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This Anthro Life

199 EpisodesProduced by Anthrocurious, LLCWebsite

This Anthro Life is the premiere go-to Anthropology Podcast that fuses human insights with cultural storytelling. We equip you with a deep understanding of the human experience to revolutionize your decision-making strategies and social impact. Head over to https://www.thisanthrolife.org to learn mo… read more

199 Episodes | 2014 - 2024

Farewell

February 22nd, 2024

0:39

An important message from RadioPublic

An Anthropologist's Perspective on Nonviolent Communication Through Art of Listening

March 14th, 2024

56:31

Have you ever wondered how anthropology intersects with personal growth and academia?

In this compelling episode of This Anthro Life, the discussion …

Investigating Superorganisms and The Collective Intelligence of Humans

March 7th, 2024

53:00

What fascinating parallels exist between the structure of bees in a hive and the potential for humanity to function as a superorganism?

In this episode, we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Byron Reese …

Turning Wounds into Wisdom: The Power of Storytelling with Sussi Mattsson

February 28th, 2024

41:13

Have you ever pondered how acknowledging and reframing past trauma could be transformative?

In this riveting episode of This Anthro Life, we delve …

The Impact of Community-Centered Preservation on Micronesian Culture

February 22nd, 2024

1:05:15

How is the delicate balance between recording Micronesian cultural heritage, addressing community needs, and gaining international acknowledgment for …

The Fight To Save Cultural Memory With Charles Henry

February 16th, 2024

47:43

How can we use CLIR's help to protect our cultural heritage during climate change? Could telling stories be a big help in keeping our culture alive? …

Is Tech the Future of Funeral Services?

February 9th, 2024

56:02

How is technology transforming end-of-life care experiences, and why are AI and automation crucial in reshaping the funeral industry? In what ways …

Black Grief, White Grievance: Power, Loss, and Political Mobilization in America

January 31st, 2024

44:24

Why does democracy inherently involve loss, and how do black grief and white grievance shape the intricate landscape of contemporary racial politics …

How Ethnographic Research is Shaping the Future of Insight in Business and Technology

January 25th, 2024

53:24

How can businesses effectively integrate insights from social sciences like psychology and anthropology to gain a deeper understanding of human …

From Taboo to Understanding: Carol Queen's Advocacy for Sex-Positive Mindset

January 17th, 2024

1:07:57

Have you considered the untold stories in our perceptions of sexuality? How do community strength, the role of play and toys in sexual exploration, …

Redefining Accessibility, Inclusion, and Human Rights with Victor Pineda

January 11th, 2024

45:56

How does the interplay between big systems-level questions and fundamental human questions in accessibility, disability rights, and human potential? In this captivating episode of This Anthro Life, we embark on a …

From Chaos to Clarity: How to Challenge Misinformation with James Mawhinney

January 4th, 2024

49:50

What are the consequences of misinformation on personal relationships, business operations, and regulatory decisions? And how does the spread of …

The Path to Long-term Happiness: A New Theory on Mental Health and Neurodiversity

December 27th, 2023

55:14

The traditional view of mental health often focuses on the absence of mental illness, but a new theory is emerging that emphasizes the importance of neurodiversity and individual differences in the pursuit of long-term …

The Search for Dignity and Respect: An Exploration of Human Universals

December 20th, 2023

50:35

How do narratives shape our understanding of shared human experiences like dignity and respect? And, in what ways can an emphasis on human universals …

The Trillion Dollar Plan to Transform Waste: Dan Nienhauser’s Vision for a Cleaner Future

December 13th, 2023

44:32

In the episode of This Anthro Life, the dialogue investigates waste transformation and how waste can be converted into useful energy and materials. …

How to Ensure Human Autonomy in the Age of Algorithms and AI with Brian Evergreen

December 6th, 2023

1:03:39

What does the concept of autonomy bring to mind for you?How has AI already begun reshaping how we work and make decisions? And do you think AI and …

Everyday War: How Small Intimate Moments Shape Wartime Realities in Ukraine with Greta Uehling

November 29th, 2023

1:06:01

How do civilians strategically engage with conflict while seeking everyday peace? How do power dynamics and asymmetries impact the ability of …

The Future is Speaking: Unveiling the Power of Voice Technology with Tobias Dengel

November 22nd, 2023

43:45

What new possibilities do you see emerging with voice technology? How might it influence our interactions with businesses and services in the future …

The Power of Collective Identity: Brad Deutser on Building Human-Centered Organizations

November 15th, 2023

55:36

What is the importance of belonging in the workplace according to research? And what are some key actions that business leaders can take to create a …

Interstellar Dreams vs. Earthly Realities: Rethinking Space Exploration With Savannah Mandel

November 8th, 2023

1:05:12

Have you ever wondered if reaching for the stars is humanity's most urgent priority? Is it the thrill of exploration, the endless possibilities, or our desire to ensure that our species has a plan B? In this episode of …

Wisdom from the Edge: Writing Ethnography in Turbulent Times With Paul Stoller

November 1st, 2023

48:42

Are you curious about the untapped wisdom that exists outside of traditional academic knowledge? Do you want to learn how stories, dialogue, and sensory experiences can enhance our understanding of the world? In this …

From Automation to Revolution: Exploring the Future of Conversational AI

October 25th, 2023

1:08:26

Did you know that conversation, one of the oldest human technologies, is reshaping the future of how we interact with machines? We’re not talking …

Navigating Uncertainty: Lessons from the Frontlines of COVID-19 Testing

October 18th, 2023

53:39

What can we learn from our handling of the COVID-19 pandemic to better prepare for future crises? Why is it crucial to build a diagnostic infrastructure for future crises? And what lessons can we learn from the …

Navigating the Labyrinth of Perception: Wisdom, Language, and Post-Trauma Growth

October 10th, 2023

1:13:26

How does language shape our understanding of experiences? How do we navigate trauma and find growth amidst adversity? Join us in this thought-provoking episode of This Anthro Life as we delve into the power of …

Understanding Tribal Signals: A Conversation with an Evolutionary Anthropologist

September 27th, 2023

1:04:58

The episode emphasizes how understanding our innate human drives and dispositions is critical, as awareness allows us to work with them …

