AnthroPuzzled

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled , we speak with Dr. Heather Garvin, a board‑certified forensic anthropologist and professor of anatomy at Des Moines University. Heather holds degrees in anthropology, zoology, forensic and biological anthropology, and a PhD in functional anatomy and evolution from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has worked on forensic anthropology cases since 2005 and curren...

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled , we speak with Katherine Ealey, an intake case worker for Child Protective Services. Katherine holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology and a master's degree in sociology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her role centers on conducting initial assessments, interviewing families, and documenting reports of child abuse and neglect, work...

Content Warning: On this episode of AnthroPuzzled , we speak with Chibundo Egwuatu, a sociocultural anthropology PhD researcher and a systems strategist, organizer, and policy analyst focused on marginalized populations who live and work extralegally. With a background in human rights research and a special interest in tech futures, Chibundo examines how digital infrastructures shape the lives of...

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled , we sit down with Devan Green, a cultural resource technician at ERRO Resources Corporation and Colorado State University anthropology graduate. Devan shares how her anthropology degree led her to a career in cultural resource management and archaeological fieldwork, from conducting pedestrian surveys and documenting archaeological sites to working alongside envir...

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled , we sit down with Michael Kilman, an applied anthropologist, author, educator, and science communicator committed to making anthropology accessible to everyone. With over a decade of experience teaching cultural anthropology and diversity, Michael brings ethnographic thinking into fiction writing, filmmaking, and public education. He hosts several YouTube series,...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Jessica Yaquinto, founder of Living Heritage Anthropology, co-founder of Heritage Lands Collective, and host of the Heritage Voices podcast. Jessica specializes in CRM ethnography and tribal consultation, helping build meaningful partnerships between Indigenous communities, government agencies, and organizations while preserving cultural kno...

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Anna Luisa Daigneault, a linguistic anthropologist, PhD researcher in ethnolinguistics, and lead digital curator at the Living Tongues Institute for Endangered Languages. Anna shares how her work bridges anthropology, linguistics, and technology to document, preserve, and revitalize endangered languages before they disappear. Anna explains w...

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...