Episodes

In this episode, we discover how stories shape our understanding of shared human desires for dignity and respect. Michele Lamont argues that narratives focusing on "ordinary universalism," our common human experiences, can bridge cultural divides and fulfill these fundamental needs. Through Gen Z's emphasis on inclusion and Lamont's research on structural barriers, the episode paints a picture of how stories can inspire social change and build a more equitable world where everyone feels valued and respected. Let's embrace diverse narratives and open dialogues to unlock the power of shared humanity.

Imagine a world where garbage isn't just thrown away, but reborn as energy and valuable materials. No more overflowing landfills, no more plastic choking our oceans. This isn't science fiction, it's the bold vision of Dan Nienhauser and his "Trillion Dollar Plan" on This Anthro Life.Dan's weapon of choice? Stellar Three's pyrolysis technology. Dan emphasizes the crucial role of collaboration between organizations to advance these innovative solutions. And guess what? Public education is key to building broader support and ensuring everyone gets on board with this transformation!So, are you ready to turn trash into treasure? Tune in to This Anthro Life and join Dan on a journey towards a cleaner, sustainable future.

This episode of This Anthro Life explored the intricate relationship between human autonomy and the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence. The discussion highlighted the crucial need for diverse voices to champion human well-being, flourishing, and autonomy in the face of technological advancement. Brian Evergreen's work, dedicated to empowering leaders to prioritize people over profit and harness technology to elevate our humanity, emphasized the importance of ensuring that AI serves as a tool for human betterment rather than a force of subjugation.

In this episode of This Anthro Life, Greta Uehling delves into the intricate dynamics of civilians' experiences during the Ukraine conflict. The exploration centers on the nuanced interplay between conflict and the pursuit of everyday peace, challenging the conventional belief that war disrupts daily life entirely. Greta introduces compelling concepts such as "everyday war" and "everyday peace," shedding light on how civilians strategically navigate and mitigate the impact of war through their interpersonal relationships. Through captivating narratives like Alexander's support for her sniper father and "Pasha's" quest for community post-displacement, Greta highlights the agency of civilians beyond the confines of victimhood stereotypes. The conversation further delves into the ethical considerations of conducting fieldwork in conflict zones, emphasizing the fluid and contextual nature of civilians' identities and relationships amidst the ever-evolving dynamics of war.

In this episode of This Anthro Life, Tobias Dengel, a leading expert in digital transformation, explores the transformative power of voice technology. Dengel discusses how integrating voice tech into existing platforms offers a safer approach, emphasizing the familiarity and trust already established. The conversation extends to the increasing presence of voice assistants like Alexa and Siri in our daily lives. Dengel also highlights the role of voice technology in enhancing security measures in banking applications. Tune in for captivating insights into how voice technology is revolutionizing our interactions with devices and services, envisioning a future where our voices effortlessly transform the way we navigate our surroundings.

Brad Deutser, an organizational psychologist, conducted research involving over 15,000 employees to examine the significance of belonging in the workplace. He identified five essential "Belonging Rules" that contribute to employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention.Deutser also emphasizes the importance of addressing underlying power structures and norms to promote lasting change. He highlights the need to embrace diverse perspectives without requiring complete agreement, acknowledging that true belonging stems from accepting and valuing differences.

This new episode explores the motivations and implications of humanity's pursuit of space exploration. It asks if reaching for the stars should be our top priority. Our guest Savannah Mandel shares her journey from a space enthusiast as a child to a more critical anthropologist studying the space industry. She remains devoted to bringing anthropological methods to the field, diversifying voices, and furthering public understanding.Join the discussion including decolonizing space, diversifying perspectives in the industry, using anthropological research to create real-world impact, and studying speculative futures. This episode aims to provide a grounded anthropological perspective on the captivating world of space exploration and the space industry.

In this episode of This Anthro Life, I am joined by cultural anthropologist and author Paul Stoller. Paul shares his extensive fieldwork experiences among the Songhai people in Niger and Mali, as well as West African migrants in New York City. Through his research on magic, sorcery, and spirit possession, Paul explores the power of storytelling and the importance of deep listening. He also highlights the significance of sensory ethnography, which goes beyond words on a page to capture the full human experience. Join us as we delve into the world of wisdom, belief, and the unseen forces that shape our understanding of being human.

This episode of This Anthro Life delves into the transformative impact of conversational AI, hyper automation, and composable software systems with UX pioneer Robb Wilson. It explores how these technologies are reshaping human interactions with machines, going beyond familiar voice assistants like Siri or Alexa. The conversation emphasizes the potential benefits of embracing conversation and simplifying software interfaces, offering insights on how automation can revolutionize work, enhance customer service, and stimulate creativity in the digital age.

In this episode of This Anthro Life podcast, Dr. Jon Cohen shares invaluable insights gained from leading the nation in COVID-19 diagnostics testing. He emphasizes the importance of building a robust diagnostic infrastructure for future crises, drawing on lessons learned from the pandemic. The collaboration between healthcare providers and the sports industry also emerges as a noteworthy success, shedding light on the benefits of cross-sector partnerships during emergencies.Furthermore, Jon highlights the pressing need for enhanced mental health support. He underscores the limitations of traditional therapy methods and champions the accessibility and flexibility offered by telemedicine. With mental health challenges on the rise, he advocates for the expansion of telemedicine services to ensure accessible care for all.

in this new exciting episode, we explore the profound influence of language on our perception of experiences. We also tackle the intricate process of navigating trauma and uncovering growth in the face of adversity. Our guest, Amrita Subramanian, an esteemed expert in cultural contexts and relationships, illuminates the intricate interplay between language, trauma, and resilience in our daily lives. Amrita's expertise in emotional intelligence and her deep understanding of the complexities of language and identity offer a fresh perspective, challenging conventional beliefs and prompting introspection. With her extensive experience as a speaker, consultant, and educator, Amrita's profound insights into the human condition promise to leave a lasting impression.

