Contemporary AI systems are typically created by many different people, each working on separate parts or “modules.” This can make it difficult to determine who is responsible for considering the ethical implications of an AI system as a whole — a problem compounded by the fact that many AI engineers already don’t consider it their job to ensure the AI systems they work on are ethical.In their latest paper, “Dislocated Accountabilities in the AI Supply Chain: Modularity and Developers’ Notions of Responsibility,” technology ethics researcher David Gray Widder and research scientist Dawn Nafus attempt to better understand the multifaceted challenges of responsible AI development and implementation, exploring how responsible AI labor is currently divided and how it could be improved.In this episode, David and Dawn join This Anthro Life host Adam Gamwell to talk about the AI “supply chain,” modularity in software development as both ideology and technical practice, how we might reimagine responsible AI, and more.Show Highlights:[03:51] How David and Dawn found themselves in the responsible AI space[09:04] Where and how responsible AI emerged[16:25] What the typical AI development process looks like and how developers see that process[18:28] The problem with “supply chain” thinking[23:37] Why modularity is epistemological[26:26] The significance of modularity in the typical AI development process[31:26] How computer scientists’ reactions to David and Dawn’s paper underscore modularity as a dominant ideology[37:57] What it is about AI that makes us rethink the typical development process[45:32] Whether the job of asking ethical questions gets “outsourced” to or siloed in the research department[49:12] Some of the problems with user research nowadays[56:05] David and Dawn’s takeaways from writing the paperLinks and Resources:Dislocated Accountabilities in the AI Supply Chain: Modularity and Developers' Notions of ResponsibilityConnect with David Gray Widder via his websiteConnect with Dawn Nafus via LinkedinConnect with Adam Gamwell via email, LinkedIn, or TwitterSubscribe to the This Anthro Life newsletterThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Just a little trailer for 2023 new listeners to This Anthro Life!Learn more about the podcast here: thisanthrolife.orgThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

People with disabilities often face accessibility issues in physical environments, such as a lack of ramps, narrow doorways, and inaccessible transportation. Every barrier is a reminder that designs are choices, ones made without people with disabilities at the decision-making table.But solving these problems requires more than physical adjustments. It necessitates understanding the experiences of people with disabilities and involving them in the creation of purposefully designed spaces, policies, and more. In this episode, renowned disability rights advocate and Associate Professor at Stony Brook University Brooke Ellison explores the complex and often misunderstood world of disabilities with This Anthro Life host Adam Gamwell. Drawing from her latest memoir “Look Both Ways,” Brooke also shares her journey as an activist and the importance of inclusivity and accessibility.Brooke Ellison, a brilliant author and inspiring speaker, has dedicated her life to advocating for disability rights and raising awareness about the sociocultural issues surrounding it. Having experienced a life-altering car accident at the age of eleven that left her paralyzed from the neck down, Brooke's journey has been one of resilience, determination, and self-discovery. With a PhD in sociology and a passion for making a difference, Brooke has taken on multiple roles, including serving on the President's Council on Bioethics and the Spinal Cord Injury Research Board of New York State. As a professor and medical ethics expert as well as someone living with quadriplegia, she brings a unique perspective to the conversation on disability, challenging societal norms and advocating for a more inclusive world.Show Highlights:[05:48] Why Brooke wrote her two memoirs[12:35] The value of bringing in personal experiences when teaching about disability[19:57] The idea of hope as a process[27:42] How disabilities highlight the interconnectedness of our lives[32:15] The value of taking a sociocultural approach to disability[36:11] Why Brooke ran for public office in 2006[42:10] Why Brooke started the nonprofit Brooke Ellison Project[44:16] Interesting findings of Brooke’s dissertation on stem cell researchLinks and Resources:Look Both Ways (TAL Affiliate Bookstore)Check out Brooke Ellison’s websiteConnect with Brooke Ellison via LinkedIn or her websiteConnect with Adam Gamwell via email, LinkedIn, or TwitterSubscribe to the This Anthro Life newsletterThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

