In this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Michael Thomas, Senior VP at Space Doctors, a cultural consulting firm. Michael shares how his background in cognitive anthropology shapes his work, first designing trucks at Ford, then applying ethnographic methods to global branding and consumer insight. His first experience with fieldwork, interviewing truck drivers, revealed just how wrong industry assumptions can be, and ignited his passion for anthropology.

We explore how anthropology helps consultants better understand human behavior, cultural signals, and how products can communicate meaning. Michael explains how culture shapes perception, from what we value to how we make decisions, and how ethnographic research brings those hidden layers to light.

He also critiques the tendency to reduce culture to surface-level traits like fashion or music, arguing for a deeper view that recognizes complexity and difference. Anthropology, he says, is essential to challenging stereotypes and understanding people beyond broad categories.

Tune in to hear how anthropology expands what’s possible in the world of consulting, and how it offers powerful tools for seeing people, culture, and communication in a whole new way.

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Shane Townsend, a storyteller, diplomat, and lifelong public servant whose career has been guided by a deep commitment to helping others. His advice? Write down what you truly want, not what others expect of you. Then go after it with intention.

Shane says he feels most alive when he's listening to or sharing stories—and he's built a career doing exactly that. Growing up in a close-knit community that valued storytelling and mutual support, Shane developed strong values that carried him into college, where studying anthropology gave him a powerful lens for understanding how culture shapes everything we do. More importantly, it connected him with a mentor who helped him turn those values into action.

Shane has held a wide range of roles—from Peace Corps volunteer to Foreign Agricultural Service Officer. In the Peace Corps, he received intensive language and cultural training that prepared him to live and work in communities around the world, building lifelong friendships and learning to adapt with care. As a Foreign Service Officer with the USDA, Shane listens to the needs of communities abroad and works to match local challenges with U.S. policy solutions—guided always by the stories people share.

Tune in to hear how anthropology, storytelling, and a heart for service shaped Shane’s global journey.

In this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we’re joined by Andrea DiGiorgio, a lecturer in both the Writing and Anthropology departments at Princeton University, a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University, and a conservation marketer. Andrea brings a unique blend of academic insight and real-world advocacy to our discussion, which focuses on the ethics of wildlife imagery and the diverse roles within academia.

Andrea teaches courses that bridge writing, anthropology, sustainability, and conservation. She is passionate about educating and learning from the next generation of scholars while continuing her own research and writing. Her academic work explores the intersections of communication, ethics, and environmental responsibility.

Outside the classroom, Andrea serves as a conservation marketer and secretary for a research group under the Society for Conservation Biology. Her work focuses on how wildlife is portrayed in media — particularly the problematic trend of sharing photos taken dangerously close to animals. These images, while often well-intentioned, can encourage unsafe behavior that endangers both people and animals.

Andrea is actively involved in outreach efforts, contacting individuals and organizations to raise awareness about the risks of close wildlife encounters. Her work highlights the importance of respecting animals' space — for their safety, our own, and the health of ecosystems. She has a special focus on primates, a connection rooted in her early experiences working in zoos.

Tune in to hear how Andrea blends academic research, conservation, and media literacy to advocate for responsible wildlife representation online.

In this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we talk with Shauna Mundt, a senior historical archaeologist at Pacific Legacy Inc. and lead archaeologist for the Martinez Cemetery Preservation Alliance. Shauna specializes in Cultural Resource Management (CRM), where she works to identify, preserve, and document historical artifacts—often under challenging field conditions and strict legal guidelines.

Shauna shares how CRM differs from academic archaeology, including the ethical responsibilities, unpredictable project locations, and the reality of looting. She also explains how tools like GIS mapping support site preservation and how anthropology skills—like recognizing patterns in human behavior—are central to her work.

Her path into archaeology wasn’t traditional. After working in corporate aviation and navigating vision loss, she found her passion in anthropology and now applies those early life skills to fast-paced, high-stakes fieldwork.

