I was watching New York Times best-selling author, Julien Smith‘s presentation on Ustream live from PodCamp Montreal today. As he was presenting I was enjoying the back channel discussions in the chat room with some new and old friends.

I was talking with musecrossing quite a bit, I didn’t get her name (what’s your name?). She wasn’t familiar with Julien, so we were talking a bit about him. I was telling her about his old podcast In Over Your Head and about his excellent book Trust Agents.

Something struck me when musecrossing asked how Julien and his co-author Chris Brogan met. How did two bloggers meet to produce a New York Time’s bestseller?

I replied that they both met at the first PodCamp in Boston a few years ago. Just as I wrote this my friend Merlene Paynter replied: “I think Chris & Julien met at the first Podcamp Boston several years ago.” We both replied the same thing. A light bulb went off in my head about the value in these gatherings. I should mention that I’ve never questioned the value in attending, but it was interesting to think a little more about the topic.

Attending conferences and unconferences is key to building relationships. I’ve often talked about handshakes, high-fives and hugs that take your online relationships so much further when you actually meet in person.

Relationships often begin at events too. I first met Julien at Podcasters Across Borders in 2006, I don’t think we had ever met online before that. I first met the guys at Griffin when they sponsored the first BarCamp Nashville in 2007. Who knew then that I’d end up working for them?

The third BarCamp Nashville is coming to town October 17th, I encourage you to come join in on the incredible sessions and hallway conversations. Don’t be a wallflower either. Start your own and join in on discussions. Be a part of BarCamp, it’s free to attend. You’ve got nothing to lose!

By attending a conference or unconference you’ll be building new relationships, some of which will become friendships. Who knows, you may even end up with a New York Times best seller too. What’s stopping you?

<waving hi to my friends in Montreal>

Mark and Bob are the long-time hosts of The Canadian Podcast Buffet, a weekly spotlight on new Canadian podcasts, production tricks and tips and an all around fun 30+ minutes. I consider these guys to be two of the most important people in podcasting today. They have dedicated countless hours to supporting the Canadian podcasting community and are both truly incredible people, not to mention experts in audio production and promotion.

Three years ago Bob and Mark decided that a new conference was needed to embrace podcasting in Canada and beyond. Podcasters Across Borders was born. It has been held each year in one of my favorite cities in the world, Kingston, Ontario.

My first year at PAB was a wild one, because it was my first geek conference. Walking into a room and hearing so many familiar voices was bizarre, because I hadn’t met most of them before. The voices included people like: Nora Young and Cathi Bond, Julien Smith, Scarborough Dude, Jay Moonah, Tim Pilgrim, Shane and Tom, Cat, Tod Maffin, Arthur Masters, Bruce Murray, Hugh McGuire, Andy and Vivian, Ross and Karen and a bunch of people I’m forgetting at the time of this quick post (so sorry to have missed you, you know I love ya.)

I won’t go into great detail of the session content from PAB2006 and PAB2007, but I can assure you that PAB2008 is so worth attending. Like most tech conferences I attend, my highlights always involve the cold beverages and conversation that goes on afterwards. I’m going to miss that the most this year.

The three hour jaunt from Toronto to Kingston (brutally painful along the 401) was nothing compared with traveling from Nashville where I live now. My podcasting partner in crime and fellow boob will be away that weekend, and my in-laws are unavailable to sit our kids for the few days of PAB2008. So I’m stuck here longing for K-town and my fellow Tim Horton’s hopping, Creemore chugging, maple-cured mates. I’ll be thinking of you guys.

As the title of this post goes: If you have any interest in podcasting you need to be here, this is no understatement. Make the trip to Kingston this June 20, 21, 22 for a weekend that any podcaster would be nuts to miss. Have fun.