Stay ConnectedThe Arch and Anth Podcast aims to provides entertaining and educational content about archaeology and anthropology. Hosting the show is Dr Michael B. C. Rivera, an expert in the study of human biology, human behavior and human societies worldwide, from the earliest beginnings to modern times. Episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, featuring a special guest talking about their work.
More info at: http://archandanth.com/
Copyright: The Arch and Anth Podcast © 2019
On this episode, Dr. Massimo Lando (City University of Hong Kong) hosts the show and interviews Dr. Michael B. C. Rivera (The Arch and Anth Podcast) about the move they're making to Hong Kong, and their reflections on the life they've led together since the launch of the podcast in May 2019.
Michael created The Arch and Anth Podcast on May 13th, 2019, and since then has released 150 episodes. He talks about the early inspirations for creating the podcast and what was involved in the initial preparation. As Massimo was there too for all the time the podcast has been active, they also discuss how production has been integrated into their daily life, particularly over the last few months when COVID-19 required Massimo work from home.
Given that this is Michael's official return home and emigration out of Europe since he's lived there from 2009 till now, we also reflect on his time in the UK and Netherlands. We talk about interpersonal and systemic racism in the academy, and the difficulties for Michael in dealing with ignorance or bigotry on the part of colleagues and even friends working in anthropology and archaeology.
Finally, they discuss the new job Massimo secured in Hong Kong that prompted the move, and the exciting things both he and Michael will be doing in Hong Kong. Tied in with that are a lot of big feelings and expectations, but altogether both of them are really happy with the move and wanted to record this episode to share what's going. The podcast will be taking a brief month-long hiatus as well, and will return on August 10th.
If you want to ask any questions or feedback or just want to show support for the move(!), Massimo can be found on Twitter. The conversation where he was interviewed about his line of work is Episode 50.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram. He was interviewed on the podcast previously on Episode 100 also.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Stefan Milosavljevich (Stefan Milo on YouTube) talks to us about his inspiration and process of creating YouTube videos all about archaeology, anthropology and human evolution.
How did Stefan get started on YouTube and what first inspired him to start doing videos on his passion subjects of archaeology and anthropology? What does he believe are the keys to producing a quality video? What have been the most popular videos on the channel and how is his approach of using academic sources for his videos an important factor in designing the content?
As two science communicators using different media platforms, Stefan and Michael also discuss online public engagement work more broadly. What are the barriers to effective communication work being promoted within academic circles? How can aspiring content creators get started in the first instance, and what are Stefan's best tips for working with video and beginning a side-project/hobby/career on YouTube?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Stefan, find him on his website, Twitter and Instagram. The full catalog of his videos is also available on the Stefan Milo YouTube channel.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On today's episode, Dr. Lena Karvovskaya (Utrecht University) is on the podcast to talk about her current work as a research data manager, as well as her earlier PhD research studying theoretical linguistics and the grammar of possession.
In complex data management, how does Lena work with users with projects that need new connections? In what ways does her building community between users and her university library help research data get collected and shared? How has the COVID-19 pandemic changed her role in these large-scale scientific projects?
We also talk about Lena's PhD thesis that looked at the typology and formal semantics in different languages. What are the different types of questions linguists may look at in the research environment? When doing this work in theoretical linguistics and language documentation, where did Lena go on fieldwork trips to collect data on Ishkashimi and Shughni?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Lena can be found on Twitter if anyone has questions for him.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help support the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or visit the Patreon page for details on how to give a little each month to this public anthropology and archaeology project!
Aqeel Ihsan (York University) is a history PhD candidate focusing on South Asian diaspora currently living in Canada. Topics of Aqeel's interest include South Asian diaspora's memories of the 1947 partition of India into two republics (now India and Pakistan), concepts of 'home' and 'belonging', and how grocery stores, restaurants and kitchens at home serve as spaces for ethno-national identities to be established and continually evolve.
What inspired Aqeel to move from working as a high school history teacher and return to university pursuing graduate studies? What happened in 1947 to the 12 million people displaced by the national borders drawn between communities living in what is now Pakistan and India? How were interviewees found and asked about 1947? In what ways do survivors of the partition remember this event and what has Aqeel's oral history research revealed that may contribute to current discourse and reconciliation among South Asians and members of the South Asian diaspora?
In addition to this Master's research, what does Aqeel's current PhD work look at in terms of the anthropology of food and South Asian diaspora identity and culture? How are the younger generations interacting with western food and culture in ways that differ and contradict those of their parents? What are the links between South Asian diaspora experiences and those of other groups such as East Asian diaspora, the Indigenous nations of Canada and Black communities in 2020's current sociopolitical climate?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Aqeel can be found on his university page.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help support the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or visit the Patreon page for details on how to give a little each month to this public anthropology and archaeology project!
In this episode, Dr. Katie Tucker (The Solomonic-Zagwe Encounters Project) takes us through her multitudes of osteoarchaeological research experiences, beginning with The SolZag Project that centers upon the interactions between the Zagwe Kingdom (900 - 1270) and the Solomonic Dynasty (1270 - 1974).
For Katie's work at the Gännätä Maryam Rock Church and the Washa Mikael Rock Hewn Church, near Lalibela, what interesting environmental and historical aspects characterize these medieval-period sites? What do we know so far about the human skeletons found at Gännätä Maryam, and what questions still remain to be answered regarding the human burials found there? What is the history of bioarchaeology as a field in Ethiopia? How does Katie hope to make her work activities more inclusive, and how does she acknowledge the contributions of Ethiopian archaeologists, particularly in a predominantly white discipline? In what ways will Katie and her colleagues be hoping to improve training provision in local bioarchaeology?
We also talk about her earlier education, and her PhD project about the osteology of human decapitation at the University of Winchester. Katie also has extensive experience teaching osteoarchaeology for the Transylvania Bioarchaeology as a site director, and as a researcher of skeletal lesions indicative of leprosy. What does she see as one of the biggest challenges facing researchers in bioarchaeology today?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You may find Katie on Twitter or the SolZag Project if you have any questions or feedback. You can find a video about the project in Ethiopia after registering for the DigNation Festival, organized by DigVentures.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this episode, Dr. Abidemi Babatunde Babalola (University of Cambridge) was interviewed about his work on the history of early glass production in West Africa, as evidenced through excavations at the site of Igbo Olokun in the Yoruba city of Ile-Ife in southwestern Nigeria.
As a Smuts Research Fellow at Cambridge's Center of African Studies, Tunde teaches Master's students about African archaeology, organizing practical activities using his own research materials to complement his classes. When did the production of glass products begin in western Africa and how complex was the technology of glassmaking in this region? How challenging is it to find evidence of indigenous African technologies at Ile-Ife, a peripheral glass-working workshop site where some beads and side-products can be really tiny?
In addition to characterizing and quantifying these different types of beads, what compositional analyses does Tunde use to look at the chemical and physical properties of these archaeological materials? How may environmental circumstances, or the historical and political events of the past, have influenced the usage of different raw materials? How have chemical analyses of beads and crucibles proven evidence of secondary processing of imported glass? Have these unique beads been found in other contexts, indicating some evidence of trade or transport?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Tunde or want to follow him online, you can find him on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this edition of the podcast, Sofia Carrera (University of Michigan) is on the show to speak about her new research looking at how early life adversity affects health, hormones and development, with her newest paper out speaking on these themes in the study of gelada monkeys.
What is the landscape like in the Ethiopian Highlands, and how do gelada monkeys find food and interact with each other in this environment? How What are glucocorticoids and how do they give animals the ability to better respond to environmental or social stressors? What unique factors come into play when Sofia studied stress in pregnant mothers? Are maternal health and infant development affected by social dynamics within groups of geladas? Are there metabolic differences between mother geladas going through pregnancy for the first time and those who have been pregnant before? What are the different steps in this scientific process, from collecting fecal samples to analyzing the results in the lab?
On top of these questions, Sofia shares her opinions on the importance of collaborating closely with local Ethiopian conservationists. We speak about her fieldwork experiences both in and outside of Ethiopia, and how she finds the life of a researcher who repeatedly moves for months at a time to work in primatological data collection or conservation efforts. As you're listening, do check out the Simien Mountains National Park's webpage, which currently accepts donations that go towards conservation activities.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Sofia, you can find her on Twitter and her latest paper can be found in the journal General and Comparative Endocrinology (reach out if you need a copy of the .pdf).
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Noel Hidalgo Tan (SoutheastAsianArchaeology.com; Nalanda-Sriwijaya Centre; SEAMEO SPAFA) is on the show to talk about public outreach, rock art and building capacity in regional archaeology in Southeast Asia.
Noel currently works with the education and culture departments in Bangkok, Thailand, as part of the work done by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO SPAFA). We speak about the role of archaeology in different countries, and how they relate to different ministries and departments dependent on historical contexts. How did Noel manage to end up in this role, especially as archaeology is a bit of a second career for him?
Within Southeast Asia, where has Noel travelled to establish an archaeological record of rock art sites in locations like Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Thailand. How does he find out there are new sites, and what is his approach to documenting information about rock art occurrences? Is it easy to date the rock art, petroglyphs and megaliths? Or derive meaning from them through discerning what they depict? Why is it important for the greater archaeological community to pay attention to Southeast Asian prehistory and how are Noel and his colleagues building research capacity in the region?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Noel, he can be found on Twitter, Academia.edu, Google Scholar and the Southeast Asian Archaeology site.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Son (University of Sheffield) introduces us to her work in Korean studies, performing human rights research and monitoring, and investigating news reporting and media, popular culture and social movements, as well as nation-building, identity, security and peace-building on the Korean Peninsula.
What career and personal life influences led to Sarah living in East Asia and now researching historical and sociopolitical relations between North Korea and South Korea, as well as nation-building projects and identities within each state? What were the main events that led to the separation of Korea in the 1940s? Can we trace this back to the great kingdoms of Korea even before the twentieth century? How did separation affect people and government in both North and South Korea, and how have they evolved in the last 10-20 years?in
Throughout the conversation, Sarah also describes how specialists gather information about North Korea using satellite images and defector interviews, how views compare between the younger and older generation of Koreans, and whether recent meetings between the two current state leaders indicate more chance of reconciliation to come.
