Today, we truly kick the PR tires of this little communications vehicle and examine the age-old question: What happens when the chaos and creativity of social media meet the procedures and priorities of state government? 

What we found is that a statewide social media and digital content administrator is born, naturally.  Andrew Belanger is that administrator for the State of Michigan, and he is today’s guest on the Cold Oatmeal podcast. 

What’s it like to ultimately bear the responsibility for every tweet, post, and snap coming from Michigan state government?  Let’s find out.

Sometimes you have good ideas.  And sometimes you have today’s episode of the Cold Oatmeal.  You, faithful listeners with questionable podcast preferences, be the judge.

Let’s spin the wheel!

Aw shucks.  No Helen Keller truthering on today’s episode.  But, our cold open to Cold Oatmeal will give Stormy, Alec, and Ben a run for their money.

Ever wonder what it’s like to hear your voice on the radio or TV… every single day?  Or, maybe as you walk into stores or catch a plane at the airport?

The “Man of a Couple Voices,” Bob Olson, joins the podcast to tell us.

I think when we look back at this episode, episode 14 of the Cold Oatmeal podcast, we’re gonna say, “Man, that’s when we really hit our stride.” Or maybe, “Well, it was fun while it lasted.”

We do have a big announcement on today’s episode, though.  Big.  Super big.

There’s no going back now.  Today, we actually have a radio broadcasting profession on the podcast. 

It’s a little bit like asking a celebrity chef over for some Craft mac and cheese and a nice white Zinfandel from a box.

Cheyna Roth, the capitol correspondent for Michigan Public Radio, is our celebrity chef, and we talk journalism movies, sandwiches, fighting crime on the streets of Ionia and what makes for good radio.  Our friend Andrea Bitely, Comms Director for Michigan's Attorney General, also helps out with guest hosting duties.

Today, we do a podcast about podcasts.

How do you start one?  What do you say?  Well, the hell if we know, so we talk to Chris Gautz, former reporter for Gongwer News Service and Crains Detroit, now the Public Information Officer for the Michigan Department of Corrections.  He also happens to be the co-host of an award-winning podcast.

(Tap... tap... tap)  Is this thing on?  Ok?  Ok.

We’ve heard you fans, loud and clear. We’ve turned up the volume a bit and moved closer to the mic for this week’s episode after our experiment last time podcasting in mime… Sorry about that John Reurink.  Apparently actually being able to hear a podcast is an important feature.

And what better episode to be able to hear than our conversation today with signer/songwriter/lawyer/father Brian Westrin of the band Westrin and Mowry.

Did you know that if you catch a swordfish and go to measure it so you can brag to your friends, the fish’s sword nose isn’t included in the actual measurement?

Did you know you can hop a plane to Mackinac Island in the winter for 30 bucks?

Did you know Stephanie is really good at podcast announcing?

We learned all these things talking to John Reurink, owner and publisher of MIRS News

So what do the Michigan State University response to the Larry Nassar tragedy and cancer have in common?  Well, first, they are both pretty horrible.  Second, we are going to talk about both on today’s podcast.

Sound fun?  No??  We have a laugh track.

So, cell phones are pretty cool.  And I think one of the reasons why is that pretty much all of us are walking around with cameras in our hands with the ability to take pictures of things.

But does taking a picture make you a photographer?  Ehh.  No.

Today on the Cold Oatmeal podcast we talk with Khalid Ibrahim.  He's a photographer, and a great one at that, and one of the most interesting people we have come across in our work.