Chase Center + Summer Update
The Acquired team prepares for their biggest live event yet at the Chase Center in San Francisco. After a profile in the Wall Street Journal, the podcast surged in popularity, attracting over 300,000 new listeners and becoming the top podcast globally. Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal discuss hosting an affordable event for their thoughtful, tight-knit community and share plans to supplement their core episodes with new interview formats.
With special guest Mark Zuckerberg, the show promises to mirror an "Omaha for tech," celebrating the welcoming Acquired community spawned from years of organic growth. While maintaining their research-intensive deep dives on companies and startups, Ben and David unveil new formats including interviews with key figures from past episodes and insights from public company CEOs and venture capitalists.
This is a preview of the Shortform summary of the Aug 8, 2024 episode of the Acquired
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1-Page Summary
The Acquired Live Event in San Francisco
The Acquired podcast team, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, is hosting their biggest event ever at the Chase Center in San Francisco on September 10th, with special guest Mark Zuckerberg. According to Gilbert, the event is designed to feel like an "Omaha for tech" celebration for the Acquired community.
Affordable Tickets to Make the Event Accessible
Tickets are priced affordably at $100 for nearly sold-out floor seats and $50 for other areas in the arena, ensuring the event is accessible to as many listeners as possible. Listeners are even planning birthday parties and other satellite events around the main show.
Acquired's Recent Surge in Popularity
Following a Wall Street Journal profile, Acquired became the #1 podcast globally on both Spotify and Apple, according to Rosenthal. The exposure added over 317,000 new subscribers, more than doubling the previous estimated audience of 500,000 people, Gilbert notes.
A Thoughtful, Tight-Knit Community
Before the WSJ profile, Acquired grew organically through personal recommendations over a decade, fostering a civil, welcoming community of listeners that values personal connection.
Changes to Podcast Format and Content
While the core four-hour episodes with extensive research by Ben and David will continue, the team is:
- Supplementing with interviews featuring protagonists of companies they've covered.
- Launching ACQ2 for additional interviews and insights from figures like public company CEOs and VCs that don't fit the main Acquired format, as described by the hosts.
1-Page Summary
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- The event's affordability might be relative and not accessible to everyone, considering the cost of travel and accommodation for those not local to San Francisco.
- Describing the event as an "Omaha for tech" might set unrealistic expectations, as Warren Buffett's annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha has a very specific cultural and financial significance that may not be replicable.
- The claim of being the #1 podcast globally could be contested, as podcast rankings can vary by source, region, and time.
- The surge in popularity following the WSJ profile suggests that media exposure, rather than just organic growth, played a significant role in the podcast's success.
- The introduction of ACQ2 could potentially dilute the brand or overwhelm listeners with too much content, risking a decrease in the quality or focus of the original podcast.
- The expansion of the podcast format to include interviews and additional content might not appeal to all listeners, some of whom may prefer the original format.
- Hosting birthday parties and satellite events around the main show could lead to a commercialization of the community that some members might find off-putting.
- The tight-knit community might become less civil and welcoming as the audience size increases, which is a common challenge for growing communities.
Actionables
- You can create a personal celebration of tech by setting a date to reflect on your technology milestones, much like the "Omaha for tech" concept, to appreciate how tech has impacted your life.
- Choose a day to look back on the tech products you've used and how they've changed your life or work. Write down these reflections or share them with friends to acknowledge the role of technology in personal growth.
- You can start a savings challenge where you set aside $50 or $100, the cost of a ticket to a major event, and use it to fund your own learning experience in technology.
- Every time you learn something significant from a tech resource, put aside a small amount of money. Once you reach the ticket price, use the funds to buy a book, course, or attend a local tech event that could expand your knowledge further.
- You can double your personal network by adopting the organic growth approach used by the podcast, focusing on making two high-quality connections instead of many superficial ones.
- For every new person you meet who shares your interest in tech, aim to introduce them to another person in your network. This creates a chain of personal recommendations, potentially doubling your network while maintaining a civil and welcoming atmosphere.
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The Acquired live event in San Francisco
The Chase Center, home to the Golden State Warriors, is set to host the biggest event the Acquired podcast team has ever put together. On September 10th, Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal will celebrate with the Acquired community in a live gathering, featuring high-profile guests including Mark Zuckerberg.
The Acquired team is hosting a live event at the Chase Center in San Francisco on September 10th.
