Conversations with Tyler Dana Gioia on Becoming an Information Billionaire
Dana Gioia, an acclaimed poet and former California Poet Laureate, discusses his fascinating journey from marketing Jell-O to becoming an influential literary figure. He shares how an MBA enriched his poetic craft and why narrative is vital for coping with life. Gioia explores the impact of Virgil on early Christian thought and the challenges of modern libretti. He reflects on the cultural power of art, the importance of bridging divides in the arts, and the value of deep interests over distractions in our information-driven world.
01:18:29
Jell-O Success
- Dana Gioia, despite being a poet, effectively marketed Jell-O.
- He doubled the declining business by inventing Jell-O Jigglers.
Humanities in Business
- MBA programs neglect humanities, thus lack creativity and broader perspectives.
- Gioia's humanities background combined with numerical skills proved advantageous in business.
Business Shaping Poetry
- Working in business transformed Gioia's poetry.
- Interacting with non-literary people broadened his audience and language sense.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Innovation and Transformation in a Declining Corporate Landscape
02:42 • 2min
Bridging Business and Poetry
04:38 • 19min
Virgil's Legacy and Early Christianity
23:28 • 4min
The Art of Libretto: Poetics and Performance
27:22 • 24min
Martians, Catholicism, and Literary Insights
51:15 • 18min
Bipartisan Approaches in the Arts
01:09:34 • 4min
Exploring Poetry Through Film and Cultural Aesthetics
01:13:26 • 2min
Cultivating Depth in an Information-Driven World
01:15:28 • 3min
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Before he was California Poet Laureate or leading the National Endowment for the Arts, Dana Gioia marketed Jell-O. Possessing both a Stanford MBA and a Harvard MA, he combined his creativity and facility with numbers to climb the corporate ladder at General Foods to the second highest rung before abruptly quitting to become a poet and writer. That unique professional experience and a lifelong “hunger for beauty” have made him into what Tyler calls an “information billionaire,” or someone who can answer all of Tyler’s questions. In his new memoir, Dana describes the six people who sent him on this unlikely journey.
In this conversation, Dana and Tyler discuss his latest book and more, including how he transformed several businesses as a corporate executive, why going to business school made him a better poet, the only two obscene topics left in American poetry, why narrative is necessary for coping with life’s hardships, how Virgil influenced Catholic traditions, what Augustus understood about the cultural power of art, the reasons most libretti are so bad, the optimism of the Beach Boys, the best art museum you’ve never heard of, the Jungianism of Star Trek, his favorite Tolstoy work, depictions of Catholicism in American pop culture, what he finds fascinating about Houellebecq, why we stopped building cathedrals, how he was able to effectively lead the National Endowment for the Arts, the aesthetic differences between him and his brother Ted, his advice for young people who want to cultivate their minds, and what he wants to learn next.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links, or watch the full video.
Recorded February 18th, 2021 Other ways to connect
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