Beyond the Interview: Using a Book Club Podcast to Bring Academic Expertise to the Public

How can academics make their ideas easier to find, more engaging, and harder to misrepresent?

In this episode of Continuing Studies, Neil and Jen dig into the podcast, Archaeology Books for Fun with hosts Tristan Harrenstein and Barbara Clark. Barbara and Tristan excavate the ways they've used their podcast to reach an audience segment they were missing in their other public education programs, using a book club format, non-academic texts, playful branding, and eye-catching artwork. Take a listen to unearth practical tips on building a niche podcast, making expert knowledge approachable, and giving academics a clearer voice in the public conversation.

Episode Links:

• Listen to Archaeology Books Are Fun
• Follow Archaeology Books Are Fun
• Connect with Barbara
• Connect with Tristan

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Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:35) - Meet Barbara Clark and Tristan Harrenstein
• (03:04) - How Archaeology Books for Fun got started
• (05:28) - Finding the audience public outreach often misses
• (06:37) - Why archaeologists need a seat at the media table
• (07:48) - Making a “dry” subject feel inviting
• (08:51) - Turning non-academic books into podcast conversations
• (11:00) - A different path beyond guest interviews
• (13:30) - Reading with a critical archaeological lens
• (14:08) - What strong branding does for a niche show
• (18:13) - Small changes that helped the show grow
• (21:01) - Letting audience data guide the next dig
• (23:38) - Podcasting as long-term public education
• (26:37) - Conclusion