#100 'They were keeping skulls at the bottom of a university basement!': Marc Fennell on following your curiosity
Oct 4, 2023
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Renowned journalist Marc Fennell explores the mysterious story of skulls found in a university basement. They discuss the power of curiosity, challenging beliefs of black inferiority, the intriguing past of a unique house, the importance of theatre in storytelling, and the impact of naming and titles.
The podcast explores the mysterious history behind a collection of human skulls in a university basement, uncovering tales of race, medical science, and the British Empire.
Collaborating with like-minded individuals and leveraging partnerships with established organizations is crucial for expanding creative capacity in content creation.
Capturing audience attention and maintaining curiosity throughout the creative process is key to creating captivating content, utilizing intriguing titles and theatrical storytelling techniques.
Deep dives
The Intriguing Discovery of a Catholic Cannibal Skull Collection
In this podcast episode, the speaker shares the fascinating story of a retired priest who casually mentions a room in a university filled with human skulls, including the skull of a Catholic cannibal. This strange collection, known as the Morton cranial collection, unveils the history of race, medical science, and the darker side of the British Empire. The speaker's curiosity is piqued, leading him to explore the stories behind each skull and uncover the tales of these individuals. The podcast delves into the challenge of curating complex historical narratives, capturing audience attention, and the importance of leveraging collaborations to create captivating content.
The Delicate Dance of Prolific Content Creation
The speaker discusses the importance of being prolific in content creation and shares personal insights on managing multiple projects. They emphasize the significance of collaborating with like-minded individuals to expand creative capacity and leverage partnerships with established organizations. The speaker also highlights the importance of capturing and maintaining curiosity throughout the creative process, from finding a small doorway into a big idea to captivating audiences' attention through intrigue and theater in storytelling.
The Drama and Challenges of Crafting Intriguing Titles
The speaker underscores the role of titles in capturing audience attention and creating intrigue. They share personal experiences with creating titles that stand out, such as 'Stuff the British Stole' and 'House of Skulls', highlighting the delicate balance between provoking interest and navigating potential controversies. The speaker emphasizes the significance of audience reactions and the importance of storytelling theater, including theatrical presentation and effective use of curiosity to procure attention.
Finding Joy in the Process and Mastery of Factual Storytelling
The speaker delves into their approach to factual storytelling and highlights the importance of finding joy in the process. They navigate the delicate balance between providing factual information and creating captivating narratives, drawing inspiration from theatrical techniques and interview experiences. The speaker shares their passion for listening to other people's stories and curating authentic narratives, emphasizing the responsibility of presenting diverse perspectives and engaging audiences through the process of factual storytelling.
Exploration of Curiosity, Risk-Taking, and Adventurous Storytelling
The speaker reflects on their drive for curiosity, risk-taking, and adventurous storytelling in their career. They discuss the excitement of pursuing new ideas and stories, focusing on taking audiences on an adventure rather than being an adventurer themselves. The speaker underscores the significance of understanding the role of storytelling in conveying historical narratives, addressing controversies, and maintaining audience attention through theatrical storytelling techniques.
'I love creating an environment where people feel comfortable to be identifiably authentic.'
Marc Fennell, a renowned journalist, broadcaster, and media figure, hosts a captivating new mystery series called 'House of Skulls'.
This six-part documentary podcast that explores how and why a set of skulls from various corners of the globe wound up in the cellar of an Ivy League institution in the United States.