Podcamp Then and Now

I am heading to Podcamp Montreal this weekend. It’s only my 2nd Podcamp, and I’m really excited to be going. My first Podcamp was in Toronto in 2006, and I attended pretty much on a whim. I was going down to Toronto to visit a friend anyway, and thought it might be an interesting way to spend some time in the Big Smoke. We figured we had nothing to lose, since it was free, and besides, if it was boring, we could always go shopping. 

Little did I know the life altering impact that one little un-conference would have on my life. I’ve made a pile of amazing new friends, made long-term business connections and, I learned the power that we as a community have to really shape the way people are communicating now and in the future. THAT really blew me away. 

I’ve noticed something interesting about how Podcamps have evolved over the past 2 years. 2 years ago, nearly every session on the schedule had SOMETHING to do about how to make money in podcasting and social media. The business models were numerous and diverse – everyone seemed to have the next best way to make a buck with this new medium. 

Podcamp Montreal has a very different flavour. As I review the impressive schedule, I see a very distinct shift in focus. Here’s a sampling:

• Why the Future is Always Too Far (Technologically Speaking) : 10 Tech Trends You Need To Understand As Social Media Masters with Sylvain Carle
• Please Don’t Suck! with Sylvain Grand’Maison
• Using Twitter to Monitor and Build Your Personal Brand – with Adele McAlear
• Podcasting From The Heart – The Value Of Recording A Show With No Editing And No Second Takes with C.C. Chapman and Mitch Joel
• The Self, the Identity and the Internet with Isabelle Lopez