Our story begins with a humble discovery, when a little light went on in the mind of our founder, Bonnie Dillabough – a light that has gone off for millions of others in one way or another:

The internet’s reach is global. A little Ah-Ha, with implications and potential that have only begun to be conceived.

Global. To think that someone from China might be able to discover a little home page here in Washington state. So easy a discovery to overlook today.

Bonnie Dillabough, has always been an adamant explorer of using media to give people voice to their message. An early adopter of Community Access Cable TV, upon discovering the internet, she immediately grasped the democratic, “leveling-of-the-playing-field” nature of the medium and quickly picked up the rudiments of web design and never looked back.

Seeking to understand the nature of this new media and also having a myth-busting nature, she sought to discover just how one could successfully build a site and actually be found and market online, cutting through all the hype. Researching multiple hours a day and soon becoming an Internet Marketing Instructor with Enlightened Millionaires and at the local college over several years, Bonnie began to link pieces together to discover the “holy grail” of web marketing.

Enter, Denise Bach, who had the privilege of attending one of Bonnie’s courses. Denise, along with a small group of internet pioneers, joined with Bonnie on an experiment to give a forum for voices that are critical to a healthy functioning democracy. After feeling frustrated with how poorly they were informed on the issues from the most recent election cycle, they forged new ground on the web to create a forum space where anyone, with any view in the political arena, could have a voice. They pioneered this new network through streaming web radio with dozens of volunteers from across the country into a dedicated network.

Their effort proved very successful. At the same time, Bonnie stumbled upon something new in her research. A new audio trend, different from streaming radio, and with many advantages over the streaming model. Sometimes called Audio On Demand, sometimes called Audio Blogging, it came to be dubbed Podcasting. The advantages were many: The program could be played at one’s convenience, rather than at a scheduled time; one could listen from one’s computer; or it could even travel with you in a portable device.

Bonnie broke the news to Denise that things were going to change. Good Politics Radio would forge new ground into the podcasting arena. And that they did. They found success in this fledgling technology with a quarter million hits a month within the first four months! Success that came in part from utilizing Bonnie’s Multiple Presences on the Web™ marketing model, her “holy grail”, developed through thousands of hours of research.

The task, however, was to figure out how to monetize this technology. Being passionate producers with hundreds of thousands of listeners still didn’t pay the bills. Without stripping everything that make it so appealing, with its lo-fi, un-polished, authenticity, they sought a way that could make long-term business and marketing sense.

While attending IBI, an entrepreneurial training and conference, in spring of 2006, Denise and Bonnie had their next Ah-Ha at the same moment, but independently: A Network! They would create a new media model that in fact reflected a village, where commerce was natural and seamless. Where people do business with people they know and care about—a Conversational Commons.

A network that would cross-promote podcaster shows and channels. A network where sponsors could get out their message without annoying interruptions. A network where podcasters could create relationships with customers across the street and around the world to truly reach a niche audience without geographic distinctions.

Denise and Bonnie tapped into the tribal culture evolving in the 18-35 age group through social networking sites and expanded it into an evolving network committed to self-expression. A network also of great gifts:

* Joy through authentic self-expression in community
* Healing through giving voice to the places that need voice
* Prosperity through connecting with our ideal markets

First called PodStar Network, the name evolved to express it’s true intent: Yaktivate—Activate your Yak, your voice.

Yaktivate is new media for a new world. Welcome home!