Tech Intersect™ with Prof Tonya M. Evans
Tech Intersect #14: Stephanie Humphrey: Best Practices for Managing Your Digital Brand
Summary:
Your key to getting the results you deserve.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
Regulate & The Rabbit Hole by Notty Prod licensed via Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Produced by Tonya M. Evans for Advantage Evans, LLC
Summary:
Your key to getting the results you deserve.
Listen on: Apple Podcasts
Regulate & The Rabbit Hole by Notty Prod licensed via Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Produced by Tonya M. Evans for Advantage Evans, LLC
spk_0: 0:07
Welcome to Tech Intersect. I'm your host, Tanya Evans, and my life and work exists at the heart of law, business and technology. Yeah, I've earned a few fancy titles in degrees over the years, but the bottom line is I'm a writer, speaker, teacher and lifelong learner, and I'm really excited that you join me on this journey. So what is Tech intersect? Well, it's authentic, empowering conversations with really interesting guests who demystify complex topics to prepare you for the future. Because your future is now and it exists where law, business and tech intersect. Get ready to listen, learn and left change. Let's get
spk_1: 0:50
started. In this episode, I welcome technology and lifestyle expert Stephanie Humphrey to this show. She's a former engineer turned media personality, a technology contributor for ABC News, and you may have seen her regular segments on the nationally syndicated daytime show Stray Hand, Sarah and Kiki. She's also the founder of Till Death Do You tweet an educational Siri's she delivers to students, parents, schools and businesses. Stephanie has a long and impressive history and technology and media, but she is most passionate about helping people, especially Children, to become better digital citizens. We cover exactly what that means and how best to utilize technology responsibly and safely. This is particularly important because although we recorded this episode a few weeks back, we're now living in the age of Cove. It 19 the novel Corona virus. Many of us are working from home, sheltering in place. This is an anxious and uncertain time, and everyone is using online capabilities and other technology to connect remotely. Given that so many people are involved and necessarily so in physical distancing, many people were talking about it as social distancing, but I'm going to refer to it as physical distancing. Now more than ever, we need to be social in virtual communities. But we also want to do so safely and responsibly, and Stephanie will help us in this particular episode. So now it's time to listen. Learn and leverage. Let's get started. I am so happy to welcome technology and lifestyle expert Stephanie Humphrey, a k a. Tech life. Steph to tech intersect to talk about what it means to be a good digital citizen on social media and the Internet in this increasingly challenging technological age. And I'm especially excited to have Stephanie on tech intersect because she's a friend, a speaker circuit colleague and from my hometown, Philadelphia, which makes both of us. Philly Johns. If you don't know what that means, please ask Google because we don't have time to explain right now. But I digress. Stephanie, welcome.
spk_2: 3:07
Thank you so much for having me. I hate to have to throw any salt on that wonderful, wonderful intro. However, I am originally from Pittsburgh. I've for years, though, so I I am an honorary John at this point, but I But I got a rep from my hometown. Teoh and I am originally from Pittsburgh.
spk_1: 3:31
Nowhere is we have you know, we have Pittsburgh, love. We got Phil Pennsylvania ex balloon,
spk_2: 3:39
and I have a job. You
spk_1: 3:41
are official joint. So there's that. There's that before we get into some of the really incredible things you are doing, particularly with your programming around till death do you tweet. I want to share with the listeners the path that you took from tech to media. And they're all of those things that led you to this point because I love origin stories. You have a really interesting one. And it's not a linear path. But what I love about this is that each step that you've taken really makes sense, given what you're doing now, So please share that listen
spk_2: 4:11
so true is definitely not a straight line. Ah, my background is an engineering. I have an under undergraduate degree in electrical engineering and a master's degree in telecommunications and networking engineering. And I worked as an engineer for 13 years for Lockheed Martin. So sat in the cubicle with the, you know, security clearances and all that good stuff and just was not at all fulfilled. Their ah felt like there was something else out there I could be doing and went through a variety of different things, looking for what might end up being my exit strategy. So fitness was sort of the thing at first, and I was gonna train and and open up a gym and franchise and then be the black Lucile Roberts. That was that was the goal at the time. And I was teaching kickboxing in a couple spaces in the city and, um, and working towards my personal training certification. And while I was doing that, I actually got the opportunity to be in a fashion show. And it was It was a woman that I worked out with a woman. I went to the gym with, asked me to be in our fashion show, and she's like, Oh, you know, you will put you in something cute shop your little stomach and that and I got a discount. It was that it was at a dress barn, a retail women's. We tell clothing store and and she was gonna give me a discount on whatever I bought that night, too. So that was really kind of solidified it for May. Next to it, I could become and walk and shop, too. So let's do this. It literally was just a favor for a friend. And as it happens, because the universe always knows better, there was a woman there that had a modeling agency, was like modeling school, slash agency. And she and I got to chatting afterwards. And, you know, do you model professionally? You were great ball a bomb like Are you kidding me? I'm you know I'm not a size zero. I'm not six foot tall. I'm not all those things you associate with modeling, and I'm like, not an engineer. I've just doing this for my friend and you should think about it. You