For Sociology

About For Sociology

"For Sociology" is the podcast of the Kohli Foundation, featuring conversations with some of the most distinguished minds in sociology. In each episode, we explore our guests' academic journeys, delve into their groundbreaking research, and gain unique insights into today's sociological challenges. The Kohli Foundation celebrates and promotes curiosity about societies. Learn more about our mission at kohlifoundation.eu.

Publisher

Kohli Foundation

Category

science · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Dec 2024

Latest episode

7 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

8 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Oct 2026

   For Sociology: Alex Hoppe

   Why does one pair of jeans feel right, while another looks hopelessly out of date? And how much of our personal fashion taste is shaped before we even enter a shop? In this episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners speaks with sociologist and Kohli Fellow Alex Hoppe about the people, processes and decisions behind the clothes we wear. Drawing on eleven months of fieldwork inside clothing factories in India, Alex explains how suppliers are taking on design work long associated with Western fashion capitals. Alex begins by recalling the socks he needed to fit in at school, which first sparked his interest in fashion and belonging, and how a month in Nicaragua at sixteen set him on the path to sociology. The conversation then turns to how suppliers help trends gather momentum, why fashion remains so difficult to predict, and what changing tastes in everything from clothes to baby names reveal about social life. Alex also reflects on his two years as a Kohli Fellow at the WZB Berlin Social Science Center and the slow work of turning field observations into a book. For Sociology is a podcast from the Kohli Foundation. Learn more at kohlifoundation.eu (https://kohlifoundation.eu/). 00:00 Introducing Alex Hoppe 02:27 Cool socks and fitting in 04:28 A turning point in Nicaragua 08:14 Why study fashion? 11:53 What is fashion? 15:26 When suppliers become designers 19:48 Inside India’s clothing factories 23:03 Turning fieldwork into a book 28:26 Who shapes what we wear? 30:11 Why trends are hard to predict 33:13 How designers spot trends 35:38 Quick-fire questions 41:41 The book and what comes next 45:46 Closing and credits

2. 

   15 Jul 2026

   For Sociology: Camille Portier

   Why do so many mothers never fully return to work after having a child? In this episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners talks with Camille Portier about the quiet forces shaping women's careers after childbirth — and why, in the US, something as simple as control over your own workday can matter as much as paid leave itself. Camille's research focuses on the US — the only wealthy country without guaranteed paid parental leave — where she traces how workplace autonomy can substitute for the benefits mothers don't have. The conversation also covers her academic path from social anthropology to quantitative sociology, her PhD years at Cornell during a politically turbulent moment in America, and the growing threats to social science research funding and data access. Guest: Camille Portier Research Fellow in Sociology, European University Institute Former Kohli Foundation Fellow, Max Weber Programme for Postdoctoral Studies Chapter Markers: 00:00 - Podcast Welcome 00:45 - Meet Camille Portier 01:59 - Finding Her Way to Sociology 02:54 - Anthropology vs. Sociology 04:36 - From Master's to PhD 06:28 - Studying Motherhood and Careers 07:00 - Autonomy as a Hidden Resource 07:54 - The Cost of Investing in Children 09:12 - Why Study Motherhood 10:01 - How Workplace Context Shapes Inequality 13:39 - Building the Data: O*NET and Its Limits 16:01 - Culture Shock: Moving to the US 17:43 - Rapid-Fire Questions 23:31 - Sociology Under Political Pressure 27:57 - Where Sociology Can Make a Difference 30:20 - What's Next for Camille 31:27 - Closing Thanks and Outro Rapid-Fire with Camille: Book/article she wishes she'd written: A study by Luft and Fries on socioeconomic status and diabetes treatment If not a sociologist: A cheese seller (or a journalist) Does her best thinking: Sitting on the floor or lying in bed, in the morning Sociological concept everyone should know: The life course Biggest misconception about sociology: That it's just common sense, not a rigorous science Kohli Foundation for Sociology: https://kohlifoundation.eu/

3. 

