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Talk On — Debates in Anthropology

Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology 11 episodes Latest Jun 5, 2026

"Talk On — Debates in Anthropology" is a podcast produced by the Max Planck Institute for Social Anthropology in Halle (Saale), Germany. Each episode features one of three hosts—Christoph Brumann, Xenia Cherkaev, or Jovan Maud—discussing publications, research, and current debates in social anthropology with a guest. The podcast aims to explore anthropological topics in depth through conversation.

Episodes

Labor on the Line w/ Anna-Lena Wolf Jun 5, 2026 00:41:27 In this episode, Jovan Maud talks to Anna-Lena Wolf about her book *Labor on the Line — Justice at Work at Tea Plantations in Assam, India*. The book examines the concept of justice in the context of tea plantations in Assam, India, and how different actors—including workers, managers and activists—have differing notions of justice. Anna-Lena conducted long-term field research in Assam, where she

Back to the '30s? w/ Jeremy Rayner Mar 6, 2025 0:42:44 In this episode, Jovan Maud speaks with Jeremy Rayner about his co-edited publication 'Back to the ‘30s? – Recurring Crises of Capitalism, Liberalism and Democracy', that explores the political and economic dynamics of the 1930s and their relevance to contemporary issues. The discussion delves into the rise of authoritarianism, neoliberalism, and the role of economic power in shaping political lan

Gleaning for Communism w/ Xenia Cherkaev Feb 6, 2025 00:39:57 In this episode, Christoph Brumann speaks with Xenia Cherkaev about her book 'Gleaning for Communism', which Focaal: The Journal of Global and Historical Anthropology has listed among their "One Hundred Indispensable Works for Thinking in Our Times." The book is a historical ethnography of Soviet-era collectivist economies and their lasting legacy. It examines its object through a conceptual lens

Sleeping with Strangers w/ Julia Vorhölter Jan 9, 2025 00:33:36 In this episode, Christoph Brumann talks to Julia Vorhölter about her research on sleep and sleeplessness. Julia's personal struggle with insomnia led her to investigate why sleep, despite being essential, is under-explored in anthropology. They discuss the challenges of studying sleep, a private and indirect experience that is difficult to observe or communicate. Julia's fieldwork in sleep labs e

Seeking a Future for the Past w/ Philipp Demgenski Dec 5, 2024 00:34:08 In this episode, Christoph Brumann talks to Philipp Demgenski about his book "Seeking a Future for the Past: Space, Power, and Heritage in a Chinese City". The conversation centers around Demgenski's fieldwork in the Qingdao neighborhood of Dabaodao, a former German colony, where he explores the transformation from a slum to a heritage site. Demgenski's research aims to answer a crucial question:

Everyday economics of debt w/ Marek Mikuš Nov 7, 2024 00:32:54 In this episode of Talk On, host Jovan Maud talks to his guest Marek Mikuš about a topic concerning (almost) everyone: Debt and how people understand, manage, and live with it. They discuss Marek Mikuš's work in the Emmy Noether Group "Peripheral Debt", his research in the field, and how his forthcoming article "Tracking mortgage pathways in Zaghreb: Everyday economics of debt, housing wealth and

Migrants and Masculinity w/ Mario Schmidt Oct 3, 2024 00:35:33 In this episode, Christoph Brumann talks to Mario Schmidt about his research that led to his book 'Migrants and masculinity in High-Rise Nairobi: the pressure of being a man in an African city'. Among other things, they talk about how many male migrants design their future on trajectories of personal and economic growth but have to adjust or indefinitely postpone their plans once they arrive in Ke

Frontiers of Belonging w/ Annika Lems Sep 5, 2024 00:29:07 In this episode, Jovan Maud talks to Annika Lems about her book "Frontiers of Belonging. The Education of Unaccompanied Refugee Youth" published by Indiana University Press. During the conversation, they address the specifics of Swiss integration policy. Which is comparable to the refugee policies of many other European countries. But how well does this system work?

An Anthropology of Nonreligion? w/ Mascha Schulz Aug 1, 2024 00:33:26 In this episode, Christoph Brumann talks to Mascha Schulz about her research on nonreligion in Bangladesh. Further, they discuss the special issue "An Anthropology of Nonreligion?" published in the Berghan journal "Religion and Society" edited by Mascha and Stefan Binder. They touch on topics like why Anthropology is a latecomer in Nonreligious Studies, why it is no less important, forms of organi

Documenting the Undocumented w/ Romm Lewkowicz Jul 4, 2024 00:29:27 In this episode, Jovan Maud talks to Romm Lewkowicz about his research on how migration specifically in Europe became a laboratory for experimentation in documentation and documentation technologies.

Self as Method — Thinking through China & the World w/ Xiang Biao Jun 6, 2024 00:33:37 In this episode, Christoph Brumann talks to our director Biao Xiang about his bestselling book 'Self as Method — Thinking through China and the World'. During the conversation, they touch on topics such as Chinese youth, the gentry, Hannah Arendt, how failure can lead to success, why language is more important than theory, and why everyone is a stranger.