Partnering with JP Morgan Payments, the Acquired podcast is taking their show to the largest stage they've ever occupied. The team, consisting of Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, is poised to transform the Chase Center into an epicenter for their community.
The event will be the biggest thing Acquired has ever done, featuring special guests like Mark Zuckerberg and offering an opportunity for the Acquired community to come together and celebrate.
Across the arena's expansive seating, fans of the podcast will mingle and share their excitement for an event described by Gilbert as the "Omaha for tech". The guest list is impressive with Mark Zuckerberg billed to appear on stage amongst other acts.
Tickets for the event are available at a low cost to make the event accessible to as many listeners as possible.
Tickets are exceptionally affordable, with $100 for floor seats — which are nearly sold out — and $50 for other areas in the arena. With all fees included, this makes the event one of the most reasonably priced engagements to have graced the Chase Center. This low cost aims to draw a vast audience, including one parent who intends to throw a birthday party for their 13-year-old by inviting friends to the show. For those looking to purchase tickets in large groups, a special office is set up to aid in these purchases, ensuring the event is a grand, inclusive festivity.
The event is designed to ...
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The Acquired live event in San Francisco
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The Acquired podcast is a popular show that analyzes high-profile acquisitions in the tech industry. Hosted by Ben Gilbert and David Rosenthal, it has a dedicated community of listeners interested in business, startups, and technology. The podcast's live event at the Chase Center is a significant milestone for the show and its community, offering a unique opportunity for fans to engage with the hosts and special guests like Mark Zuckerberg. The Acquired community is known for its enthusiasm and engagement, often organizing additional events and meetups around major gatherings like this live event.
- The Acquired podcast team is partnering with JP Morgan Payments to host a live event at the Chase Center in San Francisco. This partnership allows the podcast team to bring their show to a larger audience and create a significant event for their community. JP Morgan Payments' involvement may also contribute to the event's organization, promotion, or financial support. The collaboration between the Acquired team and JP Morgan Payments aims to enhance the event's scale and impact.
- The tickets for the Acquired live event at the Chase Center in San Francisco are priced at $100 for floor seats and $50 for other areas in the arena. The $100 floor seats are nearly sold out, indicating high demand. The event organizers aim to make tickets affordable to attract a wide audience. A special office is available for group ticket purchases to ensure inclusivity and a grand celebration.
- The term "O ...
Counterarguments
- The event being hosted at the Chase Center may not necessarily be accessible to all members of the Acquired community, especially those who live far from San Francisco or cannot afford to travel.
- Describing the event as the "biggest thing Acquired has ever done" could be subjective and depends on how one measures the impact or success of an event.
- While tickets are available at a low cost, the affordability is relative and may still be prohibitive for some individuals, particularly those on a tight budget or facing financial hardships.
- The event's design to feel like a big party may not appeal to all listeners, especially those who prefer more ...
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The recent growth and success of the Acquired podcast
The Acquired podcast has seen a significant surge in popularity, leading to dramatic growth in its subscriber base and its ranking on major podcast platforms.
The Acquired podcast experienced a major surge in popularity following a Wall Street Journal profile, becoming the #1 podcast on both Spotify and Apple.
David Rosenthal notes that when the Wall Street Journal featured Acquired, the podcast quickly ascended to the top spot on both Spotify and Apple Podcasts charts globally. This exposure precipitated a significant increase in the podcast's visibility and its subscriber base.
The Wall Street Journal profile led to over 317,000 new subscribers or followers for the show, more than doubling the previous estimated audience of 500,000 people.
Their previous listener base was estimated at around 500,000 people, and the Wall Street Journal profile added more than 317,000 new subscribers or followers, as reported by Ben Gilbert. This marked a major milestone and effectively more than doubled the show's audience.
The organic, word-of-mouth growth of the Acquired audience over the past decade has created a tight-knit, thoughtful community of listeners.
Before gaining attention through the Wall Street Journal, Acquired had experienced a slow and steady organic growth, doubling its audience each yea ...
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The recent growth and success of the Acquired podcast
Additional Materials
Counterarguments
- While the Wall Street Journal profile undoubtedly contributed to a surge in popularity, it's possible that other factors also played a role in the podcast's growth, such as changes in listener behavior, market trends, or the quality of the content itself.
