Best Applied Ethnography Podcasts (2025)

1
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

4M 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…

1
Francesco Bravin: on radical imagination, learning interventions and the cultivation of the non-judgemental mind 34:06

7M 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…

1
The Arcana of Inquiry: Navigating Ethnography through Tarot as a Playful, Disruptive, and Subversive Practice 38:33

8M 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 …

1
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…

1
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

1+ y 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…

1
Rafram Chaddad: Visual Artist & Speaker at The Why the World needs Anthropologists, The Power of Isolation, 27-29th October 2023, Croatia 23:46

1+ y ago23:46

23:46

We are happy to have Rafram with us speaking to his background as a visual artist and his experience and thoughts on isolation. In 2010, Rafram found himself imprisoned in Lybia. He spent 6 months by himself in an extreme isolation unit, not knowing whether he would live or die. In this conversation he explores questions such as: What does it mean …

1
Erin B. Taylor & Melanie T. Uy: Anthropologists & Authors of Better Research, Better Design 37:37

2y ago37:37

37:37

Erin B. Taylor & Melanie T. Uy: Anthropologists & Authors of Better Research, Better Design: How to Align Teams and Build a Human-Centric Company Culture. Dr. Erin B. Taylor has a PhD in Anthropology from the University of Sydney and is the founder of Finthropology, a company specializing in insights into people’s financial behaviour. She specializ…

1
Amina & Gabriela: Love letter to David Graeber 41:39

2y ago41:39

41:39

Amina Alaoui Soulimani is a doctoral research fellow at HUMA, the Institute for Humanities in Africa. Amina holds an MSc in Social Anthropology from the London School of Economics. Her current anthropological doctoral work at the University of Cape Town focuses on the ethics of care, AI, and the future hospital in Morocco. Gabriela Cabaña is a Ph.D…

1
David Prendergast: Head of the Department of Anthropology, Professor of Science & speaker at the Why the World needs Anthropologists, Re|Generation 23-25 Sept 2022 Berlin 37:30

2+ y ago37:30

37:30

David Prendergast is Head of the Department of Anthropology and Professor of Science, Technology and Society at Maynooth University in Ireland. Previously David worked at Intel where he was a principal investigator at the ‘Technology Research for Independent Living Centre’ and co-founder of the ‘Intel Institute for Sustainable Connected Cities’. He…

1
Katia Dumont: Speaker- Why the World needs Anthropologists, Re|Generation 23-25 Sept 2022 Berlin 28:04

2+ y ago28:04

28:04

Katia Dumont: Anthropologist, regional network organiser for SE Europe, BMW foundation & speaker at the Why the World needs Anthropologists, Re|Generation 23-25 Sept 2022 Berlin Katia Dumont is a Regional Network Organizer for Southwestern Europe for the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was a consultant for founda…

1
Sophie Strand: writer and academic cross-contaminator 48:27

2+ y ago48:27

48:27

Sophie Strand: writer and academic cross-contaminator: on the ways we can improvise in academia and beyond. Sophie Strand is a writer based in the Hudson Valley who focuses on the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. But it would probably be more authentic to call her a neo-troubadour animist with a propensity to spin yarns that…

1
Rebecca Price: Designer and Teacher: On Mentorship, Resilience and the Importance of keeping Fundamental Drives in Focus 48:04

3y ago48:04

48:04

Rebecca Price is a researcher and assistant professor at the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering at the Delft University of Technology where she investigates how design can advance sectors and industries through multi-leveled and networked innovation. Educated and practiced as an industrial designer, Rebecca was quickly drawn to the strategic …

1
Pavel Cenkl, Head of Schumacher College: On Ecological Approaches and Embodied Learning Practices in Higher Education 39:39

3y ago39:39

39:39

Pavel Cenkl is currently the Head of Schumacher College and Director of Learning at Dartington Trust, Devon, England and previously he held the position of Professor of Environmental Humanities and Associate Dean at Sterling College, Vermont. Pavel holds a Ph.D. in English and is the author of many articles, chapters, and two books. He has always b…

