Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact
Waseda University Podcasts: Rigorous Research, Real Impact
Podcast Description
On “Rigorous Research, Real Impact”, seven knowledgeable Waseda University researchers active in the fields of the social sciences and the humanities casually converse with the MC about their recent, rigorously conducted research, the positive impact it has on society, and their thoughts on working in Japan at Waseda in short 15 to 30 minute episodes.
Podcast Insights
Content Themes
The podcast covers a variety of topics such as gender diversity in executive roles, skilled migration policies, central bank digital currencies, cultural influences in fantasy gaming, and the effects of populism on democracy. For example, one episode discusses why women are increasingly appointed as Chief Human Relations Officers in the US while remaining underrepresented in other executive settings, and another explores the social constructs around skill in migration.
“Rigorous Research, Real Impact” showcases knowledgeable Waseda University researchers active in the fields of the social sciences and the humanities. From Season 2, which began streaming on Sept. 23, 2025, guests converse casually with PhD student hosts about their rigorously conducted research, their experience working in Japan at Waseda, and the merits of the English-based degree programs they are a part of in short 15-minutes episodes.
In this season two inaugural episode, Associate Professor Theron Muller from the Faculty of Human Sciences joins PhD student Peter Chai to discuss his research on translanguaging, which views languages as interconnected and synchronously working together, within the Japanese sociolinguistic context. The episode also highlights one of Waseda’s innovative English-based degree programs in the Graduate School of Human Sciences, where Professor Muller teaches. Additionally, he offers valuable insights for researchers considering academic careers in Japan, emphasizing both the unique opportunities and cultural transitions involved in joining Waseda’s vibrant community.
The research this episode is based on:
Muller, T., & Adamson, J. L. (2024). Translanguaging in writing for academic and publication purposes: Autoethnographic insights from the japanese tertiary context. In Researching Multilingually: Conceptual and Methodological Failures, Struggles and Successes (pp. 55-75). Channel View Publications. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781788925709-005
Link to the transcript: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/85788
About the Guest:
Dr. Theron Muller is an associate professor in the Faculty of Human Sciences, Waseda University. He has lived in Japan, including Nagano, Toyama, and Saitama, since 2000. Prof. Muller is an applied linguist and his interests include sociolinguists and English language teaching, specfically the interaction of language, society, and identity.
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