Welcome to In the Thick of It. On this podcast, we talk to qualitative researchers about how they do what they do, one method at a time. This is a product of the Public Ethnography Lab, housed in the Department of Anthropology at American University. We are a new center focused on making ethnographic work matter beyond academia. In these episodes, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of anthropology by explaining the choices, challenges, and creativity that go into qualitative methods. Hosted by Eva Rey.
In the Thick of It
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Podcast Overview
Welcome to In the Thick of It. On this podcast, we talk to qualitative researchers about how they do what they do, one method at a time. This is a product of the Public Ethnography Lab, housed in the Department of Anthropology at American University. We are a new center focused on making ethnographic work matter beyond academia. In these episodes, we dive into the behind-the-scenes of anthropology by explaining the choices, challenges, and creativity that go into qualitative methods. Hosted by Eva Rey.
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Publishing Since
7/5/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 17, 2026
TEENography: Ethnography on Teenagers, by Teenagers
What happens when studies on teenagers come from teenagers themselves, rather than adults? What insights emerge – or are clarified – when teenagers are placed as central analysts in their own lives? These questions guide the work of the Museum of Contemporary American Teenagers (MoCAT). Started in 2017 by David Lopilato, anthropology teacher at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in Bethesda, Maryland, MoCAT serves as a structure in which students can get anthropological training, spearhead full lifecycle research projects, take on leadership roles, manage and design exhibitions, grow partnerships with major institutions, and share their work through in-person and virtual channels. In this episode, listeners will hear from David and three of his students, Amanda, Shoronya, and Simone, on the theory and importance of this work, topics they’re currently exploring, and their past and forthcoming projects. They discuss the teenager as a concept, social media, art, fear of failure, anthropological careers, and more. Visit and support MoCAT's work here: https://www.mocatpopup.org/
September 16, 2025
When time is short, can ethnography still go deep? With Dr. Thurka Sangaramoorthy
When time is short, can ethnography still go deep? In this episode, we talked with Professor Thurka Sangaramoorthy about this. Dr. Sangaramoorthy is a Professor and the chair of the Department of Anthropology at American University. She is a cultural and medical anthropologist and global health expert with over 25 years of experience in community-engaged ethnographic research across the United States, Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Her work focuses on the intersections of power, subjectivity, and care in global health systems, addressing issues like migration, infectious diseases, and environmental health disparities. Her prolific authorship includes four books: She’s Positive: The Extraordinary Lives of Black Women Living with HIV (Forthcoming), Landscapes of Care: Immigration and Health in Rural America (2023), Rapid Ethnographic Assessments (2020), and Treating AIDS: Politics of Difference, Paradox of Prevention (2014). Her public-facing scholarship has been featured in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Forbes Magazine, Newsweek, and The Washington Post. Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Resources: Read: “Rapid Ethnographic Assessments: A Practical Approach and Toolkit for Collaborative Community Research” by Thurka Sangaramoorthy and Karen A Kroeger Watch: “STEAM Salon with Dr. Thurka Sangaramoorty” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A6Wi9UdacYY
September 2, 2025
Can you do fieldwork on a roller coaster line? With Dr. Mary-Caitlyn Valentinsson
Can you do fieldwork on a roller coaster line? In this episode, we talked with Dr. Mary-Caitlyn Valentinsson about this. She is a linguist and anthropologist specializing in media, pop culture, and fan communities. She is the Manager of Ethnographic Research at Universal Destinations and Experiences. Dr. Valentinsson holds a PhD in Anthropology and Linguistics from the University of Arizona and a Master’s in Linguistics from the same university. Her training focused on ethnographic research, qualitative analysis, and discourse analysis. Music Credits: "Study And Relax" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Resources: The Anthropology Career Readiness Network: https://anthrocareerready.net/ Read: “Advertising Diversity: Ad Agencies and the Creation of Asian American Consumers” by Shalini Shankar
7 total episodes available
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