Granny's Big Trip outside the Box

After spending the last week in Texas with Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell from GeekBrief.TV I am rather high regarding the awesome opportunities that have come from relationships that are inside the box (box meaning of course my macbook or my imac.) Yet friends inside the box would not be visible w/o the box being open and connected. Once the lid shuts or the power is pulled there are no viable relationships it may seem.

OHHH but the people I have had the privilege of getting to know while living my life mostly inside the box have over and over again become very real to me and a huge part of my life.









My impressions of Neal Campbell and Cali Lewis:



These dear people are genuinely kind, and thoughtful. Cali is as shiny and happy in person as she is on GeekBrief.TV

Their enthusiasm for all things tech just spills over continually as they talk together and share ideas. They are lovers of people who feel a strong sense of connection with their viewers. Yet because the majority of production is done from their home, the time they have to spend with folks is limited. I was surprised by just how much of each day goes into preparing for a four minute episode. Neal and Cali spend a lot of time discussing the latest tech/ gadget news that sparks their interest. And then make their decisions regarding what segments they'll feature. After the decisions are made its time to study in detail the gadgets or tech news they've chosen to review. Then they write a script for the show from which Cali will ultimately read via the TelePrompTer.



Then its off to freshen up for Cali.. a bit of lipstick and hair combing and she's ready for the cameras.

Cali behind the scene from Switching Granny on Vimeo.

Neal and Cali work together like a well synchronized musical composition! They just know where to respect the other to get the job done with the most ease and professionalism. Once Cali is in front of the blue screen looking at the TelePrompTer, Neal stands aside with his nifty hillcrest loop pointer and keeps the TelePrompTer syncing with Cali's reading. Seems that they normally need to re-shoot a couple of times for tongue twisting sentences.



And then after the shoot Neal will take the digital files and import/ export/ edit/ upload.... all very very time consuming and precise. He showed me how he edits differently from others by using Cali's voice to make the cuts between segments. This is just one secret as to how they are able to compact so much information in to such a short amount of time. Often it is well past midnight when Neal and Cali finally have a show posted online. Lots of hard and tedious work, but they excel at this and seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves along the way.


Smooth like butter is how I described their interaction on a previous tweet. But it goes beyond that because they are so obviously in love with one another, thrilled with what they are doing, and connected to the friends who they consider family who regularly view the show.

They are professionals who don't take for- granted how far they have come in a very short time.

I couldn't help but fall in love with them. Warm and inviting they not only brought me to visit with them but also took extra measures to make me feel like a very special guest.

I'm posting the brief I was in. Often GeekBrief.TV goes on location to interview someone who has made an impact or has utilized technology to an extent that it might encourage others. Since I had been a viewer of GBTV since before they left their day jobs, I suppose that Cali & Neal consider me someone who has been a part of the show since nearly the beginning.

I am delighted and always will be grateful to Neal Campbell and Cali Lewis for getting this Granny Out of the Box for a week of geek at GBTV studio's! Besides flying me to Texas they overwhelmed me with generous hospitality!

These two are the "Real Deal" and exemplify why this new media is just awesome!

Enjoy GeekBrief Episode #602: Granny's 7 minutes of fame!

Why I love New Media And Granny's Big Trip

New online media is different in so many ways from the media I grew up enjoying.
With online media you are able to watch whenever the time is convenient for you.
The days of arranging your schedule around the time a particular television show airs is past.


Another unique plus is online media often involves a relationship between the broadcaster and the audience. They often include chats and discussion boards with the podcasts promoting community between themselves and the viewers.

So when I first got involved with Podcasts I found a few about Mac's and the internet.
Almost immediately I found Cali Lewis and Neal Campbell at GeekBrief.Tv
I was just making my switch to mac. Cali was always available to answer my questions. She was the first person I'd ever had a video ichat with. I was excited about the application yet knew no one personally who had a mac. So Cali took time to ichat me! In my youth this would compare to Lucille Ball calling a fan with a video chat just to say "Hi an I'm excited about your new computer".


But these new media folks don't see themselves as some kind of celebrities who are unaccessable. They purposely make themselves available to the community of people who enjoy their podcasts. In fact in many ways we become like family.

My life has been so enriched by the friendships I've formed participating in social online media. And these cyber friends are a huge part of my world. With a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis often times I'm unable to get with real world friends. Yet illness doesn't prevent me from engaging with a group of great friends just because I can't go out. I can always place my macbook on my lap and enjoy the internets!

To make my point about how close friends can become online. I am sharing the news that Neal & Cali have sent this SwitchingGranny a plane ticket to come and visit with them for a week!! I am so excited I am about to burst.

Tommy and I met them last year briefly at the annual GeekBrief.tv Christmas party in Nashville. But because they were streaming the event live we didn't have much opportunity to hang out. Cali & Neal at work: From the GBTV Christmas Party:

So next week.. My online family reunion begins. I'll also be blessed to meet up for the first time with Dave & Kat Curlee and their girls. They also produce a video podcast titled Cooking with Kat. KatCurlee.com

Oh how exciting this is. I know I'll learn so much from these dear people. I can't wait and had to share with you. They so kindly offered to bring Tommy with me- but next week is his very busiest week of all having state police inspections for the school buses. He is so precious to be supportive of my Big Trip.

More to come!!