Our world has lost some of the art of civilized debate. You don't need to go very far to find toxic, non-learning environments online that anger people more than they teach.
Our team set an audacious goal in our Technically Divided project. Our purpose was to facilitate honest and open discussions and engagement about divisive topics in technology and cybersecurity, bringing people together and bridging the gap through tough and candid conversations.
We understand that not everyone will agree on every topic, but that's okay - in fact, it's encouraged. By coming together and finding common ground, we hope to work towards finding solutions to the many challenges and controversies that exist in these fields. Each month, we tackled a different divisive topic and strive to unite together as a community.
To achieve these goals, we set out to create a safe space for hard conversations in technology, engage our audience at every level of the creation of the episodes, and create the show with the highest production value possible on a limited budget. We invited viewers to join us and be a part of these important discussions. Together, we can make a difference and create a more united and understanding community.
It was a relatively simple idea to begin with: produce a TV series focused on the divisive topics in technology and cybersecurity.
It was a bold move, especially since we had never produced a TV show before, but we were determined to not only make it work but make it different.
As we brainstormed ideas for this project, we couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing from other popular content. Then we realized what it was: True Engagement.
We wanted our audience to feel a part of the conversation. We would start by polling our followers on LinkedIn about a divisive topic, using the data as a starting point for our research. We would then select guests for the video episode based on their expertise in the subject matter. Once the episode was complete, we would air it on LinkedIn Live and engage the audience in chat, asking for their thoughts and feelings on the subject.
But as excited as we were about the concept, there was one big problem: we had no idea how to actually produce a TV show. We needed someone who not only had the technical skills to bring their vision to life, but also the belief in their ability to lead a project of this magnitude.
After weeks of searching, we finally found the perfect partner: local filmmaker Ian Van Alan. Ian is not only highly skilled and experienced, but he also believed in our vision and was willing to take a chance on a group of first-time TV producers.
Together, we set to work on the first episode, covering the topic of the talent gap in cybersecurity. It was a daunting task, but we were determined to make it a success. And, against all odds, we pulled it off. The show was a hit, with viewers praising its engaging format and thought-provoking content.
Over the next several months, we produced nine more episodes, covering topics ranging from Web3 to espionage to Artificial Intelligence. Each episode was met with rave reviews, and people began to take notice. It wasn't long before the community lauded us as the new standard for content in our field.
Looking back on our journey to write this, we couldn't believe how far we have come. To go from a group of inexperienced podcasters to TV Producers that are changing the face of creativity in technology, we have overcome the odds and achieved something truly remarkable in our opinion. We now truly believe that with hard work, determination, and clear intention, anything was possible.
It has been an exciting and rewarding journey for our team as we've worked to create a high-quality TV series focused on the latest and greatest debates in technology and cybersecurity. We set out with the goal of elevating the content and production quality in these fields and facilitating tough conversations about the world of technology that would engage our audience.
The results have been nothing short of astounding. Our episodes have amassed over 100,000 views on YouTube and over 5,000 viewers of the LinkedIn Lives. We've received over 1,000 comments, 100 shares, and an engagement rate of 35% - far above the average of 2% for a LinkedIn post.
We are thrilled to see such a strong response to our show and are grateful to our viewers for their support. We've included some examples of our polls, LinkedIn Lives, full season playlist, and trailer in the links below, as well as one of our favorite episodes featuring former CIA Case Officer James Lawler.
We are proud of what we've accomplished and look forward to continuing to bring engaging and thought-provoking content to our audience. Thank you for the consideration for this Shorty Award and for listening to our story.
