The Academic Boardroom Podcast

The episode score is like a piece of music that contains the message from the conversation about the innovations. The song starts with the first statement of the interview about the importance of distinguishing real value from hype. In the lyrics, there are words explaining how to judge a luxury thing by looking at its ability to expand and prove its value; these lines also praise the list of 300 items which have high value. The next part of the song discusses the topics presented by Emma Barker Bonomo. A brick that blocks the phone signifies the return to the simpler and less advanced means of communication, whereas machine-assisted solutions take over the businesses and the private life of people becomes more human. Furthermore, the song proceeds to the sincerity of the inventions, and it is stated that children value the genuine inventions more than the fake ones; they say “that’s fake” if something has been made by the A.I. The closing part of the song describes the boardroom where the real speed of evolution can be seen and where all the innovations are included into the final calculations. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The latest edition of TIME's 2026 Best Inventions list is published, and trends emerge from it. This time in her return visit, Emma Barker Bonomo, Senior Editorial Director at TIME, discusses with Dr. Eli Joseph and Dr. Janice Gassam Asare how they have filtered down more than 300 inventions in over 25 categories to create this list. Emma explains a division that is seen in technology and innovation: Workplace technology has been moving toward the direction of AI robots, including Amazon's Proteus warehouse robot, while personal technology has been going its route in the opposite direction—making screen-free, human-centered inventions such as the Brick phone blocker, the Tin Can kid's landline, and the flip phone with texts like Snake. Other topics of discussion include the impact of nostalgia on innovative processes, such as the Denza Z electric sports car and Apple's foldable iPhone, which Emma tested and is evaluating against the price of approximately $2,000. The hosts and Emma talk about what goes on behind the scenes of the vetting process: how it happens that price rarely matters but has to be considered if it is the innovation itself; how wellness products lacking clinical evidence are eliminated; and why those submission application forms are marked for consideration next year if the technology is too new, too crowded, or incapable of making impact. Emma also explains how the Best Inventions list is different from the TIME100 Companies and why a New York City super with a smart toilet shutoff system could be on the list with Apple. For those who want to create something innovative, Emma gives some recommendations on how to present oneself first; last but not least, she explains how one should not worry about their small size and whether publicizing one's idea on Shark Tank can actually get them anywhere. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What occurs when a social scientist who follows data-based research realizes that evidence cannot persuade everyone? This episode of The Academic Boardroom features an interview with Dr. Robert Livingston, a lecturer at Harvard University and author of The Conversation and Play the Game, Change the Game, Leave the Game. Livingston describes his journey from living in the predominantly Black community of Lexington, Kentucky, where the Black population comprised teachers, doctors, and neighbors, to working at the predominantly white college called Tulane, which provided him with "armor" and a lifetime study of race. He talks about the evolution of his perspective that was shaped by talking to thousands of people after George Floyd's case. He realized that data and conversations can rarely shift beliefs that are reinforced emotionally. For instance, he compares the belief that a dragon is hiding under one's bed to the belief in white supremacy. At the same time, he argues that he is not an Afro-pessimist and that systemic racism can be resolved. In addition, the interview addresses whether racism is learned or internal, the distinction of individual and systemic changes, and the five pillars of systemic racism, in which economic and legislative aspects are the biggest tools. It also discusses whether Black children thrive in areas where they can feel welcomed, as indicated by Nikole Hannah-Jones. Moreover, Livingston elaborates on the PRESS concept, which stands for problem awareness, root cause analysis, empathy, strategy, and sacrifice. He states that allyship is a verb and that to be an ally is not just an identity. He makes people aware of their powerful influence and the need to act. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the podcast, Dr. Eli Joseph and Dr. Janice Gassam Asare interview Tim Vandehey, a ghostwriter with more than three decades of experience in the profession and around 70 nonfiction books to his credit, who has been listed as a bestselling ghostwriter by the New York Times. Tim became a ghostwriter unintentionally despite his training as a journalist, working in advertising and leaving for freelance work when he was only 30. In 1999, a client asked him to write a book, and he was introduced to the world of ghostwriting through contacts made while working on the Chicken Soup for the Soul series. While by 2004 he began to write as a full-time ghostwriter, Tim describes ghostwriting as a purely journalistic undertaking requiring enough interviews and extensive structure before any actual work can be done. He is also of the opinion that being a ghostwriter is not immoral, as the practice of ghostwriting has been around for ages. According to Tim, ghostwriting is affected by the introduction of AI into publishing, with newcomers being the worst hit while veterans manage to avoid the damage as they are shielded. Tim believes that AI is capable of providing the user with a book requested rather than the book that the user needs, as AI is unable to conduct interviews or delve into someone's painful past. Some agencies now require clients to sign the "no AI" pledge, while client expectations regarding speed have drastically transformed. Anyone seeking to join the field will have to learn about success from experience rather than through education, as there are no formal requirements for becoming a ghostwriter. Therefore, Tim mentions different online platforms and services that are worth consulting. Ghostwriters' hourly pay may be lower than the pay journalists receive, but the salaries paid to ghostwriters do increase in time and surpass journalism pay. Tim does not find it particularly encouraging to accept that first-time authors rarely feature in the bestseller list, adding that he has only experienced one first-time author who ever made it to the list. He emphasizes that Jonathan would have liked to be among bestsellers, stressing that authors should position themselves long before publishing anything. He says that an author needs to publish content regularly to be successful. Apocalyptic or tragic events become the top source of material for film or television adaptations. He takes the position that ghostwriting would not work for him. Tim highlights that books are special to their authors, which means they should be considered with care. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.