Singer songwriter Dan Wilson hit the PUSH 2008 stage last week in Minneapolis.
Another beautiful thing about PUSH is that the event weaves in amazing, eclectic performers throughout the sessions. These artists have so much soul, you lose yourself as they find their way in between ‘brain food’ panels and individual talks about serious global issues.
The emotion of music allows you to process what you just heard in a different way and Cecily’s selection of these artists are a powerful part of the conference.
Dan won a 2007 Song of the Year Grammy Award with the Dixie Chicks for ‘Not Ready to Make Nice.’ Additional recognition includes the 2007 Album of the Year (Dixie Chicks, ‘Taking the Long Way’), for which he co-wrote an additional 5 songs, and a nomination for Best Rock Song for ‘Closing Time,’ on which he was primary singer and songwriter with the band Semisonic.
On-stage, he tells us a story a heartwarming story about the birth of his first child, the inspiration behind Closing Time, which most people think is about the closing time of a bar. We break into laughter as we learn that he hid meaning in his lyrics so people, particularly his band wouldn’t know. It was more than touching – Dan has that rare ability to ever so softly engage an audience in a way that keeps them wanting more stories and more music.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