In this episode, Angela Saini, award-winning science journalist and author of “The Patriarchs: How Men Came to Rule,” traces the material and social roots of patriarchy with host Adam Gamwell. The duo explores how anthropology can help us better understand the patriarchy and patriarchical power by contextualizing and breaking down big ideas. Anthropology enables us to examine broad, complex topics through specific cultural and historical lenses. It also helps us dissect grand narrative ideas to reveal their historical trajectories. But perhaps most importantly, anthropology reminds us that we need to think about big ideas contextually, especially emotionally and politically charged ideas like the patriarchy. They dive into the definition of patriarchy and its ties to social structures, social privileges, and oppression. The conversation also touches on how different cultures interpret and shape the deployment and maintenance of gender and power to reflect their unique social norms. Saini emphasizes the importance of understanding the social variation and how male domination adapts to different changes. Drawing on many forms of evidence, she discusses the multiplicities of patriarchies, how patriarchy today functions and shapes different aspects of our lives, and how we can think big about what form of society we’d like to continue, reinvent, or totally change for ourselves and our children. Saini's work aims to bring awareness to the many different kinds of patriarchies that exist and how they are being recreated and reasserted today.Episode Highlights:[05:57] Why we shouldn’t think of the patriarchy as a monolith[09:31] Why pre-history wasn’t necessarily patriarchal[13:44] Why thinkers started to question where patriarchy came from[17:16] Why James Mellaart believed Çatalhöyük was a matriarchal society[23:55] How the Haudenosaunee inspired the beliefs of women’s rights activists[26:57] How early civilizations’ concerns about population led to binary gender norms[30:24] Possibilities that slavery and patrilocality informed each other[36:32] Why freedom and women’s liberation are nuanced[43:05] The Kitchen Debate and the clash of capitalism and communism[50:40] How Kerala, India now positions itself as a beacon of women’s empowerment[55:54] How we can build the society we hope to see in the futureLinks and Resources:The Patriarchs: The Origins of InequalitySuperior: The Return of Race ScienceInferior: How Science Got Women WrongConnect with Angela Saini via LinkedInCheck out Angela Saini’s websiteConnect with Adam Gamwell via email, LinkedIn, or TwitterSubscribe to the This Anthro Life newsletterThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

When we think of robots, we tend to think of things like R2-D2, the Terminator skeleton, or a piece of machinery that automates the construction of goods in an assembly line. But that’s not all there is to robots — something anthropologist and roboticist entrepreneur Lora Koycheva understands perfectly well. In this episode, Lora shares her unique perspective on the intersection of anthropology and cyber-physical systems with host Adam Gamwell. She also discusses how anthropology can shed light on what robots afford human bodies, why the physical side of robots is just as important as their operating systems, and how robots can potentially reshape the human condition.Episode Highlights:[03:03] How Lora brought together entrepreneurship, innovation, anthropology, and robotics[08:24] On-demand infrastructure and how it empowers robotics in the urban realm[11:59] How we can get comfortable with the physical side of robotics[18:28] How Lora came up with the idea of rebuilding the human condition in a world of robots[22:52] How and why Lora set up the Green Like a Robot project and why it matters for scholarship and society[27:04] Questions worth tackling when working with robots[35:51] Lora’s experience working with engineers[40:10] Commonalities between anthropology and engineering worth cultivating[45:06] Why embodiment is difficult to innovate through digital meansLinks and Resources:Green Like a RobotConnect with Lora Koycheva via LinkedInConnect with Adam Gamwell via email, LinkedIn, or TwitterSubscribe to the This Anthro Life newsletterThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

The COVID-19 pandemic forced many of us individually and as a global cohort to reassess how and why we live the ways that we do and what really matters to us. Through the pandemic, we may have also felt moments of awe at the natural world and questioned our place in it. In moments like these, we’re afforded glimpses into how we choose to operate in the world and understand our place in relation to everything else. Rituals play a key role in helping us make sense of the world around us, yet we often forget that they’re even there. Today’s guest, Sasha Sagan, picks up on this thread through her writing and podcast work.Daughter of “Cosmos” co-writer Ann Druyan and astronomer Carl Sagan, Sasha talks with host Adam Gamwell about the power of ritual for making meaning across life, death, nature, and more. She also shares how she learned to ask questions, the value of finding awe in the most mundane of rituals, and how turning our attention anew to the natural world can help us add wonder back into our lives.Show Highlights:[06:53] What inspired Sasha to create her podcast “Strange Customs”[13:04] How Sasha’s parents taught her to love and ask questions[21:30] How parents