Why Scholars Gather: A Tour Through the Wild World of Biblical Academia (Dru Johnson) Ep. #228

What actually happens when thousands of biblical scholars descend on a single convention center?

In this unusual and behind-the-scenes episode, Dru Johnson roams the floor of the Society of Biblical Literature Annual Meeting in Boston to ask a range of publishers and scholars—from Langham Publishing to Prairie College—what these conferences are really like. From the excitement of free books to the dread of reading papers aloud in monotone, this episode reveals both the inspiring and ridiculous sides of academic gatherings.

Dr. Cindy Parker shares the joy of “seeing people from Australia and Israel and just Europe all over the place,” while also admitting, “there’s a lot of ego in the room.” Megan Roberts, a professor in Canada, offers a more practical critique: “Just Google how many words is a 20-minute presentation. Then do it.”

Meanwhile, publisher reps express their weariness with “sweaty” scholars who show up on the final day asking, “What here is free?” And Dr. Chris Skinner offers a thoughtful defense of the format: “The only way you can become better is by being around people who are already better than you.”

This episode is honest, occasionally surprising, and always hilarious —your personal audio tour of biblical scholarship in the wild.

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Chapters:

00:00 Langham Publishing's Mission and Focus
05:56 Scholarly Behavior and Conference Dynamics
08:56 Presentation Skills and Audience Engagement
11:56 The Value of Academic Conferences
14:52 Endorsements and Marketing in Academic Publishing
17:46 The Psychology of Scholarly Interactions