Interviews
FIR Interviews
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
FIR Interview - Lionel Menchaca, Direct2Dell: January 12, 2007
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Shel and Neville enjoyed a 37-minute conversation with Lionel Menchaca, Digital Media Manager at Dell, the global computer systems manufacturer and vendor.
Our conversation included discussion about Dell customer service and addressing customer needs; the background behind the Direct2Dell blog; Lionel’s role with Direct2Dell and the role of the blog as part of broader customer engagement goals; keeping a finger on the pulse of the blogosphere; launch, evolution, experiences and learnings from Direct2Dell; plans for further developing customer engagement; advice for companies thinking about a corporate blog.
About our Conversation Partner
Lionel Menchaca is the Digital Media Manager for Dell’s official blog, Direct2Dell. He is charged with managing and expanding the reach of Dell’s blog, which currently attracts thousands of readers and serves well over a million page views per month.
Beyond the blog, he is part of a team that is responsible for coordinating digital media activities across the company. These initiatives all have one thing in common: to provide Dell’s customers a way to interact or communicate feedback to the company. He also serves as a technologist to help define the tools that enable the company to monitor and engage in conversations in the blogosphere.
An avid fan of computers and technology, he has over 15 years experience in the industry, most of which he has spent at Dell serving in a variety of technical and product roles. He has also worked at game developer Origin Systems.
He has a degree in Archeological Studies from University of Texas and lives in Round Rock, Texas with his wife Aileen and two children, Louis and Mia.
Download the conversation here (MP3, 17Mb), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
FIR Interview - Chris Heuer on the Social Media Press Release: December 26, 2006
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Shel enjoyed a 31-minute conversation with Chris Heuer, Silicon Valley entrepreneur and social media guru, about the social media press release, a concept Chris has been shepherding.
Our wide-ranging conversation includes a look at the evolution of the effort, the components of the social media release, the progress made by the working group, composition of the working group, the desirability of standards, the issues the social media release is designed to address, and Chris’s expectdations for a release of the initial social media press release standard.
About our Conversation Partner
Chris Heuer has over 12 years of entrepreneurial Internet experience and 16+ years of marketing experience, having previously taught classes at Miami Ad School in Web design, multimedia and convergence marketing. He currently specializes in consulting on holistic business strategy and social media for big brands, non-profits and emerging technology companies, helping them leverage the power of Internet and Web 2.0 technologies. In early 2006, Chris formed BrainJams to organize resources and best practices in the emerging “Unconference” movement, striving to bring social media tools and Open Space gatherings to a wider audience. These efforts have no resulted in the launch of Social Media Club in order to better realize the vision he has for bringing diverse groups of people together to share their understanding of best practices in social media and “Real Marketing”.
In 1995 he launched Guru Communications, leading the company to become the pre-eminent interactive agency in South Florida. While at Guru, Chris managed the relationships with large accounts including Bombardier, Chicago Tribune/AOL, the City of Miami Beach, and several advertising agencies. Guru also launched a local content Web site in late 1995 similar to CitySearch that was called Virtual Community Network which was sold in 1997.
In 1999, after a brief stint in independent consulting, Chris accepted the position of Director of New Media Business Development for the United States Mint. While at the Mint, Chris helped to launch H.I.P. Pocket Change to encourage children to take up coin collecting. He also was a major contributor to the launch of the online catalog, helping to direct the site from zero to $1.6MM per week in online sales. His last day at the Mint saw the culmination of his efforts to build an opt-in email list, resulting in $2.6MM in one day sales.
Chris next launched Conversal, a software development shop and consultancy with a focus on the development of conversational intelligence software. This was a non-existent market at the time, but has since grown to include BuzzMetrics, Intelliseek, Technorati, BuzzLogic and many others.
Conversal secured a software development and consulting contract with Palm, Inc. in January of 2001. Chris’s relationship with Palm lasted until April of 2005 when he began to pursue a new social media business that leveraged The Customer Strategy while focusing on the mergence of the Knowledge Economy.
In early October 2005, Chris organized the Web2.1 unconference as an alternative to the O’Reilly Web 2.0 conference. This effort has resulted n the launch of BrainJams as a non-profit with the intention of bringing together leaders from non-profits, business, government and technology for the purpose of ad-hoc collaboration and cross-boundary knowledge sharing.
Download the conversation here (MP3, 16.5Mb), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
Friday, December 22, 2006
FIR Interview - Steve Rubel, Edelman: December 22, 2006
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Shel and Neville enjoyed a 36-minute conversation with Steve Rubel, senior vice president in Edelman’s me2revolution practice and author of the Micro Persuasion blog.
Our wide-ranging conversation includes - lessons from ‘Wal-Marting Across America’; the social media press release and Edelman Storycrafter; the death of the page view; the value of widgets; perspectives on blogging; Edelman/NewsGator branded communities and conversational advertising; the role of Second Life for PR; the future of video; some predictions for 2007; advice for PR pros.
About our Conversation Partner
Steve Rubel is a senior marketing strategist with 15 years experience. He currently serves as senior vice president in Edelman’s me2revolution practice. Edelman is the largest independent global PR firm.
