I am thinking about starting a Podcast and would like your opinion. This would be *different* from the Ehrman Blog podcast that we’ve had for years (and is now in hiatus as we redesign it) and, of course, from the audio versions of the blog already made available to gold and platinum members. It would not be connected with the blog per se – though hopefully it would draw attention to and attract new members to the blog It would instead be my own thing for the Bart Ehrman Professional Services, the site where I host my online courses, push my books, and offer consultation services (www.bartehrman.com) But I mention it to you, my blog readers, because among the members of the human race, you are the ones who most follow my work, and I would welcome your advice.
For years people have urged me to do a Podcast, and I’ve always thought – Whoa! Way too much work! But now I’m thinkin’: Hey, why not join the 21st century? If the goals of my existence is to spread scholarship about the New Testament and early Christianity to realms outside the academiy itself, the reality is that LOTS of people prefer podcasts to books and blogs (or love podcasts along with books and/or blogs) and this would be a way to reach into new spheres. So, I think I’m inclined.
Let me tell you roughly what we (I and the people who would produce and market it) have in mind, and see what you think and what you’d suggest.
- It would be a weekly podcast, normally recorded, say 45-60 minutes.
- It would be both audio podcast and video for Youtube, etc.
- The *typical* (but not only) format we would start with would involve a one-on-one interview of a Host-Interviewer (the same each week) and Yours Truly.
- Each would be on a topic related to my fields of expertise. We’d go back and forth for most of the episode.
- Possibly/probably, though, I would spend 15 minutes or so of the episode answering questions that have come in from listeners.
- We would possibly have threads – several podcasts in a row on different aspects of a topic.
- Occasionally (once every month? Six weeks?) I would invite a guest scholar whom I would myself interview – someone with different views from mine, e.g., or who works in related areas that I don’t have much expertise in, etc..
- We would probably keep advertisements to a minimum, possibly just a minute’s worth or so in the middle of the podcast (30 seconds each, either together or spaced out)
- We would plan to experiment with other formats – e.g. occasionally doing a live episode with call-in questions (that would have to be carefully organized and monitored).
- We do not have a name for it yet.
One very important key would be having a Host-Interviewer who would her/himself be an attraction to the podcast, a draw for people, and with good chemistry with me. Just in principle there are enormous ranges of options to consider (hard-core skeptic? committed evangelical? seeker? non-specialist? high level professional academic? well-trained non-academic?).
Whoever the interviewer is, and whatever their slant, I would use the podcast to do what I like to do: discuss what New Testament and Early Christianity scholars think about various interesting and important topics, and explain why they think so, in terms that lay-folk can understand (and to explain what I myself think, and why, when I have different views from others).
Anyway, this is enough background for what I’m thinking / pondering. Do you have any opinions, ideas, and/or suggestions?
I think it’s a great idea. I would be among the weekly listeners.
I prefer to read my sources of information, so I’d not listen to the podcast.
That said, yes it could be a great way to expand your reach, and what you have to say needs to be widely spread. Consider marketing to the younger crowd if you are advertising. Also guest hosts could be chosen based on the size of their following, and don’t necessarily need to be religiously affiliated.
Maybe some of the podcast threads are story telling based on the culture of the first century.
I hope the project goes well and is fun
I’ve watched Mythvision and Historyvalley enough to know that these mediums of communication are very useful in this internet age. Most of these pop star hosts are men, indeed all of them that I can think of right now are men. So, maybe gender might be a factor in drawing in an audience.
I think it would be great to have a man and a woman working together as co-hosts on “The Bart Ehrman Hour” or some such show. Maybe less time, but edited so it is just the good minutes: 5? 10? 20 min.?
Only Christianity in the Building . . . . could be a fun listen. You know best, but I hope you have the personal bandwidth. Don’t give up the blog! Personally, I’d love to watch such a podcast.
Re podcast: please do – go for it!
This is a great idea! I’ll be listening regardless, but I would suggest sticking with the audience most of your books are aimed at. The general public needs more access to a critical look at the content, authorship, and general history of the Bible. I’m not saying you can’t or shouldn’t do more than that, but this format could spread that much needed information to a wider audience.
Go for it!
I think it’s great! I will surely join/subscribe, whatever the arrangement is. Personally, I don’t know if I would like to hear an interview/debate involving an evangelical person. I hope I don’t offend . It’s just that I don’t see the point . I once witnessed a debate between Christopher Hitchens, of blessed memory, and Rabbi Shmuly Boteach, an important rabbi.It was embarrassing. Hitchens minced the rabbi.
