What Creative Thinking, Influence of Media, & Superbowl Commercials Have to Do with Inspiring a Podcast Design

My professor shared two videos for us to watch and discuss under the title "Media That Engages" in preparation for designing a podcast. At first glance, I thought maybe there was a mistake. These videos were absolutely interesting, but were not steps to creating any type of media, about podcasting, or even about how to get people to listen to your podcast. Or were they? I found myself watching them again, trying to connect the dots to understand what it could possibly do to help me think about designing a podcast. Upon further review I found the some themes to share. One video teaching how to start thinking more creatively out of the box and the other video is how media is powerful, but only if it promotes a thinking process.

Throughout our coursework we have learned how to creatively engage in creating media through storytelling, visuals, design, motivation, influence, etc. At the heart, you have to capture your audience's attention in a way that is relevant and meaningful to them on some sort of personal level. Once the attention of the audience is captured, you have to craft the information in a way that gets them curious in order for their brain to start "puzzling" with the information. For me, it's the use of visuals, music, and a call to action or a question that really get me thinking. 

All of this got me thinking about the recent super bowl commercials. Uber Eats had me LAUGHING about making space in the brain to remember Uber Eats by forgetting other things. Super creative and the story telling was great. Then, there was the figure skater-I was near in tears thanks to Kia and how the dad drove the granddaughter to recreate her gold medal performance on an outdoor rink so her wheelchair bound grandfather could watch her from the window. That was music and visuals. Two very different emotional reactions within a 3 minute time span. But did it envoke a thought process? Of course it did. One thought train was me wondering "I wonder what I'm forgetting today? Have I tried Uber Eats? Is that better than DoorDash?" and the other was "I miss my grandpa. That is a powerful electric car. Would my Toyota be able to handle driving in snowy mountain roads?". 

So what does all of this have to do with designing a podcast episode? In planning a podcast, I'm attempting to incorporate some of these ideas I have learned along this path. I need to bring all my prior learning into this project by thinking creatively outside of the box on how to apply new thinking inside the box, creating an emotional connection with my audience just like the Superbowl commercials, and leaving them thinking about the topic long after the podcast is over.

My first instinct is to really visualize and understand who my target audience is, and how I want the audience to feel as they are thinking. My target audience is educators, and I want them to feel inspired and capable to try new things. I want them to feel like the ideas I'm sharing are accessible and they are equipped to be successful. I want them to understand why my idea matters and how it is beneficial for their learners. In order to do this, I am going to use some prior learning in video design: upbeat music and a simple design scheme with a visual in my intro and outro, themed to connect to the topic being discussed. Then, just to capture a few minutes to give just enough information, but not all the information so they will wonder "where can I find more about that?", and have that be the segue into my written publication or other people's publications to explore further. 

I'm hoping that by creatively thinking of the ideas and how to utilize media in a way that promotes thought, others will see it as an experience that started them on a path of curiosity that led them to exploring more about an idea. 

References

Corazza, G. (2014, March). Creating thinking: How to get outside the box and generate ideas [Video]. TED Talks. https://youtu.be/bEusrD8g-dM

Don’t forget uber eats. YouTube. (2024, February 11). https://youtu.be/Y7mLeyIETu0?si=2VhTh0qkoqVK95pY

Perfect 10: The Kia Big Game Commercial featuring the 2024 KIA EV9. YouTube. (2024, February 8). https://youtu.be/OU7BJc96lI4?si=8r3e22pKblxCGfMS

Veritasium. (2014). The most persistent myth. In P. Cook (Ed.), YouTube. https://youtu.be/GEmuEWjHr5c