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Why I Social

Christopher Barrows

Take a look behind the social handle with every Why I Social episode. The podcast brings brings you candid conversations with folks who do social media right - from average joe to CEO. Each podcast invites you to get to know guests on everything social media and beyond.

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S2 · E46
October 27 · 31 min
Episode 46 - Matthew Makak | Social Media and Mental Health
In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Matthew Makak, a licensed mental health counselor. Makak originally began his career with the desire to be an actor before making a shift in his career to become a mental health professional. Today, he operates his own solo private practice. He also spent more than five years as a content creator on YouTube, where he ran a YouTube channel with more than 1,000+ subscribers. The conversation includes: How his experience as an actor plays a role in his success as a mental health professional His background in content creation and personal experiences with the positives and negatives of social Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Mental Health and Social Media And as always, discover why he socials! Psychology Today Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E45
October 6 · 46 min
Episode 45 - Steven Puri | Storytelling, Hollywood and Flow State
In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Steven Puri, CEO and Founder of The Sukha Company. Steven's career bridges engineering and storytelling. Drawing on his computer engineering background and creative communication skills, he moved into the film industry through digital visual effects, contributing to films like Independence Day, before taking on studio executive roles at Sony, DreamWorks, and Fox. Today, he leads The Sukha Company, building a tool that helps people reduce distraction and do their most focused, productive work. The conversation includes: How Steven combined technical skill and creative communication to go from digital visual effects to studio executive. Why great writing comes from a deep understanding of human nature rather than derivative tropes Why Large Language Models (LLMs) are probability engines that reflect past data, and why human creatives remain uniquely able to break patterns and innovate. How an offline flight and an unexpected flow state inspired a company named for the Sanskrit word for "happiness." Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Storytelling and Flow State And as always, discover why he socials! LinkedIn TheSukha Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E44
September 7 · 42 min
Episode 44 - Nicole Rodriguez
In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Nicole Rodriquez, Senior Manager (Marketing and Communications) at The American Epilepsy Society. At the American Epilepsy Society, Nicole leads as a strategic marketing and communications leader responsible for advancing the organization's mission, elevating brand visibility, and driving stakeholder engagement through integrated, data-informed strategies. She previously served as a Communications Strategist and Marketing Manager prior to her current role. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Non-Profit and Mission-Driven Marketing And as always, discover why Nicole socials! LinkedIn The American Epilepsy Society Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E43
August 25 · 27 min
Episode 43 - Jenn Pedde
In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Jenn, Vice President of Customer Advocacy at PeoplePath, to explore how an unconventional career path through entertainment, international education, and community management shaped a unique approach to customer advocacy and social media strategy. Jenn's journey reveals how diverse professional experiences compound into sophisticated communication skills. After starting as a publicity intern at Island Def Jam managing campaigns for major artists, she transitioned through high-profile talent booking at William Morris before pivoting to teach English abroad in South Korea. That decision to prioritize global communication and cross-cultural connection ultimately redirected her toward building communities and advocacy programs that would become the foundation of her current work. At PeoplePath, Jenn redefines customer advocacy as the intersection of marketing and customer service, grounded in recognizing that meaningful relationships and communications always start with treating others as human beings. What You'll Learn: How a background in celebrity branding and entertainment PR translates to B2B customer advocacy The power of community-building initiatives like Twitter chats in establishing industry authority early in her career Crisis communications frameworks and why they matter to your social media strategy The human-centered philosophy behind effective customer advocacy programs Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Customer Advocacy And as always, discover why Jenn socials! LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E42
August 10 · 35 min
Episode 42 - Blake Mischley
In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Blake Mischley (co-founder of Meet Your Class) to break down the creation of Meet Your Class to serve the Higher Education industry, including the launch of a new social media platform, Reach - designed with the unique aspects of the industry in mind. Blake breaks down his transition from student community manager to education tech founder, revealing how the landscape of university recruitment has undergone a fundamental shift. Today's incoming students research institutions through social media with the same weight they give institutional websites, especially first-generation students. In addition, the episode also covers the practical challenges campus social teams face daily and introduces Reach, a brand-new ecosystem purpose-built to solve them. What You'll Learn: The impact of social media in the era of AI search engines How incoming students are researching Higher Education institutions Why social media is important for first-generation students The story behind the building of Reach Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Building Social Media Tools (Reach) for Higher Education And as always, discover why Blake socials! LinkedIn Meet Your Class Reach Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E41
July 27 · 34 min
Episode 41 - Joshua Altman (beltway.media)