were really great. Blah, blah, blah, as she may have only just been trying to sell me runway classes. But the seed of of inspiration was planted, so to speak. So I just started looking into it. It was just It was never even at that point, it was. It wasn't something I thought would become a new career. For me. It was just something that could give me, Ah, good diversion and distraction from my day to day 9 to 5 and and make a couple extra bucks on the side. So I started looking into it, asking questions, asking around, Got some pictures done. I did finally get an agent in Philadelphia, and the more the more I did, the more I wanted to do so. The modeling stuff was cool. But when I was able to get in front of that camera and just be myself and B ah, host or a spokesperson, acting's not really my thing either. But when I can, when I can just be myself when I'm educating people on some particular topic, you know that's my lane I realized that that was my lane. So hosting spokesperson, you know, that kind of thing. Lifestyle expert, that whole thing. So I just figured Let me see what this could be and and slowly but surely was it was a very, very gradual process because I I was not in a position. Teoh, you know, drop everything and run to l. A or, you know, sleep in my car on Hollywood Boulevard. Anything like that are, you know, head to New York and and and start over because, you know, I wasn't 22 I had a job that was paying me six figures. So why would I go do something else at this point? But it was calling me my spirit, you know, was talking to me and and and again, the more I did, the more I wanted to do in the more I, you know, realized that this was something that I could do and make a living at. So there came a point in time where I had to sort of make that decision. And so I came up with a plan that I was comfortable with that would allow me to leave my job and still, you know, maintain my lifestyle. And I did that in 2007 and was doing a bunch of stuff because at that time, I hadn't sort of settled on tech life. Stuff wasn't born yet at that time, because I hadn't, okay, had sort of settled on the idea of doing tech in media. It hadn't occurred to me to be perfectly honest, because I was so my my objective was to get as far away from all of that is possible. So I kind of threw the baby out with the bathwater. At that time I said, I'm gonna be an entertainment reporter and I'm gonna do red carpet stuff and I'm gonna ask people who they're wearing and that's gonna be my life And ah, and I did get to do some of that. It's ah really difficult area of journalism to break into, because there so many other people that are trying to do it, and so many other people that have actual journalism decrees that are trying to do it. So I was running into ah, lot of that pushback from casting directors and networks and different things like that. But for, But I'd say for about 23 years, maybe I was. I was successful enough. You know, I was working at Q B. C is a model. I was you in, Ah, lot of Philadelphia. The bulk of the work in Philadelphia in front of the camera is in industrial videos and prom, primarily pharmaceutical industrial. So I did pharmaceutical industrial videos for Merck and Wyeth and Glaxo. If anybody listening works for any of those companies, you probably saw me and number two. You know what I mean, Or or Dr Williams or somebody Because that was that was literally the book, the bulk of my work at the time. And, um, you know, got to do some red carpet stuff. I'm actually in two feature films, you know, just, ah, whole lot of experience, doing a whole lot of cool things. Ah, I room or traffic. I was the backup on our traffic reporter for the CBS affiliate in Philadelphia for time, and I actually still do traffic on the weekends for the radio here. And, um so just all of those things that that got me comfortable in front of camera that gave me the experience of extemporaneous speaking, because sometimes you just got to make that stuff up as you go along and on the fly. Yes, absolutely. And And And it only And like you said it all kind of prepared me for what was going to be that next step. And so there came a point in time where I had a meeting with a guy who was at the time the vice president of diversity for Comcast, and I was convinced I was going to go in there and dazzle him with my charm and my beauty and my charisma. But he was not gonna be able to help but put me on television, and I kid in there. So it's a whole story. We'll have to. We'll have to tell the real story over drinks someday at Eddie V's. But But, you know, I go in here with his whole attitude, his whole mindset. I had set my intention. If you will Teoh, make this man love me basically, and he literally, you know, let me talk for about 10 minutes and he said, I'm going to stop you right there. He said, What are you doing? And I'm like, What you know, because I'm thinking this could be my big break. He worked for comp, right? Teoh and he just like looking at me like it does not. Not necessarily something on the bottom of his shoe, but But the disdain was was evident and and palpable. And he's like, What do you doing and like, What do you mean? You know, as my bottom lip starts quivering and I'm trying not to cry under this stranger, you know, he said, you walked in here and, you know, you mentioned you are an engineer in passing and you haven't talked about it since. He said, What are you doing? And I'm like, I still don't understand what you made and he said, I know thousands of pretty girls who want to be on a red carpet. He said, I don't know anyone that could do what you could be doing. He said, So I'm gonna ask you again, What are you doing? And literally in that moment, You know, I hate the term light ball moment. I I am a person from a person of faith, So I say, God gave it to be in that moment. In that moment I literally said out loud I could be a tech life expert and and that was it Take life. Stuff was born that day in in his office, you know, after he had broke me all the way down and on and and then God gave me division and I said, You know, I have all of this newfound media training it and experience no years now in front of the camera doing ruin things and and I got to engineering degree. So let's put those things toe work. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater because I love technology. I was born an engineer, you know, and I was born a teacher. So let's figure out how we can put those two things together now. My old love and my new love together and and make make it work, make a brand out