And finally, mostly indulging Michael's hopping on board the Korean Wave (or 한류 / Hallyu), Sarah discusses her thoughts on TV shows Crash Landing on You and Itawon Class, as well as the Oscar Best Picture, Parasite. Some of her recent research interests include using pop culture as an avenue through which to examine important questions on Korean penal systems, as well as social movements.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Sarah, you can find her on her department website. Her writing for popular audiences can be found on The Conversation, including an article about Crash Landing on You and another on two North Korean defectors being recently elected to South Korea's National Assembly.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode of the Arch and Anth Podcast, Joshua Kumbani (Recentring AfroAsia; University of the Witwatersrand) talks about his work in music archaeology, ethnomusicology and experimental archaeology, studying the evidence of Later Stone Age artefacts used for music-making from the southern Cape of South Africa.
How long ago does the study of music-making and musical instruments in archaeology date back to? How did Josh and his colleagues establish a working group to map and investigate the history and prehistory of musical activities within Africa, incorporating ethnographic and ethnomusicological perspectives? What factors make it difficult to study sound production in the Later Stone Age, and what contexts do we find these implements in when we do discover them?
Additionally, Josh and his colleagues recreated spinning disc replicas out of bone based on ones found at a Klasies River site, in order to see what these perforated bone pieces might have sounded like 5,000 to 10,000 years ago. What would instruments like the disc-shaped "woer woer" (or "whirr whirr" in Afrikaans) have sounded like when they were played in the past, especially in cave settings where the noise could've been amplified? For what recreational or sociocultural reasons do archaeologists suppose these artefacts were played?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions, you can find Josh on Twitter and read his paper with his colleagues about the reconstruction of Stone Age instruments.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this episode, Dr. Krishna Balasubramaniam (UC Davis) takes us through his research on behavioral ecology, human-wildlife interactions, primate health and disease and primate social evolution, studying both wild species living in urban and peri-urban settings, as well as captive monkeys.
What is behavioral ecology and why are behavioral ecological questions interesting to consider for biological anthropologists? What are the ecological and anthropogenic factors that may influence group-living and social network structures in animals like macaques? How could aspects of group living and relatedness between individuals predict whether macaques share infectious pathogens and gut microbes inside them? How do primatologists collect and analyze this data, to understand the relationships between sociality and disease risk?
We also consider the human-wildlife interfacts so common in the urban and peri-urban environments of Malaysia and India. In these overlaps and interactions between humans and rhesus macaques, long-tailed macaques and bonnet macaques, how have Krishna assessed the impact of human attitudes, beliefs and experiences towards animal conservation and policy-making? What are the main challenges in Krishna's work, studying macaques both in captivity and in urban settings? Where is Krishna hoping to take his research going forward?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Krishna can be found on Twitter and his website if you have any questions or feedback.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Cara Ocobock (University of Notre Dame) talks to us about her investigations in human biology, anatomy, physiology, evolution, energetics and environmental adaptation. One the main projects she is involved in assesses cold adaptations among reindeer herders in Finland.
What are the daily and seasonal activities of reindeer herders living around the Arctic Circle in the north of Finland? How does Cara collect ethnographic and biological data that will give clues as to how these indigenous communities are adapted to the cold behaviorally and physiologically? What is brown adipose tissue, and how does this type of fat help cold populations live in such extreme conditions? How might Cara's insights be expanded to study global climate change's effects on human populations living in these high-latitude locales?
Besides her work with the reindeer herding cooperatives, Cara also shares some of her thoughts on how COVID-19 is affecting her research community and new research she would like to do studying the physical and emotional impacts of the current pandemic on athletes and weightlifters. Together with Dr. Christopher Lynn (he guested on Episode 54), Cara is also the co-host of Sausage of Science, another fantastic interview-based podcast about human biology and evolution. You can find Cara's and Chris' podcast, The Sausage of Science, on iTunes, Stitcher or the Human Biology Association webpage.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Cara, you can find her on Twitter and on her website.
She has a new American Anthropologist paper that just came out over the weekend entitled, "Human energy expenditure in anthropology and beyond" - you can read Cara's thoughts on the paper in her latest blog post.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
To close out the week, Carmen Lucia Cano Roca (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) is on the show to share her work in food science, food safety and Salmonella microbiology. Which multiple disciplines does food science draw from? For her PhD research, how does Carmen study how risks of Salmonella infection can be better controlled?
How did Carmen take what she learned in her earlier life and education in Guatemala, and choose food microbiology as her chosen scientific discipline? What are the different physical, chemical and microbial hazards food scientists are concerned with? Where are the different moments microbe infection is particularly risky during different stages of food production, food distribution and food consumption? How are some commensal bacteria 'good' for our bodies, and actually help keep bad bacteria out of our systems?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Carmen, you can find her on Twitter or LinkedIn.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Jayson Maurice Porter (Northwestern University) talks about Mexican ecological history, the tropical histories of medicine, technology and agriculture, Black and Latinx geographies, and how social and political manifestations of violence are intertwined with relationships between people and environment.
What early life experiences gave Jayson his first exposure to different environments food systems, cultures, and ideas about politics, race and class? How does Jayson work with his colleagues to design curriculum that provides students with an awareness of the racial, social and political instruments that mediate how medicine is practiced and food is grown and distributed? By looking at the history of pesticide use, such as the use of arsenic-based herbicides, how can we better understand how the military, public health and agricultural are all intwined in the Mexican states of Guerrero and Sinaloa between 1920–1980?
More broadly speaking, what are the connections between Mexican and American agricultural systems and political developments over the last century? By studying Mexican biodiversity, how does Jayson see the country's food production and environment as a major influence on the culinary world globally? What connections does Jayson draw between his work on impunity, police budgets, resource distribution, a history of violence in Mexico, and what we're seeing this week as the Black Lives Matter calls for justice are happening?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Check out Jayson's other interview on the Historias podcast, in which he talks about the Green Revolution in Mexico. On Discurso Revista, you can also find Jayson's piece on arsenic use in Mexico and the United States.
If you want to get in touch with Jayson to share questions or thoughts, you can find him on Twitter or his personal website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Orisanmi Burton (American University) calls in from Washington, D.C. to share his view on the Black Lives Matter movement this week, speaking as a social anthropologist who examines state repression, grassroots organization and the Black radical demands generated within U.S. prisons that imagine alternative futures.
What important ideas did Ori learn from prominent thinkers on prison reform and abolition such as organizer and educator, Miriame Kaba, prison reform visionary, Eddie Ellis, and Black Marxist professor, Cedric Robinson? How important is language use in academic discourse and popular media in defining what white supremacy, state repression and police violence actually entail and how can overgeneralizations miss important aspects of historical context or axes of analysis? Why is racism a 'malleable' concept that does not only denote white-on-black violence and oppression? According to Ori, who (or what purpose) do prisons serve?
In addition, what drives huge collectives of protestors to take part in these movements? What might reformed social systems or new world orders look like and do anthropologists or academics have a role to play in imagining them? As a father, how does intergenerational oral history factor into the way Ori frames his research?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Give support to the Justice For Breonna Taylor fund, learn from Miriame Kaba on her website and this podcast episode of How to Survive The End of the World, and consider giving to Project Nia, which aims to end the incarceration of minors and young adults.
You can find Ori on his university webpage or Twitter profile if you have questions for him.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Imani Strong-Tucker (Griffin & Strong, P.C.; London School of Economics' International Inequalities Institute) is Operations Manager for a team conducting disparity studies and demographic and anecdotal data analyses. We talk about the Black Lives Matter movement, affirmative action policy in the U.S. and the various ways systemic racism keep Black folks from being safe or having equal opportunity.
How does Imani manage the operations with her firm, collecting data as part of disparity studies? What are the primary bits of information on demography and experience Imani collates in order to prepare pertinent evidence of discrimination for a court of law? For her PhD research, what questions did Imani start asking about why courts make certain decisions, how people change their engagement with capitalism to fit audit requirements, and how entrepreneurs engage with their identities?
Also, what can we say anthropologically about the current Black Lives Matter protests happening in the U.S. and increasingly in the U.K.? Why might affirmative action not be the answer to capitalism, the election system, or the education system, and simply be a way to increase diversity within a system that fundamentally cannot sustain diversity? What needs to be dismantled for a more equitable and just world?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Please consider offering a donation or support via the Black Lives Matter UK Fund and the Atlanta Solidarity Fund.
If you want to get in touch with Imani to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on LinkedIn or her GSPC webpage.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In her work, Kyle Marian Viterbo (Science Friday; The Symposium: Academic StandUp) works and runs events mainly centered around science comedy, science writing and social media communication, racial and social justice advocacy, striving to decolonize the way science is performs, and supporting academics in their studies and research.
How did Kyle move from a primarily anthropological and archaeological education into working in the world of science comedy and communication? What is life like as a New York-based comedian and what is unique about existing in this space as a Filipina comedian in the U.S. right now?
Also, what has Kyle learned and shared with other comedians regarding experiences, lessons and backgrounds on the scene? In what ways must we all think more intersectionally in how we think and interact day-to-day to strive for social justice and equality for members of various groups who face discrimination and hate today?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Please consider checking out the Black Visions Collective, a Black, trans and queer-led organization that is committed to dismantling systems of oppression and violence, and shifting the public narrative to creative transformative, long-term change. Also support Unicorn Riot, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to exposing root causes of dynamic social and environmental issues, and brainstorming solutions to those.
For footage of the Asians Strike Back: A Coronavirus Comedy & Science Show, look on YouTube at the NowThis News and South China Morning Post.
You can follow Kyle on Twitter and Instagram.
You can find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, we have Bill Auchter (Archaeothoughts; ArchaeoRPG) to talk about his career journey from bank teller to cultural resources manager, then from telecommunications archaeologist to archaeogamer.
What is the history of Maryland, where Bill is based? How was he inspired by the Smithsonian museums closeby in Washington, D.C.? Why did Bill pivot from working in banking to undertaking an undergraduate course in archaeology, and what strengths did working in banking give him during his studies? What is involved in the day-to-day work of cultural resource management (CRM), and what are some of Bill's favorite memories of working in CRM?
Why did Bill stop working in commercial archaeology fieldwork recently and what projects in virtual archaeology has been up to most recently? What is archaeogaming, and how can children, students and adults learn archaeology through the world of computer games, board games and massive multiplayer online roleplaying games? What themes or topics are archaeologists exploring in games currently?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Bill, you can get in contact with him on Twitter, Reddit, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitch.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Anna Ploszajski ('rial Talk; Handmade) is on the show to talk about her recent work so far in materials science, academia, science podcasting, science comedy and popular science book writing.
