The Unknown Studio

Many people in Edmonton know the name “Mack Male“. A young Edmontonian, one of the champions of the Open Data movement, local software developer and blogger, and social media maven, Mack has [perhaps inadvertently] asserted himself as what I’ve come to refer to as Edmonton’s prodigal digital son. “Prodigal” because he is a prodigious individual who once moved away to the Territories, but ultimately returned to the City of Champions. “Digital” because he exists nowhere but on the internets, and anyone who does meet Mack in person should know they’re interacting with an advanced robot.

I’m kidding. Mack’s no robot. In fact, he’s one of the smartest and nicest people I’ve met in this city.

My first encounter with Mack was at DemoCamp 3, I believe. He was the young dude taking photos of everyone and assisting Cam Linke and Kevin Swan with the event. He looked like any other geek. When I eventually found my way onto Twitter, I realized that in the ever-growing Edmonton online community, Mack is a key influencer. A Big Deal™, if you will.

Mack and I have become friends over the last few years, as our paths cross fairly often due to several shared passions. It made sense to have him on the show. It’s taken us too long to get him into the studio.

So, Scott and I present to you the Mack Male episode, where we discuss his views on the Open Data movement, social media, blogging and even what life up north was like. If you enjoy it or not, leave a comment and let us know!

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EDMONTON JOURNAL STILL SPONSORS THE UNKNOWN STUDIO
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It’s true! After so much joking and tongue-in-cheek referrals to Edmonton’s newspaper of record on our show, the Edmonton Journal decided to put their money where our mouths are, by sponsoring the Unknown Studio this month!

We’re helping EJ to promote their Blackberry mobile launcher. You can check it out by clicking here on your Blackberry browser. If you have any comments about the mobile launcher or the Journal’s mobile site, let us know and we’ll pass it along!

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Click here to download the latest episode of the Unknown Studio.

The Unknown Studio is a proud member of the League of Extraordinary Media.

Thanks to Dave Cournoyer for allowing us to use one of his photos for this post.

Popularity: 17% [?]

It’s that time of year again, everyone. The time when Hollywood is abuzz… With gossip, wild speculation, and a genetically sperior African killer bee. Yes, it’s Oscar time, thirties of listeners.

If you’ve ever listened to our show for any reasonable period of time (say, about 5 minutes), you’ll likely have discovered that Scott and I thoroughly enjoy movies. From the most complicated and grueling bit of German Expressionism to the comedic stylings of Lloyd and Harry, we are like the obsessed fanboys of the medium of film. And with the 82nd Annual Academy Awards coming to a television set near you on Sunday March 7, we thought we’d share our thoughts, feelings and indulges with our listening public.

But we couldn’t do it alone. So we brought in David Berry, Vue Weekly arts writer and local freelance journalist.

In our Oscar episode, we’ll share our predictions, opinions (both informed and uninformed) and thoughts on the movies of 2009 that made the greatest impact. And we’ll even complain that Star Trek wasn’t nominated for Best Picture. Remember: fanboys.

Join us for the hilarity, the mystique, and the beeping out of swears! And be sure and share your thoughts in the comments as well.

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EDMONTON JOURNAL SPONSORS THE UNKNOWN STUDIO
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It’s true! After so much joking and tongue-in-cheek referrals to Edmonton’s newspaper of record on our show, the Edmonton Journal decided to put their money where our mouths are, by sponsoring the Unknown Studio for the month of February, and maybe even beyond. Particularly once they hear this show!

We’re helping EJ to promote their recently released Blackberry mobile launcher. You can check it out by clicking here on your Blackberry browser. If you have any comments about the mobile launcher or the Journal’s mobile site, let us know and we’ll pass it along!

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Download the MP3 of the Unknown Studio’s 18th episode

Popularity: 28% [?]

For our Valentine’s Day episode, we decided to do something a little different. Rather than try and think of ways to provide people with advice on gifts or things to do, we thought we’d talk about one of the big things that may (or may not be) on people’s minds this V-Day: sex. And in order to do that, we spoke with Brenda Kerber, owner of Edmonton’s Traveling Tickle Trunk about sex toys, sexual health, the people’s attitudes and openness toward sexuality in general.