Bridging the Gap: Bringing Science to the Public Imagination

September 21st, 2023

1:05:53

This episode is about the importance of supporting public access to science and helping experts and scientists in their work. Dr. Nicholas B. Dirks, …

Building Regenerative Experiences: How Cognitive Data can Revolutionize Design

September 7th, 2023

1:47:31

Are you ready to discover the untapped potential of cognitive understanding in design and technology? Join us in this episode of This Anthro Life as …

Exploring Pedagogy and Teaching for a Post-Racist Imagination

August 11th, 2023

1:04:07

Janine de Novais joins host Adam Gamwell to explore the importance of fostering discussions about race and racism. Janine, an educator and author, shares her expertise on creating safe spaces for dialogue and teaching …

Anthropology Meets Journalism: How Two Fields Can Save Each Other

August 1st, 2023

59:44

In this episode, Emily Kennedy shares her unique journey of discovering the concept of ethnographic journalism. Journalists now face unprecedented issues like harassment, lack of public trust, and accusations of bias. …

Entrepreneurship and Ethics in the Age of AI with Ahmed Reza

June 23rd, 2023

1:10:44

In a world where technology is advancing at an exponential pace, we can already see that artificial intelligence (AI) will have a profound impact on …

Developing Responsible AI with David Gray Widder and Dawn Nafus

June 2nd, 2023

55:17

Contemporary AI systems are typically created by many different people, each working on separate parts or “modules.” This can make it difficult to …

This Anthro Life 2023 trailer

May 26th, 2023

0:32

Just a little trailer for 2023 new listeners to This Anthro Life!

Learn more about the podcast here: thisanthrolife.org

How Disability Teaches Us to Change the World with Brooke Ellison

May 16th, 2023

49:53

People with disabilities often face accessibility issues in physical environments, such as a lack of ramps, narrow doorways, and inaccessible transportation. Every barrier is a reminder that designs are choices, ones …

The Complex Roots of Patriarchy with Angela Saini

May 2nd, 2023

1:02:49

In this episode, Angela Saini, award-winning science journalist and author of “The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule,” traces the material and social …

Embodied Robotics and the Future of Humanity with Lora Koycheva

April 19th, 2023

52:09

When we think of robots, we tend to think of things like R2-D2, the Terminator skeleton, or a piece of machinery that automates the construction of goods in an assembly line. But that’s not all there is to robots — …

On Finding Awe and Being a Human in the Cosmos with Sasha Sagan

April 5th, 2023

1:01:03

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us individually and as a global cohort to reassess how and why we live the ways that we do and what really matters to us. Through the pandemic, we may have also felt moments of awe …

Designing Resilience - Behavioral Science Meets Humanitarian Action with Britt Titus

March 21st, 2023

50:05

How to Build a More Resilient World
The COVID-19 pandemic leveled the playing field between those who have the privilege to avoid or mitigate disasters and those who don’t. But the pandemic is just one of many ongoing …

Creating Anthropologists on the Public Stage with Elizabeth Briody & Phil Surles

March 7th, 2023

47:49

In today’s episode of This Anthro Life, anthropologists Elizabeth Briody and Phil Surles join host Adam Gamwell to discuss their latest project: …

How to Keep Brands Human in the 21st Century - with Matt Johnson

February 4th, 2023

37:13

Consumers today find brands through many online sources, including search engines and social media. And with the rise of hyper-personalized ads, consumers are constantly being bombarded with brands that seem to speak to …

Why the World Needs Tricksters with Shepherd Siegel

January 13th, 2023

1:02:45

Indigenous cultures around the world have a trickster god or figure in their mythos. For example, the Pacific Northwest Native Americans have the …

Designing the Future of Global, Remote Work with Fredrik Thomassen

December 8th, 2022

47:37

Show Notes

Building a New Labor Market for Global Design Talent with Fredrik Thomassen

More and more businesses are switching to remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But one startup was ahead of the curve, having been …

How Tech can Democratize Scientific Knowledge with Eric Olson

November 3rd, 2022

48:33

The vast majority of published scientific literature and new research is hidden behind paywalls. Worse, what few accessible papers available online are oftentimes written in jargon, i.e., specialist language that can …

How Humans Learned to See the Future with Byron Reese

October 26th, 2022

54:31

What makes the human mind unique? How do we know there’s a future, and how do we recall the past? In this episode of This Anthro Life, Byron Reese, …

Growing Roots as a National Cultural Anthropologist with Ashley Meredith

July 26th, 2022

1:06:10

Ashley Meredith serves as the National Cultural Anthropologist and Deputy National Historic Preservation Officer for the Federated States of …

The Fight to Save Cultural Memory with Charles Henry

May 11th, 2022

52:43

Interdependence is the idea that the wellbeing of our world and for our physical and emotional selves depends on those around us, yet when we find ourselves up against a challenge bigger than ourselves, our sense of …

On Being Heard and Learning to Listen with Nethra Samarawickrema

March 23rd, 2022

53:31

When we think about social science and social scientists working out in the world, we tend to jump to the science part, you know jobs that focus on research - consumer research, user experience research, or qualitative …

Bitcoin and the Cryptocurrency Revolution with Mick Morucci

March 10th, 2022

49:51

If you’re alive in 2022 you’ve probably heard of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Whether you’re an active trader, just dabble, or think you’d never touch the stuff, cryptocurrency raises a fascinating challenge to the …

Deep Storytelling: Bicultural History and Fiction with Andrew Rowen

January 18th, 2022

1:10:08

It's a common truism that history is often written by the victors, but it is equally true that the actual story is more complicated. One of the most poignant examples of this is the "discovery" of the new world by …

Build Better Worlds: Anthropology for Game Design, Film and Writing

December 15th, 2021

1:03:58

Have you wondered why fantasy stories mostly are just copies of Medieval Europe? Why pop culture has been so obsessed with zombies? Or why Black …

