Thinking In Between: our podcast journey so far
Stephen Hibbs
As a newcomer to qualitative research and the social sciences, I have been interested in how theories and ideas take root in the thinking of researchers and influence the work that they do. Theories and methods can feel abstract and intimidating to me. When someone I know introduces me to a theory or method that they understand and use, this helps me see how I might use that theory or method myself.
This was the rationale for what was previously-called the APOLLO Social Science Podcast, adapting a structure used in the excellent Paradoxa podcast and the classic Desert Island Discs. We’ve recently changed our name to reflect the participation of people outside of our group and university, but our aims and structure remain the same. In the “Thinking In Between” podcast, we invite people working at the borderlands of social science and health research to choose three “big ideas” that have influenced their research journey and the way they think.
The ideas chosen could be in the form of a book, a paper, a method, a theory, or a theorist. Some of the ideas brought by guests so far include: practice theory, Bakhtin, narrative medicine, online interviewing, Maori research principles, participatory action research, “The Mystery of General Practice” (Iona Heath), designing interactions, Annemarie Mol, Critical Theory, Underground Sociabilities, and the “Righteous Dopefiend” ethnography.
This has been an enjoyable project to work on as a group. We’ve shared ideas of speakers and undertook a group exercise to choose our new name (credit to Deborah for the final suggestion!). There is also important behind the scenes work: careful listening by group members to help condense draft episodes to 45mins (ish!). I have been hosting most of the podcast episodes so far and I am looking forward to sharing this with Lucie who is currently finishing writing up her thesis. She interviewed me for episode 3 and her kind, curious, and respectful questions helped me express myself as a guest.
My hopes for the podcast are:
a) to bring alive new ideas/methods that listeners may be unfamiliar with
b) to show how social theory and methods can open up new ways of looking at health questions
c) to have conversations with interesting people as we go along.
Would you like to listen? Can you think of anyone else who might enjoy listening? You can find and share the podcast on the website (Outputs -> Podcast), on Spotify or on most other podcast players (search “Thinking In Between”). We would love to hear from you if you enjoy any particular episodes of the podcast or if you have ideas of people to speak to in future episodes.