Search Engine x Better in Person

PJ Vogt (0:25)

Hello, Search Engine Nation. I have some exciting, maybe controversial, probably not that controversial, news about our show. And then I'm gonna play you an interview from a different show that I enjoyed for reasons which will become clear.

So we'll have a board meeting soon for our incognito mode listeners in Q4. That's where we typically talk about the machinations, dreams and internal numbers of Search Engine. But there's one piece of news I'm excited about and wanted to blab early for everybody else.

Search Engine is about to start experimenting with video. This November, we're moving into a new studio of our own, where we'll have not just microphones, but also cameras. The moving image was invented in 1888 We will begin experimenting with it in 2027

To be clear, we like making this audio show. It's working. We don't intend to stop. But we would like more people to find it. And most people's internet now is video, including, often, mine.

Also, honestly, 2026 for me was the year when I found myself watching other people working in video who just made me feel inspired. I had this feeling like, other people are having fun. I want to try.

So next year, we're going to get caught trying. You will watch us throw some spaghetti at the wall. Some of it will be delicious. Some of it we won't talk about afterwards. But for today, I want to share one of the videos I found inspiring. It's from a show called Better In Person, which is hosted by Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics. And it's just cool how he found a way to take the vibe and sensibility that works in his audio show and translate it to a visual show. He hosts the show from his actual house, which I just like seeing the inside of somebody's house who I've listened to for years. And so we're going to share our favorite episode so far. It's an interview Stephen did with the world-renowned architect Bjarke Engels. This is the guy who built a power plant in Copenhagen with a ski slope on its roof. He's also helping NASA design buildings to go to the moon. Fascinating man. However, because Search Engine right now is an audio-only feed, we're going to share the audio, which works on its own. I've both listened to and watched this. But if you want to see the video, which is really cool, we're linking to the video. There's a link in our show notes. You can just click and see the inside of Stephen Dubner's house where he keeps all his stuff. I'll let Stephen take it from here.

Stephen Dubner (2:56)

This is Better In Person with Stephen Dubner and Bjarke Ingels.

Stephen Dubner (3:03)

When I first started thinking about who to have on the show, I made a list, many lists actually, and one name always wound up near the top, Bjarke Ingels.

If you already know something about Bjarke Ingels, you'll understand why I wanted him, and if you don't, you can thank me later. He is an architect in New York City and many other places, and there is a chance that he will go down as one of the greats. He started his first studio called Plopt in 2001 By the way, he told us that Bjarke means little bear in Danish. When he was 31, he founded Bjarke Ingels Group for Big. They have designed The Spiral in New York City, the Lego House back in Denmark, and they're currently building a stadium for the old Oakland A's who are moving to Las Vegas. He's also working with NASA and a 3D printed company called Icon. They're trying to figure out how to do construction on the moon using mostly moon dust as the raw building material. I'm making this new show in my living room and we had just moved in.

So Bjarke brought a housewarming present.

Bjarke Ingels (4:05)

I have a gift for you.

Stephen Dubner (4:06)

It was synthetic moon dust that they had created for that NASA project. He poured some out, it looked like fine gray beach sand or maybe the remains of your favorite pet. This was my first time meeting Bjarke. I had tried to get a coffee with him before we taped, but we couldn't make it happen. Bjarke Ingels can be elusive.

But I started out as a reporter. I'm used to just hanging around places. So I went to hang out at the big offices in downtown Brooklyn, and I talked to some of the architects there, including Rachel Wilkins, a senior landscape architect. So we're talking to Bjarke next week.

Bjarke Ingels (4:46)

Yeah.

Stephen Dubner (4:46)

But Bjarke, he's not in New York very much, and he's busy.