   21 May 2026

   For Sociology: Philip N. Cohen

   What if academic research — much of it funded by taxpayers — were freely available to anyone who wanted to read it? That's the simple but radical idea behind SocArXiv, the open-access preprint repository that this episode's guest, Philip Cohen, founded in 2016. Philip is a professor of sociology at the University of Maryland and the 2025 Kohli Infrastructure Prize for Sociology Laureate. In this conversation, he takes us behind the scenes of the fight to make social science research open, faster, and more equitable. We later zoom out to tackle a bigger question: What happens to sociology when the government starts treating it as the enemy? Guest Philip Cohen Professor of Sociology, University of Maryland Founder & Director, SocArXiv 2025 Kohli Infrastructure Prize for Sociology Laureate Chapter Markers 00:00 — Podcast Welcome 00:45 — Meet Philip Cohen 02:17 — What Is SocArXiv? 03:23 — How It Started 05:03 — Why Open Access Matters 07:09 — Journals and Preprints 09:02 — Openness and Trust 10:29 — A Personal Origin Story 12:36 — Rethinking Peer Review 14:52 — Building and Funding SocArXiv 16:52 — Adoption and Resistance 17:53 — Who Uses It 20:03 — Pitching It to Researchers 22:36 — Versioning and Retractions 24:30 — Surprises and AI Spam 25:46 — The Flood of AI Papers 26:16 — Plagiarism and Access 27:51 — "Publish Less, Better" 29:15 — Beyond Journals 31:45 — Data and Review 32:50 — Post-Publication Review 33:40 — Rapid-Fire Questions 37:52 — Sociology Under Attack 42:10 — Lessons From Europe 44:26 — Questions for the Next Decade 46:04 — Closing Credits Rapid-Fire with Philip Book he wishes he'd written: The Marriage-Go-Round by Andrew Cherlin If not a sociologist: Rockstar Does his best thinking: Early morning, before the phone wins Sociological concept everyone should know: The sociological imagination Biggest misconception about sociology: That researchers already know the answer before they begin Links & Resources SocArXiv: https://osf.io/preprints/socarxiv Center for Open Science: https://www.cos.io/ Kohli Foundation for Sociology: https://kohlifoundation.eu/ The Marriage-Go-Round by Andrew Cherlin

4. 

   26 Feb 2026

   For Sociology: Peter Bearman

   In this episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners speaks with Peter Bearman, Columbia University professor and recipient of the 2025 Kohli Prize for Sociology, about his landmark work on how social networks reveal the hidden structures shaping everyday life. Bearman traces his path into sociology, from an early childhood moment that sharpened his awareness of different social standpoints to an undergraduate turning point that pulled him away from clinical psychology. He reflects on the influence of mentor Harrison White, and how concepts like "duality" helped him see networks not just as connections between people, but as systems that organize social worlds. The conversation then turns to Add Health and Bearman's landmark work on adolescent networks, including "Chains of Affection." He explains what sexual network structure can teach us about disease transmission, and why "missing ties" can be as important as visible ones. Finally, Bearman zooms out to sociology today: the pros and cons of expanding data, the incentives that reward quantity over depth, and the kinds of reforms that could make room for riskier, more transformative research. Chapters: 00:00 Podcast intro 00:45 Meet Peter Bearman 02:11 Early sociological spark 06:58 From psychology to sociology 08:47 Undergrad turning point 11:11 Graduate school networks 12:27 Seeing the world in duals 15:20 Why networks matter 18:07 Dissertation and Add Health 21:21 Power of missing ties 25:10 Add Health origins 25:51 Chains of Affection 29:43 Rapid-fire questions 33:39 Duality and misconceptions 34:37 Outlook of Sociology today 35:51 Fixing academic incentives 39:16 The Deluge of data 42:31 Final thoughts Links: Find out more about The Kohli Foundation More about Add Health (https://addhealth.cpc.unc.edu/)

5. 

   28 Oct 2025

   For Sociology: Rory Fitzgerald

   Rory Fitzgerald on the European Social Survey: Insights and Innovations In this episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners sits down with Professor Rory Fitzgerald, Director of the European Social Survey (ESS) and recipient of the 2024 Kohli Infrastructure Prize, to uncover the story behind one of the most influential social research projects in Europe. Fitzgerald reveals the origins of the ESS, the meticulous methodologies employed, and some of the fascinating findings gleaned from over two decades of data collection across 30 countries. They also discuss crucial societal issues such as public trust, immigration attitudes, and the effects of sociopolitical change. Fitzgerald shares personal insights from his career and reflects on the future of the ESS — including the challenges of maintaining data quality and implementing innovative survey techniques. Tune in to discover how the ESS is shaping our understanding of European societies and beyond. Timestamps 00:00 Introduction to For Sociology 00:45 Meet Professor Rory Fitzgerald 02:15 Understanding the European Social Survey (ESS) 03:37 The History and Evolution of the ESS 06:07 Challenges and Compromises in Cross-National Surveys 08:18 Rory Fitzgerald's Journey with the ESS 09:59 Day-to-Day Operations of the ESS 16:21 Adapting the ESS During the Pandemic 22:24 Making Data Popular: Labeling and Accessibility 22:42 ESS Usage Across Academia and Media 23:50 Noteworthy Findings from ESS Data 25:47 Convergence and Stability in European Social Attitudes 27:09 Popular ESS Modules: Attitudes Toward Immigration 28:04 Rapid-Fire Questionnaire: Personal Insights 32:10 Challenges and the Future of Sociology 38:24 Exciting Developments in the ESS 40:37 Conclusion and Farewell Kohli Foundation's Website Website of the European Social Survey

6. 

