<editorsnote>Hi, I'm Jen Friel, and we here at TNTML examine the lives of nerds outside of the basements and into the social media, and dating world. We have over 75 peeps that write about their life in real time. (Real nerds, real time, real deal.) Sit back, relax, and enjoy some of the stories!!</editorsnote>
OOOOOOHHHH the internet, you really are fabulous you know that right? I mean how else can a nerdy lifecaster go to bed one night with a solid but still niche following, and then wake up the next morning becoming the entire auto industry's poster child for the word "slut."
Hold on ... here's the song that goes with the post ...
So, there have been a lot more of you since the article on Jalopnik, and since you're new - I'd like to introduce myself.
Hi friends. I'm @JenFriel. I built this site with my bare hands two and a half years ago and live my life as a lifecaster and corporate sponsored minimalist broadcasting all of my adventures in social media and on this loverly website (which btw has over 75 writers).
Yes, Jalopnik and other auto outlets expressed concern at a "sex blogger" documenting a review of a new Dodge vehicle - but my sexual escapades are only the tip of the iceberg. The fact that so many of the male journalists are choosing to focus solely on my sexual character speaks more to their mysogynist nature than anything else.
I lead a very very very different life. The different life experiences however make me relatable to a SHIT TON of people, and the site's popularity has obviously grown because of it. Yes, last year I spoke very candidly about my sex life, and this year I've been seeing a Shaman and have addressed a lot of my own personal issues.(I'm actually even dating my first love again - so nah ne nah ne poopy!) This website isn't a digital representation of my vagina but rather a fun and creative outlet for me to explore while at the same time telling others they too can be free and transparent and really own their shit; it's attraction not promotion.
FYI: 20 somethings not in relationships have fuck buddies. Period end of sentence. And did you read my thesis on the 103 dates in 9 months? I had 11 second dates, 6 guys I slept with and 4 that I wanted more from. 6 guys ... I slept with SIX guys in 9 months. Really? This makes me "slutty?" Cool, I will take that auto industry. I'll genuinely take anything you throw at me because this is what I do ... I get pushed down, and I get right back up and fight back.
I TOOK A BRICK TO MY HEAD AND NOT ONLY LIVED TO TELL THE STORY AND TESTIFY, BUT I PERFORMED IN OUR FIRST LIVE STAGE SHOW IN HOLLYWOOD LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER WITH A CONCUSSION AND FOUR STAPLES IN MY HEAD!!!
Call me anything that you want, but the last thing that I want is for other women out there who are ALSO expressing themselves and their sexuality to be beaten down and go back into hiding out of fear of being attacked. It's bullshit, man! If Chrysler sent Tucker Max instead of myself, do you guys think anyone would REALLY have batted an eye? The kid is nuts and just as open sexually yet he gets glorified in a movie (albeit a bad one) while women are slut shamed until they are forced into a submission.
It's lame, man and something that I will ABSOLUTELY make it a mission to change.
It's 2012!!! Can we move past some of these things already? Women have sex. Period end of sentence. Women enjoy sex. Period end of sentence. There is ABSOLUTELY no shame in either. Period end of sentence.
You ladies rock on wit yo' sexual selves and please do not think that any of this press will change anything about this brand or anything about me. I find an enormous amount of freedom in being so transparent. Why don't some of you get out from behind your computers and give it a try sometime?
I have been running this brand now for 2.5 years and never ... and I mean nneeveerrrr have I felt more awesome anticipation for a single post. Very genuinely, I recognize the fact that I'm not special in this life .... only awesome ... but I totes got called out for something that was so super douchey mcgee I actually wished a sea of crying puppies on that person.
Hold up, I'm getting ahead of myself. Here's the song that goes with this post ...
SOOOOOOOO, a few weeks back, while at trivia, I got an email from some fancy panted person from Chrysler asking if I was available from May 1-3rd to test drive the Dodge Dart in Austin.
My initial thought was, this sounds super awesome but I live in LA and am always on a budget, how could I actually be in Austin?
I then emailed their team back saying, it all sounded great - but I wasn't based in Texas so getting there would be an issue.
They then emailed me back and said they would fly me out put me up at the W and take care of all my food and beverage expenses while in town.
All expense paid vacay to Austin to drive a freaking car?
Yes. Yes. Yes and more yes. This is every level of win!
See, car manufacturers often conduct drive reviews for journalists to be able to talk about a car before it gets released.
::I can hear you now:: But Jen, you're not a "journalist!"
You're right, dear friend - I'm not! Buuuttt I am a lifecaster and I have a very engaged audience based in social media WHICH is something that is very desirable to a lot of companies.
Ah, I get that now Jen. Thanks for clearing that up!
I love how polite the people are when they converse in my head, btw! Rock on!
