AnthroPuzzled

About AnthroPuzzled

AnthroPuzzled is designed with the goal to help recent graduates and curious minds discover the exciting opportunities that a degree in anthropology can offer, even in the most unlikely of places. Each episode, we'll sit down with professionals from all four branches of anthropology; cultural, biological, linguistic, and archaeological; as they share their stories of how they carved out unique and fulfilling careers. We'll hear firsthand how they apply their anthropological training in surprising ways, whether they're working in corporate environments, non-profits, education, or even creative industries. Let's embark on this journey together and uncover the endless possibilities that await you in the world of anthropology. Tune in, get inspired, and start piecing together your own career puzzle.

Publisher

Abby Clemetson

Category

business · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

1 Sept 2024

Latest episode

16 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

58 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   16 Oct 2026

   Forensic Anthropology w/ Heather Garvin

   On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Dr. Heather Garvin, a board‑certified forensic anthropologist and professor of anatomy at Des Moines University. Heather holds degrees in anthropology, zoology, forensic and biological anthropology, and a PhD in functional anatomy and evolution from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has worked on forensic anthropology cases since 2005 and currently serves as the forensic anthropology consultant for the State of Iowa, providing expertise to state agencies, law enforcement, and federal partners including the FBI . Heather explains what forensic anthropology looks like in practice, from estimating biological profiles and interpreting trauma to assisting on decomposed, skeletal, or infant abuse cases where bones reveal critical evidence. She discusses the importance of board certification, the realities of working in a niche field, and the balance between teaching full‑time and being on call for casework. Heather reflects on her path into the discipline, her graduate training, the emotional labor of working with death, and the challenges of juggling academic responsibilities with medicolegal demands. She also highlights her research, publications, and outreach work aimed at educating future forensic pathologists and medical examiners about the role of forensic anthropology. Listen now to learn more about forensic anthropology, skeletal analysis, medicolegal investigations, anatomy education, and how anthropological training supports work within the forensic sciences.

2. 

   2 Oct 2026

   Child Protective Services w/ Katherine Ealey

   On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Katherine Ealey, an intake case worker for Child Protective Services. Katherine holds a bachelor's degree in sociology and anthropology and a master's degree in sociology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Her role centers on conducting initial assessments, interviewing families, and documenting reports of child abuse and neglect, work that requires cultural sensitivity, neutrality, and an ability to understand diverse caregiving practices. Katherine walks us through what CPS looks like on the ground, from balancing field visits with extensive documentation to navigating distrust, de‑escalating tense situations, and collaborating with therapists, courts, and community partners. She reflects on how anthropology informs her approach to family dynamics. The conversation explores ethnographic parallels in CPS assessments, the emotional labor of casework, media portrayals of CPS, understaffing, safety considerations, and the challenges of connecting families to diminishing social resources. Listen now to learn more about applied anthropology, cultural understanding, casework practice, family dynamics, and how anthropological perspectives shape work within child protective services.

3. 

   18 Sept 2026

   Digital Imperialism & Marginalized Labor w/ Chibundo Egwuatu

   Content Warning: On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Chibundo Egwuatu, a sociocultural anthropology PhD researcher and a systems strategist, organizer, and policy analyst focused on marginalized populations who live and work extralegally. With a background in human rights research and a special interest in tech futures, Chibundo examines how digital infrastructures shape the lives of those navigating multiple forms of precarity, surveillance, and enclosure across both physical and virtual terrains. Chibundo explains the concept of digital imperialism, highlighting the political and material infrastructures behind the internet and how sex workers' experiences reveal broader patterns of control, policing, and technological power. She discusses her path into anthropology, her interest in feminized labor, and how witnessing sex worker communities shaped her research trajectory. The conversation explores sex work as labor, SESTA/FOSTA, pandemic-era digital economies, and how marginalized communities navigate "streets" that morph across platforms, policies, and physical spaces. Chibundo also reflects on advocacy, coalition building, and the pushback she receives for studying taboo subjects. Listen now to learn more about digital anthropology, feminized labor, and how anthropologists engage with sensitive and politically charged topics.

Who has been a guest on AnthroPuzzled

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Michael Thomas
• Shane Townsend
• ANDREA DIGIORGIO

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

290

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

9 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 51 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

63

Social presence

0

YouTube

66

Engagement

32