spk_1: 13:17
of it. That is tremendous. And and I believe there's certainly no accidents at all. I also know that God uses people and we don't even know he actually exists, because sometimes you have those moments, and it's really an angel passing through to remind you what somewhere deep inside you actually already know and to have that moment. I mean, we just had a shot moment I wanted, like, past the place. I don't know how this is gonna happen, but it means a lot. And also it means a lot to my listeners because a common theme across a lot of these fantastic interviews, this amazing path that gets you to this moment in time. And it also reminds people that there's no wasted effort at high end. As long as you're still breathing, you're still moving, and you can collect all of the wisdom in the
spk_2: 14:04
past and have the
spk_1: 14:05
opportunity to course correct. And when you are course correcting it was, you know, I can imagine. Ah, I'm thinking of the timing of all of it and the dot com boom and and, ah, lot of energy around the build of Web two point. Oh, right, well, But you know, if your now I don't want to use the word just a technologist who does not also appreciate business marketing media is lost. And if you can find that sweet spot between the two, then I think that's when people really can go on with entrepreneurial endeavors and all of the other things, but it also leads me to what you're doing now in terms of we hear a lot of the successes, but there are a lot of dangers on the Internet and particularly with social media, right? So we created this digital footprint on the Internet, and it makes it difficult or impossible to erase. And given that one's digital footprint conveys information to people that you may not intend to see it talkto us what you've learned now some of those cautionary tales about the dangers on then we'll get to some strategies that Children and parents can use. But what what are we facing now in 2020 and beyond?
spk_2: 15:17
Well, I mean, I think right now the most pressing thing is is cancel culture, you know, it's like one tweet and, you know, look cabin hard. I mean, he's he sort of made a bit of a compact with his Netflix special, but But I think that was only because, you know, he got in that accident and he was able to garner some sympathy from people. You know, folks were definitely ready to write him off, and some probably still have, and that's just you know, one of the many examples we have and and it can happen to anybody, though, And I think people on Lee think it happens to celebrities because those air, the higher profile things that we all hear about, but it can literally happen to everybody. I give examples all through my presentation of just regular people. You know, I don't talk about any celebrities in my presentation, because why do you talk about one NFL player? But I don't talk about any celebrities in my presentation because I want people to understand that this is happening toe all of us in everyday life. Just on Ah, an off hand comment, you know, liking a certain post, posting something in the heat of the moment that, you know, you don't get to take back. And and I think what most of us don't understand is that the Internet is, for all intents and purposes, permanent. You know what you put there will last for at least a long as the Internet exists and everything there is searchable and recoverable. And knowing that I think informs what you do from that point on, knowing that somebody can go to the way back machine and find your Twitter feed from 2016 or 2010 or whatever should have an effect on your mindfulness as you go forward on the Internet and what you choose to share. So I think if people can just remember those two things about the Internet, that everything is searching, recoverable and that it is, by and large a permanent record of of your deepest, darkest emotional thoughts and feelings, I think that would change the way a lot of people proceeded with their behavior. Online way
spk_0: 17:23
Hope you're enjoying this addition of tech intersect. Our conversation will continue in a moment, but first, a word on an exciting opportunity. The tech Intersect podcast is released to the public every Friday, but as an advantage Evans member, you'll receive first listen. Access and live tech Intersect connect video chats. Premium members also receive a copy of My E book, three Gen Xers Guy to up Skilling in a Web three Pointer World and unlimited access to the video chat. Three plays and bonus episodes. My pro members, ready to leverage what they listen to and learn, receive access to the up Skilling self guided course and V i p Group coaching calls. So as you can see advantage, Evans membership adds substantial value to your podcast experience, and there are three ways to take advantage. If you see what I did right there. Of all that the tech intersect podcast has to offer. So subscribe now and let's listen, learn and leverage together. And now, back to the conversation. Yeah, I think social media in particular gives us
spk_1: 18:37
this false sense that we're just talking to the people. We intend to speak to that. Ah, And even if you have a quote unquote private account in some respects that you're just a screenshot away being publicly exposed, you
spk_2: 18:52
should know. You gotta watch. And that's what I tell the kids. I'm like, you know, that that group chat, you know, that private fever group? Um, you know all of those things. Just privacy just doesn't exist for us anymore, as as we knew it. You know, I don't know what you know if you're into the VP ends and we can get into the technical weeds of that. But if you're into that kind of thing, you're a little bit better protected. But but even that there. There really is no guarantee because there's always that next 15 year old hacker that you know revels in the idea of being able to crack a code and wanna spill information onto the dark Web. So just the idea of privacy we need to. We really do need to change our idea of privacy in this day and age and understand what, what we've given up already.
