Why I Social

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.  Thi...

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...

Josh McCormack ( @JoshMcCormack ) is the owner of I nteractiveQA . 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...

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...

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 We...

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 t...

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 i...

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...

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.  H...

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.  Thi...

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, Kasandre...

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! He...

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 lis...

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...

Jennifer Radke ( @radkejen ) is the Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Social Media - a role she recently began two months prior to the recording of this episode. Her career began in higher education as she found a passion for the world of education. In addition to her job as CEO, she also serves a board member for Women Entrepreneurs of Minnesota.  This Week on Why I Social, Je...

Carolyn Portanova ( @CarolynPortanov ) is  Communications & Marketing Manager  at The Brokerage Resource (Inc). She is also a returning guest as she previously appeared as a panelist during a live episode of Why I Social titled "Parenting In The Social Age" . She is a prime example of one of the reasons I started the podcast as her story from sales to social media is one that deserves to be told. ...

Jack Kosakowski ( @JackKosakowski1 ) is the Global Head of B2B Social Sales Execution at Creation Agency. His career focus has spent significant time as a leader in the social sales space.  Jack is also a blogger and an active social media user (it was his Facebook content that inspired me to ask him to join the podcast in the first-place).  You can also hear Jack on the podcast Sales Tech Talk Li...

Jessica Malnik ( @JessicaMalnik ) is a community manager, content strategist and blogger based in Austin, Texas. She recently spoke as part of the lightning round sessions at the 2016 edition of CMX Summit East.  Jessica, like many recent guests, has a background/interest in journalism which has played a crucial role in her career success. She is a graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia w...

  Martin Lieberman ( @MartinLieberman ) is a content marketer and social media manager for IBM. His career began as an intern at Ad Age in NYC and blossomed in Boston as he took on a multitude of roles at companies like Staples and Constant Contact.  Aside from his professional life, Martin is a sports-fan (I forgave him for cheering the Red Sox) and an avid-movie goer. While he was on a long-list...

Stephen Hoops (@ StephenHoops ) is a SEO and Content Marketing Specialist and a graduate of West Virginia University. My introduction to Stephen came through mutual friends and a few Why I Social Ambassadors.  On a personal note, I always enjoy the opportunity to talk to guests who possess the energy and spirit of someone like Stephen. He truly was a joy to connect with and learn more about how he...

Welcome to the second 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, linguist and SXSW speaker Gretchen McCulloch ( @GretchenAMcC ) and I discuss the...

  Glenda Vaquerano-Briones ( @GlendaVee ) is Public Relations and Social Media Manager at Sexy Hair Concepts. Her PR background (including college) has lead her to a career as an experienced public relations and social media professional whom is also one of the funniest people I've had the pleasure of meeting on Twitter.  Glenda, whom I first met thanks to my #JVMChat co-host Jason Viglione's wife...

Carmen Collins ( @CShirkeyCollins ) leads social media forCisco's talent brand. She has previously worked for Mozilla andAOL. Her background and time at AOL corresponds with perhaps themost popular days of AOL in the late 90's and early2000's.  Collins comes to Why I Social through the recommendation of alumCasie Shimansky who has since taken a job at Cisco!  This Week on Why I Social,Carmen andI ...

Jonathan Brewer ( @HouseofBrew ) or perhaps better known as "Brew" is Director of Awesome at BTC Revolutions . If you're an avid Why I Social listener you may recognize his name as he made a brief appearance on this year's Community Manager Appreciation Day edition of the podcast. That's because Brew is a core member #CMGRHangout which takes place every Friday.  Brew's journey is certainly a uniqu...

Tracy Soren and Jessie Jolles ( @SorenandJolles ) are a comdy duo currently living in New York City. Their story together begins at a Upright Citizens Brigade improv class and has grown into a friendship which has been compared to that of Broad Street.  Their web series, Dibs , about the importance of friendship during life's little moments. They've also been described as NYC's Top 10 Up-And-Comin...