I would love, though, to hear from archaeologists. And , needless to say, it would be a great opportunity to hear other important scholars. I am biased with a personal interest in Jesus’ Jewishness , and I guess that occasionally there could be an expert in such matters.
Look forward!
That rabbi has a big ego!
Have you heard Sean Carroll’s podcast (https://www.preposterousuniverse.com/podcast/)? He’s a cosmologist and interviews interesting people who are mostly non-physicists. It sounds like he’s done a good job in having it consume a not-excessive fraction of his week. You might want to listen to a bit of one of his podcasts and look at his lineup to get ideas. He also has ads.
Some podcasts include transcripts, which would be a nice feature, but that’s yet more work. I’ve been pleased with the automatic transcription ability of otter.ai (not free), though you’d still want a human editor to go through and clean up the 1% or so words that are wrong plus improve the punctuation.
Your having a guest interview-er instead of a guest interview-ee is interesting. I wonder how that would work.
I don’t know his podcast but I’ve read some of his stuff. He’s amazing.
Bart, you might want to listen to one of Sean’s weekly podcssts. He’s an outstanding speaker and s wonderful interviewer.
I agree; Professor Carroll’s podcast would be an excellent model to draw on. One of its strengths is his exploration of subjects he’s not directly connected to. He’s a physicist, but he’ll talk with his guests (who are experts) on biology, history, sociology, music; you name it.
Dr. Ehrman, if you had a similar situation, you could have all sorts of historians and experts on, which would make for incredibly engaging conversations!
(Did I subscribe to replies to comments? Ah, well–I’ll do it here. Just ignore me.)
Good idea! I first heard you on a podcast. It was a Sam Harris podcast.
Best of luck!
Great idea. Some thoughts. My favourite podcasts have been conversations more than interviews. How about Kurt Jaros for a cohost? What I like about podcasts that have two co-hosts is when they have very different personalities and even a few differences. Camaraderie, but a little disagreement once in awhile is fun. We all need to know how to talk to people who are different than us. How about Pete Enns as one of your first guests. I would love to hear the two of you in conversation. Spare the debate format. That is only entertaining on an infrequent basis. Conversation is always better than debate. You have a lot of humour to offer, which will make it a great listen too. What I like about “The Bible for Normal People” isn’t always the content, but it is the camaraderie between Pete and Jared. I can deal with the heavy subject matter because they make it easier for me as a non-scholar to follow along. Hope that helps a bit! Thanks for asking.
I think it’s a great idea – especially like the idea of interviews/chats with guest scholars in other areas of expertise.
I think, for your case, that podcasts might NOT be worth the pain. For more scholarly information, I always prefer reading over listening and if you just want to reach out to newer, less scholarly audiences, a timely youtube (or other media) short video with some promotional times might be much more effective and overall less resource consuming.
I second this. I get your enthusiastic Bart but I strongly suspect it will be a stretched out, thinner and somewhat repetitive version of what we have in the blog and your YouTube appearances.
If you really feel excited, I would go through 30 of Marc Goodacres podcast and 20 of NT review from his students to get a feel and rhythm for how a good biblical podcast is done.
And ill add as advice, something that would work as a podcast is your recent posts on ancient literacy and could/would Peter have written 1 Peter etc. Getting really into the nitty gritty important but subtle details. And it would be best to do thorough detailed stuff on things not covered by Goodacre or NT review.
I think your courses judging by the Gospel origins one are good. I’d stick to your current strengths and just improve on them unless you’ve got a clear direction and goal for podcasts, something that will be thorough, professional and not already done.
The Ehrman Podcast is a great idea!!
I agree!
Wow, are you really at loose ends for things to do? I’m worried about you burning out, or at least it not being fun any more.
I’m no fun now!
How in the wold would you have time to do that? (You could use some of your Platinum etc recordings too.)
Yeah, I’m wondering that. I’d have to cut something else out of my life. Maybe the daily soaps?
Hi Bart
I like the idea very much but I am worried about you. One podcast per week on top of the blog and everything else is a big time commitment. Perhaps commit to one per fortnight at first to see how that goes.
But the idea excites me! Thanks for thinking of it and thanks for asking us.
Anne
Thanks. I’ll have to clear out other things to make room for it. But not the things I really enjoy doing!!
As for myself personally, I’m a dinosaur. I don’t currently subscribe to any podcasts. Not even sure if “subscribe” is the right word – anyway, I don’t listen to any, I prefer to read.