In this episode of the Why I Social podcast, host Chris Barrows sits down with Joshua Altman, Managing Director of beltway.media, to unpack what "social first" really means for small and medium-sized businesses. Joshua breaks down what it means to operate as a fractional Chief Communications Officer, taking the day-to-day communications burden off founders and technical teams. Also, find out why "Social-First" means treating social as a core distribution channel from the start, with content workflows designed so bigger projects automatically feed smaller pieces. In addition, the episode also covers two frameworks Joshua uses with his clients: Story, Narrative, and Brand: The raw facts, the throughline that shapes how people interpret them, and every touchpoint a customer has with a company The Four Languages: Designing content around how audiences read, see, hear, and experience information Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: A Fresh Perspective on a Social First Approach And as always, discover why Joshua socials! Get To Know Joshua LinkedIn beltway.media Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E40
July 17 · 30 min
Episode 40 - Derek Hales
On this episode of Why I Social, Chris is joined by Derek Hales, founder and editor-in-chief of NapLab.com, who brings a background in SEO, social strategy, and content marketing, shaped early on by agency experience working with Fortune 100 clients. Derek shares the origin story of NapLab, born out of a frustrating and expensive in-store mattress shopping trip with his wife back in 2014, and how that experience pushed him to start reviewing and comparing mattresses online. He also discusses how NapLab built its reputation on highly objective, data-driven testing, including why he waited two full years before publishing his first "best of" list to make sure it was backed by clinical-level data rather than opinion. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Building Trust And of course, learn why Derek Socials Derek's Links: LinkedIn NapLab Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E39
July 6 · 35 min
Episode 39 - Eric Carlson
On this episode of Why I Social, Chris is joined by Eric Carlson, founder of Loon's Eye Digital, who has spent his career in the world of digital marketing, building digital strategies that have included SEO, conversion rate optimization, email campaign strategy, and social strategy. His recent webinar with the National Institute for Social Media covered the topic of how marketers can create tech stacks to improve their workflow, which he further discusses as part of this week's Hot Topic. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Building a Tech Stack for Social Media Marketers And of course, learn why Eric Socials Eric's Links: LinkedIn Loon's Eye Digital Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] Watch Why I Social on YouTube About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E38
June 10 · 39 min
Episode 38 - Dex Polizzi
On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Dex Polizzi (Owner of Sidewalk Savers) who began his career in the agency world, specializing in public relations and digital marketing. His professional history includes working with technical industries, such as cybersecurity and tech infrastructure, as well as organizations close to the federal government. He has since started his own business locally in Verona, NJ serves residential, commercial, and municipal markets at a hyper-local level. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Marketing Local Business through Social Media And of course, learn Dex Socials! Dex's Links: LinkedIn Sidewalk Savers Website Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E37
May 27 · 39 min
Episode 37 - Eli Igra Serfaty
On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Eli Igra Serfaty (Co-Founder and CEO, MAIA Digital), whose career winds from military service through venture capital before landing in the world of LinkedIn strategy. Founded in 2019, MAIA Digital specializes in LinkedIn profile optimization, company page management, and immersive workshops that pull back the curtain on the platform. Fun fact: The name carries meaning too, inspired by MAIA, the Greek goddess of growth, which reflects the company's mission to set individuals and businesses up for LinkedIn success. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Employee Advocacy on LinkedIn And of course, learn why Eli socials! Eli's Links: LinkedIn MAIA Digital Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E36
May 5 · 38 min
Episode 36 - Marley Molkentin
On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Marley Molkentin (Communications Specialist at Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative), who helps tell stories that makes an impact. She has her Master of Arts from Columbia College Chicago, which made an incredible impact on her career and where she is today. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Creating Media and Content That Makes A Difference And of course, learn why Marley socials! Marley's Links: LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E35
April 21 · 34 min
Episode 35 - Kaila Vander Horn
On this week's episode, Chris is joined by Kaila Vander Horn (Head of Content at Speedwork) for a discussion about B2B content on LinkedIn. Kaila has more than a decade of experience in social media and digital marketing and we explore how she advanced professionally to where she is today, earning the trust of businesses and c-suite executives. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: B2B Content and LinkedIn And of course, learn why Kaila socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Kaila's Links: LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E34
April 6 · 44 min
Episode 34 - Jason Schemmel
On this week's episode, Chris has a conversation with Jason Schemmel (Get Social Done) who helps organizations operationalize AI across marketing, sales, and operations. His expansive background in social media and digital marketing opened the door for conversation across a variety of important topics not excluding the impact of AI on the newest members of the professional workforce. Key Highlights How his work on Twitch help landed him employment (and why what you do outside of work matters) How he got his start with HarperCollins The positives and negatives of AI on the latest generation entering the professional workforce Plus, he breaks down one of his more recent successful ad-campaigns and why sometimes "results now" isn't an option. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Consumer Philosophy and Social Media And of course, learn why Jason socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Jason's Links: LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E33