may inadvertently teach their children to stop asking questions[29:33] Our beliefs and customs around language and communication[37:56] How Sasha thinks about different media as different methods for storytelling[47:56] How we dress up scientific phenomena in beliefs and customs[59:19] Why people are getting more creative with how they tackle life-defining moments[01:00:45] How we can demonstrate anthropology’s value[01:03:37] How we can add awe back into our livesLinks and Resources:Strange Customs with Sasha SaganFor Small Creatures Such as We: Rituals for Finding Meaning in Our Unlikely World by Sasha Sagan (Anthrocurious' Bookstore Affiliate Link - purchasing here supports the show!)Check out Sasha Sagan’s websiteConnect with Sasha Sagan via Twitter or InstagramConnect with Adam Gamwell via email, LinkedIn, or TwitterSubscribe to the This Anthro Life newsletterThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

How to Build a More Resilient WorldThe COVID-19 pandemic leveled the playing field between those who have the privilege to avoid or mitigate disasters and those who don’t. But the pandemic is just one of many ongoing challenges and crises that people are and have been facing for years. In addition to raising awareness, much of the work that we have as people and organizations is in how we respond in moments of crisis. How do we know what works? How can we respond effectively? And will one type of aid be culturally appropriate if moved to another area? To help us answer these questions, we’re joined today by Britt Titus. Britt is the Behavioural Insights Lead at the Airbel Impact Lab, the International Rescue Committee’s (IRC) research and innovation team which designs, tests, and scales solutions for people affected by conflict and disaster. Drawing from her decade-long experience in the humanitarian space, Britt talks about 1) how regional disaster response can be applied to global emergencies, 2) how the Airbel Impact Lab team localizes and evaluates the impact of its interventions, and 3) what’s top of mind for them in creating life-changing solutions for the communities that the IRC serves.Show Highlights:[03:37] How Britt found herself at the intersection of behavioral insights design and the humanitarian space[08:33] How lessons gleaned from regional disaster response can be applied to global emergencies[12:03] The methods that the Airbel Impact Lab uses to localize interventions[21:05] How the Lab evaluates the impact of its interventions[28:21] On the process of re-sharing localized information and learnings elsewhere[32:22] A key challenge facing Britt and her colleagues today[37:32] Britt discusses the Lab’s InforMH project[47:21] What Britt is looking forward to in the behavioral design and humanitarian spaceLinks and Resources:Airbel Impact LabInternational Rescue CommitteeInforMHTIWG Forced Migration Series: Humanitarian Response Interventions, Jeannie Annan and Britt TitusConnect with Britt Titus via LinkedInConnect with Adam Gamwell via email, LinkedIn, or TwitterSubscribe to the This Anthro Life newsletterThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

In today’s episode of This Anthro Life, anthropologists Elizabeth Briody and Phil Surles join host Adam Gamwell to discuss their latest project: Anthropologists on the Public Stage, a self-paced video course for social scientists who want to increase their public presence and impact.Adam, Elizabeth, and Phil reflect on making the series, what they learned along the way, and what they hope people will get out of it.Show Highlights:[04:04] How the team came up with Anthropologists on the Public Stage[07:46] The importance of teamwork in putting anthropology projects together[13:58] How Elizabeth approached the project[19:33] Phil’s thoughts on the process of putting the project together[27:56] Why the project includes training exercises[36:17] What Phil hopes people will get out of the project[39:59] What Elizabeth hopes people will get out of the project[45:14] Closing statementsLinks and Resources:Anthropologists on the Public StageSubscribe to This Anthro Life’s newsletterConnect with Adam via emailConnect with Adam via the This Anthro Life websiteThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Consumers today find brands through many online sources, including search engines and social media. And with the rise of hyper-personalized ads, consumers are constantly being bombarded with brands that seem to speak to their needs and interests.Given such a landscape, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that brands need to move beyond business fundamentals and into the fundamentals that we share as human beings if they wish to stand out. That is to say, brands need to shape not only what consumers buy, but also how they feel about and relate to brands themselves.In today’s episode of This Anthro Life, host Adam Gamwell speaks with Dr. Matt Johnson, author of “Branding That Means Business,” about the whys and hows of consumer-brand relationships, brand strategy and identity, the role brands play in our lives, and more.Show Highlights:[03:08] The fundamental principles of branding[05:48] On the