spk_1: 19:44
Absolutely. And you know, when they say that data is the new oil and and nothing is really free. So it is a literal currency, and if you're not monetizing it, then rest assured someone else's. And the 15 seconds between put in your email or, heaven forbid, sign in with your Facebook account, and this is free that that it's just gives me shivers because we now live in. I grew up in a time where you opt out of privacy. There, the presumption was privacy, and now it's like the presumption is no privacy unless you work really, really, really, really, really hard to protect yourself. And even then, by the time you find the 17 steps that you need, for example on Facebook to be toe opt out of some experiences, but we still have terms of terms and conditions in terms of use. Nobody reads it. So
spk_2: 20:35
how can people and I want to
spk_1: 20:37
divide this question into two? Okay, I imagine we'll actually one you have. You speak with students and schools, you speak to parents and you speak to businesses. But I imagine you're even though the overarching theme would be the same, that you have a different way of of communicating to students who have to regularly opt out. And they regularly don't versus what you might tell their parents versus businesses. So let's start with student. What do you tell them about how to protect themselves?
spk_2: 21:02
So the conversation Ah, it really doesn't start with social media. The conversation starts with personal brand because that, I think, is the is the other peace Teoh this whole thing and the idea that no one really thinks they have one. You know, I people even in this day and age, even with the Gary V's of the world screaming it from the rooftops, I think being right, I think the average person still on Lee thinks about personal brand in terms of celebrities or CEOs or, you know, somebody who happens to be in the public eye for some reason. And the reality is we all have that personal brand. You know, we all have that thing that we are recognized for, that that way in which people know us. You know, even if it is on Lee. Even if you've never been on the Internet at all, you've never touched a computer at all. You still have a personal brand that follow you around a month. Just your circle. You know, when somebody says your name, if somebody knows you or knows of you, there are certain things that they know about you that make up who you are, or at least who they perceive you to be. So we all have that brand and we talk about that with the kids. We talk about how it gets represented in person. How do you introduce yourself to someone? Do you know how to do a proper handshake? You know, are you making I contact with that person? You have less than a second to make an impression. So what sort of impression are you making on that person when you're standing right in front of them to, you know, your personal brand is represented in writing. You know, when you're sending emails to people when you're turning in your homework, is it ledge A bull is it spelled correctly, is a grammatically correct. They're all of those things in place, so that when you're not standing directly in front of that person, your personal brand is still being represented in a proper way. You know it is represented by other people. So fair or not, what other people think about you can start to become your personal brand. If all your teachers think you're the class clown, guess what? You're the class clown, you know, even if you only told that one joke that one time you know and disrupted the class two years ago that's stuck in your teacher's head. They spoke to your other teacher who spoke to your other teachers. So now your personal brand is being propagated in places where you don't even live, you know, so you have to think about all of those things. But we talk about social media in particular and digital foot print in particular, because that is the quickest and most effective way to grow and develop your personal brand, while Sam simultaneously being the quickest and most effective way to destroy it in just one fail swoop in one tweet in one post. So so That's the connection that I make with the students that gives them that sense of ownership in the process that puts the onus back on them to do whatever you want. You know, I'm not telling you what to do. I'm not only not to be on social media, it could be a very powerful tool if you use it correctly. But this is what can happen if you're not thinking about your personal brand when you're posting, and this is what can happen if you are so you just put it out there. You give them the choice and the options, and you give them the real world examples off of both of those things, the good and the bad, and you let them make the decision, and by and large it does usually end up being a once they know better. They do better sort of proposition,
spk_1: 24:23
right? Absolutely. And I remember I did watch some of your videos to just get a flavor for till death. Do you tweet? And one of the takeaways that I was left with is that you don't approach it by saying social media is bad. Don't ever use it, right that just say no approach. Just
spk_2: 24:41
I would never tell anybody to do. I love social media. I never getting off instagram until this on bears a lot of good that can be done with social media. There's a lot of money to be made on social media. You know, there's a lot of very positive things that can happen using those platforms, so I would never tell anybody not to do it. But you have to be mindful in what you do. And you have to be thinking about what the things you post are going to say about your personal brand now and 10 years from now, even even as a 13 year old you have to be. You have to have that level of mindfulness because you know, people that are 23 now have things that are coming back to bite him in the butt that they posted when they were 13.
