This week, I had my first telephone interview for an assistant professor position. Before it began, I mentally rehearsed the three-minute elevator speech of my dissertation, certain that the initial question was bound to be something along the lines of “Tell us about your research.” When the moment came, however, the search committee began by asking me how I would explain my research to my grandma or my neighbor. Tossing aside the elevator speech I had been advised to practice, I attempted to channel TSP.

As I reflected on the interview afterward, I felt dismay that my combination of nerves and lack of foresight kept me from saying what I’ve told countless strangers about how I study genocide (you would not believe the conversations I’ve had waiting in lines). The dismay soon gave way to excitement, though, because it’s exciting that the question was even asked. As Doug Hartmann shared in his recent sketch, “Dare to Engage in Dialogue,” much good can come from our abilities to translate our findings to the broader public, whether they are policy makers, pundits, or grandmas. And perhaps it’s wise to spend more time reflecting on how to frame what we do so we are better prepared for these conversations.

The Editors’ Desk

In “Dare to Engage in Dialogue,” Doug Hartmann discusses some of the benefits that come from conversations between social scientists and our publics.

Office Hours

In “What’s Wrong With Fat?” TSP’s Kyle Green chats with Abigail Saguy about how fat is framed as a problem and the potential for removing the stigma.

Teaching TSP

In “Framing and Counter-Framing,” Kia Heise suggests how to use Abigail Saguy’s podcast to study framing in the classroom.

 Citings & Sightings

In “Men on a Rampage,” Andrew Weibe spots research that examines how and why men are more lethally violent than women.

In “Daddy’s Home…Full Time,” John Ziegler focuses on a new Pew Research Center study that found more dads are staying home with their children.

And a Few From the Community Pages…

Soc. Images: Lisa Wade reviews the month of September in “This Month in Sociological Images”

Cyborgology: Jenny Davis on “Do You Still Think I’m Pretty?”

Girl w/Pen: Kyla Bender-Baird on “5 Ways White Feminists Can Address Our Own Racism”

Sociology Lens: Scarlett Brown on “What Can Harvard Business School Tell Us About Gender in Schools and Business?”