Talking Apes

This week on Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis is joined by one of the world's leading gibbon experts, Dr. Susan Cheyne . After nearly three decades working in the rainforests of Borneo , Susan has dedicated her career to studying these remarkable yet often overlooked apes. Often called the "forgotten apes," gibbons are extraordinary animals. They are masters of movement, capable of swingin...

This episode explores aspects of primate behavior, including non-reproductive sexual behaviors, from a scientific and evolutionary perspective. Some listeners may find parts of the discussion sensitive. This week on Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis is joined by evolutionary biologist Dr Matilda Brindle for one of our most fascinating, funny, and unexpectedly revealing conversations yet. From kissing to m...

Welcome to our Earth Day 2026 Special.  What happens when cutting-edge technology meets community-led conservation? In this episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with Dr. Lilian Pintea , Vice President of Conservation Science at the Jane Goodall Institute , to explore how data, people, and innovation are reshaping the future of conservation. From satellite imagery and AI to village-led la...

Environmental storytelling has never been more important. In this episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with journalist and podcast host Mike DiGirolamo , the voice behind Mongabay’s flagship podcast, The Mongabay Newscast. Mike spends his days speaking with scientists, conservationists, and investigative reporters working on the frontlines of climate change, biodiversity loss, and global...

How did human language evolve and what can our closest relatives teach us about its origins? In this episode of Talking Apes , Gerry Ellis sits down with primatologist Katie Slocombe to explore the fascinating world of chimpanzee communication and what it reveals about the evolution of language itself. Katie has spent decades studying how chimpanzees communicate in both wild and captive settings....

This week on Talking Apes , we record on site in the rainforests of Cameroon at Ape Action Africa’s Mefou Sanctuary , where art and primate conservation intersect. Our guest is primate portrait artist Robin Huffman , who left a career in New York City interior design to become a full-time sanctuary volunteer and internationally recognized wildlife artist. Robin first arrived at Ape Action Africa i...

Bonobos may be our closest living relatives, but we still have so much to learn about and from them. In this episode of Talking Apes, we sit down with Ariel Rogers , Executive Director of Friends of Bonobos , and evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Brian Hare to explore the remarkable social world of bonobos and why their survival matters now more than ever. From decades of research at Lola ya Bonobo...

Have you ever wondered how we became the upright, big-brained, tool-wielding species we are today? In this fascinating episode of Talking Apes , Gerry Ellis sits down with Dr. Carol Ward - Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri - to explore the origins of humanity and our ape relatives. From fossil digs in Kenya to 3D-scanning ancient b...

Join us for a lively, curiosity-filled deep dive with author and researcher Cat Bohannon, whose award-winning book Eve reframes 200 million years of evolution through the female body. Cat brings her signature blend of science, storytelling, and humor to Talking Apes, guiding us through the missing pieces in our evolutionary story and the surprising role that female biology plays in shaping everyth...

Paleoanthropologist Dr. Matt Tocheri joins host Gerry Ellis to explore the remarkable discovery of Homo floresiensis — the so-called Flores “Hobbit” of Indonesia. What does this small-bodied, small-brained human tell us about our own evolutionary story? In this episode of Talking Apes , host Gerry Ellis is joined by paleoanthropologist Dr. Matt Tocheri , one of the world’s leading experts on Homo...

This World Gorilla Day, Talking Apes kicks off Season 5 with a fascinating guest: behavioral ecologist and evolutionary biologist Robin Morrison . Robin has worked with both mountain and western lowland gorillas, giving her a rare perspective on how these species live, love, and organize their social worlds. From group size to subtle bonds between males and females, she reveals the quiet but power...

In this episode of Talking Apes , we follow Dr. Rachna Reddy into the the African rainforest, where the laughter of chimps and the quiet rhythms of bonobo life echo deeper truths about who we are. As a biological anthropologist and co-director of the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, Rachna’s research focuses on the social bonds that shape us across the lifespan - from infant cuddles to adolescent rebelli...

What does a Congolese rainforest childhood reveal about the roots of human cooperation? In this captivating episode of Talking Apes , we sit down with Dr. Gul Deniz Salali , evolutionary anthropologist at University College London , to explore her groundbreaking research with the BaYaka people of the Congo Basin. Dr. Salali shares intimate insights into how BaYaka children learn through play, obse...