spk_1: 25:28
Absolutely thank goodness that social
spk_2: 25:31
media than that Back in the day way Trouble. When will Rob Lowe?
spk_1: 25:38
So what do you tell parents? So you set the stage in schools? What advice do you give to parents? Just not well, certainly to support their Children. But I suppose that they should take some advice. Ah, as well, in terms of how they are interacting because that can ultimately be reflective of or impact their Children. I can imagine as well
spk_2: 25:57
Well, that's the thing. You gotta model the behavior that you want to see in your kids that that's number one. Number two. You are going to have to get at least familiar with what your kids are doing online. That's that. I think that's the biggest problem that I see with the parents is that you know, a lot of them are just like I'm not tech savvy. I don't understand any of this. I just give him the phone and I just let it. I just wash my hands of the whole thing. You can't do that, you know, And and it's not even about being intimately familiar with the technology. It's about having that conversation and and just helping your kid understand that you know the same way they need to be a decent person in real life. They need to be a decent personal on line two, and and that's a parenting that, you know, that doesn't have anything to do with Tic Tac. So it won a one. Exactly. It it really is having that conversation, reinforcing that messaging, helping them, to understand that that the stuff is gonna be there forever And honestly, you know, we we've come to a point in our society as it relates to social media, where some of these tweets are literally the difference between life and death. For some of these students, you know, a lot of the schools that I go into I go into after something unfortunate has happened, and now they want to try toe, fix it. So I see this. I know that kids are killing themselves because of tweets and posts. You know, I've stayed after seminars for an extra hour and had kids in front of me in tears because they were being bullied so badly on a social plan warm. So I've seen it and and it's not just a matter of telling kids to suck it up and get over it and it's it's just social media and it doesn't mean anything. And and I have to help parents understand that that they shouldn't try to diminish that right communication in that platform as well. Because that means a lot to those kids. That means everything that those kids and you know, things go viral all the time, understanding what that means. And it's a different story from just having the one bully at school had done like you when you got 10,000 bullies better that are calling you fat and ugly and things like that. So it's a different dynamic. You know, the kids are still the same, and they still just want to be popular and liked and everything else. But But those tools, that difference that comes with using those tools makes the game Ah, whole lot more higher stakes, if you will. So that is my My first focus with the parents is helping. I'm helping them understand that this is not something that you can just low off and and hope goes away. But then, you know, empowering them as well. So, yeah, we got to do this work, you know, the same way you had to teach him out of, tie their shoes and look both ways before they cross the street. Now we gotta teach him how to be good digital citizens to It's just a part of the, you know, a part of the package at, you know, in an anti society now. So So let's look at what we can do. So now we start talking about tools and resource is and digital contracts. And if you need to put any sort of monitoring software on your kids phone and all these other considerations, so so I'm really trying toe. Give them everything they need to go out there and and feel empowered. Thio Thio have this conversation and continue it once, once the seminars over
spk_1: 29:12
and I can imagine. It also requires that they tuned back in because I find that adults are tuning out on social media and all the technological bells and whistles and the Internet of things and all of our devices air talking to us into each other on DSO. Adults are very distracted as well, and when I think of the development of brains of young people is they're moving into young adulthood, we are only just scratching the surface of the impact that right now that it's happened, that's right. So you also speak to businesses. I'm interested to know what some of their questions are or the advice that you give in the business context as well.
