We are thrilled to have Tobias Mann, Editor at SDxCentral join us on the podcast this week. Tobias covers the SD-WAN, SASE, optical networking and semiconductor industries. ConnectThe2 gets the inside scoop on Tobias’s early days working as a reporter in the newspaper industry and what it was like reporting on local crime in Winona, Minnesota. We also learn what stories Tobias is interested in writing the most right now; spoiler alert, it involves silicon. Stick around for the games section of the podcast, as we play a new game customized entirely for Tobias.
Here are the biggest takeaways from our conversation. If you like what you’re reading, be sure to listen to the whole episode, linked at the bottom of this page.
Rambling Polymath… Tobias likes to write – a lot. And, he has many hobbies, which include hiking and photography, so he created the blog Rambling Polymath as an outlet to share topics unrelated to his beats at work.
We were curious to know what inspired the name of the blog. Tobias likes to joke that he is the world’s worst Swiss army knife, and he’s impossible to shut up. Rambling polymath is a condensed version of a rambler and a polymath. A rambler, of course, is someone who talks too much, and a polymath is a person that knows a great number of subjects. Throughout Tobias’s career, he’s written about a lot of different topics, so he knows a little bit about a lot of things.
If you’re interested in learning more about Rambling Polymath, you can find his blog here. He reviews cameras, film and other tech gear.
Creating a documentary film on Navajo Nation elders…. Tobias grew up with a passion for photography and writing. He shared with us that he always had a notebook and a pencil in his hand ready to document the world around him. These two interests led him to pursue a career in journalism.
We learned that after Tobias graduated from Winona State University in 2015 with a degree in Mass Communications Journalism, he spent the summer working with a team of documentary students researching and filming Navajo Nation elders in Arizona. Tobias’s specific team had the distinction of interviewing Louva Dahozy, the founder and broadcaster of the first Navajo Homemakers radio program. Louva dedicated her life to educating the Navajo Nation about livestock, home economics and cultural awareness, and she also developed one of the first Navajo illustrated cookbooks using the native food. Tobias described his time spent with Louva as one of the most rewarding experiences in his career, and it cemented his desire to be a journalist.
You can find the entire documentary with Louva Dahozy here.
Pro writing tip… When Tobias first started his career in journalism and was struggling with writer’s block, his editor shared a great piece of writing advice: If you’re finding it difficult to write about something, chances are you probably don’t have enough information to work off of. When a colleague of Tobias’s is struggling to write something, he often suggests reaching out to an industry analyst or another expert in the field that could provide additional insight. Moral of the story: Don’t be afraid to ask questions!
Hear more... If you've enjoyed these takeaways be sure to listen to our full interview linked below. Also, be sure to listen to, rate and subscribe to our podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Google Play, iHeartRadio or Soundcloud.
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