One of my more recent blogger buddies that I’ve had the opportunity to interact with is none other than Theo Johnson. If you haven’t heard Theo’s podcast you have to check it out. Theo is going to be one of my early BlogTalkRadio guests when we get the show going. In the mean time you’ll get a feel for what we’ll be talking about in today’s text interview. Allow me to introduce one of the blogosphere’s coolest innovators…Mr. Theo Johnson.
- What is your full time career aside from blogging and pod casting? Tell us all about it.
I’m a contract computer programmer. I contract through a small business that I set up in 2003. When I was a kid I was introduced to computers by my cousin and have been hooked ever since. I guess you could say technology has become my life’s calling.
- How long have you been blogging and what was your motivation to begin using this medium?
About a year ago, I decided to start a podcast called “Theo Talks”. The podcast took some time to create, so I had to find a way to keep people coming to the site between recording times. So I started blogging and it worked well. I enjoyed interacting with people from different areas of life and I learned a lot about myself as I wrote each post. The things that I’m not able to talk about in the podcast are blogged about during the week.
- When did you begin your podcast? How did you select your podcasting platform?
It really started out of curiosity. I listened to podcasts for a while and felt like I could do it also. I didn’t know too many African-Americans with podcasts, so I wanted to learn it for myself to teach others. I think it’s a great way to communicate with a mass audience. It’s affordable and with a little time and dedication anyone can do it.
I wanted to podcast on a topic that I thought was interesting. I didn’t know who would listen, but I felt finding a topic I liked would make it easier for me to come up with content.
- You’re a really good host. How did you hone your speaking skills? Do you or have you considered adding public speaking to your repertoire?
Thanks! It’s funny you’d say that. I never felt public speaking was one of my strengths, which was one of my main reasons for starting the show. In the beginning, I edited out a lot of “umms” and “ahhs”, but I try to limit that as much as possible. I think it got easier when I stopped focusing on using correct grammar and started being myself. While I still edit out pauses at times, it’s gotten easier and I hope to get better as I do more shows.
I haven’t considered public speaking, but I’m always open to it. It’s one of those small fears that I have, but the best way to conquer that is to do more of it.
- Name three famous historical figures, living or deceased, you would like to meet and tell us why.
Dizzy Gillespie – I play the trumpet and he is one of my favorite jazz artists. I’d like to learn as much as possible from him and hear stories about life as a musician.
Thomas Dorsey – He is the “Father of Gospel Music”. Coming from a blues background, he had to overcome a lot to get people to understand his music was for the church. I’d like to know what obstacles he had to overcome to get people to accept his music.
Bill Gates – This guy is the ultimate geek. While I despise his most of his products, you have to admire the fact that his software is used on most computers built around the world.
- Tell us about one person in your community who is relatively unknown to the rest of the world, who you believe is significant in some way, and that you would like the rest of the world to know more about.
My high school band director, Mr. Ronald Thornton. Before teaching at my high school, he was the band director for the Texas Southern University Ocean of Soul. He was my first private lesson teacher, so I was able to learn a lot at young age (I even got to play with the band). By the time I made it to high school, I was ready to hang with the big boys. He allowed me to hold various leadership positions in the band and prepped me to lead my section in the last two years in high school. The leadership skills I acquired are ones that I used throughout my collegiate and professional career. I learned a lot from him and appreciate the fact that he trusted me to take on those positions when available.
- Recommend three books we should read and keep on our bookshelves at all time for reference and tell us why we should.
The first book I would have to choose is the Bible. I grew up in the church and my parents taught me the importance of using it for everyday problems. It has solution for every situation you can face, so I’ve come to rely on it. It amazes me how a book written so long ago, still applies to situations today.
“Before You Quit Your Job: 10 Real-Life Lessons Every Entrepreneur Should Know About Building a Multimillion-Dollar Business” by Robert Kiyosaki. If you are thinking about starting a business, you need to read this book. He gives some really good examples of problems he’s faced in the business-world and the best ways to handle them.
“Covenant with Black America” by Tavis Smiley. There are a lot of issues facing the black community and this book takes ten of them and presents them in an easy to read format with solutions on what we can to individually. I chose the issue I want to work on and hope to make strides in making a difference in my community.
- What impact do you hope to make with your blogging?
I just want to show people anyone can to this. To me, blogging is doing what hip-hop set out to do. It was a way of letting people know what was going on in their community. I want to be a voice for people who feel they don’t have one. Blogging and podcasting is a way to do that.
- Who are the two bloggers you read the most and why? Include their links and tell us why we should subscribe to their feeds.
The Electronic Village The Villager has some really interesting posts that educate his readers. Each time I visit I learn something new. I like the community he’s building through his blog.
Vanessa: Unplugged. She has also has some good thought-provoking articles that are very well-written. I admire people like her and Villager who can write. It’s a skill that I’m always working on and their blogs are good examples of what I want to reach for content wise.
- Where are you taking your blog over the next ten years?
I just want to inspire people to start their own blogs. It’s easy and everyone has an opinion. That’s all you really need to get started. The internet has made the world a lot smaller. I want to get more of an international presence and build a place where information and ideas are shared from all parts of the world.
I also want to see how I can monetize my blog. I never thought of it until I started reading Paula Mooney’s blog. This is why I changed theojohnson.net to a blog. We’ll see how it goes.
· Bonus question: At the risk of seeming competitive with each other, what other blogger have you always wanted to know more about that you would like me to interview next?
There are so many good blogs out there, it’s hard to choose. My choice for your next interview is going to be M.L. Hodges , a good friend of mine from college. We are business partners and have learned a lot about each other, but he has a writing style that I really admire. Most of the time we feel the same way about certain issues and he has a very thought-provoking blog that challenges the status quo. I think a lot of people would enjoy what he’s doing there.
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Marty, thanks for choosing me as one of your interviewees. I’m honored and humbled. I think you’re doing a great job with your site and having the interviews is a great idea. The purpose and motivation behind your blogging is a worthwhile cause and I’m sure you’re making a difference in lives of the people who visit your site. Keep up the good work.
Theo
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Thank you for joining me Theo. Ladies and gents, Mr. Theo Johnson.
