DC Social Media Examiner Ananda Leeke attended this year’s BlogHer Conference in New York City and while she was there she gave everyone an inside view of what was going on with Cinch. BlogHer is a wonderful collection of blogs “for women, by women.” Core to their mission is “to create opportunities for women who blog to gain exposure, education, community and economic empowerment.” Ananda shared her recent coverage of BlogHer on the Examiner.com.

Ananda, a long time user of Cinch, has shared audio updates about many things; her writing, non profits, her role as a blogger during President Obama’s speech today@National Urban League’s 100th Anniversary Convention, and more.

You can read more about Ananda, her use of Cinch, and all of the exciting interviews she did while at the BlogHer New York City Conference here.

When a child is born the 1st thing you wait for is the sound of that cry, the one that tells you “yes I have arrived and I am voicing my opinion about it”, the very 1st time you will hear the wail of your child and your heart bursts with pride and joy. This week we were honored to share this moment with one of our Cinch Caster’s.

Sean Percival, one of the Vice Presidents at MySpace has been documenting the pregnancy of his wife on Cinch with periodic Cinch recordings of Doctors visits, late night pillow talk, and random tidbits of news.

We have all been following Sean and his wife Laurie, as they have let us peek into this very special time of their life. They were even dubbed “Tweethearts” by LA Weekly in their “People of The Year” issue for their use of social media throughout marriage.

From all of us at Cinch Cast we want to congratulate the Percivals and their newest addition.

We look forward to the milestones and updates as the months go by.

Mobile podcasting just got easier for Android users with Cinch

Today we released a new Cinch app for Android. It’s free to download, so check it out today. The new Cinch Android application has the same great features as the Cinch iPhone application that we launch about seven months back. You can easily record audio on the go, include a picture and text, and share it out to Facebook, Twitter, CinchCast.com and more with just a few clicks.

You can read more about the application at ReadWriteWeb. Marshall Kirkpatrick, who is a long time Cinch user gave a good overview of the product and his thoughts on it and the mobile podcasting space.

Here is a quote from his post that we really liked:

“I marvel, every time, at the fact that I can publish my thoughts so effortlessly in audio out to the world now, from wherever I am. Just like blogging made text publishing and distribution more accessible and democratic than it had ever been before in human history, mobile audio publishing apps like this are truly world changing. The availability of Cinch on Android is an important event.”  – Marshall Kirkpatrick, ReadWriteWeb

You can read the complete article by clicking here.

Thanks to the development team that helped us get this application into the social media sphere.

Download the Cinch App for Android today. Download now

If you have any questions or need support please reach out to us at support-at-cinchcast.com.

Yesterday, Josh Shifris, 37, of Louisville, Ky.—who runs a fan club for ‘80s sitcoms—sent Bill Cosby a tweet in which he inquired:

"I will tell you this right now, he is tickled," Bill (above) tells us of Dr. Huxtable.

“Did you like playing Dr. Huxtable and how would you describe him?”

The comic response?

“I loved doing the Huxtables! What a wonderful, wonderful time,” Bill posted on his CinchCast page, where his wisdom-filled audio dispatches live.

“Cliff Huxtable is the following: As young man, he loved to study. He loves chemistry, he loves medicine, he loves saving lives. And he became a doctor—saving lives and delivering babies.

“But when he became a father, he found out that there was more to life than just delivering babies.”

To check out all of Bill’s CinchCasts, click here.

To learn more about Bill’s BlogTalkRadio specials—and hear his Oct. 19 event, A Virtual Town Hall with Bill Cosby and The Cosnarati—click here.

Hi David, first things first, lets talk about who you are and how you are using Cinch within your community.

I am using Cinch as a tool to deliver quick voice content to those that follow me on Twitter and on my website BERLINBRIGADE dot com. It is a website dedicated to those men and women that served in the city of Berlin, Germany from 1945 to 1994 as part of the United States’ commitment to the post World War II agreement on the governing of a Post War Germany and Berlin. I was stationed with the US Army in West Berlin from 1985 to 1987.

Since 1997 the website has grown to over 3500 registry entries and using Cinch is another effective tool to get the word out to visitors, supporters, and other interested parties about the BerlinBrigade.com website and all that it stands for.

Did you serve in the city of Berlin yourself, if you did what branch of the service were you in? 

