Special Events
https://youtu.be/P9BW08vnMvQ At Macstock, Mike Schmitz turns the tables and interviews Chuck Joiner about favorite memories from the event. They review the gathering’s beginnings after Macworld, the friendships formed and renewed each year, memorable moments and how...
If you’re heading to Macstock Conference later this week, make sure you have everything you need to get the most out of this unique annual event. From the things you should do before you leave to the things that you need to have with you, the MacVoices’ Macstock Checklist will make sure you are ready for the year’s best Mac event. (Haven’t decided yet? On-site registration will be available!)
The Road to Macstock wraps up with organizer Mike Potter providing last-minute updates for attendees, including his Creator Camp session on why the Mac still matters and a weekend talk about giving old Macs new life. He explains the event’s themed schedule, hotel room situation, late registration options, and what to bring. Mike also teases this year’s T-shirt design details, talks about Macstock swag advice, and the value of curiosity, community, and conversation as a highlight of the event.
This Road to Macstock features a discussion with Brian Hensen about his evolving role as the event’s master of ceremonies. From speaker wrangler to stage host. Brian previews how this year’s Macstock will let him spotlight the people who inspire him, comments on the event’s welcoming Apple community, and reflects on the value of shared learning, speaker preparation, podcasting, and personal connections that are at the core of the Macstock experience.
Pat Fauquet is the next stop onThe Road to Macstock is a conversation about her session, “Pills, Processes, and Procedures,” explaining how Apple devices can help manage medications, appointments, research, and communication with doctors. Drawing from years of health challenges and tech experience, she highlights the Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, and Mac as practical tools for personal advocacy, caregiving, and preparedness. This might be the most important session this year.
Special Events
The Road to Macstock stops to talk to Paula Marie Davis, who previews her first Macstock appearance and the path that led her from longtime Mac user and wellness coach to launching Ditch the Dogma with Ecamm. She explains why creators need to care for the person running the tech stack, how conference inspiration can become post-event exhaustion, and how movement, time mapping, and small wellness practices can support energy, creativity, and follow-through.
Our next stop on the Road to Macstock is with Marty Jencius, who previews his workshop on troubleshooting Apple devices through a highly interactive “open space” format. Rather than a lecture, Marty explains how attendees will form small groups around real questions, share expertise, move between discussions using the “law of two feet,” and create organic conversations. The result will be a flexible, collaborative experience that encourages learning, problem-solving, and new connections among the participants.
The Road to Macstock takes us to Michael D.J. Eisenberg. whose presentation will focus on podcasting, sharing how he plans to help attendees understand what makes a show work, from concept and preparation to recording, production, and audience connection. The conversation also highlights the value of learning from experienced creators in person and the community energy that makes the event special.
On the Road to Macstock, Allison Sheridan previews her session that features a hands-on spreadsheet workshop comparing Excel, Numbers, and Google Sheets. She explains practical skills like fill-down, fill-right, and possibly pivot tables, while stressing that the goal is not exhaustive training but confidence-building. Our conversation also touches on Copilot i relation to Excel, vibe coding, and why Macstock feels like coming home.
This time, the Road to Macstock takes us to Katie Fawkes, Director of Marketing and Doc Rock, Director of Strategic Partnerships for Ecamm, who talk about both their Creator Camp the day before Macstock, as well as their session during Macstock. They discuss how the hands-on event will help users of all experience levels build confidence with video production. They also cover Ecamm’s broader role beyond live streaming, practical uses for creators and businesses, the value of experimenting with gear, and why Macstock’s welcoming community makes it a special gathering.
Mike Schmitz previews his Road to Macstock session on starting a YouTube channel in 90 minutes, emphasizing creativity, repetition, audience connection, and practical tools over perfection. Mike discusses handling harsh comments, finding personal value in publishing, and using AI thoughtfully as a creative partner. His goal is to help get anyone on YouTube that wants to be there.
Only a few hours after Apple’s WWDC keynote, members of the MacPaw leadership team sat down for a conversation about Apple Intelligence, and Siri’s renewed promise. Topics touched on included privacy, developer access to user context, hybrid AI processing, Setapp’s role, and how AI is reshaping app creation, customer support, and software strategy. Participants included Oleksandr Kosovan, Founder and CEO?, Sergii Kryvoblotskyi, Director of AI and Research, Dmytro Melnyk, Chief Product Officer and Grant Belaire, Chief Marketing Officer.
A video tour of the AGI House in San Francisco as MacPaw’s Flip the Script event at WWDC 2026 highlights the venue’s AI-focused mission and MacPaw’s emphasis on connecting with developers around its AI initiatives.
From the Flip the Script event in San Francisco, Dmytro Melnyk, Chief Product Officer for MacPaw, discusses his role and the importance of the company’s careful approach to adding AI across products, from both the developer and customer viewpoints.. He explains why some users want frictionless AI while others resist it over privacy, cost, and complexity, and outlines Eney’s goal of combining many Mac utility tasks into one assistant with a pay-as-you-go model.
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Check out the MacVoices blog for the latest news and catch up on Chuck's guest appearances on other podcasts.
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