AnthroPuzzled

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Stephen DeCasien, a nautical archaeologist and postdoctoral researcher at Dalian University of Technology specializing in ancient naval warfare and experimental archaeology. Stephen shares how his passion for the ancient world led him to study Greek and Roman warships and reconstruct the bronze rams that once powered naval combat. He explain...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Eboni Westbury, a zooarchaeologist, and PhD researcher whose work spans Aboriginal Australian archaeology and the study of Neanderthal behavior through animal bones. Eboni shares how her lifelong fascination with history and bones led her from forensic anthropology to archaeology and cutting-edge zooarchaeological research. Eboni discusses h...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Melissa in De Nile, a museum educator, Egyptologist, and digital creator who brings ancient Egyptian history, art, and archaeology to life through social media, livestreams, and educational content. Melissa shares how she combines her passion for public education with her love of the ancient world. Melissa reflects on her winding journey fro...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Dr. Dena Michele Rosko, an ordained minister, author, publisher, educator, and story systems anthropologist whose work bridges theology, creativity, organizational systems, and anthropology. With a PhD in Organizational Systems and graduate studies in communication and leadership, Dena shares how anthropology shapes her understanding of stor...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Melissa Vogel, a business anthropologist, corporate research leader, and founder of Great Heron Insights. With a PhD in anthropology and a career spanning academia, UX research, and organizational consulting, Melissa shares how anthropology can transform workplaces, improve business decision-making, and help people better understand one anot...

     On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled , we sit down with data scientist and entrepreneur Stephen Paff who blends anthropology, math, and machine learning to understand people through data.     With a background in both anthropology and mathematics, he approaches data science as a social science at its core, using technical tools to answer questions about human behavior, decision-making, and...

On the lat est episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with a technology strategist who blends anthropology with tech to guide organizations in making smarter, people-centered investments. With a background in both technology and anthropology, Minakshi uses ethnographic interviews to uncover the real challenges teams face, going beyond surface-level needs to understand workplace culture, internal dy...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Celia Orsini, an archaeologist and writer with a PhD in early medieval archaeology from the University of La Sorbonne and the founder of Archaeology for Well-Being. Celia applies archaeological knowledge, heritage, and material culture to support mental health, connection, and team cohesion in contemporary workplaces. Through immersive works...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Celia Emmelhainz, an anthropologist, librarian, and archivist whose work focuses on preserving, managing, and ethically sharing anthropological knowledge. With graduate training in anthropology and library science, Celia has worked at institutions including UC Berkeley, Harvard, and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, suppo...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled , we sit down with Abdul Alyousef, an anthropologist and interdisciplinary consultant whose work brings cultural heritage and social insight into business and development. Trained across construction management, anthropology, and international development, Abdul is the founder of Seventh Bridge Consulting, a cultural heritage consultancy that works with devel...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Dr. Heather Smith, a cultural anthropologist, public scholar, and digital nomad whose work centers on disaster research, mental wellness, and community care. Trained at American University, Heather's ethnographic research examines how emergency managers, first responders, and victim advocates navigate the social and emotional aftermath of na...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Dawn Nafus, a social anthropologist who spent over twenty years working as a research scientist and leader at Intel.  In her job as a research scientist Dawn spent a lot of time in the lab figuring out new product innovation. She had to research which technologies were the most important to produce for consumer demands. Through user research...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Miles Jordan, a photographer and PhD student in anthropology at Louisiana State University whose work bridges visual arts, ethnography, and place-based research. Miles is currently developing an intergenerational ethnography of the New Orleans music scene in the decades following Hurricane Katrina. Drawing on his lifelong connection to the c...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled , we sit down with Leila Rodriguez, an anthropologist and demographer and associate professor at the University of Puerto Rico who works as a cultural expert witness in legal cases. Leila's expertise is frequently called upon in criminal, immigration, and asylum, where she provides courts with cultural context to help judges better understand behavior, identi...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled we sit down with Alex King who has built a career in real estate, showing how anthropological thinking shapes the way people buy, sell, and understand homes. After leaving academia, he began working as a real estate agent and later became the owner of a home transition and estate services business, often supporting seniors and families navigating major life c...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled we sit down with Dina Rivera, a communications director for the Register of Professional Archeologists.  Through her job Dina promotes the standards and ethics of archeological practice. The organization she works at makes resources with these guidelines available for archeologists in the field. She personally handles all the internal and external communicati...

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, I speak with Diane Russell, an ecological and environmental anthropologist working in international conservation, climate change, and natural resource management. Diane focuses on the social factors that shape how communities understand and interact with biodiversity. Her work shows how anthropology can illuminate the drivers of environmental challenges and help d...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Patti Sunderland, founding principal of Cultural Research and Analysis Inc. Patti discovered anthropology in college, a perspective she says continues to shape her work in consumer research. After early projects in luxury markets and time at a nonprofit research institute, she eventually built her own firm. Anthropology, she notes, helps her lo...

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Dr. Eric Shattuck, Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology at Florida State University. Initially drawn to cultural anthropology, Eric discovered his passion for evolutionary medicine and the ways pathogens can influence host behavior. Today, his teaching and research explore human variation, adaptability, and especially the social dimensions...

On this episode of Anthropuzzled , we speak with Paulina Meléndez, an independent scientist and researcher whose work bridges the fields of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology. Her expertise lies in understanding how the study of human remains can illuminate both past societies and present-day issues. Bioarchaeology helps us interpret how people once lived, ate, and interacted with their envi...

In this episode of Anthropuzzled , we talk with Michael Hicks, an Anthropology Practitioner and Documentary Photographer, about how visual anthropology can illuminate pressing social and political issues. Michael has studied across all four fields of anthropology, but his work centers on cultural and political dynamics. He believes that to understand any system, whether a business or nonprofit, yo...

In today's episode, we sit down with Guven Witteveen, Web Manager of East Asia Anthropology at the American Anthropological Association and an experienced professional in outreach and public engagement. Guven's career has centered on building connections across languages and cultures. He worked with Title IX programs to promote foreign language study, coordinated grants for colleges, and discovere...

On the latest episode of Anthropuzzled we talk with Michael Tomiak the head of digital programming at the new museum of West African Art and a consultant at Quercus Heritage. Michael discusses how new technology could benefit the world of cultural heritage management.  Michael shares how emerging technologies are transforming cultural heritage management, a field dedicated to safeguarding land, ob...

AnthroPuzzled turns one! In this special anniversary episode, host Abby Letsinger reflects on a year of curious conversations, unexpected discoveries, and the winding path that brought this podcast to life. What began as a personal search for direction has grown into a space for real stories, honest questions, and diverse perspectives on what anthropology can look like beyond the classroom. Tune i...

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled , we're joined by Grace Penry, a graduate teaching assistant at the University of Arkansas. With a bachelor's in anthropology and creative writing, she is now pursuing a master's in translation and creative writing. Grace shares how her lifelong passions for storytelling and connecting with people drew her into both anthropology and writing, and how the observation...