Marshall Poe

Hi everyone, this is Marshall Poe.

I'm the founder of the New Books Network, and I'm also a historian.

I used to be a history professor, and I love maps, so I'm especially happy to tell you that this episode is sponsored by What's Your Map, which was the winner of the Best Education Podcast at the 2025 British Podcast Awards.

I think we all have a personal why to share evidence-backed science from psychology.

And I will say that one of the biggest gifts of podcasting is the friendships.

This team is so wonderful and you guys are a part of my everyday.

You're the people that I reach out to when I'm struggling or when I want to celebrate something in addition to reaching out about all the podcast business.

So we decided we were going to team up and we are going to do our own podcast.

It's called Mindbrew.

And the idea of the podcast is that we invite you to sit with us as we discuss psychology and friendships and books.

And we're just going to sit around a cozy fireplace.

For Penske Media, Jerry Ruiz is Senior Vice President, Strategy and Operations.

Special thanks to Marshall Poe of the New Books Network.

Hi everyone, this is Marshall Poe.

I'm the founder of the New Books Network, and I'm also a historian.

I used to be a history professor, and I love maps, so I'm especially happy to tell you that this episode is sponsored by What's Your Map?, which was the winner of the Best Education Podcast at the 2025 British Podcast Awards.

And Afua, I want to thank you so much for making the time to have this conversation.

And I also wanted to, before we begin, thank Marshall Poe, who has founded the New Books Network.

And I think I've recorded maybe 30 interviews over the years with authors for New Books Network.

So it's a very special moment for me to actually talk about my own work in this format.

And Efua, I want to thank you so much for making the time to have this conversation.

Um, and I also wanted to, before we begin, thank Marshall Poe, who has founded the New Books Network, and I think I've recorded maybe 30 interviews, uh, over the years with authors for New Books Network, so it's a very special moment for me to actually talk about my own work, uh, in this, in this format.

So, um, the first question, tell me a bit about yourself and your journey to West African history.

Yes.