24. Pop Culture Power: Dr Jennifer Beckett and Dr Eloise Faichney on boosting engagement with marketing know-how

View the full show notes, including a summary of practical tips on the Amplifying Research website: https://www.amplifyingresearch.com/podcast/24-jennifer-becket-eloise-faichney

 

We dive into the worlds of marketing and pop culture with Dr. Jennifer Beckett and Dr. Eloise Faichney. They share lessons from industry that researchers can apply to engage the public, boost their research visibility, and foster interdisciplinary collaboration.

Jen and Eloise are both lecturers in media and comms at the University of Melbourne who spent time out in the industry before becoming academics.

They were key figures behind the Swiftposium, a hybrid academic conference on the cultural impact of Taylor Swift, which garnered media attention from outlets like the BBC, CNN, Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, and more.

Together, we unpack the lessons they learned on how to make research resonate with broader audiences, leveraging pop culture to spark interest and communicate complex ideas in engaging ways.

Whether you're aiming to connect with the public or build meaningful interdisciplinary collaborations, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples to help you amplify your research.

 

Our conversation covers:

• How researchers can apply marketing and media strategies to engage the public and increase visibility

• The importance of agility, creativity, and playfulness in academic communication

• How to bridge the gap between professional staff and academics

• Strategies for effective interdisciplinary collaboration

• Lessons learned from organising the viral Swiftposium

• Tips for researchers on crafting their career narrative

• The value of being open to unexpected opportunities

• How to balance academic rigour with public engagement

• Supporting early-career researchers with media training to amplify their impact

 

Find Dr. Jennifer Beckett and Dr. Eloise Faichney online:

• Jen — https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/686177-jennifer-beckett

• Eloise — https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/profile/825855-eloise-faichney

• Swiftposium — https://swiftposium2024.com

Things mentioned:

• Swiftposium Pursuit articles: https://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/topics/swiftposium

• Professor Skye reviews: Run The Jewels, JPEGMAFIA, Billy Woods, and Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us”