A Life In Ruins

In this episode we interview Dr. Erick Robinson from Utah State University. The hosts met Dr. Robinson while he was a post-doc under Dr. Robert Kelly at the University of Wyoming. We chat about radiocarbon data, Bayesian analysis, and fun field stories which may or may not have involved Carlton getting more than a “base layer” tan. Guest Erick. Robinson@usu.edu Contact Email: alifeinruinspodcast@g...

Our first two episodes released on May 13th, 2019. Since that time we've released 21 episodes and have become one of the most popular podcasts on the APN. In this episode, we talk about our utter amazement to not having been forced off-air, how the podcast came to be, and how each of the hosts was inspired to become archaeologists. We would like to thank our listeners and followers for all of thei...

Dr. D. Shane Miller is not your average southern boy. Rather, he is one of the more accomplished archaeologists in the country for his age, and currently is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology and Middled Eastern Cultures at Mississippi State University. Shane started his career at the University of Tennessee where he got his undergraduate and his master’s degree conducting hi...

Description: Our guest on this episode of Our Ruined Lives is Stefan Milo, the creator and producer of the popular YouTube Channel of the same name. We have a conversation about the limits of experimental archaeology, producing YouTube content and why the heck he uses a spoon as a microphone holder. Links Stefan Milo Email: hello@stefanmilo.com Stefan Milo Instagram: @historysmilo   Stefan Mi...

In this episode, our cohosts chat with Devin Pettigrew about his research on prehistoric lithic technologies. Carlton nearly throws-up from having flashbacks of butchering a goat with Devin that had been sitting out for days in an unventilated trash bag. Guest Contact Devin Pettigrew Email: devin.pettigrew@colorado.edu YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/ARatlatl   Website: http://basketmak...

Our hosts Carlton and David interview primitive survival expert Donny Dust about his prehistoric tool kit and his strategies for surviving in the bush. Donny was a contestant on the History Channel Show 'Alone' season 6 and 'Alone: The Beast' season 1. He is also the author of several books including Earthroamer and Scavenger: A Primal Approach to Lifestyle Change. He also runs his own primitive s...

On this episode our three hosts recount their recent adventure in Colorado together last month. This is the first time the three intrepid cowboys of science have been in the same place since SAA’s ABQ in 2019. Contrary to their own expectations, Carlton, Connor, and David were extremely productive. They talk about museum visits, live streaming, Alpha, powwows, and more! This episode is part one of...

Today’s podcast guest is Carson Black, a graduate student at Central Washington University. Carson studies Primate Behavior and Ecology and is basically the next Jane Goodall. Carson did her undergraduate degree in Biological Anthropology at Colorado State University in Fort Collins (GO BUFFS). She wrote her senior thesis on Mantled howler monkey and sexual dimorphism in their feeding posture! Car...

Today’s podcast hostage is Lana...Lana...Lanaaaaaaa Ruck. Lana is a dual Ph. D. Candidate in the Department of Anthropology and Cognitive Science Program at Indiana University, Bloomington. She works at Olduvai Gorge as a student researcher at the Stone Age Institute, and she is an avid science communicator through IU's science blog, ScIU (@sciublog). Lana is a proud Texan, and got her B.A. in Ant...

On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, we interview Dr. Bryon Schroeder. Dr. Schroeder is currently the director of the Center for Big Bend Studies at Sul Ross University in Alpine, Texas. We discuss his early years "hunting" with his father and talk about both his thesis and dissertation research. We then transition into a crazy story involving paper mache, human bodies and terrible Texas la...

On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, we chat with Bernie Taylor. Bernie is an independent author who explores what he describes as “the mythological connections and biological knowledge among prehistoric peoples”. We have a spirited and civil conversation about some of Bernie’s theories. Resources from Bernie Taylor Skoglund, Pontus et al. 2015 Ancient Wolf Genome Reveals an Early Divergenc...

On this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, we talk with our overlord and frequent dictionary consultant Chris Webster. Chris is the cofounder of the Archaeological Podcast Network (APN), the network that produces and edits our shenanigans. We wanted to talk to him about the founding of the APN, how he maintains and keeps it going and where he sees it going in the future. We also wanted to get som...

