Just Talking Podcast

The latest episode of Just Talking features Dan Hsu, Editor in Chief of Bitmob and GamesBeat. Dan's journey through the video game industry includes jobs like Associate Editor and eventually Editor in Chief for Electronic Gaming Monthly and Editorial Director of the 1Up Network. It also includes studying statistics at the University of Michigan. Most recently he founded Bitmob.com and announced its acquisition by VentureBeat. There's plenty of conversation about all of these topics, especially the VentureBeat acquisition over the next hour or so. Enjoy.

Follow Dan on Twitter at @DanShoeHsu and check out the excellent work done at bitmob.com.

Run Time - 1:05:53

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Mike Lawson is on the podcast this week talking about his life with diabetes including his initial misdiagnosis and the impact of the online community on his life. We also discuss social media efforts of major pharmaceutical companies and how there's reason for hope, just not in the immediate future. There's also talk about his blog and podcast, What Some Would Call Lies, the origins of something he calls "Mirror Mantras", Glee and coming out to friends and family. Some of our talk gets quite real, but it's well worth the listen. Enjoy.

Follow Mike on Twitter at @MrMikeLawson and keep up with his podcast at whatsomewouldcalllies.com.

Run Time - 57:32

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The latest episode of Just Talking features Len Peralta, his art, his history with podcasts, and an impressive list of Geeks he's illustrated and interviewed. What do you ask a man who's had the pleasure of interviewing Stan Lee? What does it take to stand out as an artist in this digital age? What the heck is "Geek a Week" anyway? There's lots to get to in this one but it's well worth the listen. Enjoy.

Len is a very busy man. You can follow him on Twitter @jawboneradio. Keep up with his "Geek a Week" project at http://geekaweek.net and his newest venture, 50 vs. 50 at http://the50vs50.com.

Run Time - 1:06:35

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When former Talking About Gamers co-host Steven Hayward contacted me asking to come on my podcast to talk about depression and suicide I knew this was something that needed to get out to the masses. Steven spends a few minutes talking with me about his emotional and mental roller coaster over the past few months and how he has found support and a better direction in his life. The point is that the support you, or someone you love, may need is out there - all you have to do is look.

If you or someone you love needs help or just someone to talk to, you can reach out to Steven on Twitter @Shayward23 or via email at [email protected]

Additional resources can be found at the International Suicide Prevention Wiki.

Run Time - 12:59

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Continuing the conversation with Chris Sparling to talk about life after his first movie 'Buried', the writing process and movie making experience of his second movie 'ATM', the business mind behind releasing a movie On-Demand before a theatrical release and life as a father. Enjoy.

ATM will be available on Video on Demand channels March 2, 2012 and will hit theaters April 6, 2012.

Chris was previously on Just Talking to discuss his movie 'Buried', you can find that episode here. Be sure to follow Chris on Twitter @chrissparling.

Run Time - 51:09

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A few years ago my mom introduced me to NFL RedZone and my football watching life has never been the same. This program highlights every touchdown, every field goal, every major play, and more during the 7+ hours the NFL is on Sunday afternoon. No commercials means there's no opportunity to leave your couch, but you wouldn't want to knowing that every significant play of the week will be shown to you. At the helm of this television masterpiece is my guest for Episode 124, Scott Hanson. We talk about his five hour audition for the role of host, the exponential growth in popularity of the program and why he has the most discussed bladder in television. It was a real honor having Scott on my podcast and I know you're in for a treat. Enjoy.

Follow Scott on Twitter at @ScottHanson and learn more about NFL RedZone at nfl.com/redzonetv

Run Time - 20:30

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Jeff Green has had a lengthy career in the video game industry. Now he's the Director of Editorial and Social Media for PopCap Games - very impressive stuff. We talk about his work at PopCap, his nearly 20 years at Ziff Davis Media (from associate editor to Editor in Chief) and the continued popularity of GFW Radio, and we sprinkle in a lot of conversation about social media including the implict value of social media to mutli-million dollar companies and what it's like when your phone explodes with messages after a company like EA buys a company like PopCap. Enjoy.

Follow Jeff on Twitter at @Greenspeak and be sure to check out the PopCast on iTunes.

Run Time - 1:05:51

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I'm going back to Blacksburg for Episode 122 with my good friend Jadd Adams (who has the best twitter name, Jaddams). I've known Jadd for most of my journey at Virginia Tech and it was a blast catching up and talking about why he chose Virginia Tech, what made his fraternity experience positively life-changing, and what made Halo 2 the definitive gaming experience of college for us. We also talk about life after an degree in accounting, new-job-jitters and his side project: Mistaken For Strangers and the incredible success it has had in its infantcy. Enjoy.

Jadd tweets at @Jaddams and contributes regularly to Mistaken For Strangers.

Run Time - 52:18

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Bennet Dunlap joins me this week to talk about raising two children with diabetes, what makes Disney a special place, his favorite Top Gear episodes, sports in Philadelphia and most importantly, the power of community support. I often stand on a soap box and sing high praises of what the diabetes online community is capable of, Bennet provides plenty of examples over the next hour of how a network of apparent strangers can make all the difference in the lives of the people you care about most. Oh, and there's also some discussion about the shoes people wear at Disney World. You'll have to listen to understand what that one is about. Enjoy.

Bennet blogs over at YDMV.net and tweets @BadShoe.

Run Time - 1:05:45

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The final piece of the Marvel.com team has arrived on Episode 120 in the form of its Assistant Editor Marc Strom. Marc lives on the west coast which means his job primarily revolves around the latest from Marvel's toys, video games, television and film developments. With the highly anticipated release of Marvel's The Avengers this summer, Marc is a very busy man. We also talk about traffic conditions in Los Angeles and Marc details how he almost ran into Samuel L. Jackson with a foam rock. Enjoy.

You can find the latest Marvel happenings, including the 'This Week in Marvel' Podcast at Marvel.com and be sure to follow Marc on Twitter @Strommy

Run Time - 1:04:15

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