Best Applied Anthropological Podcasts (2025)

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Seeing People Beyond Their Function 19:54

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1M ago19:54

19:54

Thinking holistically is easy to say, but hard to do, especially when designing strategies to change behavior within a specific role like patient, HCP, or caregiver. In this episode, Sonika and Gabe unpack how they disrupt their own thinking to uncover culturally resonant insights and drive more impactful behavioral strategies. Follow us on LinkedI…

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Ginie Servant-Miklos: on the art of messy dreams, how to realize them, and the journey of making and unmaking oneself in the process 52:38

6M ago52:38

52:38

Ginie Servant-Miklos is an engaged environmental educator with fifteen years of experience in education practice, research, and advocacy. She currently holds an Assistant Professorship in behavioural sciences at the Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Her research and education work focuses on developing…

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GLP-1 Santa?!: The Cultural Shifts Behind St. Nick's Changing Shape 25:12

6M ago25:12

25:12

The biggest health story of the year has been how GLP-1s like Ozempic are reshaping everyday life. As the holidays approach, we take a closer look at an unexpected cultural shift—the shape of Santa Claus. For nearly a century, Santa has been celebrated as a holly jolly figure with a long white beard and a big round belly. But this year we've seen d…

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Equity in Action PART 1: Understanding the Hearts and Minds of Multicultural Patients ft. Eirásmin Lokpez-Cobo 48:13

7M ago48:13

48:13

In this episode, we are joined by Eirásmin Lokpez-Cobo, EVP of Brand Strategy at República Havas Health, to dive into the insights from her team's recently published white paper, Equity in Action: Mapping the Multicultural Patient Journey for Inclusive Strategies (link below). This insightful paper sheds light on the systemic barriers and health-re…

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Jesse Dart on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz 31:45

7M ago31:45

31:45

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Jesse Dart speaks with Matt Artz about his journey into UX research. Jesse shares his path from anthropology to UX research, highlighting his unique experience studying food and organizational anthropology in tech companies. He discusses his transition from academia to UX research through an agency in Rome, and…

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Jennifer Studebaker on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 36:04

8M ago36:04

36:04

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Jennifer Studebaker speaks with Matt Artz about her career as a business anthropologist. The conversation focuses on Jennifer’s journey from academia to applied anthropology, her experiences in various roles, including project management and market research, and her recent work on the Career …

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Women, Sports, and Leadership: The Evolution of Female Success ft. Claire Knapp and Denise Melone 44:32

8M ago44:32

44:32

Women's professional sports are "having a moment", but this did not happen in a vacuum nor did it happen overnight. In a highly anticipated episode (for us), we finally got a chance to sit down with Claire Knapp (CEO of Havas Lynx) and Denise Melone (Managing Director of Havas Life San Francisco) to discuss the implications of the growth of women's…

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Francesco Bravin: on radical imagination, learning interventions and the cultivation of the non-judgemental mind 34:06

8M ago34:06

34:06

Francesco Bravin is a cultural anthropologist and the president and founding member of the Cultural Association Antropolis in Milan. He has a Bachelor's degree in Intercultural Communication at the University of Turin, a Master's degree in Anthropology at the University of Milan Bicocca and a PhD in Anthropology at the University of Genoa. He resea…

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Do GLP-1s Change the Meaning of "Obesity"? 43:34

9M ago43:34

43:34

With the advent of GLP-1 drugs, it was only a matter of time before Brad and Gabriel dove into a discussion about this controversial drug class and the equally contentious disease, obesity. In this episode, they explore a range of topics—from the history of obesity and its recognition as a disease to how GLP-1s like Ozempic are influencing the conv…

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Gifted, Neurodivergent, or Nerd: The Highs and Lows of Growing up Tagged as 'Gifted' 49:57

9M ago49:57

49:57

Our fascination with neurodivergence continues as we are joined by PsyD, Dr. Matt Zakreski to breakdown the semantics of giftedness, and inclusive design for neurodivergent people in a variety of public spaces. The term "gifted" was of particular interest of us and our guest because at one point in each of our lives we had been called out of the cl…

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The Arcana of Inquiry: Navigating Ethnography through Tarot as a Playful, Disruptive, and Subversive Practice 38:33

9M ago38:33

38:33

The Ethnographic Tarot Project intertwines the magic and mystery of tarot with the depth of anthropological inquiry. This initiative seeks to develop a distinctive tarot deck infused with ethnographic and anthropological themes, serving not only as a medium for reflection and divination but also as an innovative teaching tool aimed at enlightening …

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Unpacking the Rituals of Barbecues and Health: How we Give Structure and Meaning to an Unstructured World 22:47