spk_2: 29:56
So again, it's it's it's so amazing to me that there are adults out there that don't consider themselves someone that has a personal brand that needs to be monitored and worked on and developed. And And if you're a working professional at this point in the game, if you are, if you're not at least on lengthen like your behind and everybody's ambition is not toe, climb the corporate ladder and end up in a C suite or start their own business or, you know, become this great entrepreneur. I get that. But you still I have to imagine that you still want to grow even within the company that you're in, and and that happens because you promote your personal brand. Even if you're not doing it online, you're you're you're talking to your supervisor about that project you just did. You have your performance review where you have to kind of sell your accomplishments over the past year. You know you have the 3 60 review where you have to coordinate when you're appears. So that's all branding. You know that into a certain degree. And and so the idea that you think you can get away with not having to consider that aspect of your professional career is just naive, you know? And so that's the first conversation. I try to help them understand that this is a thing that exists. And then, you know the idea of a digital footprint. Some people don't think. I mean, I don't really do much in that. And I'm like, if you've ever watched the Internet at all, you have a disease, you know, to me, like even if you just sent that one email that one time or, you know, got on your phone to do a Google search about that one recipe like that safe somewhere, that information is saved somewhere, and it's certainly and it's searchable and recoverable. So, knowing that you know, and understanding why it's important now to manage what the Internet knows about you. What is the Internet? No amount you won the last time you googled yourself. You know. And when you did what came back. So because you also need to understand that somebody is going to Google you, you know your supervisor, your manager Ah, date, you know, So somebody's gonna google you, so it's up to you whether or not you want to take a little bit of control over what they see when they do. So so then we get into that convert, we get into a little S CEO conversation, little search engine on domination conversation because, you know, using utilizing these platforms, the social platforms or your website or your blog's or whatever is going to help that process, you know, it's gonna help. Your S CEO is gonna help what people see when they look for you. Look the way you want it to. And and I'm helping them kind of control that narrative as much as we can. You know, we don't have that much control over, but you can do something. So So we talk about those things that you can dio. Then we do a length in deep die because that's the low hanging fruit there That's the lowest buried of entry, in my opinion, to someone who wants to start building their personal brand online. You know, get your lengthen profile set up. We go through, you know all the things you need. Teoh. Complete the profile. How your picture should look the bio, some tips and tricks. So we get into a ah, fairly decent deep dive of of Lincoln and how to use it as a tool to build your professional brand, your personal brand and your professional brand. Really? Um and then and then just kind of tips on it used to be It's funny. Um, even just as short as five years ago, the question was always, How do I separate personal and professional online? And and now it's It's how do I balance personal and professional online? Because there is no real separation anymore. So we were gonna talk through some things that they people can do to balance their their online personas, if you will.
spk_1: 33:46
Now that's really important, because so much information is being digitized. So let's assume that there is this person out in the world and I'm judging. You know, I'm not judging you, but I do have concerns if I can't find anything on
spk_2: 33:58
someone. If I can't find any of this said I'm like that. May right, Hold up as I mean. How about your two little I'll look it Now, look at the age of the person that I'm start there. That's you know, and I'm like, Well, you know, older boomers and things like like like my dad doesn't have a huge social profile usually. But, you know, has one, you know, to me, And it includes me because if you go three, search results down to that one People Finder search result. You know, I'm listed as his daughter, so it's like their their stuff out. They're about pretty much anybody at this point, because public records have been digitized, criminal arrest records have been digitized. You know, all of that stuff lives online. So, you know, depending on what someone's looking for, it could come back to bite you. And then if you're not really being proactive in that process, what about all those folks that have the same name as you do, you know? And the fact that people don't read anything past the title of anything? So So if the John Smith that's a porn star pops up Mertz or the John Smith that that is on a sex offender registry pops up first. Do you know someone may just assume that that's who you are and keep it moving, and that's a lost opportunity. So you know, we want to help people understand that in this day and age, there's really no excuse for not trying to establish at least some level of digital footprint for your own benefit. And you're you're really, really hurting yourself professionally if you don't
spk_1: 35:28
absolutely. And I think you know at a bare minimum if you are at a company or with some type of educational institution or range of things where they're going to at least mention your roller capacity with that company, for example, that people are controlling your narrative and what you do, and you want to make sure that it's accurate. And in addition to that, I'm thinking of myself as well. Obviously, as you know, the associate dean of the law school, I have my law school dean persona that is, You know, the narrative is on the law school's website, but it was also really important for me to have my own platform, my own website, my own media assets. That's because you work somewhere until you don't. I wouldn't
spk_2: 36:07
listen to have Teoh be deleted and not have access to the information about myself. I will tell my own narrative. Thank you. And that and that. We know you can't expect that you're gonna be at a company for 30 years anymore. Like, you know, the average. Now people happen every two years toe from place to place. So if that's something that you see yourself doing or that that is even in within the realm of possibility changing jobs, you know you're gonna need tohave a digital for Well, one of
spk_1: 36:39
the final things that I wanted to speak to you about and have you share with listeners is the segment that I love the most about what you do. And that's that 62nd tech
spk_2: 36:49
break. I have learned, Warren, 60 seconds from you every time. Oh, get this. Oh, my goodness. Why didn't I know about this? Thank you. Also tell me about how
spk_1: 36:58
that even came to be. And if you have any tips that you want to share that you spoke about recently or that are memorable.