functional value of brands[09:18] How brands can shape consumers’ perceptions of reality[15:06] The ways brands can be smart about being global[21:51] Why brand strategy should be specific and consistent[25:01] On brand polysemy[28:30] On the difference between corporate social responsibility and activism[34:15] Closing statementsLinks and Resources:Matt Johnson’s websiteBranding That Means Business by Matt Johnson and Tessa Misiaszek (link to the Anthrocurious bookstore, where purchasing the book supports the authors, local bookstores and the Anthrocurious community. It's a win win win.)231 - Branding That Means Business with Matt Johnson by The Brainy Business PodcastSubscribe to This Anthro Life’s newsletterConnect with Adam via emailConnect with Adam via the This Anthro Life websiteThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Indigenous cultures around the world have a trickster god or figure in their mythos. For example, the Pacific Northwest Native Americans have the Raven, a selfish, hungry, and mischievous figure who transforms the world. Stories tell how the Raven brought out the sun, moon, and stars to light the world only by cleverly deceiving others.In today’s episode of This Anthro Life, Dr. Shepherd Siegel, activist scholar and author of “Tricking Power into Performing Acts of Love: How Tricksters Through History Have Changed the World,” discusses the Trickster archetype with host Adam Gamwell. Together, Shepherd and Adam explore attributes of the Trickster, Shepherd’s favorite Tricksters, and examples that demonstrate Trickster archetypes confronting power and tricking it into love.Show Highlights:[04:05] Breaking down the title of the book[11:00] What love has to do with the trickster archetype[17:04] How Shepherd’s background came into play in writing his book[24:48] The different kinds of play and how they relate to the warrior and the trickster[29:46] The Burning Man as an example of a cultural experience premised on disruptive play[37:01] Why the trickster is anti-war[45:45] On Richard Pryor narrating George Floyd’s murder in 1979[56:07] Bugs Bunny as an example of a character that exemplifies the trickster archetype[59:07] Closing statementsLinks and Resources:Check out the new Anthrocurious Bookshop - partnership with Bookstore.org where you can support local bookstores and the podcast when you purchase books mentioned on the show.Tricking Power into Performing Acts of Love: How Tricksters Through History Have Changed the World by Shepherd Siegel's websiteSubscribe to This Anthro Life’s newsletterConnect with Adam via emailConnect with Adam via the This Anthro Life websiteIf you're getting something out of This Anthro Life, then please share it with your friends and family! Let them know that this podcast is a great source of interesting and informative stories about anthropology and the human experience. With your help, we can reach more people and bring them into the fascinating world of anthropology. So join us in our mission to make anthropology accessible and share This Anthro Life today!This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Show NotesBuilding a New Labor Market for Global Design Talent with Fredrik ThomassenMore and more businesses are switching to remote work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But one startup was ahead of the curve, having been 100% remote since its inception in 2016.That startup is Superside, a fully distributed design operations platform that seeks to support a global remote workforce. By introducing a remote work policy, Superside gives designers around the world better income opportunities, regardless of their gender, race, or location.In this episode, host Adam Gamwell speaks with Superside CEO and Founder Fredrik Thomassen about remote work and how the pandemic accelerated its adoption worldwide, the promise and challenge of fully online organizations, the inclusion of minorities in the workforce as a global business imperative, and more.Show Highlights:[04:10] How Fredrik Thomassen started Superside[07:37] On the power of remote work and the opportunities it opens up[14:23] How remote work can improve workforce diversity[20:07] Issues with traditional hiring practices[24:50] On the importance of taking candidates’ values into account in the hiring process [29:19] How Superside keeps its employees happy and fulfilled[35:44] Why management is not as complicated as it is made out to be[37:55] Why Superside as an organization values truth-seeking[45:54] Closing statementsLinks and Resources:Check out SupersideSubscribe to This Anthro Life’s newsletterConnect with Adam via emailConnect with Adam via the This Anthro Life websiteThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

