community manager for Dead Space 2 and a variety of talking points about Area 5 including how the company was formed and the creative process behind what Area 5 does. We finish Episode 79 highlighting Atomix Magazine, the first Video Game Mag...
Apr 20, 2011•1 hr 7 min
Honestly, I tried my best to name this episode anything BUT 'Across the Pond.' I could have titled this one 'Instructions Not Included' because my guest Becky Thompson has a diabetes blog with that title. I could have titled the episode 'William Shakespeare' because Becky is dedicating her education and career to theater. I could have gone with 'Dancing with the Stars' as a reference to her particiaption in dance competitions and the surprisingly violent nature of the Waltz (trust me). Or, I cou...
Apr 13, 2011•50 min
A few episodes ago I was joined with (at the time) EA Sports Senior Community Manager Will Kinsler. Since that episode was published Will moved on to Epic Games (Congratulations!) and I was contacted by one of Will's partners from his days at MaddenNation.com, Fred Villarruel. Naturally after exchanging emails with Fred I knew I had to get him on my podcast. Which brings me to Episode 77. Fred and I spend the bulk of this podcast discussing various aspects of the development and growth of Madden...
Apr 06, 2011•1 hr 9 min
A funny thing happened on the way to finishing Episode 76: I forgot to ask more questions. Literally, my guest from Texting My Pancreas - Kim V. and I were Just Talking for most of the show you are about to listen to. Sure, we spent some time talking about her experience at the JDRF Gov Day, her perspective on the Diabetes Online Community, the value of blogging and starring in a B movie. But there were plenty of times where the conversation became so much fun that I forgot that I was recording ...
Mar 30, 2011•1 hr 3 min
A few weeks ago I was on my way to a Washington Capitals game. Outside the arena was a food truck, 'Eat Wonky'. Half way through my 'Wonky Dog' I decided to ask the owner if he would like to come on my podcast. These types of sequences are a common occurance these days - I find someone new I think would make for an interesting guest and see if a recording is likely. Jeff Kelley, owner of Eat Wonky, joins me for Episode 75. We discuss the ins and outs of his food truck, the menu, the early hurdle...
Mar 23, 2011•52 min
One step closer to One Hundred, Episode 74 of Just Talking has arrived. Sixuntilme.com's Editorial Assistant Abby Bayer joins me for the latest entry into to archives. Our time is spent talking about her work on Sixuntilme, her experiences at Diabetes Camp, and the time and energy required to become a Registered Nurse. Side conversations include the extreme pain felt when you break a bone in your body, why Lucky Charms is the best cereal and the New York Yankees. Enjoy. You can find Abby, her wo...
Mar 16, 2011•48 min
I'm happy to report I received my first "no comment" in the history of Just Talking in Episode 73! I suppose that's burying the lead, so let's not get too distracted. My guest this week is Eli Reihman from DexCom, Inc. Those of you that frequent my personal blog know that DexCom plays a vital role in my diabetes management and it was a real honor to have someone from this company on my podcast. We spend the bulk of the show diabetes-heavy, talking about the DexCom system, Eli's impressions of th...
Mar 09, 2011•50 min
I hope you're ready to geek out over magazines because Episode 72 of Just Talking is more than ready for guest Kelly Rawlings and all her geekery. Her work at Diabetic Living Magazine is discussed along with her experiences as a person with diabetes raising a teenager. Her perspective on the International Sensation 'Blunt Lancet' is also part of our talk. Finally, we talk about a chicken that laid an egg with a diameter of six inches. Trust me, this is one conversation you do not want to miss. E...
Mar 02, 2011•1 hr 2 min
It turns out that I have a lot in common with my guest on Episode 71, Robert Cortez. We are both big fans of Halo, his involvement with Podtacular can testify to that. We are both big fans of podcasts, especially since we each have our own to manage. And we consume a high volume of entertainment news. Robert, however, also produces entertainment news with his group of friends at Sodapop Journal. Along with podcasting, and his website, we spend a good portion of this episode talking about the tro...
Feb 22, 2011•1 hr 21 min
In an exclusive behind the scenes opportunity with Blunt Lancet roadie Jeff Mather, I bring you Episode 70 of the Just Talking podcast. Jeff opens up about his blog, his diabetes, his love of photography, and his hatred (not really) of certain cupcake shops. There's also talk about Motorhead, software development, and of course, the international phenomenon that is Blunt Lancet. Enjoy. If you want to learn more about Blunt Lancet's escapades, check out their VH1 "Behind the Music" episode here ,...
