Summary
EA has an elitist image which may be putting people off the movement. I propose a podcast, Backyard EA, exploring how people can run independent projects that make a significant difference without earning-to-give or an EA career. The post ends with an appeal for feedback.
Motivation for the Podcast
- Increased interest in EA careers is good for EA organizations, but it may have counterproductive side-effects
- For many applicants, time spent on applications would be better spent on independent projects
- Rejection is demoralizing and may put some people off EA, especially if they don’t see other ways of contributing
- The EA movement’s focus on earning-to-give and EA careers has historically struggled to accommodate non-hyper-achievers
- Those not earning-to-give or in an EA career feel left out or like they are “all talk”
- EA podcasts typically feature guests at the top of the field: there is a gap for a show that celebrates the more “everyday” side of EA work
- There is some great written advice on independent projects, but I can’t find video/audio content on the subject. This seems like a missed opportunity - some people report being overwhelmed by the amount of reading they feel they should be doing.
- Independent projects, even when unsuccessful, are an excellent way to build skills and experience, and therefore become more effective. Let’s celebrate that!
- I have experience in running an interview podcast (~20 episodes) and feel that I have sufficient skills to make a good product
Proposal
This would be an interview podcast featuring one or more guests per episode.
Possible episode types could be:
- A tour through the lifecycle of an independent project, given by the person who ran it (Person X on her innovative university outreach idea // Person Y on how he used the effectuation model to build his malaria app project)
- An EA expert giving their slant (The creator of the EA Forum on why contributing can be so powerful // A Longtermist on their favorite small EA projects that are helping the future, now! // An EA org founder on the early failures that made them a success // Someone from 80k hours on how to balance direct work with long-shot job applications )
- Community edition: listeners share their latest project ideas
The podcast could grow into a larger community with:
- online and in-person events
- a website with write-ups of independent projects
- a forum for seeking and giving feedback/assistance on projects
Potential Weaknesses
- A low-quality show could give the EA movement a bad name
- Untested, amateur guests are likely to be of inconsistent quality
- The show could distract listeners from better EA media
- Applying for EA jobs may come with a sufficiently high expected value that the podcast could be net-negative by distracting people from this
- The show may encourage people to aim too low or specialize too soon - young EAs should choose projects carefully
- There may be better ways for me to maximize my priorities (increasing my immediate impact, personal growth & becoming more embedded in the EA community)
Any Feedback?
Give me your feedback on Backyard EA!
I am particularly interested in:
- Feedback on the strongest/weakest arguments for making the show
- Suggested changes to the show format
- Ideas for research/thinking I can do to refine the project
- Ideas for episodes & suggestions for guests
- Advice on how to build an audience by tapping into EA networks
This sounds like a great idea! I think it would have the benefit of empowering more people to do independent projects, because it will make the steps clearer, and humanize people who start them. It also reminds me a bit of this article: https://www.lesswrong.com/posts/DdDt5NXkfuxAnAvGJ/changing-the-world-through-slack-and-hobbies (which argues that free-time projects like hobbies or non-work interests can be very impactful).
Thanks, Amber. Great article.