What do materials scientists research, and what can we understand about different materials' properties by looking at their atomic structures? In human history, how have certain materials like iron and steel become such important materials for humans to manipulate and innovate with? What are smart materials (or intelligent or responsive materials) and how do are these materials designed to respond in a controlled fashion to external influences?
In addition, how has Anna used multiple forms of outreach and media to share materials science with wider audiences? What was the main inspiration behind starting a podcast focused around materails, 'rial Talk? What can interested listeners look forward to in Anna's first popular science book, Handmade, coming out soon? What is Anna's best advice for any scientists/science communicators who might want to try science comedy?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Anna, you can find her on Twitter and read more about her communication and scientific work on her website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Jianne Soriano (Youth4IG, Cinema Escapist, Hong Konger Project) is on the show to talk all about her work so far on youth and internet governance, as well as promoting ethnic minority rights and stories in Hong Kong.
A journalism graduate of Hong Kong's Baptist University, Jianne now writes, collaborates and creates online content for the causes she cares about: internet governance, empowerment for young people in advocacy and society, and awareness of the ethnic minority experience in Hong Kong.
First, why are youth an important group to include in discussions surrounding issues such as data privacy or social media use? What do cross-cultural perspectives contribute to conversations about topics like internet connectivity or online engagement by and between young people in different national and regional contexts? How do Jianne and her peers submit comments on how working groups and stakeholders may better tackle internet governance in policy-making processes, and what are the main challenges in doing this work?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Jianne, you can find her on Twitter.
Youth4IG is a grassroots community working in Asia-Pacific and collaborating on internet governance issues, and enhancing youth awareness and community engagement through mentorship program activities.
You can also check out Hong Konger Project, where Jianne will be sharing different Hongkonger stories and experiences. For Jianne's reviews of Asian cinema and TV, check out her work at Cinema Escapist.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Gaby Lapera (Credit Karma) is on the show to talk about her exciting new podcast called the AnthroBiology Podcast, and how she was inspired to merge her earlier education in anthropology with her experiences working in online content creation and editing to start this science communication production.
Gaby graduated with an MA in Anthropology before moving into freelance writing, social media management, editing articles about technology and consumer goods, and podcasting about the world of finance. Earlier this year, she started the AnthroBiology Podcast, for which she interviews experts working in human evolution, primatology, museum curation and other subdisciplines to give her listeners a glimpse into the day-to-day jobs of biological anthropologists actively working today.
What steps were required in order to start her podcast from scratch? How does Gaby prepare to interview experts about biological anthropology, and does Michael prepare The Arch and Anth Podcast in a similar way? What are some of the common themes regarding the history of science and research ethics that get brought up in her interviews so far with a variety of guests? Where can people find the AnthroBiology Podcast if they want to listen to the show?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to ask any questions, The AnthroBiology Podcast can be found on Instagram, Twitter and the podcast website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Akin Ogundiran (UNC Charlotte) talks to us about the archaeology of social complexity and cultural history in the Yoruba world, the heritage sector in Nigeria, and his collaborative projects on the archaeology of Atlantic Africa and the African Diaspora.
What transdisciplinary approaches and theories does Akin incorporate in his thirty years of investigating how societies are born, especially in terms of their people, their ideas and their social organization? What unique contributions do paleoenvironmental studies, oral history, ethnography, archaeology and historical linguistics each give to our anthropological understandings of Yoruba? When do we have the first evidence of settlements along the Niger River, and how should the different episodes of Yoruba cultural history following this be split up chronologically according to Akin? What happened around 1,000–1,800 CE that led to the Oyo Empire's success and downfall, and what was the relationship between the empire's metropolitan area (Oyo-Ile) and one of its colonies (Ede-Ile)?
On this episode, we also discuss what Akin wants to communicate about Africa and African cultural history not just to other academics, but members of the general public. What about Africa's role in human history and cultural evolution may poeple not know enough about?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Akin, find him on Twitter, his department website and Academia.edu.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On today's episode, Dr. Stephen Maclean (University of Edinburgh) is on the podcast to talk about his experiences of transitioning from an anatomy student to an anatomy researcher to now an anatomy lecturer, co-ordinating classes on general anatomy, human osteology and the musculoskeletal system.
How is anatomy typically taught through lectures and dissections, so that students learn the structure and function of the different body parts? What practical exercises are involved in order to train future doctors and forensic practitioners in the ways of skeletal identification? How have bones been named by anatomists in the past and how has Stephen been sharing this interesting etymological history in the field of anatomy on Twitter lately?
We also talk about Stephen's recently-completed PhD research on skeletal growth in the pelvis, specifically looking at the part of the pelvis known as the ischium forming the back and lower part of the overall hip bone. By understanding how the pelvis develops, particularly in relation to the hip joints where the pelvis meets the legs, what forensic or medical implications may there be following such research?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Stephen can be found on Twitter if anyone has questions for him.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help support the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or visit the Patreon page for details on how to give a little each month to this public anthropology and archaeology project!
Dr. Anna Goldfield (SAPIENS, The Dirt Podcast, Cosumnes River College, UC Davis) is an anthropology lecturer, zooarchaeologist, podcaster, popular science writer, enthusiast of all things human and science communicator.
On this episode, we talk about her foray so far into the world of archaeology, anthropology and online communications. Anna received her PhD from Boston University, looking at ancient animal bones and what they indicate about the diets of Neanderthals and Upper Palaeolithic modern humans. We spend some time also discussing the meaning behind our work as anthropologists, what it feels like to consider the large questions of what makes us human and how we came to be (in other words, What Does It All Mean™???)
Additionally, Anna and co-host Amber Zambelli have recorded an archaeology and anthropology podcast of their own over the past two years. Anna has also illustrated in various media, and written a number of articles for the public anthropology magazine, SAPIENS. What motivates Anna to do all of this outreach? How did she and her good friend Amber decide to create The Dirt, and how do they approach choosing what topics to cover?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Anna can be found on Twitter, and her articles for SAPIENS can be found here.
The Dirt can be found on the podcast website, their online merch store and shirt store, and Patreon, as well as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Spotify, SoundCloud, Stitcher and iTunes.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help support the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or visit the Patreon page for details on how to give a little each month to this public anthropology and archaeology project!
In this episode, Pooja Swali (The Francis Crick Institute) takes us through her research using metagenomics techniques and approaches to study ancient pathogens, with an eye towards helping to measure and control infectious disease spread.
At what point did Pooja first fall in love with archaeology, genetics and anthropology, and what was her path towards pursuing her PhD? What is metagenomics and how can we track changes in pathogen genomes through time using metagenomic methods? How do diseases like tuberculosis, leprosy and treponemal disease show up on archaeological or historical skeletons? How do genomicists sample from them to get genetic information? How easy is it to learn how to code in genomics research?
We also talk about routine and PhD life during the COVID19 pandemic. And finally, Pooja also offers her thoughts on communicating genetics and genomics information to members of other disciplines (such as archaeologists), and her experiences in public communication sharing scientific knowledge with wider audiences.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You may find Pooja on Twitter or her Crick Institute page if you have any questions or feedback.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this episode, Alexandra Kralick (University of Pennsylvania) talks to us about her research looking at great ape skeletal growth and development, ideas about sex differences in humans and other primates, and the biological anthropology science communication work she does online.
What are the main differences between skeletons of the various great ape species (e.g., gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans)? What do we not yet know about the skeletal variation among the Hominidae taxon, and what role may mating systems and ape social grouping play in determining overall skeletal shape and size? What about when it comes to sex differences - is there anything we can learn from studies of primate hormonal levels? How does studying sex differences in orangutan skeletons inform upon our ideas about biological sex even in humans, and why shouldn't biological sex be viewed in a binary manner?
In celebration of the podcast's one-year anniversary, Michael also plays a fun bone-themed facts game with Alexandra. We also talk about the importance of science communication, and what else Alexandra has been doing online to share interesting knowledge with public audiences.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Alex or want to follow her outreach online, you can find her on Twitter, as well as on TikTok @bioanthfunfacts. Her article in SAPIENS is excellent as well, entitled, "What Our Skeletons Say ABout the Sex Binary".
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this edition of the podcast, Sgt. Nathan Tilton (University of California, Berkeley) is on the show to speak about his undergraduate course in anthropology, his work in disability research, and his ethnographic studies of military veteran experiences.
Nate is a Lab Manager at the UC Berkeley Disability Lab, a makerspace where disability research and human-centered design are key focus areas of work. In what ways can universal design for disabled users and publics be limited, and why is the UC Berkeley Disability Lab focusing on the idea of improving flexibility of utilities, spaces or buildings instead? What examples of designed spaces are there that highlight the importance of directly speaking to disabled folks concerning individual needs?
We also talk about Nate's experience as a military veteran, how anthropology has helped him see research potential in a wide range of topics currently and going into the future, and how being in key military positions have provided perspectives that are helpful in adopting an emic approach in ethnographic work (i.e., allowing Nate to have an 'insider's' perspective when working with other vets). Central to his work is adopting a social theory of disability approach in looking at veteran health and wellbeing, while also incorporating Marxist theory, concepts about bare life, feminist theory, and a critical examination of gender roles and family relationships.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Nate, you can find him on Twitter. More information about the Berkeley Disability Lab can be found at their website as well.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Christina Cheung (Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle) is on the show to talk all about stable isotope analyses and reconstructing what subsistence strategies ancient people were using in prehistoric China, especially around the time of the Shang Dynasty (13th to 11th century BCE).
Why is the site of Yin Xu, the capital of Shang Dynasty, so important in studies of historical China? What is the story behind the 'oracle bones' and the remains of human sacrificial victims found at this site? By sampling human and animal bone collagen to investigate stable isotope patterns, what have Chris and her colleagues discovered about who these sacrificial victims were? In order to use these biomolecular methods to understand past foodways and social dynamics, what samples are needed from a human skeleton and how does sampling from different bones influence what we know about a deceased individual's diet?
Also, what was Chris's journey into working in these areas of archaeological science? How does the site of Yin Xu, and the palaeodiets of Shang Dynasty residents and immigrants, fit into broader narratives concerning pastoralist and agricultural lifestyles throughout time and geography in China? How can this research be relevant to understanding the impacts of sudden climate change on food consumption patterns in the future?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Chris, she is contactable via Twitter.