1
Vito Laterza, Anthropologist and Political Analyst: on the importance to foster analogue forms of life in an age of Pervasive Digitalization 1:01:04

3y ago1:01:04

1:01:04

Vito Laterza is an anthropologist, development scholar and political analyst. He holds a MPhil in Social Anthropological Research and a PhD in Social Anthropology from the University of Cambridge. Vito is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Global Development and Planning, University of Agder, Norway, where he also leads the Digit…

1
Désirée Driesenaar, Connector of Dots: on Regeneration and Nature Based Innovations 1:14:54

3y ago1:14:54

1:14:54

Désirée Driesenaar is an innovation activist, blue economy specialist, storyteller as well as external expert for the European Commission. After years of working in the corporate world as a commercial manager and B2B marketer, in 2014 Desirée went for a holistic shift and became an entrepreneur for a regenerative future. In search of purpose and su…

1
Kathleen Asjes, UX researcher: Democratizing Research 51:32

3y ago51:32

51:32

Kathleen leads Research & Insights at Dreams, a Fintech company built on behavioral science that boosts financial wellbeing. She is a Dutch national currently based in Stockholm and has worked with UX research for over a decade. Her main interests are innovation and technology with social impact, always trying to connect the dots between people off…

1
Eric Garza, Scholar, Hunter, Carpenter & Community Server: On Ways to Connect, Navigate and Integrate Plural Worlds 54:17

3+ y ago54:17

54:17

Eric Garza is the founder and primary instructor at Quillwood Academy, an online institution of higher learning dedicated to helping people throughout the English-speaking world learn to navigate the changing world in which we all live. His background is diverse, spanning ecology and evolution, environmental science and policy, ecological economics…

1
Angelina Kussy: Engaged Scholar, Activist & Speaker at 'Why the World Needs Anthropologists, Mobilizing the Planet' 32:36

3+ y ago32:36

32:36

Angelina Kussy is an economic anthropologist from Warsaw and activist with Barcelona en Comú, the citizen platform governing Barcelona, working for municipalism and Fearless Cities. We are happy to have Angelina with us speaking to her background and current work. Angelina shares her views and dialectical relationship to activism & scholarship and …

1
Cristina Flesher Fominaya: Sociologist, scholar & keynote speaker at the Why the World needs Anthropologists, Mobilizing the Planet 23:00

3+ y ago23:00

23:00

We are happy to have Cristina with us speaking to her background and current work. Cristina shares her views and relationship to activism and, as a scholar, the importance of balancing sympathy with a critical, analytical and self-reflexive research lens. What can an ethnographic perspective bring different than other research methods? What is the …

1
Julienne Weegels: Anthropologist, Political Scholar & Speaker at the Why the World needs Anthropologists, Mobilizing the Planet 10-12 Sept 2021 27:02

3+ y ago27:02

27:02

Julienne Weegels is Assistant Professor of Latin American Studies at the University of Amsterdam’s Centre for Latin American Research and Documentation (CEDLA). Her research interests include violence, (in)security, memory-making, and criminalization. For this ethnographic project, she carried out 31 months of field research with Nicaraguan inmates…

1
Alex Khasnabish: Scholar Activist & Speaker, Why the World needs Anthropologists 43:20

3+ y ago43:20

43:20

Alex Khasnabish is a writer, researcher, and teacher committed to collective liberation living in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada on unceded and unsurrendered Mi’kmaw territory. He is a Professor in Sociology & Anthropology at Mount Saint Vincent University. His research focuses on radical imagination, radical politics, social justice, and social move…

1
Marcus Düwell, Simone Abram & Gunter Bombaerts: An Ethicist, an Anthropologist and an Engineer 55:50

4y ago55:50

55:50

Today’s episode is an experiment to stretch out disciplinary boundaries by paring up academic debates of philosophy & engineering (& of course anthropology). We are delighted to have with us academics & practitioners representing those different disciplines. What are the personal definitions of multidiscipinarity that make sense to Simone, Gunter a…