- Ascending to the top spot on podcast charts is a significant achievement, but chart rankings can be volatile and may not always reflect long-term listener engagement or retention.
- Doubling the audience size is impressive, but it's important to consider how this rapid influx of new listeners might affect the community dynamics and whether the podcast can maintain its growth momentum.
- Organic growth and a tight-knit community are valuable, but as the audience size incr ...
Actionables
- You can leverage the power of high-profile media coverage by writing a compelling press release about your project or business and sending it to local newspapers and online publications. By doing this, you increase the chances of getting featured, which can lead to a surge in interest similar to the effect of the Wall Street Journal profile. For example, if you've developed a new community initiative or achieved a significant milestone, highlight these in your press release to attract attention.
- Build a community around your interests by starting a discussion group on platforms like Reddit or Discord. Focus on fostering a welcoming environment by setting clear guidelines for civil discourse and encouraging members to share their thoughts and experiences. For instance, if you're passionate about sustainable living, create a group where members can exchange tips on reducing waste, share eco-friendly products, and discuss environmental news.
- Encourage organic growth for your personal brand ...
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Changes to the podcast format and content
The Acquired podcast goes through important changes, adapting its structure to cater to its audience's growing needs and interests in the arena of business and technology.
The main Acquired podcast episodes will continue to feature the in-depth, four-hour format with Ben and David.
The thoroughness that defines Acquired is as strong as ever. David and Ben hold firm to their practice of conducting extensive research and independent preparation before each episode, resulting in engaging, detailed explorations of businesses. This core format, which fans appreciate for its depth and insight, remains untouched.
Occasionally, the team will supplement the main episodes with interviews featuring the protagonists of the companies they've covered.
To supplement the in-depth analysis, Acquired occasionally brings firsthand perspectives into the mix. Interviews with key figures such as Jensen Huang of NVIDIA, Charlie Bell of Microsoft, or Dara Khosrowshahi of Uber, are featured provided they have been the subject of previous episodes or are agreeable to the show's comprehensive format. These interviews complement the main in-depth content that listeners value.
The team has launched a new podcast, ACQ2, to feature additional interviews and content that doesn't fit the core Acquired format.
A new addition to the Acquired family, ACQ2 serves as a platform for diverse interviews and discussions that stray from the traditional Acquired structure.
ACQ2 will include interviews with public ...
Here’s what you’ll find in our full summary
Changes to the podcast format and content
Additional Materials
Clarifications
- The main Acquired podcast episodes are known for their thoroughness and depth, with episodes typically lasting around four hours. Ben and David meticulously research and prepare for each episode, providing detailed explorations of various businesses in the business and technology sectors. This level of detail and insight is a key characteristic of the main Acquired podcast episodes, catering to an audience interested in in-depth analyses of companies and industries. The hosts' commitment to extensive research and preparation ensures that listeners receive comprehensive and engaging content that delves deeply into the subjects covered.
- The new podcast, ACQ2, was launched to provide a platform for diverse interviews and discussions that deviate from the traditional Acquired format. It features interviews with public company CEOs, venture capitalists, and other industry figures to offer insights and perspectives beyond the core Acquired content. ACQ2 aims to cover a broader range of topics and industry discussions while maintaining the in-depth analysis that Acquired listeners appreciate. This new podcast complements the main Acquired episodes by offering additional content that doesn't fit the original show's structure.
- The main Acquired podcast continues its traditional in-depth format with Ben and David, focusing on detailed explorations of businesses. ACQ2, a new addition to the Acquired family, features additional interviews and content that deviate from the core Acquired structure. ACQ2 includes interviews with public company CEOs, venture capitalists, and other industry figures, providing insights beyond the main Acquired podc ...
Counterarguments
- The in-depth, four-hour format of the main episodes might be too lengthy for some listeners who prefer shorter, more digestible content.
- Extensive research and preparation by Ben and David, while thorough, could lead to a bias towards their own perspectives, potentially overlooking alternative viewpoints.
- Supplementing episodes with interviews from company protagonists may introduce a promotional or biased angle to the content, as these figures may have vested interests in portraying their companies positively.
- The creation of ACQ2 might dilute the brand or confuse listeners who are accustomed to the original format and content style of the Acquired podcast.
- ACQ2's focus on interviews with high-profile individuals could shift the podcast away from in-depth analysis and towards more conventional interview formats found in other media.
- ...
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