The vast majority of published scientific literature and new research is hidden behind paywalls. Worse, what few accessible papers available online are oftentimes written in jargon, i.e., specialist language that can alienate non-expert readers.Combined, these two issues make it difficult for researchers, scientists, and even entrepreneurs to build on new discoveries and for members of the public to access credible, peer-reviewed literature in the age of misinformation.The good news is, natural language processing-based startups are working to change the conversation around access to scientific knowledge in impactful ways. One such startup is Consensus, an AI-powered search engine designed to provide users a view into what the research says with the click of a button.In this episode, host Adam Gamwell is joined by Consensus CEO Eric Olson to talk about the company’s inception, the promise and new waves of natural language processing technology, and how Consensus is making scientific findings accessible and consumable for all.Show Highlights:[04:08] How Eric Olson got into natural language processing[06:15] How tech can help users know what information to trust online[08:10] The difference between giving good information and giving engaging information[10:32] How Consensus attempts to disrupt the global search industry[13:50] The current state of search[15:32] How Consensus approaches partnerships[17:07] On the size of Consensus’ corpus[19:59] How natural language processing is evolving[21:19] How Consensus fine-tunes its AI system[24:53] On using AI generators to write papers[26:47] How search platforms like Consensus can be built in a way that’s usable for laypeople[30:32] Why context in AI is important[33:05] The three things that differentiate Consensus from existing search engines[39:37] What’s next for NLP-based technologies as a whole[41:14] What’s next for Consensus[43:10] On the hypothesis that AI can’t replace subjective, art-based roles[46:12] Closing statementsLinks and Resources:Check out ConsensusSubscribe to This Anthro Life’s newsletterConnect with Adam via emailConnect with Adam via the This Anthro Life websiteThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

What makes the human mind unique? How do we know there’s a future, and how do we recall the past? In this episode of This Anthro Life, Byron Reese, serial entrepreneur, technologist, and author of “Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future--and Shape It,” discusses these questions and more with host Adam Gamwell. Together, Byron and Adam explore the three leaps in human history that made us what we are today and how those leaps changed how we think about the future, the past, and everything in between.Show Highlights:[03:16] The inception of “Stories, Dice, and Rocks That Think: How Humans Learned to See the Future--and Shape It”[05:23] Homo erectus and the Acheulean hand axe[06:38] How the Acheulean hand axe is a genetic object, not a cultural one[08:27] The awakening that ancient humans had undergone[09:27] Language as a means to conceptualize the future and gain knowledge of the past[13:02] The four things that all languages have[16:01] How humans’ group action became more than just the sum of its parts[18:57] A superorganism named Agora as a metaphor for how people working together can get more done[24:06] How the probability theory helps us understand how we imagine the future[24:37] The probability problem[28:01] How there is predictability in randomness[34:33] The human body as a superorganism[36:30] The problem with data in artificial intelligence[41:48] Galton’s regression to the mean and eugenics as a cautionary tale[44:59] Eternal vigilance as the price of current and future technological advancements[47:04] Why humans are not machines[50:05] The 21st purpose of telling stories, according to Byron[52:32] Closing statementsThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Ashley Meredith serves as the National Cultural Anthropologist and Deputy National Historic Preservation Officer for the Federated States of Micronesia. Micronesia is a sovereign island country in Oceania situated northeast of Australia and Papua New Guinea and consists of 600 islands covering a massive area of around 1 million square miles. There are 18 languages spoken across the islands.Echoing what we might call a traditional fieldwork approach, Ashley works with a team to document, preserve, and establish cultural pathways for different Micronesian communities. This includes work like ethnographic surveys, linguistic studies and observational fieldwork. Yet, her work is also applied anthropology. She talks with communities to understand what they want in terms of infrastructure, tourism, education, or heritage development and works with them to find resources, generate funding and support. Beyond this, she interfaces between communities, government and international relations including with the United States and UNESCO. Ashley’s breadth of experience provides a key perspective for rethinking how we use data. This includes why we need qualitative data in a world obsessed with numbers, but also how transmission matters. As we explore in this conversation, transmission has to do with cultural practices like storytelling as much as with technological limitations such as internet speed across the islands.This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Interdependence is the idea that the wellbeing of our world and for our physical and emotional selves depends on those around us, yet when we find ourselves up against a challenge