You can also read her two SAPIENS articles, one on the oracles bones and sacrifical victims of Yin Xu, and the other on the transition from millet-farming to wheat reliance in ancient China. All of Chris's research is available on ResearchGate and Google Scholar.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Robert O'Malley (American Association for the Advancement of Science, or AAAS) introduces us to his work as Project Director for the AAAS's Dialogue on Science, Ethics, and Religion program (DoSER). How can scientific research and findings be communicated to diverse audiences, including leaders and members of faith communities?
Rob began his work as a scientist in evolutionary biology, behavioral primatology and biological anthropology. Since joining AAAS, he and his colleagues have facilitated conversations and collaborations between religious and scientific communities. At panels, talks, sessions, and discussions taking place in various places of worship, they have been able to help ensure scientific knowledge and research are well-represented when diverse publics hold conversations about science, technology, current issues and society.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Rob, you can find him on Twitter. DoSER, which Rob is Project Director for, specifically can be found on Twitter and on their website. The AAAS has a website you may check out too.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode of the Arch and Anth Podcast, Chanelle Zaphiropoulos (University of Malta) talks about her work in maritime archaeology, scuba diving to the seabed to observe and take measurements concerning the marine environment around historical watercrafts.
What sorts of physical training can help divers control their breath, muscle strength and swimming proficiency in the water? What are the advantages for maritime archaeologists to have diving experience, allowing them to study maritime archaeology directly as opposed to waiting on the shore/boat for professional divers to collect data indirectly? How does Chanelle merge ecological ideas with archaeological ones, and what benefits does this combination provide when we think about conservation and preservation in either field?
We also talk about working as an archaeologist in Canada, where Chanelle is currently, and the beautiful, multicultural environment and study opportunities for aspiring maritime archaeologists provided in Malta. We talk about the problem of underwater looting of artifacts found in the Mediterranean and the ethics surrounding how the living engage with the remains of historical peoples. Finally, Chanelle talks about some of the challenges she's faced in the field as one of only a few scholars who intersects maritime archaeology with ecology.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions, you can find Chanelle on Twitter and Instagram.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this episode, Dr. Sabah Ul-Hasan (Scripps Research) takes us through their work in bioinformatics, venom microbiology and data science and education.
How does Sabah see bioinformatics research influencing and benefiting our daily life and how the natural or human world operates around us? What are examples of evolutionary, ecological and biological questions we can answer through a big data approach and analysis? What was their first experience in computational biology, and how did they get started looking at the Californian cone snail morphologically and the microbes in the venom glands of these gastropods?
We also talk about the coronavirus pandemic and how crucial it is that Scripps and other research institutions work on improving data literacy. This is to fight misinformation and to give public audiences the tools they need to understand what data mean and do not indicate, which, in these times, is so important.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Sabah can be found on Twitter if you have any questions or feedback.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, An-Di Yim (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) talks to us about his PhD research looking into the various environmental and genetic factors that contribute to skeletal growth and skeletal form before human adulthood.
What is the 'population genetics' approach and how can anthropologists use it to quantify the degrees to which various evolutionary influences affect skeletal growth? Why do some children and teenagers have shorter or longer limbs than others across the world, and do juvenile skeletons globally exhibit these trends right from birth? How does An-Di combine data from forensic samples, genome databases, and archaeological material from different world populations, in his analyses?
We also talk about teaching biological anthropology, as well An-Di's previous work interning and going out into the field practicing forensic anthropology in real-world situations. Being both from East Asia, Michael shares his impressions of biological anthropology in Hong Kong, while An-Di talks about Taiwanese anthropology, both with an eye of improving the representation of East and Southeast Asian sketal samples in future anthropological work.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for An-Di, you can find him on Twitter and on his website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Amanda Wissler (Arizona State University) talks about her PhD research investigating frailty and resilience among human skeletons dated to 1918 and associated with the Spanish Influenza pandemic.
What are the basic definitions of 'frailty' and 'resilience' in the fields of palaeopathology and bioarchaeology? What signs of non-specific stress can we identify from the teeth and bones belonging to historical victims of Spanish Flu, tuberculosis, pnuemonia and other ailments? What inspired Amanda to become a bioarchaeologist and how did she prepare to do this research in the early stages?
In addition, are there parallels or noticeable differences between the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic and the current COVID-19 situation Amanda has found? How is she adapting or coping with the present circumstances while in Cleveland for a data collection trip that is being affected by the pandemic right now? How important is it to have engaging and educational information about biology and anthropology, either to keep folks informed about history and science, or help students and audiences live through these times?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Amanda, you can find her on Twitter and her website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Dr. Earvin Cabalquinto (Deakin University) talks about communications between Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in Melbourne and their family members in the Philippines, and research themes that surround these communications such as the uses of digital networks and social media, the dynamics of familial and social connections, and lived experiences of mobility and migration.
What aspects of communication between geographically separated Filipino family members can be understood as being part of maintaining connection, and what other aspects can be understood as a form of surveillance? What are the different tactics deploted by dispersed family members to experience, share and comment upon their relatives' lives at a distance? How much of our lives online can be viewed as creative personalizations and curated narrative-building, and can we learn about this through studying the videos of Filipino YouTubers?
Both Earvin and Michael also share their own experiences of moving abroad for study and work, talking about the ways they keep in touch with their families, and also how they navigate the challenging aspect of academic life that requires juggling of many various projects and forms of work.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Earvin to share questions or thoughts, you can find him on Twitter or his personal website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Megan Kleeschulte (University of Tennessee Knoxville) talks to us about her recent work studying the awareness and implication of NAGPRA laws among medical examiners and coroners (ME/C) working across the United States.
The Native American Graves Protection And Repatriation Act (NAGPRA), passed in 1990, established rules governing the handling and return of Indigenous human remains and associated funerary objects owned or possessed by them. For a Master's project, Megan interviewed and surveyed ME/C officers to discover the level to which they were aware of NAGPRA legislation and what resources or information they needed to carry out proper procedures.How are practitioners, academics, medical examiners and coroners working right now towards adaptable and inclusive communications and procedures for analysis and repatriation of human remains?
How do we include Native tribes in this process, and how do we learn from the past when NAGPRA was first passed? How do we make sure Native tribes are included and heard from at every step of this process as we're working on how to implement these laws within the medical-legal system? How does Megan want to contribute to better collaborations and consultations between Native tribes and ME/C offices for her current PhD work?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Megan on her student page if you have questions for her.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Historical, industrial and maritime archaeologist Anton Larsson (Stockholm University) is on the podcast today. He shares details about his PhD research looking at the impacts on archaeology and local community of landslides in western Sweden between 1,000–1,900 CE.
How often and to what extent have landslide events affected Swedish communities in recent centuries? What archival data does Anton access to investigate these effects, and what are the challenges with doing archival-historical research? How does he hope his upcoming findings will inform our understandings of human/societal resilience and the landslide risks of contemporary society? How do natural disasters influence the spatial distribution of archaeological materials and sites as well?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Anton to share questions or thoughts, you can find him on Twitter or his university page.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In her research, Professor Erin Thompson (John Jay College, CUNY) focuses on the legalities and ethics of art theft, curation and repatriations of heritage objects, antiquarian and archaeological foragies, the destruction of archaeological sites, and digital reproductions of cultural heritage sites.
How common is the problem of art crime, and what forms may these crimes take? What circumstances need to align in order for there to be a successful legal prosecution relating to the committing of art forgery, theft or destruction? How do issues of cultural object ownership or destruction (as a strategy in war) get further complicated in transnational cases? What would the results be if states or bodies of individuals do get held to account in a criminal court?
We also talk about what first motivated Erin to pursue this line of work, and her experience of studying antiquities, art and law in a unique career trajectory to get to the point she is at now. In Erin's journey to professorship, when and how did she realize that there was a 'myth of neutrality' in the field of classical archaeology?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Erin on Twitter or her website if you have any feedback or questions.
You can find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, we have Dr. Ozak Esu (BRE Centre for Smart Homes and Buildings) to talk about electronic and electrical engineering. While also having done research on wind turbine blades for her PhD, she has also organized and collaborated in the design of electrical infrastructure and smart buildings since 2014.
Ozak was motivated to pursue science, especially in the electricity and energy sectors, since growing up in Calabar (the capital of Cross River State in Nigeria). We talk about her experiences of moving to the UK for her Bachelor's degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering, then pursuing her PhD while also working as a graduate engineer full-time. As a Black African woman in STEM, it has also always been important to Ozak and organizations like the Visiola Foundation to advocate for better STEM education for African female students, and improve aspects of diversity, equality and inclusion in science and engineering overall.
What is the experience like for someone who goes from a research environment to working in an industry like construction? What are some examples of government regulation or building design that members of the public may not be aware of? How has technology progressed in recent years, and what are Ozak and her team working on, to ensure smart homes and buildings are livable by tenants and as environmentally sustainable as possible?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Ozak, you can get in contact with her on LinkedIn or Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Professor Ripan Malhi (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) is on the show to talk about his career so far as a geneticist, genomicist and biological anthropologist, in particular working in the field of paleogenomics closely with Indigenous leaders, communities and research participants.
How have the fields of human genetics and genomics advanced technologically in the last 10–15 years? What was Ripan's experience of studying questions through mtDNA haplogroup analyses, and embracing newer techniques involving next-generation sequencing after completing his PhD? What has his recent studies with collaborators and students been able to reveal about the population history of Indigenous peoples of the Pacific northwest coast?
Ripan also discusses how much of his recent research has been performed in consultation and collaboration with team members who are a part of the Metlakatla community. When questions are asked and studies designed within a First Nations framework, researchers have been able to provide Indigenous representatives with information about ancestral history, diets and foodways in the past, and the consequences of European colonization on ancient individuals' health.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Ripan, you can find him on Twitter and get in contact through his e-mail on his departmental website.
The Summer internship for INdigenous peoples in Genomics (SING) Consortium has a website you can check out to learn more. For additional information on the Increasing Diversity in Evolutionary Anthropological Science (IDEAS) program, you can visit the American Association of Physical Anthropology (AAPA) pages.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Jordan Abell (Lamonet–Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University) talks about his current PhD research and collective body of work in geology, archaeology and paleoclimatology.
One component of Jordan's recent scientific work is using geochemical methods to explain when animal domestication may have began as a practice among ancient people such as those residing at Aşıklı Höyük roughly 10,000 years ago. How is it that Jordan and his team were able to quantify and identify the various urine salts hidden in these archaeological layers? How did he and his researchers combine the discovery of these salts with archaeozoological evidence and studies of baseline salt levels in the environment to tell a cohesive narrative about what happened at this site during the Neolithic?