Brenda showed Scott and I some of the terrible, poorly made sex toys there are on the market. And they’re terrifyingly shabby. She also showed us some spectacular products that are top of the line (and some of them more resemble something you’d see Apple design than a sex toy manufacturer).

Brenda also shared her thoughts on North America’s attitude toward sex, and some of the more puzzling aspects of sex education, particularly in Alberta.

Finally, for listeners of the Unknown Studio who download and listen to the episode, you’ll hear a very special offer from Brenda to you for Valentine’s day… But you have to download the episode and listen through for details and take advantage of it before Valentine’s Day.

Check out our Flickr group for some photos of the sex toys Brenda showed us, and be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments section!

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EDMONTON JOURNAL SPONSORS THE UNKNOWN STUDIO
===============================================

It’s true! After so much joking and tongue-in-cheek referrals to Edmonton’s newspaper of record on our show, the Edmonton Journal decided to put their money where our mouths are, by sponsoring the Unknown Studio for the month of February.

We’re helping EJ to promote their recently released Blackberry mobile launcher. You can check it out by clicking here on your Blackberry browser. If you have any comments about the mobile launcher or the Journal’s mobile site, let us know and we’ll pass it along!

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Popularity: 39% [?]

In keeping with our seemingly recent theme of covering different aspects of the journalistic profession, Scott and I played host to iNews880.com news reporter Jeremy Lye. Jeremy, originally from Australia, spent some of his professional life covering corruption and drugs wars taking place in Central America, particularly places like Honduras and Guatemala. We wanted to know Jeremy’s perspective on what it’s like to work in foreign places, where you might not know the language and customs so well.

Jeremy shared some of his scary moments with us, and some of his thoughts on why he would place himself in those situations, and now his perception of traveling to dangerous places has changed now that he’s a dad (though he definitely gave us the impression that once his kids grow up, he’s right back on the foreign journalism train). Then we also talk about how Australians don’t drink Fosters, and how awesome the snow is here (seriously, Jeremy loves the snow).

Give the episode a listen, and share your thoughts in the comments section or give us a review on the iTunes music store!

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EDMONTON JOURNAL SPONSORS THE UNKNOWN STUDIO
===============================================

It’s true! After so much joking and tongue-in-cheek referrals to Edmonton’s newspaper of record on our show, the Edmonton Journal decided to put their money where our mouths are, by sponsoring the Unknown Studio for the month of February.

We’re helping EJ to promote their recently released Blackberry mobile launcher. You can check it out by clicking here on your Blackberry browser. If you have any comments about the mobile launcher or the Journal’s mobile site, let us know and we’ll pass it along!

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Popularity: 40% [?]

Well, Happy New Year to our twenties of listeners. Scott and I enjoyed our break, but we were both also very eager to get back into the swing of things…

In our fifteenth episode, we sit down with Gateway Editor-in-Chief Mike Kendrick and Canadian University Press President Rob Fishbook to discuss the upcoming National Journalism Conference being hosted in Edmonton by the Gateway and Canadian University Press (CUP) this coming weekend. This event sees hundreds of student journalists descend on the city for a weekend AGM and professional development conference. The line-up of speakers giving talks at this year’s conference (affectionately called “Nash” by salty old-school CUPpies like myself) includes such luminaries as Jan Wong, Adrienne Arsenault… and Scott and myself, if you can believe it.

We also discuss the changing media of student journalism and some of the interesting content and technological challenges that CUP is helping its members tackle — we even get a bit of a sneak peak at CUP’s soon-to-be-launched proprietary content management system for member papers.

Finally, and you’ll never believe this, I got to work in a Star Trek reference. All in all a great show and a terrific start to the New Year.

Popularity: 50% [?]

I know you’ve been waiting for this. It’s like a new Christmas tradition! Instead of going to church or opening presents, you can all gather ’round the old iTunes box and listen to that there podcast what’s hosted by those sweet, sensitive young men, Mr Scott C Bourgeois and Mr Adam Rozenhart. Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 50% [?]