Why I Social

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 Any Car (Auto Blog)  5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Snapchat's Spectacles Go On Sale Via Minion-like vending machines (TechCrunch)  Honorable Mention(s): GoPro Is Recalling It's Karma Drone (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.   

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 creativity is so important to her.  Hear her story on this week's Why I Social.  This Week on Why I Social, Amma and I discuss: What creativity means to her? The origin story behind the creation of her podcast. How she approaches consulting and education.  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

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. Instagram Is Finally Making It Easier To Shop for Products (Recode)  5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Slack Takes Out A Full-Page "Dear Microsoft" ad in the New York Times (VentureBeat)  Honorable Mention(s): Samsung Recalls Top-Load Washing Machine Due To Risk of Impact Injuries (CPSC.Gov) Also, Apple cuts prices of dongles by 25% and Linkedin launches new portal called "Salary"  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.   

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 discuss: How she ended up in the Las Vegas area What it was like working social media during debate week on campus What advice would she give to someone running social during a Presidential Debate 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 pla

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. Amir'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 (AdWeek)  5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY: Introducing The Microsoft Surface Pro (YouTube)  Honorable Mention(s): Pepsi Taps New Agency for Digital, Brings Social In-House (AdAge)  Additional Links: Surface Dial Details (Microsoft)  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.   

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.  This Week on Why I Social, Seth and I discuss: How his experience in television has benefited him What it was like creating Higher Ed Live  How social media has played a crucial role in his career growth 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. Ou

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. Apple Doesn't Want To Build A Car Anymore --- Just it's Brain (TechCrunch)  5 (HOT TOPIC) STORY Hacked Home Devices Cause Massive Internet Outage (USA Today)  Honorable Mention(s): AT&T to Buy Time Warner (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.   

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 discuss: His experience working/leading social services in NYC Why he loves CRMS How Microsoft has impacted him personally and professionally 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 solution  to

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 Buys Famebit (Reuters)  4. Snapchat Removes AutoAdvance, Adds Story Playlist (VentureBeat)  5 (HOT TOPIC) USDoT Bans Note 7's from Airplanes (Droid-Life)  Honorable Mention: NFL Ratings Plunge Could Spell Doom for Traditional TV (Washington Post)  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. 

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 ever told on Why I Social Scott Stratten's thoughts on FOMO (fear of missing out) What it's like to be on the (social) scene for NYC's ball drop  Alums included  Cody and Katie Stevenson (https://kushjobs.co/)  Larry Falck  Scott Stratten and Alison Stratten (http://www.unmarketing.com/about/)  Malia Probst (https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/real-virtual-show/id1082507104)  Frankie Greek (http://www.frankiegreek.com/about/) 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 sh

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, Optional Feature for Paid Promotion Disclosure (YouTube Creator Blog)  4. Amazon Prime Members Finally Get Some Real Book Benefits (Mashable) 5 (HOT TOPIC) NFL Teams Can Be Fined For Posting Videos Under New Social Media Policy (ESPN) Honorable Mention: LinkedIn Launches A Way To Let You Search For Your Job Without Your Boss Knowing (CNBC)  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. 

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