In the Thick of It

The Public Ethnography Lab
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Welcome to In the Thick of It. On this podcast, we talk to qualitative researchers about how they do what they do, one method at a time. This is a product of the Public Ethnography Lab, housed in the Department of Anthropology at American University. We are a new center focused on making ethnographic work matter beyond academia. In these episodes, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of anthropology by explaining the choices, challenges, and creativity that go into qualitative methods. Hosted by Eva Rey.

Episodes

  1. 09/16/2025

    When time is short, can ethnography still go deep? With Dr. Thurka Sangaramoorthy

    When time is short, can ethnography still go deep? In this episode, we talked with Professor Thurka Sangaramoorthy about this. Dr. Sangaramoorthy is a Professor and the chair of the Department of Anthropology at American University. She is a cultural and medical anthropologist and global health expert with over 25 years of experience in community-engaged ethnographic research across the United States, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Her work focuses on the intersections of power, subjectivity, and care in global health systems, addressing issues like migration, infectious diseases, and environmental health disparities. Her prolific authorship includes four books: She’s Positive: The Extraordinary Lives of Black Women Living with HIV (Forthcoming), Landscapes of Care: Immigration and Health in Rural America (2023), Rapid Ethnographic Assessments (2020), and Treating AIDS: Politics of Difference, Paradox of Prevention (2014). Her public-facing scholarship has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes Magazine, Newsweek, and The Washington Post.   Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   Resources: Read: “Rapid Ethnographic Assessments: A Practical Approach and Toolkit for Collaborative Community Research” by Thurka Sangaramoorthy and Karen A Kroeger   Watch: “STEAM Salon with Dr. Thurka Sangaramoorty” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Wi9UdacYY

    59 min

  2. 09/02/2025

    Can you do fieldwork on a roller coaster line? With Dr. Mary-Caitlyn Valentinsson

    Can you do fieldwork on a roller coaster line? In this episode, we talked with Dr. Mary-Caitlyn Valentinsson about this. She is a linguist and anthropologist specializing in media, pop culture, and fan communities. She is the Manager of Ethnographic Research at Universal Destinations and Experiences. Dr. Valentinsson holds a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in Linguistics from the same university. Her training focused on ethnographic research, qualitative analysis, and discourse analysis.   Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   Resources:   The Anthropology Career Readiness Network: https://anthrocareerready.net/   Read: “Advertising Diversity: Ad Agencies and the Creation of Asian American Consumers” by Shalini Shankar

    53 min

  3. 08/19/2025

    What happens when ethnography leaves the university? With Amir Mohamed

    What happens when ethnography leaves the university? In this episode, we talked with Amir Mohamed about this. Amir holds a PhD in Anthropology from Cornell University, and he is a research consultant who leads end-to-end research projects that drive meaningful change within organizations. He specializes in designing and managing research that brings clarity to complex business challenges, collaborating closely with executives, field leaders, and subject matter experts to deliver insights that truly resonate. He has worked across industries as diverse as retail, hospitality, healthcare, finance, and media, helping organizations align their strategies with real-world human experience.   Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    55 min

  4. 08/05/2025

    What does a playful anthropology look like? with Mike Sullivan

    What does a playful anthropology look like? In this episode, we talked with Mike Sullivan about this. He is a creative community catalyst with over 20 years of experience as an executive director, an educator, a performer, a project manager, and an entrepreneur. Mike holds a BA in Anthropology and an MA in Public Anthropology. He has received two awards from Capital of Children for co-creation and entrepreneurship. He is the Founder of Anthroplayology and the creator of WhatBox, a mobile pop-up adventure playground.   Resources: Lifelong Kindergarten: https://www.media.mit.edu/groups/lifelong-kindergarten/overview/ Experimentarium: https://www.experimentarium.dk/en/ The Exploratorium: https://www.exploratorium.edu/ City Museum of St. Louis: https://citymuseum.org/ Line Rider: https://www.linerider.com/   Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

    50 min

  5. 07/22/2025

    What does it take to keep a public anthropology lab alive? With Giselle Figueroa de la Ossa