spk_2: 37:04
Okay, well, I mean content is king, you know that's never gonna change. And, you know, most of my content is curated content that I push out every week. I'm pushing out tech content pretty much five days a week, Monday through Friday as schedule it the night before And, you know, I read the articles and then I push out content on my own with my own thoughts attached to them, to try toe marks, some engagement. Start a conversation around it. But I still want to create content as well. You know, I think I think it's important if you're going to be branding yourself as this expert that you actually produce content as well. So video is where we're going and I wanted to be, and I wanted to be able to do something that would, you know, because because the thing is like, there's still a lot of people out here, you know, 99% of people that that will tell you that they are very intimidated by technology. It changes all the time. It's always something different, something new, some hack, some breach, some this, some that and those are the people that I speak to. I am not that tech expert that wants to talk about the latest startups. Siri's a round of funding. I mean, I might pay a little bit of attention to that on my own for just personal interest. But But that is not the messaging that I'm pushing out to the masses because no one else really cared that much about that besides the people that are in that space. So I'm that person. That is all about relevant actionable information. If relative that was like my motto all last year, these to be relevant and actionable and the actual tagline to the 62nd tech break. Um, I think it's in my Twitter cover image. Watch Lar do. So you sit for a minute, watch this video, learn a little some, and then just go do that thing change that privacy is heading. Flip that switch talk. Will that button you mean download that thing? And I have literally gone through great pains to make it as simple as humanly possible. Um, for people to be able to get this little nugget and have it actually change their lives in a really, really measurable and actionable way, so I could think of to in particular that we're like, Oh, my God. The one I just did out silent thing. I don't I am really bid I e tell you, I don't know why I didn't know that that was like a new part of the latest IOS update. But you know, the idea that I could just send those calls to wait him out without ever having to even consider them is just the best thing ever. And And I can remember one of my very 1st 62nd tech breaks was around, um, turning off the auto play on Facebook videos because it was very, very traumatic to me to have to scroll through my feed and a fight video automatically starts playing or, you know, some races screaming at some woman or somebody getting shot or, you know, ah, man, beating a woman like, literally, these videos would just start. And I would be like, Oh, my God, I don't want to see that. You know what? I'm trying first the button to stop it from planet. And just that that assault on on my psyche was with disturbing to me. So, you know, when I figured out how to like you said, dig through the 12 layers that that Facebook tries Teoh implement to get you not to do that. I said, I know somebody else is gonna want to do this because nobody wants to be out stuff, you know, just automatically in their face without warning. And And that made such a difference in my overall enjoyment of that platform. You know, I think probably in my mental health, you know, And I'm sure it made a difference for some other folks as well. So it's It's usually those really, really simple ones that you're just like, Oh, man, I've been, look, and for a way to do that for so long And now, you know, you just you just lightened your technical burden by that much,
spk_1: 41:07
right? Absolutely cause at the end of the day. And I think that one of the common threads given what we've talked about is certainly what you do is about taking ownership and control. And so what I find from all of those tips is thes air actionable and meaningful things that that we can do immediately to assert some control over our interaction with technology. How we are crafting our brand, how we interact personally and professionally. And so, Ah, little goes a long way, especially because thes platforms aren't going to tell you these things.