However, I’m an anomaly these days. A podcast would probably reach a lot of people who aren’t currently aware of your work. Or would it? Would the people who need to listen even bother? Hard to say.
But I would be concerned for your sanity! I already don’t know how you do everything you do. The last thing I would want is for one of my favorite scholars and authors to burn out!
I love the idea! You might consider having a “plus” option for people that would like to pay for a no-ad version. Also, you might consider a sequential structure to the podcast, based on themes or chronology, possibly having later podcasts building upon previous podcasts. An example is the “Literature and History” podcast by Doug Metzger. I look forward to the podcast!
Thanks!
While content is always first and foremost of importance, production quality should be of equal consideration. Design, graphics, backgrounds, video, and sound must be of the highest quality. There are lots of podcasts that may have great content, but visually are far below the quality of the content and “may” distract form the message.
Malke sure there is a consistent “look and feel” to the production. Obviously, you can throw something together, but your message may be lost because the production quality is of lower value.
I noticed you recently hit 100K subscribers on YouTube. A significant milestone. Congrats! I know nothing abut monetization and how that works but I can’t help but be curious. Do you actually make any money off YouTube?
Yeah, I’m getting on to monetizing it now. Slow train coming….
I’d really enjoy this! I think a format like this would let you explore not just what historians think but some of the methodologies and history of ideas behind it. For instance, you might have a series on Pontius Pilate where you could talk about issues like the various renditions of the trial of Jesus, the Barabbas episode, and the portrayals in the gospels versus Josephus, and dig into how Pilate has been seen through subsequent history. Also I would definitely want to hear friendly discussions with scholars who have different views from you – for instance not a debate but a discussion with Mark Goodacre on Q, or with Dale Allison on the resurrection stories (given his recent and excellent book and a number of questions where you two differ).
In my mind the ideal co-host/interviewer would be Megan Lewis, though I’ve no idea if she would be too busy to do this. I really enjoy her work on Digital Hammurabi and with your recent debate.
I spend about 2-3 hours a day when I’m alone doing stuff like commuting, yard work, cleaning, laundry etc. I already listen to all kinds of podcasts during those times, yours would be a very welcome addition.
Definitely a good idea. It might be worth considering doing several series of topically-related podcasts such as “Schisms and Heresies in Early Christianity”, “Creeds and the Formation of Orthodoxy”, “The Development of Trinitarian Doctrine”, etc. This may appeal to those of us who like deep dives into such things – but it could also be too tedious for more casual listeners. Maybe a mix of formats? Anyway … Go for it!
Platinum since 2020
What your suggesting seems to me a far better format than the current audio-blog. Having both video and audio, addresses the two general categories of viewer/listener. One thing I would suggest is that whoever the interviewer will be – find someone with grace and a fairly stylish demeanor (cultured style). Someone who lifts you up so you don´t have to carry the entire show. From what little I know about podcasting and broadcasting, it seems pretty straight forward and easy but it can easily become a huge amount of work. But like you say someone who enhances you.
I like the idea and look forward to seeing what it grows into.
Seems well thought out in most aspects. I suggest calling it “Hey Bart…” for informality or “Seeking Knowledge with Bart Ehrman” for those interested in how you seek knowledge or interested in absorbing some from you. The particular person you choose to be your weekly interviewer will make it or break it, I believe. I can’t think of a good candidate. N dG Tyson uses a comic as his cohost/sidekick on Startalk to keep things light. A comedian for your blog? probably not. Some popular culture person, though. It should be someone who could ask intelligent questions that religious listeners would usually approve of — something they’ve wondered about too — and someone who would not be squelched or put-in-their-place every time by your answers and explanations. That would get old after only a couple weeks.
I would LOVE to listen to you in podcast format!
I think overall it’s a good idea. But are you sure you want to do weekly and not monthly? I know you’re a bit of a workaholic, but I think a weekly 45-60 minute podcast on top of everything else you do would be a real burden for you. Especially once you start writing your next book.
For Host/interviewer I would suggest 2 people (so 3 of you on each podcast). One a scholarly type who is already familiar with a lot of your work and one just an average person with an interest in the subjects – someone who can ask the dumb questions many people really want to ask!
But a great idea – I’ll listen to it!
This blog is fine for reading and writing.
I would like to see a Bart Ehrman YouTube channel for looking and listening.
I would 100% listen to that.
