Hello!
I’m Greg Schmalzel, a professional archaeologist and the Founder of Evolve.2. I’m passionate about unearthing humanity's story and sharing it with a global audience.
If you want to learn more about my story, read on...
How I Got Here
Growing up, I was like most other young men. I had fleeting interests here and there - obsessing about one passion project, before jumping on the next one. Looking back, I clearly suffered from shiny object syndrome.
One of the few things that stuck with me through those years of bouncing from hobby to hobby was a keen interest in the nature of humanity. I've always thought very deeply about who we are, why we're so unique, and what made us this way. After realizing that this was a through-line that followed me all my life, I decided to run with it and pursue my higher education with a focus in anthropology.
I now hold a BA and an MA in Anthropology and wouldn't trade my formal education for anything. It exposed me to countless new ideas, challenged many of my beliefs, and granted me so many opportunities to explore research that I found truly fascinating. That being said, I know not everyone's education experience is equally rewarding - something we'll touch on later.
After graduating, I worked in the private sector as a full-time CRM (cultural resource management) archaeologist. Again, the skills and knowledge I gained during my time in CRM are invaluable.
I spent many days excavating historic and prehistoric sites all around the mid-Atlantic United States, uncovering features, and analyzing artifacts back in the lab. It was an adventurous job that most people will never get to experience.
I quickly realized, however, that this line of work is not as sustainable (financially) as many of us archaeologists hope.
I landed my current job as an archaeologist in the public after about one and a half years of CRM work. It takes most people many more years of brutal fieldwork to land a gig like mine, so I'm beyond grateful for the opportunity I've been given.
But, as I've been building all of this experience in the traditional path most archaeologists take, I've been curating something on the side too.
And that's what you see here today.
My Product and My Philosophy
Despite having a positive formal education myself, I understand that people are becoming more and more discouraged by academia. Today, a growing number of people feel disillusioned with traditional academic institutions and the legacy media.
As the world becomes more interconnected, we’re seeing a shift: people are actively seeking knowledge on their own terms, bypassing conventional gatekeepers to explore topics that genuinely matter to them. At Evolve.2, I'm embracing this shift and recognizing it as a profound change in how we learn and engage with the world.
Having spent years navigating the academic world, I’ve seen its benefits and limitations. While it provided me with a solid foundation in anthropology and archaeology, I also witnessed firsthand the barriers that often prevent knowledge from reaching those who need it most. These institutions sometimes overlook accessibility, favor established narratives, and lack the accessibility needed to meet the curiosity of a global audience eager to learn.
To put it bluntly, the price of college is inflating, and the value of a degree is deflating.
At Evolve.2, I'm driven by a mission to break down these barriers. Humanity’s story is one of resilience, adaptation, and discovery. Through modern means of communication, like YouTube and social media, we can spread that story to a wider audience than any academic institution ever could.
Free, affordable, and accessible education content for the most people possible - that's my offer.
I believe in the power of decentralized learning. The internet has created a global campus where ideas, knowledge, and discovery are available to all, empowering individuals to study subjects they’re passionate about. By providing documentary-style videos, in-depth articles, and thoughtfully crafted courses, Evolve.2 redefines education, bringing real-world insights into the human past directly to your screen.
The future of education is here.
Join me as we explore the story of humanity and take learning into our own hands, embracing what it means to be a lifelong learner in today’s world.
Embracing what it means to be human.