What other geological and atmospheric science work is Jordan doing to understand air, land and water interactions in the past? What has the experience been for him engaging with and combining all of these different scientific approaches to answer interesting questions about past landscapes?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Jordan, you can find him on Twitter and read more information about his work on his website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Dr. Justin Dunnavant (Vanderbilt University) is on the show to talk about his research on African diaspora archaeology, and his work with various organizations and initiatives that involve training up students in maritime archaeology, sharing historical knowledge with wider publics, and fostering relationships with communities.
St. Croix is an island and district of the U.S. Virgin Islands, formerly colonized by the Spanish, the Dutch, the British and the Danish. What are key questions that Justin and his teams ask about the history of slavery on the island? How do archaeologists study material culture and scuba-dive to understand the ecological impacts of slavery in the past and what life was like for the enslaved population on St. Croix? How have field schools and organizations like Diving with a Purpose been able to host new students and community members in engaging with archaeology?
Justin is also the Founding President of the Society of Black Archaeologists, has collaborated with numerous cultural heritage and tourism agencies, and works on the Slave Wrecks Project at the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. How does Justin manage these projects and initiatives alongside his research? Why is it important to Justin to engage in outreach, environmental causes and local heritage work? How are archaeologists working on improving capacity for junior archaeologists and promoting more people of African descent in our field?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to let us know you've listened to the episode, find Justin on Twitter, Instagram or his website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Pierre Losson (The City University of New York) is on the podcast to speak about cultural heritage, restitution, nationalism and cultural policy, UNESCO and Indigenous communities.
Some of Pierre's latest work looks at the reasons why three Latin American states (specifically Colombia, Mexico, and Peru) claim the return of cultural heritage objects from holding institutions in the North Atlantic, such as museums and universities. What does the literature of the past focus on, in terms of returns and restitutions, and how does Pierre see previous arguments possibly being elaborated upon?
Furthermore, Pierre helps us understand the history of return claims and how they tie into international agreements and national histories. What motivates various actors and stakeholders (experts, the state, Indigenous communities, holding institutions) to form and resolve return claims or not? How does this research in political science help us understand some current claims that are made over heritage objects today and which we may have seen in recent news?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Pierre, he is on Twitter and more information on his work can be found on ResearchGate and Academia.edu.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On today's episode, Dr. Catherine Frieman (Australian National University) is on the show to talk about archaeological theory, gender identity and the role of women in prehistory, and the current state of public engagement in archaeogenetics and archaeology.
With reference to the 'Egtved' individual, dating to the Nordic Bronze Age (c. 1390–1370 BCE), Cate helps us understand the history of archaeological thought surrounding the role of women in European prehistory. Not so long ago, a binary approach to interpreting sex and gender in the past sees women as passive in Bronze Age social economies. Her work and those of her colleagues challenge the field now to reintepret whether there is evidence that supports an assumption of heteronormativity, a lack of agency on the part of women, and whether drawing links between gender and idenity, status and economic roles are all that simple and unnuanced.
We also talk about aDNA analyses, and the loadedness of certain terms and ideas about the past genetic researchers have presented in recent decades. When it comes to migration narratives, or interpretations that speak about group belonging or unbelonging, Cate argues that it is important for archaeological scientists to take care in their communications. How can we ensure are not misinterpreted or misappropriated by racist and far-right readers of archaeogenetic studies?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Cate is on Twitter if anyone has questions for her!
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help support the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or visit the Patreon page for details on how to give a little each month to this public anthropology and archaeology project!
Kevin Bird (Michigan State University) is a genomicist and evolutionary biologist, and, in this episode, we talk about genetic variation in plants, ancient hominins and modern humans!
Kevin studies a genetic phenomenon in plants known as 'polyploidy', which is when some plants have extra copies of genomes in each cell. What are some examples of polyploidy in the animal and plant kingdoms? What happens when you have two subgenomes within a genome, and how does subgenome dominance manifest itself as traits in the plant species or cultivars we recognize today? How is this knowledge useful for the agricultural industry? How can scientists carry out genomic selection using markers to breed plants and produce varied options in the food sector?
We also discuss the Human Genome Project, and the legacies that research left, fuelling recent interest in genetics among funding agencies and members of the public. Where does Kevin think there's room for improvement in how genomicists communicate findings about human diversity? What processes today and in the history of genomic research lead to current public understandings about 'race'?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Kevin's website is on GitHub, his public blog posts are also on Arc Digital, and he himself can be contacted through Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help support the show, please leave us a review on iTunes or visit the Patreon page for details on how to give a little each month to this public anthropology and archaeology project!
In this episode, Dr. Catherine Ceniza Choy (University of California, Berkeley) talks to us about ethnic studies, Filipino identity and culture, the history of nurses working in America, and history of Asian adoption into the United States.
What themes and topics do researchers in ethnic studies departments investigate and interrogate? What work does Cathy explore in her two volumes, Empire of Care and Global Families? How has the history of U.S. colonialism produced the currently high presence of Filipino nurses and other Asian-American diaspora? What teaching experiences and political events happening today have influenced, or continue to influence, future research directions for those in this field?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You may find Cathy on Twitter or her university page.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this episode, Dr. Chris Stantis (University of Bournemouth) talks to us about her work using isotopic analyses to understand how people lived, moved and ate in the past. This is because stable isotope data can indicate for us clues about the environment surrounding ancient humans and what they were doing.
Currently, Chris is working on analyzing an Egyptian burial assemblage known as the Hyksos Dynasty who ruled c. 1638 –1530 BCE in the Second Intermediate Period. How can strontium and oxygen isotope ratios help us understand who was living at the site of Tell el-Dab’a and where they came from? How much tooth or bone is needed for isotopic analyses and how long does that process take? What are Chris' favorite aspects and biggest challenges of doing this scientific research and where are these investigations going next?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Chris, you can find her on Twitter or her university department page. You can also read up about one of her recent articles on The Conversation looking into breastfeeding practices in the Near East during the Bronze Age.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For this Friday edition of the podcast, Dr. Kara Hoover (University of Alaska Fairbanks) talks all about a wide range of topics: the evolution of our sense of smell, human resilience and adaptability, studies of urban geography and social welfare, surveillance and much, much more.
How important does she see olfaction for humans navigating different ecological contexts? What is the interaction between biological resilience and cultural resilience? What are the applications or greater implications for us living today, especially populations living in urban environments with anthropogenic smells and other forms of pollution?
We also discuss her latest co-authored book chapter entitled, 'The Unseen'. From the book, How to Run a City Like Amazon and Other Fables, this short science-fiction story is her colleague Jeremy Crampton's and her imagination of a not-too-distant future where data-sharing will be near-universal, inspired by recent news stories of data leaks at Cambridge Analytical.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Kara, you can find her on Twitter or her university department page. She has a website, The Smell of Evolution, where she blogs as well.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Luíseach Nic Eoin (Nature Ecology & Evolution) shares with us her work as Senior Editor for a renowned scientific journal. We discuss what editorial work involves and how she works with scholars to release new findings to the greater scientific community.
With a background in studying ancient plants and stone tool use in the past, how did Luíseach join the world of journal editorship after attaining her DPhil? What are the main challenges of the job and how does she see scientific editing will change in the coming years? What makes a submitted paper a good paper in the eyes of journal article editors?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Luíseach, she is contactable via Twitter. You can check out the latest research in Nature Ecology & Evolution through their journal website and follow them on Twitter or Facebook as well for updates. The article we mention on the episode about one-billion-year-old multicellular algae was published early last week and can be found here.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. João Carlos Moreno de Sousa (Laboratory of Human Evolutionary Studies, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo) takes us through his work in Paleoindian archaeology, prehistoric Brazilian stone tool analyses and science communication.
Hunter-gatherer sites excavated by archaeologists have long been considered to contain either the Itaparica or Umbu traditions of stone tools. This depended on where in Brazil theses sites were located and if their assemblages contained either 'projectile points' or lesmas (a lesma is a slug-shaped unifacial tool with one pointed tip and biconvex edges. A closer look at these Paleoindian lithic industries by JuCa and his collaborators has revealed that: (a) these traditional categories of stone tool actually subsumed a greater diversity of lithics than what was known, and (b) there were some industries yet that had yet to be classified under earlier simpler models.
We also speak about his thoughts on archaeology outreach in Brazil, and especially as a response to recent political events and cuts in governmental funding for archaeological research and science.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for JuCa, you can find him on Twitter and Instagram. You can also check out his YouTube channel Arqueologia em Ação and the website Arqueologia e Pré-Historia.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode of the Arch and Anth Podcast, Dr. Felicia Fricke (University of Kent; University of Leiden) talks about her work looking at the history of slavery in the Dutch Caribbean and integrating approaches from archaeology, osteology and oral histories.
Her research focuses on the lifeways of enslaved people on the Dutch Caribbean islands of Curacao, St Eustatius, and St Maarten/St Martin. How are findings from burial goods and material culture informed by interviews with community members on the island today? What are anthropologists missing from the research by not performing qualitative study together with quantitative study?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions, you can find Felicia's contact information and followe her work on ResearchGate and Academia.edu.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For a very special hundredth episode, the host of the Arch and Anth Podcast, Dr. Michael B. C. Rivera, is interviewed himself by the first guest he had on the podcast, Dr. Sarah-Louise Decrausaz (University of Victoria; link to Sarah-Louise's episode here).
Michael is a biological anthropologist, specializing in the study of human remains for understanding life in the prehistoric past. On this episode, Michael talks about the work involved in planning research in these areas and what first inspired him to pursue bioarchaeology.
We also talk about some of the problems with underrepresentation, a lack of diversity and problematic behavior in the discipline, and how those in the field may be able to help themselves and others who face such challenges. Michael explains what his motivations were for starting this podcast too, and what he hopes could happen with this public archaeology and anthropology project in 2020.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram, and read more about his background on his About page.
Sarah-Louise can be found on Twitter and the YouTube channel 'Humans in 5', where she co-hosts an anthropology outreach show with episode 75's guest, Dr. Michelle Cameron.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Professor Dame Sue Black (Lancaster University) discusses her current role as Pro-Vice Chancellor for Engagement, and her previous work as Professor of Anatomy and Forensic Anthropology at the University of Dundee and in forensic anthropology working for British and international organizations.