Being a Human: Adventures in 40,000 Years of Consciousness with Charles Foster

December 2nd, 2021

56:34

Charles Foster set out to answer one of the most perplexing questions of all - what sort of creatures are we humans? - in one of the most unique ways possible: immersing himself in experiences that evoke three central …

Podcasting and the Other Side of Storytelling - Reflecting on TAL's 8th Birthday

November 15th, 2021

7:39

This Anthro Life turned 8 years old in October 2021. That's a long time for a podcast. When recently invited to share what I've been working on for a …

Learning Forensics, Applying Anthropology with Gabriella Campbell

November 9th, 2021

55:48

It's not everyday I get to talk with other anthropology podcasters, and even more infrequently that I get to talk with undergraduate anthropology …

Don't Sell Yourself Short: How to Create a Career Plan

September 17th, 2021

37:33

A job search strategy is essential, but what if you don’t even know what to look for or what you want to do? A career plan is something you can do before job searching to define the kind of work you want to do and how …

Transforming Market Research with Qualitative Consciousness in post-liberalization India w/ Dr. Meena Kaushik and Madhuri Karak

July 16th, 2021

40:23

Dr. Meena Kaushik takes us through her story from the revolutionary idea in the late 1970s of applying semiotics to brand and market research to …

From Art School to Industry: Passion, Ethics, and Business Impact with Phil Surles

June 16th, 2021

44:21

Phil Surles is a cultural anthropologist and consultant who focuses on branding. He works with companies to change their culture for the better and …

So tell me about yourself: Storytelling and the Science of Love with Helen Fisher

June 4th, 2021

49:03

If Dr. Hellen Fisher isn’t a household name in your house (yet), her work certainly is. Helen is a biological anthropologist and basically the reason …

Dead People Tell Tales: Segregated Cemeteries in Richmond Virginia w Dr. Ryan Smith

May 14th, 2021

49:20

TAL Correspondent Sara Schmieder brings us an all new interview about the power of cemetery restoration, race in the American South, and bringing legacy to light.
Dr. Ryan Smith is a professor of religious history, …

The surprising truths wild horses teach us about the power of ritual, social durability, and surviving the Anthropocene with John Hartigan J

May 5th, 2021

54:01

In today’s episode Adam Gamwell and Astrid Countee are joined by multispecies anthropologist John Hartigan jr. John is an anthropology professor at …

The Ghost in the Machine is Not Who You Think: Human Labor and the Paradox of Automation with Mary L Gray

April 8th, 2021

59:56

BOOK GIVEAWAY!! Leave a Review of This Anthro Life for a chance to win a copy of Ghost Work! Leave us a written review on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser …

Becoming a Business Anthropologist and Mastering the Tools of the Trade w/ Oscar Barrera

March 5th, 2021

52:43

Oscar Barrera is a Business Anthropologist based out of Veracruz, Mexico who brings a global mindset to helping businesses turn hurdles into …

They're not Binging TV, they're Feasting: Rethinking Media, Honor and American Culture with Grant McCracken

February 4th, 2021

43:19

Take a walk with anthropologist and consultant Grant McCracken and host Adam Gamwell, as they discuss Grant's new book The New Honor Code: A Simple …

How to Manage Social Conflict, Communicate Effectively and Find Common Ground with Jeremy Pollack

January 19th, 2021

57:57

In January 2021 armed rioters stormed the US Capitol in a harrowing and politically fomented insurrection. It was an apex of years of divisive and …

The Hidden World of Sh*t (a farewell to 2020)

January 1st, 2021

28:53

Language warning. We use the word sh*t a lot in this episode, since it is, in fact all about poop.
To wrap up this crappy, some may even say shitty year, host Adam Gamwell and intern Elizabeth Smyth discuss the origin …

More than a Game: Sports, Race, and Masculinity in Diaspora w/ Vyjayanthi Vadrevu and Stanley Thangaraj

November 26th, 2020

37:09

In this episode we meet Dr. Stan Thangaraj, an anthropology professor at the City College of New York whose research includes immigration in the U.S, …

Life in the Age of Social Media and Smartphones with Daniel Miller and Georgiana Murariu

November 11th, 2020

59:09

Do you have a sense of how much time you spend each day on social media and smartphone? Whether you can live with them or you can't live with them, we know for most of us, these are ingrained parts of our everyday …

Getting Down to Business and Making a Career with Anthropology: Guest Podcast w Adam Gamwell on Anthro Perspectives

October 23rd, 2020

49:23

This Anthro Life is based on lifting up the voices and value of anthropologists and human scientists in all fields through sharing their stories, …

Death Work: The Life and Culture of Forensics with Lilly White

September 30th, 2020

43:58

When most people think of forensics or forensic anthropology the first thing that comes to mind are TV shows like CSI or Bones, or maybe in Six Feet …

How to Study Meaning at Scale: AI and Big Data Ethnography, Microcultures and the Future of Innovation w/ Ujwal Arkalgud

August 18th, 2020

48:23

Artificial Intelligence. Natural Language Processing. Machine Learning. Big Data. If you've studied Anthropology at all, you'll likely notice these …

Cyberpsychology: How Life Online Shapes our Minds and What We Can Do About It w Julie Ancis

July 17th, 2020

1:06:03

It's no surprise that many of us find ourselves increasingly on mobile devices or the internet. We shop online with ease, connect with friends and family on social media, check the news, and play games. And especially …

A Neuroscientist and Marketer walk into a bar: Neuromarketing and the hidden ways marketing reshapes our brains with Matt Johnson and Prince

June 28th, 2020

44:41

Ever wonder why certain new ideas stick while others don’t? We often hear a lot about innovation when it comes to new ideas, but really that’s only …

The Connected Cup: Coffee, Tea, Happiness and Visual Storytelling Around the Globe with Documentarian Brooke Bierhaus

June 5th, 2020

45:50

What is it about coffee and tea - two simple drinks - that both transcends culture and is intimately bound up by it? In this episode, Adam talks with …

Beyond the Prototype: Navigating that Fuzzy Area between Ideas and Outcomes with Douglas Ferguson

May 6th, 2020

1:11:29

Today we talk with Voltage Control president Douglas Ferguson and we're taking you beyond the prototype. If you ever run a design sprint, or even if …

How Do You Make a 2.4 Billion Dollar Observatory Disappear?

