I decided at the beginning of 2013 that I was going to listen to the entire archives of DSMA Live.  To tell you the truth, I can’t even remember why I decided to do it.  So for now, I’ll say I did it “just because.”

DSMA Live Factoid:  The archived podcasts are available through iTunes (search DSMA Live) and at BlogTalkRadio.

Diabetes Social Media Advocacy (DSMA) is the brainchild of Cherise Shockley.   BlogTalkRadio states that “The mission of DSMA is to promote social networking in all its forms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc) in order to educate and support all people affected by diabetes.”  That is already out of date because Cherise has bigger plans.  She realizes that not everyone with diabetes is part of the DOC (Diabetes Online Community) and she wants her inclusive message of support to be available to everyone, online or offline.

Because I cannot do justice to the scope of everything that DSMA is involved in, I encourage you to visit the DSMA website.  In addition to DSMA Live on Thursday evenings, you’ll learn about the Wednesday night TweetChat, the ‘Rents show for parents, and the en Vivo! show in Spanish.  There is also information about the monthly Blog Carnival and the weekly WDD Blue Fridays Initiative.

DSMA Live Factoid:  The only really bad show was the inaugural show on October 28, 2010. It was an on-air technical rehearsal where Cherise, George, and Scott spent an hour asking “Can you hear me now?”

The early DSMA Live shows were an extension of the TweetChat, and the hosts and featured guest discussed the questions that had been posed the night before.  Over time the shows morphed into what is now an interview and discussion format.

DSMA Live Factoid:  Three of the first five guests interviewed on DSMA Live were named Scott.

The guest list from the first 2-1/2 years of the show is a veritable Who’s Who of the diabetes community starting with the well-known hosts:  Cherise, George Simmons, and Scott Johnson.  If you spend time in the DOC, you’ll recognize the names of the many bloggers and advocates interviewed including Manny Hernandez, Kerri Sparling, Wil Dubois, and Amy Tenderich.

Karen Graffeo, a blogger and the founder of Diabetes Blog Week, made a comment that characterizes the journey of most of the people interviewed.   When asked about the background of Diabetes Blog Week, she said:  “So I started thinking that it would be great if someone did that for the diabetes blog community.  So then I thought that maybe I should try to do it.”  One after another the featured DSMA Live guests saw something that needed to be done and they did it.  They weren’t superstars.  They were people who started writing about their lives and reached out to make the world a better place for everyone affected by diabetes.

DSMA Live Factoid:  Two of the featured guests were 8 years old or younger.

Some of my favorite shows were introductions to people I had not “known” previously.  It was fun to hear the stories about their blogs, podcasts, advocacy groups, and start-up  companies.  Especially unforgettable were the crazy people who climb mountains, participate in triathlons, and drive race cars while juggling the never-ending demands of diabetes.

Also very interesting were the conversations with insiders in the diabetes industry such as Dr. Henry Anhalt, Director of the Artificial Pancreas Program at Animas, Lane Desborough, a Product Strategist at Medtronic, and Sean Gallagher, the Senior Director of Marketing at Insulet Corp (Omnipod).  DSMA Live also introduced me to Professor Jean Claude Mbanya, a physician from Cameroon who is President of the International Diabetes Foundation.

DSMA Factoid:  Art therapist and blogger Lee Ann Thill is the sole member of the 5-Time Featured Guest Club.

As my dog Abby outlined in her post yesterday, I listened to 149 DSMA podcasts in a 6-month period mostly while walking the dog. I got a lot of exercise. I got a lot of education. I got a lot of inspiration.  All great things for a successful life with diabetes.  I encourage you to put on your walking shoes and give DSMA Live a try.