Superhero, reveal yourself!

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The Superheroes of tomorrow are at today's PodCampsI don’t know about you, but lately, from my perspective, there have been a lot of things going wrong with life in general around me. Not specifically in my own life, which has been blessedly good, but in the bigger picture. Whether it’s the overseas military campaigns, scandals in loan industries (take your pick), it seems some days like we’re barely staying afloat in a torrent of bad news.

At the PESC conference this week, one of the key points I made about podcasting and new media was that it gives us our voice back, gives us the same power as multibillion dollar corporations to express ourselves and be heard. This is a superhero power that is unlike any other we’ve ever had the chance to use. We’ve pontificated long enough on the meaning of new media, the implications, and its myriad potential uses.

The time has come to make use of our powers. If you believe, as I do, that everyone who picks up a microphone or camera, is a rockstar and superhero in waiting, now is the time for us to unleash our powers as fully as we can on the world. Produce media, gather audience, gain mindshare, and let new voices be heard. The PodCamp UnConference series is a good start to this, but there’s more to be done, more to share with the world.

Take a look at our world. Look at the headlines on the news, in the papers, on the radio. The world desperately needs us – all of us – to share media that gives a truer, broader, and more authentic big picture than we currently get from mainstream media.

Are you ready to show your superhero powers?

Comments

60 responses to “Superhero, reveal yourself!”

  1. Becky McCray Avatar

    A clear call to action! Thank you!

  2. C.C. Avatar

    VERY much looking forward to see where your mind is going with this. You KNOW I’m on board

  3. […] How the hell am I suppose to go to bed when I’m not in the best of moods and I then I read Chris Penn’s call to action? […]

  4. Becky McCray Avatar

    A clear call to action! Thank you!

  5. C.C. Avatar

    VERY much looking forward to see where your mind is going with this. You KNOW I’m on board

  6. Chris Brogan... Avatar

    Wow, now I have to think on how to apply this to me. I mean, the Avengers had Jarvis who was like their house marm, making sure Iron Man got his martini and Thor kept his hair out of Captain America’s soup. Should I be the house marm?

    But that’s no fun.

    Getting into the action is fun. But I’m not an especially political person. By design. So hmm… I shall have to pick my fight and jump in.

  7. Chris Brogan... Avatar

    Wow, now I have to think on how to apply this to me. I mean, the Avengers had Jarvis who was like their house marm, making sure Iron Man got his martini and Thor kept his hair out of Captain America’s soup. Should I be the house marm?

    But that’s no fun.

    Getting into the action is fun. But I’m not an especially political person. By design. So hmm… I shall have to pick my fight and jump in.

  8. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Think of it kind of like this, C.C. If you woke up tomorrow morning with the ability to fly, or read minds, or any of the “superhero” powers, how would you use them? What would you do with them?

    New media’s power kind of crept up on a lot of people, not the least of which are new media’s producers. If we had suddenly woken up one morning and had the ability to talk to the world, we’d probably think of it more as a superpower than an evolution of technology. I’m suggesting that we step back and examine what we have in that context – wake up today, tomorrow, whenever, and see the power we have, then decide how to use it.

  9. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Think of it kind of like this, C.C. If you woke up tomorrow morning with the ability to fly, or read minds, or any of the “superhero” powers, how would you use them? What would you do with them?

    New media’s power kind of crept up on a lot of people, not the least of which are new media’s producers. If we had suddenly woken up one morning and had the ability to talk to the world, we’d probably think of it more as a superpower than an evolution of technology. I’m suggesting that we step back and examine what we have in that context – wake up today, tomorrow, whenever, and see the power we have, then decide how to use it.

  10. BigTC (Tony Carcieri) Avatar
    BigTC (Tony Carcieri)

    Truly believe you are right. I am a “newbie” in this arena but need to say I had a good foundation set by C.C. What I am experiencing is that the leaders in new media (CC, Chris Brogan, you) have powerful and insightful ideas and commentary yet we are dishelved. We all have our own sites, our own feeds, blogs, etc. What we need firstly is to have a common site where the leaders can rally the troops.

    Next, while everyone is trying to jump on the Web 2.0 bandwagon, let’s look into Web 3.0. I have been formulating and percolating (sorry coffee is brewing) in what Web 3.0 should mean.

    How can we change the world? We know the new media arena is, for the most part, a well grounded community. We respect one another, we are thoughtful of others ideas, we desire for the greater good…we are the greater good.