Have you ever wanted to listen to a jovial archaeologist talking about his interactions with collectors? Have you ever wanted to hear the co-hosts give someone grief for turning down the opportunity to be a co-host on our show? If you answered yes to the previous questions or even if you didn’t, we have got quite the episode for you. On this edition of Our Ruined Lives, we talk with our good frien...

In this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, the hosts have the honor of speaking with Dr. David A. Anderson of Radford University. Dr. Anderson is not only an accomplished Mesoamerican archaeologist, but also famous as a Scicomm writer and has a large twitter following. As you'll find out, Carlton used to study under Dr. Anderson and was a major influence on his career. It seems that he has grown...

In this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, our three co-hosts talk about some recent discussions happening on social media. That topic leads us into talking about science communication, specifically bringing up David's @Ethnocynology Instagram account. We then just catch up with each other and finish out with Connor being more ridiculous than usual. Contact Email: alifeinruinspodcast@gmail.com In...

On this episode of A Life In Ruins Podcast, we revert to our previous format and interview Raven DaSilva! We found Raven through her Instagram/Youtube account (@digitwithraven and YouTube Channel "Dig it With Raven") and really enjoyed how she communicated to the public. Naturally, we had to have her on the show! This wide-ranging interview covers topics like ways to make Connor shut-up, Indiana J...

In this episode of A Life In Ruins podcast, our hosts do something different. As opposed to interviewing an archaeologist and asking about their career, the hosts bring on zooarchaeologist Damian Kirkwood, whom they went to school with, and have a casual discussion about all things archaeology. While the conversation begins with Damian explaining his credentials, the show quickly devolves into dis...

On this episode of A Life in Ruins, we interview Erina Baci. Erina Baci is an Anthropologist and Archaeologist, studying at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor - one of the top anthropology departments in the US. Erina studies Bronze and Iron Age settlement patterns in Albania and Kosovo. We delve into GIS, the history of archaeological study in Albania/Kosovo and David and Erina talk about th...

In this episode of A Life in Ruins Podcast, our three co-hosts reconvene after a summer of shenanigans while Carlton is fighting the effects of jet lag. Connor and David mention what they have been up to and Carlton talks about his trip gallivanting across Eastern Europe. Carlton has some tips for those wishing to travel with Juul pods (spoiler alert, do not travel with them unless you want them t...

Episode 5’s guest, Amy Atwater, is the Paleontology Collections Manager/Registrar at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana. She is also just an all-around bad-ass. She is an avid science communicator, and does so through presentations, videos, and her massively popular instagram account @Mary_annings_revenge. Amy was a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow at the University...

If you’ve been following us for a bit, you might notice that archaeology isn’t just pyramids or that ancient aliens bullshit...it’s the study of human behavior. And one world-wide human behavior that you’ve probably all observed, is the practice of tattooing and body modification. Well, that’s not really our niche, but lucky for you, we’re bought one of the world’s leading experts on the archaeolo...

Tonight’s guest, Emily Van Alst, is a Descendant of the Lakota Sioux Nation and works avidly in public outreach.. Although the Lakota and Pawnee are historical enemies; Carlton and Emily have chosen to put aside their tribal differences to deliver our listeners an awesome episode. Emily Van Alst got started in anthropology at Yale University and she is currently a PhD student at Indiana University...

Today's guest is someone who we wanted to snag as early as possible, based on her ability to connect with the public. Ella Beaudoin got started in anthropology at American University, in Washington DC. She cut her scientific teeth in Kenya as part of the Koobi Fora field School @koobiforafieldschool. The Koobi Fora region is one of the most prolific fossil bearing regions in the world and possibly...

On this first episode, these three cowboys of science host our first guest - Dr. Spencer Pelton PhD, RPA. Arguably, THE cowboy of science. Spencer is one of the most talented, accomplished, and brilliant archaeologists in the country. The dude has over a dozen publications and literally just got his PhD last year. Anyone that knows Spencer will tell you that he’s one of the most enjoyable people t...

Introducing a new podcast from the Archaeology Podcast Network. A Life In Ruins is the brain child of archaeologists Carlton Gover, Connor Johnen, and David Howe - three archaeologists and friends that are living a life in ruins. Together, with their witty conversation and educated humor, they talk to other archaeologists about their lives in ruins.