9:00 – 10:30 am (90 min Workshop)

From Postal to Post All: Using shortcuts to make Social Media posting easier

Use tech and automation to make sharing to social media easier, without losing your soul.

Maybe you’re already posting to social media, maybe you wish you were. There are so many steps between us and the people we want to reach. We could remove some of the barriers. Or, at least, the uncertainty.

Brittany will share the automation tools she uses to make her marketing tasks to social media more manageable. She likes to make things, not spend all day getting the thing to the platform. But when everyone wants you to do it their way, it gets challenging! After realizing that it was taking as long to post her videos as it was to record them, she knew she had to find another way.

Types of social posts I do: Short videos, livestreams, longer multicam videos, image posts.

Tools we’ll talk about to create those social posts: Shortcuts, Keyboard Maestro, Hazel, multiple platform posting services, Opus, MacWhisper, chatbots (like ChatGPT).

11:00 – 11:45 am (45 min)

Demystifying Mastodon

Mastodon is a big player in the new social media landscape, especially for those interested in tech (but also politics, humor, and photo sharing, among many other topics). It offers an old-fashioned social media experience, free from “algorithms” and full of privacy features. But getting started can be confusing, what with “federation,” finding a server, and figuring out what apps to use to make the most of it. Brett will share what he’s learned in the last few years, including bridging with the newer Bluesky social media service, and linking your personal blog into the Fediverse.

12:00 – 1:00 pm

Lunch Break

1:00 – 2:30 pm (90 min Workshop)

Digital Mise en Place: Building an Integrated System for Project Organization & Automation

Mike Burke, a former high school science teacher turned corporate technical trainer, will share how the culinary concept of “mise en place” (everything in its place) transforms digital workflows through a fully integrated system. Drawing from his experience bridging educational and corporate environments, Mike will demonstrate how combining standardized folder structures, automation scripts, and project templates creates a cohesive ecosystem that eliminates mental overhead and streamlines work.

In this workshop, attendees will learn how to use Keyboard Maestro as the automation engine that connects file organization with Drafts templates and Things task management. They’ll discover practical methods for creating standardized project folders, implementing intuitive date-based file naming, and building reusable project templates that automatically generate task lists with proper dates and organization.

Participants will leave with ready-to-implement scripts, templates, and organizational strategies they can adapt to their own workflows, whether they’re creating content, managing multiple projects, or simply wanting to reduce friction in their digital lives. This workshop is ideal for anyone looking to work more efficiently while ensuring their digital systems remain accessible and maintainable over time.

3:00 – 3:45 pm (45 min)

Automate, But Don’t Take Shortcuts

In this presentation, Brian (an educator who works with at-risk youth and young adults), will share his findings on how to automate tasks in our personal and professional lives to be more efficient, while stressing the importance of not taking shortcuts.

Attendees will learn how to identify and implement automation tools to streamline repetitive tasks in both personal and professional settings. They will also understand the risks of taking shortcuts and how to ensure automation enhances productivity, without sacrificing quality or ethical considerations. And, Brian will reinforce the importance of deeply understanding a process, so that new skills can be unlocked, and improve the capacity to problem-solve. Participants will take away several aspects they can incorporate right away, as well as components they can develop.

4:00 – 4:45 pm (45 min)

Gear Up and Go: Tech Tools for Smarter Travel

Join Marty Jencius and his son, Will Jencius, for a practical and interactive session on using technology to enhance every step of your travel experience. They’ll cover essential tech tools for planning and organizing trips, packing smartly, and staying connected on the go. Expect insights into helpful apps, travel-friendly clothing, versatile luggage, and gadgets that make navigating new destinations easier.

This session isn’t just about sharing their favorite tools—Marty and Will want to hear from you too. Audience participation is encouraged, with opportunities to share your own tried-and-true travel tech and tips. Whether you’re a frequent traveler or planning your first adventure, you’ll leave with a fresh set of practical ideas to make your next trip smoother and more enjoyable.

5:00 – 5:45 pm (45 min)

Chain of Happiness — Share Your Knowledge

No matter how much you know, someone knows more than you. But no matter how little you know, someone knows less than you. You may not feel like you’re an expert, but if you’re at Macstock, you know more about tech than 90% of your friends.

In this talk, we’ll explore the different places you can share your knowledge, whether you’re an introvert or an extrovert. Then we’ll look at what kind of tools you can use to help you share your knowledge.