I served in Berlin from 1985 to 1987 with the US Army’s Berlin Brigade 6th Battalion, 502nd Infantry as an Infantryman.

That is a lot of dedication from someone to keep up a community of people that spans so many decades, you must have been impacted by your time there, what is it you remember the most?

Being in Berlin near the end of the Cold War was certainly a life changing experience. Being 110 miles behind the Iron Curtain it is difficult not to be affected by the situation, the circumstances, the politics but above all the people. The citizens of Berlin are what I miss the most. They are a wonderful people, living in an island of freedom surrounded by Communists, the citizens never took their freedom, or the people defending their freedom, for granted.

3,500 people in your community is a lot, how do people find you or do you reach out to different military communities?

Almost all of the 3500+ are veterans of the Berlin Brigade. Over the course of the past 13 years they came to the website by word of mouth or Google word search (for the most part). I have not really had to advertise anywhere, I guess I have been very lucky in that sense.

What other social media/networking sites do you use for this community of people?

Aside from this Cinchcast account and the BerlinBrigade.com website, I also use Twitter, MySpace, and a Facebook fan page. Slowing I am moving into USTREAM and YOUTUBE. Lastly, I just recently signed up with BlogTalkRadio and have a show scheduled for Sunday the 25th of April.

I found this picture on the Facebook group David set up for the Berlin Brigade, it shows the Americans standing face to face with the Russians. There are many other poignant picture’s people have shared on the Facebook group that came from decades of serving our country throughout the coldwar. It gives a glimpse inside what seemingly on the outside looks like a city that could be anywhere in the US, but it was in fact the place our soldiers called home in one of history’s biggest political conflict.

We look forward to the insights and messages that the Berlin Brigade and David Guerra will share with us via Cinch.  And as usual “happy cinching” and thank you David for sharing your social look into history.

Barbara Talisman was at the Nonprofit Tech Conference – April 7-10, and kept us up to date with frequent interviews.  One of them Abdul Abdulbarr from DC Council of Chief State School Officers, check it out below.

We are always excited when Robert Scoble uses Cinch. His candid commentary on new technology and the goings on in the social media are always thought-provoking and conversation-starting. Here is his conversation with Andrey Ternovskiy about Chatroulette. Recorded at 4 am on the street in Palo Alto, Califormia. You can read addition commentary about this interview here. As a side note, this is the beautiful thing about Cinch. You can capture and share on the spot interviews with high-quality audio that you may not have been able to document otherwise.

Robert Scoble also shared with us his son’s follow up review of the iPad. This is a much different outlook then the 1st one he shared with us not so long ago.

Marshall Kirkpatrick of ReadWriteWeb gave Cinch a test run with the iPad that was released this past week. Thanks Marshall, and here are the results, and they sound fantastic.

With all the hubbub on TV about ghost hunting, Cinch has acquired its own ghost hunters. The “Fearless Ghost Hunters” have been cinching their recent hunts with updates that involve lots of great audio, pictures, and descriptions as they hunt for ghosts. Here is one from “The Rolling Hills Sanitarium”

Granny Joan often posts helpful tips and tricks about using Cinch. Although my favorite cinch from her this past week was one that had nothing to do with social media whatsoever. Listen for yourself and you will see what I mean.

In November of 2009, Rafi and Klee left Joliet, Illinois, and embarked on a journey to visit every state in the United States. Their plan is to document the people, places and wonders they find as the make their way around the country using Cinch. Here is one that I found very touching.

Thanks for sharing all your wonderful moments, thoughts and ideas with us Cinchers, and as usual “happy cinching”!

“Benz” as we know him, has become a regular voice on Cinch.  To hear him is to know he has a voice that was made for radio, sit back and learn a bit more about the man behind the voice.

1.    We know you as Benz on Cinch and other social networks, where did you acquire that name, it’s very catchy?

It’s true what they say, the lights in here are very hot, time to get energy saving light bulbs in here. Maybe the heat won’t kill you the mercury will. Amy, I got the name from the first Mercedes Benz Hood Ornament that I stole as a child, growing up in Hoboken, NJ.  When the owner of the car caught up with me, he slapped me so hard, while holding the Benz Ornament in his hand, that it left an indentation on my left cheek. No, “Benz” was my mother’s last name.