When preparing evidence for a criminal court case or war crime investigation, what steps are required by the forensic anthropologist to present carefully recorded and analyzed details surrounding an event? When working in Kosovo, what combination of witness testimonies, circumstantial evidence and biological data is used to determine what happened to those who died during the recent conflict? How may looking at human variation in external hand morphology be a useful approach in solving unique cases of crime? What first inspired Sue to pursue this line of work, and how has she seen the field of forensic science develop in the last few years?
** CONTENT WARNING: In this episode, there is mention of ethnic-based conflict, gun violence, policework involving investigations of rape or child sexual abuse, and the detailed work involved in the recovery and analysis of human remains. If this content causes discomfort, it is advised to stop listening or skip this episode altogether. **
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Sue, you can find her on Twitter and on her Lancaster University webpage.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Derek Boyd (University of Tennessee, Knoxville) delves into a range of topics covering intersectional theory, forensic anthropology, bioarchaeology and palaeopathology (i.e., the study of archaeological health and disease).
What was happening socially and technologically in industrial-era England? How does Derek want to study historical health in this context through a combination of scientific methodologies and archival research? Why is the application of intersectional theory to studies of archaeological human remains becoming a more common approach? How may we understand the past better by considering the intersections of age, sex, race, class and geographical location when interpreting the data? What about Derek's other research in taphonomic facilities (or otherwise known as body farms), and does intersectional thinking play into his work as a forensic anthropologist too?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
To follow more of Derek's work or ask him any questions, you can find his information on his anthropology department's website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Dr. Liana Chua (Brunel University London) talks about the social anthropology of Malaysian Borneo, people in Sarawak who work with and around orangutans, and the tension between local Bidayuh interests (which do not typically include conserving orangutans) and the great concern with the 'plight of the orangutan' coming from 'the West'.
What is the history of land management on the ground and what have social anthropologists been able to show about contemporary challenges and changing community relationships with the land? Can interdisciplinary research that merges social anthropology and conservation work be the way forward, or are there considerations researchers need to consider when working within multiple frameworks?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Liana to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on Twitter, her Brunel University page and the Global Lives of the Orangutan website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Diana Moreiras (University of Western Ontario) talks to us about her work as a Mesoamerican archaeologist, isotopic chemist and bioarchaeologist.
How did Diana first get into archaeological science and performing research in Mesoamerican studies? What isotopic techniques does she use to study diet and movement of past people in ancient Mexico? Why were human sacrifices a significant part of ritual in Templo Mayor of Tenochtitlan and Templo R of Tlatelolco? Who were those sacrificed? What does Diana hope to study in the future?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Diana on Twitter if you have questions for her, or follow her on Instagram as well.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Maddi Harris (University of Melbourne; Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München) shares her PhD research on the Philistines of the Bronze and Iron Age in the southern Levant.
Who were the Philistines and what have been previous interpretations of their architecture, spatial living and culture? Are archaelogists ever able to generalize about why ancient human societies left certain remnants behind? What was Maddi's first excavation, what did she learn from her various experiences abroad, and what has Maddi seen as the major challenges being out on excavation? What are some ways archaeologists deal with the physically exhausting and emotionally impactful aspects of long trips away from home?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Maddi to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Andrew Skinner (University of Witswatersrand) talks to us on this episode about the interpretation of rock art in southern Africa using critical and interdisciplinary approaches.
In his research, Andrew concentrates on the analysis of rock art on the Cape Coast of South Africa by considering the historic and geographic context of the ethnography. Today, he speaks about the limitations of previous arguments describing rock art as simply being 'ritual' or merely being a documentation of prehistoric life. He aims to reframe our studies of the oral and historic record through interviews, work in genetics, linguistics and other areas of anthropology/archaeology, and greater inclusion of contemporary communities as partners in interpretation.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Andrew on Twitter if you have any feedback or questions.
You can find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
To welcome in the new year, we have Dr. Darcy Shapiro (PBS Eons) on the podcast to talk about her work managing science communication content all about paleontology, the study of fossil animals and plants.
What mammals roamed the Earth back in the Miocene, and do we see animals living then that resemble apes at all? What is the day-to-day work of a content manager for a science YouTube channel? How did Darcy transition from being a biological anthropologist in academia to becoming a full-time science communicator? What expertise, process and skills are required to work in writing and producing effective and educational videos?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
PBS Eons can be found on YouTube or the PBS website, and followed on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
If you have feedback or questions for Darcy, you can also get in contact with her on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Bettina Höchli (Department Consumer Behavior, University of Bern) talks about long-term and short-term goal pursuit and how people may make successful New Year's resolutions.
What are behavioral psychology and behavioral economics? How may consumer behavior research be useful to governments, companies, non-profit organizations and institutions working on climate advocacy? What factors, and how do different levels of abstraction, affect whether someone will achieve the goals they set in a sustainable and beneficial manner? What tips does Bettina have for all of us who might be thinking of goals to set for 2020 this week?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Bettina, you can find her on her departmental webpage, Google Scholar and ResearchGate.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Robyn Lacy speaks about her expertise and experiences in field archaeology and cultural resources management (or 'CRM').
Robyn has worked at a number of archaeological and cemetery sites doing heritage management, curation, restoration, recovery and reporting, including Woodland Cemetery and Brick Street Cemetery in Ontario. Her Master's research at Memorial University of Newfoundland examined the spatial distribution and stylistic variation of seventeenth-century burial spaces in coastal British North America.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Robyn, you can follow her work and get in contact via Twitter and her blog, Spade & Grave.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this festive episode, we hear from Bobby Alcid Rubio (Pixar) talking about working in animation, Filipino identity and his latest film short now on Disney+ entitled, 'Float'.
How did Bobby infuse aspects of his Filipino-American identity and relationship with his son in his storywriting for 'Float'? What hurdles did Bobby's team overcome to produce 'Float' in a mere six months and limited budget for Pixar's SparkShorts program? When did Bobby first realize the powerful storytelling capability of creating animated movies? How does Bobby spend Christmas with his loved ones, and what Filipino foods can be found on his family dining table?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to let us know you've listened to the episode, find Bobby on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On a very special Hanukkah episode, Rabbi Neil Amswych (Temple Beth Shalom, Santa Fe) talks about the beliefs and religious practices of Reform Judaism.
What is the story behind Hanukkah? What was Rabbi Neil's journey from studying astrophysics at university in the UK to working as a Rabbi in the US? What characterizes the approach Jewish communities take towards debates and discussions about current-day affairs and differences in views, backgrounds and levels of devotedness to observing ritual practices? How does Rabbi Neil think people can best learn more about the Jewish faith?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Rabbi Neil, more information on Temple Beth Shalom and his contact details can be found at their website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Ammie Kalan (Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology) talks about her research on chimpanzee acoustic communication, conservation and culture.
What drove Ammie to pursue animal research and conservation in the very beginning? How variable is chimpanzee communication? Is there also cultural variation Ammie has seen out in the field? How has technology advanced the science of primatological behavior studies? What anthropogenic challenges are facing great apes in the wild right now, and how does Ammie think people can help?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Ammie on Twitter and read more about the panAFRICAproject. She can also be contacted through the citizen science project called Chimp&See (you can also watch videos of the animals on there). Finally, she recommends people visit the Wild Chimpanzee Foundation website too, to found out more about how to support western African chimpanzee conservation.
Michael can be found on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Dr. Sofía Chacaltana-Cortez (Universidad Antonio Ruiz de Montoya) shares with the listeners her work on Andean archaeology, and imperial influences on pre-Hispanic and Hispanic communities of the past.
What were local communities doing outside Inca centers of power and how variable were ancient relationships between people and the environment around them? How do Sofía and her colleagues recognize the gender dynamics of ancient Andean societies more comprehensively? How old do Peru's water governance systems date back to and what sociopolitical factors played important roles in pre-Hispanic water distribution?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Sofía to share questions or thoughts, you can e-mail her or find her on Academia.edu.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Andrew Arsenault (Western University) talks about his research that analyzes 3D reconstructions of Egyptian mummies based on their CT scans in order to learn what influence social stratification had on the variability of mummification practices.
In ancient Egypt, mummification was a common practice—a well-known fact especially concerning the pharaohs and ruling classes. However, Andrew wants to study the non-elite individuals who had different resources they could access, but still engaged in mummification as well. We talk about how the radiological mummy database that's been uploaded in recent years has helped him compare CT data with information gathered from historical accounts. More broadly, we talk about how interesting social and biological questions can studied in the context of non-elite mummification variability.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Andrew to share questions or thoughts, you can e-mail him or contact him through Instagram.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Megan Lewis (Digital Hammurabi) talks about ancient Mesopotamia and the Sumerian and Akkadian cultures and languages that dominated some of the earliest written history of the Near East region.
Megan talks about her journey towards becoming both an Assyriologist and digital communicator of ancient history. We speak about cuneiform, the interesting script used at the time by imprinting thin lines and wedge-shaped marks on clay tablets using reed styluses. Megan's dissertation research concerns royal inscriptions in particular, and the record they've left behind of past events of importance such as the building and renovation projects of Mesopotamian kings.
In 2019, Megan and her husband Josh have concentrated on doing lots of online outreach about the ancient Near East with their multimedia project Digital Hammurabi.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Megan to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on Twitter and Instagram. More information on Digital Hammurabi can be found on their website and YouTube channel.
Megan and her husband Josh are also organizing the H.A.P.S. Scholarship, which you can read about and consider supporting on the scholarship information page as well.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
For today's Wednesday edition of the podcast, Mark Dolan (University of Southampton) talks all about the terracotta boat models built by ancient Cypriots.
What are the different forms these clay boat models appear in and are there similar items found in other archaeological contexts? Could they have been reflective of maritime culture at the time, are they funerary objects, or symbolic of something else? Is it even possible for material culture archaeologists to say something about why non-functional objects were made in the past?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Mark, you can find him on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Sivanesan Vijaya Mohan (Institute for Medical Research, Kuala Lumpur) talks about nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), otherwise known as 'nose cancer', and the methods he and his colleagues are using to come up with novel and non-invasive ways of detecting nose cancer in the earlier stages of cancer development.
While the sinuses, nasal cavity and throat are normally functioning in humans to allow air to enter the lungs, nose cancers are essentially abnormal growths that can obstruct breathing, and even affect brain function and eyesight if very severe. Most techniques to detect NPCs involve expensive equipment or intrusive techniques that may be uncomfortable for patients, so it is through a technique called 'nasal washing' that Siva tries to understand whether there are biomarkers that are traceable through cheaper, more accessible means.
