@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone on this sunny Spring day in Minneapolis. Today’s Food-Friday Twitterview guest is @leezukor, so lets get started!

Lee: Yes!

Q – #1    So @leezukor, tell us, where did you grow up? Where did you go to school, and what was your 1st job as an adult?

Lee: I grew up on Long Island, went to college at Boston University. My first job was at United Health Group in IT

Soon I become a tech writer. I had moved to Minnesota to become a rock star.

… and a husband.

Q – #2    What did you study at Boston U? A rock-star and a husband in Minnesota? Really?

Lee: Are those things mutually exclusive? :-) I studied English (writing and lit) and French.

Well, a songwriter-musician, if not a rockstar, yes.

Q – #3    So how did you swing from IT to interest in food as your occupation?

Lee: Just in the past few years. I was working for a startup as product/UX guy/social media/blogger…

and I had done a whole bunch of reading about good food, and I was trying to figure out how to eat better …

I started @simplegoodtasty because I wanted an easy, simple way to make changes for myself and my family.

Growing up in NY I didn’t know any farmers, but everyone I know here is just 1 or 2 generations away.

Why does it seems like the distance is so much greater?

Q – #4    So would you say you’re following a NEW passion or a pasion that you’ve always had?

Lee: Food has always been a passion. GOOD food is more recent for me.

But I jumped in with both feet!

Q – #5    Talk more about the goal(s) of @simplegoodtasty and also about your new venture @44blocks.

Lee: @simplegoodtasty aims to help you make better food choices by surrounding you with tasty things and easy tips…

and by occasionally asking readers to consider what they eat and why. We lead with taste but the issues are important!

@44blocks is a new company focused on helping local business owners find new customers online.

Both companies are about exposing people to things that will (hopefully) improve their lives.

Q – #6    If social media didn’t exist, do you feel it would be harder to get your messages out to the public?

Lee: Yes, absolutely. Like it was when I was stapling flyers to telephone poles to try and get people to come to my gigs.

@simplegoodtasty exists because I was able to use social media get the word out and get feedback.

Q – #7    What are 3 things about food that you see improving in the Twin Cities? Options? Variety? Organic?

Lee: Those 3 things for sure. People are asking more questions and growing more gardens — finding good food is easy.

I used to think that we needed to get all of these little local food initiatives to work together to create change…

but I realize now that the sheer number of small “good food” initiatives creates change too.

Making change doesn’t always have to be a coordinated effort, it can be really personal, individual.

Shoot, I got all sentimental, didn’t I?

Q – #8    That’s okay. It’s REAL! :)  Now for some of your FAVORITES: Restaurants, stores, comfort food, vegetable, spice and TV chef/cook.

Lee: so many restaurants! @grandcafempls, @birchwoodcafe, alma, @brasarotisserie, lucia’s, @spoonriver1, @commonroots, quang

I’m not much of a shopper, except at @electricfetus.

comfort foods: burgers (grass-fed, turkey, veggie). Does a banh mi count? Cassoulet? I’m getting hungry.

Favorite spice? Salt and pepper! Cilantro! Basil! Jalapeno! Does Alex Roberts count as my celebrity chef?

Q – #9    There are no wrong answers. :) If you could share a meal with any 1 person (dead/alive) who would you pick and why?

Lee: My Dad died a couple of years ago. I’d love to eat with him again. Maybe at Blue Hill, I haven’t been there yet.

Q – #10    For people who are looking to start eating healthier and making good choices, what advice would you offer to them?

Lee: You can start small – buy one or two things locally, or ask the server where the food came from when you eat out…

Best (and cheapest) of all, grow your own food and learn to cook it. You don’t have to get fancy.

Buy directly from farmers when you can. We have so many terrific farmers’ markets and co-ops in town!

Big life changes are hard, but there are lots of small things people can do. There’s no excuse for sitting this out.

@JoelECarlson: Good points! Thank you very much @leezukor for sharing some of your life and work today on #jectv. It’s SPRING! Enjoy it! :)

Lee: Thank you, sir.

