Nora and Margret introduce their applied anthropology podcast which explores themes of health technology and society.
In the ever-evolving landscape of digital media, podcasts have emerged as a powerful tool for disseminating knowledge and fostering intellectual discourse. The Igdra Space Podcast Series 2 – Applied Anthropology, is hosted by us, Nora and Margret, two anthropologists.
This piece explores the objectives of the podcast, its conceptual framework, and how it has been received by an audience, situating it within the broader context of anthropological and health communication in the digital age.
Applied anthropology
Applied anthropology is a subfield of anthropology that uses anthropological knowledge, theories, and methods to solve ‘real-world’ problems and address practical issues in various settings: communities, organisations, or businesses. For example, when professionals use co-creation to address matters of community service provision, such as waste management or public health education, they are applying techniques from anthropology (community engagement, interviews) and anthropological modes of analysis.
Unlike traditional anthropology, which takes a non-applied approach to understanding human culture, applied anthropology actively engages with contemporary social, economic, or health challenges, aiming to create positive and practical change. While many academic studies have collected data on incidents of violence against health professionals in clinical settings, for example, we took a different approach and collected data from three different units in one hospital, formulating recommended changes to the system used to report violent incidents: the Critical Incident System (CIRS). Our changes suggested that some workers feel harms are ‘too small’ to be reported, meaning that many harms fail to be reported at all. Our proposed changes- based on an applied anthropology framework- included getting others, rather than the victim, to report incidences of violence in the hospital, as well as to categorically change what constitutes a ‘violent incident.’ (Jaeger, Wiesinger, Wahl 2021).
In general, applied anthropology has limited visibility in Europe but has received increasing attention due to financial cuts at universities. Very few university departments include a focus on applied research, although applied projects are held at the University of Basel, the Central European University, and Stockholm University – among others. The Applied Anthropology Network (AAN) of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) is the biggest initiative in Europe since 2010 promoting the discipline (Pasquini & Jaeger 2024). Our project is supported by the network which helps to spread the word of applied anthropology.
Our objectives and vision for the podcast
Our podcast aims to bridge the gap between academic anthropology and public understanding. We envision it as a platform for translating complex anthropological concepts into accessible narratives for a diverse audience. By doing so, we seek to demonstrate the relevance of anthropological insights to contemporary social issues and everyday life, such as the rise of anthropological methods (collecting and analysing data) in the monitoring of health and illness (episodes 3 and 7). We talk about how anthropological methods are applied in different fields and how current technologies change its application through speeding up data collection and analysis- which is important outside the academic setting (episode 8). Our approach aligns with the broader trend of using digital media to enhance public engagement within anthropology, as seen in various podcasts (Matt Artz’s Sapiens and This Anthro Life) that leverage storytelling to convey complex ideas (Parija & Shrivastava 2022).
Our goal is for the podcast to serves as a valuable resource for a diverse audience, including Chief Executives, Human Resource leaders, Information and Technology managers, NGO representatives, and healthcare professionals. Listeners may gain actionable insights into enhancing customer satisfaction, improving collaborative practices amid increasing systems complexity, and developing innovative technologies that truly address human needs in our digital age, ultimately helping employees, customers, and patients thrive.
True to its title, the podcast emphasises the practical applications of anthropological knowledge. Episodes explore how anthropological insights can inform policy-making, social interventions, and everyday decision-making. The podcast highlights organisational change and transformation management. This focus reflects our commitment to using anthropology as a tool for positive change in organisations (including health systems) and for society. Many anthropologists work in impactful jobs outside academia, for example Doris Burtscher, an Austrian medical anthropologist has conducted research for Doctors without Borders (MSF) for 20 years to inform improvements in humanitarian healthcare by highlighting how cultural beliefs and social contexts shape health behaviours and access to care.
Our content – thematic diversity
The podcast covers a wide range of anthropological subjects, focusing on applied anthropology and change management, a key concept in project management discourse. Change management refers to the structured approach, and set of methods, that organisations use to prepare for, implement, and sustain changes in their processes, technologies, or structures. It encompasses both the technical and human aspects of change, ensuring that both incremental and transformational transitions are successful, causing minimal disruption. Applied anthropology plays a vital role in change management by providing deep insights into organisational culture and human behaviour. By analysing the implicit rules, rituals, and mental models that shape workplace dynamics, applied anthropologists help organizations understand the sources of resistance to change and develop strategies that foster acceptance and engagement. Methods such as ethnographic research, storytelling, and cultural audits, enable leaders to see their organisations from new perspectives, identify hidden points of frictions, and design interventions that are culturally appropriate and sustainable at an organisational level. This holistic approach not only minimises resistance but also promotes innovation, collaboration, and long-term adaptability in a constantly evolving environment.
