by Mike | Jun 2, 2025 | Macstock IX, Macstock News
Come join Ecamm and your fellow Macstock Attendees Friday, July 11 @ 7:30pm for Sweet Connections!
Wind down after the first full day of sessions and come hang with the Ecamm Fam! Ecamm will be hosting an hour-long networking mixer for Macstock attendees with desserts and great conversation. Whether you’re a seasoned content creator or just getting started, this is your chance to connect, share ideas, and meet fellow attendees (and the Ecamm team!) in a relaxed, friendly setting. Don’t miss it! 🧁
by Mike | May 11, 2025 | Macstock IX, Macstock News
Day One: July 11, 2025
Marty Jencius Counselor educator, podcast producer, and AI advocate bringing over two decades of innovation to academia and tech.
Kelly Guimont A longtime Apple writer, podcaster, and speaker who brings wit and insight to her tech commentary across conferences, podcasts, and the web.
Mike Schmitz A creator and productivity expert who explores the intersection of faith, focus, and technology through YouTube, writing, and multiple podcasts.
Jeff Gamet Veteran tech journalist and podcaster with a passion for Apple, automation, and great storytelling.
Kirschen Seah Retired aerospace engineer and software developer now sharing her expertise in Apple scripting and user experience design.
Jill McKinley IT professional and content creator combining enterprise tech experience with personal storytelling and exploration.
Day Two: July 12, 2025
Katie Fawkes Director of Marketing at Ecamm and a passionate advocate for helping creators grow through confident, camera-first storytelling and video strategy.
Doc Rock Community Manager at Ecamm and video content creator committed to empowering storytellers through live streaming.
Dave Ginsburg IT professional and host of In Touch With iOS where he provides his takes on all things iPhone, iPad, and beyond.
Allison Sheridan Host of the NosillaCast podcast since 2005 and advocate for accessible, Apple-focused reviews, tutorials, and hands-on screencasting.
Chris Cooke Assistive tech educator dedicated to empowering visually impaired adults with the tools and confidence to maximize their use of Apple devices.
Day Three: July 13, 2025
Brittany Smith Productivity and ADHD coach with a neuroscience background, creating content at the intersection of mental health, tech, and practical hacks.
Brett Terpstra Developer, writer, and podcaster who builds innovative tools and open-source projects to make computing more efficient and enjoyable.
Mike Burke Corporate trainer and automation expert focused on building structured, tech-driven workflows that support creative and productive work.
Brian Flanigan-Arthurs Educator and lifelong Apple user who leverages technology to inspire and support his students through innovative learning experiences.
Marty Jencius Counselor educator, podcast producer, and AI advocate bringing over two decades of innovation to academia and tech.
Will Jencius Ph.D. chemist and tech enthusiast who enjoys thoughtful conversations about technology, often shared over cigars with his dad.
Allison Sheridan Host of the NosillaCast podcast since 2005 and advocate for accessible, Apple-focused reviews, tutorials, and hands-on screencasting.
Can’t Wait to Hear Macstock’s Speakers Live?
by Mike | May 11, 2025 | Macstock IX, Macstock News
Yep, that’s right! Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete, and Adam Christianson are all back this year to continue what’s now become a Macstock tradition of recording an episode of Mac Geek Gab LIVE from Macstock’s Main Stage!
Expect a little live tech troubleshooting as you’ll get your chance to stump the experts … err, geeks … and hear solutions to all your tech woes. Or not. We never know what will happen…but it’s always a blast!
Join Mac Geek Gab at Macstock, Saturday the 12th at 8:30pm.
by Mike | Apr 28, 2025 | Macstock News
I’ve been asked if there will be 2-day or even 1-Day passes for Macstock 9 this year.
Macstock’s Weekend Pass this year is for three full days, so there isn’t an “OFFICIAL” 2-day pass for 2025 like we’ve had in past years, but I have been creating custom Weekend Passes for folks who can only attend part of Macstock Weekend.
If the 3-Day Weekend conflicts with other plans and you’re worried that you can’t attend Macstock this year, please reach out to me using the Contact Form and let me know which days you can attend. I’ll set you up with a link to buy your very own custom Macstock pass!
by Mike | Apr 27, 2025 | Macstock IX, Macstock News
It turns out that diagnosing why your car won’t start is very much like troubleshooting your Mac.
