LEARNING IN SPACE – USING SCIENCE FICTION PODCASTS IN AND OUT OF THE MARKETING CLASSROOM

ABSTRACT

To provide the current student generation with an innovative online learning method, podcasts with science fiction short stories are introduced to marketing education. Findings from neurology and psychology point to positive effects of storytelling for gaining knowledge and developing interpersonal skills. Science fiction stories challenge common conceptions and enable students to engage with upcoming marketing issues in creative ways. An overview of eight marketing related science fiction stories is provided that are available for download as open access podcasts, with 23 more management and economics podcast stories available in the online appendix. To show how science fiction podcasts can be implemented in class, one of the stories is discussed in more detail. Further suggestions for implementation and possible challenges are outlined.

Acknowledgments

The author thanks Michael J. Botts, Ömer Hurmacı, Thomas Le Blanc, Ram Mudambi, Jan Oliver Schwarz, Klaudia Seibel, Albrecht Söllner, Vasyl Taras, and especially David T. Levine for their inspiration and helpful comments. A special shout goes out to Escape Artists Foundation for making their stories available online free of charge.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10528008.2024.2336466.