Elephant in the Room-Unboxed

In this episode of Elephant in the Room Unboxed, Suzette Chang sits down with museum consultant, educator, curator, and Johns Hopkins University lecturer Jon West-Bey to explore the power of museums to preserve human stories and shape collective memory.

Jon shares his journey from volunteering at a museum to founding the American Poetry Museum at age 27, and reflects on entrepreneurship, funding, leadership, and the evolving role of museums. Together, Suzette and Jon discuss the connections between museums, anthropology, archaeology, and history; and why the next generation must help reimagine how we document and understand humanity.

Jon has curated over 60 exhibitions and produced and managed numerous award-winning public, educational, and multimedia programs across multiple disciplines, including history, art, literature, and cultural studies. He is also the founder of the American Poetry Museum in Washington, D.C., and spent 10 years as its executive director. As a consultant, he has had a client list that has included the Urban Civil Rights Museum in Harlem, the Black Wall Street History Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and the Motown Museum in Detroit, Michigan.

In this episode, co-hosts Suzette Chang and Dr. Robin Miles sit down with Dr. Neil Tashima, founding partner of LTG Associates, the oldest anthropologically based consulting firm in North America, for a candid and inspiring conversation about career pivots, community-driven leadership, and the evolving role of anthropology in a tech-driven world.

Dr. Tashima shares his journey from academic probation to becoming a practicing anthropologist, the lessons learned from coaching high school football and growing up in a Japanese-American intentional community, and the values that shape his approach to leadership and service. The discussion also dives into the rise of AI, its ethical implications, and how anthropologists are uniquely positioned to shape its future. Packed with wisdom for emerging anthropologists, this episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating the intersection of culture, purpose, and innovation.

In this episode of The Elephant in the Room, Suzette Chang and Dr. Robin Miles sit down with Ady Arguelles-Sabatier, Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association, to explore how anthropology shapes leadership, curiosity, and our understanding of the world. Ady shares her journey as the daughter of Cuban immigrants, a first-generation college student, and an anthropologist who transformed her training into a career in nonprofit leadership. She shares how her anthropological training informs her leadership style, the importance of sitting in uncomfortable conversations, and why she believes the discipline is more relevant than ever in navigating today's cultural and technological disruptions.

Ady Arguelles-Sabatier is the CEO and Executive Director of the American Anthropological Association (AAA), leading the organization’s strategic vision and member engagement since mid-2023. At AAA, she champions anthropology’s relevance in addressing today’s most pressing societal challenges. Her leadership emphasizes fostering a deeper understanding of human diversity, safeguarding academic freedom, and expanding opportunities for the application of anthropological knowledge in public and global contexts.

In this episode, Suzette Chang and Dr. Robin Miles sit down with Carlos Moreno, who shares how listening to elders in Tulsa’s Greenwood District shaped his understanding of history beyond the 1921 Tulsa Massacre, and why stories of Black and Latino innovation (from internet pioneers to his own grandmother) deserve to be told. He reflects on the Terence Crutcher case, the criminal justice system’s entanglement with poverty, and the quiet power of small acts, like hiring two neighborhood kids to weed a garden, to rebuild community trust. A conversation about how anthropology, leadership, and everyday choices can create the world we want to live in.

Carlos Moreno, MPA is a community affairs analyst at Family & Children's Services, serving the Recovery Services Division which works closely with Oklahoma criminal justice system and community partners to reduce the negative impacts of incarceration. Carlos also works as a local historian & journalist in Tulsa, and is the author of two books: The Victory of Greenwood and A Kids Book about the Tulsa Race Massacre. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Administrative Leadership in 2017 and a Master of Public Administration (MPA) degree with a focus on civic technology in 2020 from the University of Oklahoma. He serves on the board of Tri City Collective, Urban Coders Guild, and the World Stage Theatre Company.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Join Suzette Chang of Thick Descriptions for a compelling conversation with educator and activist Dr. Judith Coker. From witnessing "white flight" and teacher strikes in 1970s Oklahoma to analyzing today’s political climate in education, Dr. C shares firsthand historical insight and urgent concerns about the state of Oklahoma’s schools. They delve into community trust, the power of local engagement, and why respectful, uncomfortable conversations are vital for change. This episode explores how anthropology can reshape learning and what it truly takes to build schools where every child and teacher can thrive.