Tamara Walker of The Ask MomRN Show An Interview

I met Tamara at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and we just clicked. She’s very friendly and personable. I can understand how she makes a good radio show host as she listens well. It’s more than curiosity, it’s a genuine interest in people.

Tell me about your Blog/Radio Show –

The Ask MomRN Show offers practical advice to help parents raise happy, healthy families. Expert guests join me each week to discuss a wide variety of family/parenting, health, and safety issues. The show airs live each Monday at 1pm ET and is available on BlogTalkRadio.com and on iTunes. We are celebrating our 2^nd anniversary on BlogTalkRadio.com on April 5, 2010 and look forward to beginning another fabulous year.

What was your first blog?

My first website was http://www.MomRN.com, which is still my main site and has undergone several changes since its launch in March of 2001. It is more of a traditional website, rather than a blog, but I do write blog posts on the Ask MomRN Show’s show page on http://www.blogtalkradio.com/MomRN.

What is the biggest tip you would give to product reviewers and bloggers?

I believe the most important tip a product reviewer or blogger needs to know is how important it is to be honest and transparent, especially if you are reviewing a product. A review should be your honest opinion and not sound like a paid advertisement. I take care not to endorse products or items on my show or on my website that I do not truly think are beneficial and worthy of my stamp of approval. When you align yourself with a product or brand, your own brand is at stake, so choose wisely and carefully.

Are you contacted by companies or PR companies or do you contact them or both?

Both. I have been contacted by various potential guests and by companies who would like to have their products reviewed on the show. If I find a product or brand that I am interested in, I will contact them to request a product to review or a guest to interview on my show about the product or brand. In either case, the guest and/or their product must have some potential benefit for parents, our target audience.

What is your favorite product that you have reviewed?

So far my favorite product I’ve reviewed is the Exer-Walk shoe by Earth Footwear! I had never worn Earth Footwear shoes before and had the opportunity to review a pair of their new line of sneakers before they hit the stores. I love them and continue to wear them!

What do companies or PR companies do that you wish they wouldn’t/ do that you like?

It is always appreciated when a company, and especially a PR company, takes the time to learn my name and a little about my site and show before sending an email to me. I recommend companies address emails or any correspondence with the person’s name, rather than sending a generic “Dear Blogger” pitch. Sometimes I receive pitches that do not fit at all with my show or my site and it is obvious that the company sent it blindly. If companies to do a little homework first, they will be much more successful in pitching to bloggers.

What do bloggers do that you wish they wouldn’t/do that you like?

It bothers me when bloggers attack each other. The internet is vast and there is room for all of us. Not everyone blogs for the same reason and not every blogger is trying to earn money from her blog. Not every mom who blogs considers herself a “mommy blogger” just as not every man who blogs is a “daddy blogger” just because he happens to be a father. So I don’t think bloggers should try to set limitations or rules on “blogging” as a whole, nor try to lump everyone into set categories.

What I do love is to see bloggers work together when they have a common goal or cause and/or to support a fellow blogger going through a crisis. I’ve seen this played out several different times and it warms my heart to see the caring and love people share for each other, even for someone they may not have ever met in person. Most of the bloggers I have met are willing to help other bloggers and are supportive of each other’s sites.

What advertiser would you like to work with given a chance?

I would love to work with Disney and other companies who market to families. As a mom of two, I know what appeals to moms and what doesn’t. As a nurse, I’d love to work with health-related and health conscious brands. I’m interested in brands that appeal to the same target market as my show’s audience, which is parents of children ages birth through high school.

Where do you see growth in the blogging/social media field?

Both blogging and social media are exploding with growth! I think vlogging will continue to grow as more bloggers move in that direction. Micro-blogging sites, such as Twitter, will also keep evolving and adding more functionality to allow more growth. It will be exciting to see what happens in the next few years!

What is one thing about you that not many people know?

One thing many people may not know about me is that I have only one leg. Due to a birth defect, I have a below the knee prosthetic leg on my right side. I am fortunate enough to have been raised by parents who encouraged me to live my dreams, no matter the obstacles and to never allow my disability to stop me from pursuing my dreams.

What’s your favorite book?

My favorite book is Thorn in My Heart by Liz Curtis Higgs. LOVE it!

What is on your iPod?

I have a very eclectic musical mix on my iPod. Everything ranging from old time gospel to hard core heavy metal, with an extremely diverse group of artists and albums in between.

What are your contact details?

