Mitch Joel's Blog: Six Pixels of Separation, page 95

SPOS #785 – Margot Bloomstein On Trust And Beating Consumer Cynicism

Welcome to episode #785 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #785 – Host: Mitch Joel. Margot Bloomstein spends her time in the content strategy industry. She’s the author of Content Strategy at Work and the principal of Appropriate, Inc., a brand and content strategy consultancy based in Boston. For more than twenty years, she has led workshops, keynoted conferences, and advised marketing teams around the world. She developed the popular message architecture-driven approach to content strategy and created BrandSort, a tool embraced by consultancies to help their clients clarify their communication goals. More recently, she published the excellent (and timely) book, Trustworthy – How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap. In an actionable framework focused on voice, volume, and vulnerability, her new book is about how to employ concrete tactics to help your business regain trust, respect, and customer loyalty. More importantly, how can you lead your organization and audience from cynicism toward something far more productive: hope. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 53:27.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Margot Bloomstein.Trustworthy – How the Smartest Brands Beat Cynicism and Bridge the Trust Gap.Content Strategy at Work.BrandSort.Appropriate, Inc..Follow Margot on LinkedIn.Follow Margot on Twitter.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #785 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #578

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

How a Hard-Luck Horse and His Jamaican Trucker Owner Became Million-Dollar Champs – Narratively. “Amazing story.” (Hugh for Alistair).
In 1985 Rick Charles Went For The High Dive Record – YouTube . “Do you ever wake up in the morning, dreading your work day? Doesn’t happen to me often, but once in a while. A good cure might be to watch this and say, ‘Well, at least I don’t have to climb up a 172 foot tower and jump off it.’ Also, before you watch this, just try to imagine how high 172 feet is, and then wait for the zoom out.” (Hugh for Mitch). Vehicle Ambush: Counterattacks, ca. 1976 – National Archives and Records Administration . “They don’t make training videos like they used to. Or maybe they do, but we just can’t see them. Here’s everything you need to know about thwarting a vehicular kidnapping. And that bassline in the soundtrack! It’s like CHiPS called, and they want you to survive an uprising.” (Alistair for Hugh). Inside the Giant Mech Suit Made for Racing – Seeker – YouTube . “I loved BattleTech as a kid. I even made the pilgrimage to Chicago to visit one of the Mechwarrior simulators in a mall there, complete with multiple screens and joysticks (which was remarkable at the time). I’ve lived long enough to see it a reality; I don’t have Space Billionaire aspirations, but one day I’d like to pilot a mech in competition. Looks like I might get my chance after all.” (Alistair for Mitch). Mark In The Metaverse – The Verge . “I’ve been spending a lot of time in my comic book collection. Both sorting through it and adding to it. How that industry has embraced everything from mobile apps to live auctions is inspiring. Social media is a big part of how these small businesses have built larger followings that go well beyond their small physical spaces in your local market. I was thinking about the impact that Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, and newer apps (like WhatNot) have done to extend everything from business hours to customer base. This article is already getting a lot of buzz, but if you don’t believe that we’re still in the infancy of computer technology – and what’s next – you need to read this. It’s long, but it’s validating that everything is becoming virtual… and that virtual will be everywhere (and, yes, that includes inside of our bodies as well). Welcome to the metaverse…” (Mitch for Alistair). How Moleskine Notebooks Became a Cult Brand – BetterMarketing . “It’s no surprise that Moleskine (the notebook company) is one of my favorite brands. They do a lot, but they don’t have to do that much, because the product is the marketing (a core tenet of great marketing). You can get all kinds of great notebooks (cheap ones too), but there’s something immediately recognizable and comfortable about a Moleskine. This article dives into how they became a cult brand. More importantly, are the lessons within this (that are repeatable) for almost all brands. If given the choice, why not create a cult brand? It seems like the obvious and best way to create value across the business,  and make something truly sustainable. Easier said than done…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends): 

Can Netflix Dominate With Video Games?

Your digital media catch-up is right here.

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM) on the air at Jack 103 (Rogers Sports & Media) to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture. We’re calling the segment Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

What is Tech Tuesday?

If you ever find yourself wondering… What, exactly, is the point of TikTok? How can I make myself look better on a Zoom? Reddit? What’s that about? How do I help my kids be safer online? Who’s the latest creator and streamer that I should be checking out?

You are not alone.

