Episode Details

Chuck Joiner, David Ginsburg, Marty Jencius, Brian Flanigan-Arthurs, Eric Bolden, Jim Rea, and Jeff Gamet engage in a lively, unscripted conversation, looking at how Apple user groups have evolved over time. Once central to learning and community-building, these groups now face new challenges—from shifting tech habits to digital alternatives like Zoom, Discord, and online meetups. The panel shares personal experiences, celebrates the value these groups brought, and explores how the spirit of community can still thrive in modern formats.

MacVoices is supported by Insta360 and their new Insta360 X5 360° 8K camera. Get a free invisible selfie stick worth $24.99 at store.insta360.com and use the promo code "macvoices". Selfie stick offer available for the first 30 standard packages.

Chapters:

00:07 The State of Apple User Groups 01:50 User Group Challenges and Changes 06:37 The Rise of Online Communities 12:14 The Shift in User Group Dynamics 20:07 Looking Back on User Group History 26:04 Engaging with the Community Today

Guests:

Eric Bolden is into macOS, plants, sci-fi, food, and is a rural internet supporter. You can connect with him on Twitter, by email at embolden@mac.com, on Mastodon at @eabolden@techhub.social, on his blog, Trending At Work, and as co-host on The Vision ProFiles podcast.

Jeff Gamet is a technology blogger, podcaster, author, and public speaker. Previously, he was The Mac Observer's Managing Editor, and the TextExpander Evangelist for Smile. He has presented at Macworld Expo, RSA Conference, several WordCamp events, along with many other conferences. You can find him on several podcasts such as The Mac Show, The Big Show, MacVoices, Mac OS Ken, This Week in iOS, and more. Jeff is easy to find on social media as @jgamet on Twitter and Instagram, jeffgamet on LinkedIn., @jgamet@mastodon.social on Mastodon, and on his YouTube Channel at YouTube.com/jgamet.

Listen Now