    To me…Web 3.0 (or whatever the term will be) will be about community. Not multiples though. 1 single community. 1 community where we use new media to engage, entice, inform, and educate.

  11. BigTC (Tony Carcieri) Avatar
    BigTC (Tony Carcieri)

    Truly believe you are right. I am a “newbie” in this arena but need to say I had a good foundation set by C.C. What I am experiencing is that the leaders in new media (CC, Chris Brogan, you) have powerful and insightful ideas and commentary yet we are dishelved. We all have our own sites, our own feeds, blogs, etc. What we need firstly is to have a common site where the leaders can rally the troops.

    Next, while everyone is trying to jump on the Web 2.0 bandwagon, let’s look into Web 3.0. I have been formulating and percolating (sorry coffee is brewing) in what Web 3.0 should mean.

    How can we change the world? We know the new media arena is, for the most part, a well grounded community. We respect one another, we are thoughtful of others ideas, we desire for the greater good…we are the greater good.

    To me…Web 3.0 (or whatever the term will be) will be about community. Not multiples though. 1 single community. 1 community where we use new media to engage, entice, inform, and educate.

  12. Peter O'Connell Avatar

    “If you believe, as I do, that everyone who picks up a microphone or camera, is a rock star and superhero in waiting, now is the time for us to unleash our powers as fully as we can on the world. Produce media, gather audience, gain mindshare, and let new voices be heard.”

    Chris:

    I agree the new voices should be heard but what always concerns me is the content producer’s attitude towards their content. As in: is there any there? People have no trouble “blathering” but usually have a great deal of trouble saying “something”.

    To have to sift through hours of crap to find one nugget will tarnish the new media polish and possibly impact its longevity.

    For those who feel they have a concise or at least clear message to share with an audience, saying “something” (of interest) won’t be a problem. But I would caution those who aren’t as sure what to say…think before you mic.

    Don’t misunderstand; DO take the risk of putting your message out there…whatever it is. But be thoughtful about, write yourself an outline of what you want to say and don’t be afraid to edit to make your message clearer. To do otherwise, in my opinion, is merely creating noise and we’ve got enough of that already.

    Just one guy’s thoughts. Thanks Chris.

    Best always,
    Peter

  13. Peter O'Connell Avatar

    “If you believe, as I do, that everyone who picks up a microphone or camera, is a rock star and superhero in waiting, now is the time for us to unleash our powers as fully as we can on the world. Produce media, gather audience, gain mindshare, and let new voices be heard.”

    Chris:

    I agree the new voices should be heard but what always concerns me is the content producer’s attitude towards their content. As in: is there any there? People have no trouble “blathering” but usually have a great deal of trouble saying “something”.

    To have to sift through hours of crap to find one nugget will tarnish the new media polish and possibly impact its longevity.

    For those who feel they have a concise or at least clear message to share with an audience, saying “something” (of interest) won’t be a problem. But I would caution those who aren’t as sure what to say…think before you mic.

    Don’t misunderstand; DO take the risk of putting your message out there…whatever it is. But be thoughtful about, write yourself an outline of what you want to say and don’t be afraid to edit to make your message clearer. To do otherwise, in my opinion, is merely creating noise and we’ve got enough of that already.

    Just one guy’s thoughts. Thanks Chris.

    Best always,
    Peter

  14. Doug Haslam Avatar

    Kinda funny you should post this– recently, I posted that I identified with Marvel’s Uatu the Watcher. The important thing here was that Uatu chose to violate his non-interference vow to save Earth. This was no small deal for him, got him in trouble, but he did the right thing.

    Obviously, you have been watching NBC’s Heroes. What will those characters do with their powers? I want to think less about what I would do if I could fly, but what can I do with my radio background (start a podcast), my PR background (advise friends on press outreach for fundraising efforts), and my ideas, profound or inane, that I might not otherwise express (my blog, my office blog, my community blog).

    Also, I don’t get hung up on small audiences– but if I’m reaching someone I did not otherwise, I have done something.

  15. Doug Haslam Avatar

    Kinda funny you should post this– recently, I posted that I identified with Marvel’s Uatu the Watcher. The important thing here was that Uatu chose to violate his non-interference vow to save Earth. This was no small deal for him, got him in trouble, but he did the right thing.

    Obviously, you have been watching NBC’s Heroes. What will those characters do with their powers? I want to think less about what I would do if I could fly, but what can I do with my radio background (start a podcast), my PR background (advise friends on press outreach for fundraising efforts), and my ideas, profound or inane, that I might not otherwise express (my blog, my office blog, my community blog).

