I try to keep it light around here, y’all. Positive, upbeat, etc. But I also cover a lot of folks doing stuff that’s…what’s the phrase I’m looking for? Oh. Right. Dumb as a box of back hair.

In the spirit of switching it up and being more jubilant than judge-y, here’s what I’m into lately.

Copywriters & Story Tellers Meetup

I was asked to be part of one of their panel discussions, and they were more excellent than an all-you-can-eat waffle buffet. Ok, almost as excellent as an all-you-can-eat waffle buffet. It isn’t a large group, but that could easily change given the caliber of the attendees. Organizer Laura Wooten of Wooten Communications is a good egg, and the other panelists — LP Media Group’s Lindsey Perkins Wade and jet-setting writer Jessica Johns Pool — were knowledgeable like whoa.

With the waffles and the eggs, this metaphor kind of got away from me. Sorry.

Buffer’s Blog

I’ve made no secret of my digital crush on Buffer’s social management tool. ’S good stuff. But have you checked out their blog? Not only are they really walking their talk on the whole radical transparency front, but they do swanky research. And then share that, too. Transparently. Basically, I’m a fan of folks who don’t play weird games with the truth, and Buffer rocks honesty.

They didn’t hire me when I was job hunting, but I’ve decided not to hold that against them. I’m sweet like that. Sweet like waffles.

Dammit.

Where There’s Smoke

And speaking of honesty, let’s talk about my new podcast jam. The dudes from Where There’s Smoke, Brett Gajda and Nick Jaworski, are honest about their own failings and foibles, which is what keeps their biz help goodness from being…well, from being douche-tastic. This isn’t the sort of self-help pablum that will make you roll your eyes and look for something more fun to listen to, like the Fingernails on the Chalkboard Symphony Orchestra’s Greatest Hits album. This is practical stuff presented in an honest and entertaining way.

They haven’t supplanted Sonia Simone’s Confessions of a Pink-haired Marketer in my heart/ears, but they’re getting heavy play on the commute.

We made it through that one without waffles, folks. I’m proud of us.

So what about you? What are you digging lately? Let me know what I should be checking out.