I think it’s a great idea. People who’ve left the faith can be pretty hurt and angry about the time spent believing something they’ve learned isn’t true. Something like this would affirm their choice to leave, and give food for thought to those who are thinking of leaving. Knowledge is power. Go for it!
If you and Seth Andrews started a podcast I would listen to every episode twice. He would be a good guest, anyway. You can do it all Dr Ehrman.
You have to be one of the most productive people I have ever known and I have known a few such people such as surgeons Dr. DeBakey and Dr. Cooley and psychiatrist Dr. Brodie. I do really well just to read all of your blogs and trade books.
Will the podcast involve a paid subscription?
Probably not. But possibly a paid subscription for a version without ads. (THere won’t be a *lot* of ads in any event)
Okay cool!
I think it is a great idea and can not wait for it to come out! Since you asked for some ideas/suggestions, please kindly have a look at the following comments:
1. Host-Interviewer should be a likable individual, with a sense of humor, who is a non-specialist but someone very interested in the field and can converse on a high level on the topics. The interaction with you will be critical as it needs to be easy, fun, flowing, give and take, joking, etc.
2. Live episode with call ins: this would be fun but also you need to have a plan to screen people and have the ability to shut them off, because someone may call in, say they want to speak about something and then do a complete pivot once on air and go into preacher/preaching mode.
3. An additional guest speaker idea would be someone you may have debated with, and have a back and forth with them. This may require some rules and monitoring, editing, but also could be really great
I hope this helps in some small way. Again really excited and looking forward to this new project!
Absolutely. As someone who’s gone through most of your YouTube content, I would look forward to having a weekly BE podcast to tune into
Great idea. Sounds like you’ve already given it a lot of thought. Go for it, Bart!
I love the idea. Please do it! Actually, I have been waiting for it for years. I think your podcast would be a great companion to the posts offered by Ian Mills and Mark Goodacre.
There’s quite a few out there already and much rehashing of topics. Im not much on hosts views, their best when two or more guests present their points at academic level. But, I would like to hear from experts who do dating, sourcing, translation and such.
I wholeheartedly support this message!
I think you interviewing scholars with different positions would be fantastic. I think it would be more interesting than a formal, timed debate because I imagine there would be more substance and less style.
I think the success of someone (not a peer) interviewing you would depend a lot on the interviewer. If the interviewer is fairly up to speed on the topic, and has a good rapport with you, including a willingness to push you for details or raise reasonable objections to your positions, it could be great. If it is just someone lobbing you softballs, I don’t know how much it would add over your other popular material, aside from just being a new format.
Fantastic idea. For co-host I remember a lady you shared the screen with once (maybe a debate moderator). I believe she was non-binary or had non-traditional hair color. I believe she has a blog/podcast/YouTube channel on Mesopotamia (or somewhere similar).
Anyhow, I just recall how intelligent she was and how well you interacted.
I would hope it not diminish your written blog, by diverting energy into audio. Personally I rarely visit podcasts, as I prefer to study words on the screen/page.
~eric. MeridaGOround dot com
Latest post: PHILOSOPHY and GARDENING / Adam’s Mum & Eve’s Papa
Wow! Got to this rather later. I had some ideas earlier, but the lawn mower took presidence and so it goes.
Rabi Latin is a podcast I listen to, but it is to long and I have no time for the whole show and The Bible Project is another good podcast more Bible instructional than life style instructional.
If this podcast goes to long I will simply cut off early as I do with Rabi Kapin &the Bible Project. I personally am not someone who can spend two hour with hour one subject.
I like the idea of the podcasts being videotaped for YouTube. I’ve watched many of your interviews during my lunch breaks (I work remotely), and I like the more informal feel of them. It helps when each one is focused around a single topic; I really feel like I learn and retain more that way. But, I’ve enjoyed your more open-ended conversations as well, particularly when the interviewer is interesting.
A few of us were talking the other day how great it would be for you to do a YouTube channel such as Derek Lambert and MythVision. You could invite scholars and it would be Scholar to Scholar and, the superchat money could go to your efforts of racing money for the needy. What do you think?
Yup it would be similar to that, only with my own focus.
Sounds like a great idea! As for the regular host/interviewer, please please make their voice a major factor in selection. I try to listen to so many podcasts, and while I would like to put substance over form, if the host or regulars have annoying voices it makes it hard to focus on the substance or want to listen.
Great idea!
A couple of practical items of advice:
Anchor.fm is a good platform. Makes it easy to publish, makes your podcast available on all platforms, and it’s free and monetizable. And you decid how many ads to allow.
