Kyla Scanlon, an economics educator passionate about accessibility, discusses her mission to simplify economic concepts on social media platforms. She shares insights from her book, touches on creative economic storytelling, and reflects on her unconventional educational journey. The conversation explores the impact of social media on economic narratives, the decline of print culture, and the rising appeal of cults in society. Also, she offers valuable investment advice for youth, emphasizing the importance of long-term strategies in today's complex economic landscape.
Read more
AI Summary
Highlights
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Kyla Scanlon highlights the need to simplify complex economic concepts through engaging storytelling and imaginative analogies for broader understanding.
Her educational journey underscores the value of exploring diverse academic paths while fostering environments that encourage personal exploration in learning.
Kyla critiques misleading economic information on social media, emphasizing the importance of providing factual content to counteract generational misconceptions.
Deep dives
Kyla Scanlon's Approach to Economics
Kyla Scanlon emphasizes the importance of making economics accessible to a younger audience. By merging her passion for storytelling with economic concepts, she creates an engaging narrative that simplifies complex ideas. She uses creative analogies, such as comparing components of the economy to castles in her book, to illustrate interconnections between monetary policy and labor markets. This imaginative approach fosters a better understanding of economics for those who may find traditional teaching methods less engaging.
Educational Background and Learning Path
Kyla's educational journey illustrates the significance of exploring diverse academic paths. Initially entering Western Kentucky University with an intention to study engineering, she discovered a passion for economics through a pivotal class. The support from professors played a crucial role in her development, allowing her to explore multiple disciplines including finance and data analytics. This personal experimentation highlights the value of fostering an environment where students are encouraged to shape their unique educational experiences.
The Influence of Social Media on Economics Education
Kyla critiques the potentially misleading economic information prevalent on platforms like TikTok, which often leans towards conspiratorial thinking. She notes that while there are valuable resources available, the desire to blame external factors like corporations for economic woes can dominate discussions. This perspective highlights a generational gap in understanding economics, where younger audiences seek quick answers to complex issues. Kyla's commitment to providing factual information sets her apart, as she strives to counteract the spread of misinformation.
Challenges of Engagement in Modern Media
Kyla acknowledges the changing landscape of social media and its impact on user engagement, particularly with the rise of platforms like Instagram Reels. She points out that TikTok has seen its users become fatigued by constant advertisements, which contrasts with the more curated experience on Instagram. This shift not only alters user interaction but also suggests a growing need for platforms to adapt to audiences' preferences for authenticity and connection. Understanding these dynamics is essential for anyone hoping to effectively communicate through social media.
Future Aspirations and Broader Impact
Kyla expresses a desire to expand her educational outreach through various media formats, including potentially a television show. The aim is to provide a foundational platform for economic education that is easily accessible and engaging. She recognizes the importance of creating content that resonates with the public while navigating the complexities of media production and funding. This multifaceted approach underscores her dedication to making economics approachable and relevant to today’s audiences.
Kyla Scanlon has made it her personal mission to bring economics education to a larger audience through social media. She publishes daily content across TikTok, YouTube, Substack, LinkedIn and more, explaining what is happening in the economy and why it is happening. Tyler calls her first book In This Economy? How Money & Markets Really Work a “good and bracing shock to those who have trained their memories on some weighted average of the more distant past.”
Tyler and Kyla dive into the modern state of economics education and a whole range of topics like if fantasy world building can help you understand economics, what she learned trading options at 16, why she opted for a state school over the Ivy League, lessons from selling 38 cars over summer break, introversion as an ingredient for social media success, if she believes in any conspiracy theories, Instagram scrolling vs TikTok scrolling, the decline of print culture, why people are seeking out cults, modern nihilism, how perspective can help with optimism, the death of celebrity and the rise of influencers, why econ education has gone backward, improving mainstream media, YIMBYism and real estate, nuclear pragmatism versus utopian geothermalists, investing advice for young people, why she thinks about the Great Depression more than Rome, creating the next Free to Choose, and more.