We also talk about the public health and environmental situation in Malaysia, and what factors in Malaysian settings can increase the risk of nose cancer and negative effects of the related Epstein-Barr virus.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Siva, he is contactable via Twitter and Instagram.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Benedict Rodbourne (Forensics Connect) shares with us his work in forensic archaeology, search and recovery, and disasters victim identification (DVI).
How can forensic science be applied in, and useful for, police casework and human rights investigation? Who are the different experts that can make up a forensics team? What preparation does Ben make between receiving a notice of deployment and arriving on site? What is the logistical and emotional experience of doing this line of work, and how do forensic practitioners handle challenges of the job?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Ben, you can find him on Twitter. You can also read more about Forensics Connect on the company website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this installment of the Arch and Anth Podcast, Christopher Kendall (University of Toronto) speaks about human evolutionary genetics and what ancient DNA studies can reveal about past hybridization in people, extinct hominins and our closest primate family.
What does DNA sampling from human remains involve? What is 'hybridization' and why are baboons and mandrills interesting non-human primates to study when it comes to questions about genetic hybridization? When did people first enter the Americas, and what happened to human groups after this initial crossing of the Beringia region? What environmental and climatic conditions allow for the best preservation of prehistoric genetic material?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions, you can e-mail the podcast e-mail address and these will be forward to Chris.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Adam Van Arsdale (Wellesley College) gives us an overview of his duties as an Associate Professor and some of his paleoanthropoological research to date.
Adam has excavated and analyzed fossil material from the Lower Palaeolithic site of Dmanisi, Georgia. Here, we have some of the earliest fossil hominins outside of the African continent, daying to approximately 1.8 million years ago. Currently, Adam is also engaged in preliminary investigations of the steppic environment and previous demographic structure of hominin populations in South-Central Kazakhstan.
Adam is also a big advocate for integrative and interdisciplinary anthropology, as well as science communication. Increasingly, ancient DNA evidence, fossil finds and archaeological material are giving anthropologists a complex understanding of the human past and concepts such as ancestry, race and human evolution.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Adam, you can find him on Twitter and read his blog The Pleistocene Scene.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Matthew May (Oakland University) talks about his sociological research that focuses on how religion, health, work and family life intersect with each other.
How do sociologists and social scientists use survey data to give a better understanding of the role of religion in today's society? How does participation in, or doubts surrounding, organized religion influence people's wellbeing, sense of happiness or negative mental health outcomes? Does whether you practice religion affect how people feel concerning their gender roles in work and family life? Do current affairs and recent news inspire sociologists in their development of research questions?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Matt, you can find him on Twitter. You can also find more about Matt's work on his professional website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Stacy Hackner (University College London) is on the show to talk about the bioarchaeology of women, focusing on the tibia (or shin bone) and what that can tell scientists about divisions of labor in the past.
We also discuss the history of looking at tibial measurements and robusticity, and how earlier interpretations of biological traits have been influenced by gender- or race-based assumptions or biases. Stacy also works extensively in the area of public education and communication of history and science, working at the British Museum doing outreach, teaching undergraduates feminist theory, and collaborating with various London Museums on object-based learning programs.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
To follow more of Stacy's work or ask her any questions, you can find her on Twitter. She also has a website where you can read a lot more about her research.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this Monday episode, Ella Beaudoin (The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History Human Origins Program) talks about a whole range of topics: science communication with diverse and religious publics, evolutionary anthropology as a discipline and fieldwork experiences at Koobi Fora in northern Kenya.
Why is it important for students and teachers in more religiously conservative parts of the United States to be aware of how evolutionary mechanisms work? What is Ella's favorite object that she has held and studied in her time out in the field? What are some of the challenging situations or comments that science communicators grapple with sometimes and how does Ella address these in her role at the Museum? What are some of the most exciting discoveries in palaeoanthropology this past year?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Ella to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on Twitter and Instagram. More information on the Human Origins Program can be found at their website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Craig Poku (University of Leeds) speaks to us about aerosols and their role in the formation of fog.
Because fog can significantly affect surface visibility levels and human life, it is important for climate and atmospheric scientists to study the physical processes that lead to fog formation. An important process in microphysics is fog droplet formation on aerosols (particles or pollutants suspended in the air like sea salt, soot, or organic particles). Craig's research looks at the importance of aerosol–fog interactions in modelling fog formation and how successful modelling may help in other areas of work such as weather prediction and meterology.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Craig on Twitter if you have questions for him, or follow his baking projects on Instagram as well.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Michelle Cameron (University of Toronto) shares her work in bioarchaeology, bone biomechanics and human ecology.
We first speak broadly about human adaptability and the ways human bone may change shape in reaction to cultural and environmental influences over life. We then dig deeper into Michelle's work looking at skeletal and ecological evidence obtained from southern African contexts. How can we study human skeletons to understand human activity in the past and physical movements across different terrains?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Michelle to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on Twitter.
Michelle is also the co-producer of her own public communication Youtube channel, Humans in 5, together with Dr. Sarah-Louise Decrausaz (our guest on Episode 1 of this podcast). They’re also on Facebook and Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Madeleine Mant (University of Toronto, Mississauga) talks about her work looking at historical health-related events by accessing both human skeletal remains and archival documents.
Maddy helps us answer the questions: What do the words 'marginalization' and 'risk' mean in different historical, bioarchaeological and academic contexts? What was the experience of trauma and disease in eighteenth- and nineteenth-century London? How can anthropologists combine approaches from archaeology, history, chemistry and archival studies to uncover the stories of previously underrepresented individuals? What are some innovative ways we can teach students and interested audiences about health in historical individuals?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Maddy on Twitter if you have any feedback or questions.
You can find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
To end the week of primate-focused episodes, we have Dr. Arijit Pal (National Institute of Advanced Studies) on the show to talk about tool use and social dynamics in Nicobar long-tailed macaques.
Macaques like the crab-eating macaque, Rhesus macaque and bonnet macaque are distributed across southern India and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands archipelago. Arijit talks about the repertoire of tool-aided behaviors among Nicobar-long-tailed macaques specifically, which includes manipulative behaviors for processing food and dental flossing.
We also speak about natural disasters and human-caused habitat loss, and the threats they pose to wildlife conservation on these islands and in the south of India. Throughout the episode, Arijit shares his experiences of doing primatological fieldwork and what his upcoming plans are with the Leakey Foundation grant he received recently as well.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Arijit, you can find him on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Malcolm Ramsay (University of Toronto) discusses with us his experiences of doing primatological fieldwork in Madgascar and researching mouse lemur ecology and genomics.
There are over twenty species of mouse lemur living on Madagascar, the fourth-largest island in the world. Owing to anthropogenic factors, exacerbated by high rates of poverty in Malagasy society, multiple species of mouse lemur are endangered and threatened by human deforestation. Malcolm and his team study their genetics to understand the histories of mouse lemur inter- and intragroup relationships. These data may help inform local scientists and conservationists understand what impact habitat loss and fragmentation are having on mouse lemur ecology, adaptability and survival rates.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Malcolm, you can find him on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Erin Kane (Boston University) talks about her previous and current work studying primate behavior, ecology and biology.
Why is primatology an important field of research within biological anthropology? How do Erin and her colleagues design their studies to be flexible enough, especially given the unpredictability of field primatology? Do research questions and conditions differ depending on the species of primate under study (for example, orangutans versus Diana monkeys)? What kinds of observational or hormonal data will be useful for understanding primate ecology and diet?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Erin, you can find her on Twitter and her website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Julie Dunne (University of Bristol) talks about her latest work analyzing ceramic baby bottles dated to about 3,000 years ago.
What did these early vessels look like and how variable were they? What did this mean in terms of the timing of child development and weaning (i.e., the introduction of secondary food to an infant other than its mother's milk)? How do chemical methods help confirm the former presence of milk inside these small containers associated with the graves of children in ancient Bavaria?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Julie, you can find her on Twitter. Further stories on her baby bottle research can be found on Nature where the original study was published, or National Geographic, the New York Times, and the Smithsonian.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Johnny Miller (The University of Tennesse, Knoxville) talks about his research looking at gender and sexual identities in the ancient Mediterranean.
Johnny's studies are concentrated on the Cult of Cybele, or, according to the Romans, Cybele was considered the Magna Mater ("Great Mother"). Worship of her spread into the Roman world from the east, and her priests (the Galli) castrated themselves upon entering her service. Why did they do this and what was the socioreligious function of worshipping Cybele? While our conceptions of transgender identity likely cannot be extrapolated to accurate understandings of gender in classical times, what can we say about gender identity (or other aspects of identity like sexual identity) in the early historical period?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can e-mail the podcast address if you have any questions or feedback for Johnny, and find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Abbie Diaz (Wisconsin Maritime Museum) speaks to us about accessibility and inclusion in museums.
Abbie talks about a range of changes she and her colleagues have made to their tours, programs, staffing and staff training and exhibit spaces to hold universal design in mind. From visitors who require low-sensory conditions to people who require wheelchair access, museum professionals must work together to ensure cultural and scientific educational spaces are accessible for diverse publics.
We also discuss the challenges of pushing for inclusive practice in the museums and education field, how socioeconomic and racial inequalities also act to exclude certain people from cultural and educational buildings, and how a huge part of her professional and personal journey has been inspired by the love and care of her brother Daniel.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Abbie on Twitter if you have questions for her, or find her on Instagram.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Neil Ackerman (University of the Highlands and Islands) talks about the PhD research he has just recently embarked upon studying the prehistoric architecture of Neolithic Scotland.
Neil hopes to compile information about this period and the changes in settlement and monumental architecture across Scotland. He hopes to do this by accessing previous archaeological reports and grey literature (i.e., research produced outside of academic publishing channels). We also speak about some of the problems that have negatively affected archaeology in the past, and the relevance of archaeology in greater sociopolitical discussions happening today.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Neil to share questions or thoughts, you can find him on Twitter. Neil also blogs about his work and various topics on his website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Izzy Wisher (Durham University) shares details of her PhD work studying European cave art dated to the Palaeolithic.
How can scientists and archaeologists understand better the reasons for why ancient humans created visual culture? What is it about caves that preserves cave art so well? Who in these Palaeolithic societies was producing this art and how did they do so? How is Izzy using interesting approaches borrowed from psychology, and running experiments with virtual reality (VR) technologies, to look at these questions?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Izzy on Twitter if you have any questions or feedback.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Sarah Lockyer (Casualty Identification Program, Canadian Department of National Defense) talks about her work identifying the human remains of Canadian soldiers who perished during World War I, World War II and the conflict in Korea. We discuss not only the nature of the work, but also where her initial interests in forensics and anthropology stemmed from and the path she took to the position she now works in.