2.    You have an amazing voice that is perfect for radio, what is your terrestrial radio experience?

Terrestrial Radio, sounds like something from outer space, or the planets far, far in our galaxy… I grew up listening  to “Radio”, in the 60’s, I mean Television was in no way, what it is today. Television, consisted of eight or nine channels at the time, and came midnight it would go “Off Air” until morning. I think my father invented the “TV Remote,” …yep…, it was called “Benz”. He would say ‘can you get up and change the channel,’ in a course of an hour, I got up at least twenty times to change channels. So, the Radio  became my best friend, when our school took a field trip to WNBC Radio in New York City. Seeing all the wires, microphones, radio personalities and the studio opened my young mind to horizons like never before. While attending Hoboken High School in the early 70’s I joined a “Radio Club,” where we used to broadcast shows over the Intercom System, man has radio changed. But, my first Radio Show was really while attending college at one of our great Military Academies. After leaving the military, I joined the “NYPD,” where you can imagine the trouble I got into, messing around with the Walkie Talkies. In 1983, while still on the “NYPD,” I landed a Radio “DJ” position at a very small Community Radio Station, WVRM in Hazlet, NJ. I think the station reached about five listeners. Around the same time I was picked up by  WBLS, in Long Branch, NJ for a short while, nice memories. I also filled in and assisted at WKTU in NYC, during the “Disco Era,” this is “Rosco.” I left radio around 1987 to do a Weekly Live Show on Cable TV, and to concentrate on my Law Enforcement career, and my music “Raza”, a Salsa Band, where I played various musical instruments. Returned to Radio around 1999, and have been affiliated with countless Radio Stations, working behind the scenes.

3.     What is it you do for a living?

Besides breathing…  I’m engaged in conducting Research and  Background Investigations, for various Journalist, Attorneys and Radio Personalities. Writing Commercial Spots, and once in a while Voice Overs, under JXR Productions Ltd. I’m also involved in other businesses, Real Estate, Women Fashions, Automotive just to name a few.

4.     When growing up did you always have a desire to be on the Radio?

You mean, like sitting on a Radio, I don’t think they make radios that big anymore… Yes, I always had and still have the passion for Radio. I find radio an avenue where one can express themselves, openly and without the fear, or discomfort that one may find on a of face to face discussion. So, when I come across shy people, I always recommend Radio as a profession.

5.     When and how did you get involved in the internet and social media?

Wow.. I purchased my first computer around 1985 a “KayPro”, still have that T-Rex Dinosaur in my attic…  I’m not sure but I think around 1991, I discovered Adults On Line … “AOL”. I got involved in the internet in 1992 while assigned to “OCB” in the NYPD. My social media experience began with eBay in 1996. I discovered eBay, while on a WEB-TV System, do they still have WebTV ?… Anyway, once I got on eBay, I said “this is great”, time to start making some real money. I started selling and meeting people from all over the world. I than formed a company “JXR Noritake Connection”, selling Fine China Dinnerware, became a “Power Seller” on eBay, and in 2002 sold the company. Along with eBay, came, AIMs, Yahoo, and so on.

6.     What social websites are you part of and how can people find you?

I belong to several websites, MySpace.com/benzjaguar, Youtube.com/benzjaguar, Facebook.com/benzjaguar, Twitter.com/benzradio and CinchCast.com/benzradio. I was getting ready to launch www.BenzRadio.com, but due to the present economy and my involvements in other ventures, it has been put on hold for now… But, not forever.

7.     What advice would you give terrestrial radio regarding the social scene on the internet and how they can use it to further their reach?

Amy… That is a very good question. I think Terrestrial Radio is fading very quickly, this is not to say that it will go into the history books any day soon, but it is fading. Most traditional radio stations today tied an Internet Radio, Streaming Radio, Web Radio or they are tied into a Radio Network of one kind or another. Your traditional radio station, is limited to the social local media, as oppose to Internet Radio. Meaning your social networking and marketing is worldwide and open twenty four hours a day non-stop via internet radio. Many traditional radio stations should be thankful that we have this thing called the internet. Let’s also get real here, even your television major news networks are tied into internet streaming. My advice to anyone interested in Radio, Communications, Journalism and TV is to keep pace with the everyday changes in internet technology. The internet in my opinion is the “Next Media Generation”, it will become a practice that future users, will take for granted. Just like we take traditional radio and television, for granted today. Also, join as many networking websites as possible, to better reach, and get your product, voice and or ideas to the eyes and ears of those you want to target. Like I always say… “Chase Your Dreams” !

