What if the best tool for building fictional worlds wasn’t a writing craft book, but a century of real cultural research?

Ask an Anthropologist About Worldbuilding is a live Q&A series where I sit down with experts from across disciplines and translate their knowledge into practical worldbuilding tools through an anthropological lens. Some guests are authors and craft experts. Some are scientists, historians, and specialists in fields you might not expect. All of them have something that makes fictional worlds feel more real.

New episodes stream live on YouTube and are archived here. Bring your worldbuilding questions.

Need One on One Help?
If you want hands-on help with your specific project, I offer worldbuilding consultations. The first 15 minutes are free and can change your world forever.

Current Episodes

What the Dead Say: Egyptology, Childhood, and the Sacred ft. Courtney McRae Crawford
Egyptologist Courtney McRae Crawford, who has spent over seven years living in Egypt and holds a master’s from the American University in Cairo, joins me to explore ancient Egyptian magic, mummification, and what 600 analyzed child burials reveal about how a society values its youngest members. We dig into the race debate surrounding ancient Egypt, the trade networks linking Egypt to Afghanistan and Nubia, and why modern Egyptians often feel cut off from their own ancient heritage.

Horses, Domestication & Worldbuilding ft. J.R. Frontera
Science fiction and fantasy author J.R. Frontera joins me to dig into the anthropology of domestication and what horses can teach writers about building believable worlds. We cover the real limits of horse speed and endurance, how the Mongol Empire’s horse culture gave them a decisive military edge, and the fictional horse details that make experienced riders cringe.

Why Your Fictional World Needs Folklore ft. Dr. Jeana Jorgensen
Folklorist Dr. Jeana Jorgensen joins me to talk about the rumors, jokes, superstitions, and folk beliefs that make a culture feel lived-in from the inside out. We cover why fairy tales have no single correct version, how folklore can function as both social glue and a tool of oppression, and how graffiti during the Arab Spring became its own form of resistance folklore.

Biology and the Body ft. Kyra Wellstrom Forensic anthropologist and co-author of Build Better Worlds, Kyra joins me to answer your questions about bodies, decay, and all the visceral details that make fictional worlds feel real. Streamed on March 26, 2026

Hearth and Home in Worldbuilding ft. Stant Litore Author of Write Worlds Your Readers Won’t Forget and the inspiration behind the Emmy-nominated Love Death and Robots episode Running with the Tyrannosaur, Stant joins me to explore what makes a fictional world feel like home. We cover solastalgia, ancient Roman domestic space, Keith Basso’s concept of place, and why character wounds are the engine of the best plot choices.

Worldbuilding with Anthropology: Writing Cultures, Myths, and Believable Societies A solo deep dive into how anthropological thinking builds more coherent fictional cultures. Covers myth structures, social organization, and what makes a society feel lived-in rather than invented.

Ask an Anthropologist About Worldbuilding: Live Q&A for Writers and Creators The inaugural episode. An open Q&A exploring how anthropology applies to fiction writing, game design, and filmmaking.

Want to go deeper?

Build Better Worlds: An Introduction to Anthropology for Game Designers, Fiction Writers, and Filmmakers is the most comprehensive resource I have put together on anthropological worldbuilding. Co-written with forensic anthropologist Kyra Wellstrom, it gives you the building blocks for creating more authentic and immersive worlds based on real social science.