   17 Jul 2025

   For Sociology: Michèle Lamont

   In this episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners sits down with Michèle Lamont, the 2024 Kohli Prize Laureate and one of the most influential sociologists of our time. A professor at Harvard University and former president of the American Sociological Association, Lamont has spent her career exploring how we define worth, dignity, and belonging in an increasingly divided world. Through a wide-ranging conversation, Lamont reflects on her intellectual journey from Quebec to the top ranks of global sociology. She shares the inspiration behind her landmark books—Money, Morals, and Manners and The Dignity of Working Men—and explains how her work on symbolic boundaries helps us understand everything from class conflict to cultural inclusion. We also dive into her latest research on young workers, the role of social movements, and how cultural narratives can reduce stigma and foster greater inclusivity. Finally, Lamont offers powerful insights—and a few surprises—on how sociology can rise to meet the moment. Episode Guide: 00:00 Introduction to For Sociology 00:44 Meet Michèle Lamont: 2024 Kohli Prize Winner 01:51 From Quebec to Harvard: Michèle’s Academic Journey 04:14 How Local Politics Shaped a Global Sociologist 08:51 Rethinking Social Worth and Inequality 10:28 Class Consciousness Across Cultures 14:39 Trump, Populism, and the Language of Belonging 22:04 Fighting Stigma: What Actually Works? 30:20 Rapid-Fire Reflections 43:20 Final Thoughts and Farewell

7. 

   1 Apr 2025

   For Sociology: Kathleen Mullan Harris

   In this episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners speaks with Kathleen Mullan Harris, recipient of the 2023 Kohli Infrastructure Prize for Sociology. Harris discusses her pivotal role in Add Health, a groundbreaking, nationally representative longitudinal study launched in the mid-1990s that has tracked over 20,000 individuals from adolescence to adulthood. The conversation delves into the study’s origins, methodologies, and major contributions, highlighting how Add Health has advanced our understanding of the intersections between social, biological, and health factors across the life course. Harris also shares insights into the challenges of managing such a large-scale study and her vision for its future—aiming to follow participants throughout the entire course of their lives. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction 00:44 – Meet Kathleen Mullan Harris: 2023 Kohli Infrastructure Prize Winner 02:33 – The Origins and Evolution of Add Health 05:12 – Challenges and Innovations in Add Health 06:26 – The Scale and Scope of the Study 08:49 – Data Collection and Participant Involvement 11:55 – Genetic Sampling and Oversampling 16:53 – Data Accessibility and Impact 20:49 – The Unexpected Success of Add Health 21:40 – Transition to a Longitudinal Study 22:03 – Innovations in Wave 4 23:57 – Integrating Biological and Social Factors 26:19 – Wave 5 and Future Directions 26:46 – Challenges in Longitudinal Research 29:09 – Significant Findings from Add Health 31:30 – Health Trajectories and Socioeconomic Factors 33:17 – Race, Ethnicity, and Social Mobility 34:41 – Personal Reflections and Sociological Insights 40:00 – The Future of Add Health and Sociology 41:29 – Conclusion and Farewell

8. 

   19 Dec 2024

   For Sociology: Gøsta Esping-Anderson

   In this first episode of For Sociology, host Kevin Caners sits down with Gøsta Esping-Andersen, the inaugural Kohli Prize Laureate of 2023. They discuss Esping-Andersen's groundbreaking work on social mobility and welfare states, including his seminal book The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism. Gøsta also reflects on his academic journey from Denmark to the University of Wisconsin, his motivations for studying sociology and demography, and the pivotal moments that shaped his career. Through our unique Proust Questionnaire, we discover that if Gøsta weren’t a sociologist, he’d likely be a carpenter. Finally, we hear about an unanswered question in sociology that fascinates Gøsta—the unexplained decline in fertility rates in advanced countries since 2012. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction to For Sociology Podcast 01:22 – Gøsta's Academic Journey 08:16 – The Three Worlds of Welfare Capitalism 14:15 – The Impact of Early Childhood Policies 17:18 – Challenges of the Liberal Welfare Model 18:55 – Stability of Welfare Models 20:40 – Proust Questionnaire with Gøsta 25:55 – State of Sociology Today 29:49 – The Fertility Puzzle 32:46 – Conclusion and Farewell

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Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 9 / 100

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19

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0

YouTube

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