Two years ago I got an email from this guy named Justin about a thing called PodCamp that was happening in Pittsburgh. At that point I had been podcasting about a year and had just moved back to Pittsburgh from an agonizing six years in the NY metro area. That was our first PodCamp and I even gave a class about dealing with global listeners. It was thrilling to see that enough people in Pittsburgh were interested in social media like I was. Of course, being the stereotypical computer programmer I was quite shy that first year and didn’t meet too many people. Now I know that there is nothing to be afraid of.

To me, PodCamp is a place to meet people with a common goal, which is to find alternate avenues in which to express our ideas and art. Even if I publicized a discussion on gay and lesbian issues (the center of my show) at a venue in the ‘burgh there is no way that I would have over a thousand people attend. That is truly the power of this medium. I also never thought that people in China would be interested in hearing what I had to say or that I would be featured in a magazine (Out in New Jersey)!

I’m able to reach literally thousands of people with a message that raises their awareness on a wide variety of social issues that I am passionate about. You also get to hear the real life stories of people who have been in similar situations. It’s my goal to hopefully help at least one person through their life’s struggles by using the power of information. The greatest feeling is hearing from someone in a rural part of South Africa that they don’t feel alone and isolated anymore because others have gone through the same experiences. That’s what it’s about, for me. It’s not about fame or glory… and it’s certainly NOT about the money. I’m happy to sponsor PodCamp Pittsburgh for the third year in a row to provide this valuable learning and networking experience, for free, to all those who attend.

For more information:
Jason Cable’s GLBT Podcast & Blog
http://www.jasoncable.com