Episodes

Dan and Michael welcome Jeopardy Tournament of Champions contestant Mike Dawson to explore trivia, fandom, history class suffering, tarot cards, fascist coups, and whether useless knowledge might secretly run society.

Season 3 of People Stuff is arriving soon — theoretically. Dan and Michael read off-season listener mail, confront accusations of academic indolence, hear from a trucker philosopher, and discover what happens when teenagers start demanding anarcho-syndicalist households. Anthropology advice returns…

Stress is biological, cultural, symbolic—and everywhere. Dan, Michael, and guest scientist Michelle Rensel tackle hunting anxiety, high-school panic patterns, the cult of self-discipline, and why everyone feels one layoff away from catastrophe. Smart, funny, and a little too real.

Dan and Michael sit down with author and sports historian John Florio to dig into the strange, brilliant, and often chaotic world where sports, culture, and business collide. From the myths we tell about athletes to the politics that shape games on and off the field, this episode cuts through the n…

This week, Dan and Michael accidentally dismantle the U.S. economy with the help of linguistic anthropologist Steve Black. We talk about why everyone thinks a new car should cost $30k (it shouldn’t), why letters of recommendation are medieval hazing rituals, and why quitting your job feels like a m…

“Why are the horses allowed to hit us?”

Anthropologists Dan and Michael take on workplace personality tests, IQ tracking, and pop psychology’s obsession with turning people into types.

Dan and Michael welcome genetic counselor and professional vegetarian Saanchi Shah to explore why humans attach so much identity to food — from paleo diet mythologies to prepper gardening obsessions to the gym bro who thinks raw meat makes you a better person. Also: a stolen 18-karat gold toilet, f…

This week on People Stuff, anthropologists Dan and Michael get very, very lost — in Carmel-by-the-Sea, at the dinner table, and even among the dead.

Takeaways Cleanliness is culturally specific and varies widely. The concept of the Rapture has been a recurring theme in religious discussions. Zen practices can lead to conflicts in communal living situations. Allowance for ...

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael explore various themes surrounding parenting, cultural differences in child-rearing practices, the rise of TikTok detectives, privacy in the digital age, and the complexities of gender identity. They discuss the nuances of disciplining other people's…

In this episode, Dan and Michael explore the limits of psychology, the decline of social gatherings among young Americans, and the role of alcohol as a social lubricant. They discuss the rise of chatbot therapy and its implications for self-reflection, as well as the complexities of fandom and the …

In this encore episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael check to see whether the truth is out there by boosting a UFO conspiracy, endorsing the use of body doubles as a high school teaching technique, and offering relationship advice to help you avoid serial killers in the Pacific Northwest. It rem…

In this encore episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael venture into the wicked and unknown by riffing on the admirable traits of vampires, parsing the stupidity of Nazi stans, and sending a love letter to the Jersey Devil. If your heart lives in the Pine Barrens, this episode is for you.

In this episode of People Stuff, hosts Dan and Michael explore profound questions about the human condition, individuality versus societal influence, the role of family in human development, and future anthropological perspectives. They engage with questions from a class at Georgia State University…

As we are in between seasons, we present this encore presentation of Dan and Michael Go To Ikea. People Stuff is a write-in anthropology podcast. In this episode, Dan and Michael go to Ikea and give advice on furniture shopping and relationships, whether you should make your bed, and how best to br…

Dan and Michael demand to know why everyone is taking pictures of themselves standing in line these days. If you pine to be seen being seen, this episode is for you.

Dan gives an update on the end of Season 1 and previews what to expect in Season 2 of People Stuff. A big thanks to those of you who submitted questions! Expected to hear your questions and our answers in the upcoming season....

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael let the road rage take them as they discuss the finer points of parking etiquette, the morality of self-driving taxis, and various hyperloop taboos. We’re starting to think America might have a problem with its billionaires. Anyway, if you’re still c…

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael get deep into gossip by interpreting rumours about poisoned Halloween candy, fact checking political speech, and figuring out where the best deer stand is in the suburbs. This episode gives some truth to the old aphorism that there are lies, damn lie…

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael inquire into the health democracy by complaining about techno-fascists, advising a parent to go full ratf!ck on a high school election, and consoling activists about their endless meetings. I’m not sure we would vote for us. But, if you think the peo…

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael check to see whether the truth is out there by boosting a UFO conspiracy, endorsing the use of body doubles as a high school teaching technique, and offering relationship advice to help you avoid serial killers in the Pacific Northwest. It remains to…

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael drop names by advising against cringe bar branding, pondering what truth may be in gun club advertising, and wonder whether changing your name is enough to recover one’s youth. It’s not. But if you’re trying to figure out what to call something, this…

In this episode of People Stuff, Dan and Michael imagine what it’s like to work for a living by giving some advice to a graduating high school student, reflecting on robots and boredom on the factory line, and speculating on just how true a job advertisement on an oil field can be. Why anyone would…