If you happen to have been to imagine the worst, TikTok, doom-scrolling, and two-minute-long pop songs have shortened our consideration spans to eight seconds – shorter than that of a goldfish. Happily, the headlines aren’t fairly proper. People 1 – Goldfish 0.
Whereas it’s true we love TikTok’s short-and-snappy movies and, sure, the largest songs of the day are deceptively brief (Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso is simply 2 minutes, 55 seconds, and Charli XCX’s 365 is a meager 2 minutes and 13 seconds), Gen Z’s consideration span is definitely on the up. Brief movies on TikTok are extra of an entryway into longer-form movies or podcasts on topic issues they want to discover in additional depth.
Which may clarify the growing reputation of Lex Fridman.
An AI analysis assistant by commerce, Lex has grow to be one thing of a star to celebrities – who else may get Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Kanye West to surrender hours of their day for a podcast? If you happen to ever doubt his clout, he even secured an interview with Donald Trump in September 2024, in the course of his Presidential marketing campaign (and in the course of his two assassination makes an attempt).
Simply how did a scientist grow to be the best podcaster?
How Lex Turned MIT’s MVP
Born within the Soviet Union, rising up in Moscow, and shifting to Chicago at age 11, one may argue that Lex had already lived fairly a life earlier than discovering fame. He finally discovered his approach into the elite world of science by way of his curiosity in AI, having labored with Google and finally changing into a analysis scientist at MIT.
But it surely was the podcast began in 2018 that will set a couple of chain of occasions leading to Lex Fridman’s very personal Large Bang, propelling him into the stratosphere as one of the crucial profitable MIT alumni in historical past.
The Lex Fridman podcast – the place science meets humanity
Initially titled The Synthetic Intelligence Podcast, the podcast would rebrand in 2020 as The Lex Fridman Podcast. And it was one of many smartest branding selections since Nike grew to become the assembly level of trend and tradition or Kesha dropped the greenback signal.
However the unique podcast title would not really sum up what it’s all about. As a result of it’s not about science. It’s about you. It’s about us. It’s about every thing. As Lex describes it himself, it’s a spot for ‘conversations in regards to the nature of intelligence, consciousness, love, and energy.’
Subjects lined? Human nature, the Palestine/Israel battle, investing, AI, misplaced civilizations, aliens, and even Judo.
His now notorious 2022 Kanye West interview lasted 2 hours and 26 minutes. Lex gave Kanye the room to make some to-be-expected controversial feedback, however he additionally held his ft to the hearth on reported antisemitic claims. It was a lesson in empathy and dialog.
And it’s not simply the movie star of Kanye West which afforded him such a protracted interview. Left-wing political commentator Cenk Uygur delved into the 2024 Presidential Race with Lex in a video lasting over 4 hours. Investigative journalist Annie Jacobsen had over three hours to speak about all issues nuclear warfare, the CIA, and Space 51. It is open dialogue by way of and thru and at both finish of the spectrum – all of which rigorously accounted for.
It’s a numbers sport
Fridman moved to Austin, Texas in 2021, deciding to focus extra on the podcast than his analysis at MIT (the place he nonetheless works, however it’s extra sporadic visits).
However with the success he’s constructed up since beginning out in 2018, it’s not arduous to see why he made this determination.
As of October 2024:
– The Boston Globe reported that the podcast had attracted 3.6 million subscribers
– His YouTube channel boasted 4.24 million subscribers
– His official X account has 3.7 million followers.
Loyal listeners – this Texan is aware of find out how to maintain ‘em
Lex’s success is just rising as his fame for deep, genuine dialog attracts in company and an engaged following. Like his viewers, he’s a listener first. He lets his notable company communicate. And this evokes the viewers to return, pay attention and keep.
Within the Kevin Costner movie, Discipline of Desires, the well-known line has it that ‘construct it they usually’ll come.’ And Lex has an identical perspective (Fridman of Desires, anybody?) – construct the content material and the viewers will come, don’t design it round algorithms.
It’s the antithesis of quick-click journalism many have grow to be accustomed to; a star cancelled over a soundbite, 10 phrases or fewer sufficient for individuals to type a whole opinion, matters condensed right into a clickbait headline.
By way of dialog and connection, Lex’s podcasts and movies put the facility again into the individuals.