    Also, I don’t get hung up on small audiences– but if I’m reaching someone I did not otherwise, I have done something.

  16. Marcus Avatar

    I’ve been thinking the same thing myself.. Time to raise our fists to the sky and get motivated to create some compelling content. Let’s get the superhero team assembled and raise hell.

  17. Marcus Avatar

    I’ve been thinking the same thing myself.. Time to raise our fists to the sky and get motivated to create some compelling content. Let’s get the superhero team assembled and raise hell.

  18. Amber Avatar

    Produce media, gather audience, gain mindshare, and let new voices be heard.

    Re: “gather audience” and “gain mindshare” – laudable goals that I 100% agree with and advocate for. “Why” is not a question at this point. The thing I keep running up against, though, is the “how” in actually accomplishing that – esp. for people who’s voices haven’t been heard. Truth is, there’s a good amount of bias at work within the community. We need to confront it.

  19. Amber Avatar

    Produce media, gather audience, gain mindshare, and let new voices be heard.

    Re: “gather audience” and “gain mindshare” – laudable goals that I 100% agree with and advocate for. “Why” is not a question at this point. The thing I keep running up against, though, is the “how” in actually accomplishing that – esp. for people who’s voices haven’t been heard. Truth is, there’s a good amount of bias at work within the community. We need to confront it.

  20. Whitney Avatar

    Someone made a point recently that they disliked the “superhero” analogy because it relied on a caste system- zero sum- If I am a super hero, it implies that someone else is not. Or as they said in The Incredibles, when everyone’s super, no one will be.

    Engagement and connection is the powerful stuff here- that what we are doing can have a real impact on other people. I got emails from literally the four corners of the world this week about my podcast- and while I “knew” that I had listeners from all over, this communication and connection drove the point home- I am effecting the lives of others around the globe with what I do.
    And this brings up the second main point- with great power comes great responsibility. You need to use your voice for good, and know that it is competing against a background of noise that can make it hard to hear. That’s when getting together, sharing, creating channels of valuable content works- it moves us towards the left on the Long Tail and makes it easier to separate the wheat from the chaff.

  21. Whitney Avatar

    Someone made a point recently that they disliked the “superhero” analogy because it relied on a caste system- zero sum- If I am a super hero, it implies that someone else is not. Or as they said in The Incredibles, when everyone’s super, no one will be.

    Engagement and connection is the powerful stuff here- that what we are doing can have a real impact on other people. I got emails from literally the four corners of the world this week about my podcast- and while I “knew” that I had listeners from all over, this communication and connection drove the point home- I am effecting the lives of others around the globe with what I do.
    And this brings up the second main point- with great power comes great responsibility. You need to use your voice for good, and know that it is competing against a background of noise that can make it hard to hear. That’s when getting together, sharing, creating channels of valuable content works- it moves us towards the left on the Long Tail and makes it easier to separate the wheat from the chaff.

  22. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Doug – oddly enough, I haven’t even seen Heroes. I don’t have television at home – all I have is a FIOS line!

  23. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Doug – oddly enough, I haven’t even seen Heroes. I don’t have television at home – all I have is a FIOS line!

  24. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Amber – absolutely, there is. The best way I can think of to combat bias and exclusivity is with things like PodCamp and the Creative Commons license. Knowledge is knowledge, and your ability to make use of it depends only on your intellectual prowess and experience, nothing else. Certainly not race, gender, or creed. The best thing new media producers can do for the community as a whole is to always share and give back to the community whenever possible.

  25. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Amber – absolutely, there is. The best way I can think of to combat bias and exclusivity is with things like PodCamp and the Creative Commons license. Knowledge is knowledge, and your ability to make use of it depends only on your intellectual prowess and experience, nothing else. Certainly not race, gender, or creed. The best thing new media producers can do for the community as a whole is to always share and give back to the community whenever possible.

  26. Amber Avatar

    The best thing new media producers can do for the community as a whole is to always share and give back to the community whenever possible.

    You are really good at saying stuff I want to quote! Can I use this as one of my blog header quotes? 🙂 (I guess in the CC spirit I shouldn’t have to ask, right…?)

  27. Amber Avatar

    The best thing new media producers can do for the community as a whole is to always share and give back to the community whenever possible.

    You are really good at saying stuff I want to quote! Can I use this as one of my blog header quotes? 🙂 (I guess in the CC spirit I shouldn’t have to ask, right…?)