This was fun. I hope to see you soon.

In the northwestern section of where Hwy 169 and 62 Crosstown intersect is the city of Minnetonka in Minnesota. Not far from there is a little strip mall, and sandwiched between, of all things, a Snap Fitness center and a Seattle Sutton, is a donut shop called YoYo Donuts.

If you’re looking for for some high quality and handmade tasty treats, then this is the place for you to go and check out. They have a great variety of usual and unique donuts to choose from. They are also trans-fat free!  Can you beat that?

The choices at YoYo Donuts seem to be endless, and you wished you had a bigger stomach. One of their popular donuts is a maple glazed donut which, on top of it, they place a strip of 100% applewood bacon. With people’s ongoing love affair with bacon, you’ve got to think they don’t last long from after they’ve been made and available to the public.  They also have a glazed old fashion sour cream donut and a maple glazed cinnamon roll. The first time I went, was around 11am on a weekday, and there wasn’t much to choose from, because they are just soooo good and so popular. This time I was there before 10am and there was a much bigger selection to choose from. Yeah!

In addition to their donuts, they also have homemade pizzas and salads for lunch. They have sit-down areas to eat at, as well as free Wi-Fi to get things done on your computer.  (TIP: Sticky fingers don’t work well on a computer.) Kids are welcomed too!  If you’re looking for something good, tasty and unique,  YoYo Donuts could become YourYour headquarters for food happiness.  They can also be found on Facebook and on Twitter to stay in-touch with them online.

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s with my special guest @alexisthompson1 of @MyTalk1071. Lets get to Tweet’n!

Q – #1    As your VIDEO shows – http://t.co/uw94zyS you’ve lived in this area for awhile. How though did you come to work at @MyTalk1071?

Alexis: I answered a job posting online, but for @ks95! Someone from @MyTalk1071 (which was FM107.1 at the time) called

I moved home from Boston; I didn’t know @mytalk1071, but happy I went in for interview, started as a wkend prod

Q – #2    When did you know that you wanted to get involved with radio? Did you pretend with a Mr. Microphone as a kid?

Alexis: Haha! Well, I have always loved radio! I would pretend to be a lot of things as a kid…

a radio announcer, Whitney Houston, an aerobics instructor…I had a radio show in college “Shake Your Can”

There’s where I really fell for radio…seeing & participating in process…my Mr. Microphone was a round hairbrush:)

Q – #3    By the name “Shake your Can”, I’m guessing not a radio cooking show? Dance music maybe? How long did you do that?

Alexis: LOL, no Easy Bake Ovens tips on “Shake Your Can”; we played dance music & talked about pop culture, things on campus

Sound familiar? Pretty cool how it coincides with what I do now

My Bestie Kelly and I hosted and produced “Shake Your Can” for a couple years at WTBU

Q – #4    Your co-host, @JasonMatheson, did you know each other before you started working together?

Alexis: @JasonMatheson and I didn’t know each other before working at the station; although it’s been a long time!

Q – #5    So who or what bright the 2 of you together to do this show? re: @JasonMatheson

Alexis: @JasonMatheson would come on The Kevyn Burger Show on Fridays to talk movies, entertainment; I was Kevyn’s producer

@JasonMatheson Even over the phone we got along! Our PD Amy Daniels paired us with Meredith Templitz to do a show…

That was “Saturday Night Groove”…our friendship grew from there…

Q – #6    Ah! I see. In addition to radio, how has your jump into Social Media use been going for you? Facebook? Foursquare?

Alexis: I have to admit, I was tardy to the Social Media party. My sis signed me up for FB, still have password she picked…

I got on Twitter, I think last November? I’m getting there…still a lot to learn! You’re showing me a Whole New World

I feel like Jasmine on a exciting carpet ride! I don’t use Foursquare…should I?

Q – #7    Glad to help! :) Now to some of your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, comfort food, TV show, Nat’l radio person.

