Episodes

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 …

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 i…

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 poss…

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 …

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 coll…

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 relation…

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, Da…

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 mak…

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 m…

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 learni…

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 journalis…

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 increas…

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 enginee…

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 co…

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 perfe…

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 h…

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 challenges and crises that people are and have been facing for years.

In today’s episode of This Anthro Life, anthropologists Elizabeth Briody and Phil Surles join host Adam Gamwell to discuss their latest project: Anthropologists on the Public Stage, a self-paced video course for social scientists who want to increase...

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 their needs and interests....

Indigenous cultures around the world have a trickster god or figure in their mythos. For example, the Pacific Northwest Native Americans have the Raven, a selfish, hungry, and mischievous figure who transforms the world. Stories tell how the Raven...

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 100% remote since its...

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 alienate non-expert readers. natural language processing-based startups are workin…