Email: MomRN(nospam)@MomRN.com  —- remove the nospam
Company: MomRN
Website: http://www.MomRN.com
Ask MomRN Show and blog: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/MomRN
Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ask-MomRN-Show/181059282971?v=info
Personal Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MomRN
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com/momrntamara
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/MomRN

What events do you attend?

I attend blogging conferences and events sponsored by companies. This year I attended the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration and am currently looking for sponsors for BlogHer 2010. I would love the opportunity to attend more events in the future to network with other bloggers and brands and to learn from them as much as I can.

How do you prefer to communicate?

I prefer initial communication to be via email or thru twitter.

Who would you recommend, and why?

Marla Cilley aka The FlyLady, owner of http://www.FlyLady.net, because she will help you get your home and life in order and because she’s one of sweetest people I know!
Jonathan Roche, aka The Virtual Trainer, owner of http://www.noexcusesworkouts.com because he truly cares about helping others get healthy and fit and helps them have fun at the same time!
Leslie Gonzales, aka MissusSmartyPants, owner of http://www.missussmartypants.com because she will help you find the best fashions for your body type and help you look and feel your best!
Leanne Ely, aka Dinner Diva, owner of http://www.savingdinner.com because she is a nutritionist who makes it easier to feed your family healthy foods with less stress.
Eric Dodge, (@EricDodgeMusic on Twitter), owner of http://www.ericdodge.com because he is an incredible singer, a fun guy, and a genuine cowboy gentleman who is destined to be a star.
Amy Bellgardt (@MomSpark on Twitter), owner of http://www.MomMadeThat.com and http://www.MomSpark.com, because she promotes mom-made products and businesses and is a fun, interesting person.
Shannon Snow (@couponprincess on Twitter), owner of http://www.couponprincess.net because she finds great deals and has a sweet, fun personality.
Melissa Garcia (@consumerqueen on Twitter), owner of http://www.consumerqueen.com because she posts fabulous bargains and is a friendly, hard-working woman.
Christina Gleason (@CutestKidEver on Twitter), owner of http://www.cutestkidever.com because she has great blog posts, is fun and sweet, and has the cutest kid ever!
Amy Lupold Bair (@ResourcefulMom on Twitter), owner of http://www.ResourcefulMommy.com and http://www.GlobalInfluence.com because she works hard to help other mom bloggers be successful and she’s a fun, upbeat person.
2 Movie Guys (@2MovieGuys on Twitter), Ryan Bellgardt and Lucas Ross, owners of http://www.twomovieguys.com because they are two wild and crazy guys who will make you laugh while telling you all about the latest movies!
How do you promote your radio show?

The Ask MomRN Show is promoted primarily through social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace, and through other BTR hosts, email groups, and a variety of other contacts. We are also blessed to have great listeners who share the show with their friends.

Do people request to be guests on your show?

Yes! After two years on the air, the show has established itself enough to have most of our guests coming to us, requesting an interview on the show. I do still actively seek out guests for the show, but the majority now contact me first.

What are some of the most popular shows you’ve done?

We’ve had so many wonderful guests, it is hard to narrow it down to just a few! My interview with Kirk Cameron about the movie, “Fireproof”, was a very popular one, as was my interview with Tom Arnold about the movie, “Gardens of the Night”. Our big giveaway shows, which have been on our first anniversary, my birthday, and at Christmas, have also been popular. Our listeners loved Kathy Ireland’s tips for busy moms. Most recently, my interviews with Betty Hayes, the mom on Table for 12, and the actress Lucy Liu were very well received!

The most fun?

Again, so hard to choose because I have fun every week! My first anniversary show and my 40 and Fabulous birthday show were great fun because we celebrated with awesome guests and gave away some incredible prizes!

I was recently asked the question, “Who is your favorite guest?” After much deliberation, I would have to choose an interview I did for the MomRN channel on YouTube. My guest was Kermit the Frog. Yes, THE Kermit the Frog, in the flesh, uh, felt! I interviewed him at Disney World and it was a dream come true. I have great respect and admiration for all my guests, but I’ve been a fan of Kermit’s since I was a young child so it was thrilling to finally meet and interview him. The interview can be seen at http://www.youtube.com/user/MomRN?feature=mhw5#p/a/u/0/-OHRJ3x91gA
What is one thing people can do for you?

Please check out the Ask MomRN Show and leave me feedback on the comments and/or on the Ask MomRN Show Facebook Fan Page letting me know what topics and guests you want to hear on the show.

ConnieFoggles