1
Mark Vacher and Tom O’Dell: Ethnologists and Epistemic Educational Partners : 1:13:28

4y ago1:13:28

1:13:28

Mark Vacher is an associate professor of ethnology at the Saxo Institute, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Tom O’Dell is a professor of ethnology at Lund University, Sweden, whose own research has primarily focused upon the cultural economy, the significance of mobility and transnational cultural processes. Mark and Tom have collaborated for many…

1
Dr. Ferne Edwards: Cultural Anthropologist and An Activist Scholar 49:13

4y ago49:13

49:13

We are pleased to have Ferne with us talking about anthropology of food – a field that has been at the core of her research and professional focus for the last 17 years. How did food become Ferne’s topic? What were the drivers that moved her anthropological research from food, to sustainable city movements to political ecology? Ferne describes hers…

1
Min’enhle Ncube & Amina Alaoui Soulimani, HUMA: speakers at the Response-ability Summit 2021 35:28

4y ago35:28

35:28

We are happy to have Amina and Min’enhle with us sharing their research insights and pursuits as well as motivation to be part of the Reponse-ability Summit this May. They share the questions currently at the centre of their research. What does context mean for data mining and machine learning? How can we think of algorithms as main interlocutors o…

1
Mariliis Öeren, Behavioral Scientist & Speaker at the Response-ability Summit 2021 24:20

4y ago24:20

24:20

Mariliis Öeren is the Chief Scientific Officer at Method X Studios, a company focused on democratising good mental health and ending the mental health poverty gap. Previously she has worked for the National Institute of Health Development in Estonia implementing public health programs. Mariliis holds a PhD in Behavioural Science from the Universit…

1
Agnethe Kirstine Grøn, Senior Design Anthropologist and Speaker at the Response-ability Summit 2021 29:19

4y ago29:19

29:19

Agnethe Kirstine Grøn is a senior design anthropologist at Alexandra Instituttet in Copenhagen, Denmark. She is engaged in many aspects of user involvement and user-driven innovation and combines anthropological methodology and design processes to gain a deep understanding of end users and potentials / barriers for change. Agnethe is an expert in f…

1
Malé Luján Escalante & Luke Moffat, speakers at the Response-ability summit 2021: Ethics through Design 38:50

4y ago38:50

38:50

In light of the upcoming Response-ability Summit this May 20th-21st , we are excited to be talking to two of its amazing speakers – Malé and Luke – and find out what will they be bringing to the conference space and what expectations do they share. We discuss how to use creative ways to form a space of exchange and how to exercise ethics. What is t…

1
Karen Boswall, filmmaker and visual anthropologist: on representation and agentive power of the camera lens 43:58

4y ago43:58

43:58

Karen Boswall is a filmmaker, ethnomusicologist, and visual anthropologist. Her audio-visual output includes individually authored and collaborative productions carried out in Nicaragua (1984), the United Kingdom (1986), Iraq (1993), Cuba (1995), Mozambique (1997-2018), Jordan (2014), Nepal (2016), and Brazil (2019).Between 1990 and 2007, she lived…

1
Tiffany Tivasuradej talks to Sawyer J. Lahr: Revolutionizing Research Through Digital Tech – New Perspectives from Asia 53:05

4y ago53:05

53:05

In today’s episode hosted by Tiffany, Sawyer shares his experience as a UX researcher working in Thailand and applying anthropological frameworks and practices for design and innovation projects. Digital technology is a new reality for both the researcher and the research participant, so how does it affect the research process and what to keep in m…

1
Tiffany Tivasuradej talks to Dr. Nicholas Teo & Oshin Siao Bhatt: on anthropological mindset and ethnographic practices in Asian context 59:31

4y ago59:31

59:31

We are excited to have Tiffany hosting the episode today and sharing her experience of conducting ethnography outside of academia in the Asian context together with Nicholas and Oshin. As a colonial discipline in its origins, anthropology inevitably carries the Western gaze, something of which to be cautious in the day-to-day research. Is there a n…