  28. Britney Mason Avatar

    Okay this has got me all fired up!! Im excited

  29. Britney Mason Avatar

    Okay this has got me all fired up!! Im excited

  30. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Amber, you are more than free to copy it with my blessing.

  31. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Amber, you are more than free to copy it with my blessing.

  32. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Peter: yes, there will be a lot of stuff that doesn’t appeal to us. Poor audio quality, poor content. But you have to remember, that’s our perspective. One producer’s noise is another listener’s novelty. Take, for example, Dawn and Drew or Keith and the Girl. Neither show appeals to me, but it would be narrow-minded to call them noise, because they clearly appeal to a lot of other folks, and for that, I applaud them for finding their audiences. I don’t expect either team to listen to my show – I’m noise to them because my content is likely irrelevant to them. (as far as I know, neither D&D or KATG have kids old enough to be thinking about college)

    The power of the infinite dial is that yes, there is something for you there. If there isn’t, there’s an empty spot on the dial just waiting for you to fill it.

  33. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Peter: yes, there will be a lot of stuff that doesn’t appeal to us. Poor audio quality, poor content. But you have to remember, that’s our perspective. One producer’s noise is another listener’s novelty. Take, for example, Dawn and Drew or Keith and the Girl. Neither show appeals to me, but it would be narrow-minded to call them noise, because they clearly appeal to a lot of other folks, and for that, I applaud them for finding their audiences. I don’t expect either team to listen to my show – I’m noise to them because my content is likely irrelevant to them. (as far as I know, neither D&D or KATG have kids old enough to be thinking about college)

    The power of the infinite dial is that yes, there is something for you there. If there isn’t, there’s an empty spot on the dial just waiting for you to fill it.

  34. Skye Lemmon Avatar

    Can mecha robots be superheroes too? If yes, count me in…

    More than meets the eyes, robots in disguise! ;P

  35. Skye Lemmon Avatar

    Can mecha robots be superheroes too? If yes, count me in…

    More than meets the eyes, robots in disguise! ;P

  36. Rich Palmer Avatar

    I’ve been trying to carve out a segment of the population in my career as a safety educator/coupled with public information officer for the past 18 years. I truly feel that I am supposed to make a change — in knowledge, behavior and belief systems. However, I’ve felt many times like I am just banging my head against a wall as I look at blank stares and empty, glassy eyes.

    Finally, through new media options, I can raise a voice in many more subjects and I have a huge arena with which to do so. However, I’m always so “calloused” that what I say and do is just a small pebble hitting an already tumultous raging river.

    I’m still watching for the options, but I agree that Chris has the right attitude and passion. Now if we can just figure out how to focus everybody so that it isn’t just drizzle and it can become a thunderstorm effect.

    Holy media download, Batman, I think I’ve become too metaphorical in this post.

  37. Rich Palmer Avatar

    I’ve been trying to carve out a segment of the population in my career as a safety educator/coupled with public information officer for the past 18 years. I truly feel that I am supposed to make a change — in knowledge, behavior and belief systems. However, I’ve felt many times like I am just banging my head against a wall as I look at blank stares and empty, glassy eyes.

    Finally, through new media options, I can raise a voice in many more subjects and I have a huge arena with which to do so. However, I’m always so “calloused” that what I say and do is just a small pebble hitting an already tumultous raging river.

    I’m still watching for the options, but I agree that Chris has the right attitude and passion. Now if we can just figure out how to focus everybody so that it isn’t just drizzle and it can become a thunderstorm effect.

    Holy media download, Batman, I think I’ve become too metaphorical in this post.

  38. […] Christopher S. Penn » Blog Archive » Superhero, reveal yourself! “If you believe, as I do, that everyone who picks up a microphone or camera, is a rockstar and superhero in waiting, now is the time for us to unleash our powers as fully as we can on the world.” (tags: media newmedia socialnetworking podcasting blogging) […]

  39. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Rich: if you buy into chaos theory, even a pebble thrown into the river makes its impact known. I’m not too worried about focusing everyone – Bum Rush the Charts was a reasonable demonstration of focus. The trick, from my perspective, is to deepen and widen the river, get more people into it, so that even a tributary of the main river is still a force to be reckoned with.

  40. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Rich: if you buy into chaos theory, even a pebble thrown into the river makes its impact known. I’m not too worried about focusing everyone – Bum Rush the Charts was a reasonable demonstration of focus. The trick, from my perspective, is to deepen and widen the river, get more people into it, so that even a tributary of the main river is still a force to be reckoned with.