March 29th, 2020

49:57

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a next-generation observatory currently under development that has created a watershed moment for the scientific community and Hawaiian society. This is because of its planned …

A Virus Without Borders: The Design of Public Health, Inequality, and Hope

March 21st, 2020

1:17:39

Produced in collaboration with Experience by Design.  We are witnessing a moment in our lifetimes that we will hopefully never see again. The world …

The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity w/ Byron Reese

March 13th, 2020

1:05:07

Gigaom CEO, publisher and author of "The Fourth Age: Smart Robots, Conscious Computers, and the Future of Humanity" stops by virtually to chat with Adam and guest host Astrid Countee to help us make sense of just what …

Will We Find God with this Machine? Introducing Starstruck

February 13th, 2020

34:42

The Thirty Meter Telescope (TMT) is a next-generation observatory currently under development that has created a watershed moment for the scientific community and Hawaiian society. This is because of its planned …

Brands and the Business of Relationships with Bill Fleming

January 13th, 2020

40:55

Bill Fleming stops by to chat with Adam about branding, marketing and design. Bill is a Boston-based Independent Brand & Marketing Strategist, …

Happiness and the Good Life According to the Aztecs w/ Dr. Ryan Collins

January 1st, 2020

17:51

A happy New Years! Enjoy this mini-episode with Adam and Dr. Ryan Collins exploring happiness and the good life according the Aztecs. New Years is a …

Robots, Science Fiction, and the Anthropological Imagination: a Guest Podcast TAL's Adam Gamwell on Trending in Education

December 16th, 2019

43:46

Special guest podcast! - Adam Gamwell guests on Trending in Education with Mike Palmer.  
For this week’s extra, Mike is joined by Design …

Why More Security Never Feels Like Enough, by Astrid Countee: Storyslamming Anthropology Series #3

November 18th, 2019

15:27

Why More Security Never Feels like Enough
Storyslamming Anthropology Series, Story 3. Written and Performed by Astrid Countee
In recent years, the …

100 Years of Beauty and the Beast of YouTube with Chris Chan

October 23rd, 2019

57:33

in this episode, Adam and guest host Leslie Walker talk with visual anthropologist and film producer Chris Chan, producer of the 100 Years of Beauty …

Design Research is Anthropology Applied with Amy Santee

September 27th, 2019

1:08:47

At long last we are back! In this episode host Adam Gamwell talks with Design Researcher and Strategist Amy Santee. 
This is one of these …

Backpacks and Toe tags: Life and Death on the US-Mexico Border w/ Jason de León

August 28th, 2019

38:16

In this special interview, TAL's Ryan Collins talks with scholar, activist and artist Jason de Leon about the ongoing humanitarian crisis at the …

Where Qualitative Meets Quantitative Data w/ Delve co-founders LaiYee Ho and Alex Limpaecher

August 14th, 2019

33:36

In this episode Adam Gamwell talks with Alex Limpaecher and LaiYee Ho, co-Founders of Delve. While Delve is a qualitative research suite, to help …

GUEST PODCAST: AnthroDish 49: Exploring Quinoa Production through Design Anthropology with Dr. Adam Gamwell

July 22nd, 2019

1:01:16

For this episode, we're doing something a little different. I'll be your guest. I got interviewed by the wonderful Sarah Dunigan on her podcast …

The Surprising Connections between Climate Finance, Sacrifice and the Spirit of Capitalism

July 9th, 2019

46:25

In this episode, Adam and Aneil reflect on Aneil’s fieldwork in climate finance. Climate finance is an area of finance focused on mobilizing …

Fear and Loathing in Truth or Consequences, performed by Taylor Genovese: Storyslamming Anthropology Series #2

June 24th, 2019

16:09

Storyslamming Anthropology Series, Story 2. Written and Performed by Taylor Genovese
In recent years, the terms Public and Anthropology have been …

EPIC 2019: Agency in the Digital Age with Julia Haines and Lisa diCarlo

May 21st, 2019

51:13

Welcome to This Anthro Life x EPIC 2019. This is the first episode in our 2019 collaboration with the Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Community or …

How to Think like an Ethnographer with Jay Hasbrouck

May 14th, 2019

33:50

Adam sits down (in a cafe, so this is live, people) with Jay Hasbrouck, Founder and Principal of Filament Insight and Innovation and author of Ethnographic Thinking: From Method to Mindset, a how-to guide for anyone …

Don't Yuck My Yum w/ Julie Lesnik (Edible Insects, pt 3)

May 6th, 2019

48:25

Adam and Andrea continue the conversation with Julie Lesnik, author of Edible Insects and Human Evolution, but this time they’re going prehistoric. …

A Bugless Life w/ Julie Lesnik (Edible Insects, pt 2)

April 28th, 2019

46:01

Think you could eat a cricket? What about a spider? In this episode of TAL Adam Gamwell and guest host Andrea Eller are chatting with Julie Lesnik …

Why Don't You Eat Bugs?

March 28th, 2019

30:03

Edible Insects part 1. Will crickets ever catch on as an alternative source of protein in the United States? How about cockroach “milk”? Why do people in so many parts of the world NOT eat insects? Where does that …

The Social Life of Robots, pt 2: Sex and Temperament in Three Cyborg Societies

February 28th, 2019

32:18

Part 2 of The Social Life of Robots, with Emma Backe. In this episode hosts Adam Gamwell, Ryan Collins and Emma Backe tackle sex and gender norms …

Heritage Survival Across Borders: Identity, Language and Migration

February 21st, 2019

54:22

Welcome to CultureMade: Heritage Enterprise in a World on the Move, an audio collaboration between the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the American …

The Social Life of Robots, pt 1: Spoiler Alert

February 6th, 2019

30:08

In the pop culture imagination, perceptions of robots and AI occupy a space of mystery and intrigue that gravitates between harbingers of impending …

The Craft of Curation

January 9th, 2019

41:39

Welcome to CultureMade: Heritage Enterprise in a World on the Move, an audio collaboration from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the American …