Rubel is charged with helping Edelman identify, test, incubate and champion new forms of communications that get people talking across new platforms and channels. He also explores these technologies on his well-read Micro Persuasion weblog and in a weekly column for AdAge Digital.
Widely viewed as an expert on conversational marketing, Rubel is often sought out as a speaker and appears frequently in the press. He has been named to several prestigious lists, including: Media Magazine’s Media 100, the AlwaysOn/Technorati Open Media 100 and the CNET News.com Blog 100.
Prior to joining Edelman in 2006, Rubel spent five years at CooperKatz & Company.
Download the conversation here (MP3, 16.5Mb), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
FIR Interview - Alex Laats, Chairman & CEO, Podzinger: December 19, 2006
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Shel and Neville enjoyed a 25-minute conversation with Alex Laats, Chairman and CEO of Podzinger, the world’s most powerful audio and video search engine and online advertising network. Podzinger is a subsidiary of BBN Technologies.
Starting with Alex outlining how Podzinger works by using speech recognition technology to search words within both audio and video to classify content based on topic and usage, our conversation includes - Podzinger’s role in search engine optimization; the coming convergence of audio/video searching with traditional search engines; the company’s first international partnership with ThamesValleypod.tv in the UK, announced today; its advertising revenue-sharing programme; Podzinger’s research on consumer behaviour and online video advertising; and some advice for podcasters on making their content more accessible.
About our Conversation Partner
As President of BBN’s Delta Division, Alex Laats is leveraging BBN’s existing technology and expertise to generate and manage profitable business opportunities in new markets.
Alex has started, funded and advised technology businesses since the early 1990s. Prior to joining BBN, Alex was a Venture Partner at Commonwealth Capital, an early stage venture capital firm, where he specialized in the areas of enterprise information technology and communications infrastructure.
Previously, Alex was president, CEO and co-founder of Informio, Inc., a provider of VoiceXML services for large enterprises. Prior to founding Informio, Alex was the chairman, COO and co-founder of NBX Corporation, a manufacturer of VoIP-based business communications systems. NBX Corporation was successfully acquired by 3Com Corporation. Prior to NBX, Alex was a technology licensing officer at MIT, where he was involved with multiple start-up businesses based on MIT technology. Alex started his career as a corporate attorney at Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault in Boston.
Alex has a J.D. from Harvard and physics and math degrees from MIT.
Download the conversation here (MP3, 11.3Mb), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Interview - Doug Haslam, Topaz Partners: October 1, 2006
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Shel enjoyed an 18-minute conversation with Doug Haslam, who handles the Podcast Ready account on behalf of Topaz Partnersand is currently addressing the cease-and-desist order Apple Computers sent his client to stop them from registering a trademark containing the word “pod.”
Download the conversation here (MP3, 8.3Mb, 18:09), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Interview - Pia de Gysser, CIO, Agria: September 5, 2006
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Neville enjoyed a 14-minute conversation with Pia de Gysser, CIO at Agria Insurance, an animal and crop insurer based in Stockholm, Sweden, recorded at the IBC Euroforum conference “The Web of Tomorrow” which took place in Stockholm on September 5-6.
Our conversation focuses on the web as a knowledge resource for customers and includes the role of forums and blogs at Agria and running blogs on the Lotus Domino platform.
About our Conversation Partner
Pia de Gysser is Chief Information Officer at Agria Insurance, focused on business-driven IT development. Pia sees the web as a carrier and an important tool for employees as well as for customers. As a true Agria employee, she has a great interest in animals, something that clearly shows in her commitment to and the time she spends with her horse Hoffa and her collie Filippa. Pia blogs in Swedish at Pia Bloggar!
Download the conversation here (MP3, 6.2Mb, 13:39), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Interview - Podshow CEO Ron Bloom: August 21, 2006
In this edition of For Immediate Release podcast interviews, Shel enjoyed a 23-minute conversation with Ron Bloom, co-founder (with Adam Curry) and CEO of Podshow, a media company specializing in the distribution of independently-produced podcasts.
Our conversation focuses on business podcasting along with a focus on Podshow’s new relationship with America Online via its AIM Pro instant messaging client.
About our Conversation Partner
Ron Bloom is is the co-founder and CEO of Podshow, the podcasting-focused media company he started with Adam Curry.
Download the conversation here (MP3, 9.2 Mb, 22:58), or sign up for the Interviews RSS feed to get it and future interviews automatically. For automatic synchronization with your iPod or other digital player, you’ll also need a podcatcher such as the free Juice, DopplerRadio, iTunes or Yahoo! Podcasts, or an RSS aggregator that supports podcasts such as FeedDemon. To receive all For Immediate Release podcasts including the twice-weekly Hobson & Holtz Report, sign up for the full RSS feed.
Listen to this podcast now:
If you have comments or questions about this podcast, or suggestions for future interviews, email us at fircomments@gmail.com; or call the Comment Line at +1 206 222 2803 (North America) or +44 20 8133 9844 (Europe); or Skype: fircomments. You can email your comments, questions and suggestions as MP3 file attachments, if you wish (max. 3 minutes / 5Mb attachment, please!). We’ll be happy to see how we can include your audio contribution in a show.
Podsafe intro music - On A Podcast Intrumental Mix (MP3, 5Mb) by Cruisebox.
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