Elephant in the Room-Unboxed

Libraries as Cultural Laboratories: Storytelling, Trust, and 21st-Century Leadership with Dr. Larry White

What if your local library isn’t just a quiet place for books, but a living cultural lab? In this episode, hosts Suzette Chang and Dr. Robin Miles sit down with Dr. Larry White — former CEO of the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City, storyteller, and veteran library leader — to explore how public libraries preserve identity, build trust, and help communities adapt. From serving Afghan refugees with sewing machines to redesigning library spaces for Vietnamese neighbors, Dr. White reveals how observation, storytelling, and cultural anthropology are transforming libraries into dynamic third places. Plus: why a library card might be the most powerful tool you’re not using.

Making the World Safer for Diversity: Finding Community, Serving Leadership, and the Secret Sauce of Applied Anthropology with Dr. AJ Faas

In this episode of Elephant in the Room Unboxed, hosts Suzette Chang and Dr. Robin Miles welcome Dr. AJ, an applied anthropologist and president of the Society for Applied Anthropology (SFAA). Dr. AJ shares his unique journey from a young musician hitchhiking across the country to becoming a servant leader in academia. The conversation dives deep into the future of anthropology, the attack on higher education and diversity, and the transformative power of genuine community. Dr. AJ reveals the "secret sauce" behind SFAA’s culture of belonging, why he rejects the idea of standing "on the shoulders of giants," and how true leadership means working yourself out of a job. If you’ve ever wondered where anthropology is headed or how to find your people in a lonely world, this unboxed conversation is for you.

The Weight of Wellness: Unpacking Anthropology, Activism, and Authentic Leadership with Dr. Kamela Heyward-Rotimi

We are so happy to bring back new episodes for the “Elephant in the Room - Unboxed” podcast! In this episode, co-hosts Suzette Chang and Dr. Robin Miles sit down with practicing anthropologist Kamela Heyward-Rotimi, Ph.D., Executive Director, The Knowledge Exchange Research Group (KERG), for a powerful conversation about the intersection of anthropology, activism, and leadership. Dr. Heyward shares her origin story: from a pivotal moment with anthropologist Dr. Johnnetta B. Cole at Spelman College to navigating pushback against her "too political" and interdisciplinary research. She reflects on the lessons of "little Kamela," the complexities of trust in fieldwork across the African diaspora, and why auto-ethnographic methods and Native Anthropology are essential for ethical scholarship.  The conversation culminates in a deep exploration of a quote from Toni Cade Bambara’s The Salt Eaters, "a lot of weight when you're well", examining the responsibility that comes with healing and wellness, both personally and within community. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on disrupting traditional systems, owning your voice, and bridging the gap between higher education and public spaces.

Anthropology as Liberation: Black Feminism, Education & Critical Thinking with Dr. Brendane Tynes

In honor of Women’s History Month, we are thrilled to bring back a powerful conversation between two Black women anthropologists who are reshaping the way we think about education, identity, and community. In this episode of Elephant in the Room Unboxed, host Suzette Chang sits down with the Dr. Brendane Tynes as they talk about the crisis in the American education system, the deliberate attack on critical thinking, and the importance of reclaiming our narratives. Dr. Tynes shares her personal journey from being a first-generation college student in South Carolina to earning her doctorate, reflecting on the microaggressions and systemic racism she faced even as a high-achieving student. They explore the danger of putting people in boxes, the difference between Black feminism and womanism, and how anthropology serves as a vital tool for liberation and understanding the world around us. In this episode you can learn about: - The role of anthropology in developing critical thinking skills - Navigating spaces as a Black woman in academia and beyond - The difference between "politeness" and honesty in the South and "Charm City" - The public education crisis: Racism, resource inequality, and the illusion of "learning loss." Resources & Links: Follow Dr. Tynes’ work and listen to her podcast, Black Loved and Free, on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at blacklovedandfreepodcast.com. Thank you for our partner, Respect Diversity Foundation!

Starting Uncomfortable Conversations That Matter with Suzette Chang and Dr. Noel Jacobs: Thick Descriptions and Respect Diversity Foundation Partnership

What does it take to not just live side by side, but to truly understand, appreciate, and respect one another? Revisit foundational episode of "Elephant in the Room-Unboxed" on the partnership behind the podcast with Suzette Chang, CEO and Founder of Thick Descriptions, and Noel Jacobs, Executive Director of the Respect for Diversity Foundation. Suzette and Noel get radically personal, sharing the pivotal experiences that launched their life's work and flesh-out why these two organizations do this work meaning discussing, understanding and offering solutions for what it means to be a human being, to have human experiences and how humans can have quality lives in Oklahoma and around the world.