Attention to Detail: Scott McClellan and Doug Pagitt
Attention to Detail
A few weeks ago, I started a series that gathers behind-the-scenes recommendations from authors, bloggers and other influencers.
So far, we heard from Brad Lomenick (of Catalyst) and Tim Soerens (of Inhabit), blogger Ron Edmondson and notable writer Cathleen Falsani, and writer Jonathan Merritt and church leader exec Jenni Catron.
This week, I bring you Scott McClellan and Doug Pagitt.
But before I get there…
Why do this series?
This week, one of these interviewed friends asked what led me to start this series. Fair question.
Here it is.
When influencers get onto a stage to talk about their most passionate learnings or causes, they present a very narrow (but often inspiring) slice of their personalities to the world. The same goes for when they blog. It’s great stuff and we drink it up, but that said, there are so many dimensions of them the average person in the seat at a conference don’t ever get to witness.
I know or have had the pleasure of sitting down with and enjoying the company of most of these guests (although a few are new to me too!) and in many cases, their off-stage presence has touched me far more than their professional work. I wanted to share a little bit of my love for the normal, relate-able and sometimes equally inspiring voice they have when the spotlights are off.
(For those of you indulging in this, I also have another all women interview series kicking off for Round 2 here too.)
On to this week’s guests…
[line]Scott McClellan
Sarah: Okay, Scott, you know the drill. What are you reading these days?
Scott: Lately, I can’t get enough of Frederick Buechner. In an age of tweets and blog posts, the richness and pace of his words have a restorative effect on me.
Sarah: You are like the third person to randomly drop the name Frederick Buechner in my world this week. You all must be onto something. Let’s try the next one. What are you listening to?
Scott: I keep returning to The National’s High Violet. It’s moody, but it puts me in a space to process and produce.
Sarah: Nice. I’ll keep that in mind for my next unproductive moment which is no doubt fast approaching. How about this–what would I find on your TV if I burst into the living room this week unannounced?
Scott: To me, Mad Men is the best show going. I also enjoyed House of Cards, both from its new content distribution model and its story. HoC and Mad Men both hold up a rather one-dimensional mirror to the world — they show us what happens when virtue is largely absent and ego is largely unabated — but I think it’s an important mirror nonetheless.
Sarah: Wow. That’s awesome critique. You win the award for best reflection on television so far. Where are you going?
Scott: I’m going to Create Conference in June — it’s way up north in Canada — and I can’t wait. When I went two years ago, I gave my first ever keynote talk, the main idea of which ended up being the core of my first book. So, Create has a special place in my heart.
Sarah: Really cool. And any given day, who might I find you with?
Scott: Annie, my wife of more than eight years. Our family has been through a lot of big changes already this year, and even though they were all good changes, it has been a lot to manage. Needless to say, none of it would’ve been possible — or enjoyable — without her.
Sarah: Beautiful. Okay, last question, Scott. Do you cook? If so, what are you cooking?
Scott: I cook breakfast. Eggs, bacon, that sort of thing. My cooking is slow, messy, and unsophisticated, but other than that I’ve never heard any complaints.
Scott’s previous gigs include directing Echo Conference for four years and editing Echo Hub, an online collective for artists, geeks and storytellers. He’s now the new Communications Pastor at Irving Bible Church, and the author of the new book Tell Me a Story.
[line]
Doug Pagitt
Doug opted to do his interview on video. And apparently I can’t say no to super tall guys. :) Because of the in-person factor (and because, well, it’s Doug), his interview has lots of additional twists and turns and follow up questions making it both the longest interview and the one that makes me wish I had the time to do face-to-face versions with every friend in this series. Way more entertaining. And unpredictable.
We even did his byline/bio on video.
It was my pleasure for sure.
(Warning – due to my own lack of forethought to wear my headset and mic, you might have to turn your volume up to hear my half of the banter.)