Last year, I was in Knoxville for Social Slam. I was at the opening night reception and I hear, “GINI DIETRICH?”

I turn around and there is DJ Waldow, the man I’d heard a ton about, but had never met nor really interacted with online.

He became kind of a big deal while he ran community at Blue Sky Factory, but when he left and began to travel west with his OB/GYN wife and their two kids (although I think it was only one at the time), he became an even bigger deal as the owner of Waldow Social and co-author (with Jason Falls) of “The Rebel’s Guide to Email Marketing” (we’re having him on for a Livefyre Q&A in September).

But since that fateful evening we met, he’s become a friend.

We have a lot in common to begin with: At the time he was living in Salt Lake City (where I grew up) and we have the same circle of friends. (more…)