Mary Douglas Episodes

In this episode of People Stuff, anthropologists Dan and Michael tackle the order of things — from Zen monks who don’t clean corners to kids demanding cash for chores to dads who can’t let go of their stuff. They explore how cleanliness, clutter, and money all reveal what we value (and what we avoid). Along the way, Michael “fixes” Congress, Dan questions enlightenment, and both get a little dusty. Smart, funny, and deeply human — it’s anthropology for everyone who’s ever swept something under the rug.

Dan and Michael dive deep into the art of refusal — from saying “no” to conversations, to food, to entire worldviews. They tackle listener questions on political red-pilling, vaccine hesitancy, and culinary snobbery, blending real anthropology with absurd humor and social critique. Along the way, you’ll hear about podcast epistemology, purity and danger, and why your boyfriend’s palate might just be a symptom of American decline. This week’s “What Fresh Hell” features the ethics of scanning baseball card boxes with CT machines (yes, that’s a real thing), and “Fixing Shit” takes on the college admissions racket. Join the People Stuff crew for a thoughtful, irreverent, and deeply human take on what happens when people just refuse.