8.     How are you liking Cinch so far, and what have you been using it for?

I came across CinchCast, sometime back in November 2009 while looking for a new clothing line, “Cinch Jeans & Shirts”… I bookmarked the page and once in a while I would monitor it’s use, and soon discovered it’s great future potential as a social media venture. Now, I use CinchCast, almost on a daily basis to stay current, meet others, and to stay in touch with friends and family… So far, I’ve meet some real interesting and professional individuals that have substance. I’m loving the site, and who knows what the future will bring. But, I’m a visionary and a optimistic kind of person, and I strongly see CinchCast being an important player, and playing an important role to people like myself.

9.     Also, being you are planning on getting into radio again, have you given Blogtalkradio any consideration, and have you used it at all, if so tell us about it?

A friend introduced me to “BTR” back in 2007, and in a way led me to the idea of “BenzRadio”… I have listen in on a few shows, and participated in many. The times that I have used BTR, I have found the experience both fun and rewarding, and at times a little crazy. I find the Radio format at BTR very close to what I am accustomed to. I also feel, that anyone that has an interest in broadcasting should use the services of BTR. It’s a fun road to the world of Radio Broadcasting… BTR has changed since, I first was introduced to it, and gotten so big that I need a “GPS” system to get around it. I’ve been studying the site, and viewing the Tutorial Videos and visiting the Forum with the expectation of doing a show on BTR sometime in the future… So watch out because someday your ears might be hearing,… “Remember to creep up to the ear of that special person you love the most, and whisper gently in their ear, just how much you truly, truly love them”…. Benz !

Thanks to Benz for sharing a bit of himself with us today, and has usual “happy cinching”!

Whats your name, where are you from, and where do you call home these days?

Ok, here’s my answers, but can you get the light outta my face…I’ll talk already…lol.  Chris Voss. Las Vegas.  A suburban single family dwelling with a garage and yard.  I call it home and sometimes The Money Pit.

What is it you do?

OMG what the heck am I doing?  Mostly I’m a blogger on The Chris Voss Show dot com.  I have a nepotism deal with the owner!  I’m President of Strategix One Consulting and I consult for business and social media.  I’m a bit of a demi-god on Twitter (top 1500).  I also run SeeinLasVegas dot com, and a few other companies.  I also shower 7 days a week, sleep, eat and I’m an Aquarius.

What is your educational background, and was there anything in your educational background that prepared you for what business is today?

If there’s one thing that I’ve learned about my education is that I’ve learned absolutely nothing. LOL.  Actually High School only and I flunked most of the way (no kidding, on purpose too).  I read every business book I could, Tom Peters and Anthony Robbins.  I’d also have to thank the game Risk.  I played it obsessively.  I’m a huge strategist.

How did you get started on the web, and what lead you to what you are doing today?

I heard about it and told Microsoft Windows to dial up the modem.  Then I was started on the web. Recession and necessity.  Bills drive me to do everything I do…that and taxes.

Where are your blogs, websites, and other places we can find where you put content on the web?

The Rule is I’m on most sites under chrisvoss

http://thechrisvossshow.com

http://thechrisvossshow.ning.com – my personal social network

http://twitter.com/chrisvoss

http://facebook.com/chrisvoss

http://linkedin.com/in/chrisvoss

http://strategixone.com

http://seeinlasvegas – hosted by Vegas Voss

http://www.cinchcast.com/chrisvoss of course!

Buzz: chrisvoss11

It seems everyone on the web started with a blog, or a social networking site, what was your 1^st blog, and do you still have it, and what was the 1^st social networking website  you belonged to?

The Voss Report, yes, prodigy, compuserve.  LOL.

If you had any advice to give to kids today that are in college looking to get into any kind of communications work whether it be PR, Marketing, etc , what would you tell them?

Learn sales, business and computers, take classes you WILL use and WANT to learn.  Everything you will do in life is marketing.  Embrace it. Oh ya, psychology and sociology they are boring but you must learn how freaking crazy people are that you will work and live with…and how to deal with them.  There’s no joke there.

What is your most favorite website for personal use and why?

