79 episodes

Explore human evolution one story at a time. This award-winning show blends storytelling with science that will change your understanding of who we are.

Origin Stories The Leakey Foundation

    • Science
    • 4.9 • 410 Ratings

Explore human evolution one story at a time. This award-winning show blends storytelling with science that will change your understanding of who we are.

    Custodian of the Ancestors

    Custodian of the Ancestors

    What is it like to be responsible for the safekeeping of the ancestors of everyone in the world? In this episode, we travel to the National Museum of Ethiopia to see our most famous fossil relative – Lucy – and meet Yared Assefa, the person who takes care of her and all of our Ethiopian fossil ancestors and relatives. 
    If you love fossils, you won't want to miss this episode!
    Special thanks
    Thanks to Yared Assefa, Dr. Berhane Asfaw, and Dr. Mulugeta Feseha, who hosted The Leakey Foundation at the National Museum of Ethiopia.
    Quadruple your impact!
    Support the show! Your donation will be quadruple-matched! Leave a note and let us know if you'd like a shoutout on the next episode.
    Click here to donate! ---> https://leakeyfoundation.donorsupport.co/page/originstories
    Links to learn more
    President Obama's speech to the African Union
    Lucy: A marvelous specimen
    Top ten human evolution discoveries in Ethiopia
    Rare 3.8 million-year-old fossil skull recasts origins of iconic Lucy 
    Ethiopia is top choice for the cradle of Homo sapiens
    The Leakey Foundation
    Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and outreach.
    Funding provided by the Foundation has made many of the fossil hominin discoveries in Ethiopia possible. In addition, Our Baldwin Fellowship program has been building scientific capacity in Ethiopia and other countries since 1978. We also have a new program called the Francis H. Brown African Scholarship Fund that provides up to $25,000 for East African students or early career researchers in botany and geology. Learn about all of our grant programs at leakeyfoundation.org/grants
    Lunch Break Science
    Lunch Break Science is The Leakey Foundation's online series featuring short talks and interviews with Leakey Foundation grantees. Feed your brain with Lunch Break Science every third Thursday at 11 am Pacific on Facebook, YouTube, and leakeyfoundation.org/live.
    Credits
    Host and Producer: Meredith Johnson
    Editor: Audrey Quinn
    Theme Music: Henry Nagle
    Additional Music:
    Lee Rosevere "Tech Toys" and music from Blue Dot Sessions.

    Sponsors
    Origin Stories is made possible by support from Jeanne Newman, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund, and donors like you!

    • 32 min
    A Brief History of Bling

    A Brief History of Bling

    Travel through 50,000 years of human history following clues hidden inside beads made from ostrich eggshells. In this episode, researchers Jennifer Miller and Yiming Wang share how these tiny artifacts reveal a sweeping story of ancient social networks, cultural connections, and human adaptability.
    Support the show
    Help us make more episodes! All tax-deductible donations to Origin Stories will be quadruple-matched!
    >>>> Please click here to make a one-time or monthly donation. 
    Guests
    Dr. Jennifer Miller Dr. Yiming Wang Links to learn more
    Ostrich eggshell beads reveal 50,000-year-old social network in Africa (open access) An ancient social safety net in Africa was built on beads Are these snail shells the world's oldest known beads? Zambezi basin (Wikipedia) Paleoclimatology info and interactive paleoclimate map (National Centers for Environmental Education Sponsors and credits
    This episode was generously sponsored by Leakey Foundation Fellow Eddie Kislinger in honor of his wife, jewelry designer Cathy Waterman. Her designs are inspired by nature and influenced by her study of and connection with ancient human history. We are grateful to them for making this episode possible.
    Additional support comes from Jeanne Newman, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund, and our listener-supporters.
    Origin Stories is produced by Ray Pang. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Theme music by Henry Nagle. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Lee Roservere.

    • 26 min
    Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2023

    Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2023

    2023 was another exciting year in human origins research! Fossil discoveries and long-term primate studies expanded our understanding of what makes us human. In this episode, four Leakey Foundation scientists shared their favorite human evolution discoveries from the past year.
    Help us make more episodes! All tax-deductible donations to Origin Stories will be quadruple-matched!
    >>>> Please click here to make a one-time or monthly donation. 
    Guests
    Briana Pobiner Emma Finestone Nasser Malit  Risa Luther Links to learn more
    Top 13 Discoveries in Human Evolution, 2023 Edition Hunting and processing of straight-tusked elephants 125,000 years ago: Implications for Neanderthal behavior (open-access research paper) Neanderthals lived in groups big enough to eat giant elephants Evidence for the earliest structural use of wood at least 476,000 years ago (open-access research paper Early Homo erectus lived at high altitudes and produced both Oldowan and Acheulean tools (open-access research paper) The surprising toolbox of the early Homo erectus Demographic and hormonal evidence for menopause in wild chimpanzees (open-access research paper) Wild chimpanzees experience menopause Chimpanzee menopause revealed ft. Melissa Emery Thompson (Lunch Break Science on YouTube) Sponsors and credits
    Origin Stories is sponsored by Jeanne Newman, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation,  and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund. 
    Origin Stories is produced by Ray Pang. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Theme music by Henry Nagle. Additional music by Blue Dot Sessions and Lee Roservere.

    • 44 min
    Siblings

    Siblings

    Sibling relationships can include everything from love and support–to tension, competition, and conflict. They might also play a fundamental role in the evolution of our species. In the final installment of our three-part series on family relationships, researchers Karen Kramer, Cat Hobaiter, and Rachna Reddy explore surprising new science about the role of siblings in primate and human evolution.
    Links to learn more:
    Why are there so many humans? Children and social learning Karen Kramer Cat Hobaiter Rachna Reddy Support Origin Stories and help us explore human evolution one story at a time.
    Your tax-deductible gift makes our show possible. Click here to donate!
    Credits:
    This episode was produced by Leo Hornak. Sound design and production by Ray Pang. Host and executive producer, Meredith Johnson. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Theme music by Henry Nagle, additional music by Lee Roservere and Blue Dot Sessions.
    Sponsors:
    Dana LaJoie and Bill Richards, Jeanne Newman, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.

    • 30 min
    Fatherhood

    Fatherhood

    Humans invest enormous amounts of time and energy into bringing up our babies. This unique investment is a fundamental part of what it means to be human. In this episode, the second in a three-part series on family relationships, researchers Lee Gettler, Stacy Rosenbaum, and Sonny Bechayda explore how our species' approach to fatherhood may have shaped some of the most important traits that set us apart from other mammals.

     
    Leo Hornak produced this episode. Sound design by Ray Pang. Host and executive producer, Meredith Johnson. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Theme music by Henry Nagle, additional music by Lee Roservere and Blue Dot Sessions. Sounds effects provided by Kevin Luce by way of freesound dot org


    Support the show!
    Every donation makes a difference and helps us create new episodes. 
    Click to make a tax-deductible donation today!
     
    This episode was generously sponsored by father and daughter Bill Richards and Dana Lajoie. Additional support from the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, Jeanne Newman, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.
     
    Links to learn more:
    Fatherhood, pairbonding and testosterone in the Philippines Fathers' care in context Who keeps children alive?

    • 30 min
    Motherhood

    Motherhood

    Humans invest enormous amounts of time and energy into bringing up our babies. This unique investment is a fundamental part of what it means to be human. In this episode, the first in a three-part series on family relationships, researchers Sarah Blaffer Hrdy, Stacy Rosenbaum, and Amy Scott explore how our species' approach to motherhood may hold the key to some of the most important traits that set us apart from other mammals. 
    Links to learn more:
    Sarah Blaffer Hrdy - Childrearing in Evolution (video) Sarah Blaffer Hrdy - Mothers and Others (article) Citrona Walnut Farm Grantee Spotlight: Amy Scott Stacey Rosenbaum - Gorilla group structure Stacey Rosenbaum - Gorillas, humans, and early life adversity The Birth Bliss Academy Support Origin Stories
    Origin Stories needs your support. Your donation helps bring the untold stories and latest research in human evolution to thousands of curious minds worldwide. Your gift, no matter the amount, makes a big difference! Click here to support the show.
    Credits:
    This episode was produced by Leo Hornak. Sound design by Ray Pang. Host and executive producer, Meredith Johnson. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Recording assistance Catherine Monahon. Theme music by Henry Nagle, additional music by Lee Roservere and Blue Dot Sessions.
    Sponsors:
    Dana LaJoie and Bill Richards, Jeanne Newman, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.

    • 29 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
410 Ratings

410 Ratings

Jra4776 ,

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Just found this podcast and I love it. Extremely fascinating & educational. Definitely recommend

yoga.aha ,

Fascinating & factual!

Fascinating & excellent & factual.

Dee bothell ,

Amazing

My new obsession!! So fascinating

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