You can go to www.facebook.com/oscarmikeradio/ to see something I am going to try doing more and more. 157 marks where I make a real effort to do video. I will always do the podcast, but video or a “TV” type feel is something I have been repeatedly asked to do. The podcast will always be first, but everyone wants to see my face.
After all this time, I am going to make a commitment to do more video work on Facebook and reassess in 2020. The feedback I have gotten is people will feel more connected if they can see my face. We will see. NOTE: Turn your volume up. I set it too low.
Also, I am going to see how embedding the SoundCloud Link works here.
Let’s see how this works!
Thanks to my sponsor Joyce Asack for supporting Veterans!
Four years ago I went to Massasoit Community College to learn more about podcasting. I have said before that podcasting appealed to me because I could use my voice and I could create my path for Veteran’s Advocacy. Over the last couple of years Keith Hayes of Whoobazoo has asked me to come along to watch and participate on some level. The 4th Annual Media Day proved to be memorable in so many ways.
LiveCast for 4th Annual Media Day
The 4th Annual Massasoit Radio and Digital Arts and Media Conference took place on April 25th. This year Keith asked me do my podcast live. I was excited. This was chance to showcase my “rig” and make it work for us.
I brought my streaming PC, Zoom H6, Microsoft Web Cams, and microphones. The goal was to show that all these items can work together to make the experience good for those watching and listening.
The room started filling up and during the livecast people came in and out. Keith and I got asked some great questions. I thought it was awesome that Massasoit and high school students were making their own podcasts! Four years ago podcasting was nothing like it was today.
A big thanks to Keith Hayes and Anthony Arnold of Whoobazoo for taking the time with me those years ago. Dr. Lisa Zinsius Supka, I appreciated the opportunity to present what Oscar Mike Radio is to an interested audience.
Make sure you go to – https://www.facebook.com/RadioMassasoit/ and check out all the photos and information about Radio Massasoit. I am already looking forward to 2020. I can’t wait to see what will happen before year five.
Bill reached out to me on Facebook Messenger about coming on Oscar Mike Radio. He asked me if I would come out and talk to him at his headquarters in Worcester, MA. I headed up on cold morning in February and found the office pretty easily.
I met Bill and said introduced myself. The first thing that stood out were all the coats and toys in his office. He explained that they were a donation from UNUM Insurance Company https://www.unum.com/ and would be given to children of Veterans in need.
Bill got a laugh out of me with some good natured ribbing about me being a Marine. I had learned about Bill’s Air Force Career and gained a massive amount of respect for what he did when he served.
We moved the conversation to how Bill got Project New Hope off the ground. There is this desire that Bill has to serve and be of service. Meeting the other volunteers who popped in and out to work the mission was one of the highlights of the day.
There is also a Project New Hope Office in Westfield, MA. By car is it 60 miles one way to Westfield. That is a lot of ground to cover for any non profit organization. Bill and his team are committed to Veterans and I was glad to make the trip to meet everyone. A big shout out to BOSE for supplying headphones to troops. Thanks for my pair Bill, they sounded great!
I got a Facebook Message from a family who I had worked with doing community outreach in Brockton, MA. I was asked to talk to a family that had an issue at a local skating rink. A nine year old boy, Chayce Imperato, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This means normal physical activity is difficult, if not impossible at times for Chayce.
I wasn’t sure about doing this at first. I have focused on military and veterans. Talking to parents about a disease and situation like this was going to be different. However, the more I read, the more I was convinced that meeting the family and talking with them was the right thing to do. Oscar Mike Radio is mobile so I packed up and headed out to meet them.
Chayce did not have a shy bone in his body and before I knew it I had some help setting up my rig. He is a big fan of GoPro and he loved all the knobs and cables. Once we tested everything, we sat down to talk with Brittany and Donnie.
Looking at both Brittany and Don, I could see a tiredness in their eyes that comes from being in the battle. They may not be using a physical weapon for this fight, but they are giving everything they got every day. When you consider that the outcome was pre-determined when Chayce was diagnosed with DMD in 2016, one has to respect their fighting spirit. They are fighting to give Chayce the best life possible, and they are fighting for their other son Cam. Brittany and Don were planning to build a life together and while wedding plans are on hold, that has not crushed their spirit.
People with disabilities deserve dignity and respect. Brittany and Donnie just want Chayce to be treated like any other kid. It was a privilege and honor to talk with this family.
I got a Facebook Message from a family who I had worked with doing community outreach in Brockton, MA. I was asked to talk to a family that had an issue at a local skating rink. A nine year old boy, Chayce Imperato, has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This means normal physical activity is difficult, if not impossible at times for Chayce.