Humans have an innate drive to cooperate and identify with groups, even strangers. This drive, known as tribalism, is essential for building trust and cooperation in large-scale societies. However, in the modern world, tribalism can also lead to division and conflict.In this podcast episode, David Samson, an evolutionary anthropologist, discusses the concept of tribalism and its implications for the modern world. He explains that humans are evolved for a different environment than the one we currently live in, and this disconnect, known as evolutionary mismatch, can contribute to societal challenges such as political polarization and social isolation.Samson also discusses the power of tribal signals, such as symbols, language, and music, in creating a sense of belonging and identity. He emphasizes the importance of being conscious of our identity stack, or the different tribes that we identify with. A healthy identity stack includes both abstract tribes, such as political part…

Science is a dynamic process of discovery and revision. This means that scientists are constantly learning new things and updating their understanding of the world. This can be challenging for the public to keep up with, but it is important for people to be engaged with science so that they can make informed decisions about their lives and the world around them.Dr. Nicholas B. Dirks and host Adam Gamwell discuss the changing relationship between science and society in their podcast episode. They note that science has become increasingly specialized and complex in recent decades, which can make it difficult for the public to understand and appreciate. However, they also argue that it is more important than ever for the public to be engaged with science, given the challenges that we face as a society, such as climate change and technological advancements.

In this episode, Joe Schaeppi, an entrepreneur and leader in the gaming and psychology fields, dives into the realm of designing experiences centered around humans. He explores the complex interplay of AI, design, and technology. He shares his personal journey in creating experiences that nurture mindfulness and self-awareness. The conversation covers challenges in assessing outcomes, the importance of community and constructive feedback, and the limitations of over-personalization. The focus is on understanding the audience and crafting experiences with genuine significance. The episode also delves into the limitations of relying solely on big data for comprehending consciousness, highlighting the crucial role of language in shaping thoughts. The discussion extends to the impact of AI on creativity and successful strategies in the gaming industry. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of self-discovery through psychological assessment, with a consideration of AI's potential role…

In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell talks with Janine de Novais about her new publication on Brave Community and teaching for a post-racist imagination.They explore the concept of "grounding for learning" as a method to enhance and sustain empathy to facilitate effective learning. Grounding for learning is described as the cornerstone of the classroom environment, empowering individuals to be more empathetic and intellectually courageous. Moreover, Janine talks about her book titled “Brave Community” and explains that Brave Community is a teaching and learning method that helps foster empathy and intellectual bravery. In this conversation we discuss:👉 The importance of pedagogy in education and the Brave Community method 👉 The role of content and culture in meetings and discussions 👉 Grounding for learning and the importance of content and cultureHere are a few of our favorite quotable moments:“The method of Brave Community is a teaching and l…

Intro:In this episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell talks with Emily Kennedy about the intersection of journalism and ethnography. They explore how ethnographic methods can help address challenges faced by journalists, such as trust, online harassment, and the business model of journalism. They discuss the importance of empathy, rapport building, and the evolving concept of objectivity in interviews. Kennedy also shares insights on the benefits and drawbacks of AI, and the need for cross-disciplinary collaboration in storytelling.In this conversation we discuss:👉 Challenges in journalism👉 The importance of ethnographic methods👉 Balancing advocacy and bias in reportingHere are a few of our favorite quotable moments:1. "Ethnographic methods can help journalists conduct more in-depth, empathetic interviews and allow people to tell their own stories from their perspective."2. "Journalists can benefit from learning to recognize and code abbreviations used in in…

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 our lives.But AI is far from perfect. Too often, we end up grappling with a variety of problems when we bring AI into the real world, from increasing mental health issues in young girls and boys to anxiety for workers whose jobs are changing.

Contemporary AI systems are typically created by many different people, each working on separate parts or “modules.” This can make it difficult to determine who is responsible for considering the ethical implications of an AI system as a whole — a problem compounded by the fact that many AI engineers already don’t consider it their job to ensure the AI systems they work on are ethical.

Just a little trailer for 2023 new listeners to This Anthro Life!Learn more about the podcast here: https://thisanthrolife.org

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 made without people with disabilities at the decision-making table.

In this episode, Angela Saini, award-winning science journalist and author of “The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule,” traces the material and social roots of patriarchy with host Adam Gamwell. The duo explores how anthropology can help us better understand the patriarchy and patriarchal power by contextualizing and breaking down big ideas.

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 — something anthropologist and roboticist entrepreneur Lora Koycheva understands perfectly well.

Daughter of “Cosmos” co-writer Ann Druyan and astronomer Carl Sagan, Sasha talks with host Adam Gamwell about the power of ritual for making meaning across life, death, nature, and more. She also shares how she learned to ask questions, the value of finding awe in the most mundane of rituals, and how turning our attention anew to the natural world can help us add wonder back into our lives.

How to Build a More Resilient WorldThe 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 challenges and crises that people are and have been facing for years.