Socially Speaking

These, they are exciting times. In a mere 21 days, our inaugural interactive podcast, featuring Naked Conversations co-authors Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, will be upon us. Hundreds of people globally will be able to participate, and have an opportunity ask questions of Robert and Shel the same way one or two interviewers would do in a traditional podcast.

Some are curious how this “interactive”, or participatory, podcast will work. Well, it’s easier than it sounds.

Here’s a 3 step process that explains it, hopefully, pretty clearly:

1. Go to waxxi.us and click on Register. Then follow the yellow brick road. (or the simple instructions you get along the way).

2. Once you’ve confirmed your registration, we’ll send you a toll free dial in number and a unique user code. (this allows you in to the virtual event that day, and allows us to see who you are when you are ‘raising your hand’ to ask a question)

3. On May 20, 2006 at 10:30 AM PDT call the toll free number, and the fun begins. (to find out when that is in your part of the world, go here)

You don’t have to ask a question or make a comment. You can just listen and observe – the same way you might do at a conference speech or presentation. But, for those who have read the book (and even those who haven’t) and have questions or observations about business blogging, this is your shot to pick their brain.

We’ll have simultaneous chat/IM so the “hallway discussions” can take place, and everyone who attends will be invited to continue the conversation online.

There will be some pretty interesting people in the audience. We hope you can join us!

Podcasting has no doubt, grown by leaps and bounds. Feedburner’s latest report details some amazing podcasting factoids. Among them, as Frank Gruber points out:

1. Feedburner now manages more podcasts than there are radio stations

2. Podcasting is outpacing the speed of adoption of the last “most successful consumer product launch in history” the DVD

As popular as podcasting has become, we thought – wouldn’t it be great if people who are typically listening to a podcast, could be a part of it? They could participate in it, both the day it is recorded and after.

Comments on podcasting is not new, but very smart. Neither is social podcasting which is brilliant. But interactive, we thought would be very, very cool. Everyone’s in “the room” and as time allows, gets a chance to have their voice heard.

Our first interactive podcast will feature Robert Scoble and Shel Israel, co-authors of the book Naked Conversations. The invitation is open to anyone who wants to be a part of this experience, have a chance to ask Robert or Shel (or both) a question, comment on something they learned in the book or have observed as a blogger. Hundreds globally will participate.

Cost: FREE! But you need to register. After the event, the conversation continues online at waxxi.us. More on that to come.