Georgia Podcast Network

Here's the very first episode of Southern Fried Tech, hosted by our friend Jeff Haynie:

We're the very first interview! Well, Amber is interviewed and I smile, nod and look pretty.

Today's newsfeed from Podcasting News is making me roll my eyes in dramatic exasperation.

First, we have the breaking news that women - gasp! - use technology! Over 80% are "not afraid to play around" with tech gadgets! Nearly 50% do their own computer troubleshooting!! Shock! Awe! What's next? Dogs and cats living together?

These shocking revelations are followed by the obligatory quip about guys buying their girlfriends a plasma TV instead of jewelry. Oh, Podcasting News, you are so glib! Did you think of that all by yourselves?

Up next, and more on the topic of actual podcasting, is the question of whether podcasters will be replaced by software. I know... first women using iPods, now text-to-speech software guaranteed to bore the hell out of listeners. Duck and cover, readers, because the sky is indeed falling.

For any suits out there wondering why you should care about podcasting, here's a clue:

Podcasting and blogging are two of the most effective tools for generating sales leads in the technology industry, according to a survey of technology marketing executives.

When asked, "Which offers are 'very effective' for generating high-quality leads?" marketers in all three areas studied - technology services firms, and business software and hardware - put Blog and the Podcast in the top five.

About a quarter of those surveyed considered podcasts "very effective" tools for generating leads.

The information comes from Marketing Sherpa's annual survey of business technology marketing executives. About 1,900 responded to the survey.

Via Podcasting News

Well, damn. Why do I always find out about these things at the last minute?

The Women's International Podcasting Expo is being held July 14-16. It's a completely online affair. Over 25 experts in business, media, technology, and more will present over 30 seminars and podcasts.

Three seminars are open to the public:

• "Create A Powerful Platform" - Annie Jennings of Annie Jennings PR
• "Podcasting 101: Basics of Podcasting for Business or Pleasure" - Penny Haynes of 1st Podcast Publishing and the Family Friendly Podcasting Directory
• "How Do You Deal with Change? Women in Transformation Across Our Lifetimes" - Dr. Kathy King, Professor and Director of the RETC for Professional Development at Fordham University in New York City, and co-host of Podcast for Teachers and Adventures in Transformative Learning.

The expo sounds really interesting. Too bad Amber Rhea isn't on the list of presenters! But I guess there's always next year...

My interview with web dev hotshots Eric Meyer, Jeffrey Zeldman, and Jason Santa Maria is finally available for download. If you're a geek, you know these guys are minor celebrities.

So have a listen. It's a little over 13 minutes long, complete with (in addition to the actual interview) advice on how all you single fellas out there can get yourselves a girlfriend, and a self-aggrandizing vignette from me at the end. And be sure to grab the Mostly ITP RSS feed and stay tuned, because next week we'll be recording the book signing at Manuel's with Kos and Jerome (minor celebrities to bloggers and politics nerds).