The Art of Marketing Science, Episode 1
In battle, in forest, at the precipice in the mountains, on the dark great sea... the good deeds a man has done before defend him.
It’s not the kind of quote you expect to open a marketing podcast. But then again, nothing about The Art of Marketing Science is expected. Episode 1 kicks off with this haunting fragment from the Bhagavad Gita - immortalised by Robert J. Oppenheimer, a man who quite literally helped change the world, then spent the rest of his life burdened by its weight.
And that’s the starting point Julian Stubbs and Dr. Robert England chose for their first episode. The question on the table? Are scientists human?
It might sound rhetorical. But this isn’t just philosophical fluff. In a world where marketing to scientists often defaults to clinical, rational, jargon-packed messaging, Rob and Julian argue for something much deeper: the reality that even the most rational minds are still powered by emotion.
Two Worlds, One Mission
Julian Stubbs, branding strategist and storytelling connoisseur, joins forces with Dr. Robert England, a scientist with the rare gift of understanding both pipettes and people. Together, they form a duo with a unique aim: unpacking the messy, human truth at the intersection of marketing and science.
And they don’t just talk theory. They bring stories.
Exhibit A: Oppenheimer
Oppenheimer was no ordinary scientist. The director of the Manhattan Project. A literary mind fluent in Sanskrit. A man who quoted scripture while contemplating mass destruction. In this episode, Rob and Julian dissect the myth and the man - his charisma, insecurity, moral anguish, and the very human frailty that defined both his genius and his downfall.
As Rob puts it, "He wasn’t just a physicist. He was a Renaissance man. And arguably, the entire Manhattan Project hinged not on his equations, but on his emotional intelligence."
The message? Leadership, collaboration, communication - these aren’t scientific equations. They’re human capabilities. And scientists, often stereotyped as cold and calculating, have them in spades. Or, at the very least, desperately need them.
Scientists Behaving Humanly
Julian brings more evidence to the table:
- A Nobel Prize-winning surfer (Kary Mullis) who agreed to appear in a campaign in exchange for a check, fresh off the beach.
- A top-tier researcher in New Jersey who bought a six-figure lab instrument not for its performance, but for the status it conveyed.
- A microscopist who ignored every message - until he heard a Nobel committee member might be involved.
Each story is a reminder that scientists are swayed by ego, pride, ambition, vanity, fear, curiosity, and sometimes… a bit of LSD.
So What Does This Mean for Marketing?
It means facts alone won’t move people. Even people who spend their days buried in data.
Rob reflects on years of conducting focus groups with scientists across Europe, the US, and Japan. He says it best: "It’s not just what they say. It’s what they don’t say. The silences tell you everything."
Whether it’s brand positioning or campaign copy, the science behind a product matters, but what matters more is the emotion behind the purchase. The aspiration. The fear of missing out. The professional pride. The need to feel like a pioneer.
From Abbey Road to Alienation: Lessons from Music
Just when you think the episode can’t stretch any further, it pivots to The Beatles.
Julian tells the story of how the Fab Four once turned down a guaranteed number one hit. Why? It wasn’t authentic. They didn’t want to be another chart-topping gimmick.
Rob counters with David Bowie’s decade-long struggle with obscurity. It wasn’t until he combined his core identity - alienation, storytelling, and theatricality - that Ziggy Stardust was born.
The takeaway? Great brands (and scientists) don’t chase trends. They discover what’s authentically theirs and amplify it.
The Human Touch Behind the Microscope
The episode closes with a quiet, unexpected story: a Swedish scientist who invested more time in the lighting and architecture of his lab than the microscopes inside it. Not out of ego. But because he wanted visitors to feel what he felt when doing research: wonder.
And that’s the whole point. Behind every brilliant mind is a beating heart. And to market to that mind, you have to connect with that heart.
A Movement, Not Just a Microphone
Julian and Rob aren’t just hosting a podcast. They’re launching a movement to reclaim the human in science marketing.
If you’re in science, marketing, or preferably both, listening to The Art of Marketing Science is essential. Episode 1 reminds us that the lab coat doesn’t erase the person underneath.
Because when it comes to science, curiosity may be king. But emotion still holds the crown.
Coming Up Next: LSD, Scientists, and the Hippie Revolution
Episode 2 will dive into Swiss chemist Albert Hoffman, the accidental discovery of LSD, and how a drug-induced bicycle ride reshaped not just neuroscience, but music, culture, and technology.
As always: stay wise, stay curious, and above all, stay human.