spk_2: 41:37
Absolutely not. Absolutely not. So you know, I feel like it's sort of by my my mission in life toe. Just give folks a little bit. Just a little bit of knowledge, a little bit of encouragement, you know, a little bit of understanding because I don't like to see people getting left behind. And it's more often than not, people in underserved communities. People in in communities that look like me that can you surf YouTube all day long. But when you when you actually talk about how are you using these tools to enhance your daily life and make your life easier? People are usually coming up a little bit blank at that point. So it's just like, yes, we have these phones, they're not going anywhere. So let's try toe, you know, maximize their their efficiency in their use. Well, before I
spk_1: 42:26
close out, have one final question because I have seen some of your segments on straight hand Sarah and Kiki and I'm
spk_2: 42:34
wondering how that
spk_1: 42:35
experience is going. You all really seem to enjoy each other. It seems really fun, and I'm just wondering how that's going cause that I love that part about what you're doing now,
spk_2: 42:43
too. It's It's awesome. I actually, um, in last August God Ah, freelance contract with ABC News. So I am officially the technology contributor to straight hands there and Kiki and and it's a wonderful, wonderful platform. You know, I think the three of them really appreciate the information. Sara especially she loves that. She's like going I'll when you come here because I think she she considers herself like this, this closet techie and, uh and so she can't wait. She's like, I never even I don't look at the notes beforehand because I want to be surprised when you when you when you bring whatever you bring, cause you always bring such cool stuff. You always give us such good information, and I think they all really, really appreciate it. And I think the viewers, due to you know I'll go back, you know, on their Facebook page. And look, if they post my segment, I look at the comments and answer questions and things like that so the engagement. I think they've been really great. You know, I just hope to do even more of them this year and and hope to be able to help even more people.
spk_1: 43:43
Outstanding. Um, well, you are making a difference. You're making a difference in my life. So you know, I'm an only child, so I'm usually focused on myself.
spk_2: 43:51
But I'm happy that you're helping
spk_1: 43:52
other people to, uh, work that you're doing. It's really, really important, particularly as the increasingly technological age requires that we know what's going on. And I do. I am concerned that underrepresented populations will get left behind as we enter this web 3.0 build from Blockchain Internet of things. A i M. L augmented reality and all of those things like that. You can't know everything about everything, but you have to be. We have to be more intentional about the direction that the world is moving and how to best prepare for it not just for today, but for the future. And so, starting where you are, take your existing expertise, take the challenges and questions and concerns, and spend some time particularly ah, with the information that Stephanie is providing. And so there's so many free resource is now that we have to start somewhere. But we have to get in the game. And so I I appreciate the work that you're doing to help people do that. And I want you to tell listeners how they can connect with you and your work. Teoh continue to engage.
spk_2: 45:01
Well, my website is till death. Do you tweet dot com Or you can just follow me all around the web at tech life stuff.
spk_1: 45:09
Oh, and you say that on your cities. I love it. Thank you, my friend. I adore you and and thank you for saying yes when I gave the
spk_2: 45:20
cold within. Thank you so much for having me. I appreciate any opportunity toe Get the message out there and and just, you know, I think what you're doing is wonderful. Providing a platform for people and and getting that information out there. So I was happy to help in any way that I could
spk_1: 45:38
wow, really valuable information that Stephanie shared about being intentional and mindful of protecting your personal and professional brands on the Internet and social media platforms. Meaningful, actionable steps. So here are a few takeaways. One remember once posted, always posted. The information we share online creates a digital footprint that is difficult or sometimes impossible to erase entirely. And the information you think you're sharing just with family, friends and colleagues may end up in the hands of those who wish you harm or those who might hold it against you without context or an opportunity to explain to control the controllable control, your own narrative, your online identity. Your story As best as you can know how the digital twin of you i r l or in real life, the one that communicates with the world. 24 73 65 That one is representing you in the best life and finally three. Protect your privacy. Strong passwords, vetting links before you click or share and knowing who you follow and also who follows you. These simple steps go a long way in keeping you safer out here in these digital streets. I'll share more information about safety, security and privacy in the full show notes That always appears in the Triple L Weekly, and maybe we'll get Stephanie to do an upcoming AM A for advantage. Evans members. If you want to join, please use the link in the summary for a plus membership that gives you early access to episodes. A free copy of the Triple L Weekly with the full show Notes, Media Links and Mawr. And, by the way, Triple L stands for listen, learn and leverage and also enjoy your first month free. It's just a dollar 99 thereafter, but I want you to jump in, enjoy one month free, kick all the tires, the bells, the whistles and then I hope that you'll stay. So that's all for now. Stay safe out here online and in real life. Wash your hands, protect each other, be kind, show a lot of grace. And let's do what we need to do as in community, the world community, the global community to make sure that we all survive in the age of covert 19
spk_0: 48:03
until next time, continue to shine. Stay in touch with host Tanya Evans via your favorite social media on Twitter at at Tech Intersect and on Instagram via the handle tech intersect. This podcast has been produced by Stephanie Renee for Soul Sanctuary, incorporated