The Asian Ethnology Podcast features conversations with scholars, researchers, editors, and practitioners working across anthropology, folklore, religion, media, and Asian studies. Alongside academic ideas and research, the podcast also explores the experiences, encounters, and unexpected moments that shape fieldwork, scholarship, and cultural life.
Developmental Ethics and the Question of “Worthwhile” Development
Ben Dorman speaks with Benjamin Huffman about the FIRE Program (First Year Innovation & Research Experience) and the role of ethics, critical thinking, and interdisciplinary learning in undergraduate education. Drawing on examples from philosophy, international development, and community engagement, Huffman explores what makes development genuinely “worthwhile,” the limitations of purely economic approaches to progress, and how students can cultivate ethical responsibility in a globally interconnected world. Recorded in conjunction with Huffman’s lecture at Nanzan University.
16 Mar 2026
When AI Trains on Our Books
An unexpected discovery raises a larger question: how do scholarly books end up in AI training datasets? This episode looks at shadow libraries, academic publishing, and the evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and scholarly knowledge.
This episode reflects on publicly reported discussions about AI training datasets and scholarly publishing.
27 Oct 2025
Moving Asian Ethnology to Scholastica
In this episode, Asian Ethnology co-editor and managing editor Ben Dorman discusses the journal’s ongoing move to the Scholastica publishing platform and the broader commitment to open access and sustainability that drives it.
Asian Ethnology has been publishing research on the peoples and cultures of Asia since 1942, first as Folklore Studies, then as Asian Folklore Studies, and now in its current form. The journal is fully funded by Nanzan University and remains free to read and free to publish in — a genuine Diamond Open Access model.
Ben reflects on the motivations behind the transition, including modernizing editorial workflows, improving discoverability, and offering readers content in both HTML and PDF formats. He also discusses the decision to discontinue self-produced print editions, focusing resources instead on digital accessibility, environmental responsibility, and long-term sustainability.
The episode highlights the people behind the journal’s work and emphasizes Asian Ethnology’s continuing mission to deepen understanding of Asia’s cultures, promote scholarly exchange, and connect researchers around the world.
Background music courtesy of shamisen master Koji Yamaguchi. Used with permission.
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