bigger than ourselves, our sense of interdependence becomes stronger. When we move that scale even larger (i.e. a global climate crisis), interdependence becomes paramount. Climate change not only affects our everyday lives, but affects cultural history and cultural artifacts such as books and architectural styles, as well as more ephemeral practices like theater, song and language. How well we are able to face these challenges has to do with how we tell stories. How well we tell stories depends on what we choose to protect, preserve, and make prosper in our cultures. If you’ve used the Internet in the last 20 years, or 20 minutes, you know that there isn’t a lack of information or stories online, but how much of our and others’ cultural heritage exists digitally, how accessible is it, and who is able to contribute?These are questions that Charles Henry engages with in this episode. Charles is the president of the Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR), a nonprofit that works with libraries, cultural institutions, and higher learning communities to improve research, teaching, and learning environments. Check out the Council on Library and Information Resources: https://www.clir.org/about-us/history/Digital Library of the Middle East, one of the world’s largest online archives of Middle Eastern and North African artifacts. https://www.clir.org/2020/07/clir-and-stanford-libraries-announce-digital-library-of-the-middle-east-platform/The HBCU Library Alliance Partnership, which is a long-term partnership to foster awareness of and access to collections held by Historically Black Colleges and Universities. https://www.clir.org/initiatives-partnerships/hbcu-library-alliance/This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

When we think about social science and social scientists working out in the world, we tend to jump to the science part, you know jobs that focus on research - consumer research, user experience research, or qualitative studies for non-profits. But if you have any experience with therapy, whether as a patient or therapist, worked with a career or life coach, or anything to do with conflict mediation, you might have noticed there’s more than a little overlap in skill sets with anthropology.I have been really fortunate to get to know Nethra Samarawickrema, co-founder of the Listen Up Lab, an anthropologist and coach and all around calming presence - something we need more of today. What’s her secret? Well a lot of things, but one I want to pull out here is her application of a mode of listening called Nonviolent Communication. Nethra reveals the common connection between anthropology and nonviolent communication that drew her to both and shows how they complement one another. Think about things like withholding judgment, active listening, situated perceptiveness.If this episode sounds good to you, I highly recommend you check out our conversation with Jeremy Pollack on how to manage social conflict, communicate effectively and finding common ground. These episodes complement one another really well. https://www.thisanthrolife.org/how-to-manage-social-conflict-communicate-effectively-and-find-common-ground-with-jeremy-pollack/ Listenup Lab: https://www.listenuplab.com/Listen Up Lab is running a 2-day online workshop called FLOW to support writers and artists with unblocking themselves on April 23 and 24th, 2022. The details and sign up information can be found here: https://www.listenuplab.com/course-content-flowNethra would love to connect with people who might be interested in coaching related to work, creativity, or getting in touch with their needs in their relationships. She offers free introductory hour-long coaching sessions that folks can sign up for on my website here: https://www.workwithnethra.com/This show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

If you’re alive in 2022 you’ve probably heard of Bitcoin and cryptocurrency. Whether you’re an active trader, just dabble, or think you’d never touch the stuff, cryptocurrency raises a fascinating challenge to the question of what is money? And how can technology fundamentally reshape how we engage in finance and social life? Is crypto a revolution? If you're listening to this episode in early 2022, then you're probably well aware of the ongoing inflation and commodity price increases both in the United States and globally. You know, money and finance are often the table stakes of how we think about navigating life today. That can both be part of the background or very much in the foreground of our minds, depending on how things are going. And as we wrestle with economic uncertainty in the wake of war, a changing climate and geopolitical shifts things can feel bleak. But at these moments, it's important to stay curious and ask where and how are we trying to make things better? And this is a bit about where that revolutionary technology part just might come in.Mick Morucci is a crypto-anthropologist, Bitcoin expert and the co-founder of geyser.fund, and NFT social discovery platform. He’s also a prolific writer and publishes regularly on Bitcoin, block chain technologies and NFTs.In this episode we explore:- the cultural and financial origins of Bitcoin- what is a blockchain- money as information and story- open source technologies- why decentralization matters- privacy and surveillanceand more!https://www.mickmorucci.com/https://geyser.fund/ Check out some of Mick's writing:Bitcoin as a Divine Idea - https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/bitcoin-as-a-divine-ideaWhy Anthropologists are More Interested in Bitcoin than Economists - https://bitcoinmagazine.com/culture/anthropologists-are-interested-in-bitcoinThe Social Experience of NFT Art - https://forefront.news/blog/feat-mick-social-experience-of-nftEpisode produced by Adam GamwellThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