  41. Michael Bailey Avatar

    Okay Christopher – I accept your call to action.
    I am taking the necessary steps today to reveal my true superhero powers. More details later…

  42. Michael Bailey Avatar

    Okay Christopher – I accept your call to action.
    I am taking the necessary steps today to reveal my true superhero powers. More details later…

  43. […] Web 2.0 a conversational vacuum? Extending the conversation, with help from Chris Brogan, Christopher Penn, This is going to be BIG! and the Garden City Blog. Yes, Doug brings up […]

  44. […] post called “Extending the Conversation,” which pointed to two other posts, by Christopher Penn–another PodCamp founder– and Charlie O’Donnell, who wrought a post on “Top […]

  45. Annette sandberg Avatar

    I am stumbling along attempting to learn blogging and podcasting for the very reasons you mention. I have worked in child welfare/social services for almost 18 years, and I have been shocked at the lack of collaboration, knowledge sharing and social media participation present in this world. Primarily top directors attend conferences, and they seldom bring the information back to their organizations where knowledge about trends and best practices are desperately needed. I have not found any blogs or podcasts addressing these issues, but I have thoroughly enjoyed your blogs and podcast, as well as those of many others. I am very grateful for the mentorship (unbeknownsed to you) you have provided. Thanks!

  46. Annette sandberg Avatar

    I am stumbling along attempting to learn blogging and podcasting for the very reasons you mention. I have worked in child welfare/social services for almost 18 years, and I have been shocked at the lack of collaboration, knowledge sharing and social media participation present in this world. Primarily top directors attend conferences, and they seldom bring the information back to their organizations where knowledge about trends and best practices are desperately needed. I have not found any blogs or podcasts addressing these issues, but I have thoroughly enjoyed your blogs and podcast, as well as those of many others. I am very grateful for the mentorship (unbeknownsed to you) you have provided. Thanks!

  47. […] post called “Extending the Conversation,” which pointed to two other posts, by Christopher Penn–another PodCamp founder– and Charlie O’Donnell, who wrought a post on “Top […]

  48. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Annette:

    Why should it be unbeknownst? I’m happy to help. Get in touch with me and the rest of the community – we’re eager to see more, powerful uses of new media!

  49. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Annette:

    Why should it be unbeknownst? I’m happy to help. Get in touch with me and the rest of the community – we’re eager to see more, powerful uses of new media!

  50. Annette sandberg Avatar

    Christopher,

    Your seem like a genuinely supportive person, and I thank you for your words. My comment above was my first comment ever, by the way…how ya like them cherries. 😉 I’m from Oslo, Norway originally and my dad as well as some of my sibs live in Stocholm, Sweden, so I’m trying to figure out how to get to podcast europe. Sounds very exciting, but haven’t been able to rationalize the cost…yet.

  51. Annette sandberg Avatar

    Christopher,

    Your seem like a genuinely supportive person, and I thank you for your words. My comment above was my first comment ever, by the way…how ya like them cherries. 😉 I’m from Oslo, Norway originally and my dad as well as some of my sibs live in Stocholm, Sweden, so I’m trying to figure out how to get to podcast europe. Sounds very exciting, but haven’t been able to rationalize the cost…yet.

  52. Annette sandberg Avatar

    Ummm, previous comment should say “podcamp”, not “podcast”.

  53. Annette sandberg Avatar

    Ummm, previous comment should say “podcamp”, not “podcast”.

  54. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Annette: well, PodCamp Europe is free, so if you can shack up with your siblings and take the subway, you should be good to go with no money spent.

  55. Christopher S. Penn Avatar

    Annette: well, PodCamp Europe is free, so if you can shack up with your siblings and take the subway, you should be good to go with no money spent.

  56. […] this is what Chris Brogan and Chris Penn really mean by becoming a Super Hero. (Links are to their posts on SuperHero- go check ‘em […]

  57. […] of formidable online community developer Chris Brogan and fellow Chris, Chris Penn of Financial Aid Podcast – Podcamp has blossomed in all sorts of places around our planet where […]

  58. […] Web 2.0 a conversational vacuum? Extending the conversation, with help from Chris Brogan, Christopher Penn, This is going to be BIG! and the Garden City Blog. Yes, Doug brings up […]

  59. […] post called “Extending the Conversation,” which pointed to two other posts, by Christopher Penn–another PodCamp founder– and Charlie O’Donnell, who wrought a post on “Top […]

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