Switched on Pop

December 20th, 2018

55:45

On this episode of This Anthro Life, hosts Adam Gamwell and Matt Artz are joined by assistant professor and musicologist Nate Sloan and music …

Weaving Social Fabric: The Craft of African Fashion

December 10th, 2018

43:55

Welcome to CultureMade: Heritage Enterprise in a World on the Move , an audio collaboration from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the American …

Sharing Sonic Space: Music as Home, Soul and Connector

November 9th, 2018

39:19

“I hope that more people will listen to more music outside of their own little comfort zone. I think that we enrich ourselves, we are better human …

Art is a Movement

October 9th, 2018

36:05

Welcome to CultureMade: Heritage Enterprise in a World on the Move, an audio collaboration series from the Smithsonian Folklife Festival, the …

EPIC Evidence with Dawn Nafus and Tye Rattenbury

September 19th, 2018

56:37

This Anthro Life is opening the conversation with EPIC (the Ethnographic Praxis in Industry Community) on the theme of Evidence. Taking center stage at this year's Annual EPIC Conference. “Evidence” is a subject of …

The Awe is Shared: Evolution and Public Science with Andrea Eller - This Anthro Life

August 17th, 2018

36:59

Andrea Eller is a biological anthropologist driven by a question of how do our bodies continue to react to things today? In other words, how does …

Its Only an Evil Cactus if Donkeys Chase You: Ethics and Psychedelics with Hamilton Morris - This Anthro Life

July 23rd, 2018

38:58

When TAL first interviewed Hamilton Morris, it was shortly after he and his production team had finished season 1 of Hamilton’s Pharmacopoeia. Now, Morris has completed two seasons of his critically acclaimed show on …

Tech Ethnography, Data and Social Justice w/ Dr. Tricia Wang

July 10th, 2018

1:03:50

Dr. Tricia Wang sees her work consulting as sitting at the crossroads of data and social justice. As a global tech ethnographer, Dr. Wang is obsessed …

EPIC Innovation w/ Dr. Alexandra Mack - This Anthro Life

June 1st, 2018

46:32

Welcome back listeners! Adam and Ryan have taken some time away as of late to finish and defend their dissertations. Now that Ryan is done, and Adam defends in just one week (so close!), TAL is getting back into gear …

Consulting Podcasters: Prototyping a Democratic Tool for Multiple Voices, Storytelling and Solution Finding

April 30th, 2018

19:37

Thanks to the Society for Applied Anthropology (SfAA) for having Adam Gamwell and Matt Artz of This Anthro Life present at the annual meeting in …

Marching for Science w/Valorie Aquino

April 11th, 2018

44:55

On this episode of This Anthro Life, hosts Ryan Collins and Adam Gamwell are joined by TAL correspondent and guest host Astrid Countee and by a very …

Brave Community: Teaching Race in the American Classroom w/ Janine de Novais

February 14th, 2018

55:59

Welcome listeners to the second installment of our Diversity and Inclusion crossover series, bringing together This Anthro Life with Brandeis University. For those of you who are new to the show, This Anthro Life (TAL) …

#MeToo: Stories in the Age of Survivorship by Emma Backe: Story Slamming Anthropology #1

February 9th, 2018

20:49

Welcome to Story Slamming Anthropology. This series features both innovative narrative and audio performance drawing on the deep toolkit and methods …

Carving a Niche between Software and Social Science: Anthropology in Industry w/ Natalie Hanson

January 31st, 2018

1:02:06

Design and anthropology have been  seen together with increasing frequency over the last few years, but how  do design and anthropology fit together …

Diversity + Inclusion in Higher Education, part 1

January 15th, 2018

36:27

Welcome listeners to the first installment of our Diversity and Inclusion crossover series, bringing together This Anthro Life with Brandeis University. For those of you who are new to the show, This Anthro Life (TAL) …

Encounters Unforeseen: A Bicultural Retelling of 1492 with Andrew Rowen

December 13th, 2017

52:42

In this Conversations episode, This  Anthro Life hosts Adam Gamwell and Ryan Collins are joined by author  Andrew Rowen to discuss his new novel, …

Coming to Our Senses

November 27th, 2017

30:37

In this Conversations episode of This  Anthro Life, Adam Gamwell and Ryan Collins explore the subject of  sensory ethnography –  a focus in …

Are Emojis and Hieroglyphs Universal Language?

October 26th, 2017

34:16

Will Emojis be the death of writing? Are emojis modern day hieroglyphs? Is the increased use of emojis in textual conversations a sign of the end of …

The Yin and Yang of Design Anthropology with Dr. Elizabeth Dori Tunstall

October 11th, 2017

1:04:51

In this Conversations episode of This Anthro Life, Adam Gamwell and guest host/TAL correspondent Matt Artz  explore the world of Design Anthropology …

Fall for This Anthro Life: Back in Action, New Content, and our Patreon Campaign

September 27th, 2017

26:36

Hey Listeners! Adam and Ryan are back from their brief summer hiatus (a time filled with fieldwork, dissertation writing, and travels abound) with new content, a fresh Patreon campaign, lined up interviews, an upcoming …

The Happiness Fetish Revisited

July 24th, 2017

20:22

In response to several surveys that attempt to quantify happiness, Ryan, Adam, and Aneil spend this episode of This Anthro Life exploring happiness through the lens of fetishism. They discuss Daniel Gilbert’s Stumbling …

Conversations and Podcasting as Social Technology

July 14th, 2017

33:50

This episode is a little different from our normal content. In it we feature a presentation Adam gave for Pivotal Labs in which he explores This Anthro Life’s (and his own) developing philosophy about conversations and …

The Stories Bones Tell w/ Kristina Killgrove

June 28th, 2017

32:05

This Anthro Life has teamed up with Savage Minds to bring you a special 5-part podcast and blog crossover series. While thinking together as two …

Anthropology + Science Journalism = A New Genre? w/ Daniel Salas of SAPIENS

June 21st, 2017

20:23

This Anthro Life has teamed up with Savage Minds to bring you a special 5-part podcast and blog crossover series. While thinking together as two …