Feb 16, 2011•55 min
Sometimes planning a podcast doesn't go as expected and I have to scramble for a guest. Luckily I've met some pretty awesome people in my short podcasting life that will respond to my SOS if needed. One such person is Video Game Freelancer Raychul Moore, my guest this week. This episode of Just Talking is filled with talk about video game collections, action figure collections, cosplay, what defines a humbling experience in the gaming industry (and in life) and embracing your sexuality. We also ...
Feb 09, 2011•1 hr 2 min
With the Super Bowl right around the corner, I got a little lucky with the timing on Episode 68 of Just Talking as Will Kinsler, EA Sports Senior Community Manager, was kind enough to spend 90 minutes of his evening with me. Part of the conversation talking about MaddenNation.com, his origins with the site, how he helped manage its growth and ultimately how that site helped him get his current job at EA Sports. Another part focuses on his job at EA, how he uses social media to interact with the ...
Feb 02, 2011•1 hr 28 min
I bring a southern charm to this week's episode of Just Talking as I welcome Sarah, from http://igotthasuga.com. We talk about Sarah's memories from her diagnosis at age 4 and her perspective on her teenage self. The highlight of this podcast revolves around Sarah's pregnancy, the intense diabetes management leading up to her pregnancy and the challenges that she faces now that her child is on the way. There's also talk about accents, Matthew McConaughey, and doctors that wag fingers. Enjoy. Run...
Jan 26, 2011•1 hr 1 min
Fun fact: The Headquarters for ThinkGeek.com are literally down the street from my newly purchased home. Up until a few weeks ago I did not know that. Lucky for me, Think Geek PR Manager Shane Peterman was willing to sit down and have a conversation with me for Episode 66 of the Just Talking Podcast. Our talk is naturally quite geeky, covering PR for Think Geek, PR for geeks, what it means (and meant) to be a geek, the continuing rise of geek culture. We also talk about the challenges of startin...
Jan 19, 2011•1 hr 1 min
Episode 65 is marked by a spectacular conversation with Mandy, or as she is known in her co-hosting role on Gamertag Radio: Ladyluck34. As the one female host of that well known, and respected podcast, I took the opportunity to ask Mandy about her origins with Gamertag Radio, what it's like podcasting with a personality like Gamertag Radio founder Godfree, her perspective on gaming culture as a woman and most importantly, why you should pack extra gloves when traveling abroad. A special thanks g...
Jan 12, 2011•1 hr 3 min
Welcome to 2011! My journey to collect all of the hosts of the Talking About Gamers podcast is almost complete, as Kyle Orr joins me for an hour of awesome. As expected, we spend a good portion of the podcast talking about the world of video games, including his role on the podcast, his best practices for post news stories to Talking About Games, how he came to writing reviews and why Game Dev Story is worth your money. Outside of gaming, we also discuss unemployment, the Minnesota Vikings, and ...
Jan 05, 2011•1 hr 14 min
I’ve spent a great number of episodes of this podcast talking to members of the Diabetes Online Community. For those of you keeping score, most of these people with or affected by diabetes are dealing with type 1 diabetes. Of course, anyone in the know knows this is only part of the equation. Bob Pedersen, Diabetes Daily blogger, hopeful cooking show entrepreneur, and de-facto library aficionado is my guest for the last podcast of 2010. Bob spends the hour offering a perspective not often featur...
Dec 29, 2010•1 hr 1 min
From the Talking About Games community and GameShoe.net, Harrison Milfeld joins me as 2010 approaches its final days. We spend the opening of the podcast naturally talking about video games - the good, the bad, and the portable. After the gaming talk, the rest of the conversation revolves around Harrison's college and career choice. The intricacies of attending one of the most prestigious Journalism schools, overcoming fear and doubt, and the future of the Journalism industry are just a few of t...
Dec 22, 2010•1 hr 17 min
As 2010 comes to a close, a traditional conversation held among many gamers is the fabled 'Game of the Year' debate. Naturally, I found a guest for this week of Just Talking that is up to his elbows in video games. Steven Hayward, co-host of the Talking About Gamers podcast, is my guest. Of course we talk about video games, but we also talk about the sad state of Michigan athletics, the circumstances that resulted in launching the same podcast three times, and what motivates Steven to be an exce...
Dec 15, 2010•1 hr 7 min
This week I'm joined by Activision's Social Media Manager, Dan Amrich. You might think that this position is only meant for a corporate mouth piece with no personality; after listening to this podcast, I'm sure you will have a different opinion. We discuss Dan's career at Official Xbox Magazine (OXM), GamePro, and something called the "Bobby Phone"; and that's just the first hour. Our discussion "concludes" over the topic of culture. Gaming culture, gamer culture, and the culture of the industry...
