What Anthropologists Actually Do (It’s Not What You Think)

Most people have heard of anthropology but can’t define it. This episode unpacks what anthropologists actually do day to day—spoiler: it’s not just studying ancient bones or distant tribes. We explore the core method of ethnography (long-term immersion, participant observation, thick description), how it differs from sociology, and why primatologists like Jane Goodall belong in anthropology departments. Then we follow anthropologists into surprising workplaces: Intel, Google, the CDC, LEGO’s strategy consultants, and even controversial military programs. Along the way, we learn why the field’s ethical code puts subjects above institutions—and how spending two years in a village can change the researcher as much as the research.