Alexis: I love to eat at Bar La Grassa, @TriaRestaurant (in my neck of the woods :), Sakura and @dancingganesha

Shopping: Hunt and Gather and Mall of St. Paul for vintage/antiques, for clothes: Ann Taylor Loft, J. Crew, Marshalls

For beads (I make most of my jewelry & will launch business soon :): Bobby Beads, @beadhive, @thebeadmonkey…

Cosecha Designs, J Ring Glass…sorry, more bead stores :) I love salty, savory foods for comfort: potato chips & fries

I LOVE Criminal Minds and Law and Order SVU, I’m also a Gleek! For national radio, I like listening to @HowardStern

Sorry, that was a mouthful of tweets and I think I broke your rule of only 5 responses heehee

Alexis: Another great show I think everyone should watch and enterprise reporting at its best: @CBSNews Sunday Morning

@JoelECarlson: @alexisthompson1 I’m a faithful watcher of @CBSsunday. :)

Q – #8   That’s okay. Our 1hr is up, so last question, what professional/personal goal do you want to achieve this year?

Alexis: I want @mytalk1071 to continue to grow (please tell your friends about us), start my own YouTube channel, some TV…

Personally, I want to continue to grow with my husband; we got married last June

He just got an iPhone and now tweets @mistertoro :) He’s a funny one to follow

I want to be a better dog mom to Pacquiao “Pac” named after @MannyPacquiao (@mistertoro and I love him!)

@JoelECarlson: Thank you very much @alexisthompson1 for your time with me last Friday and today on #jectv. Have a great week!

Alexis: Great meeting you! Thank you! Happy Hump Day :)

@JoelECarlson: Hello everybody! Today’s guest of this new week is @EricHusband of @collemcvoy near #TargetField. Lets play!

Eric: Ready when you are @JoelECarlson

Q – #1    So @EricHusband, where did you grow up and go to school? What was your 1st job that you every had?

Eric: I grew up in St. Paul, grad of St. Paul Central, hopped across river for school at UofM, then St. Thomas. What can I say, dig the TC

will get this…) First job: St. Paul Women’s College Club. Next to the Guv’s mansion. Set up for weddings.

Q – #2    Interesting. What did you study at the UofM and then at St. Thomas? Did you know what field you wanted to get into?

Eric: I always was interested in mktg. Ran a snowboard/clothing store all through college. Got me interested in advertising.

Then I met a friend from @carmichaellynch in a philosophy class at UST. Got an internship at CL on the account side.

Spent a few years on the account side, put my portfolio together working at now defunct Sietsema Engel. Hopped to creative side.

Q – #3    When did you go to @Collemcvoy, and explain what your role is there?

Eric: I came to @ColleMcVoy about 4 yrs ago. @mikecaguin and I came from @bssp (butler shine, sausalito). We’re both on our third stints.

I’m a group creative director; oversee creative on Caribou, Schwinn, Aveda, Purina, Explore Minnesota and others.

I’m a writer by trade, closet art director. Love working on everything, digital to TV. Don’t believe in walls between disciplines.

Q – #4    What kind of new developments in technology, social media, etc. do you see helping you expand what you do?

Eric: Too many to count! From passive check-ins to RFID to ___________, marketing continues to evolve to be more participatory.

We hear it every day, and it’s true–mobile, mobile, mobile. Oh and QR codes. QR codes will once rule the world (okay, I hate’em).

Q – #5    Lets find out some of your FAVORITES: Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book, hobby/activity.

Eric: Fave restaurants: Erte, Lurcat. Noodles (we have 3 girls, 4 and under). Store: Hoigaards, Shoebacca.com, CreativeKIdStuff (see above)

Fave book: anything by Nick Hornby. Life: snowboarding (I also work on Mammoth), parenting, hacking up golf courses, just into bikes

Life (cont.): I also follow a lot of politics and stay involved with eco-related stuff.

Q – #6    If you could pick any 1 person (dead/alive) to have lunch with, who & why? Any professional goals that you have?