Dec 08, 2010•1 hr 59 min
Marking the end of American Diabetes Month, diabetes online community pillar Kelly Kunik joins me for an hour of fun. Diabetes, Glee, steady-cam shots in movies, the differences between North and South Jersey and bedazzled eye patches await you in this fantastic episode. I’m especially grateful to the fabulous members of the diabetes online community that came on my podcast during the month of November. Enjoy. Check out Kelly's blog at http://diabetesaliciousness.blogspot.com/ Run Time - 57:07 S...
Dec 01, 2010•57 min
American Diabetes Month carries on as I welcome Holly Ramey to the Just Talking airwaves. Holly has a blog about diabetes - hence the conversations about naming diabetes devices and Steel Magnolias. She also has a blog detailing the adventures of fixing up her new home - thus the discussion about demolition and HGTV. Finally she is a self-proclaimed Nerd - explaining the talk about Atmospheric Science and storm chasing. This podcast has it all. Enjoy. Run Time - 58:05 Send your feedback to feedb...
Nov 24, 2010•58 min
American Diabetes Month continues with Episode 57 of Just Talking. This week I have some familiar voices in Dayle and Manny Hernandez from TuDiabetes as well as new-comer Ginger Vieira for a lively discussion about a wealth of topics. Manny has been heavily invested in World Diabetes Day, the Big Blue Test and producing a truly inspirational video. Ginger is busy adjusting to life after moving from Vermont, the sweet science of power lifting, and the difficulty of finding a place to live when yo...
Nov 17, 2010•1 hr 9 min
Continuing my quest in honor of American Diabetes Month, I'm joined by musician, singer and songwriter Nikki Lang. While we do spend a little time talking about her diagnosis and how she manages her diabetes on the road, the majority of this podcast is focused on her music. And rightfully so. What goes in to making a hit song? What goes in to making a whole album? Is autotune really everywhere? These are just some of the questions answered this week. It was a real pleasure talking to Nikki, as I...
Nov 10, 2010•37 min
November is American Diabetes Month. To do my part, I'm featuring members of the always-awesome Diabetes Online Community during November. Joining me this week is Lorraine, who is a mother of a child with type 1 diabetes. We talked about the impact of the Online Community on her ability to understand what her son goes through on a daily basis as well as how she helps manage her son's diabetes. There's also some time devoted to Nick Jonas, New Yankee Stadium, Jaime Oliver and accents. American Di...
Nov 03, 2010•1 hr 3 min
This week I'm joined by the screenwriter for the movie 'Buried', Chris Sparling. We spend a good portion of the podcast talking about the process and experiences that led to his movie being made including the time spent working on the script and Skyping across the Atlantic Ocean with the film's director. Also discussed were the differences between the Sundance Film Festival and the Toronto International Film Festival and what it's like hanging out with M. Night Shyamalan. Episode fifty-four was ...
Oct 27, 2010•42 min
Joining me this week is Drew Leachman. Drew writes for the video game website ZTGameDomain.com and is a podcasting veteran of four years so this podcast is pretty heavy on the video game lingo. We talk about his affinity for fighting games and his approach to reviewing video games, a topic that fueled a more philosophical discussion revolving around video game reviews. We finish our talk with some football back-and-forth, both college and professional. Every week is a new adventure and this one ...
Oct 20, 2010•1 hr 4 min
I made it to Episode 52 - a full year of podcasts - aren't you excited? Joining me this week is Dayle Kern. Part of Dayle's twitter profile reads "all diabetes, all the time" and it shows in this podcast. But, as is the case will all my guests, there is more to us than the surface descriptors. We also spend some time talking about living in Japan, why the Cookie Monster is awesome, and what it means to "Unleash the Fury". This was a fun one to record. Enjoy. Run Time - 1:05:08 Please send your f...
Oct 13, 2010•1 hr 5 min
This past weekend I flew out to California to hang out with a bunch of people from the Diabetes Online Community. Of course I brought my microphone and laptop and I was fortunate enough to convince everyone that participated in that day's JDRF Walk to come on my podcast. Episode 51 features a literal round table of Diabetes personalities recapping the weekend's fun and a bunch of other random stories. This is the epitome of a casual conversation, all I had to do was press Record. Enjoy. On this ...
Oct 06, 2010•1 hr 7 min
