5 Questions for the Creators: Mr. Spoon

Before I get into this weeks 5 questions I want to thank everyone for participating. Its been great learning about so many wonderful people in the social media world. I would love to continue on with 5 Questions but I cant do it alone. What I'm looking for is YOU. Bloggers, podcasters, if your part of the new media world and want to be interviewed I would be thrilled to have you. Shoot me an email at 8bit.hero37@gmail.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Now on to the main event. The man under the lights this week is the other half of the smash hit podcast Should I Drink That. With excellent taste in all things beer related, a great sense of humor and more priest collars than the vatican, this man is always a pleasure to have around. Ladies and gents, The Right Honorable Father Spoon.


1. Tell us about who you are and what it is you do.
My name is Douglas Derda, otherwise known as father spoon around the
podcasting/blogging community. By day I'm an IT project manager and
multimedia specialist (this pays the bills) and by night I'm co-host
of the Should I Drink That craft beer podcast (this may cover a gallon
of gas) and a blogger. Originally from the port city of Erie PA, I've
adopted yinzburgh as my hometown.

2. Why did you get into social media?

As it may come as a surprise to some people, I used to be an
introvert. In fact I still am in ways. I got into social media because
I was able to communicate with others and form relationships online
based on who I was. We're all on the same level here. This started for
me back in 1994 when I logged into my first chatroom via telnet and
has jumped from a net connection to the physical family of Pittsburgh
New Media.

3. What is it that you love about social media?
The interaction with millions of people at any given time, the
worldwide distribution of content that I create and I get to hang out
with The Papuga.

4. What keeps you coming back? Why do you keep creating content?

Freedom of expression. The only boundaries to material I create is
limited to what I impose on myself. Growing up there wasn't room for
artistic expression on any level without facing ridicule. If you
weren't following the "norm" or what family expected, you would be
considered a failure and often mocked. I used to write frequently and
was involved in theater but after awhile I got tired of hearing "You
cant make a living like that. Quit wasting your time."

I keep coming back now because it's a creative release and I've found
others who share the same passions as myself. As a youth up until
before I went to college my dream was to be on air via radio or TV, I
knew that was where I needed to be. I wanted to entertain. Now with
social media I am my show.

5. What is it that you want to accomplish with your media?

With SIDT it's to educate the mass on the craftsmanship and culture
behind craft beer while still having a good time. There are too many
stick-up-the-ass snobs who think that they are elite because they
"appreciate" something more than you. The fact is we're all on the
same level and some people need to get knocked down a peg.

Personally I want my media to entertain, inform and tell my story.
I've been working on several side projects from SIDT to address my
other interests (yes I do more than drink kickass craft beer) so
that's helped evolve my thinking and producing skills.

I think the reason why any of us do this is because we have something
to say. I'll be honest, I only will do something if it interests me.
That's what separates me from you. If school taxes go up that doesn't
make a difference to me, the drink tax on the other hand does and I'll
tell you why. You don't have to be the main media center to be heard.