Having the same content in video and podcast is good for your kind of content. I, and many others, prefer listening while driving or doing things, which is better in Podcast format. I love listening to this blog on Podcast format.
Good luck
I’d recommend you speak to your colleague Mark Goodacre – he’s podcasted on the NT for many years (although new episodes are rather infrequent now) and they’re excellent. He could certainly provide ideas from basics about what equipment (e.g. microphones) to use, how long a podcast should be to avoid losing audience, through to how to select topics, prepare, and the inclusion of outtakes (very funny!).
About adverts, I’d recommend considering your international audience; outside of the USA most of us are less inundated with adverts in our media, and find these quite intrusive on our visits to the USA. Please consider clear demarcation between your content and adverts (USA media adverts tend just to appear without warning that you’re no longer listening to the programming) which would help us tolerate them.
Goodacre is aware of “Britishisms” that he uses; you might need to be conscious of “Americanisms” you use. In one podcast he completed a sentence with an expression used for emphasis, “… full stop!”, before catching himself, pointing out that had he been American he would have said, “… period!”. It’s easier in print for us to deal with Americanisms – in audio media we have to translate these “live”.
You got too much time on your hands. I cant keep up with all the material you have now. You need to get a job!! 🙂
Great idea. I need to keep my brain busy learning new things. For the last few years I have been listening to audio books checked out through the library. However, I would go back to podcasts that you originate.
I do not subscribe to any podcasts but I’m constantly looking and learning from YouTube. Putting your Podcast on YouTube would be a great way to connect with a lot of people, help educate a lot of people and without question challenge a lot of people. 45 to 60 minutes is a long time for a lot of people to watch or listen. Offering 10 to 15 minute clips (Shorts with the heart of a subject) for YouTube might be more appealing for many. Joe Rogan and Bret Weinstein do this.
If you find the time for it, please do the podcast. Everything you described, sounded very interesting. I would LOVE a video version on youtube.
Bart, I think social media is where it’s at. People like Jordan Peterson,Joe Rogan, Ben Shapiro, Dave Rubin, and so forth make a good living on social media.Their subscriber base is in the millions. It is a good way for people to discover your work while building a solid financial residual income. My idea for a title is either, “Bart Ehrman” or “Ehrmeneutics” with Dr. Bart Ehrman. Good luck!!!!
A weekly podcast that includes YouTube would be a superb step up in further spreading your knowledge. Two thumbs up! Please keep the blog comments with answers in case I have another question.
I like the podcast idea. I joined the blog because I enjoyed two of your books. Then I got a bit overwhelmed with reading material on the blog, and there can be a feeling of overlapping and repitition.
My ‘religious ‘ journey is typical. Youthful conversion, organised a college Christian Student Movement group (CMS) taught Sunday School – Anglican Church, then matured in my critical thinking in my mid 20’s. Even had a brush with Pentecostal friends and family.
I remember my first wake up moment about the New Testament, when a speaker at a University discussion group said ” this is what happens when you read other people’s correspondence” as he explained some oddity in an Epistle. The notion of being ‘God’s word’ just fell away, and never fully recovered.
Any way back to podcast, I like the idea of watching a face and body language when somebody argues a point.
Best of luck and thanks.
It seems the majority would love to hear/maybe even see a live Pod cast. I personalty thought that when I joined the Blog membership, it included a Podcast. Would love to participate in live one whee members can shoot questions about the topic.
Jay
i would love to listen to your podcast! do it!
Yes please! And especially if it’s ad free or there’s a paid ad free version.
I’m seeing lots of votes for video/youtube. Please also provide an audio-only option. YouTube videos stop playing when the phone is turned off (unless you pay extra) which makes it annoying for listening while gardening, walking/running, commuting, etc.
You don’t have enough to do? Sure, sounds good. I wish I had your energy!
Yes, do it. We need you in the forum.
I think it would just result in repetition. Surely there is just so much to say about any subject..
THIS from somebody who has lIstened to mall of your Great Courses at least TWICE. i read almost all” of “almost all” of your blogs.
You do make it worthwhile by examining some different angles, updating with new scholarship.
I would definitely subscribe and follow!
Great idea. Go for the gold, try to get Terry Gross of Fresh Air to be the primary interviewer/moderator! Many topics will have political and social application so, regardless of the moderator, they can ask the tough questions without political or social charge, so that you can answer without a political or social charge, allowing hearers to reach their own applications. You can provide the topic and questions as a guide to ensure the blog is addressing the topics and themes you intend.