    What does it take to keep a public anthropology lab alive? In this episode, we talked with Giselle Figueroa about this. She is a PhD candidate at the Department of Anthropology at the London School of Economics and Political Science and the Founding Director of the Laboratorio de Antropología Abierta (Open Anthropology Lab). She is a SAPIENS Public Scholar Training Fellow and has received the Wenner-Gren Wadsworth International Fellowship, as well as support from the Colombian Ministry of Science and Technology. Her academic interests are Economic Anthropology and the Anthropology of Globalisation, with a focus on natural resources.   Resources:   Open Anthropology Lab: https://www.antropologiaabierta.org/ SAPIENS Podcast: https://www.sapiens.org/culture/purification-gold-racialization-miners/ Kaleidos: https://www.kaleidos.ec/ Anthropology for Kids: https://a4kids.org/about/ The Ethnography Studio at USC: https://ethnographystudio.org/ Allegra Lab: https://allegralaboratory.net/   Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/   About In the Thick of It and the Public Ethnography Lab: Welcome to In the Thick of It. On this podcast, we talk with researchers about how they do what they do, one method at a time. In the episodes, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of anthropology by explaining the choices, challenges, and creativity that go into qualitative methods. Our first season is hosted by Eva Rey, PhD Candidate at American University. This is a podcast is a project of the Public Ethnography Lab. The Public Ethnography Lab is a new center housed in the Department of Anthropology at American University that is focused on making ethnographic work matter beyond academia. The lab has three primary functions: Foster, promote, and increase the use and appreciation of ethnographic methods Support students, practitioners, and organizations in their ethnographic practice Create ethnographic collaboration in order to advance community-driven social change Want to know more? Visit the lab website: https://www.publicethnographylab.com/ Find us on: Instagram LinkedIn

    44 min
  6. Can ethnography be a tool for activism? With Dr. Manissa Maharawal

    07/05/2025

    Can ethnography be a tool for activism? With Dr. Manissa Maharawal

    Can ethnography be a tool for activism? In this episode, we talked with Professor Manissa Maharawal about this. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Anthropology at American University. She is a cultural anthropologist and critical geographer. Her work focuses on eviction, race, displacement, and the spatial and temporal dynamics of contemporary urban social movements. She co-founded the Narratives of Displacement and Resistance Project within the Anti-Eviction Mapping Project. Dr. Maharawal is currently revising her new book manuscript titled: Anti-Eviction: Contesting Tech-Led Gentrification in San Francisco. Resources: Anti-Eviction Mapping Project: https://antievictionmap.com/   Ethnographies to read: “Progressive Dystopia: Abolition, Antiblackness, and Schooling in San Francisco.” – Savannah Shange “On the Plaza: The Politics of Public Space and Culture.” – Setha M. Low Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ About In the Thick of It and the Public Ethnography Lab: Welcome to In the Thick of It. On this podcast, we talk with researchers about how they do what they do, one method at a time. In the episodes, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of anthropology by explaining the choices, challenges, and creativity that go into qualitative methods. Our first season is hosted by Eva Rey, PhD Candidate at American University. This is a podcast is a project of the Public Ethnography Lab. The Public Ethnography Lab is a new center housed in the Department of Anthropology at American University that is focused on making ethnographic work matter beyond academia. The lab has three primary functions: Foster, promote, and increase the use and appreciation of ethnographic methods Support students, practitioners, and organizations in their ethnographic practice Create ethnographic collaboration in order to advance community-driven social change Want to know more? Visit the lab website: https://www.publicethnographylab.com/ Find us on: Instagram LinkedIn

    45 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Welcome to In the Thick of It. On this podcast, we talk to qualitative researchers about how they do what they do, one method at a time. This is a product of the Public Ethnography Lab, housed in the Department of Anthropology at American University. We are a new center focused on making ethnographic work matter beyond academia. In these episodes, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of anthropology by explaining the choices, challenges, and creativity that go into qualitative methods. Hosted by Eva Rey.

Information

  • Creator
    The Public Ethnography Lab
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
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    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
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    In the Thick of It