We kick off The Executive Dropout with media theorist, author, and all-around McLuhan troublemaker Paul Levinson. In this hour we dismantle the tired “AI = Terminator” storyline, detour into the true story behind McLuhan’s cameo in Annie Hall (spoiler: he made up his own punchline), and wrestle with how the Tetrad can morph into a chiasmus — yes, it’s worth the listen.

Paul also traces his evolution from author to publisher back in the age of compact discs, and we talk about his latest venture, ConnectED Editions, which is bringing out Tom Cooper’s new book on McLuhan and Innis.

It’s part theory jam session, part media history deep-dive, part shmooze — exactly how we like it.

• (00:00:01) - Paul Levinson on ChatGPT and the Future of AI
• (00:03:21) - An Index to Marshall McLuhan's The World of Technology
• (00:08:55) - McLuhan: In the Age of Social Media
• (00:11:16) - The Kindle and Creativity
• (00:20:27) - Marshall McLuhan on Writing Fiction
• (00:22:51) - In the Elevator With Marshall McLuhan
• (00:30:58) - Marshall McLuhan on His Books
• (00:34:08) - The Bookmark: Understanding Media, Take Today
• (00:36:19) - McLuhan: The Gutenberg Galaxy in an Age of Social
• (00:41:39) - McLuhan on Taking Today
• (00:43:52) - Understanding Media: Marshall McLuhan's Contributions
• (00:50:47) - Marshall McLuhan's The Tetrad
• (00:56:59) - Marshall McLuhan on Woody Allen's "
• (01:02:45) - The Tetrad and the Chiasmus
• (01:03:37) - Tetrad Wheels of Revolution
• (01:06:59) - Paul Evanson: On the Publishing of His Work
• (01:17:52) - Paul Levinson on The Wisdom Weavers
• (01:19:25) - Marshall McLuhan: The Mechanical Bride
• (01:22:15) - A Chat With Paul Levinson
• (01:24:23) - The Executive Dropout Podcast