047 - Julie Martin: Before Silicon Valley, There Was E.A.T.

This episode dives into one of the most overlooked turning points in modern innovation: the moment artists and engineers decided to build the future together. Julie Martin, co-director of E.A.T. (Experiments in Art and Technology), joins Nir Hindie for a deep exploration of the collaborations that shaped contemporary tech culture long before Silicon Valley existed.

They unpack how the legendary “Nine Evenings” project brought together world-class artists and Bell Labs engineers to create performances that pushed the limits of sound, movement, computing, and imagination. Julie explains why these collaborations worked, what tensions and breakthroughs shaped them, and how they became a template for cross-disciplinary innovation in every industry.

For leaders, creators, and anyone trying to understand how real innovation happens, this conversation is both historical and uncomfortably relevant. It’s a reminder that progress doesn’t emerge from optimizing what already exists. It comes from people with different languages, disciplines, and obsessions daring to build something new together.

Resources:

Experiments in Art and Technology Website
https://www.experimentsinartandtechnology.org/

Silver Clouds by Andy Warhol:
https://www.brooksmuseum.org/exhibitions/andy-warhol-silver-clouds