Anthropology has Always been Out There w/ Ed Liebow and Leslie Walker of the AAA

June 14th, 2017

43:13

In the second conversation of the TAL + SM crossover series, Ryan and Adam were joined by AAA Executive Director Ed Liebow and Program Manager for Educational Outreach Leslie Walker. They explored the work of the AAA, …

Writing “in my Culture” w/ Zoe Wool and Alex Golub of Savage Minds

June 7th, 2017

39:20

This Anthro Life has teamed up with Savage Minds to bring you a special 5-part podcast and blog crossover series. While thinking together as two …

Visual Anthropology Revisited, pt 2

June 2nd, 2017

27:50

We like to bring you some of our favorite conversations from our catalogue as we think about new ways to explore the topic. This week we’re bringing …

Visual Anthropology Revisited, pt 1

May 31st, 2017

29:46

We like to bring you some of our favorite conversations from our catalogue as we think about new ways to explore the topic. This week we’re bringing …

On the Craft of Writing w/ Dr. Anita Hannig

May 17th, 2017

12:15

How do academics write for a variety of audiences? Is routine a necessary part of creating? How many times will Ryan mention Stephen King? In this episode of This Anthro Life, Adam and Ryan talk with Anita Hannig of …

Free Think 6 – Who Are the 13,000?

May 12th, 2017

16:46

FreeThink 6 – Who Are the 13,000?

In this week’s Free Think, Adam and Ryan introduce a new member of our team, Matt Artz, who will be leading a new project to study and research you! We hit 13,000 subscribers in the past …

Dating your Ancestors is Complicated: The Strange Case of Homo Naledi

April 26th, 2017

31:39

On this episode, Adam and Ryan dive into the complexities of our ever  evolving human family. How we understand our ancient ancestors,  cousins, and …

Culinary Catalysts and Scientific Shifts: Peruvian Quinoa in the Age of Genetics and Gastronomy

April 19th, 2017

35:02

This episode of This Anthropological Life presents a little differently from our normal episodes. The Society for Applied Anthropology generously …

FreeThink 5: Finding Balance in the Midst of Burnout

April 12th, 2017

31:11

Freethink #5: Finding Balance in the midst of Burnout
In this week’s free think Ryan and Adam talk burning out and finding balance. They reflect on …

The Power of Vulnerability Revisited

March 22nd, 2017

55:48

This episode focuses on a conversation between Adam and Amy about a TEDtalk titled The Power of Vulnerability presented by Brené Brown. In this …

FreeThink #4: On Art, Creativity, and Bringing Awe back to Anthropology

March 15th, 2017

38:46

As you may have noticed, TAL has been on a bit of a break from releasing new episodes. But, the good news is that we have not been idle. The other night when Ryan and Adam were out and about they got to talking about …

Investigating the Untethered Journey between Psychedelic Science, Medicine, and Drug Scheduling with Hamilton Morris

February 15th, 2017

35:23

Psychedelia is the culture and experiences of psychedelic substances. Where did all the research on psychedelic drugs go? Could psychedelics be used …

Waiting w/ Serra Hakyemez

February 8th, 2017

32:23

with Aneil and Ryan 

Special Guest: Serra Hakyemez
Is waiting political? Can you cut in line at Starbucks during your hectic morning commute?  In this …

D+A #2: What Makes a Protest Successful and How do I get involved?

February 6th, 2017

4:58

Today’s D+A minisode follows last week’s powerful conversation with Jara Connell on protests and people-powered forms of resistance. In this minisode …

Protesting the Powers that Be and Being the Power that Protests w/ Jara Connell

February 1st, 2017

27:57

 
What does mass-protesting accomplish? Does no arrests equate success? Why is protesting disruptive? And more! In this action packed episode of This …

D+A Minisode 1: How to Deal with Change w/ Dr. Andi Simon

January 30th, 2017

5:13

Minisodes are finally here! If this is your first TAL Podcast experience, welcome! We recommend you start off with our regular Conversation series – …

When your Business Stalls, it’s time to Evolve: Unpacking Corporate Anthropology with Dr. Andi Simon

January 25th, 2017

39:10

How can we make change easier? Do women lead differently from men? What is corporate anthropology? Ryan, Adam, and Aneil are back to answer these …

FreeThink 3: PRX Podcast Garage Meetups, Building Bridges, and Expanding the Podcast

December 5th, 2016

2:49

Do you need Podcast advice? How is social media transforming the nature of protesting? Can we hatch a good episode out of chickens? Join us in our …

Don’t Panic! The Neuroscience behind falling into Balance w/ Vivek Pandey Vimal

November 23rd, 2016

28:43

Are balance and movement something that can be culturally shaped? Why aren’t female rats being used in drug studies? In this episode of This …

On Kindness and What the World Needs Now w/ Hannah Brencher

November 17th, 2016

22:18

Have you ever felt disconnected from your relationships and your life because of your reliance on your phone and social media? Do you ever feel nostalgia for the art of handwriting letters? Hannah Brencher understands …

Multi-species and non-Human Centered Anthropology: Conversations Revisited

November 2nd, 2016

26:41

Join us for another listen of TAL Conversations favorites on Multi-species and Non-Human Centered Anthropology. Originally aired December 2013, with …

Myths of American Democracy: Contradictions, Troubling Numbers, and Searching for Sense in the System

October 20th, 2016

26:04

Do you find yourself increasingly frustrated at the lack of real conversations between candidates and politicians? Are you confused about why someone …

FreeThink #2 – Moving Beyond the Mic: On Collaborations and Working Across Disciplines

October 19th, 2016

17:05

Join Aneil, Adam and Ryan for the second FreeThink episode, where they talk unscripted about upcoming projects and potential interdisciplinary …

Beer Revisited

October 13th, 2016

56:45

Glad you’re here! Check out some of our favorite episodes in any order and get to know the anthropological life. And, if you’re long-time listeners …

FreeThink #1: TaL Back in the Studio! What’s Next??