So bottom line, car company wants car talked about ... car company contacts nerdy lifecaster that has audience ... car company says let's make this happen ... nerdy lifecaster seeks adventure on company's dime and boom chicka wow wow a month later, in Austin I be!
I got here on Tuesday, and immediately made myself at home ...
<tangent> See, I didn't have a home for a year while I was launching this brand. I literally lived on the awesomeness of others via bartering social media and search engine optimization as a means to live. I've slept in chairs, airports, couches, floors, beaches ... anything ... anywhere ... that allowed me 7 hours of shut eye so I could get recharged and get back to launching this site!
To get to sleep in a bed ... and a SUPER FREAKING COMFY one at that absolutely. absolutely. absolutely makes my life. I've managed to have a corporate sponsored apartment now for the last year, but as anyone will ever tell you - launching a business is the scariest thing ever and you very genuinely HOPE things work out, but you never know. You live life in a very zen state of appreciating every moment of everything all while hoping and praying, you're actually able to execute your goal.</tangent>
I then furthered said home feeling by ordering room service ...
PS. the taco trio at the W is the bomb diggity per schnickerty!!
Later that evening I got acquainted with the peeps at Chrysler and then the next morning we had our orientation on the vehicle.
As I sat in the showroom among the fancy lights and shiny looking cars it struck me how fortunate I was for this experience. I do not at ALL consider myself a car "expert" but here I am among 20 other media outlets (18 of them more "traditional") and my opinion is just as valuable as theirs.
How did this happen, I thought?
This is REALLY how I'm spending my WEDNESDAY???
We then got a tour of the vehicle and after signing our life away with the vehicle loan agreement, the outlets paired up for the drive.
For my partner I chose my new buddy Nicole over at GeekMom.com since we've got the whole geek/nerd thing going on and us uber analytical peeps have to stick together. Plus, we're both obviously techie enough to understand the awesomeness that is google maps should either one of us get lost. It's survival of the fittest always. always. always.
We were then handed a booklet with directions and given the base model for the Dodge Dart. (Basically the one that if you went into the dealer and said I am on a budget but I want the Dodge dart ... this is what you'd get.)
Nicole drove first, and I laughed thinking - omg, this is a standard!!! Thank GOOOOODDDD I learned how to drive stick for the Fiesta Movement.
<tangent> Back in Feb of 2010 I was named a Ford Fiesta Movement chapter 2 agent. Ford gave a bunch of social media kids cars in a whole bunch of different cities and said ... go play! Raddest life experience ever. DUDES! I freaking learned how to drive stick on the FORD RACE TRACK IN MICHIGAN!!! EPIC LEVELS OF EPICNESS!! Thank you thank you THANK YOU Scott Monty! </tangent>
It genuinely didn't even occur to me that any of the cars would be a standard, but I was SUPER grateful to know how to drive one.
We were then sent off to the city of Albert and the adventure commenced.
I applauded Nicole and her shifting ease. This chickadee not only looked hot driving the Dart, but she made that clutch her BITCH!!!
My anxiety increased wondering how easily I'd be able to drive a standard.
You can do this Friel, you can do this I said pumping myself up.
We then pulled over at the first break stop and swapped drivers.
Now is the time, Jen. You can do this, I thought.
A fancy pants looking dude with a clipboard then walks over to us to check our VIN.
You're good to go he said writing our names down.
I then put the car into reverse and then see the rear camera display engage.
Oh la la, fancy pants, I thought. Wait, focus Friel. Quit with the shiny things right now. Yes, the Dodge Dart has an available rear camera display on a super crisp and clean 8.4 inch uConnect touch media center ... but right now, your dignity is dependent upon your ability to pull this out of your ass and drive this freaking vehicle.
Nicole, understanding my nervousness, then begins laughing. The guy with the clipboard is REALLY staring at you, she said.
I FREAKING KNOW RIGHT, I replied back.
I then back the car up, and make it literally 5 feet before I realize I can't find first.
AH! Bah! and YAH! I scream at Nicole.
You can do this, she said! Find first ... it's an easy clutch.
The gears then make that nails on chalkboard sound as I am finally able find first.
Can't find it, grind it! I think!!!
Either way, WE ARE OUTTA HERE!!!
BOOMCHICKAWOWWOW
And just like that, we were on the road. Driving through the boonies in Texas was pretty freaking cool, but also pretty freaking scary. There was a lot of construction on my leg of the trip, and even at one point we were directed to drive on THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD which was super scary considering 1) this wasn't my vehicle. 2) I had no idea where we were. and 3) I'm not from England.
This is real life Mario Kart, I said to Nicole. It's going to tell a great story later, but holy hell Batman, this is INTENSE!!!
We then make it to our lunch destination in one piece. I'm not entirely sure HOW we were able to do it, but we were .... which made me happy.