This is what Heather Backman and I discussed this morning over on Jack 103 FM for a couple of minutes:

Netflix Wants To Be The Netflix Of Video Games, Good Luck – Forbes.

“Netflix now has a gaming division, and they’ve hired  Mike Verdu, a veteran of EA, Zynga and Oculus, to run it. The idea is to have a ‘gaming’ section on Netflix that is listed alongside its normal streaming offerings, but people seem to be seeing this headline and letting their imaginations run wild with what this is going to be like… It feels like the goal is to simply get people to stay on the Netflix app for longer with a games section, rather than hopping over to other game apps on their mobile device. More time in the app overall = better for Netflix. They have no ability to take on the major players in the gaming industry, which would require a colossal time and resource investment. Obviously, you can’t rule out Netflix’s long, long term plans for the gaming industry, and this feels like a first baby step, but no, this is not another Stadia clone, no, Netflix is not building huge AAA studios to take on industry giants.”

Would you play games on Netflix?

Once the segment goes live on Jack 103, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage….

Mitch Joel · Can Netflix Dominate With Video Games? – Jack 103 FM – Tuesday, July 20th 2021

Subscribe to get it free in your inbox right here.

Joe Pulizzi On Being A Content Entrepreneur – Live From Clubhouse – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #784 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

When it comes to content marketing, social media and personal brands, you will meet some of the sketchiest people. Lots of talk with little protein. Joe Pulizzi is the real deal, and since his first Content Marketing World back in 2010, I count him as both a good friend and one of the kindest, smartest minds in the business. Joe has founded four companies including his latest content creation news site, The Tilt, and the Content Marketing Institute. In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Content Council. His podcast series, This Old Marketing with Robert Rose, has millions of downloads. His charitable foundation, The Orange Effect, delivers speech therapy and technology services to children in over 35 states. Joe is also a bestselling writer. He is the author of Content Inc. (which was recently completely updated and expanded into a second edition), Killing Marketing, Epic Content Marketing and more. His novel, The Will To Die, was awarded “Best Suspense Book” of 2020 by the National Indie Excellence Awards. What does the creator economy mean for you? What is a content entrepreneur? We recorded our chat live on Clubhouse, and now it’s here for you. Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #784.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #784 – Joe Pulizzi On Being A Content Entrepreneur – Live From Clubhouse

Welcome to episode #784 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #784 – Host: Mitch Joel. When it comes to content marketing, social media and personal brands, you will meet some of the sketchiest people. Lots of talk with little protein. Joe Pulizzi is the real deal, and since his first Content Marketing World back in 2010, I count him as both a good friend and one of the kindest, smartest minds in the business. Joe has founded four companies including his latest content creation news site, The Tilt, and the Content Marketing Institute. In 2014, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award by The Content Council. His podcast series, This Old Marketing with Robert Rose, has millions of downloads. His charitable foundation, The Orange Effect, delivers speech therapy and technology services to children in over 35 states. Joe is also a bestselling writer. He is the author of Content Inc. (which was recently completely updated and expanded into a second edition), Killing Marketing, Epic Content Marketing and more. His novel, The Will To Die, was awarded “Best Suspense Book” of 2020 by the National Indie Excellence Awards. What does the creator economy mean for you? What is a content entrepreneur? We recorded our chat live on Clubhouse, and now it’s here for you. Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 1:04:44.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Joe Pulizzi.Content Inc.Epic Content Marketing.Killing Marketing.The Tilt.This Old Marketing.The Orange Effect.Content Marketing Institute.Content Marketing World.Follow Joe on LinkedIn.Follow Joe on Facebook.Follow Joe on Twitter.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #784 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #577

