In this talk, Marshall Poe, founder and CEO of New Books Network and a trained historian, shares his journey from aspiring athlete to a podcasting entrepreneur. He discusses the surprising connections between history and entrepreneurship, emphasizing the value of observation and the courage to fail. Marshall also delves into the implications of AI in communication, including concerns over ethical dilemmas. Moreover, he highlights the evolving landscape of podcasting and how to maintain genuine human interaction amid technological advancements.
Marshall Poe's journey highlights the importance of mentorship in shaping academic and professional paths, influencing his transition from sports to history.
The rise of technology has revolutionized academic publishing, allowing for greater accessibility and the innovative use of podcasting for scholarly dialogue.
Podcasting serves as a vital medium for public education, enabling historians to connect with wider audiences while navigating challenges in monetization and content quality.
Deep dives
Pursuit of Knowledge Through Mentorship
The journey of pursuing academic excellence often begins with influential mentors, which can significantly shape one's career trajectory. The speaker reflects on how meeting a skilled historian during his college years inspired him to pursue history over his initial dream of becoming a professional athlete. The importance of connecting with a mentor who embodies the qualities and success one aspires to achieve cannot be understated. The speaker emphasizes that finding a mentor and adapting their pathways can empower students in their academic and professional pursuits.
Revolutionizing Academic Publishing
The speaker highlights a transformative shift in academic publishing due to advancements in technology, particularly the rise of the internet. As traditional publishing methods became cumbersome, he embraced the ability to share scholarly work freely and efficiently, notably by disseminating academic texts in PDF form to interested peers. This innovative approach led him to explore podcasting as a medium for academic dialogue, initiating a successful series that interviews authors about their works. It illustrates how technology has made scholarly knowledge more accessible and challenged conventional publication models.
The Impact of Podcasting on Public Education
Podcasting has emerged as a powerful tool for public education, allowing scholars to reach broad audiences with their insights and research. The speaker describes how he recognized the demand for educational content and created a platform for historians to share their expertise through interviews. By shifting the focus from traditional publishing to engaging audio content, he created an avenue for scholars to connect with the public while also enhancing their visibility. This adaptation not only benefited historians but also enriched the discourse surrounding important academic works.
Navigating the Challenges of Content Creation
The podcasting landscape has evolved, bringing both opportunities and challenges for content creators. The speaker notes the difficulty in monetizing podcasts while ensuring that quality educational content is available. Despite the complexities of advertising and listener engagement, maintaining a focus on valuable information and unique niches remains paramount. The lessons learned from navigating the podcasting sphere showcase the importance of resilience and adaptability in a constantly changing media environment.
Exploring the Future of Education and Communication
As communication technologies develop, there is an ongoing exploration of how they influence public engagement with knowledge. The speaker reflects on the evolution of communication methods, including the rise of AI and how it impacts human dialogue and connection. While technology can enhance the dissemination of information, the value of authentic, human conversations remains crucial. Looking ahead, there is a need to balance technological advancements with meaningful interactions that foster a genuine understanding of complex subjects.
In this episode, NBN founder & CEO Marshall Poe talks about his early plans to become Michael Jordan, his journey from a professorship in Russian history to his fascination with communications, and his present role as a podcasting entrepreneur. We chat about the surprising alignments between the craft of history and entrepreneurship, the power of observation, the courage to try new things and fail and fail again, and the great fun of finding a solution to someone's problem. Marshall reminds us how humans are built to watch and listen rather than read and suggests how understanding speech as performance rather than content messaging can help us understand Donald Trump's popularity. We also wonder who will listen to AI-generated podcasts and whether universities do enough to prepare students for situations of ambiguity.