"Big Daddy" Christopher Barger submit an audio comment to the show For Immediate Release with Shel Holtz and Neville Hobson. You can listen in to what Christopher had to say about GM's involvement with the Manic Mommies Escape by clicking here. His comments start at around 38 minutes, 24 seconds.

(Detroit, MI — September 28, 2007) General Motors Corporation (NYSE: GM) signed an agreement today to be the exclusive sponsor of the first-ever Manic Mommies Escape, a weekend getaway for busy moms to historic Newport, Rhode Island November 9-11.

Manic Mommies is an emerging media company started by two suburban Boston employed moms, Kristin Brandt and Erin Kane. At the center of the Manic Mommies enterprise is a successful weekly podcast that is continually ranked in the top Kids & Family podcasts on iTunes. The weekend Escape is the first time Manic Mommies listeners will gather together in the same location. Until now, the Manic Mommies community has existed entirely online.

As the exclusive event sponsor, GM will provide car transportation for the event’s headline speakers, comedienne and television personality Dena Blizzard and novelist Jane Porter. GM will also provide shuttles for guests of the Escape and will offer test drives of some of the newest GM models including the brand-new Chevy Malibu that will be in dealer lots in early 2008.

“GM strongly believes in the value of establishing dialogues and building relationships with potential customers one at a time through social media and personal experience,” says Christopher Barger, the company’s director of Global Communications Technology. “We look forward to working with Manic Mommies to support this exciting event, and getting to know their listeners.”

Kristin and Erin, the founders of Manic Mommies Media, have spent the last two years producing their weekly podcast from a suburban Boston living room. With time as their only investment, and word-of-mouth as their only marketing, the two moms are thrilled to have finally captured the attention of a major American company.

“We’re excited that GM sees the value in new media and understands that we connect with our audience in ways traditional media simply can’t,” says Kristin, a mother of two and local marketing executive.

Erin adds, “We speak to moms in real terms. We’re honest about our challenges, our own struggles balancing work and family and our listeners appreciate that honesty. There are so many terms defining moms these days: alpha mom, soccer mom, opt-out mom. Truth is, our listeners have started calling themselves manic mommies.”

Kristin and Erin will drive to the Newport Escape in a GM vehicle equipped with turn-by-turn navigation and will blog the experience live on ManicMommies.com on November 9.

The Manic Mommies were thrilled to be included in the recent iTunes Podcast Spotlight newsletter! And, with several of our podcasting friends also featured, we are in good company.

Thanks iTunes, and welcome to any new listeners!

Check it out - Moms seeking a break from their kids might try a 'momcation'.

The Manic Mommies were honored to appear on the new podcast Jumping Monkeys with Megan Morrone and TWiT founder Leo Laporte. Erin and I were interviewed from our offices (thanks to Leo for hooking us up - literally). We really enjoyed meeting Megan and Leo!

* Click here to check out the Jumping Monkeys podcast.
* Read Megan's blog

And welcome to any new listeners coming from TWIT - hope you enjoy our show!

We love to "meet" our listeners, and we know you love to "meet" each other! Now you can check out some of our wonderful moms (and dads) by checking out our Frappr map!

Erin and I are shocked and surprised to find out that we won a Podast Peer Award in the Parenting category.

The Podcast Peer Awards are held twice a year, with different categories each time. According to the web site:

These awards are given by the people who know podcasting best - other podcasters. They recognize quality. They celebrate creativity. They ferret out the small, unnoticed, and otherwise ignored shows you've missed. They debate and discuss and argue about these shows as they vote for (and against) audio and video podcasts that cover every style and every approach to podcasting. And in the end, only the best, only the very best, win.

Several other great Parenting podcasts were nominated which makes the award even more gratifying.

Thank you to those who nominated and voted for us - you know how we love the validation!!

Erin and I are shocked and surprised to find out that we won a Podast Peer Award in the Parenting category.

The Podcast Peer Awards are held twice a year, with different categories each time. According to the web site:

These awards are given by the people who know podcasting best - other podcasters. They recognize quality. They celebrate creativity. They ferret out the small, unnoticed, and otherwise ignored shows you've missed. They debate and discuss and argue about these shows as they vote for (and against) audio and video podcasts that cover every style and every approach to podcasting. And in the end, only the best, only the very best, win.

Several other great Parenting podcasts were nominated which makes the award even more gratifying.

Thank you to those who nominated and voted for us - you know how we love the validation!!

We had the pleasure of meeting, and being interviewed by, Rob of Podcast 411. Click on the graphic to listen in!

While at the Portable Media Expo we participated on the "Women in Podcasting Panel" at the LA Podcasters' booth. The panel was moderated by Shelly Brisbin, and included Christiana Ellis, Elsie Escobar and SoccerGirl.

Click here to listen in!

Fellow podcaster Barely of the Barely podcast reviewed the Manic Mommies on his show #32. Thanks for your kind words Barely... You made us blush!

Click here to check out the show.

The Manic Mommies are very excited to be featured
in this Sunday's Boston Globe. The article included information about our show as well as shows by our fellow New England podcasters CC Chapman and John Wall.

If this is your first visit to our web site - welcome! Here are some links you may find helpful:

Manic Mommies were mentioned in June's Parenting Magazine:

Podcasting for moms
Are you plugged into this trend yet? Tun in at MomTalkRadio.com, ManicMommies.com, or Mommycast.com for great parenting advice and thoughtful talk from real moms. You'll wish you could invite them over for coffee, but listening while you tackle the laundry will do.

We're very excited to be included with these other great "Mom-casts."

The Wheaton Quarterly interviewed Kristin and Erin for their Summer 2006 issue.

My favorite part of the article? The very first sentence:
"Kristin Sundin Brandt '94 and Erin Kane are moms; welcome to their world."

Click here to download a copy.

Our local parenting paper, BayState Parent, featured the Manic Mommies in an article about Online Diaries and Podcasts. Click here to check it out!

Jamy Pombo of NewCenter 5 introduced viewers to the Manic Mommmies web site. Click here to view the segment.