First Gloria Steinem and then Steve Case. Now I am holding out for Ellen Degeneres to call.
January 27, 2007
I was honored to be asked by Cynthia (a woman you should really read because I totally admire and respect this woman and am actually trying to get her to adopt me!) to be on a conference call with Jenny of Three Kid Circus, Sarah of Sarah and the Goon Squad and Kelly of Mocha Mama to talk to Steve Case about his newly launched Revolution Health. My first thought was It must be another Steve Case. Not the Steve Case that is responsible for bringing more people to the Internet than Al Gore. Yes, it was in fact the Steve Case, co-founder of AOL.
He wanted to talk to us about the launch of Revolution Health. Now, this time, unlike my stumbling over my words when speaking to Gloria Steinem, I was able to form complete sentences and ask intelligent questions (or at least questions that I wanted to hear his views on.) All of the women on this call amazed me with their insight, intelligence and in depth questions about this new site. Steve answered these questions openly, honestly and with ease. (Yes, as a matter of fact, I was impressed with him.)
Now, I don’t think he will be calling me back personally as Gloria did (she told me to call her that), but I do plan on adding to my business card:
“On speed dial with Steve Case and Gloria Steinem. Or at least I pretend to be.”
For a full review of Revolution Health, go visit my new review blog at Buzz Review Blog. I have a lot to say (shocker!) about a lot of things. But first you can read about my conversation with Steve Case.
Now, I am just holding out for Ellen to call? Ellen? Can you hear me?
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Posted by Jenn @
9:56 pm |
Gloria Steinem has my number (and used it!)
November 5, 2006
Remember way back in September when I was on an amazing phone call with Gloria Steinem? Remember how we could ask her one question? Well, seeing as she is the most amazing woman when it comes to her time, she allowed us a follow-up question. Of course, it seems that as I sent my follow-up, my life went into a tailspin, so this is the first time I have been able to post about the question and her response. But first, I have to give you a personal story about this woman.
When I was in the midst of not knowing what was going on with my heart and all of the symptoms going on and was at wits end, I get a phone call. Of course my luck being the “walking under ladders luck”, I was not home to answer the phone. But I got this incredible message:
“Jenn, this is Gloria Steinem. I heard about what was going on with your health issues and wanted to talk to you further about it. If there is anything at all that I can do for you, please let me know. Here is my home phone number. Please feel free to give me a call back so we can talk.”
Then I fainted.
When I came to I called Jenny to say, “Gloria fucking Steinem called me to see how I was AND she left her HOME phone number. Gloria F. Steinem. Holy mother of all things feminist movement and kick ass-ness, I am freaking out!”
Finally I got up the nerve to call her back and we had a very lovely talk and she gave me amazingly wonderful advice as well as a referral to a doctor who may be able to better help me come up with a diagnosis. Phone call? Check. Advice? Check. Referral? Check. Freaking the hell out? Check. See? When I tell you this woman is amazing…listen to me!
So now, the real reason for this post. When we asked our original questions, we had a chance for a follow up. Here is my follow up as well as her answer. Enjoy!
1) Jenn Satterwhite - Mommy Needs Coffee:
Q: How do you suggest we break the boys club up and let our voices be just as respected and heard? Women are the experts when it comes to the Women’s Movement and Women Online. So, how do we stand up to the Boys Club on the Internet?
A: There are usually at least three ways to increase our power, not necessarily in this order: 1) Naming and claiming what power we have; 2) Demonstrating our power because, like a muscle, it has to be used to exist; and 3) Expanding our power.
Naming and Claiming could mean using the blogosphere to remind everybody that it was a woman (Grace Hopper, later a Rear Admiral)who developed operating programs for the first digital computer in the 1940s and also invented the first computer language in the 1950s; that Sandy Lerner invented the router that made the entire Internet possible (and on which Cisco is based); that women are now a huge percentage of computer users
Posted by Jenn @
9:52 pm |
In which the one who can talk to anyone freezes up
September 9, 2006
If you know me or have met me or even read this blog, you know I have no trouble spouting off whatever I feel like saying with very little regard to how it comes out. Meaning, I am who I am and am not usually intimidated when it comes to speaking to anyone. (Thus the frightening results of the McVlog BlogHer interview. See, the mouth opens and I just say anything. Not. Shy.)
Until last week.
Yes, finally there was someone who made me stammer and be blown away by her presence to a point that I have blocked out whatever inane thing I said and am hoping it was not too idiotic. People, I FROZE. I never freeze. They brought a camera crew to my house to interview me before and I was all, “Would you like some coffee?” Miss Relaxed in the face of interviews and/or cameras.
Who could do that to such a “Gimmie the mike! I’ll talk!” woman?
This woman right here. That’s right. Gloria Steinem. I had the perfect opportunity to ask her something absolutely brilliant and I think it came out something like: “Ramblgifc adhnd, but ehhidr brrstoglglfg? What do you think?” Like I said, I don’t freeze up. I take things like this in stride. But, people, Gloria “are you kidding me in the real life” Steinem?! And I was chosen to ask my question second. Meaning, I could not steal borrow follow-up in the brilliance of the other amazing women who were in on this call with us.
But being the amazing world that it is, fate has smiled down on me and I have been given another chance to ask the incredible Gloria (Yes, in fact she did tell me to call her Gloria. We are so BFF now. –And no I don’t really believe that.) So, if you were given a chance to ask Gloria Steinem a question, what would it be? I have a question or two in mind now that my brain has de-gelled from its blithering idiot mode, but I would love to hear what you would ask her.
So, speak up!
———
Now why was I on the call with Gloria (so on a first name basis now!)? Well, in part to help promote the incredible new launch of Greenstone Media. Their motto: Talk. Listen. Connect. Well, hello! Is that not what we are doing here? This is why Greenstone Media and the awesome personalities they have on air right now have made me go into complete crush mode. I have listened to the hysterical and great trio of the Radio Ritas. Laughed at the incredible commentaries of Women Aloud. And listened intently at the passionate way that Lisa Birnbach brings her topics alive with warmth and ease as if you are sitting there face to face.
I mean it! I am totally crushing on this new venture. I have had numerous opportunities to talk to some people there and *fingers crossed* may have another opportunity for an interview coming up. Have you checked them out yet? If not, go. Now. Go. Greenstone is on the verge of something awesome and huge. You can say you listened way back when some blabbering blogger suggested it to you.
And remember…one question for Gloria Steinem. What would YOU want to ask her? Let me know!
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Posted by Jenn @
3:30 pm |