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

Minimum Wage Machine – Blake Fall-Conroy. “One of the many things the pandemic has upended is our understanding of hourly toil, essential work, and wage slavery. Many industries are finding it hard to hire employees now that it’s clear their labor amounts to little more than subsistence, at best. This art installation by Blake Fall-Conroy is brilliant, and grueling: Turn the handle, and the machine dispenses a penny every 4.97 seconds. That kind of monotony is what minimum wage feels like. A visceral demonstration—how long would you stand there turning? We need art to show us what’s wrong with culture.” (Alistair for Hugh). Watch a police officer admit to playing Taylor Swift to keep a video off YouTube – The Verge . “Digital copyright is hard. A week ago I posted a Twitter thread about how a funny TikTok duet of a man accompanying a howling cat went viral—and resulted in a piece of published music, which then tripped TikTok’s license enforcement, making the sound on the original video vanish (because now it was a copyrighted song in it). Here’s another perverse example: A police officer intentionally playing a popular song while he’s being recorded, so that copyright enforcement tools on social media will flag it as a copyright violation and take it down. Watch this space.” (Alistair for Mitch). The Most Irrational Number – Slate . “I always thought pi was the coolest irrational number, but maybe the golden ratio is?” (Hugh for Alisatir). The five-day workweek is dead – Vox . “Will TGIT, Thank God It’s Thursday, be the refrain of weekend warriors of the future?” (Hugh for Mitch).  Re-Revising ‘The History Of Jazz’ – NPR . “I’m a huge fan of jazz music. And, as mainstream as you may think that jazz is… or weird… or not ‘catchy’ enough… my perspective is a little different. Jazz is the original punk music. And, the deeper down the jazz rabbit hole that I travel, the more surprised and charmed I am by its history and the artists who made it happen… and who make it happen. There is a richness in this music. It’s one that is deeply woven into our society and culture. If you think it’s not for you, I’d urge you to read this article, and to try experimenting with the genre. In a world of streaming, it’s never been easier to try something a little off the beaten path. It just might change your life…” (Mitch for Alistair). Is Podcasting…A Slowing Market? – I Hear Things . “I’ve been friends with Tom Webster for a very long time. We have many shared interests: Music, podcasting… sarcasm… sarcastic memes… I could keep going. His newsletter, I Hear Things, is for anyone interested in all things audio (and digital). He tackles podcasting often. In this week’s writing, he looks at some data surrounding the notion that podcasting is a slowing market. Has podcasting become ‘disrupted’? I’d love to know your thoughts…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends): 

Space Is Your Next Hot Vacation Destination On Jack 103 FM

Your digital media catch-up is right here.

Every Tuesday – for just a few minutes – I join Heather Backman (my old buddy from her days on CHOM FM) on the air at Jack 103 (Rogers Sports & Media) to give a quick blast about the current state of technology, media and Internet culture. We’re calling the segment Tech Tuesday (and we do it in just a few minutes).

What is Tech Tuesday?

If you ever find yourself wondering… What, exactly, is the point of TikTok? How can I make myself look better on a Zoom? Reddit? What’s that about? How do I help my kids be safer online? Who’s the latest creator and streamer that I should be checking out?

You are not alone.

This is what Heather Backman and I discussed this morning over on Jack 103 FM for a couple of minutes:

What will it cost to fly Virgin Galactic to space? – The New York Times.

“For a vast majority of Americans, the cost of such a trip is out of reach. In the future, Virgin Galactic and other spaceflight companies hope broadening opportunities to fly to space will bring down the cost of a ticket. But for now, primarily people with spare cash equivalent to the cost of some houses will be able to afford a few moments at the edge of space. Nevertheless, the company estimated on Sunday that more than 600 people from some 60 countries had signed up for one of its flights. The first paying SpaceShipTwo passengers may begin flying in the next year, after the company completes two more test flights.”

Is a trip to space in your future? 

Once the segment goes live on Jack 103, I will post it here for you to listen in, learn, share and engage….

Mitch Joel · Space Is Your Next Hot Vacation Destination On Jack 103 FM – July 13th, 2021

Subscribe to get it free in your inbox right here.

Leslie Ehm On Swagger (And Why You Need Some) – This Week’s Six Pixels of Separation Podcast

Episode #783 of Six Pixels of Separation is now live and ready for you to listen to.

We call each other “Cuzzz!” (Mostly because we are cousins… way off in the distance and through marriage, so it’s our little bit). With that, I’ve known Leslie Ehm for a long time. She is a former TV host and advertising Creative Director turned training guru that has spent decades traveling the globe with her company Combustion – working with executives and teams. She’s turned technologists into creative forces and bankers into storytellers. Leslie now considers herself a Swagger Coach, speaker, and author of her first book, Swagger – Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want. What is swagger? Do you need more swagger in your life? Enjoy the conversation…

You can grab the latest episode of Six Pixels of Separation here (or feel free to subscribe via iTunes): Six Pixels of Separation #783.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

SPOS #783 – Leslie Ehm On Swagger (And Why You Need Some)

Welcome to episode #783 of Six Pixels of Separation.