Uh…not sure I can say here….LOL   But my 2nd favorite is http://thechrisvossshow.ning.com I have fun on the site and make it engaging.

What is your most favorite website for business use and why?

The Chris Voss Show dot com of course!!

You have been  using  Cinch, what is it you find the most appealing about both for personal and business?

It’s like Twitter only I can attach audio and see the pic, which makes it more interesting and fun (plus I can’t spell and I’m illiterate).  The iPhone app makes it something you can shoot off on the run or interview.  That or if you want to record and post someone you over heard people having….uh nevermind.  (note to self: erase mom and dad cinch audios)

You are Cinch’s resident joke teller, tell us your all time favorite joke, and keep it clean for the kiddies…

Anything by Sam Kinison or Rodney Dangerfield

“When I was born I was so ugly the doctor slapped my mother.”  -Rodney Dangerfield

“If I get married again, I want a guy there with a drum to do rimshots during the vows.”

- Sam Kinison.

Four Square seems to be a hot topic these day’s, what are your thoughts on Four Square?

Foursquare will be the Twitter of 2010.  Get on it – read my blogs on it.  Do it now.

Anything else you want to add

“Live from New York its Saturday Night!”

Thanks Amy!

—
A big thanks to you Chris, if one thing I have learned from Chris Voss and his web presence, his success can partially be attributed to his ability to keep it interesting and making people laugh.

As usual “Happy Cinching”

First of all, we would like to welcome you to the Cinch community. Anytime a community shuts down it is hard, especially when it is out of your control.  It is akin to someone closing down you favorite neighborhood coffee shop, the place where everyone knew your name and just got what you were talking about.

Our years of running BlogTalkRadio and Cinch have shown us the true power of community. And while we know transitions are tough, we hope that knowing you have a place to go, that welcomes you, makes it a little easier.

We wanted to provide you with a few tips to help you get started and get the most out of your Cinch experience.

How to Record and Share Audio
There are three easy ways to record and share audio on Cinch using the phone, our iphone app, and using your computer. You can find step by step instructions here. You can also attached text and photos to the audio recordings. One of the biggest questions that we have been getting is “With audio, how long can I record?” The answer is, while we don’t have a specific limit, we do encourage you to keep it short and sweet.

Sharing Your Cinches
One of the nice things about Cinch is that you can share them in multiple ways; within the Cinch community, through Facebook and Twitter, and on any website using customizable widgets available in the Cinch Toolbox or using simple embed codes provided with each Cinch.

Here are some quick links to tools and resources about sharing your Cinches:
Link your Cinch Account with your Twitter and Facebook Accounts
Visit the Cinch Toolbox
Embed a Cinch on any Web Page
Build your Network

Getting Help or Providing Feedback on Cinch
One of the best places to get help on Cinch is by visiting our help section online.

You can also feel free to contact us at support-at-cinchcast.com. We would also welcome your feedback on new features that you would like to see on Cinch in the future.

What is BlogTalkRadio?

The other question we have been getting is “Cinch is powered by BlogTalkRadio. What is BlogTalkRadio?”

Well here is the answer. BlogTalkRadio is the social radio network that enables anyone to host their own online talk radio show using just a phone and a computer. These live, call-in talk shows allow for unlimited participants and are automatically archived and made available as podcasts. No software download is required. The network has produced more than 500,000 episodes since it launched in August of 2006. Cinch is a product of BlogTalkRadio that was launched in October of 2009. If you download the Cinch iPhone app, you can use it to listen to thousands of shows, and the some of the best original content on the Internet.

To close, I want to thank you all for your wonderful messages of thanks and your patience through the transition and influx of sign-ups. We are happy you found your way here. And please remember, if you need any help, just ask.

Happy Cinching!

Well it just got a little easier. Today on Cinch we released the ability to sync your friends and followers with your Facebook and Twitter Accounts. This allows you to easily find and follow friends that are already using Cinch and to invite those who aren’t to join the community.

It is very easy to do. Here’s how:

1) Log in to your Cinch account
2) Go to your settings page and select Facebook or Twitter on the left menu
3) Click on link to “Find Followers” and “Invite Friends”
4) System will automatically find your connections that are using Cinch already and will enable you to invite others to join you in the Cinch community

Please let us know if you have and questions or need help using this feature at support-at-cinchcast.com. Now, go build your network!