Freepath: Hey Dave, how about some background info about what makes you and the whole “Digital Storytelling” thing click.
Dave: Well, I think I’d trace it back to my Grandfather. He was Michael Giusti and he immigrated to America in the 20’s. My ancestors originate from a small town in Italy just outside of Luca in the Tuscany area of northern Italy. Story telling is in my genes. My Pop used to tell us that the men in the town would meet at the local town center in the evening over a glass of vino to debate the topics of the day, tell stories and just generally pontificate. The interesting part is that the discourse was in rhyme. One person would make a point and another would offer up a rebuttal in verse.
Freepath: Like, “Slip out the back Jack, make a new plan Stan…” That kinda thing?
Dave: I don’t think it was that kind of thing. But that did rhyme.
Freepath: Speaking of a new plan: you’ve moved from Google where you did, what was it again?
Dave: Google was a great ride! I was there for close to 4 years. I was the Test Engineering Manager for AdWords. I had the chance to work with some outstanding individuals (check out my Old AdWords Test Engineering team playlist!) and a few pretty cool canines (there was an open dog-door policy).
I had built a strong team and was proud of my team’s achievements over the years.
Freepath: Why the step up to the larger, better financed Freepath, Inc?
Dave: I was looking for new challenges. I am drawn to the energy and dynamic environment of young companies. I feel that they are truly shaping the world!
When my wife and I moved to the Sacramento area, I started to look around for opportunities and I stumbled across myFreepath and Freepath. My initial interaction with myFreepath was as a user. I felt that it was a cool idea! After creating a few playlists and getting family members onboard and sharing, I realized that I wanted to meet the guys behind this cool new app and community.
Freepath: And… you found a whole company that sits around to tell stories and pontificate…
Dave: Well yeah, the idea of being a digital storyteller reminded me of my grandfather visiting the local town center to converse with his community. I too could do this, just in a different way, using multi media through playlists. I love the concept of being a digital storyteller. It’s that whole “ a picture says a thousand words” concept. I reached out to a few guys in the company. We met for lunch and I realized that not only is this a great idea, these are really smart, dynamic, inventive people with a really cool vision. One thing Lou has promoted to me since our first meeting is that our users are mavericks; the people who are looking for new ways to communicate, the ones willing to take a risk, try something new!
Freepath: Since you were one of the very first myFreepath users, what are the top five bene’s for community members?
Dave: #1 for me is the ability to exchange playlists with a community. My first grader had an assignment to make a collage of one of his choice of water, fire, earth, air. We went to myFreepath, did a search and found 2 great playlists: “Beach scenes” and “Oceans”. We downloaded the playlists into Freepath, selected a few pictures to save, then we printed them out…a pair of scissors…a little glue…mission accomplished!
#2 Juxtaposed to my first pick would be the ability to make a playlist only viewable by a private group. I don’t think most of the myFreepath community cares to see my daughter’s “owie” that she sustained after a spill on her bike (that I recorded, by the way!). Her grandma, aunt and cousins do! Creating a playlist that included a few snap shots of her skinned up knee along with the spill in real time on video made family members who are dispersed through out California and beyond the ability to see the story unfold before their eyes.
#3 I really like the use of RSS feeds so I can be alerted when a new playlist is added by one of my favorite fellow myFreepath users. This is powerful. Teachers sharing classroom material around a particular subject, sales teams exchanging marketing collateral, soap opera fans trading actor photos…O.K. that was for my sister-in-law ☺…..
#4 The ability to see myFreepath contacts and groups within Freepath. This integration is very tight and user friendly. Say I have a contact and she has a playlist that she has recently added. I can see it in my Library view under contacts. Clicking the new playlist downloads it. Now it is in my Playlist library. Seamless!
#5 A team that listens. I have looked at the forums and the feedback in there. It is this feedback that drives the roadmap for myFreepath. I know because I have been in the meetings. This is a team who cares what the community is asking for. I am proud to be the myFreepath’s community bull horn! This is your community. As Lou, Co-founder, CPO, likes to say about my role, “I am the new mayor in town. Here to protect and promote!” The cool thing is that I am backed by a “city counsel” who cares about your voice just as much as I do!
Freepath: O.K. we’ve given you the keys to this place, what are some things you’d like myFreepath to do better?
Dave: Well, being privy to some of the things on the horizon, I know we are well on our way! In light of my new role, I want to take the myFreepath community to the next level. When I think of the ways I have interacted with myFreepath: school assignments for my son, communicating to family members through video and pictures, sharing content with people who think what I think is cool is cool, e.g. see Pictures of my favorite authors and poets playlist—I want to come up with ideas on how to increase that sense of community. I think we can do a better job of it—actually, I don’t think you ever really reach that point where it is perfect. It is coming up with new ways of connecting people. New ways of communicating. New ways to make people say “Wow!”
I want the myFreepath team to reach out to the community—I want the community to reach out to us and to each other. As more and more playlists are added, for fun or for work, we, the community are building a powerful tool. A tool built by us! Defined by us! Be heard…. .PLAY!
Freepath: What’s your favorite .play file so far?
Hilarious Signage From China. This playlist is a perfect example of how everyday life can be hilarious! Having a number of Chinese friends, it was something I could share with others and keep the laughs going! Wow! All from digital pictures…powerful! For me, It also was a comment on how things get lost in translation and the need for us to break down communications barriers…that sometimes words do get in the way…haha…that was deep!
Freepath: Freepath has this thing about connecting people and content. What is it about people and their digital stuff that grabs your attention?
Dave: I have an Uncle who doesn’t talk much. He is quiet and reserved. But when you put a violin in his hands, he comes alive. This meek man is transformed into a giant as notes sting the air. I have always thought to myself, that is how he communicates. His way of saying “this is who I am!” A way for him to be heard, for him to scream from his own mountain top.
Freepath: Wow, you really ARE Italian!
Dave: I see the exchange of playlists in a similar light. Take a look at my playlists. Through pictures and media you’ll get a sense of who I am. A guy with a love for his family, music, literature and relationships he has forged over his life thus far. It is a new way for me to communicate—for me to get out who I am—unencumbered by words. Utilizing the multi media palette if you will!
Freepath: So, when you are not pontificating with the rest of us, what are you up to?
Dave: Currently I am coaching my son’s soccer team. He is in 7 and under league. Talk about energy! My 4 year old daughter would want you to know that I am a frequent attendee at her fabulous pink unicorn tea parties! I must say the tea is to die for! I also enjoy a run from time to time, a good book and I am a bit of an audiophile/music nut. I have a record collection that hovers around 3000, 2000+ Cds and 150 gigs of mp3s. It drives my wife nuts ☺!
Freepath: Hey, so last thing… what’s the link to the funniest YouTube clip you’ve ever seen?
Dave: Well, it is hard to pick just one! Friends and family are always sending me links to the latest funny video on YouTube. By the way, my plan is to make a playlist and add to it over time and share it with family and friends…not to mention the myFreepath community! So, my brother sent me one last week that was a big hit with the family. As I mentioned before, music is big in our house. The name of the clip is “Evolution of Dance”. It is by the comedian Judson Laipply. This guy has some moves! The title says it all…hilarious!
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dMH0bHeiRNg
Freepath: Thanks Dave!
You’ll find Dave at www.myFreepath.com. Search members for “Dave Giusti". Drop him a line, he’d be glad to hear from you.
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