Trafcom News Podcast

Show #31: Six Communication Truths

Takeaways from the IABC International Conference in Vancouver

Whether or not you’re an IABC member, you’ll be interested in these truisms about communications – the glories of print, the joys of beautiful writing, what it’s like to be chuffed, and the best companions with whom to be trapped in an elevator. You can download this 12-minute podcast right now. Here are the shownotes:

00:01 Intro and welcome.
00:52 These truths apply to all communicators, not just IABC members.
01:06 Truth #1: The concept of social media is catching on, but there’s a great disparity between evangelists and naysayers. Example of the packed session with Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson and Allan Jenkins.
01:41 Truth #2: Print is not dead. Example of Steve Crescenzo’s session, which was a delight for publication editors who love to communicate in print.
02:18 Truth #3: Even if you write for a living, you still need to refresh your skills. Example: Don Ranly, professor emeritus at the Missouri School of Journalism, used the Wall Street Journal as a model of excellent writing.
03:07 Truth #4: There’s no substitute for face-to-face communications. Example: Meeting my online buddies in the flesh – Shel Holtz, Neville Hobson, Allan Jenkins, Tom Keefe and others. Example: Mark Burnett dislikes pitching by phone; he prefers face-to-face or video.
04:07 Truth #5: Life is not all about business. Example: Humanitarian Stephen Lewis raised the bar when he forced us, through his own passion and commitment, to think about the AIDS/HIV crisis in Africa, and to try to do something about it as communicators.
04:45 Truth #6: If you’re going to be trapped in an elevator, the best companions are fellow communicators.
06:00 Audio comment from the very tall Neville Hobson.
08:11 Comments from Show #30 on how I record the Trafcom News Podcast. Tom Russell was chuffed; Tom Keefe is inspired to podcast; David Jones shares how he and Terry Fallis record Inside PR; David mentions For Immediate Release: The Hobson and Holtz Report and an article on Reel Reviews about how to edit with Audacity.
11:08 Where to send comments: email trafcom AT gmail DOT com; phone 646-403-8020 or post a comment on the Trafcom News Podcast page.
11:48 Outro: Music from Beneath Your Surface by the Elisabeth Lohninger Quartet.

Vancouver's harbour

Show #29: Positive and unanticipated consequences of networking

Last in a series of pre-IABC International Conference podcasts

In this 19-minute podcast, I talk to Ned Lundquist, who’ll be speaking at the IABC International Conference in Vancouver, about the unanticipated and positive benefits that can grow out of connecting with other human beings.

Ned is communications director at the Center for Security Strategies and Operations, Systems Engineering Group, at the Anteon Corporation in Washington DC. He has more than 20 years of communications experience in the military as well as corporations, and is an accredited, award-winning business communicator.

Here are the shownotes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:00 About Ned Lundquist
02:10 Not all networking benefits are measurable; need to take a strategic approach but keep in mind that good things happen when you don’t always expect them
03:03 Example of looking up a scientist in the IABC World Book
04:35 IABC brings people together; sometimes you don’t know where something will lead
05:13 Make connections, not only the ones that lead to jobs; empathy between people causes good things to happen
05:50 Connect to other human beings to make your life more meaningful
07:00 Ned believes there is a 72-hour window of opportunity when networking
08:08 If you’re not out there, connections evaporate over time
08:28 Networking tips for people going to conferences
09:02 Ned’s advice: If you are not an IABC member when you go to the conference, join
11:28 Family example of networking; reaching out to a medical professional
13:07 You never know what will happen after seeds are planted
13:55 Ned’s Job of the Week List: subscribe by sending a blank email to jotw-subscribe@topica.com
14:20 Personal consequence to Ned of running Job of the Week; connecting to communicators all over the world; selfish altruism
15:10 Donna’s personal story regarding unanticipated benefits; getting a business lead at a mothers’ picnic
16:35 Comments on previous show, Much Ado About Podcasting
16:48 Dave Traynor comments
17:15 Dave Traynor and I met up at the meshconference this week in Toronto
17:28 Judy Gombita of the Certified General Accountants of Ontario comments on social media and associations’ continuing-education programs; Judy’s comments and discussion of Thom Lowther’s report on the Trafcom News blog
18:30 Where to send comments; outro

Show #25: Brainstorming - an interview with Sam Harrison

An interview with Sam Harrison - writer, creativity expert and speaker at the upcoming IABC International Conference on the topic of "Brainstorming Tools, Rules and Fools." In this 18-minute podcast, you can find out

• why strategic and tactical communications call for creativity
  
• why you should "judge not"
  
• why Sam's session won't be like cotton candy
  
• why you shouldn't strive for one absolutely perfect idea

Here are the shownotes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:14 Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson's official IABC International Conference podcasts are online
01:47 About Sam Harrison
02:14 Interview with Sam Harrison
16:40 Where to send comments
17:00 Comments on last week's show; outro

Links mentioned in the show:
IABC International Conference
Official blog of the IABC International Conference
Shel Holtz
Neville Hobson
Sam Harrison
Joanna Turlej
Dennis Clarke

Show #24: The "it" factor: Do you have it? Can you get it?

As part of my series of pre-IABC conference podcasts, this is an interview with Mitch Joel, president of Twist Image.
You'll want to hear this if you're interested in branding and marketing! In this 21-minute podcast, Mitch shares his thoughts on the "it" factor and the future of marketing. Here are the shownotes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:55 Interview with Mitch Joel of Twist Image
20:00 Where to send comments; outro
Links mentioned in the show:
IABC International Conference
Twist Image
Mitch Joel's blog

Show #23: The barbecue as a metaphor for communications: An interview with Ron Shewchuk

I’ve never been so hungry after an interview. In this 18-minute podcast, Ron Shewchuk, communications consultant, author, blogger, podcaster and barbecue champion, shares his passions for food and communications and gives us a quick preview of his sold-out IABC International Conference presentation. Here are the shownotes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:30 About Ron Shewchuk
02:30 The interview with Ron
15:02 Upcoming mesh conference in Toronto
15:37 Comment about Georgia College & State University use of podcasts
16:55 Where to send comments
117:30 Outro

Links mentioned in the show:
Writing and Editing the Internal Publication
For Your Approval
Barbecue Secrets
IABC
IABC International Conference
mesh
Article about Georgia College & State University
Dave Williams

Show #21: A swarm of bees – Tod Maffin on 21st-century communications

A swarm of bees as a metaphor for 21st-century communications? In this six-minute podcast, I talk to broadcaster, podcaster and futurist Tod Maffin about how the Internet has become a powerful tool for and against business communicators. This is a sneak peek at the upcoming IABC International Conference Lunch and Learn with Tod. To hear more from Tod, you'll have to attend the IABC International Conference in Vancouver in June!
Here are the shownotes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:15 A little about Tod Maffin
01:50 A sneak peak at Tod's presentation
04:10 Tod's Idea to Air workshop
05:30 Where to send comments; outro

Links mentioned:
IABC
IABC International Conference
Tod Maffin
Idea to Air

Show #19: A sneak peek at the IABC International Conference in Vancouver

In this nine-minute podcast, I discuss the upcoming IABC International Conference with chair Jane Sparrow. Find out what Survivor,
the Vancouver Aquarium and 1,500 communicators have in common! Here are the shownotes:
00:01 Intro and welcome
01:31 A little about Jane Sparrow
02:15 Interview with Jane: What's new and exciting for 2006
08:37 Where to send comments; outro

Links mentioned:
IABC
IABC International Conference
Beautiful British Columbia