This episode offers a thoughtful look at what it means to protect cultural heritage and why understanding the past is essential to making sense of the present.

On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we talk with Angela VandenBroek, Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology and Business at Texas State University. Angela shares her winding path into anthropology and how she’s applied it in unexpected places—from archaeology to retail—showing that anthropology is a versatile mindset and toolkit, not just a career.

Angela explains how anthropology can improve business practices by helping companies better understand people—both consumers and employees. She highlights its role in strategy, culture, and innovation, especially for entrepreneurs.

In her teaching, Angela emphasizes that human behavior is complex and can't be understood through yes-or-no questions. She encourages students to take an empathetic approach—putting themselves in others' shoes to better understand different perspectives.

Tune in to learn how anthropology can powerfully shape the world of business.

On today’s episode of AnthroPuzzled, we talk with Edher Zamudio, Student Services Specialist at UC Davis and part-time Ethnic Studies Instructor at Cosumnes River College. We dive into how anthropology can inform and improve student support work in higher education.

Edher grew up in Peru and moved to the U.S. near the end of high school. His journey through college and graduate school was shaped by mentors who helped him find his path—an experience that now motivates him to be that guide for others.

In his work, Edher acts as both a mediator and mentor. He helps students—especially those who are undocumented or recently relocated—navigate university systems, understand policies, and feel supported. He also works closely with program coordinators to make sure students are receiving what they need to succeed. Edher’s background in applied anthropology plays a key role in how he approaches his work. Drawn to the discipline’s focus on understanding people and cultures, he credits anthropology with making him a more empathetic and effective advocate.

Tune in to hear how anthropology can be a valuable tool in student services—and how it’s helped Edher support students in meaningful, lasting ways.

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we were honored to interview Nirupama Hayden, a Certified Diversity Executive and Associate Consultant. We discuss how anthropological knowledge is vital in jobs with diversity components and in negotiation.

Companies today face a multitude of challenges, among the most pressing being issues related to belonging and inclusion. These challenges lead to inefficiencies in client services and create unhealthy work environments. As a diversity executive, Nirupama works with companies to identify the best solutions to these problems and ensure they do not arise again.

Nirupama applies her understanding of anthropology to address the root causes of workplace issues. She also leverages these skills to analyze and navigate the unique social environments within each company. According to her, many workplace problems stem from miscommunication between different levels of the organization. To foster an ideal work environment, employees must learn to collaborate, compromise, and communicate effectively. Her work ensures that all employees feel safe and heard in their workplace. Additionally, she emphasizes the importance of acknowledging and addressing diversity issues with care and intentionality.

Beyond consulting, Nirupama also applies her anthropological expertise in teaching. She creates positive learning environments that significantly increase passing rates and enhance student success. By incorporating the communication skills she advocates for as a diversity executive, she makes her classes engaging and impactful. Her teaching leaves lasting impressions on many students, even altering the course of their lives.

Stay tuned to learn more about how anthropology skills are an asset in diversity and consulting work.

In this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we sit down with Mujtaba Hameed, an anthropologist and Associate Director at Stripe Partners, a technology consulting firm. Together, we explore what it means to be a consultant and how anthropology plays a crucial role in this field.

Mujtaba, an applied anthropologist, specializes in ethnography and user research, tracking the shifts and changes in modern technology and culture. By staying up to date with the ever-evolving world of technology, he formulates strategies that help clients like Apple, Google, and Instagram stay ahead of the curve. His deep curiosity about human behavior allows him to translate complex insights into actionable plans, ensuring his clients can best utilize technology to benefit themselves.

Mujtaba also draws on his linguistic skills to present these insights in an accessible and understandable way for clients, making his advice both practical and impactful. His work has taken him from LA to Tokyo and beyond, offering a global perspective and a unique anthropological lens for understanding and influencing the tech industry.

Tune in now to uncover how anthropology is shaping the world of technology consulting!