Nicole then drove the rest of the way back, and about an hour later, we were back at the W valeting the vehicle.
It was a really smooth ride, I said with a very very very roomy interior.
I know, she agreed. I really liked the vehicle.
We then both retired to our rooms and around 1:30 pm I got an email from my buddy over at Jalopnik giving me a heads up that a story about me was about to go live.
Ah? Beh? Eh? I thought.
I'm not mad at Jalopnik clearly, but I was genuinely curious about the slant on the article.
"It's not terrible," replied my friend.
OOOOHHH this is going to be good, I thought.
The article then goes live, and my afternoon is completely rocked.
FFMMLLLL, I thought. I genuinely wanted to nap and shower - now I have to deal with my credibility as a brand ambassador being called into question?
I then quickly email my contact at Chrysler letting him know about the article. (Brands don't like to be blindsided as an FYI)
As I write my response to Jalopnik - and literally spend the next 4 hours answering tweet after tweet, email after email ... it was fucking nuts. I wasn't mad at being called out or anything in between, I was actually GRATEFUL to Matt for writing about me since this is EXACTLY why I get invited to things. Companies can't BUY that kinda press ... but this is how I make a living. I'm a people magnet, things like this will always always always happen to me. Why was I singled out of the entire group? Why were my sexual escapades highlighted and not a SINGLE mention of my previous work with other car manufacturers discussed?
Like me, loathe me ... whatever. I'm meh, but the fact that you're talking about this brand and you're @replying me in social media means I'm doing my job! I don't just believe in social media, I friggen live my life THROUGH social media.
Dudes, even last night, I had an extra bed in my suite and I totes let my twitter friend @dropnpop1 crash next to me.
<tangent> I have to pay back all the couch surfing karma. It still shocks me that for ONE YEAR I was able to do it. Friggen nuts, man! </tangent>
Bottom line: As far as the Dodge Dart goes, what are my thoughts on it?
I thought it was pretty cool. I, personally though, need an even smaller car. I know the Dart is considered a compact, but I live in the HEART of Los Angeles, and have street parking. My beetle is size wise a good fit for me. I can't BEGIN to tell you how many small spaces I've fit that bad boy which is INVALUABLE to a city dweller like myself.
I'd def recommend it to my techie friends though based on the LED lighting and the fact that the glovebox is SO DEEP you could actually fit a laptop in it. (Something that is invaluable to nerds who always always always have their laptops on them.)
The Dart is cool, funky, and customizable. I can't thank Chrysler enough for the opportunity to drive the Dart, and for the trip to Austin.
Onnnnn that note, however, I gotta jam. My shuttle leaves in 30 mins!
OH DUDES! When I get home I'm totally going out on a date with this dude that spent THREE YEARS in a jail in Pakistan. I was watching him on one of my fav TV shows and totally asked him out on twitter. It was ah-mazing and he said yes!!
click the image to read the articleSo, a few hours ago - my buddy over at the popular car blog Jalopnik gave me a heads up that a story about me was about to go live. (Pretty decent of him actually)
The story then goes live at 4:30 EST and it made no sense. First off, they included a video of me from 2007 that was part of the story of my first adult relationship. (You can read more about that here) Why THAT video? Why not any talking about my involvement in the Ford Fiesta Movement?
I do NOOOOOTTTT hide the fact that I know NOTHING about cars. In fact, when I was interviewed for being part of the Fiesta Movement, I made that fact ABUNDANTLY clear saying, I've gone out on two dates from guys that I met in traffic, but other than that - I can't tell you a damn thing about cars.
HOWEVER, I sell a lifestyle. This brand is based on weird and random adventures that I as a people magnet will always always always attract. Dudes, I haven't even driven a car in almost 500 days (I have 5 parking tickets and my car is in a garage right now), but my next big piece is going to be on surviving 500 days of public transportation in Los Angeles (something people say could never be done).
This shit is my jam.
I write like I talk - and I had an AMAZING day today driving the Dodge Dart with my buddy over at GeekMom.com.
At one point I was driving on the wrong side of the road - in addition to forgetting how to drive a stick and having a super scary dude with a clipboard watch me stall the thing like no other.
It's hilarious, and totally in my way, yet another adventure had. You can read more about what I do here, and here's a fancy schmancy video that might explain my story more ...
As far as my write up of the Dodge Dart goes, you can catch it when it goes live tomorrow at 12pm EST.
Peace love and lollipops all! Thanks for the write up!
Thursday, May 3, 2012 at 5:44PM
Hi friends. I'm @JenFriel. I built this site with my bare hands two and a half years ago and live my life as a lifecaster and corporate sponsored minimalist broadcasting all of my adventures in social media and on this loverly website (which btw has over 75 writers). 
