Congrats! It sounds like a wonderful endeavor and cool guys. But seriously dudes, gentle nudge here, get a female perspective too. (Not volunteering, but I can point you to some great women!) It is getting crazy to see that women are not showing up talking about community. Maybe we are all too busy DOING it, eh? ;-)

Just a tech note. As I listened on the web, I'm getting a weird tinny echo. Or whistle. I don't know if it is my system or what. Same both on speakers and on headsets. haven't tried it mobile on my mp3 player.

Ah, now I cruised over to the site and saw the note about the sound. Glad it was not just the whistling in my head. ;-)

Hah! Yes, we have to mark the sound quality up to first show chaos. The next one should be a lot better...

Yeah, poor sound quality is totally my fault. I mistakenly compressed far too much then couldn't revert. Hopefully episode 2+ get much much better. We're going to also try some other experiments to see what we can do to get the quality worthy of listening. :)

Nancy, to your point about more women, just listen to the first couple of shows and let us know which one of us you like the least, and we'll kick him off :)

Seriously though, I hear what you're saying. It seems like this is an ever growing rumble in most any discussions about group activities these days to actively include more women. We three have been friends and talking about this project for more than a year (two years now?), so a natural evolution occured. We didn't take it upon ourselves to try to find a way to fit a fourth person, specifically a man or a women into the group simply because the three of us guys had a fun dynamic when we got together to chat.

Though this next point isn't by any means an attempt to say that we have female influence directly as part of the project, I think it's interesting to consider the group of three we have:

* Chris' partner is one of the three co-founders of BlogHer

* Lee runs a social media consultancy with his wife

* My wife is working for a moderation firm doing online community moderation.

If you're going to have three guys without any females, this seems like a decent three to have :)

Anyway, much more to discuss, but hard to do so on this subject via text. There always seems to be too much opportunity to have things taken out of context. As the current show moderator (note the use of the word "current"), I will say this: If/when we need subs or interviewees, I'll certainly have it in mind to seek out a woman now.

Jake, first, I'm sorry if I have put you on the defensive. I worry that I might have. I realize I know you the least of the three. Chris and Lee are used to me. ;-) They know I'm going to "raise issues" and that I'll be right there beside you to support as well. (They may want to throttle me as well, but it goes with friendship.) It is not an idle stone thrown in a glass house. I welcome, no really INVITE you to always help me see other perspectives.

But jeeze, I know, I was the first commenter and I had two complaints. Duh, Nancy, play a little nicer with your friends! I really apologize for my insensitivity. I appreciate what you guys are doing and should have said that first. I just jumped in with the assumption you'd want feedback. I guess that's a community thing, eh? And if you ever want it, I'm happy to give a listener's perspective offline (I finally listened to the whole thing during the course of the day. I'm not good at long podcasts at one setting. I'm attention - impaired!)

Context, as you write, is what it's all about. If this is three friends having fun together, then the diversity of voice, view and perspective isn't an issue at all. It is that wonderful dynamic and magic of friendship and the knowledge you have between the three of you. I heard that in your voices and it made me smile as I listend. And I would not want to be at tribal council to kick one of you off! Nuh-uh.

However, here is where I think I went wrong. I made the assumption that you three are serious about community in business. Heck, I KNOW that. It is part of all your consultancies. So I assumed you were doing this because you a) care about the topic and b) it has a business impact for all three of you, positioning your expertise in the market. I assumed you made strategic choices about it. I should not have made that assumption, but instead asked the question.

If this is a business builder, it is not a matter of "diversity" or PC for PC sake, but a very real issue of what goes into the community business. And, with lots of love to you guys, not just about three very smart, cool, thirty-something white guys. What I'm talking about is a huge business case. Your wives and partners know that. (At least I can speak for two of the three. I'd love to meet your wife, Jake, and hear her stories! Does she blog?)

A look in the mirror for me. Part of the challenge here is why aren't your wives, partners and I doing podcasts. ;-) It is those who step up and do it who make it happen. You guys are stepping up.

But the other part is a hard, clear business decision. In my view, the power of community is not about representing others, it is about making a space for others to represent themselves. And in my heart, I believe that you guys believe that too.

Hey guys,
This has been interesting to watch. After I posted my first comment, I realized that Nancy had actually posted 2 - the one I saw first was about the sound quality. After responding to that I felt like I should have addressed the other comment, but when I went back to it, I thought - ah, that's Nancy doing her thing. Nancy, I know you well enough to know that your intention wasn't to poke at us or even get a response. Jake doesn't have that history, so I can see why he'd respond. I think this has been a great means of getting some of the issues out in public and, while I know it is a little emotional, it's inspiring to see both of you be prepared to put your feelings out in public in an honest and authentic manner. If u haven't met face to face I'm sure it will happen soon and I hope I'm there.

More later (about to head to the office), but in short - Nancy, great discussion, love it. Love the feedback, please please keep it coming. I'm not at all defensive.

So this issue that has come up A LOT lately about including more women (or perhaps more female influence) is an interesting one. I know you weren't necessarily meaning to kick off a conversation about it, but I've struggled with this discussion (which in many ways has turned into a meme). I both agree and disagree with most of the major discussion points that have been raised about it. I've been pinging my female contacts and discussing this issue with them since the Office 2.0 blow-up, only to get a different answer and belief about not only the problem but the solution from every one of them just confuses me.

As it applies to this podcast, however, I'm a bit confused as to what you would like to see. I'm going to drop you an email later to discuss a bit more. After all, I can't be part of the solution if I don't fully understand the problem (or perhaps direction).

And just to clarify again, I'm engaging, not defending :)

I'm smiling. Jake I'm glad you are engaged and not defending. You have helped me "hear" your words better. Thanks. The question may be, how does Lee put up with me! ;-)

Clearly, this conversation **is** a process about how to be clueful! ;-) I don't think there IS an answer to the question about women in this high tech /online world. I don't think anyone has the corner on cluefulness.

I do think there is a path to cluefulness and we are on it - making issues visible and discussable, struggling with it and celebrating small insights along the way. Disagreement always included as an option!

I feel if I **don't** work on the issue of women's presence in these conversations, I'm abdicating my responsibility towards cluefulness. (Tho it does seem to get me into trouble now and again!) I'm deeply greatful when I can find partners to spar/have fun/learn with along the way. I consider y'all part of that community.

As to the podcast, I'd go back to my first, late "aha" moment, and ask, what do YOU guys want to see happen from it? Is it just three guys having fun in an area of shared passion or do you have a business intention?

Hm, and I'm not sure what we're talking about here is a problem, but a question of what opportunity exists here and does it support your goals and values. What you want to be clueful about.

Email or here -- either is fine! Or even a skype call. I'm multiple modality friendly.