1
Jennifer Cearns: On Unique Combinations of Skills and Ways to Reach Balance 48:34

4y ago48:34

48:34

In today’s episode we explore Jennifer’s multiple and equally strong yet seemingly unrelated careers. We ask how she balances the different skills needed and how she makes spaces for them inside herself? As a soprano, Jennifer is used to being in the spotlight, so we are curious how she manages to equally embrace the role of the silent observer. Be…

1
Wendy Gunn: on Research as a Future Making Practice 54:07

4y ago54:07

54:07

Wendy is a researcher in the field of design anthropology whose written work, research and design practices have contributed to the foundation of what we now perceive as design anthropology. She holds an MA and a PhD in Social Anthropology both at the University of Manchester. She taught at architecture department at the University of Strathclyde i…

1
Mikko Koria; A Curious Person who Wears Many Hats: about Design, Interdisciplinarity and ways to reach Joint Meanings 49:47

4+ y ago49:47

49:47

Mikko Koria; a curious person who wears many hats: about design, interdisciplinarity and ways to reach joint meanings. Mikko Koria is; the Professor in Design Innovation and the Director of the Institute for Design Innovation at Loughborough University London, and Visiting Professor at Aalto University, Finland. He holds degrees in Architecture fro…

1
Simone Abram: Ethnography, Ethics in Energy Governance and Sustainability Challenges 40:16

4+ y ago40:16

40:16

Simone Abram is a professor of anthropology at Durham University where she is also a Director of the Durham Energy Institute, and is the current Chair of the Association of Social Anthropologists in the UK. She holds a BSc/MEng in Electrical and Electronic Engineering, an MSt and DPhil in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Simone’s research projects…

1
Mary L. Gray & Elizabeth J Chin: On the concept of fellowship, collective dreaming and ability to transform a conflict into a conversation 1:05:58

4+ y ago1:05:58

1:05:58

In today’s episode, we reflect on the concepts of community and fellowship in the world of those practicing anthropology. We ask Mary and Elizabeth about the relationship that they have with their discipline and the community of practitioners within it. What do they feel they need from colleagues, critics and journals – all of which form the axis o…

1
Annemiek van Boeijen: Good Design comes from acknowledging Diversity in all its facets 47:17

4+ y ago47:17

47:17

Today we are talking to Annemiek about her experience with multidisciplinary. How did it happen that a designer with an engineering background started weaving anthropological perspectives into her approach to design? What ignited her turn towards a culture sensitive design? What does it take to design for a diverse society?. She also elaborates on …

1
Mary L. Gray: Senior Principle Researcher at Microsoft Research: The role of a knowledge translator through anthropological perspectives 52:56

4+ y ago52:56

52:56

Mary L. Gray is a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research as well as an E.J. Safra Center for Ethics Fellow and Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society Faculty Affiliate at Harvard University. Mary also maintains a faculty position in the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with affiliations in Anthropology and Gender …

1
Lisa Talia Moretti: Digital Sociologist - Anthropology+Technology Conference 2020, Smart Cities Stream 42:59

4+ y ago42:59

42:59

Lisa Talia Moretti is an award-winning digital sociologist, strategist and tech ethics activist based in London. She currently holds the position of Head Of User Research at Methods. For more than a decade, she’s studied and written about the relationship between technology, information and society. Lisa is an Associate Lecturer at Goldsmiths (Univ…

1
Rachel O’Dwyer and Erin B. Taylor: On Art & Money, Surveillance Capitalism and the Ideal Research Centre 39:42

4+ y ago39:42

39:42

Rachel O’Dwyer is a lecturer in Digital Cultures in the School of Visual Culture in the National College of Art & Design, (NCAD) Dublin. Among other things she coordinates modules on Economies of Culture and Digital Cultures and teach electives on topics such as Art and Money, Tactical Media and the Politics of Algorithms and Networks. She is forme…

1
Nani Jansen Reventlow: Human Rights Lawyer & Keynote Speaker Anthropology + Technology Conference 2020 37:11

4+ y ago37:11

37:11

Nani Jansen Reventlow is a human rights lawyer who specializes in freedom of expression and strategic litigation. She is also the founding Director of the Digital Freedom Fund, which supports partners in Europe to advance digital rights through strategic litigation. Nani is a Lecturer in Law at Columbia Law School, Adjunct Professor at Oxford Unive…

