The Interview Project 7: Jeff Samsonow

“Jeff Samsonow has to check the “About Me” section of his own website to fill in bios. He’s a content creator happy to work at a national non-profit broadcaster. Previously he worked in daily news, mostly in radio, and reached the peak of his popularity running Edmonton’s 37th most popular local blog. He enjoys cheese.”

I like the name Jeff for three reasons: It is concise, it sounds really good verbed (I just jeffed my lunch/My dog keeps jeffing the pillows/Did you just jeff  to Ryan Gosling?) and it’s the name of Jeff Samsonow.

Jeff was one of the first people to introduce me to the strengths of social media. He invited me to live tweet the Edmonton Election in 2010 and to consume six white grape flavoured Growers ciders. They were delicious and the alcohol really worked. Aside from that, he showed me that there can more to social media than just posting pictures of your prison tattoos or telling everyone what you wish you did to that driver that cut you off. You can provide valuable information and have fun with it. You can be involved in the conversation, no matter what it is. You can be an advocate from your home and have a valid opinion that is sprinkled with research and wit. It’s the new journalism. The hobby journalist. His, and the mischievously angelic Sally Poulson’s, blog The Edmontonian (last item posted on September 9, 2011) was a wonderful thing and in many ways it still is. It’s bloated remains serve as a symbol to those who want the world to be a better place and don’t want to beat you over the head in order for it to be that way. It was real. It was a labour of love. It was self publishing at it’s indie finest.

Today you can find Jeff doing a million things in a million different ways and the main through lines of all these activities are creativity and integrity. You will probably also find him talking about cheese. You know…because he won’t shut up about how much he friggin’ enjoys it.

If you would give yourself a nickname what would it be?

This is a trick question because you are in no way allowed to give yourself a nickname. It’s the law.

If you could switch one body part with anyone else in the world living or dead, who and what would it be?

Shaq’s left pinkie. Having one giant finger would be a good conversation starter.

In five words, describe your most uncomfortable dream.

War. Best friend. Stomach punch.

What is your favourite word?

Gorgeous

What does that word smell like?

Denver

What is your spirit animal?

It’d be cool if it was a rabbit. But it’s probably more likely a pigeon or groundhog.

If ghosts existed, would you want to meet one? If so, what would you ask it?

If? Ghosts are totes real. I would probably freak out too much to actually ask a question though. I would definitely freak out too much.

If you could share a bottle of alcohol with anyone who has ever existed, who would it be and what would you drink?

A bottle of Silent Sam vodka with Invisible Obama.

What would you rather have as a pet: A dragon, a unicorn Pegasus or Ezra Levant?

An Ezra Levant seems like it would be the cleanest. (This is where some folks would put in a verbal diarrhea joke but I’m above that.)

Finally, if you could live your life over again with guaranteed success, what would you do?

Steal the idea for Facebook from Gregg Beever.