Eric: My mother. She died when I was 21. She suggested I go into advertising long before I did. Would love laugh over lunch with her.

Professionally, keep on keepin’ on. Stay a student of technology and marketing. Would love to see capitalism used for more good.

We’re having a lot of fun here at @ColleMcVoy and to your point earlier, technology is driving that.

@JoelECarlson: Thank you very much @EricHusband for sharing some of your life on #jectv today! Have a great week, and enjoy your kids!

Eric: Thanks @JoelECarlson, My very first Twitterview. It was fun. Thanks for all you do in keeping the social scene more social!

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone! Time for a Food-Friday Twitterview with food blogger @JoyEstelle. Set your timers to 1hr and lets go!

Joy: Hi! (waves at monitor)

Q – #1    So @JoyEstelle, where did you grow up, where did you go to school and what was your 1st job?

Joy: I grew up mainly in Grand Rapids, MN, my first job was working for my mom at her flower shop

I went to school there – did post secondary at the community college there before moving to the Cities at age 18

Q – #2    I see. So how did you get into blogging/writing, and especially about food?

Joy: I’ve always been a writer that was my big dream growing up. I wrote & wrote but never attempted to sell my work

At the same time, my family is pretty food centric. Lots of foraging, hunting & ceaseless discussions about food

n 2005, fed up w/what I called ***** food experiences I started my blog to share the good or humorously bad meals

Last year I hooked up w/ City Pages Hot Dish blog after leaving my day job in advertising. I’m now writing full time

Q – #3    Since 2005, has the overall quality of food and service in the Twin Cities improved in the restaurant world?

Joy: I think the quality of ingredients has improved. I’m a big fan of local, sustainable, seasonal cooking.

More so, I think the quality of diners has improved. I love how passionate pple have become about what’s on their plate

Q – #4    Are there certain styles of restaurants or certain types of cooking that you enjoy the most over others?

Joy: I adore so many restaurants around town from the stalls @MidtownGlobal to Meritage or @labellevie_vie

I also love me a good dive bar. I highly recommend Skinner’s Pub in St. Paul. I met my husband there

Oh & Little Szechwan -I love them.I typically like restaurants that put a little love in the food. It’s not an easy biz

I totally spelled that wrong Szechuan

Q – #5    It’s about the food presentation and the presentation of the food by the staff right? What is a current trend you see?

Joy: It’s about the care of the food. Microwaved, brown pre-packaged goo isn’t food. Apathy on a plate s/b discouraged

Food trend, like everyone I’m enamored w/the food trucks. @smack_shack to @128cafe to @forknroadtruck they all kick

Plus the Legend of Zelda-like thrill of having to track down your lunch makes the meal like a little adventure

Q – #6    To your FAVORITE(S) – Comfort food, store, local chef, nat’l chef, vegetable and cook book author.

Joy: My dying dinner wish is for my mom’s roast chicken & not to have to share the skin w/anyone.

Fave store would probably be a tie btwn Golden Fig & @MSmarketcoop

Local chef – I can’t pick. We’re so lucky to have such talent in this town. Plus, I need these guys to return my calls

National chef is hard I guess, David Chang – right now. That’ll change tomorrow, so fickle.

Veggie of the moment is definitely ramps & the cookbook I’m devouring is a James Beard I picked up at an estate sale

Q  – #7    To end, what advice would you give to newbies used to chain restaurants, but now want to experiment some?

Joy: Start local-check out the indy restaurant in your backyard.  Seems like each neighborhood has a gem hidden in their midst

Be adventurous & have fun. Every menu-even the haute cuisine spots will have something familiar to offer

Last bit, introduce yourself & get to know your local restaurant workers. They’ll take good care of you.

Oh – and if you want more specific recommendations, just visit or email me @ Eating the Minneapple! #jectv (okay, really done)

@JoelECarlson: Good suggestions @JoyEstelle! Thank you for sharing some of your life and your time with #jectv. Have a great weekend!