1
Rasmus Thomsen: Partner and Design Director of IS IT A BIRD & speaker at Anthropology+Technology Conference 2020, Smart Cities stream 54:33

4+ y ago54:33

54:33

Rasmus Thomsen is Partner and Design Director of IS IT A BIRD - a strategic innovation agency that combines methods from social science, behavioral economics and design thinking. Rasmus has a foot in both social science and design. He is an innovation geek, with a mind tuned to design thinking. He works at the forefront of development, with a criti…

1
Rosalie Post in conversation with Dan Wu: On ethical AI, inclusive governance and ideal future cities 42:36

4+ y ago42:36

42:36

Dan Wu is the CEO and lead innovation advisor of Joyful Ventures, empowering social impact executives to create financially sustainable, high-growth ventures. With a unique blend of Silicon Valley expertise and Harvard-level insights, he has successfully led product teams at mission-driven startups. Dan's work on inclusive communities and responsib…

1
Susan Halford: on multidisciplinarity, the making of socio-digital futures, their challenges and opportunities 36:33

4+ y ago36:33

36:33

Susan Halford is Professor of Sociology and co-Director of Bristol University’s new Digital Futures Institute, which aims to use social science expertise and methods to analyse and understand digital technology futures in the making and use insights to help shape these futures in a way that is fair, just and prosperous for all. A Geographer by trai…

1
A glimpse into the process: the making of long-term projects with anthropologist Sarita Fae Jarmack 39:22

5y ago39:22

39:22

Sarita Fae Jarmack is an anthropologist currently exploring the politics of access, expression, and knowledge within the postcolonial art scene of South Africa for her PhD at the University of Amsterdam. We are talking to Sarita about the making of her PhD and get a glimpse into all the processes that happen on the way, which as she herself admits,…

1
Kadija Ferryman & Laura Sobola - HealthTech Stream: on multidisciplinary collaboration and AI and Machine Learning in Health 44:00

5y ago44:00

44:00

In today’s episode, Laura leads the discussion with a number of questions for Kadija about AI, machine learning, ethical decisions, fair health and the complexities that underline it all. Kadija’s research tackles health disparities through data and aims to make it is more inclusive and ethical. As Laura points out, data is easy to interrogate but …

1
Chui Chui Tan: Cultural Strategist and UX Consultant: Innovation grounded in culture, historical context and a holistic approach 58:21

5y ago58:21

58:21

Chui Chui Tan is a cultural expert with more than 15 years of experience in UX (user experience). Her experiences range from defining business strategies to building a UX team within the organisation to implementation (research and design) and continuous consultancy support as well as training and coaching. She graduated from mechanical industrial …

1
Diana Finch and Erin B. Taylor, Anthropology + Technology Conference 2020, FinTech stream 47:40

5y ago47:40

47:40

Diana Finch has been Managing Director of Bristol Pound since July 2018. Prior to that, she spent most of the last 20 years working in senior leadership positions in the non-profit sector, in areas including the environment, adult social care and psychotherapy training. Her earlier career was in accounts management and accounting systems design. Sh…

1
Capsule Episode Conference: Dawn Walter, Anthropology + Technology Conference 2020 18:49

5y ago18:49

18:49

The Anthropology + Technology Conference brings together 22 leading international experts from the social sciences and technology to champion and promote the benefits of responsible AI, and to highlight the value that the social sciences bring to tech and business. There are three streams for 2020: smart cities, fintech, and health tech. Our 2020 k…

1
Henrique Parra & Ricardo Teixeira, amplifying the debate: The role of scientists and social scientists in times of uncertainty 1:00:24

5y ago1:00:24

1:00:24

[ Notice: This episode is in Portuguese. As a way of letting the interviewees express themselves fully and also to amplify the access to Brazilians, this session was recorded in the interviewee’s native language. Thus, Andrea Rozenbaum, a Brazilian anthropologist, is also joining us in this episode as a co-host. A transcript of the episode in Engli…

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Applied Ethnography Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen