Peoples & Things Marshall Poe on the New Books Network, Technology, and the Future of Academic Communication
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Jan 27, 2025 
Joe Forte, a Media Projects Manager with Virginia Tech Publishing, joins Marshall Poe, founder of the New Books Network and former history professor. They discuss the evolution of academic communication through podcasting, emphasizing accessibility and the shift from traditional media to audio formats. Poe shares insights on building a sustainable podcast network and the role of libraries in preserving digital content. The conversation also tackles the challenges facing the industry, including monetization and maintaining diverse voices in the podcasting landscape.
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Return to Academia
- Marshall Poe returned to academia after working at The Atlantic.
- He realized print wasn't effective for reaching people with complex ideas.
Sensory Preferences
- People prefer watching and listening over reading because we have natural organs for it.
- Reading is a skill we develop later on, and it's a more difficult process.
War and Peace vs. TV
- People presented with free access to War and Peace or "really shitty TV" will watch TV.
- This natural experiment shows people prefer easier entertainment over complex literature.