Recent episodes have explored topics such as:
- Diversity management in health services and how to bridge gaps in communication: in this episode, Margret talks about her experience in healthcare in Austria over the last 15 years, and the solutions available to bridge communication barriers in day-to-day health care provision.
- Anthropological thinking and methods in business and IT practices: in this episode, the American entrepreneur Scarleth Milenka shares unique insights into the cultural impact of AI, the challenges of virtual environments, and why organisations need a human-centred approach to technology.
- The role of anthropologists in bridging the gap between politics and society in addressing climate change: in this episode, Gaia Campanelli, an Italian living in the UK, talks about co-creation as a method of translating complex scientific knowledge into actionable policies at an international and national government level.
- Applied anthropology as a game-changer in Health-Tech: in this episode, the Chinese anthropologist Bo Wang uses his expertise working for a US health company to design and evaluate telehealth services.
These topics are reflective of the podcast’s mission to explore how anthropology can be applied in diverse contexts, from organisational change to social projects. To enhance audience engagement, the podcast incorporates interactive elements such as guest interviews with anthropologists from around the globe, sharing compelling stories and insights, allowing for a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences.
Challenges and Future Directions
As with any digital media project, the podcast faces challenges in maintaining consistent content production and an increasing audience. We are exploring ways to expand our reach, including collaborations with academic anthropology departments and cultural institutions.
Looking ahead, we plan to incorporate more diverse voices and perspectives, and explore emerging anthropological methodologies, such as digital ethnography and multimodal anthropology.
Conclusion
The igdra space Podcast Series 2 – Applied Anthropology represents a significant contribution to the landscape of applied anthropology in the digital age. By focusing on practical applications, including in the health context, we are not only disseminating anthropological knowledge but also demonstrating its relevance to a broad audience in diverse industries and social fields. As the podcast continues to evolve, it holds the potential to shape public understanding of anthropology and inspire new generations of practitioners in the field.
About the authors
Margret Jaeger is an Austrian medical anthropologist who works in the field of digitalisation in healthcare. She founded several initiatives for teaching in health professions education, coordinates the working group for structural competency for German-speaking countries, and is co-founder of the initiative “medical anthropology for health professionals in the Arab world”. Her recent research focusses on: endometriosis, nurse migration, NICU care and the LGBTQIA+ community, pedeiatric emergency simulations and non-academic nursing education.
Nora Engelbert is a cultural anthropologist and transformation strategist who co‑hosts the igdra space podcast. Bridging academia and business, she champions human‑centered innovation through applied anthropology, inspiring leaders to lead with courage, empathy, and co‑creation in today’s complex digital world
References
Artz, M. Podcasts. https://www.mattartz.me/podcasts/
Igdra Space. (n.d.). Anthropologie, Kulturwandel und neue Ansätze der Zusammenarbeit. Retrieved from https://igdra-space.podigee.io
igdra-space.org. (n.d.). Podcast. Retrieved from https://www.igdra-space.org/podcast
Jager, M., Wiesinger, J. and Wahl, J. (2021). Violence against health workers. https://thepolyphony.org/2021/08/31/violence-against-health-workers/
MSF: Doris Burtscher https://www.aerzte-ohne-grenzen.at/person-profile/doris-burtscher accessed on the 7th of May 2025.
[Oxigênio] – Laboratório de Pesquisa. https://www.oxigeniolab.com.br/
Parija, S. C., & Shrivastava, S. R. (2022). Role of Podcasts in the Effective Delivery of Medical Education. SBV Journal of Basic, Clinical and Applied Health Science, 5(2), 27-28.
Pasquini, M., & Jaeger, M. (2024). Applied anthropology’s invisibility in Europe. Human Organization, 83(2), 100-105.
Podcast: This Anthro Life. https://www.thisanthrolife.org/episodes/
Podcast: SAPIENS: A Podcast for Everything Human speaks with anthropologists from around the globe to uncover what makes us human. https://www.sapiens.org/podcast-seasons/