I would definitely listen!
I think a podcast is a great idea, and with your name recognition you’d be able to generate revenue quite quickly, either for yourself or for charitable giving,, or both. A podcast I’m finding very valuable at the moment is a politics one from the UK, which is a discussion between two people from opposite sides of the centre of the political spectrum, i.e. centre left/centre right, who “disagree agreeably”. This combination works extremely well, as it allows for the testing and discussion of ideas and provides enough tension to make it interesting, without frustration or hostility. And as well as your important and interesting content, I personally think more examples of people disagreeing like adults are critically needed in society. Also, whoever you get has to have a “radio voice” – this is weirdly important in podcast world. Anyway, I love your work and that’s my two cents.
I am very late on this post, but a podcast sounds like a great idea! You could just call it the The Bart D. Ehrman Podcast; it’s typical to name a podcast after the creator. And that way it doesn’t limit the scope of your podcast, in case you find yourself wanting to do an episode that’s a bit beyond what the title of the podcast describes. Plus your name is already well known.
Regarding a co-host, I think you should just pick a friend, someone you enjoy talking to and have great conversations with. If possible, maybe you two could have slightly different fields of expertise that overlap, so that one person can present a particular topic, and the other can add to it or offer a different perspective. One of my favourite history podcasts is called The Rest is History, and the two hosts there have a dynamic like this. But it’s definitely important that you enjoy talking to the person.
Yes, yes, yes!!
I love podcasts! Can’t wait to listen to yours Bart.
A podcast is inevitable. However, I would recommend to keep it short, fifteen minutes. Use simple language and a professional visual appearance (but not p.r. overloaded images, just a sober professional approach) Once in for instance 2 weeks a somewhat longer podcast of 30 minutes, no more, to explain a broader perspective. Short podcasts forces you to focus on what it is that you really want to say. It’s all about the attention-span of people. Which generally is short these times. I think – hope- that your target group will be lots and lots of people, not just the ones who read your blogs but the great ‘mass’ of people. It is of great importance that most of us get to know the results and backgrounds of science. There is a lot of unnecessary fear, anxiety and wrong-beliefs concerning the historic truth of Christian belief systems. Your podcast is needed.
Yes, please with Terry Gross! every time you are on a podcast, its viewers spike. Why not starting your own.
Some thoughts on starting a Podcast.
1. 45-60 minutes/1x week – yes.
2. Audio and Video – yes
3. Really like the idea of Q/A portion at the beginning of the Podcast. Would suggest a variety of knowledge type questions – from basic understanding to deep dive type.
4. Really like the call in questions idea
5. Perhaps starting with a rotating co-host would be a way to gauge how well the audience responds before choosing a permanent one. Would be interesting to have the variety you mention rotate: (hard-core skeptic? committed evangelical? seeker? non-specialist? high level professional academic? well-trained non-academic?).
6. While “threads” definitely have merit, the downside would be a thread without wide interest. Perhaps at the beginning do “test” runs on various topics and develop threads for those with the most listeners.
7. No political comments or references
I would very happily subscribe and listen to a podcast! This sounds fantastic.
I’m a confessed podcast addict. My concern would be the voice quality of the moderator, host, guests, whatever. A moderator with a poor speaking voice drives away audiences regardless of the topic’s weight. If a voice lacks gravitas (male or female) the podcast suffers mightily. If the voice is irritating or annoying, same deal. Further, to really grow an audience, it appears you’ll need to make information “accessible” to learners and scholars alike, as well as informative. Can you do that consistently week after week? If so, I’m in!
Sounds amazing as outlined. Here are some non-academic collaborations to kickstart your base of listeners/viewers: CosmicSkeptic, Matt Dillahunty, Genetically Modified Skeptic, Capturing Christianity, Rationality Rules, UsefulCharts, Paulogia, Sean McDowell, Frank Turek, Ricky Gervais, Reasonable Faith, Jon Steingard, Mike Winger, Justin Brierly/Unbelievable?, BioLogos, Gospel Coalition
I’d be watching the Youtube version over the audio podcast. Once or twice a week would be fine. I would love to see you and James Tabor together in an episode.
There is a successful podcast (2,882,998 views), “The Bible in a Year.” Each podcast is 20-25 minutes. It is led by a theologian.
My thought is that The Bible in a Year (or longer) with Dr. Bart Ehrman would be an interesting theme to integrate into the podcast.
Do it
You have my vote, sir! Would love to tune in!