October 10th, 2016

15:38

Adam, Aneil, and Ryan are all back in the TaL studio for the first time in 18 months! And it feels good. Today we talk shop about where we’ve been …

Is Corporate Anthropology Selling Out? A Conversation on Consulting with Vyjayanthi Vadrevu

July 19th, 2016

54:48

We’re stoked to bring you TAL’s first ever three-city episode! Join Adam (in Peru!) and Ryan (in Boston!) and special guest Vyjayanthi Vadrevu (somewhere between NYC and Austin!) for an in-depth look into the world of …

Making Sense of Finance: Boundaries, Institutions, and Power with Caitlin Zaloom

June 12th, 2016

32:02

Join TaL’s Aneil Tripathy and Caitlin Zaloom, NYU Associate Professor of Social and Cultural Analysis, as they discuss Zaloom’s research on futures …

Guest Podcast: Food Futures: Playing our Way to Conservation? Experimental Economics in the Andean Countryside

May 25th, 2016

34:27

Special guest podcast from our friends at the Food Futures Podcast
Corinna Howland interviews Adam Gamwell about experimental games, or field experiments, which NGOs and economists use to measure when, why, and how …

Stewardship and Heritage: Bringing Archaeology to the Public with Emily Jane Murry

May 24th, 2016

11:47

Join TAL’s Ryan Collins and Aneil Tripathy as they interview Emily Jane Murry about her work as a publicly engaged archaeologist in Northern Florida …

Faded Paint and Yellowed Photos: On, Image, Inspiration, and Memory with Javier Urcid

March 28th, 2016

7:25

How does a camera and a deep sense of curiosity lead to a lifetime of archaeological research on ancient peoples, their symbols, art, and writing? …

A Business for the Future? Redefining Value, Quinoa and the Quest of Pachakuti Foods w/ Alexander Wankel

March 23rd, 2016

40:12

We’re back in Peru! Join Adam and special guest Alexander Wankel of Pachakuti Foods for a conversation about the future of food production, …

Exploring Boundaries: From Access to Female Sexworkers to the Question of Research

March 18th, 2016

47:23

When designing a research project, a researcher’s initial plans are often interrupted by what data we actually can access. Whether negotiating …

Mate: The Drink Beyond a Drink w/ Guilherme Heiden

March 7th, 2016

36:03

Mate (pronounced mah-tay), or more commonly known as yerba mate for English speakers, is an herbal tea drink native to parts of South America – Southern Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay – where local people …

Anthropology without Borders? Bringing the Study of People to the People 5

February 8th, 2016

53:53

Join TAL as they explore the meaning and movements behind the buzz words that shape anthropology when it reaches beyond the classroom. Applied, …

History, Power, and a Mapuche Bible: A Shaman’s Story with Ana Mariella Bacigalupo

January 11th, 2016

45:19

Join TAL’s Aneil Tripathy and Ryan Collins as they interview Ana Mariella Bacigalupo of SUNY Buffalo. Ana’s discussion of her research on Mapuche …

The Thrill of Discovery

November 12th, 2015

33:42

Whether exploring a ruined tomb by torchlight, submerging to great depths in search of lost ships, or sending lone robot emissaries to search the stars, human experience is shaped by discovery. More than being a thrill, …

Return of the Ethnographers: Life After Fieldwork

October 6th, 2015

1:00:02

Start your week off by tuning in to the TAL crew, the entire TAL crew, back from fieldwork (albeit briefly) as we talk about our experiences in …

Back from the Field: Syncing into Holly Walter’s Research Part 2

September 29th, 2015

55:15

Holly Walter’s joins TAL in the studio to share her experiences and insights into Shaligram  stones! Her fieldwork took her from Kathmandu to Mustang …

Applying, Designing, and Bringing Anthropology to the Public

September 18th, 2015

10:40

Welcome back listeners new and old to the new and exciting season of This Anthropological Life! This season we at TAL have a lot of new content and …

Syncretism in the Land of Sacred Stones w/ Holly Walters

April 25th, 2015

43:35

Sometimes ethnographic investigations are pretty straight forward. Sometimes, its like getting submerged in a ball pit with the task of sorting all …

Unearthing the Past: Interview w/ Ryan Collins

April 9th, 2015

36:18

Ever wanted to know what its like to be an archaeologist? Can you really dig a whole and interpret the past with the materials you find? Is anything …

Human Endurance w/ Ben Gebo

March 27th, 2015

52:12

Join us for our 50th episode! Return guest host Ben Gebo joins Adam, Aneil, and Ryan as we uncover the human quest to endure, and to push ourselves …

Buried in Snow! Thinking about landscapes as they change

March 3rd, 2015

39:27

It’s winter time here in the northern hemisphere, and in New England that means snow… a lot it. What can we learn from it? Join Aneil and Ryan as they dive (or attempt to unbury) the human connections between snow, …

The World According to Quinoa w/ Adam Gamwell

January 24th, 2015

1:05:57

Today we dive into the world of food! Come hungry as we introduce the world of food studies and explore the changing roles and meaning food has had …

How Humans Cope

January 24th, 2015

41:06

How do humans cope in the face of uncertainty, challenges, and trauma. Join your friendly neighborhood co-hosts Adam and Ryan as we explore coping across time, scales and space! From the individual to the cosmos, we …

Genderless Gingerbread Figures and the Custom of Costumes

January 24th, 2015

27:57

Ryan and Adam explore genderless gingerbread cookies in Australia – do these cookies reveal something about shifting gender paradigms? Also, we explore a bit about how and why we wear costumes. It may not be Halloween …

Ebola: The Passion and the Politics (Virology pt 2)

December 1st, 2014

42:51

Join us for part two in our series on Ebola. This episode we discuss recent moves and displays by journalists and media outlets to cover various …

Ecologies of Happiness

November 18th, 2014

19:35

Smile! What is the relationship of happiness to place? What is the where of happiness? In part one of our series on happiness, we explore happiness …

iPhone, Therefore I am.

