MacVoices #26187: Road to Macstock - Allison Sheridan - MacVoices

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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