It's a common truism that history is often written by the victors, but it is equally true that the actual story is more complicated. One of the most poignant examples of this is the "discovery" of the new world by Christopher Columbus.So today I am super excited to have author Andrew Rowen back on the podcast. Andrew caught our attention back in 2017 for his book encounters, "Unforeseen 1492 Retold", which rather than another single sided story is a bicultural retelling that portrays the life stories of both Columbus and the Taíno chieftains from their youth to their encounters during the invasions of 1492.Andrew is back to talk about the sequel "Columbus and Caonabó 1493 to 1498 Retold". In this episode, we explore Andrew's rationale for producing a bicultural series of novels and choosing historical fiction over historical nonfiction in order to bring to life the context thought processes and perspectives of people present at the time in the 15th century.This also meant writing in a way that doesn't prescribe how events would turn out because of course, folks in the 15th century had no idea what was going to happen. The 1493 to 1498 epoch also entailed some of the most challenging aspects to explore such as the growing discontent between Taíno chieftans and Spaniards, Columbus' continual insistence on enslavement, the role of disease and sickness in cross-cultural encounters and the political machinations of queen Isabella and king Ferdinand. This episode has a bit of everything, you know, whether you're interested in the world of the 15th century and, or you're curious about the process of writing historical fiction, including how to do archival and on-site research and do character development in ways that make sense with the research that you're finding and the challenges of telling bicultural histories in respectful and honest ways.Website: AndrewRowen.com Facebook: @andrewsrowenProduction: Adam GamwellEditing: Craig StantonMusic: Crackle and Chop, Epidemic SoundsThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Have you wondered why fantasy stories mostly are just copies of Medieval Europe? Why pop culture has been so obsessed with zombies? Or why Black Panther and the Falcon and the Winter Soldier seemed to hit the right chord at the right time for American conversations on race? To answer these questions, we're diving into world building, the process of creating realized worlds for (mostly) fictional stories and how anthropology could literally change the game.On this episode Astrid Countee joins Adam Gamwell to co-host a conversation with the very dynamic duo of biological anthropologist/archaeologist Kyra Wellstrom and cultural anthropologist Michael Kilman. Kyra and Michael are educators and authors, and their latest book caught our attention because it does two things at once. First, it serves as an introductory textbook for anthropology students, digging into key ideas like culture, ritual, food, power and death. But second, it’s premised around how to use anthropology for building better world for game design, fiction writing, and filmmaking. Building a better worlds is about creating more authentic characters based on actual science and data on culture. Thus the book is both an introductory text for anthropology students and creators.Production: Adam GamwellMusic: Take 2 - Pro ReesA Nifty Piece of Work - New FoolsRagtime - peerlessThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement

Charles Foster set out to answer one of the most perplexing questions of all - what sort of creatures are we humans? - in one of the most unique ways possible: immersing himself in experiences that evoke three central epochs in the development of consciousness - the upper Paleolithic, around 40k years ago, the neolithic, around 10k years ago when humans invented/stumbled upon and couldn’t get out of agriculture, and the Enlightenment, which ushered in the scientific revolution in Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.Interested in checking out Charles' new book Being a Human: Adventures in 40,000 years of Consciousness? We've got copies to give away!Music: Epidemic SoundsIntro - Jazz Bars - Dusty DecksOutro - Up & Down - Toby TranterEditing: Craig StantonResearch: Kiera MylesProduction: Adam GamwellThis show is part of the Spreaker Prime Network, if you are interested in advertising on this podcast, contact us at https://www.spreaker.com/show/5168968/advertisement