October 6th, 2014

38:59

With the yearly release of new mobile phones, companies like Apple and Samsung have to sell the idea that we need a new device. With the release of wearable peripherals like Google Glass and Apple Watch, information …

Police Militarization, Race, Trust, Violence and Ferguson, MO

September 29th, 2014

43:26

Join Amy, Ryan, Aneil and Adam and special guest Delande Justinvil for an important episode of This Anthropological Life as we take head-on the …

Humans as a Playful Species w/ Michael D’Angelo, Host of Old School Game Show

September 24th, 2014

47:08

Join us for our funnest episode yet! Amy, Aneil, Ryan and Adam Exploring humans as a playful species through the world of gameshows, trivia, and …

The Burning Man Experience w/ Ben Gebo Part 2!

September 18th, 2014

39:25

Join us for our first ever extended conversation, part of our new “This Anthropological Life After Hours” extended episode series. On occasion we …

The Burning Man Experience w/ Ben Gebo

September 7th, 2014

44:50

Episode 41, Season 4
Join Adam, Aneil, and Ryan with returning guest expert and commentator Ben Gebo as we dive into the rabbit hole of Burning Man. …

Ebola and Virology

August 18th, 2014

48:01

Episode 38, Season 3
Amy and Adam are joined in studio again by season 1-2 host Ryan Collins, recently returned from fieldwork in Mexico. We turn our …

Long Haul: The Lives of China’s Truckers w/ Rachel Katz

August 5th, 2014

50:30

Episode 37, Season 3
Join us for a special episode with guest researcher, consultant, and author Rachel Katz for an intimate look at the lives of …

Urban Cycling

July 30th, 2014

52:32

Episode 36, Season 3, Aired 7/29/14
Urban cycling is both a global and local phenomenon. From Boston to Bombay to Beijing, bike cultures differ across …

Access Denied: Protests, Urban Green Spaces, and Changing Transportation

July 23rd, 2014

35:21

Episode 35, Season 3. Aired 7/22/14
From Access Denied to Transforming Access, numerous cases of the re-appropriation of space from occupy protesters to Shock Top beer fests, cars to bikes, city spaces and pavement to …

Lost in Space: From the Universe to the Space Between Atoms

July 18th, 2014

47:48

Episode 34, Season 3
This week Aneil and Adam tackle Space in all of its complexity and multi forms, from the universe to the space between atoms we …

Stress Test w/ Luke Hanlin

July 10th, 2014

49:04

Episode 33, Season 3
Feeling Stressed? Join Aneil and special Guest Luke Hanlin, Psychology PhD student, as they discuss the psychology of stress and …

Reproducing Rights and Wrongs: Personhood, Religious and Reproductive Freedoms, Gender, and SCOTUS

July 2nd, 2014

59:32

Episode 32, Season 3
Special Episode on the Supreme Court’s rulings over religious freedom and freedom of speech.
On this week’s episode we take on 5 …

The Beautiful Game: World Cup 2014

June 24th, 2014

52:07

Episode 31, Season 3, Aired 6/24/14
 
Gooooooooooolllllll!!!!! Today we turn our anthropological lens towards the most popular sport in the world and …

The Power of Vulnerability

June 11th, 2014

56:08

Episode 29, Season 3
Vulnerability evokes multiple feelings simultaneously-intense discomfort, respect and awe, intimacy, and fear. Why does it …

Up in the Cloud: Computing in the 21st Century (so far)

June 4th, 2014

47:02

Episode 28 Season 3
“Up in the Cloud: Computing in the 21st Century (so far)” online now!
The idea of a cloud evokes an immaterial floating world of …

A House to Make a Home? w/ Mengqi Wang

May 29th, 2014

53:36

“A House to Make a Home?” Season 3, Episode 27 Aired 5/27/14

We are joined by guest expert Mengqi Wang to delve into the fascinating world of housing, …

Let There Be Light!

May 21st, 2014

47:47

Season 3, Episode 26 – Aired 5/20/14

Light is all around us, but we don’t often think about it. Light comes to us as energy, as necessary for vision, as a metaphor for good and seen as counter to darkness. The sun was …

Special Conversation: Reflections on Anthropology: Why do we do what we do?

May 20th, 2014

27:22

For our 25th episode we bring you a special, raw moment in the show in which we turn the conversation more directly to ourselves as anthropologists. …

Environmental Anthropology, pt 1. Nature, Culture, Power

May 8th, 2014

43:52

Are nature and culture separate things? How do our definitions of land, space, and place affect how we view the environment? Trees, bees, garbage, …

The Politics of Difference and Relatedness

April 28th, 2014

51:48

Episode 39, Season 3
Join us this week for a trip to the ancient…present? This week Ryan, Aneil, and Adam cover the politics of difference through an …

Non-Human Rights

April 28th, 2014

57:10

Episode 23 Non-Human Rights Available now!
Join us as we  dive into the world of non-human rights centered
around recent court cases dealing with the rights of chimpanzees, our closest non-human cousins (though some might …

Visual Anthropology Revisited

April 16th, 2014

54:09

Join us for an ‘enlightening’ trip as we ‘shed some light’ on the world of sight, seeing, and visual anthropology. In this episode we explore the …

Coffee Cultures

April 9th, 2014

42:33

From the farms of Central and South America and Africa to your favorite neighborhood coffee house, join us as we turn our anthropological eye towards …

Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Visual Storytelling

April 1st, 2014

57:29

Turning 75 isn’t only a big deal for Batman, it also marks a generational tradition of using graphic media to illustrate, comment on, and showcase different aspects of our own society. Even so, comic books have their …

The Crisis in Crimea with guest Dr. Emily Canning

March 25th, 2014

46:42

Join us today for a very special episode with Central Asian expert Emily Canning. Today we turn our anthropological lens to the ongoing international …

Garbology, Space Junk and Digital Dumping

March 18th, 2014

51:38

3/18/14 We will be discussing the world of disposable objects and material culture: garbage culture and digital dumping, polluting the (final) …

Altered States, part 2 with Ben Gebo

March 7th, 2014

58:52

Head on over to our Podcasts page and stream the episode or download it for a mind bending journey through the worlds of psychedelics and hallucinogenics, the effects of music on the brain, the human drive for engaging …

Altered States of Consciousness

February 25th, 2014

47:44

Hey y’all – we had a great show today and would love for you to check it out and hear what you think! Continuing some of the themes we’ve been …

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