How podcasting fits into modern scholarship and the evolving goals of higher education.

Barry Lam—philosopher, professor, and creator of the acclaimed narrative podcast Hi-Phi Nation — joins the show to explore how audio storytelling can bridge the worlds of scholarly research and public engagement. This wide-ranging conversation traces the evolution of narrative academic podcasts, the craft behind building compelling audio stories, and how philosophy can come alive when paired with documentary-style narrative. The discussion also uncovers the shifting landscape within academia—where traditional scholarly outputs like monographs still dominate—and how podcasting is beginning to challenge those norms. Hear how one podcaster’s work reshaped a university’s hiring and tenure considerations, why public-facing scholarship matters, and what institutions must rethink to truly support creative academic work. A thoughtful conversation for anyone curious about the future of academic storytelling, the possibilities of audio as scholarship, or the evolution of higher ed podcasting.

Episode Links:

• Hi-Phi Nation
• Barry Lam | LinkedIn
• Barry Lam

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Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (03:43) - Origins of a Narrative Philosophy Podcast
• (07:06) - Crafting a Story & the Limits of AI
• (09:11) - Academic Rigor vs. Narrative Entertainment
• (11:31) - Choosing Podcasting Over Papers
• (14:46) - Why the Written Monograph Still Rules
• (16:28) - When Podcasting Becomes Scholarly Capital
• (22:49) - Should There Be a Journal of Podcasting?
• (24:27) - Rethinking Public Scholarship
• (28:21) - Universities as Modern Media Producers
• (32:14) - What’s Ahead for the Next Season
• (34:01) - Advice for Scholars Considering Podcasting
• (36:42) - Conclusion