On the latest episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Patti Sunderland, founding principal of Cultural Research and Analysis Inc.

Patti discovered anthropology in college, a perspective she says continues to shape her work in consumer research. After early projects in luxury markets and time at a nonprofit research institute, she eventually built her own firm. Anthropology, she notes, helps her look beyond individual behaviors to the broader cultural patterns driving them.

Today, Patti conducts consumer and cultural analysis to support branding and product development, using interviews, observation, and focus groups. Her process includes crafting proposals, designing research, conducting fieldwork, often across countries, and delivering final insights to clients.

She also reflects on ethics in consulting, acknowledging the challenge of not always knowing how findings will be used, while emphasizing the importance of turning down work that doesn't align with one's values.

Tune in to learn how anthropology shapes consumer research.

On this episode of AnthroPuzzled, we speak with Dr. Eric Shattuck, Assistant Professor of Biological Anthropology at Florida State University.

Initially drawn to cultural anthropology, Eric discovered his passion for evolutionary medicine and the ways pathogens can influence host behavior. Today, his teaching and research explore human variation, adaptability, and especially the social dimensions of health and disease.

Eric's work in social immunology examines how culture and social connections shape immune function and responses to illness. He discusses how social interaction can both strengthen immune health and facilitate disease spread, insights that underscore the complex ties between human behavior and infection.

We also explore presenteeism, why people go to work while sick, how COVID-19 has reshaped attitudes toward illness, and how cultural norms around sick leave differ across societies.

Tune in to learn how anthropology sheds light on the spread of infectious disease and our collective well-being.

On this episode of Anthropuzzled, we speak with Paulina Meléndez, an independent scientist and researcher whose work bridges the fields of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology.

Her expertise lies in understanding how the study of human remains can illuminate both past societies and present-day issues. Bioarchaeology helps us interpret how people once lived, ate, and interacted with their environments, insights that continue to inform our understanding of humanity today. Forensic anthropology, meanwhile, applies these methods to identify missing persons and assist in criminal investigations.

Her passion lies in uncovering the connections between archaeological sites, their histories, and the people who once inhabited them. Whether through bioarchaeology or forensic work, Paulina approaches each case as an opportunity to piece together the human story. Paulina also discusses the emotional challenges that can arise when working closely with human remains and highlights the importance of maintaining a strong support system and a healthy work-life balance.

Tune in to hear Paulina's reflections on the development of anthropology as a field and her insights into the world of bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology.