Podcasts about human evolutionary biology

Chris and Cristina chat with Dr. Ian Wallace, an Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of New Mexico, where he is the director of the Human Physical Activity Lab. As an Evolutionary Anthropologist, Ian's work focuses on how humans evolved to use their bodies and explores the costs and benefits of modern physical activity patterns for our health. He is particularly interested in populations transitioning from non-industrial to industrial and post-industrial contexts. Ian earned his Ph.D. in Anthropology in 2013 from Stony Brook University, where his dissertation examined how physical activity and genetics determine limb bone structure. Following graduate school and an initial postdoctoral position at Stony Brook, he completed his postdoctoral training in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard and started his own lab at UNM. There, he focuses on measures of locomotor biomechanics and their ties to the health and function of the musculoskeletal system. Recently, his fieldwork has focused on the Indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. In particular, he is interested in how their lifestyles are changing with the rapid expansion of industries, the market economy, and urban areas across Malaysia, as well as how these changes affect their health and risk of disease. ------------------------------ Find the papers discussed in this episode: Wallace, I. J., Worthington, S., Felson, D. T., Jurmain, R. D., Wren, K. T., Maijanen, H., Woods, R. J., & Lieberman, D. E. (2017). Knee osteoarthritis has doubled in prevalence since the mid-20th century. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114(35), 9332–9336. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1703856114 Wallace, I. J., Lea, A. J., Lim, Y. A. L., Chow, S. K. W., Sayed, I. B. M., Ngui, R., Shaffee, M. T. H., Ng, K. S., Nicholas, C., Venkataraman, V. V., & Kraft, T. S. (2022). Orang Asli Health and Lifeways Project (OA HeLP): a cross-sectional cohort study protocol. BMJ open, 12(9), e058660. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058660 ------------------------------ Contact Dr. Wallace: Website: https://www.ianjwallace.com/; E-mail: iwallace@unm.edu ------------------------------ Contact the Sausage of Science Podcast and Human Biology Association: Facebook: facebook.com/groups/humanbiologyassociation/, Website: humbio.org, Twitter: @HumBioAssoc Chris Lynn, Host Website: cdlynn.people.ua.edu/, E-mail: cdlynn@ua.edu, Twitter:@Chris_Ly Cristina Gildee, Co-host, SoS Co-Producer, HBA Junior Fellow Website: cristinagildee.org, E-mail: cgildee@uw.edu

Hi friends, We're taking care of some spring cleaning this week. We'll be back in two weeks with a new episode. In the meantime, enjoy this favorite from our archives! - The Many Minds team ––––––––– [originally aired February 22, 2024] Brains are not cheap. It takes a lot of calories to run a brain, and the bigger your brain, the more calories it takes. So how is it that, over the last couple million years, the human brain tripled in size. How could we possibly have afforded that? Where did the extra calories come from? There's no shortage of suggestions out there. Some say it was meat; others say it was tubers; many say it was by mastering fire and learning to cook. But now there's a newer proposal on the table and—spoiler—it's a bit funky. My guests today are Katherine Bryant, Postdoctoral Fellow at Aix-Marseille University, and Erin Hecht, Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard. Katherine, Erin, and another colleague are the authors of a new paper titled 'Fermentation technology as a driver of human brain expansion.' In it, they argue that fermented foods could have provided the caloric boost that allowed our brains to expand. Here, we talk about how the human body differs from the bodies of other great apes, not just in terms of our brains but also in terms of our bowels. We discuss the different mechanisms by which fermented foods provide nutritional benefits over unfermented foods. We consider how fermentation—which basically happens whether you want it to or not—would have been cognitively easier to harness than fire. Along the way, we touch on kiviaq, chicha, makgeolli, hákarl, natto, Limburger cheese, salt-rising bread, and other arguably delectable products of fermentation.  This is a fun one friends. But before we get to it: a friendly reminder about this summer's Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute. This a yearly event in St Andrews, Scotland; it features a rich program of lectures and events devoted to the study of cognition, mind, and intelligence in all its forms. If you have a taste for cross-disciplinary ferment and bubbly conversation, DISI may be for you. The application window is now open but is closing soon. You can find more info at DISI.org. That's D-I-S-I.org. Alright, friends, on to my conversation with Erin Hecht and Katherine Bryant. Enjoy!     A transcript of this episode is available here.   Notes and links 3:00 – A popular science article about the “infectiously delicious confection” that is salt-rising bread. A recipe for the bread.  6:00 – An article about makgeolli, a Korean rice wine. An article about chicha, the traditional corn-based fermented beverage that has been banned in some places. 11:30 – An article about the role of the arcuate fasciculus in language processing. A recent paper by Dr. Bryant and colleagues comparing the arcuate in humans and chimpanzees. 12:30 – A recent article by Dr. Hecht and colleagues on the evolutionary neuroscience of domestication.   13:00 – For discussions of the encephalization quotient (aka EQ) and of human brain evolution, see our previous episodes here and here. 15:00 – The classic paper on the “expensive tissue hypothesis.” 22:00 – An article about the role of meat in human evolution; an article about the role of tubers. The cooking hypothesis is most strongly associated with Richard Wrangham and his book, Catching Fire.  26:00 – A recent article on evidence for the widespread control of fire in human groups by around 400,000 years ago. 31:30 – A paper on how fermenting cassava reduces its toxicity. 38:30 – There have been various claims in the ethnographic literature that the control of fire has been lost among small groups, such as in Tasmania. See footnote 2 in this article. 44:30 – A popular article about kiviaq.  45:00 – The article from the New Yorker, by Rebecca Mead, about the foodways of the Faroe Islands.  53:00 – For more discussion of the so-called drunken monkey hypothesis, see our previous episode about intoxication.   1:00:30 – A popular article about hákarl, which is fermented Greenland shark.   Recommendations The Botany of Desire, by Michael Pollan The Art of Fermentation, by Sandor Katz Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Katz “How humans evolved large brains,” by Karin Isler & Carel van Schaik   Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute, which is made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation to Indiana University. The show is hosted and produced by Kensy Cooperrider, with help from Assistant Producer Urte Laukaityte and with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd. Our transcripts are created by Sarah Dopierala. Subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also now subscribe to the Many Minds newsletter here! We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com.  For updates about the show, visit our website or follow us on Twitter (@ManyMindsPod) or Bluesky (@manymindspod.bsky.social).

When it comes to finding happiness, many religions see marriage as the gold standard: a path to love, stability, and fulfillment. But is that really true? And if so, why are marriage rates plummeting in so many parts of the world?In this episode, we'll talk to anthropologist Joseph Henrich about the surprising history of marriage and monogamy, including how these institutions helped lay the groundwork for much of our modern way of life. We'll also speak with psychologist Geoff MacDonald about what it means to live a happy, single life in a world that often prioritizes partnership, and why marriage might not offer the best road to fulfillment for everyone. Joseph Henrich is the Ruth Moore Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, and the author of The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous. Geoff MacDonald is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Toronto, where he leads the MacDonald Social Psychology Research Laboratory, which aims to study well-being in singlehood. 

Why do we find it so hard to exercise despite knowing how good it is for us? Is sitting really the new smoking? And what can we learn about movement from studying populations who live more traditional lifestyles?   My guest today is the brilliant Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Biological Science and Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research studies how and why the human body is the way that it is, focusing on the evolution of physical activities such as walking and running and their relevance to health and disease. He has published more than 200 peer-reviewed papers and three books, including his most recent, Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved To Do is Healthy and Rewarding.   In this conversation, we cover so many fascinating topics and explore the powerful idea that humans have not actually evolved to exercise.   We compare the sitting habits of modern humans with more traditional societies and Daniel shares why it may not be how long we sit for that is causing us problems, but more the way in which we choose to sit. We also talk about the profound importance of maintaining strength and activity as we age, the relationship between movement and cancer, the truth about barefoot running and minimalist shoes and the concept of 'mismatch diseases' - this idea that our modern environment is in direct conflict with our evolutionary design, and the impact this is having on our wellbeing.   Throughout the conversation, Daniel challenges many common beliefs that exist around health, and offers us evidence-based, practical strategies for building a healthier relationship with physical activity.    Whether you're interested in the science of movement, looking to build sustainable exercise habits into your life, or simply curious about how our ancestors lived, this is a truly wonderful conversation with one of the world's most highly respected experts. I hope you enjoy listening.   Support the podcast and enjoy Ad-Free episodes. This January, try FREE for 30 days on Apple Podcasts https://apple.co/feelbetterlivemore. For other podcast platforms go to https://fblm.supercast.com.   Thanks to our sponsors: http://www.vivobarefoot.com/livemore https://thriva.co https://calm.com/livemore https://drinkag1.com/livemore   Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/514   DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.

We know that smiling is a universal human expression of happiness. Everyone smiles - in fact, even babies born blind smile. What is the purpose of smiling? So, what does smiling do for you? Why are we attracted to a person's smile? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief look at smiling. https://www.livescience.com/5254-smiles-innate-learned.html We have all kinds of rituals. There are religious rituals, family rituals, holidays rituals, personal rituals – rituals are everywhere. By definition, rituals don't actually do anything really. They are just rituals. So why do we have them at all? It appears we have them because they are important and necessary according to my guest, Dimitris Xygalatas. He is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist who runs the Experimental Anthropology Lab at the University of Connecticut. He is also author of the book Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living (https://amzn.to/3Pq7U4b). We all know exercise is important for our health. Still, a lot of people hate it. Why is something so vital to human health so despised and avoided by so many? Maybe we never really evolved to exercise – at least not the way exercise is done today. This is according to Daniel E. Lieberman. Daniel is a professor of biological sciences and a professor of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is also the author of the book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding (https://amzn.to/3hoPQea). Listen and you'll never again feel guilty the next time you decide you really DON'T want to go out and exercise. Salt is bad for your blood pressure – that is common knowledge. But is it true? Does eating salt actually elevate blood pressure and does reducing salt help to lower it? Listen as I reveal some of the science regarding salt and blood pressure and why potassium is also an important player in this story. https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/relationships-between-salt-potassium-6609.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!!! INDEED:  Get a $75 SPONSORED JOB CREDIT to get your jobs more visibility at https://Indeed.com/SOMETHING  Support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast.  Terms & conditions apply. AURA: Save on the perfect gift by visiting https://AuraFrames.com to get $35-off Aura's best-selling Carver Mat frames by using promo code SOMETHING at checkout! SHOPIFY:  Sign up for a $1 per-month trial period at https://Shopify.com/sysk . Go to SHOPIFY.com/sysk to grow your business – no matter what stage you're in! MINT MOBILE: Cut your wireless bill to $15 a month at https://MintMobile.com/something! $45 upfront payment required (equivalent to $15/mo.).  New customers on first 3 month plan only. Additional taxes, fees, & restrictions apply. HERS: Hers is changing women's healthcare by providing access to GLP-1 weekly injections with the same active ingredient as Ozempic and Wegovy, as well as oral medication kits. Start your free online visit today at https://forhers.com/sysk DELL: It's your last chance to snag Dell Technologies' lowest prices of the year before the holidays! If you've been waiting for an AI-ready PC, this is their biggest sale of the year! Shop now at https://Dell.com/deals PROGRESSIVE: The Name Your Price tool from Progressive can help you save on car insurance! You just tell Progressive what you want to pay and get options within your budget. Try it today at https://Progressive.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it really mean to grow up? For chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, the journey from infancy to adulthood is as complex, awkward, and revealing as our own. Primatologist Dr. Kris Sabbi takes us deep into the lives of juvenile chimps, exploring the web of social behaviours, hormonal development, and environmental factors that shape who they become. Guest: Dr. Kristin Sabbi - College Fellow in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What are "WEIRD" cultures? What percentage of the world's population is WEIRD? Why do WEIRD cultures tend to use analytic thinking (as opposed to the wholistic thinking used in non-WEIRD cultures)? Does school make you more intelligent or merely more knowledgeable? Do individualistic cultures tend to innovate more than collectivistic cultures? How does moral reasoning differ between WEIRD and non-WEIRD cultures? Is the world becoming more WEIRD? How diverse are non-WEIRD cultures?Joseph Henrich is currently the Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. Before moving to Harvard, he was a professor of both Economics and Psychology at the University of British Columbia for nearly a decade, where he held the Canada Research Chair in Culture, Cognition, and Coevolution. His research deploys evolutionary theory to understand how human psychology gives rise to cultural evolution and how this has shaped our species' genetic evolution. Using insights generated from this approach, Professor Henrich has explored a variety of topics, including economic decision-making, social norms, fairness, religion, marriage, prestige, cooperation, and innovation. He's conducted long-term anthropological fieldwork in Peru, Chile, and in the South Pacific, as well as having spearheaded several large comparative projects. In 2016, he published The Secret of Our Success (Princeton) and in 2020, The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West became psychologically peculiar and particularly prosperous (FSG). Learn more about his work here, or follow him on Twitter / X at @JoHenrich.StaffSpencer Greenberg — Host / DirectorJosh Castle — ProducerRyan Kessler — Audio EngineerUri Bram — FactotumMusicBroke for FreeJosh WoodwardLee RosevereQuiet Music for Tiny Robotswowamusiczapsplat.comAffiliatesClearer ThinkingGuidedTrackMind EasePositlyUpLift[Read more]

Exercise culture is crazy. But what you need to do is exceedingly simple. Up Next ► Does exercise enhance creativity?   • Does Exercise Enhance Creativity?  | ...   We hold many misconceptions about exercise. For example, we believe our ancestors were incredibly strong, or that there is a tradeoff between speed and strength. The worst myth is that it's normal to be less physically active as you get older. But modern hunter-gatherers remain physically active as they age. Humans need about 150 minutes of exercise per week to be healthy, but 80% of us aren't getting even that. A good solution is simply walking more. ----------------------- About Daniel Lieberman: Daniel Lieberman is Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and a professor of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He received degrees from Harvard and Cambridge, and taught at Rutgers University and George Washington University before joining Harvard University as a Professor in 2001. He is a member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Lieberman loves teaching and has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, many in journals such as Nature, Science, and PNAS, as well as three popular books, The Evolution of the Human Head (2011), The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease (2013), and Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding (2020). ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think: ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pro-athletes are entertainers. Being healthy means something else. Up Next ► Harvard professor debunks the biggest exercise myths   • Harvard professor debunks the biggest...  There's a cost to keeping your body running. For every five breaths you take, one is paying for your brain, one is paying for your liver, and another is paying for your muscles.  On average, your body spends about 1,400 calories per day just keeping you alive, even if you're doing nothing else. This helps explain why we tend to avoid unnecessary physical activity.  For our ancestors, finding food could be incredibly difficult, so they didn't waste energy. Today, even though have energy sources ready at our fingertips, we still naturally protect how we spend that energy. --------------------------------- About Daniel Lieberman: Daniel Lieberman is Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and a professor of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He received degrees from Harvard and Cambridge, and taught at Rutgers University and George Washington University before joining Harvard University as a Professor in 2001. He is a member of American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Lieberman loves teaching and has published over 150 peer-reviewed papers, many in journals such as Nature, Science, and PNAS, as well as three popular books, The Evolution of the Human Head (2011), The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health and Disease (2013), and Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding (2020). ------------------------------- Go Deeper with Big Think:- ►Become a Big Think Member Get exclusive access to full interviews, early access to new releases, Big Think merch and more ►Get Big Think+ for Business Guide, inspire and accelerate leaders at all levels of your company with the biggest minds in business ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, I will be talking to Dr. Erin Hecht. She received her bachelor of science degree in cognitive science from the University of California, San Diego in 2006, and her PhD in neuroscience from Emory University in 2013. Before moving to Harvard, she was a research scientist at the Center for Behavioral Neuroscience at Georgia State University and an affiliated scientist at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center at Emory University.Dr. Hecht joined the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University in January of 2019. Her lab studies brain behavior, evolution, and dogs, primates, and humans. And she has two miniature Australian shepherds, Lefty and Izzy, who are mostly good. In this episode, we cover recent studies indicating that different breeds have slightly different brain structures. This discovery opens up a whole new avenue for understanding what traits might have been selected for in breeding - each breed may have unique cognitive strengths and weaknesses. We also discuss how to interpret genetic studies, and the relationship between dog size, brain size, and behavior. Finally - and excitingly, we discuss ongoing studies in which you can participate! You can find more information on these studies - and sign up to participate - at caninebrains.org. You can get more information on Dr. Hecht and her work at https://heb.fas.harvard.edu/people/erin-hecht. And, of course, if you'd like to geek out about dog behavior even more, please visit my Dr. Spaulding's website www.sciencemattersllc.com for even more opportunities for science learning.

Brains are not cheap. It takes a lot of calories to run a brain, and the bigger your brain, the more calories it takes. So how is it that, over the last couple million years, the human brain tripled in size. How could we possibly have afforded that? Where did the extra calories come from? There's no shortage of suggestions out there. Some say it was meat; others say it was tubers; many say it was by mastering fire and learning to cook. But now there's a newer proposal on the table and—spoiler—it's a bit funky. My guests today are Katherine Bryant, Postdoctoral Fellow at Aix-Marseille University, and Erin Hecht, Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard. Katherine, Erin, and another colleague are the authors of a new paper titled 'Fermentation technology as a driver of human brain expansion.' In it, they argue that fermented foods could have provided the caloric boost that allowed our brains to expand. Here, we talk about how the human body differs from the bodies of other great apes, not just in terms of our brains but also in terms of our bowels. We discuss the different mechanisms by which fermented foods provide nutritional benefits over unfermented foods. We consider how fermentation—which basically happens whether you want it to or not—would have been cognitively easier to harness than fire. Along the way, we touch on kiviaq, chicha, makgeolli, hákarl, natto, Limburger cheese, salt-rising bread, and other arguably delectable products of fermentation.  This is a fun one friends. But before we get to it: a friendly reminder about this summer's Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute. This a yearly event in St Andrews, Scotland; it features a rich program of lectures and events devoted to the study of cognition, mind, and intelligence in all its forms. If you have a taste for cross-disciplinary ferment and bubbly conversation, DISI may be for you. The application window is now open but is closing soon. You can find more info at DISI.org. That's D-I-S-I.org. Alright, friends, on to my conversation with Erin Hecht and Katherine Bryant. Enjoy!    A transcript of this episode will be available soon.   Notes and links 3:00 – A popular science article about the “infectiously delicious confection” that is salt-rising bread. A recipe for the bread.  6:00 – An article about makgeolli, a Korean rice wine. An article about chicha, the traditional corn-based fermented beverage that has been banned in some places. 11:30 – An article about the role of the arcuate fasciculus in language processing. A recent paper by Dr. Bryant and colleagues comparing the arcuate in humans and chimpanzees. 12:30 – A recent article by Dr. Hecht and colleagues on the evolutionary neuroscience of domestication.   13:00 – For discussions of the encephalization quotient (aka EQ) and of human brain evolution, see our previous episodes here and here. 15:00 – The classic paper on the “expensive tissue hypothesis.” 22:00 – An article about the role of meat in human evolution; an article about the role of tubers. The cooking hypothesis is most strongly associated with Richard Wrangham and his book, Catching Fire.  26:00 – A recent article on evidence for the widespread control of fire in human groups by around 400,000 years ago. 31:30 – A paper on how fermenting cassava reduces its toxicity. 38:30 – There have been various claims in the ethnographic literature that the control of fire has been lost among small groups, such as in Tasmania. See footnote 2 in this article. 44:30 – A popular article about kiviaq.  45:00 – The article from the New Yorker, by Rebecca Mead, about the foodways of the Faroe Islands.  53:00 – For more discussion of the so-called drunken monkey hypothesis, see our previous episode about intoxication.   1:00:30 – A popular article about hákarl, which is fermented Greenland shark.   Recommendations The Botany of Desire, by Michael Pollan The Art of Fermentation, by Sandor Katz Wild Fermentation, by Sandor Katz “How humans evolved large brains,” by Karin Isler & Carel van Schaik   Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute, which is made possible by a generous grant from the Templeton World Charity Foundation to UCLA. It is hosted and produced by Kensy Cooperrider, with help from Assistant Producer Urte Laukaityte and with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd. Our transcripts are created by Sarah Dopierala. Subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also now subscribe to the Many Minds newsletter here! We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com.  For updates about the show, visit our website or follow us on Twitter: @ManyMindsPod.

University of Richmond student Ava Paul, '24, sits down with Jepson Leadership Forum speaker Carole Hooven, author of "T: The Story of Testosterone"; former lecturer and co-director of Undergraduate Studies, Harvard University's Department of Human Evolutionary Biology; currently a lab associate in the Harvard University Department of Psychology and a non-resident senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) prior to her Jepson Leadership Forum presentation "The Non-Toxic Nature of Masculinity." The 2023-24 Jepson Leadership Forum focuses on "Masculinity in a Changing World." The last few decades have seen rapid changes in gender relations and norms—in the household, in the workforce, and in government.invites speakers to discuss masculinity in the context of these recent cultural changes. Specific topics include the role of hormones in gender identity and behavior, status competition and violence, challenges facing men as a result of the changing nature of the family and the economy, Black masculinity in the United States, and the past and future of patriarchy globally. Take 5 is a series of informal interviews with the scholars and experts who present as part of the lecture series. Jan. 22, 2024

We may have health monitors and fitness trackers, but could it be the case that even with this technology, humans are actually reversing evolutionary progress? Dr Lieberman is the Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on how the human body has evolved to be the way it is, he also explores how humans evolved to run long distances to scavenge and hunt. He is the author of the best-selling books, ‘The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease' and ‘Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding'. In this conversation Daniel and Steven discuss topics, such as if human evolution is going backwards, why veganism is not the answer, how commuting is making you fat and what we can learn from hunter-gatherers. (00:00) Intro (02:00) What do you do, and why do you do it? (03:09) Are we actually a good species? (05:11) Do our ancestors hold the answer to all our health needs? (07:32) Have we evolved to eat meat? (10:33) How did we learn to hunt and gather? (17:03) Have we evolved to breathe wrong? (19:28) Why do we sweat? (24:23) When did our brains get so big? (29:55) Why do we struggle to diet? (38:31) Modern-day mismatched diseases (42:41) Why did you write a book about food? (45:02) Has our culture moved too fast? (46:15) We've decided to live with diseases rather than prevent them. (50:13) The modern foods we eat have affected the way we look. (53:02) Is cancer a consequence of our modern society? (58:34) How our bodies store energy (01:05:23) The keto diet and fasting (01:09:44) Are we too comfortable as a society? (01:14:59) Puberty has changed, and we're going into it earlier than ever before. (01:16:37) The dangers of sitting down all day like we do. (01:20:08) What should people take away most from this conversation? (01:24:16) The products we put on our bodies, are they toxic? (01:30:06) The last guest's question You can purchase Daniel's book, ‘Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health', here: https://amzn.to/48OfQVI My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' is out now - https://smarturl.it/DOACbook Follow me: https://beacons.ai/diaryofaceo Sponsors: Huel Bundle: https://try.huel.com/steven-bartlett Uber: https://p.uber.com/creditsterms Shop the Conversation Cards: https://thediary.com/products/the-cards Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit andrewsullivan.substack.comCarole is back to discuss her travails at Harvard, teaching in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology. She originally appeared two years ago to discuss her superb book T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us. She's now a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, and an associate in Harvard's Department of Psychology, in the lab of Steven Pinker. She's also an active member of the newly established Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard. We talk here about her own experience in the last few years, targeted by the woke left on Harvard's campus, and about Harvard itself, and whether the Ivy League can be reformed. For two clips of our convo — on loving your intellectual enemies, and how you “can't win a fight for rights by lying about facts” — pop over to our YouTube page. Other topics: Carole's popularity with students before her cancellation; her many teaching awards; her Fox News appearance; the grad student who targeted her on Twitter and terrified the senior faculty; the friends who turned on Carole; the TAs who shunned and refused to teach for her en masse; the administration that abandoned her; the sprawling DEI infrastructure at Harvard; the monoculture there; its growing disdain for the working class; how Veritas was sacrificed for standpoint epistemology; feelings over rational debate; runaway grade inflation; “decolonizing” syllabi; Katie Herzog's report on medical schools abandoning “male and female”; how you can acknowledge nature while still respecting identities and pronouns; CRT as the enemy of liberal democracy; Gay's testimony before Congress; the quality of her academic papers even before the plagiarism emerged; Harvard threatening the NY Post with defamation; Gay's resignation and NYT op-ed; the NYT scapegoating James Bennet in 2020; Chait's cowardice when I was fired at New York Mag; the Trevor Project's redefinition of homosexuality; the pro-Hamas protesters on campus; the belated alarm by big donors; how “white supremacy” became “Jewish supremacy”; how the SAT finds disadvantaged students — but the woke want to abolish it; my debate with Harvey Mansfield over homosexuality; Harvey mentoring students from minority groups; Carole and I debating whether the the federal government should withhold funds from DEI colleges; and, as always, how Trump makes everything worse.Browse the Dishcast archive for an episode you might enjoy (the first 102 are free in their entirety — subscribe to get everything else). Coming up: Alexandra Hudson on civility and Jennifer Burns on her new biography of Milton Friedman. Please send any guest recs, dissent and other comments to dish@andrewsullivan.com.

In this episode of Heterodox Out Loud, John Tomasi speaks with Carole Hooven, Ph.D., a Lecturer and Co-director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. We talk with Carole about Sex & Gender, her cancellation story, and the role of scientists in fostering a free speech culture. Heterodox Out Loud Heterodox Out Loud with John Tomasi is a biweekly podcast featuring conversations with people across the academy and beyond. Listen to insightful, thought-provoking episodes from the HxA community by adding our podcast to your lineup.  Follow Carole Hooven on: Twitter: https://twitter.com/hoovlet?ref_src=t... Website: http://www.carolehooven.com/ Follow Heterodox Academy on: Twitter: https://bit.ly/3Fax5Dy Facebook: https://bit.ly/3PMYxfw LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/48IYeuJ Instagram: https://bit.ly/46HKfUg Substack: https://bit.ly/48IhjNF  Listen to the podcast on: Apple - https://apple.co/3PZzplD Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3S51uee Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ZXQnFL Google: https://bit.ly/46oaT4A i-Heart - https://bit.ly/3M69qYA Tune-In - https://bit.ly/3S5oBVR Pandora - https://bit.ly/46AaLze Linktree link: https://linktr.ee/heterodoxoutloud

Admit it, exercise isn't everyone's favorite pastime. Of course, our ancestors weren't hitting the gym by choice — our evolution has wired us to stay active, and this natural activity actually slows down the aging process. The good news is that you can achieve the benefits without feeling like you're "exercising."In today's episode, Prof. Daniel Lieberman debunks exercise myths. He also teaches us how exercise impacts our health and how learning from our evolution can unlock the secrets of a longer life.Daniel Lieberman is a paleoanthropologist at Harvard University. He's the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences and a professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology. He's best known for his research on the evolution of the human mind and the human body.If you want to uncover the right foods for your body, head to zoe.com/podcast, and get 10% off your personalized nutrition program.Download our FREE guide — Top 10 Tips to Live Healthier: https://zoe.com/freeguide Timecodes:00:00 Introduction01:34 Quickfire questions03:22 The Rudyard Kipling view of our ancestors04:54 Is exercise good for us and why do most of us hate it?06:19 For millions of years, people were physically active for 2 reasons only…15:38 Our bodies have evolved to save calroies and preserve energy18:31 It's normal to think your life is normal22:27 We need to exercise because we don't move enough!34:00 Diet, exercise and sleep can prevent these diseases…39:54 The active Grandparent hypothesis43:10 Study of men matriculating as undergraduates at Harvard University49:44 How can we enjoy keeping physically active?01:00:00 The importance of weights exercise01:06:43 SummaryMentioned in today's episode: Three generations of HSPH researchers explore health benefits of exercise from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthStanford marshmallow test experiment, a summary from Simply PsychologyWe also mention Daniel's book Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health, and you can find it here.Episode transcripts are available here.Is there a nutrition topic you'd like us to explore? Email us at podcast@joinzoe.com, and we'll do our best to cover it.

Carole Hooven is the author of T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us. From 2002 until 2023 she was a Lecturer in the department of Human Evolutionary Biology, and served for many years as the department's Co-Director of Undergraduate Studies. Her "Hormones and Behavior" class was named one of Harvard Crimson's "top ten tried and true" courses. She is now an associate in the Harvard Department of Psychology.carolehooven.comT: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us, by Carole Hooven74: Going to Space, Reusing the Entire Rocket, and Flying Again in 24 Hours, with Andy Lapsa - Where We Go Next68: Solving the Crisis of Boys and Men, with Richard Reeves - Where We Go NextCarole Hooven on Testosterone and Masculinity - Dialogues with Richard Reeves21: Defending the Rights of the Incarcerated, with Samuel Weiss - Where We Go NextOriginal Position / Veil of Ignorance - WikipediaBrown v. Board and “The Doll Test” - Legal Defense FundCarole Hooven On Testosterone - The Dishcast with Andrew Sullivan40: Great Writers Must Be Vulnerable in Public, with Andrew Sullivan - Where We Go Next----------Are you a fan of Where We Go Next? Listen to the very end of this episode for details.Email: michael@wherewegonext.comInstagram: @wwgnpodcast

In this episode of the Life Itself Podcast, Rufus Pollock sits down with Professor Joseph Henrich to continue the discussion on the study of cultural evolution. In this episode the significance of family structures and the church takes center stage in their role towards shaping human societies. Joseph explains that different kinship networks influence behaviors, trust, and cooperation within societies and how the Catholic Church played an unintentionally role in shaping Western societies by implementing rules against cousin marriage and polygyny. These rules inadvertently fostered individualism, trust in non-kin relationships, and analytic thinking. These cultural shifts and networks of horizontal connections led to the development of "WEIRD" psychology – Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic, a topic discussed in Henrich's latest book. These cultural transformations resulted in the development of different psychological traits that help to explain the remarkable economic success, innovations, and current challenges faced by Western societies. This conversation forms part of the Cultural Evolution: A New Discipline is Born Series. You can learn more here: https://lifeitself.org/learn/culturology Joseph Henrich is a Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is author of several books, most recently 'The Weirdest People in the World' and 'The Secret of Our Success'. His research focuses on evolutionary approaches to psychology, decision-making and culture, and includes topics related to cultural learning, cultural evolution, culture-gene coevolution, human sociality, prestige, leadership, large-scale cooperation, religion and the emergence of complex human institutions. Rufus Pollock is an entrepreneur, activist and author. He has founded several for-profit and nonprofit initiatives including Life Itself, Open Knowledge Foundation, and Datopian. His book Open Revolution is about making a radically freer and fairer information age. Previously he has been the Mead Fellow in Economics at the University of Cambridge as well as a Shuttleworth and Ashoka Fellow. A recognized global expert on the information society, he has worked with G7 governments, IGOs like the UN, Fortune 500s as well as many civil society organizations. He holds a PhD in Economics and a double first in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. Find out more about his work on his website: ⁠⁠rufuspollock.com⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Life Itself Podcast, Rufus Pollock sits down with Professor Joseph Henrich to continue the discussion on the study of cultural evolution. In this second part of the conversation continuing from episode 3, Rufus Pollock and Joe Henrich discuss the implications of cultural evolution in relation to modern challenges. They explore the potential for intentional experimentation in creating cultural norms that promote trust, cooperation, group cohesion and a sense of community and belonging.  Rufus and Joe touch upon the idea that Western societies might be running on old values and norms cultivated by historical religious practices. They discuss the need to find ways to renew and revitalize these values, potentially by experimenting with intentional communities that incorporate elements of shared meaning, trust-building, ritual and cooperation. The talk moves on to discuss the idea that by allowing a variety of intentional communities to form and observing which ones thrive, societies could potentially find ways to address current challenges and promote positive cultural evolution. This conversation forms part of the Cultural Evolution: A New Discipline is Born Series. You can learn more here https://lifeitself.org/learn/culturology Joseph Henrich is a Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is author of several books, most recently 'The Weirdest People in the World' and 'The Secret of Our Success'. His research focuses on evolutionary approaches to psychology, decision-making and culture, and includes topics related to cultural learning, cultural evolution, culture-gene coevolution, human sociality, prestige, leadership, large-scale cooperation, religion and the emergence of complex human institutions. Rufus Pollock is an entrepreneur, activist and author. He has founded several for-profit and nonprofit initiatives including Life Itself, Open Knowledge Foundation, and Datopian. His book Open Revolution is about making a radically freer and fairer information age. Previously he has been the Mead Fellow in Economics at the University of Cambridge as well as a Shuttleworth and Ashoka Fellow. A recognized global expert on the information society, he has worked with G7 governments, IGOs like the UN, Fortune 500s as well as many civil society organizations. He holds a PhD in Economics and a double first in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. Find out more about his work on his website: ⁠⁠rufuspollock.com⁠⁠.

In this episode of the Life Itself Podcast, Rufus Pollock sits down with Professor Joseph Henrich to continue the discussion on the study of cultural evolution. In this episode they discuss the innate human inclination to develop and learn from culture and to transmit this knowledge across generations. This conversation emphasizes that our success as a species is attributed not only to individual intelligence but also our capacity to expand upon ancestral wisdom. Join us in the conversation as Joseph shares insights around the pivotal role culture and social bonds have in the development and continuation of vital skills and ideas. Wider factors such as group dynamics, environments, and competition are further discussed along with the impact of cognitive processes on cultural transformation. This conversation forms part of the Cultural Evolution: A New Discipline is Born Series. You can learn more here: https://lifeitself.org/learn/culturology Joseph Henrich is a Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is author of several books, most recently 'The Weirdest People in the World' and 'The Secret of Our Success'. His research focuses on evolutionary approaches to psychology, decision-making and culture, and includes topics related to cultural learning, cultural evolution, culture-gene coevolution, human sociality, prestige, leadership, large-scale cooperation, religion and the emergence of complex human institutions. Rufus Pollock is an entrepreneur, activist and author. He has founded several for-profit and nonprofit initiatives including Life Itself, Open Knowledge Foundation, and Datopian. His book Open Revolution is about making a radically freer and fairer information age. Previously he has been the Mead Fellow in Economics at the University of Cambridge as well as a Shuttleworth and Ashoka Fellow. A recognized global expert on the information society, he has worked with G7 governments, IGOs like the UN, Fortune 500s as well as many civil society organizations. He holds a PhD in Economics and a double first in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge. Find out more about his work on his website: ⁠rufuspollock.com⁠.

------------------Support the channel------------ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter PayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuy PayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9l PayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpz PayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9m PayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao   ------------------Follow me on--------------------- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT   Dr. Joseph Henrich is Professor and chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is interested in the question of how humans evolved from "being a relatively unremarkable primate a few million years ago to the most successful species on the globe", and how culture affected our genetic development. He is also the author of The Secret of Our Success, and The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous.   In this episode, we start by talking about how culture shapes human psychology; human universals, and cognitive phenotypes; how different fields reacted to the WEIRD problem; and the replication crisis. We discuss how to understand biases, like the prestige bias. We talk about what drives innovation, and cumulative culture. We discuss the collective brain hypothesis, and reframing how we think about intelligence and IQ. We talk about assortative mating, human mating systems, and the relationship between polygyny and inequality. We discuss religion, Big Gods, and theory of mind. We talk about the best methods to study psychology historically. Finally, we discuss if we rely too much on English speakers in the study of human cognition, and the need for people from more diverse cultural backgrounds in science. -- A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, HANS FREDRIK SUNDE, BERNARDO SEIXAS, OLAF ALEX, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, JOHN CONNORS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, DAN DEMETRIOU, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, SIMON COLUMBUS, PHIL KAVANAGH, MIKKEL STORMYR, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, ADANER USMANI, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, DANIEL FRIEDMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ANTON ERIKSSON, CHARLES MOREY, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, STARRY, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, IGOR N, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, CHRIS STORY, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, BENJAMIN GELBART, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, NIKLAS CARLSSON, ISMAËL BENSLIMANE, GEORGE CHORIATIS, VALENTIN STEINMANN, PER KRAULIS, KATE VON GOELER, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, LIAM DUNAWAY, BR, MASOUD ALIMOHAMMADI, PURPENDICULAR, AND JONAS HERTNER! A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, TOM VANEGDOM, BERNARD HUGUENEY, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, THOMAS TRUMBLE, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, JONCARLO MONTENEGRO, AL NICK ORTIZ, AND NICK GOLDEN! AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, BOGDAN KANIVETS, AND VEGA G!

Dr Lieberman is the Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. His research focuses on how the human body has evolved to be the way it is, he also explores how humans evolved to run long distances to scavenge and hunt. He is the author of the best-selling books, ‘The Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and Disease' and ‘Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding'. In this conversation Dr Lieberman and Steven discuss topics, such as: Sitting isn't actually the new smoking The unseen health benefits of running The best exercises for a healthy life Why you don't need 8 hours of sleep a night Separating the health myths from reality How the world has become too comfortable How 74% of diseases can be prevented Ways to hack and boost productivity You can purchase Dr Lieberman's newest book, ‘Exercised: The Science of Physical Activity, Rest and Health', here: https://bit.ly/44fKyog Watch the episodes on Youtube - https://g2ul0.app.link/3kxINCANKsb My new book! 'The 33 Laws Of Business & Life' per order link: https://smarturl.it/DOACbook Follow me:  Instagram: http://bit.ly/3nIkGAZ Twitter: http://bit.ly/3ztHuHm Linkedin: https://bit.ly/41Fl95Q Telegram: http://bit.ly/3nJYxST Sponsors:  Huel: https://g2ul0.app.link/G4RjcdKNKsb Airbnb: http://bit.ly/40TcyNr

While it is commonly assumed that prevalent health issues like heart disease, obesity, and depression are uniquely human experiences, they exist across multiple species.Despite the undeniable connection rooted in our shared animal nature, a perceptible barrier remains between human and veterinary medicine and psychology, often driven by the notion of human exceptionalism.Barbara Natterson-Horowitz is a cardiologist, Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at UCLA, a visiting professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, as well as a New York Times bestselling author. Her latest book “Wildhood” examines the surprising parallels of adolescent humans and animals in navigating risk and social hierarchies, how to connect romantically, and how to live independently.Barbara and Greg talk about the importance of removing the blindfold of human exceptionalism and a cross-species approach to medicine and psychology, which includes veterinary and evolutionary perspectives, to gain valuable insights from other species.*unSILOed Podcast is produced by University FM.*Episode Quotes:What are the core competencies of being an adult?54:24: Adolescence occurs across vertebrates, and even—we studied lobsters, crayfish, and so on—invertebrates. And that we decided to make the definition our own, and this was based on a number of studies that we did to figure out what are the core competencies of being an adult. And we said, "Okay, it starts with puberty. And it ends when an animal has mastered four core competencies, which are staying safe, learning to navigate social structures and hierarchies, learning to communicate sexually, not have sex because, as we say, copulation is easy, courtship is hard, and then finally learning to feed yourself and be independent.The connection between human and animal medicine57:47: If you ask physicians today what is the connection between human and animal medicine, they'll say infection; they'll say what is called zoonosis; and what they'll leave out are the connections around heart disease and psychiatry, which is mental health.What is most likely to kill wild animals?23:15: The risk of starvation is a clear and present danger when you look at what is most likely to kill wild animals. And there is some debate about what is the greatest danger. And it probably varies, but starvation, predation, and infection are definitely high up there. And the three interact. So starvation is a clear and present danger to survival.Recognizing biodiversity21:02: Part of biodiversity is physiologic diversity, and part of physiologic diversity is neurophysiologic diversity, and neurophysiologic diversity shapes behavior. So there's this continuity that I don't think most psychotherapists and psychiatrists are sufficiently aware of.Show Links:Guest Profile:Faculty Profile at UCLABarbara Natterson-Horowitz's WebsiteBarbara Natterson-Horowitz on LinkedInBarbara Natterson-Horowitz on TwitterBarbara Natterson-Horowitz on TEDMEDHer Work:Wildhood: The Astounding Connections between Human and Animal AdolescentsZoobiquity: The Astonishing Connection Between Human and Animal Health by Barbara Natterson-Horowitz & Kathryn BowersBarbara Natterson-Horowitz on Google Scholar

Chimpanzees and bonobos know how to live it up. They hang out with their friends, they take self-care breaks, they eat fresh fruit, and when it's raining they fashion umbrellas out of leaves. Dr. Laura Simone Lewis is back on the show this week to tell us all about the social lives of these dynamic individuals, who happen to share 98% of our DNA. From their favorite juice flavors to their equivalent of Netflix and chill—this episode's got it all. Missed Dr. Lewis's first episode on the show, all about our great ape family tree? Check it out here. Dr. Laura Simone Lewis is a UC President's Postdoctoral Fellow in the Psychology department at UC Berkeley. She received her PhD from Harvard through the department of Human Evolutionary Biology last year. She studies how social cognition has evolved in our closest living primate cousins, chimpanzees and bonobos! You can follow Dr. Lewis on Twitter @LauraSimoneLew. Want to support our chimpanzee and bonobo cousins? Here are some groups to follow: Lola Ya Bonobo in DRCNgamba Island Chimpanzee Sanctuary in UgandaSweetwaters Chimpanzee Sanctuary in KenyaJane Goodall InstituteWorld Wildlife Fund Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Find books from Getting Curious guests at bookshop.org/shop/curiouswithjvn; we'll be updating it soon with more releases! Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our editor is Andrew Carson. Production support from Julie Carrillo, Chris McClure, and Erin McKeon. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

Joyce Benenson is an author, a scientist, and a lecturer in the department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. During our conversation, Joyce talks about her field of expertise and research: sex differences in competition and cooperation. She also discusses human hierarchies, common misconceptions about men and boys, how she would, on average, describe the male and female psyche, consistent differences between boys and girls in childhood, and more.Like many of the recent, brilliant guests on this show, Joyce's focus is human nature: what we know about who we are and what we're like. I can't get enough of this subject, and people like her have spent a career trying to answer fundamental questions about what makes us human.------------Support via VenmoSupport on SubstackSupport on Patreon------------Show notesRate on SpotifyRate on Apple PodcastsSocial media and all episodes------------(00:00) Intro (01:54) Joyce's work with children (05:03) The major differences between men and women (09:54) The male vs. the female psyche (17:12) Females care more about equality than males (26:24) Sexual differences of labor (31:59) Male nature in the modern world (41:02) Female intersexual competition: safe, subtle, solitary (53:14) Men are communal: debunking a myth about men

Today we welcome Dr. Carole Hooven. For the past six years, she served as a lecturer and co-director of undergraduate studies at Harvard's department of Human Evolutionary Biology. She has received numerous teaching awards, and her popular Hormones and Behavior class was named one of the Harvard Crimson's “top ten tried and true.” Currently, Dr. Hooven has moved to the Psychology department where she works as an associate at Steven Pinker's lab. Her latest book is called T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us.In this episode, I talked to Dr. Carole Hooven about the science of testosterone. Why do males have higher rates of physical violence, take on more risk, and desire more sexual partners? Dr. Hooven's research points to testosterone as the answer. Although sex differences may stem from biology, variations in behavior may be better explained by genetics interacting with culture. We also touch on the topics of evolutionary biology, gender dysphoria, gender-affirming care, and academic freedom.Website: carolehooven.comTwitter: @hoovlet Topics02:49 Dr. Carole's background and expertise09:26 Sex differences in mental rotation21:38 How hormones work24:47 The uses and effects of testosterone28:00 Testosterone, risk, and violence31:23 Genetic and cultural differences35:33 Trans women's athletic advantages38:51 Let scientists conduct research44:22 Side effects of puberty blockers49:31 Evidence-informed view of transitioning56:30 There is no trans phenotype59:22 The TERFs vs trans debates1:03:28 Suppression of academic freedom1:06:48 Untangle science from politics1:09:15 Can we modify our chromosomes?

Gorillas. Orangutans. Bonobos. Chimpanzees. Humans. Can you name a more iconic Fab Five? This week, Dr. Laura Simone Lewis joins Jonathan for an episode all about our beautiful primate family tree! Listen in to learn how we're related, what makes each species unique, and why we need to step up conservation efforts for our closest living relatives on the planet. Dr. Laura Simone Lewis is a postdoctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned her PhD from Harvard in the department of Human Evolutionary Biology. Laura studies how social cognition has evolved in chimpanzees, bonobos, and humans. Besides hanging out with great apes, she loves swimming in the ocean, making pottery, and going on solo travel adventures around the world. You can follow Dr. Lewis on Twitter @LauraSimoneLew.We have so much more ground to cover with Dr. Lewis, and we're already planning a follow-up episode about social cognition in chimpanzees and bonobos. If you have a question for Dr. Lewis, leave us a voicemail or text message at (917) 960-2980, or share your message with us at jonathanvanness.com. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter @CuriousWithJVN to join the conversation. Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook. Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com. Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our associate producer is Zahra Crim. Our editor is Andrew Carson. Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

Rory Cellan-Jones and leading experts Sarah Dillon and Manvir Singh discuss the value of stories, the possible dangers of endorsing stories and the need for narrative evidence to inform decision-making. This episode unpacks the value of stories to understand the past and inform current policy debates. Leading experts from the University of Cambridge and the Institute for Advanced Studies in Toulouse discuss the origin of stories, the status of storytellers, and the crucial need to listen to stories to improve policymaking. This episode is hosted by Rory Cellan-Jones (former technology correspondent for the BBC) and features guest experts Sarah Dillon (University of Cambridge) and Manvir Singh (Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse). Listen to this episode on your preferred podcast platformEpisode 5 TranscriptFor more information about the podcast and the work of the institutes, visit our websites at bennettinstitute.cam.ac.uk and iast.frTweet us with your thoughts at @BennettInst and @IASToulouseAudio production by Steve HankeyAssociate production by Stella ErkerVisuals by Thomas DevaudAbout our guestsSarah Dillon is Professor of Literature and the Public Humanities in the Faculty of English at the University of Cambridge. She is a scholar of contemporary literature, film and philosophy, with a research focus on the epistemic function and value of stories, on interdisciplinarity, and on the engaged humanities. She is the co-author of “Storylistening: Narrative Evidence and Public Reasoning”. Sarah is also a member of the Bennett Institute Management Board. @profsarahdillonManvir Singh is a cognitive and evolutionary anthropologist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse. His research asks why human societies everywhere give rise to practices and beliefs with striking similarities, with a focus on behaviours such as music, story, shamanism, and punitive justice. His toolkit combines ethnographic research, psychological experiments, and the analysis of cross-cultural databases. He received a PhD from the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University in 2020. @mnvrsnghRory Cellan-Jones is a former technology correspondent for the BBC. His 40 years in journalism saw him take a particular interest in the impact of the internet and digital technology on society and business. He has written multiple books, including his latest “Always On” which was published in 2021. @ruskin147

Joe Henrich is the Ruth Moore Professor of Biological Anthropology and Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is the author of Why Humans Cooperate, The Secret of Our Success, and The WEIRDest People in the World. He joins the podcast to talk about his work. Topics include:* The implications of Henrich's theories for the debate over AI alignment* The nature of intelligence* Whether genetic differences between populations explain societal outcomes* If the Ancient Greeks and Romans were already WEIRD* How to understand the group selection debate* Why Islamic familial practices may have stunted economic development and growth* The political and ideological reaction to his last bookListen in podcast form or watch on YouTube. A transcript of the podcast can be found at the Richard Hanania newsletter.Links:* Joe Henrich, “The WEIRDest People in the World.”* Joe Henrich, “The Secrets of Our Success.”* Richard Hanania, “How Monogamy and Incest Taboos Made the West.”* David Epstein, “The Sports Gene.” * Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, “Don't Trust Your Gut.” * Elizabeth Shim, “North Korea finishes fourth at International Mathematical Olympiad.” * Minnesota Transracial Adoption Study.* Bryan Caplan, “The Wonder of International Adoption: Adult IQ in Sweden.” Get full access to Center for the Study of Partisanship and Ideology at www.cspicenter.com/subscribe

Joyce Benenson is a lecturer of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University whose research focuses on human social structures and sex differences in competition and cooperation. We're often told that men are more competitive, more status-driven and more ruthless with rivals for potential mates. In reality doesn't seem to be true, the difference is that women's competition takes a more subtle, cynical and sophisticated route to drive away their competitors. Expect to learn how women compete for status, why women exclude more than men, why women who promote an egalitarian world are less charitable than you might think, how you can interfere with a rivals' relationship without getting caught, the usefulness of gossip as an enforcement mechanism and much more... Sponsors: Get $100 off plus an extra 15% discount on Qualia Mind at https://neurohacker.com/modernwisdom (use code MW15) Get over 37% discount on all products site-wide from MyProtein at https://bit.ly/proteinwisdom (use code: MODERNWISDOM) Get 10% discount on all Optimal Carnivore's products at www.amazon.com/optimalcarnivore (use code: WISDOMSAVE10) Extra Stuff: Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/ 

Smiling is a universal expression of happiness. Even babies born blind smile. So, what does smiling do for you? Why are we attracted to another person's smile? Listen as I begin this episode with a brief look at smiling. https://www.livescience.com/5254-smiles-innate-learned.html Our lives are full of rituals. We have religious rituals, family rituals, holidays rituals, personal rituals – rituals are everywhere. By definition rituals don't really perform a function beyond being a ritual. So why do we have them? Why do we need them? Here to discuss the importance of human rituals is Dimitris Xygalatas. He is an anthropologist and cognitive scientist who runs the Experimental Anthropology Lab at the University of Connecticut. And he is author of the book Ritual: How Seemingly Senseless Acts Make Life Worth Living (https://amzn.to/3Pq7U4b). Even though everyone knows how important exercise is, a lot of people hate it. Why is that? Why is something so important to your health so despised and avoided by so many? It just may be that we never really evolved to exercise – at least not the way we do it today. That's according to Daniel E. Lieberman. Daniel is a professor of biological sciences and a professor of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. And author of the book Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding (https://amzn.to/3hoPQea). Listen and you won't feel so guilty the next time you decide you really DON'T want to go out and exercise.  It is common wisdom that salt can elevate your blood pressure – and reducing the amount of salt will help lower it. Is that true? Listen as I explain the science of salt and blood pressure and why potassium is also a key player in the story. https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/relationships-between-salt-potassium-6609.html PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! Shopify grows with your business anywhere. Thanks to their endless list of integrations and third-party apps - everything you need to customize your business to your needs is already in your hands. Sign up for a FREE trial at https://Shopify.com/sysk ! If you think you're okay to drive after a few drinks, think again. Play it safe and plan ahead to get a ride. It only takes one mistake to change your life, or someone else's, forever. Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.  PAID FOR BY NHTSA Did you know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal? If you feel different, you drive different. Drive high, get a DUI. PAID FOR BY NHTSA Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Rufus Pollock sits down with Professor Joseph Henrich to discuss the study of cultural evolution. Joe gives an insight into how the discipline has emerged and the interdisciplinary nature of the field. He discusses some examples of areas of interest within the field, such as understanding innovation and institutional evolution, scaling and cooperation. Rufus and Joe finish with a brief consideration of where on the "cultural evolutionary tree" we are today, laying the ground for a potential future follow up. Joseph Henrich is a Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He is author of several books, most recently 'The Weirdest People in the World' and 'The Secret of Our Success'. His research focuses on evolutionary approaches to psychology, decision-making and culture, and includes topics related to cultural learning, cultural evolution, culture-gene coevolution, human sociality, prestige, leadership, large-scale cooperation, religion and the emergence of complex human institutions. Rufus Pollock is an entrepreneur, activist and author. He has founded several for-profit and nonprofit initiatives including Life Itself, Open Knowledge Foundation, and Datopian. His book Open Revolution is about making a radically freer and fairer information age. Previously he has been the Mead Fellow in Economics at the University of Cambridge as well as a Shuttleworth and Ashoka Fellow. A recognized global expert on the information society, he has worked with G7 governments, IGOs like the UN, Fortune 500s as well as many civil society organizations.

Perhaps you are WEIRD: raised in a society that is Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic. If so, you're rather psychologically peculiar.Joseph Henrich is an anthropologist and the author of The Secret of Our Success: How Culture Is Driving Human Evolution, Domesticating Our Species, and Making Us Smarter, among other books. He is the chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, where his research focuses on evolutionary approaches to psychology, decision-making, and culture.Get "The Weirdest People In The World"Get my new book 'The Path of an Eagle: How To Overcome & Lead After Being Knocked Down'.► AMAZON US► AMAZON AUS► AMAZON UKCONNECT WITH JAY & THE STORY BOX► INSTAGRAM ► TWITTER ► FACEBOOK ► WEBSITE SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE! ► Apple Podcast ► Spotify ► YouTube Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/thestorybox. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If exercise is so healthy, then why do many people dislike or avoid it? So much of our modern lives is sedentary, it's more important than ever to get our bodies up and be active. Daniel Lieberman is a Professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, and the Edwin M. Lerner II Professor of Biological Sciences at Harvard University. He is also a member of the Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology. At Harvard, he teaches a variety of courses on human evolution, anatomy, and physiology, and has published several books including “The Evolution of the Human Head,” “The Story of the Human Body,” and “Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do is Healthy and Rewarding.”Daniel and Greg talk all about moving our human bodies today, including the evolution of running in humans, transitioning to the modern industrial world and its effects on us, and speed versus endurance.Episode Quotes:Developing lifelong habits through physical education48:29: We need to look outside the medical system to make these kinds of shifts. And it's a public health issue.It's really a political issue. It's an educational issue. It's a social issue. It's a corporate issue. And I think one of the places to focus on is schools, right? Because we also know that a lot of the habits people develop in college are the ones they keep for the rest of their life. And that's one of the reasons why universities, like mine and yours, really are doing an enormous disservice to their students by not promoting more physical education, because they're also missing out on this important window to help people develop lifelong habits.We evolve to be physically active for two reasons09:51: We evolve to be physically active for two reasons and two reasons only: one, it's necessary, and one, it's rewarding. How sports and play teaches human not to be reactively aggressive32:29: I think that one of the ways in which humans have evolved play and sport is to help teach skills for hunting and fighting and all the other things that are really important. Cause that's obviously a key element in playing in sports, but also to help teach humans not to be reactively aggressive. Show Links:Recommended Resources:Gerontologist at Stanford, James Fries - The extension of morbidity. The Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence Has Declined By Steven PinkerDr. Richard W. Wrangham Guest Profile:Professional Profile on Harvard UniversityHis Work:Daniel Lieberman on Google ScholarExercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and RewardingThe Story of the Human Body: Evolution, Health, and DiseaseThe Evolution of the Human Head

Dr Carole Hooven is Co-director of Undergraduate Studies in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and an author. Testosterone is a hell of a drug. It causes many things to happen in both men and women. But it's dividing opinion even more than it's dividing the sexes. This isn't great for calming conversations, bridging differences or finding common ground however it's a fascinating topic to dig into. Expect to learn what it's like for women who go on testosterone to feel what male sex drive is like, why male deer in Scotland grow antlers and fight their best friends for a few months every year, whether maternal instinct is a myth, why testosterone even exists at all, the differences between male and female orgasms, whether sex is a spectrum and much more... Sponsors: Get 83% discount & 3 months free from Surfshark VPN at https://surfshark.deals/MODERNWISDOM (use code MODERNWISDOM) Get 10% discount on all of MASA's Chips at www.masachips.com/modernwisdom use code MODERNWISDOM) Get 20% discount & free shipping on your Lawnmower 4.0 at https://www.manscaped.com/ (use code MODERNWISDOM) Extra Stuff: Buy T - https://amzn.to/3CHRI8o  Follow Carole on Twitter - https://twitter.com/hoovlet  Get my free Reading List of 100 books to read before you die → https://chriswillx.com/books/ To support me on Patreon (thank you): https://www.patreon.com/modernwisdom - Get in touch. Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact/ 

A future of intellectual exploration and research drew Tory to grad school. But two seasons of an unfruitful tenure-track search prompted her to question what she wanted out of work — and where she wanted to do it.After 40 or 50 informational interviews with anyone willing to chat about their careers, Tory landed a data science role in Silicon Valley. She soon discovered a passion for coaching as she mentored her employees.In May 2020, she founded Academic Exit to help social science PhDs succeed in the tech industry. Now she focuses on what she enjoyed most from her time at Meta (Facebook) and Google with the independence she missed from her academic days.And her  willingness to explore what she truly wanted out of a job and to untangle her academic achievements from her work — and overall — identity made all the difference.Where to find Tory & her workTory (Academic Exit) on GumroadTory on Twitter and LinkedInCheck out more from The Work SeminarVisit theworkseminar.com or find @TheWorkSeminar on social media. Sign up for The Work Seminar newsletter to receive updates straight to your inbox.Support the show

IN THIS EPISODE OF THE HUMAN UPGRADE™...… you'll find out about the relevance of shamanism in a modern world and why high performers are turning toward shamanic practices to get ahead.The show's guest, Manvir Singh, Ph.D., is an anthropologist at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, France. He studies universal or near-universal cultural practices, including music, shamanism, and witchcraft. For the past seven years, he's conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Indonesia. He recently wrote an article in WIRED magazine titled, “The Shamanification of the Tech CEO,” noting some curious parallels.“Silicon Valley austerity continues to grow more extreme. By 2020 intermittent fasting was no longer enough, and dopamine fasting—an abstention not just from food but from any form of stimulation, including music, eye contact, and playing Magic: The Gathering—had taken off. These self-denial fads are often touted as biohacking innovations. Yet as an anthropologist who has studied austerity in some of the most remote regions of the world, I see them as part of a larger pattern: the self-shamanification of tech CEOs.”“Analyzing an old dataset of 43 nonindustrial societies, I found that shamans in 81 percent of the societies observed prohibitions on food, sex, or social contact. Given that these data were collated from reports by travelers and anthropologists, they are probably an underestimate. Silicon Valley deprivation, it turns out, is less a strange, new development and more the most recent manifestation of a ubiquitous shamanic practice.”This conversation gets into:shamanism in generalthe cultural significance of shamanshow shamanic practices have made their way into modern culturewhy humans think they need shamans—or similar “magic” or “other” beings More about Manvir Singh, Ph.D.: Manvir earned a Ph.D. in Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and a Sc.B. with Honors in Human Biology: Evolution, Environment, & Ecosystems at Brown University. He's received multiple awards, honors, grants and fellowships—from Fulbright Scholarship to visiting scholar and research fellow. He's written more than a dozen peer-reviewed journal articles and more than a dozen articles for general audiences. He gives talks domestically and internationally on the topic of shamans.WE APPRECIATE OUR PARTNERS. CHECK THEM OUT!Control Blood Glucose: https://pendulumlife.com, sign up for membership to get monthly supply delivery, use code DAVE20 to save $20 on your first shipmentIncrease BDNF and Support Neurogenesis: Go to https://nootopia.com/davegenius, use code DAVE10 to get an extra 10% offIsometrics for Cardiovascular Health: https://www.zona.com, use code DAVE2022 to get $150 off the Zona PlusSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Carole Hooven (@hoovlet) teaches and co-directs the undergraduate program in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, and is the author of T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us. What We Discuss with Carole Hooven: What creates differences between the sexes? How testosterone is at the core of who we are, regardless of gender. The ways testosterone shapes our minds and bodies in the womb and beyond. What we've learned about testosterone from people who have transitioned between genders. How politics is affecting science and research in testosterone. And much more... Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/694 Sign up for Six-Minute Networking -- our free networking and relationship development mini course -- at jordanharbinger.com/course! Miss our interview with entrepreneur, actor, producer, reality TV personality, and former professional skateboarder Rob Dyrdek? Catch up with episode 498: Rob Dyrdek | Manufacturing Amazing with the Dyrdek Machine here! Like this show? Please leave us a review here -- even one sentence helps! Consider including your Twitter handle so we can thank you personally!

--On the Show: --Joe Henrich, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University and author of the book "The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous," joins David to discuss the WEIRD acronym, cultural differences between people, and much more. Get the book: https://amzn.to/3AfLGvX --Right-wing propaganda website Breitbart runs a story smearing January 6 witness Cassidy Hutchinson based on the tweets of conspiracy theorist Jack Posobiec --January 6 Committee witness Cassidy Hutchinson is accused of lying about her own handwriting --The January 6 Trump riot committee has subpoenaed Donald Trump's former White House counsel Pat Cipollone --The lawyer for Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas, says she is to stressed out to testify before the January 6 Committee --Donald Trump appears to turn on both Fox News and Newsmax during an unhinged Newsmax interview --Rudy Giuliani admits to having asked Donald Trump for a pardon in a tweet, and subsequently deletes the tweet --Joe Rogan appears to support radical Republican Florida Governor Ron DeSantis for President in 2024 --Voicemail caller leaves a message about the controversy over David's Spanish pronunciations --On the Bonus Show: Woman shot dead while pushing a baby stroller in Manhattan, four people are charged in the tractor trailer mass casualty event, a look at R Kelly and Ghislaine Maxwell's prison sentences, much more... ⚠️ Use code PAKMAN for a free supply of BlueChew at https://go.bluechew.com/david-pakman ☕ Delicious Javy coffee: Use code PAKMAN for 25% OFF at https://thld.co/javy_pakman_0622

Dr. Victoria (Tory) Wobber is a career and leadership coach who helps social science PhDs land roles in the Tech industry. Tory received her PhD in Human Evolutionary Biology from Harvard, secured her first industry role as a data scientist at Facebook, and then worked at Facebook and Google for 7 years before leaving Google to start her own business as a coach. Tory developed the Academic Exit framework drawing on her own experience moving from academia into industry and coaching more than 50 PhDs through transitions into industry roles. Learn more about Academic Exit and find free tools for PhDs seeking Tech roles at: https://torycoaching.gumroad.com/

Joseph Henrich (The WEIRDest People in the World) is an author and professor of human evolutionary biology at Harvard. Joseph joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how cultural relativity affects people's views on morality, how humans are obsessed with time, and what the marshmallow test says about people's need to stockpile resources. Joseph and Dax talk about where the idea of the hourly worker came from, how most social experiments are done on American undergraduates, and how inconsistent human thinking can be. Joseph discusses the current pushback on human rights, how the internet can be used to preserve knowledge for future generations, and how the brain can update itself like firmware through life experiences. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

------------------Support the channel------------ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/thedissenter PayPal: paypal.me/thedissenter PayPal Subscription 1 Dollar: https://tinyurl.com/yb3acuuy PayPal Subscription 3 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ybn6bg9l PayPal Subscription 5 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/ycmr9gpz PayPal Subscription 10 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y9r3fc9m PayPal Subscription 20 Dollars: https://tinyurl.com/y95uvkao ------------------Follow me on--------------------- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedissenteryt/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDissenterYT This show is sponsored by Enlites, Learning & Development done differently. Check the website here: http://enlites.com/ Dr. Mark W. Moffett is a tropical biologist and research associate at the Smithsonian and used to be a visiting scholar in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University, which he used to write his book, The Human Swarm: How Our Societies Arise, Thrive, and Fall. In this episode, we focus on The Human Swarm. We go through topics like: what is a society; what makes humans successful; different types of hunter-gatherer societies; how societies scale up; markers of membership; how people think about societies; identities, and how they change over time; the lifecycle of societies, including how they end; war and peace across human history; transfers of membership, slavery and subjugation; immigration, and how citizenship is determined; and the necessity of societies. -- A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: KARIN LIETZCKE, ANN BLANCHETTE, PER HELGE LARSEN, LAU GUERREIRO, JERRY MULLER, HANS FREDRIK SUNDE, BERNARDO SEIXAS, HERBERT GINTIS, RUTGER VOS, RICARDO VLADIMIRO, CRAIG HEALY, OLAF ALEX, PHILIP KURIAN, JONATHAN VISSER, JAKOB KLINKBY, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, JOHN CONNORS, PAULINA BARREN, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, DAN DEMETRIOU, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ARTHUR KOH, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, SUSAN PINKER, PABLO SANTURBANO, SIMON COLUMBUS, PHIL KAVANAGH, JORGE ESPINHA, CORY CLARK, MARK BLYTH, ROBERTO INGUANZO, MIKKEL STORMYR, ERIC NEURMANN, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, BERNARD HUGUENEY, ALEXANDER DANNBAUER, FERGAL CUSSEN, YEVHEN BODRENKO, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, DON ROSS, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, OZLEM BULUT, NATHAN NGUYEN, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, J.W., JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, IDAN SOLON, ROMAIN ROCH, DMITRY GRIGORYEV, TOM ROTH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, ADANER USMANI, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, AL ORTIZ, NELLEKE BAK, KATHRINE AND PATRICK TOBIN, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, NICK GOLDEN, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, EDWARD HALL, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS P. FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, DENISE COOK, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, AND TRADERINNYC! A SPECIAL THANKS TO MY PRODUCERS, YZAR WEHBE, JIM FRANK, ŁUKASZ STAFINIAK, IAN GILLIGAN, LUIS CAYETANO, TOM VANEGDOM, CURTIS DIXON, BENEDIKT MUELLER, VEGA GIDEY, THOMAS TRUMBLE, AND NUNO ELDER! AND TO MY EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS, MICHAL RUSIECKI, ROSEY, JAMES PRATT, MATTHEW LAVENDER, SERGIU CODREANU, AND BOGDAN KANIVETS!

Professor i Human Evolutionary Biology ved Harvard, Joseph Henrich, har skrevet boken The Weirdest people in the World: How the West became Psychologically Peculiar and Prosperous. Han forklarer hvordan familiemønstre har formet vestlige menneskers måter å tenke på og oppfatte verden på. Det har betydning for økonomisk utvikling, liberale demokratier og oppfatninger om menneskerettigheter.

HAPPY (?) 2022. I've missed you all. I've missed these conversations. I've missed the invitation into sharing and vulnerability and conversation and rooting out harmful misogyny from my body and colonization from my brain. And there is so SO so ever so much more to talk about (what's new). This week we are joined again by the brilliant and eloquent Kirsten Dobler. Kirsten is a language revitalizationist, Kʷaʷk̓ʷala Lik̓ʷala Teacher, dear friend, and Indigenous scholar. As always, here are some show resources: All My Relations Podcast A Primer on Cultural Appropriate (w/ Kirsten)Part I (of 2) on Human Evolutionary Biology and Misogyny (w/Alena Ebeling-Schuld)The Why of The Witch Trials (and the birth of the nuclear family) (w/my cool brother Reed)More on Tachykinins: M. Zelikowsky, M. Hui, T. Karigo, A. Choe, B. Yang, M.R. Blanco, K. Beadle, V. Gradinaru, B.E. Deverman, D.J. AndersonThe Neuropeptide Tac2 Controls a Distributed Brain State Induced by Chronic Social Isolation Stresse19Cell, 173 (2018), pp. 1265-1279, 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.037We are always open to your suggestions for topics, speakers, and the like. Hex on, friends.More The Witch:Instagram - @thewitchpodcastFacebook - @thewitchpodAnd support us on Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/thewitchpodcastWe have prints at The Coven Sisters Shop on Etsy!

Carole Hooven is a scientist, a professor, an educator, and she co-directs the undergraduate program in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. She is the author of "T: The Story of Testosterone, the Hormone that Dominates and Divides Us." During our conversation, Carole talks about the crucial role of testosterone in shaping male and female nature, contemporary attacks against science, cultural pressure against freedom of speech in our society, and attempts to censor her knowledge within academia.------------Support this podcast via VenmoSupport this podcast via PayPalSupport this podcast on Patreon------------Show notesLeave a rating on SpotifyLeave a rating on Apple PodcastsListen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube------------(00:00) Intro(02:24) Get to know Carole Hooven(02:45) How did Carole get interested in the subject of testosterone?(12:34) What is the general difference in expression of testosterone between men and women?(17:36) What is testosterone?(20:34) What changes in body and behavior could be observed if a female took male testosterone levels or if a male took female levels of estrogen?(21:18) Carole shares her experience interviewing three trans men who lived as women until their early 20s or 30s(24:55) Carole recounts her experience being a guest on the "Transparency" podcast(29:59) Is testosterone the most important hormone that distinguishes the genders?(30:51) Carole explains testosterone transitions in transgender people and what that means for non-transgender people understanding sex differences(32:46) The physical and reproductive differences between females and males(35:05) How can we explain why some men are more nurturing than others?(36:17) How to view high testosterone rates in men(37:30) The ranges of healthy, high, and low levels of testosterone in men and women(40:18) Why elevated testosterone levels in men need not necessarily imply an increased sex drive or aggression(44:21) Carole's experience as a woman in academia(45:20) About Carole's students at Harvard(48:26) Carole's experience over the past year teaching her subject matter(53:20) Where does the reluctance to speak openly about academic subjects come from(01:02:17) Why is there an opposition to speak against subjects of academic interest?(01:13:32) Carole talks about her life at Harvard(01:14:22) Carole explains her fondness for her students at Harvard(01:17:20) How has social media increased instances of bullying against academic researchers(01:18:48) Carole talks about the DEI groups in colleges(01:20:43) How can we overcome the hindrance to free speech?

Joe Henrich is Professor and Chair of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University. He has written two books that have been incredibly eye-opening for me: The Secret of Our Success and the WEIRDest People in the World. Joe has put cultural evolution on the map as the best way for understanding why the world looks the way it does today. In the interview we cover:-How cultures are a statistical concept and what philosophers get wrong when analyzing culture-What culture 'wants' -What is the speed minimum of innovation?-Are there things we can do to accelerate cultural evolution further? -How should we analyze subcultures?-Is Insurance really the fundamental application for culture?Show Notes:https://notunreasonable.com/2021/11/26/joe-henrich-on-cultural-evolution/Youtube link:  https://youtu.be/ud-1rhQHnKE

Why boys will be boys and girls will be girls.... Doctor Carole Hooven is a lecturer in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard. In recent years the gender movement has frustrated experts like Doctor Hooven, as it dismisses the science behind the differences between men and women. You're going to hear how testosterone shapes not only our bodies, but our minds... from the womb to adulthood. I hope you enjoy the episode. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

How can the distinct habits of chimps and bonobos inform us about human evolution and behavior?Today we speak with Richard Wrangham, a research professor in the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard. For more than three decades, the English anthropologist, primatologist, and author has studied primate behavior as it relates to human social behavior, evolution, and warfare. Richard Wrangham is also the founder of the Kibale Chimpanzee Project. In this episode, we'll hear more from Richard about the difference between chimpanzees and bonobos and how each species can help us understand human nature. We'll also learn more about the domestication of animals and how violence is a commonality across species.Episode Quotes:On how Bonobos are different from Chimpanzees:“It's a society in which the males have been trained to not try and take liberties with the females. And so important is the dominance of the females that if you look at which males achieve dominance among other males, it is almost always a male who's got a living mother, who herself is pretty dominant. And because she helps him in his interactions against all the males, that help is really vital.”On the role of fire in human development:“Fire was the thing that changed us from an Australopithecine into Homo. It changed us from being an ape into a very early kind of human. It gave us our anatomy, it gave us our digestive system, it gave us a way to [...] do other things with our time, spend more time making tools or exploring the environment, hunting[...] So, fire made us Homo and then I think that language made us sapiens.”On the fossil record of domestication:“When we go back in time and see, as we do our ancestors with increasingly broad faces, as they go back, we can be rather confident in reconstructing that they were increasingly aggressive, reactively, aggressive, go back. So you've got those icon anatomical changes. You've also got genetic changes.”Show Links:Faculty ProfileKibale Chimpanzee ProjectOrder Book: Goodness ParadoxOrder Book: Catching FireOrder Book: Demonic Males

We're talking about exercising again this episode. BUT WAIT!! Don't run away just yet!Joining us s someone Dr. Pam is a total fangirl of. Daniel Lieberman is a Professor of Biological Sciences and Human Evolutionary Biology, as well as the Chair of the Department of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University. He studies how and why the human body looks and functions the way it does.Now if you're someone who doesn't like exercise, or even the idea of exercise makes you anxious - you're not alone! But there are ways to change these views, and get back to a getting fit regimen. Dr. Pam and Daniel dive into the world of running, how exercise is a modern activity, how the evolution of work created the bodies we have today.