MacVoices #26187: Road to Macstock - Allison Sheridan

On the Road to Macstock, Allison Sheridan previews her session that features a hands-on spreadsheet workshop comparing Excel, Numbers, and Google Sheets. She explains practical skills like fill-down, fill-right, and possibly pivot tables, while stressing that the goal is not exhaustive training but confidence-building. Our conversation also touches on Copilot i relation to Excel, vibe coding, and why Macstock feels like coming home.

Today's MacVoices is supported by TV+ Talk, our MacVoices series with Charlotte Henry focused on Apple TV+. From shows and other content to the business side there's always something to learn about apple's streaming service. Find it at the Categories listings on the web site or go directly to macvoices.com/category/tvplustalk

Show Notes:

Chapters:

00:00 Opening and Road to MacStock introduction
00:35 Chuck welcomes Allison Sheridan
01:07 Why MacStock feels like going home
01:37 The welcoming culture for first-time attendees
02:31 Previewing Allison's presentation topic
03:16 A hands-on spreadsheet workshop
03:51 Comparing Excel, Numbers, and Google Sheets
04:25 Fill down, fill right, and practical spreadsheet basics
05:18 Pivot tables as a possible bonus topic
06:02 Finding usable demo data sets
07:42 Why pivot tables can be less intimidating than they seem
08:20 Excel versus Numbers and spreadsheet preferences
08:46 Where Copilot fits into spreadsheet work
10:30 Why this is not an AI presentation
11:01 Practical spreadsheet skills for mixed-experience audiences
12:30 Why covering all three major spreadsheet apps matters
13:14 Who will benefit most from the session
13:54 What attendees should bring
14:54 Chuck guesses Allison's topic
15:21 Vibe coding as an addictive new productivity tool
16:13 The dopamine hit of building apps with AI
17:04 How vibe coding enthusiasm spreads
17:38 Being polite to AI tools
18:11 Allison's MacStock discount code
19:12 Encouraging attendees to join the Crystal Lake event
19:36 Closing thoughts with Allison Sheridan
20:01 Closing credits and support information

Links:

Macstock Conference
http://macstockconference.com

Allison's Discount Code: podfeet

Guests:

Allison Sheridan started podcasting in May of 2005, just 7 months after podcasting was invented. At 20 years, her flagship show, the NosillaCast Podcast, became the longest-running Apple-centric podcast. In the NosillaCast, she focuses on reviewing tech products with an EVER so slight Apple bias, while weaving accessibility throughout her content.

She also co-hosts the Programming By Stealth podcast, where Bart Busschots teaches the audience to program through an audio podcast (with Bart's tutorial shownotes). Bart and Allison also hosted the podcast Taming the Terminal, which is a 40+ episode guide to the macOS Terminal, which you can also get as an ebook through Apple Books.

She has a tech conversation show called Chit Chat Across the Pond, which currently comes out at least once a month with Adam Engst of TidBITS as her most frequent guest.

She's a founding speaker at Macstock Conference every year outside of Chicago, and a frequent guest on the Daily Tech News Show and Clockwise podcasts. She is also a video screencast tutor for the subscription service ScreenCastsONLINE.

She and her husband, Steve, produce video interviews from trade shows such as CES and CSUN's Assistive Tech conference.

She's an avid exerciser, walking around 7 miles a day, and enjoys time with their dog Kepler, and two cats Ada Lovelace and Grace Hopper. Yes, their pets are all named after scientists!

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