March 16 · 35 min
Episode 33 - A.J. Vitiello (Producer, Drew Binksy)
On this week's episode, Chris has a conversation with A.J. Vitiello (Producer for Drew Binksy). From the origins of his role with Drew (thanks to Instagram) to YouTube tips and insights, Vitiello discusses what it's like to work as a content creator in the creator economy (YouTube specific). Key Highlights How global travel and Instagram led to his role with Drew Why there is more to a YouTube Hook than the first three-seconds A deeper dive into the creator economy What it's like to travel the globe (and manage a team of editors) Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Working for a Global Content Creator and YouTube Best Practices And of course, learn why A.J. socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Lexi's Links: LinkedIn Drew Binksy (YouTube) Videos Mentioned He Hasn't Slept Since 1962 Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E32
March 3 · 34 min
Episode 32 - Lexi Croisdale
On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Lexi Croisdale (Director of Global Content Marketing, Varonis). Lexi is also one of the recently announced National Institute for Social Media Advisory Board Members. Key Highlights How her early career experiences including internships, impacted her career success Why she leads by example with LinkedIn Why working in diverse industries has benefited her ability to deliver innovative content Why she joined the National Institute for Social Media Advisory Board. Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Employee Advocacy And of course, learn why Lexi socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Lexi's Links: LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E31
February 16 · 34 min
Episode 31 - Matt Bailey
On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Matt Bailey (Digital Marketing Instructor, Trainer - SiteLogic Marketing) to discuss digital content creation and training. Key Highlights How understanding software engineering benefited his career and the importance of "balance" Slowing down to think through the best way to execute our content Setting clear goals and considering analytics Training leadership to drive better results Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Training As A Tool To Fill Marketing Needs or Gaps And of course, learn why Matt socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Mark's Links: LinkedIn Website Learning Site (Sitelogic) Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
February 2 · 44 min
Episode 30 - Mark S. Babbitt
On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Mark S Babbitt (Co-Author of "Good Comes First" and "A World Gone Social"). Key Highlights Discussing writing "A World Gone Social" and "Good Comes First" The evolution of his experience as an author and the "why" behind "Good Comes First" Stories and lessons for executive leadership Why workplace culture remains an important topic Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Workplace Culture - You'll also learn more about his new podcast, "Mastering Workplace Culture." And of course, learn why Mark socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Mark's Links: LinkedIn Author Page (Amazon) Podcast (Mastering Workplace Culture) Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials, and to foster a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E29
January 20 · 30 min
Episode 29 - Mike Evans
On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Mike Evans (Founder, Fan Day Nation). Mike breaks down how he's tackled leading a start-up in Fan Day Nation and the way his military background has played a criticial part in his role as a leader. He also discusses the greatest challenges and rewards of working in a start-up. Key Highlights The role his time in the military has played in his professional life How he began his career in sales The origins behind his work with Mile High Huddle and Sports Illustrated Why he chose to start Fan Day Nation Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: The important role social media plays for young athletes And of course, learn why Mike socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Mike's Links: LinkedIn Fan Day Nation Website Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E28
Dec 29, 2025 · 25 min
Episode 28 - Carrie Meconis
On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Carrie Meconis (Leadership Coach and Staff at New York University). From a career that began in theatre both on the stage and as a stage manager to her journey to becoming a leadership coach, Carrie offers invaluable insights to take you into 2026 and beyond. Key Highlights The connection between stage management and organizational skills The personal and mental health benefits of running How Carrie began to work on leadership training The importance of self-awareness and why it's an anchor for leadership Hot Topic for This Week's Episode: Setting Goals and Planning Reflection And of course, learn why Carrie socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Carrie's Links: LinkedIn Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.
S2 · E27
Dec 8, 2025 · 40 min
Episode 27 - Lasheen Williams (Tchallasheen)
On this week's episode of Why I Social, Chris sits down with Lasheen Williams (Tchallasheen, IG - Cosplayer). Lasheen recounts his journey to becoming a cosplayer. You'll also learn how he has created a community of content creation opportunities from his experience as a cosplayer - and the opportunities cosplay has since afforded him. Key Highlights What is a cosplayer, and how did he got started The process of content creation and collaboration How he dealt with challenges coming with cosplay How he uses cosplay to inspire his community Building his brand on social media The importance of education on social media (and why it can work) And of course, learn why Lasheen socials on this week's episode of Why I Social! Lasheen's Links: LinkedIn Instagram (Tchallasheen) Read and Subscribe to the latest Why I Social Newsletter [LinkedIn] About our sponsor: The National Institute for Social Media (NISM) empowers marketing professionals to elevate their social media expertise through industry-recognized certification. NISM provides comprehensive training designed to build confidence, credibility, and credentials while fostering a global community of practice and collaboration among social media professionals. Learn more about how you can advance your career at https://nismonline.org/ The Why I Social theme song was created by Benjo Beats and may not be used outside of this podcast.

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