How do I know? We’ve been down a vehicle in the Potter household for just over a week now as I struggled to figure out where things were going wrong between the time I turned the key and the moment I heard nothing but a loud (and scary) single click coming from somewhere deep within the recesses of my engine compartment.
Dammit Jim! I’m a tech guy, not an auto mechanic!
And, yet, the desire to avoid a tow charge, let alone the cost of diagnosing and repairing what could be a minor problem (or, admittedly, a major one), was strong within me. (Hey, two paragraphs, two nerd references!)
There were things that I knew I could attempt on my own, and those things were high on my list of “stuff to try” before cracking open my wallet at the service center: Battery? Starter solenoid? A simple fuse? How about a new grounding wire? I know what a bad starter sounds like, but I couldn’t rule it out…yet.
Those were all suggestions made by others that I’d uncovered in my investigations into the car’s “Click of Doom”.
As I turned to the online forums of owners who’d experienced similar symptoms (anyone else remember the pre-Internet Chilton repair manuals?), I realized there’s a ton of knowledge out there just waiting to be tapped … by me … when my car decided that it wouldn’t start.
Just like Macstock!
The depth of knowledge found within the walls of Macstock Weekend each year seems endless! I may organize the weekend, but I walk away each year with tons of new skills, ideas, and simple tips & tricks, and often find myself wondering how I got along without them.
And this year will be the biggest Macstock yet, because Macstock 9 is three days of awesome talks, super useful workshops, and a chance to hang out with some of the nicest (and knowledgeable) Apple fanatics on the planet WHILE taking in some amazing talks from the likes of Brittany Smith, Kelly Guimont, Doc Rock, Mike Schmitz, Kirschen Seah, Dave Ginsburg, Allison Sheridan, Brett Terpstra, Jeff Gamet, Marty & Will Jencius, Jill McKinley, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs PLUS two new voices to Macstock’s stage in 2025, Chris Cooke and Mike Burke (just to name them all 😎) — all of whom you can learn more about on the Macstock website right now!
In case you were wondering, my car repair story above does have a successful ending. As of this morning (literally, Sunday, April 27th), my car happily started once again. Turns out that despite my best diagnostic attempts to eliminate it (and when it comes to cars, my skills aren’t quite where they are with operating systems), it WAS the battery after all! I suppose it was a bad cell within the battery and I simply didn’t have the right tools to figure that out.
Macstock gives you the tools you need to be a better Mac user. (iPhone, iPad, and other Apple gear too!)
So while you’re reading up on this year’s presenters, be sure to also check out this year’s schedule for some fantastic sessions covering anything and everything Apple like getting the most from Photos, Apple’s new AI features, tech tools for Travel, Apple Health features, Accessibility, creating Shortcuts to boost your productivity, and even security focused talks like staying safe online, and those new Passkeys you’ve been hearing about (but maybe aren’t using yet)!
And that’s just scratching the surface of what will almost certainly be the best Macstock yet.
See you at Macstock 9!
by Mike | Mar 29, 2025 | Macstock IX, Macstock News
Just a reminder that the Early Bird Sale pricing of $50 OFF the 3-Day Weekend Pass ends at midnight on March 29th (Central Time)!
Macstock Weekend is going to be packed!
At the moment, we’ve got FIVE 90-minute workshops and up to Twelve 45-minute sessions, all within a single track, and all from presenters eager to SHARE ways for you to get the most of your Apple hardware and expand your knowledge with new tools and techniques that you can put to practical use right away.
Macstock isn’t just about the talks, though, it’s also about the people and the experience that comes from simply being around and connecting with so many folks just like you, all wanting to SHARE advice, tips, and have in-depth conversations that propel you forward, ignite new ideas, and build personal connections that will last long after the weekend ends.
I also promised a sneak peek at who’ll be presenting! Just a few of the speakers taking the stage in July that I can share with you today include Brett Terpstra, Kirschen Seah, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, and Allison Sheridan! More are on the way and I’ll share them with you in the weeks ahead too.
One Final Reminder: If you’re not already signed up to join us this July 11, 12, & 13 for Macstock 9 you can still Save $50 on your Weekend Pass by visiting our Register page by the end of day, Saturday, March 29th, 2025, and purchase your ticket by 11:59PM Central Time.
Yep, that’s right! Dave Hamilton, Pilot Pete, and Adam Christianson are all back this year to continue what’s now become a Macstock tradition of recording an episode of