Are we really the only "talking apes"?  Get ready for a mind-blowing episode with Dr. Adriano Reis E Lameira, one of the world’s leading experts on the evolution of speech and language!  Dr. Lameira has spent years deep in the rainforests of Borneo, decoding the vocal mysteries of orangutans. His groundbreaking research challenges long-held beliefs about what separates us from our primat...

Hanging with Our Ancestors: Luke Fannin on Climbing, Evolution & Ape Locomotion Ever wondered why kids instinctively love monkey bars? Or why apes move so deliberately in the trees? In this episode of Talking Apes , biological anthropologist Luke Fannin takes us on a journey through the evolution of climbing, exploring how primates, from ancient hominins to modern chimps, have adapted to life...

                                The Amazing People Behind Jane Goodall  What does it take to lead one of the most iconic conservation organizations in the world? In this episode of Talking Apes , we sit down with Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA , to find out. With a background spanning international conservation, business, and storytelling, Anna brings a refresh...

Earth Month Special: A Deep Dive into Global Conservation with Sean Southey  “This is our global education moment. This is the time to champion. This is the time to be noisy. This is the time to dream.” What if we told you there’s a conservation powerhouse that’s been quietly shaping environmental policies, protecting endangered species, and inspiring global action for over 75 years—but most peopl...

In this episode of Talking Apes , we’re joined by Dr. Andie Ang , a primatologist dedicated to the conservation of Southeast Asia’s elusive and endangered colobine monkeys. From the dense forests of Vietnam to the urban green spaces of Singapore, Andie has spent years studying these fascinating leaf-eating primates, whose complex digestive systems, striking colors, and secretive nature make them s...

Bipedalism - How Walking Made Us Human with Jeremy DeSilva “The history of our lineage is filled with multiple species coexisting—this moment, with only one upright walking ape on the planet, is exceptionally rare.” Why do humans walk on two legs when no other mammal does? And what did it cost us? From back pain to difficult childbirth, our bipedal evolution has its drawbacks—but it also shaped ev...

In this episode of Talking Apes , we sit down with Mary Ford , Senior Director of Roots & Shoots USA , the Jane Goodall Institute’s global youth program. Mary shares the inspiring origins of Roots & Shoots—how a conversation on Jane Goodall’s porch in Tanzania sparked a movement that now empowers young change makers in over 70 countries. We explore how conservation is evolving beyond prote...

Why are chimpanzees in Uganda scooping up bat guano and eating it? This strange behavior, captured on trail cameras and observed over 800 times in a single year, is the fascinating centerpiece of our latest episode with disease ecologist Dr. Tony Goldberg . Tony explains how this bizarre dietary shift is linked to mineral deficiencies in the chimps’ diet, caused by the loss of raffia palm trees du...

This week on Talking Apes , we’re entering the personal world of gorillas and a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to their stories: Beth Armstrong. As a former gorilla keeper at the Columbus Zoo , Beth’s career spans from revolutionizing gorilla care in zoos to advocating for conservation in the wild. She brings decades of experience, wisdom, and unapologetic passion for these gentle gia...

Growing Up Chimp: Lessons on Life, Leadership, and the Mystery of Puberty 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. In the latest episode of Talking Apes , primatologist Dr. Kris Sabbi takes us deep into the lives of juvenile chimps, exploring the web of social behavio...

In a groundbreaking discovery, scientists have observed a male orangutan, Rakus, using plants as medicine —a first-ever recording of a wild animal self-medicating for wound care. This unique behavior was spotted in the jungle, where Rakus chewed the stem and leaves of a plant known for its anti-inflammatory properties and applied it to his injured cheek. The wound, likely caused by a territorial f...

Generations at Gombe: Elizabeth Lonsdorf on Chimpanzee Mothers, Babies, and the Power of Long-Term Study In this episode of Talking Apes we’re joined by Elizabeth Lonsdorf whose decades spanning career has been rooted at Gombe , the iconic chimpanzee research site founded by Dr. Jane Goodall. What started as a project to study tool-use in wild chimps has evolved into a lifetime of discovery. Eliza...