10M ago22:47

22:47

In this episode, recorded right before the Labor Day weekend, Brad and Gabe have one thing on their minds... barbecuing! More specifically, they're thinking about barbecuing as a ritual, a set of behaviors with rules, inversions of norms, specific settings and a meaning that goes beyond its function. In health, rituals are overlooked, but they're a…

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Sonja Hodgson on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz 29:37

10M ago29:37

29:37

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sonja Hodgson speaks with Matt Artz about her journey into UX research. Sonja shares her path from anthropology to UX research, highlighting the transferable skills from her anthropological background. She discusses her experiences in various roles, including medical interpretation, program evaluation, market r…

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Tim Malefyt on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz (Interview 2) 30:33

10M ago30:33

30:33

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Timothy Malefyt speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist. The conversation focuses on Tim's new book, Business Anthropology: The Basics. They explore how anthropology can be applied within business contexts, making it a powerful tool for understanding organizational…

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Bridging Minds: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Inclusive Communication in Advertising 35:35

11M ago35:35

35:35

The term "neurodiversity," introduced 25 years ago by autistic Australian sociologist Judy Singer, marked a milestone in our understanding of autism and the appreciation of "difference, not deficit" in how brains work. More than a buzzword, neurodiversity describes a growing population whose brains work differently from the "neurotypical," and whos…

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Defeating Cancer’s Hero Trope: Cancer Doesn’t Make Humans Super - It Makes Them More of Who They Already Are 25:54

11M ago25:54

25:54

A cancer diagnosis is a "moment of truth" that brings an undeniable shift to someone's identity. Faced with one's own mortality, a concerted effort may be required to overcome the dissonance between "who I was" and "who I am now". When communicating to patients diagnosed with cancer, we often attempt to address this new-found perspective by creatin…

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Making Sense Of "Trigger Warnings": Stigma, Taboo, and Trauma 32:35

11M ago32:35

32:35

Correction: In this episode, we mention that Anna Calix had a miscarriage. Anna actually had a 40 week stillbirth. Miscarriage (spontaneous abortion) is a fetal demise in utero at less than 20 weeks of pregnancy, and stillbirth (fetal death) is a spontaneous fetal demise in utero at 20 weeks or more of pregnancy. The two have very different experie…

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Fatimah Richmond on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz 39:23

12M ago39:23

39:23

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Fatimah Richmond speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. Fatimah shares her journey from computer science to anthropology and how she found her passion for human-computer interaction. She discusses the evolution of UX research and the importance of research maturity within organizations. Fatimah highlights …

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Uncomfortable Conversations Save Lives: The Surgeon General Weighs In On The Risks of Social Media 33:51

12M ago33:51

33:51

In this episode, Brad and Gabe delve into the US Surgeon General's proposal to introduce warning labels on social media platforms, aimed at highlighting their impact on young people's mental health. In the US, the surgeon general is seen as a moral authority who looks at social issues through a health-first lens from the dangers of social media to …

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This is not a Drill: Cervical Cancer is Curable, but Treatment is Often Too Painful to Survive 48:20

1y ago48:20

48:20

In this episode, we’re joined by Eve McDavid and Dr. Onyinye Balogun, founders of Mission Driven Tech, a Cervical Cancer innovation company. Their story is an inspirational application of Breaking the Code's themes of inclusive design, varied expressions of pain, and uncomfortable conversations that save lives. Our discussion delves into women's he…

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If Everything is 'Healthy', Nothing is 23:53

1y ago23:53

23:53

In a world of ubiquitous marketing, figuring out what supports a "healthy lifestyle" can be challenging. Marketers have picked up on the cultural trend towards wellness branding, and are enthusiastically, if somewhat disingenuously, leaning into claims that are technically true but not very helpful--"no added sugar", for example, is true, but irrel…

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Jay Hasbrouck on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 30:19

1y ago30:19

30:19

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Jay Hasbrouck speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist. They also discuss the evolving role of anthropology and insights in business, the second edition of his book Ethnographic Thinking: From Method to Mindset, and how ethnographic thinking can help organizations n…

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Ensuring the Customer is Always Right: A Brand's Role in Consumer Health Decisions 35:34

1y ago35:34

35:34

As people become more conscious and more knowledgeable about their health, it's on brands and health institutions to become more intimately aware of their consumer's (or patient's) health needs and goals. Someone who "does their own research" isn't operating in a silo - they still rely on the opinions of others, friends, influencers, health profess…

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Skip the Chocolates, Bring out the Blindfold: ParkinSex & Putting Intimacy At the Forefront 34:06

1y ago34:06

34:06

In honor of Parkinson's awareness month, we're joined by Howard Lenn, EVP, Executive Creative Director at Havas Health Plus, to discuss his team's approach to the work on the "The Kama Sutra of Parkinson's", ParkinSex. Couples that include someone with Parkinson's are more likely to separate than couples that don't. Howard talks about the massive s…