Here it is: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #783 – Host: Mitch Joel. We call each other “Cuzzz!” (Mostly because we are cousins… way off in the distance and through marriage, so it’s our little bit). With that, I’ve known Leslie Ehm for a long time. She is a former TV host and advertising Creative Director turned training guru that has spent decades traveling the globe with her company Combustion – working with executives and teams. She’s turned technologists into creative forces and bankers into storytellers. Leslie now considers herself a Swagger Coach, speaker, and author of her first book, Swagger – Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want. What is swagger? Do you need more swagger in your life? Enjoy the conversation…

Running time: 54:37.Hello from beautiful Montreal.Subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.Please visit and leave comments on the blog – Six Pixels of Separation.Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.or you can connect on LinkedIn.…or on Twitter.Here is my conversation with Leslie Ehm/Swagger – Unleash Everything You Are and Become Everything You Want.Combustion.Follow Leslie on Instagram.Follow Leslie on LinkedIn.Follow Leslie on Twitter.This week’s music: David Usher ‘St. Lawrence River’.

Download the Podcast here: Six Pixels of Separation – Episode #783 – Host: Mitch Joel.

Before you go… if you enjoyed this, please subscribe (all new content arrives in your inbox). It’s easy, it’s free and it’s right here.

Six Links Worthy of Your Attention #576

Is there one link, story, picture or thought that you saw online this week that you think somebody you know must see?

My friends: Alistair Croll (Solve for Interesting, Tilt the Windmill, Interesting Bits, HBS, chair of Strata, Startupfest, FWD50, and Scaletechconf; author of Lean Analytics and some other books), Hugh McGuire (Rebus Foundation, PressBooks, LibriVox) and I decided that every week the three of us are going to share one link for one another (for a total of six links) that each individual feels the other person “must see.”

Check out these six links that we’re recommending to one another: 

Aerial Photography – Lior Patel. “This site has some incredible aerial shots of the world at work. Watching herds of sheep flow through gates and fields reminds me of the murmuration of swallows, or fluid dynamics (just click on one of the photos). It’s an amazing vantage point that wasn’t possible before, and I find it completely mesmerising to watch this kind of activity from above and think about the underlying complexity hidden in these patterns.” (Alistair for Hugh). The New Fandom Formula – Bodacious . “I’d found this link to a piece Zoe Scaman put together on fandoms earlier. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention a damning indictment of how agencies treat women, which is definitely worth a read. It was incredibly brave of her to put it out there, and it has most of the other smart women I know who’ve worked in agencies doubling down on her experiences with stories of their own. Communities are the new competitive moat, particularly in creator economies, and this deck lays out in clear terms how marketers should be thinking about engaging their audiences beyond simple push messaging.” (Alistair for Mitch). Dark matter map reveals new filaments connecting galaxies – Live Science . “Did you know that according to our best theories of physics, we’re missing about 85% of the matter that should be present in the universe? It’s undetectable, but without it most galaxies would fly apart, according to the equations that we think govern the universe. We’ll here’s a map of that undetectable stuff.” (Hugh for Alistair). Wilson’s bird-of-paradise – Wikipedia . “Would you just take a look at this bird?!?” (Hugh for Mitch). The Internet Is Rotting – The Atlantic . “The reason this weekly link-share exists, is because we found ourselves (usually over a lunch in Old Montreal) rattling at one another amazing things to read, watch and hear online. So, over 11 years ago, we decided to share one link with one another in this space (and we haven’t stopped since). The Internet is still an amazing place of wisdom and discovery, but it’s also changing – maybe quicker and in way that we could have never imagined. Is change good? This article doesn’t think so. And, in many instances, it’s very true. Can we continue to search out that which is positive, or is the Internet simply rotting from the inside out and back in?” (Mitch for Alistair). A Peek Inside The World’s Greatest Record Store – Smithsonian Magazine . “I am becoming more and more nostalgic. It’s happening to me. I see it and I don’t mind it one bit. With that comes the idea of ‘collecting.’ Are there artifacts that I want to pursue and collect because they bring back so many fond memories (yes, comic books are still a thing for me)? And, while I love music, I can’t imagine having a record collection of my own. This doesn’t stop me from loving vinyl, record stores, or being mesmerized by those who dive deep into record collecting. Speaking of which… check this out…” (Mitch for Hugh).

Feel free to share these links and add your picks on Twitter, Facebook, in the comments below or wherever you play.

Are you interested in what’s next? How to decode the future? I publish between 2-3 times per week and then the Six Pixels of Separation Podcast comes out every Sunday. Feel free to subscribe (and tell your friends):