Joy: Absolutely, thank you so much for having me! Everybody have a great weekend, eat well!

@JoelECarlson: Hello everyone, and welcome to today’s Twitterview of @DavidAlston, the CMO of @Radian6. Lets get started!

David: Sounds like a plan Joel – happy to participate

Q – #1    So @davidalston, lets get to know you a bit. Where did you grow up, what kind of schooling did you get and what was your 1st job?

David: I grew up in New Brunswick (Canada), I went to @Acadiau for my BBA and started first job at NBTel as a Product Mgr.

NBTel was the local provincial phone company with a great entrepreneurial spirit. Great basis for my thinking today

Q – #2    What steps/jumps did you take from NBTel to get to be the CMO of @Radian6?

David: My roles at NBTel were a mix of marketing/product/tech and customers which are all my fave things

NBTel also incubated some start ups and I gravitated to them working in two of them, one which eventually IPO’d

It was during this startup experience that I met a number of the team I work with today at @radian6 -

Q – #3    I see. Could you explain what your role is with @Radian6 as the CMO? What kinds of projects are you involved with?

David: Sure, in the beginning I was a department of one but over the last 3.5 years many rockstars have joined the team

We took the approach of using listening to our community and creating content they wanted as a way to build our brand

With an extended marketing/community team of around 15 my role is really one of collaborating on directions to take.

I spend a lot time with customers, members of the community, bloggers etc.. Its relationships that underpin our brand

Q – #4    Now for the “elephant in the room”. It was announced in March that @salesforce is buying @Radian6. How are you affected?

David: Affected only in a great way.Radian6 will be operating as an independent unit. They recognize what a great team we have

They have a tremendous entrepreneurial culture & people I’ve met r great. We are looking forward to gr8 things together

Q – #5    Super! Many people talk about @Radian6 as a very good analytical tool. How is it going to continue to grow?

David: Our recent announcements at #social2011 can give u a flavor. More mobile. More Insights from the data. More integration

Around our Insights platform alone you can now uncover “meaning” in the data gathered, semantic web style

And on integrations social connects to all parts of the enterprise, using the voice of the customer to drive strategy

Q – #6    Good to know! I see that you have a blog – http://communityinstinct.com/, how long have you had it?

David: Ah my blog, kinda embarrassed that it’s so neglected. I generally spend time on Twitter, Linkedin & Facebook

I know to really blog you need to dedicate time to it & the readers there. Someday I keep telling myself :)

I’ve had it/and predecessor Tweetpr for about 3.5 years. I use it mostly for long form thoughts & ideas

Q – #7    Only so many hours in a day right? :) More about you. FAVORITE(S): Restaurant, store, comfort food, recent book & hobby.

David: Indeed :) Hmm, fave store/flyer is @futureshop (Canada’s BestBuy) because of all the electronic toys :)

Fave book of all time is probably The Cluetrain Manifesto for bus books and I like the Dan Brown genre for pleasure

My last remaining hobby is amateur photography http://rad6.ly/hLxBP5 I love to shoot while on the road

Comfort food would be anything my doctor would probably tell me to avoid :)

Q – #8    Fun! I see pics of @MarketingProfs. I have a Twitterview with her in the near future! Any goals for you for this year?

David: @MarketingProfs (Ann) is a great person – you’ll enjoy the Twitterview with her

I’m definitely looking forward to the adventure ahead this year and onward. The acquisition has added fuel to the fire

The social space is still in it’s early days and their is so much as a community we’ll continue to learn together

These are exciting times we all live in. Social is going to have a bigger impact on biz that mass media did.

@JoelECarlson: It certainly seems to be! Thanks for your time and sharing some great comments today @davidalston. Have a great day doing fun work!

David: It’s been fun. Thanks for all the questions. Have a great one as well

@JoelECarlson: Hello everybody! Having a good Friday? Lets start if off right with @Ramon_DeLeon as today’s Food-Friday Twitterview guest. Let go!

