Human Origins - The Story of Us

What is it really like to live with hunter-gatherers? In this eye-opening episode, Dr. Helga Vierich—cultural and biological anthropologist—joins us to share vivid stories from her time with Indigenous communities in Africa. From hunting tales that rival action movies to deep insights into animism and ecological kinship, Dr. Vierich reveals what these ancient ways of living can teach us about huma...

In this captivating episode of “The Story of Us,” Season 5, Episode 2, we’re honored to host Dr. Clément Zanolli, a distinguished paleoanthropologist from the University of Bordeaux. Dr. Zanolli shares his firsthand experiences from the groundbreaking discovery of Paranthropus capensis, a newly identified hominin species. This remarkable find stems from the analysis of the SK 15 mandible, a 1.4-mi...

Get ready for an enlightening journey into the world of ancient DNA and human history! In this episode of “The Story of Us,” we sit down with Dr. Jennifer Raff, a renowned anthropological geneticist and author of the New York Times bestseller “Origin: A Genetic History of the Americas.” Dr. Raff shares her fascinating insights into how genetics unravels the mysteries of our ancestors’ migrations a...

Description: Join us in an exciting discussion with Dr. Emma Pomeroy, a renowned paleoanthropologist, as we delve into the fascinating world of Neanderthals. In this episode, we explore the new Neanderthal documentary on Netflix and uncover the groundbreaking discoveries from Shanidar Cave, where Dr. Pomeroy conducts her research. Key Highlights: • Neanderthal Documentary: An overview of the lates...

Join us for an enlightening episode of “The Story of Us” YouTube series as we sit down with Dr. Emily Casanova, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Loyola University New Orleans. Dr. Casanova’s groundbreaking research delves into the intricate connections between brain evolution, Neanderthal DNA, and autism in modern humans. In this interview, Dr. Casanova shares her insights on: • How Neand...

Now that we've all seen the headlines about the potential Naledi engravings, join Seth and Genevieve as we dig deep into the questions surrounding this new possibility. What do we know so far? How should researchers approach such an extraordinary claim? How can we study these engravings? What is the balance between media and academia? And what are the implications for the paleoanthropology fie...

n this special episode of “The Story of Us,” we are thrilled to welcome Professor Lee R. Berger from the University of Witwatersrand. Join us as we dive into the fascinating discoveries surrounding Homo naledi and the Rising Star cave system. Dr. Berger will address the many challenges and astonishing findings that have emerged from this groundbreaking site. We will explore critical questions that...

n this episode of “The Story of Us,” we are honored to have renowned primatologist Dr. Jill Pruetz join us. Dr. Pruetz is a conservationist and field researcher dedicated to studying and preserving the chimpanzees of Fongoli, Senegal. Her extensive work with these remarkable primates has provided invaluable insights into their behavior and the challenges they face. Dr. Pruetz shares her journey, b...

Join us for a compelling episode as we delve into the work of Annalin Matabane, a cultural heritage researcher and the founder of Reach Archaeology Consulting. Annalin specializes in the management, conservation, and ethical excavation of human remains. As one of the first black South African-born females in Cultural Resource Management, she advocates for inclusiveness and equality in archaeology...

Join us as we welcome Dr. Ryan McRae to discuss the African fossil record and the inherent biases that shape our understanding of hominin evolution. In this episode, we delve into why certain types of fossils, like teeth, are more commonly found and whether this is due to their abundance or the methods we use in fossil searches. Dr. Ryan McRae is a paleoanthropologist whose research focuses on the...

In this episode of “The Story of Us,” we are honored to host Dr. Bernard Wood, a pioneering figure in the field of paleoanthropology and anatomy. Dr. Wood, currently a Professor of Human Origins and Human Evolutionary Anatomy at George Washington University, has significantly advanced our understanding of hominin anatomy and evolutionary morphology. Dr. Wood’s remarkable career began in medicine b...

In this episode of “The Story of Us,” we embark on an exciting exploration of gestural communication among our closest relatives, the great apes. Dr. Kirsty Graham, a leading expert in the field, joins us to delve into how chimpanzees and other great apes use gestures to convey meaning and interact with one another. Discover the fascinating parallels between human sign language and the gestures us...

In this exciting episode of “The Story of Us,” we are thrilled to welcome the esteemed Professor Pascal Gagneux from UC San Diego. As the Executive Co-Director of CARTA (Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny), Dr. Gagneux brings a wealth of knowledge on the evolutionary mechanisms driving primate molecular diversity. Join us as we delve into the fascinating work being done unde...

Join us for a milestone episode of “The Story of Us” as we reach our fiftieth installment with a special guest, Dr. Zachary Cofran, a distinguished professor from Vassar College in New York. In this fascinating discussion, we delve deep into the intricacies of human growth and development, shedding light on this often overlooked but crucial aspect of our evolutionary journey. Dr. Cofran shares his...

Welcome to this episode! Are you ready to hear some awesome news on rock art, and so much more? George is an Associate Professor and currently lectures part-time at the Geosciences Centre, University of Coimbra (IPT), Portugal. He is a member of management and academic committee and lectures architectural and landscape theory, prehistory and art, excavation and European heritage planning legislati...

On this episode of The Story of Us, we are talking to classic archaeologist Dr. Flint Dibble, son of a famed Archaeologist, Harold Dibble, (now we know where he got his name right?) Working mostly with Ancient Greece and their eating habits by analyzing animal bone remains in midden heaps and in other locations throughout Ancient Greece, he has been crucial to the understanding of the changes that...

On this very special episode of The Story of Us we have Dr Leslea Hlusko! Leslea J. Hlusko earned her B.A. from the University of Virginia in 1992. After four years exploring the non-academic life in Washington, D.C., she went to Penn State University, where she earned an M.A. (1998) and Ph. D. (2000).  Leslea was an assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Illino...

We are back! I know it’s been a while since the last episode of “The Story of Us.” life has been crazy, but coming back from the AABA 2024, I am very excited to bring this interview to you! In this episode, we are talking to archaeologist turned anthropologist Dr. Michael Petraglia, an exceptionally well-rounded and busy researcher! Hailing from Griffith University in Brisbane, Dr. Petraglia studi...

Welcome back to #TheStoryofUs, your favorite fireside chat style, and #Paleo Series! On this episode, we have another amazing guest—no surprise there. This time, we are honored to be joined by science communication master Dr. Cara Ocobock! Winner of the 2023 “AABA and Leakey Foundation Communication & Outreach Award in Honor of Camilla Smith,” we are not dealing with just any science communica...