Why I Social

Christopher Barrows
  • 4.9 (44)
  • Careers
  • Updated Biweekly

Take a look behind the social handle with every Why I Social episode. The podcast brings brings you candid conversations with folks who do social media right - from average joe to CEO. Each podcast invites you to get to know guests on everything social media and beyond.

  1. Aug 10

    Episode 42 - Blake Mischley

    In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Blake Mischley (co-founder of Meet Your Class) to break down the creation of Meet Your Class to serve the Higher Education industry, including the launch of a new social media platform, Reach - designed with the unique aspects of the industry in mind.  Blake breaks down his transition from student community manager to education tech founder, revealing how the landscape of university recruitment has undergone a fundamental shift. Today's incoming students research institutions through social media with the same weight they give institutional websites, especially first-generation students.  In addition, the episode also covers the practical challenges campus social teams face daily and introduces Reach, a brand-new ecosystem purpose-built to solve them.  What You'll Learn:   The impact of social media in the era of AI search engines How incoming students are researching Higher Education institutions  Why social media is important for first-generation students The story behind the building of Reach Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Building Social Media Tools (Reach) for Higher Education  And as always, discover why Blake socials! LinkedIn Meet Your Class Reach Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

  2. Jul 27

    Episode 41 - Joshua Altman (beltway.media)

    In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Joshua Altman, Managing Director of beltway.media, to unpack what "social first" really means for small and medium-sized businesses. Joshua breaks down what it means to operate as a fractional Chief Communications Officer, taking the day-to-day communications burden off founders and technical teams. Also, find out why "Social-First" means treating social as a core distribution channel from the start, with content workflows designed so bigger projects automatically feed smaller pieces.  In addition, the episode also covers two frameworks Joshua uses with his clients:  Story, Narrative, and Brand: The raw facts, the throughline that shapes how people interpret them, and every touchpoint a customer has with a company The Four Languages: Designing content around how audiences read, see, hear, and experience information Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: A Fresh Perspective on a Social First Approach  And as always, discover why Joshua socials!  Get To Know Joshua LinkedIn beltway.media  Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

  3. Jul 17

    Episode 40 - Derek Hales

    On this episode of Why I Social, Chris is joined by Derek Hales, founder and editor-in-chief of NapLab.com, who brings a background in SEO, social strategy, and content marketing, shaped early on by agency experience working with Fortune 100 clients. Derek shares the origin story of NapLab, born out of a frustrating and expensive in-store mattress shopping trip with his wife back in 2014, and how that experience pushed him to start reviewing and comparing mattresses online. He also discusses how NapLab built its reputation on highly objective, data-driven testing, including why he waited two full years before publishing his first "best of" list to make sure it was backed by clinical-level data rather than opinion.  Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Building Trust   And of course, learn why Derek Socials Derek's Links:  LinkedIn NapLab  Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

  4. Jul 6

    Episode 39 - Eric Carlson

    On this episode of Why I Social, Chris is joined by Eric Carlson, founder of Loon's Eye Digital, who has spent his career in the world of digital marketing, building digital strategies that have included SEO, conversion rate optimization, email campaign strategy, and social strategy. His recent webinar with the National Institute for Social Media covered the topic of how marketers can create tech stacks to improve their workflow, which he further discusses as part of this week's Hot Topic.  Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Building a Tech Stack for Social Media Marketers  And of course, learn why Eric Socials Eric's Links:  LinkedIn Loon's Eye Digital  Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

    Episode 39 - Eric Carlson

  5. Jun 10

    Episode 38 - Dex Polizzi

    On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Dex Polizzi (Owner of Sidewalk Savers) who began his career in the agency world, specializing in public relations and digital marketing. His professional history includes working with technical industries, such as cybersecurity and tech infrastructure, as well as organizations close to the federal government.  He has since started his own business locally in Verona, NJ serves residential, commercial, and municipal markets at a hyper-local level. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Marketing Local Business through Social Media  And of course, learn Dex Socials!  Dex's Links:  LinkedIn Sidewalk Savers Website  Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

    Episode 38 - Dex Polizzi

  6. May 27

    Episode 37 - Eli Igra Serfaty

    On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Eli Igra Serfaty (Co-Founder and CEO, MAIA Digital), whose career winds from military service through venture capital before landing in the world of LinkedIn strategy. Founded in 2019, MAIA Digital specializes in LinkedIn profile optimization, company page management, and immersive workshops that pull back the curtain on the platform. Fun fact: The name carries meaning too, inspired by MAIA, the Greek goddess of growth, which reflects the company's mission to set individuals and businesses up for LinkedIn success. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Employee Advocacy on LinkedIn And of course, learn why Eli socials!  Eli's Links:  LinkedIn MAIA Digital  Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

    Episode 37 - Eli Igra Serfaty

  7. May 5

    Episode 36 - Marley Molkentin

    On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Marley Molkentin (Communications Specialist at Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative), who helps tell stories that makes an impact. She has her Master of Arts from Columbia College Chicago, which made an incredible impact on her career and where she is today.  Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Creating Media and Content That Makes A Difference  And of course, learn why Marley socials!  Marley's Links:  LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

    Episode 36 - Marley Molkentin

  8. Apr 21

    Episode 35 - Kaila Vander Horn

    On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Kaila Vander Horn (Head of Content at Speedwork) for a discussion about B2B content on LinkedIn. Kaila has more than a decade of experience in social media and digital marketing and we explore how she advanced professionally to where she is today, earning the trust of businesses and c-suite executives.  Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: B2B Content and LinkedIn  And of course, learn why Kaila socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Kaila's Links:  LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals.  Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

    Episode 35 - Kaila Vander Horn
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4.9
out of 5
44 Ratings

About

Take a look behind the social handle with every Why I Social episode. The podcast brings brings you candid conversations with folks who do social media right - from average joe to CEO. Each podcast invites you to get to know guests on everything social media and beyond.

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher Barrows
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    297
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Chris G. Barrows 2015
  • Show Website
    Why I Social