Ramon: What a Awesome start to my day!

Q – #1    So @Ramon_DeLeon, tell us a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up, where you went to school and what was your 1st job?

Ramon: Born and raised in Chicago. 1st Paycheck job was 6th grade working 10hrs a week at a clothing store my parents bought clothes 2 sell

Univ of Illinois at Chicago #UIC I withdrew after 2 semester after a professor scared me w the true cost of education…

when I left college I was already a Dominos Pizza delivery for 3 years…went to work and said I want 2B a Manager

I think I made the right choice because I just Hustle and determination..dont reco for everyone 2 leave school

I still remember my 1st Dominos Pizza delivery as a driver 20+ years ago

Q – #2    Back when “Avoid the Noid” was big right? :) Great story Ramon! So when & how did you get involved with Social Media?

Ramon: Been using the tools of Social Media since b4 the word was invented…in ’05 AOL Instant Messenger was my Twitter B4 Twitter was born

This article printed Nov. ’05 http://bit.ly/55ztoH at Northwestern Univ…as Social Media emerged I was in it already..same strategy

“Same Business Strategy just modern tools” ..since the 80′s I always wanted people to talk about my stuff..

Just like a telephone I realized I need to communicate w customers w the same tools they use to communicate…thus Social Media

In ’98 I helped launch online ordering during a time when u could mostly just order a Book online.-always been ahead of the game

Today the “Mind of Ramon” and the passion of #RamonWOW has me planning stuff NASA has not thought of

Q – #3    Awesome! Your Twitter BIO says that you’re a speaker. Where have you done so, and how was the experience for you?

Ramon: #M2C2011 Paris (Video) http://bit.ly/i1JQXv when I was done I dubbed “The DNA of Social Media ” (Video) http://youtu.be/2_2SqyEUlnA

@kurtvan can tell you I have added value to the Supergenius Conferences of @gaspedal

I was at BlogWorld Las Vegas on ’10 and will be at @Blogworld NY in May

One highlight was w #Gravsum Streamed Live on CNN.com from Harvard http://bit.ly/ck3aQ7 (Video)

The biggest thing is what do people say and what experience do I create for attendees http://on.fb.me/ek3Sg3 #M2C2011

has allowed me to learn from many people and brands also. Create friendship w the face behind the Tweet

Q – #4    Very impressive @Ramon_DeLeon! You’re all about going the extra step or mile. Nice! What currently is your favorite SM tool?

Ramon: …the mobile phone

The reason a mobile phone b/c ppl share photos and videos and the mobile allows me 2 make it happen in Real Time

When I 1st started on FB in ’05 and I did not have a .edu email address photos helped me create convo where I had no access

some people might say “What good is a photo or video if I cant share it”..this is b/c we r not running to print the photos like B4

The Mobile Phone is the Social Media traffic cop: it directs where you want your content to go

Q – #5    Lets shift gears slightly. You favorite(s): Comfort food, Social Media book, speaker, hobby and city other than CHI.

Ramon: Comfort Food: Home Cooked Meals, if dining out Brazilian Steakhouses I frequent

Social Media Books I have learned and applied tactics from……..@garyvee #Crushit and @unmarketing from my pal Scott

Spkrs I enjoy @sernovitz @unmarketing @rumford @garyvee @marismith @lizstrauss @allanschoenberg @simonmainwaring @MirnaBard

Hobby nothing like leading your kids in whatever Rocks their world

City other than Chicago..is tough…I Love London, I could be a Las Vegas cab driver but New York is very special

Q – #6    We’re just about out of time, but what’s one Tweet of advice you would give to businesses regarding using Social Media?

Ramon: “Social Media is like losing weight and saving money: Today is a Awesome day to start” #RamonWOW #Quote

@JoelECarlson: Thank you very much @Ramon_DeLeon for your time, talents and comments today. Keep up the good work that you do!

Ramon: “World Live from Chicago I am outta here” #RamonWOW was in the #jectv house