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The Pain We Feel: Culture in Storytelling and The Learned Expression of Emotions 33:45

1y ago33:45

33:45

Something that has fascinated us recently is the role culture plays in the emotional aspects of storytelling. The emotional response, its justification and the words used to describe it all are heavily influenced by an individual's identity and how they've learned to express themselves. In this episode, we discuss some of the culture differences wh…

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Matthew J Hill on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 33:12

1y ago33:12

33:12

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Matthew J Hill speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist. Matthew details his transition from the fields of chemistry and philosophy to anthropology and its application in the business context. He highlights his early experience with design anthropology and its influ…

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Nurses are HCPs too: Honoring the Beating Heart of the Healthcare System 36:34

1+ y ago36:34

36:34

Too often in our industry, when we say "healthcare professional" what we really mean is ONE healthcare profession, the prescribing Medical Doctor. However, nursing is and always has been a part of the healthcare professional team, and today more than ever the roles nurses play in providing care are exactly those we cannot do without. Nursing is imp…

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A Chance to Stand Out: Does The SAT Do More Good Than Harm? 37:55

1+ y ago37:55

37:55

Recently, a number of prestigious U.S. universities have talked about reinstating The Scholastic Aptitude Test, more infamously known as The SAT, for applicants to their undergraduate programs. The SAT was once mandatory for college applications, but has become optional and then not used at all in progressive stages over the past two decades. Howev…

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Do Superbowl Ads Do the Job?: Singing Busts, Resilient Athletes, & Family Photos with the Visually Impaired 54:25

1+ y ago54:25

54:25

Do you know anyone who just watches the Superbowl for the love of the game anymore? As TV viewers decline across the board, the Big Game on the second Sunday of February remains a must watch event in sports, entertainment, and advertising, hooking the attention from everyone from die-hard sports fans to Swifties. In this special episode, the full t…

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Let's Think Zebras: Understanding Rare Disease Through the Lives of Those it Affects 38:48

1+ y ago38:48

38:48

A rare disease diagnosis is the beginning of a journey of unknowns. From an HCPs ability to treat, to a caregivers' emotional burden, to a patient's sense of identity, there are a variety of factors that remain uncertain or unclear which makeup the unique challenge of having a rare disease. Despite the challenge, people living with rare disease per…

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Uncomfortable Conversations Save Lives: Gardasil, "The Sex Vaccine" 30:56

1+ y ago30:56

30:56

With January being Cervical Health Awareness month, we felt that this was a great time to breakdown the discussion around Gardasil, an HPV vaccine that can play a major role in curbing the incidence rates of cervical and a variety of other cancers. With that fact alone, Gardasil seems like a no-brainer, but as we explained in a previous episode, it…

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Medicine at a Crossroads: Doctor Distress, Medical Culture, And "Healing The Healers" 29:33

1+ y ago29:33

29:33

Doctors are in distress, and pandemic is not the only cause. For decades, the role of the healer has been evolving (or devolving, depending on whom you ask), both in our imaginations and in the literal conditions of labor for doctors. For the first episode of the new year, Sonika and I sit down with Vernon Bainton MD, Chief Medical Officer of Havas…

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Poetry: When You Turned… 1:39

1+ y ago1:39

1:39

By Paschal_the_Yobi

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Tariq Rahman on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz 37:05

1+ y ago37:05

37:05

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Tariq Rahman speaks with Matt Artz about his UX journey. He discusses his fieldwork in Pakistan's real estate market and how it allowed him to explore the intersection of anthropology and UX research. He also highlights his UX internships at Zameen.com and Nike and discusses how his strategy consulting internsh…

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"I Think I'm Turning into my Parents": A Celebration of Life Stage Similarities and Generational Differences 46:43

1+ y ago46:43

46:43

Use this link to view the video form of this episode: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/havashealthandyou_onehavas-meaningfuldifference-breakingthecode-activity-7140365496129875968-ZpsM?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop Have you ever thought about how we describe young people as "finding their way" and older people as "stuck in their ways"? G…

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Margret Jaeger on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 30:54

1+ y ago30:54

30:54

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Margret Jaeger speaks with Matt Artz about her career as a business anthropologist. Margret discusses her journey into anthropology and her current role in the research department at the Social Fund Vienna Education Center. She explains the challenges of introducing qualitative research metho…

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Uncomfortable Conversations Save Lives: Shame, Stigma, and Taboos 36:24

1+ y ago36:24

36:24

There isn't an official list of everything that's considered taboo, but somehow we all have an instinctual sense of words and topics that are off limits. We even try not to invoke the word of some taboos, like death, so we say things like "passing away", "biting the dust", "pushing up daisies", and more). However, healthcare environments are one of…