How does Sarah develop a biological profile of these deceased individuals and is DNA used commonly as a tool for identification? What are the complications that could occur before and after death that make a reliable identification more difficult? What happens when notifying the families or a positive identification and how are military burials handled in the final stages of this process?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Sarah, you can find her on Twitter. You can find more about the Casuality Identification Program as well through the program's website to find out more.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Laura Heath-Stout (Rice University) talks about her research looking at sexism, racism and heterosexism in archaeology. This is a big topic of discussion that has gotten more attention in recent years among those in the field and many archaeologists are now thinking about what effects systemic biases in the field have on how we derive information about the past.
How did Laura go about measuring the problem of equity (or inequity) in archaeological publishing and knowledge production? What are some examples of how sexism, racism and heterosexism limit or misguide our understandings of human societies in the past? What is intersectionality theory and how do intersecting institutions of oppression produce compounding and interactive negative effects on scholars in the field? And though advocating and putting measures into place to tackle these issues can be an arduous process, why are Laura and Michael hopeful that the field can do better in terms of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
To follow more of Laura’s work or ask her any questions, you can find her on Twitter. She also has a website where you can read a lot more about her research.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Sarah Duignan (McMaster University; Anthrodish) speaks to us about her community-based work looking at water security and holistic health.
Together with Indigenous research partners at Six Nations of the Grand River, Sarah seeks to understand and solve a range of water challenges faced by the Indigenous communities. This involves monitoring the effect of water quality on health, interviewing and building relationships members of Six Nations, and constructing traditional medicine houses to teach on water, food and health. We also discuss what effects climate change and national and local governance have on water usage and sustainability.
Sarah is also a young mother and we talk about the challenges academia poses to scholars who are also new parents. Finally, Sarah hosts her own podcast—AnthroDish—which delves into food culture from a variety of perspectives.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Sarah to share questions or thoughts, you can find her on Twitter. More information on the Co-Creation of Indigenous Water Quality Tools project can be found on the project website.
AnthroDish is also on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and can be listened to on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or the podcast website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, public and Plains Cree archaeologist Honey Constant (University of Saskatchewan) talks about her own cultural background and the indigenous archaeology of Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon, Canada.
As a Senior Guide at Wanuskewin, Honey leads tours through the valley, plans and facilitates traditional craft workshops, and teaches visitors about archaeology and Plains culture. How did Cree groups in the area hunt bison successfully? How does Indigenous traditional knowledge enhance not just our understandings of the archaeology, but also the public's experience of the valley when they visit?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Honey, you can find her on Instagram where she posts about her beadwork and other creations, or you can e-mail the podcast address.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Dr. Wasiu Lawal (just graduated from University of Texas at Arlington) talks about his previous and current research looking at composition and contamination of drinking water.
How do water infrastructure and research capabilities differ in Nigeria and the United States? How do water treatment plants get rid of harmful impurities such as PFAs (perfluoroalkyl substances)? How is bottled water regulated differently from tap water? How important is the issue of water availability and access to sanitation worldwide, and how are geopolitics and climate change playing a role in this?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Wasiu, you can find him on Twitter. His TEDxUTA talk can be viewed on YouTube.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Trish Biers (Duckworth Collection, University of Cambridge) speaks to us about her work in osteological curation and collections management.
What are the day-to-day tasks of a collections manager? What practical and ethical aspects do Trish and others in her profession bear in mind when storing, handling, displaying and repatriating human remains? How can an aspiring archaeologist or anthropologist get started working in museums and collections?
We also discuss Trish's former experience working at the San Diego Museum of Man, the Cambridge Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, and the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you have feedback or questions for Trish, you can find her on Twitter or her institutional profile.
Together with Katie Stringer Clary, Trish also co-created Mors Mortis Museum, a public communication project that explores museums, human remains and death. That can be found at the Mors Mortis Museum website, Facebook page, Instagram profile or Twitter handle.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Cecilia Collins (University of Reading) discusses her work in Icelandic bioarchaeology and palaeopathology. Cecilia searched for signs of chronic upper respiratory disease among human skeletal remains at four archaeological sites (Hofstaðir, Keldudalur, Skeljastaðir and Skriðuklaustur). We talk about how sinus and ear infections appear on the human skeleton as lesions, how these conditions may manifest in children, and how sinusitis may relate to other conditions like tuberculosis.
We also speak about Cecilia's other interests in juvenile palaeopathology more broadly, cases of hydatid disease and parasitic infection in the form of calcified cysts she's studied, as well as the archaeology of disability, deafness and medical treatment in medieval contexts.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can find Cecilia on Twitter, and find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Melissa McCarthy (Georgia State University) shares her journey to a Master's degree, for which she will conduct research in dental anthropology. She hopes to use microscopic methods to study tooth morphology and microwear as a means of identifying human remains recovered at or near the U.S. and Mexican border.
Melissa also recounts her non-traditional path into archaeology, anthropology and forensics, having worked a number of jobs before attending college and participating in excavations for the first time.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can e-mail the podcast address if you have questions for Melissa, or find her on Instagram.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Ronit Anand (Haberdashers' Aske Boys School) talks about his recently completed debut fieldwork on football hooligans.
Hooligan culture among British football clubs like the Tottenham Hotspurs incoroprates a lot of violence, hypermasculine-coded behaviors and competition with rival firms. How did ethnography help Ronit understand the group cohesion and fusion that frame hooligan identity and behavior? Can we use these anthropological insights to help reduce extreme behavior? What are the parallels between violent behaviors in Britain and in other cultural contexts like in Brazil? Does this research inform us about how other extreme groups (e.g., jihadis) become motivated to commit violence?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to get in touch with Ronit to share questions or thoughts, you can e-mail the podcast e-mail address and Michael will forward your messages forward to him.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Jazmin Scarlett (Newcastle University) talks about her research in historical and social geography, examining the relationship between humans and volcanoes in the Caribbean.
What is the history of human experience living near volcanoes on St. Vincent? Is this experience unique to the Caribbean islands? Why do people choose to leave in a hazardous environment, and how do they cope with natural disasters before, during and after they occur? What does Jazmin wish would change about how disaster movies portray scientists' contributions?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Jazmin has a blog you should definitely check out. If you have feedback or questions for her, you can find her on Twitter.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On this episode, Victoria Calvin (University of South Alabama) talks all about archaeological excavation and osteological analysis. Earlier this year, she not only undertook lab research experience in Mobile, but also fieldwork at the Slavia Field School in Giecz, Poland.
Hear what she has to say about the process of excavating human remains and estimating sex using innovative methods that access the morphology of the inner ear canal (otherwise known as the 'internal auditory meatus').
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to follow Victoria, she can be found on Instagram or you can send questions to the podcast address.
If you want to read more about the NSF-REU program, you can do so at the official blog and website. Other participants in the program include Quentin Burke, Silvio Ernesto Mirabal Torres, Charlie Downey, Cháylee Arellano, Rachel Heil, Alyssa McGrath and Jeremy Simmons.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
In this episode, Dr. Christopher Lynn (University of Alabama) talks about cultural impacts on human health and biology. Some of his work over the last ten years has focused on tattooing cultures among Pacific Islanders and the Samoan diaspora. Using biomarkers such as immunoglobulin A and cortisol, Chris is able to demonstrate correlations between immune response in tattooed individuals and the amount of tattoo experience people have had.
We also speak about the variation of tattooing methods historically and globally, the very interesting tattoos of Ötzi 'the Iceman' which seem to correspond with modern acupuncture points, the challenges of the job as a researcher and teacher, and Chris' broader work looking at cultural impacts on health and his teaching-focused project, Anthropology is Elemental.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
To follow more of Chris' work on tattooing and immune response, follow Inking of Immunity on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
To listen to Chris' podcast co-hosted with Cara Ocobock, The Sausage of Science, you can find episodes on iTunes, Stitcher or the Human Biology Association webpage.
If you have feedback or questions for Chris, you can find him on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and see a lot more about his work on his University of Alabama website.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram too.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Ayushi Nayak (Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History) is a prehistoric bioarchaeologist who studies the beginnings of farming in South Asia. Using carbon, nitrogen and oxygen stable isotope data, Ayushi is able to reconstruct aspects of past people, such as diet, population movements and inter-cultural interactions. We also discuss a newer subdiscipline of the field known as 'proteomics'. Ayushi describes how traces of ancient protein evidence may give hints about how the first dairying occurred on the Indian sub-continent.
Towards the end of the episode, we discuss the experiences of going to elite universities as minority and international students, and facing culture shock, homesickness, and sometimes even social prejudices and institutional racism.
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
You can check out Ayushi's Twitter profile for more content about archaeology and anthropology, and find Michael Rivera on Twitter and Instagram as well.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
Today, Jeremy Simmons (The College of William and Mary) talks about his research project on estimating sex using the temporal bone as part of the NSF-REU Bioarchaeology of Bronze Age Social Systems program. How do osteologists use the mastoid process for this estimation method? In what ways is research experience so valuable for undergraduates who are considering entering further applied work or graduate studies? How can photography skills and perspectives help in anthropological work?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
If you want to follow Jeremy, he can be found on Instagram or you can send questions to the podcast address.
If you want to read more about the NSF-REU program, you can do so at the official blog and website. Other participants in the program include Quentin Burke, Silvio Ernesto Mirabal Torres, Charlie Downey, Cháylee Arellano, Rachel Heil, Alyssa McGrath and one final episode that will air next week.
You can find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter and Instagram, and it has a Facebook page.
If you liked this episode and you want to help contribute to the show, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
On today's edition of the podcast, Lauren McIntyre (Oxford Archaeology) take us through her work in commercial archaeology. How do commercial archaeology projects get started and what sorts of analyses do commercial archaeology clients commission? How can we recognize conditions like leprosy on historical skeletons? What different information can osteologists acquire from studying skeletal populations and individuals? Is it easy to enter the field of commercial archaeology work?
You can find more information in the show notes under the episode on our website.
Lauren is very happy to receive questions on Twitter. You can also find Michael on Twitter and Instagram.
The Arch and Anth Podcast is on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
If you liked this episode and want to help contribute to keeping it going, please visit the Patreon page for details on how to do that.
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