Why I Social

On this week's episode, Google is shrinking the size of their apps. Also, Amir finally gets his hands on a pair of Snap Spectacles.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. Slack and Google Announce Partnership (TechCrunch)  2. Google Play Background App Updates Are Now 65% Smaller (VentureBeat)  3. Instagram Is Changing Comments In A Big Way (Mashable)  4. Pandora Spotify Competitor is Launching Next Yea...

Karla Porter is Director of Program Development and Marketing at The Arc of Luzerne County. She's also Principal of Karla Porter Human Capital and New Media. Her career has taken her across the globe - including 10 years in which she lived in Mexico. Hear her story on this week's episode.  This Week on Why I Social, Karla and I discuss: The importance of the military in her career What opportuniti...

On this week's episode, Amir makes Chris talk about Apple. Also, the episode is (a lot) longer than the view of an average Snapchat ad.   This week's Five Favorites:  1. Spotify Crunches User Data In Fun Ways for New Global Campaign (AdWeek)  2. AT&T Just Unveiled Its Answer To The Cord-Cutting Wars (Washington Post)  3. Snapchat Video Ads Average Less Than 3 Seconds A View (Advertising Age)  4. T...

The journey to 100 is complete. So begins the road to 200...and it begins with one of the hardest working people I've ever met in the field.  Amelia Tran is Senior Digital Strategist at Firebrand Group, an award-winning futureproofing firm focused on building powerful brands through innovative digital marketing. She's also a board member and events manager for an amazing group of social media mind...

On this week's episode, Amir makes dolphin sounds (no, really, he does). Also, Chris admits that Amir influenced him into buying a Google Home.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. Apple Grounds Its Airport Router Division for Good (Cult of Mac) 2. Facebook's Social Good Forum: Introducing Donations In Live (Facebook Newsroom)  3. NBC Universal Doubles Stake In Buzzfeed (Reuters)  4. Apple Users Are B...

And now for something completely different. This week - for the first time - I take a focus on the importance of giving thanks (with a bit of a social focus, of course). This week's Thanksgiving special includes an appearance from a Why I Social Ambassador and a look back at one of the most important pieces of an early episode. Most importantly, this episode is a thank you to anyone who has listen...

On this week's episode, Chris regrets saying mentioning "Uber Lovers". Also, Amir asks an important question!  This week's Five Favorites:  1. Mark Zuckerberg Outlines How Facebook Will Tackle It's Fake News Problem (The Verge)  2. Otto Radio Builds 2.0 Version on Uber's Trip Experience API (Product Hunt)  3. What's Next for the $3.65 billion Company Behind Pokemon Go (BartieLouScott) 4. Facebook...

Triple digits. Episode 100. This one's special.  On episode 50 of Why I Social, I told part of the origin story of the podcast as per the request of listener feedback. This week, I've brought my wife - one of the driving forces behind the creation of the podcast onto the show to talk about how she manages social media for her career services office and we discuss one day in 2014 when a podcast was...

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris reflect on the opportunity to hang out at Zoomph. Also, Chris deals with a broken toilet for three days.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. Twitter COO Adam Bain Leaves Twitter (Buzzfeed)  2. Facebook Is Telling Everyone They're Dead (The Verge)  3. Believe It Or Not: Social Media Predicted Trump Victory (Zoomph) 4. Google Is Making Android Auto Available In An...

Amma Marfo is (@AmmaMarfo) is a speaker, writer and a podcaster with a background in education. She's also the creator of Mindful Solutions . I had the opportunity to connect with her at the Social Media Strategies Summit (Higher Education) in Boston this past week and was excited to learn more about her creative processes (which includes a podcast called "The Imposters Podcast" ) and why creativi...

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris talk about what it's like to be the IT guys for their families. Plus, Chris remembers the one Abercrombie shirt he's ever owned.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. These are Tesla's stunning new solar roof tiles for homes (Tech Crunch) 2. Cubs vs. Indians is also the World Series of Twitter (Yahoo Sports)  3. Amazon Just Killed Black Friday (Mashable)  4. Insta...

Katy Griffin is Social Media Strategist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (@KatyMGriff). She has six years of experience in marketing and digital development at a public research university. Her university recently hosted the Third Presidential Debate and she shares her experience with me on the podcast.  Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Katy and I discu...

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris come to grips with a haunting product launch from Microsoft. Plus, the show gets a special new theme (a Halloween special).  This week's Five Favorites:  1. A mir's Apple Event Update (The Verge)  2. Twitter Is Killing Off Vine (The Verge)  3. Google Fiber CEO Steps Down, Services Halted (Business Insider)  4. YouTube Launches End Screens For All Creators (Ad...

Seth Odell ( @SethOdell ) is GM of Marketing Services at Helix Education . Seth previously has served as the keynote at the eduWeb Digital Summit and recently returned from 72 hours of travel including a workshop at High Ed Web in Memphis. In this episode, he also shares a story he's never shared regarding one of his career moves across the country. Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  Thi...

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris discuss how (and if) they'd survive the zombie apocalypse. Plus, our hosts are divided on their choices of coffee brands.  This week's Five Favorites:  1. The NBA will broadcast a game in VR every week this season  (The Verge)  2. Pinterest launches service to connect brands with influencers  (The Drum)  3. Instagram Stories A Success  (Simply Measured)  4. A...

Patrick Kitchell is Technical Solution Specialist at Microsoft. He's previously held a variety of roles including Head of Global CRM at Sitecore. Though he now resides in Denmark, he's previously lived and worked in New York City operating a social service program assisting the homeless persons and drug addicts.  Hear his story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Patrick and I...

On this week's episode, Amir and Chris debate the value of business cards. Plus, Amir's love of shoes (sneakers, that is) makes it's way onto the show.  This week's Five Favorites:  1.   Adidas on Redefining Influencer Marketing Through Dark Social (Marketing Week) 2.  Twitter Launches Periscope Producer for Television Quality Videos  (ZDNet) To Submit for Producer Access, CLICK HERE .  3. Google...

And now for something completely different... I've had the privilege of talking to a lot of amazing people and have heard some amazing stories. Some have been social media focused. Others are just plain entertaining.  Every one of my alums has had a unique career journey and these stories play a major part in who they are. These are some of my favorites.  Highlights include:  My favorite story eve...

On this week's episode, Chris and Amir find the NFL making a decision that is far too similar to the mistake made during the Olympics. Plus, geek talk commences as we chat all things Google! This week's Five Favorites:  1.   Google Pixel (and other Google Updates from #MadebyGoogle)   (Video) 2.   This Brand Put 16 Cameras in A Family's Home for 2 Weeks and Made Ads from Footage (AdWeek)  3. A New...

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. ...

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 Cag...

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,...

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 Doin...

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 S...

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 O...