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Poetry: Alone, I Am Hole.Together, We Are Whole 8:42

1+ y ago8:42

8:42

By Paschal_the_Yobi

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"Your Hair Makes Me Look Like a Bad Mom": A Brief Review of the Semiotics of Hair 35:09

1+ y ago35:09

35:09

Hair is defined as the "threadlike strands growing from the skin of humans and other mammals", but that does not begin to describe the social significance of your hair. Color, cut, and style are all part of a shared but often tacit set of rules and expectations, and the social evaluation of your hair (or your children's hair) is perceived as speaki…

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Kasper Tang Vangkilde on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 39:20

1+ y ago39:20

39:20

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Kasper Tang Vangkilde speaks with Matt Artz about his career as a business anthropologist. Kasper discusses the challenges of bridging the gap between academic anthropology and applied anthropology and the importance of breaking down the distinction between the two. He shares the changes he h…

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Rachel Puvvada on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz 27:09

1+ y ago27:09

27:09

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Rachel Puvvada speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She first unknowingly discovered anthropology in high school through an ethnography project exploring cultural identity. This sparked her interest in studying people and cultures, leading her to earn a bachelor's degree in anthropology from the Universi…

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Task Overload in Healthcare: When the Provider is Overwhelmed, The Patient Can't Be In Focus 33:54

1+ y ago33:54

33:54

"Task overload", or the related concepts of "information overload" and "task saturation", is a term developed to describe what happens when there is simply too much for our brains to do--a common occurrence in airline emergencies, spacecraft emergencies, and, unfortunately, everyday work loads in our modern medical systems. The consequences of task…

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Louise Vang Jensen on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 33:52

1+ y ago33:52

33:52

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Louise Vang Jensen speaks with Matt Artz about her career as a business anthropologist. Louise discusses the evolution of applying anthropology in business within a Copenhagen context. She also shares her journey from studying anthropology to joining Is It a Bird and becoming the Co-CEO. She …

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How Can We Sell the Idea of "Less" When We Are Wired to Want "More"? 27:12

1+ y ago27:12

27:12

Wanting "more" of anything we like seems to be a default human setting, even to the point of problematic excess. A packed closet means we have clothes to wear, an overstuffed fridge means we can eat, and a full wallet means we can buy even more of whatever we please. When Mae West famously said "too much of a good thing is wonderful", she probably …

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Dace Dzenovska: Social Anthropologist & Speaker at The Why the World needs Anthropologists, The Power of Isolation, 27-29th October 2023, Croatia 21:27

1+ y ago21:27

21:27

Dace Dzenovskais Associate Professor in the Anthropology of Migration at the University of Oxford and the Principal Investigator of the EMPTINESS project. She holds doctoral and master’s degrees in Social Cultural Anthropology from the University of California, Berkeley, as well as an interdisciplinary master’s degree in Humanities and Social Thoug…

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Melissa Cefkin on Anthropology in Business with Matt Artz 40:58

2y ago40:58

40:58

In this episode of the Anthropology in Business podcast, Melissa Cefkin speaks with Matt Artz about her career as a business anthropologist. Melissa discusses how her interest in anthropology began in high school and was further cultivated by her family's international background and experiences living abroad. She pursued her PhD at Rice University…

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Heli Rantavuo:Applied Cultural Studies and Social Sciences Researcher & Speaker at The Why the World needs Anthropologists, The Power of Isolation, 27-29th October 2023, Croatia 17:16

2y ago17:16

17:16

Heli Rantavuo is an applied cultural studies and social sciences researcher based in Helsinki. For the past 15 years, she has worked in the technology industry in London, Stockholm and Helsinki, contributing and leading research in product and market strategy at Spotify, eBay, Microsoft and Nokia. Before working in the industry, she was a researche…

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Satire: Are My CoWorkers Murderous Aliens, or Am I Suffering From Imposter Syndrom? 5:33

2y ago5:33

5:33

https://yobiworks.medium.com/mr-higgens-b8466ecd2c3d ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★By Paschal_the_Yobi

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Speaking Around Death: Communicating About The End of Life 26:19

2y ago26:19

26:19

Death is an inevitable part of the human experience--OUR experience. But speaking about death, specifically how we want to spend our last months and days on earth when illness makes the end both visible and inevitable, is challenging. We find ourselves struggling to overcome taboos and other cultural and personal barriers to communication, and that…

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Sydney Yeager on Anthro to UX with Matt Artz 29:36

2y ago29:36

29:36

In this Anthro to UX podcast episode, Sydney Yeager speaks with Matt Artz about her UX journey. She discusses how she discovered anthropology in college and fell in love with its holistic perspective. Sydney also talks about her involvement with the Digital Anthropology Networking Group (DANG) and the importance of establishing the credibility of a…