Podcasts by The Insight
Where did we come from? One of humanity's most basic questions, the answer is fascinating. Weaving together insights from the fields of genetics, archaeology, linguistics, and paleoanthropology, hosts Spencer Wells and Razib Khan take us on a grand tour of human history. Scientific storytelling at its best.
Further podcasts by Insitome: Your guide to the story of you
Podcast on the topic Naturwissenschaften
All episodes
Brian Hare and Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity from 2020-09-15T13:00
Razib discusses the new book Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity with one of the authors.
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN...
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Why Western Europeans are so WEIRD and why that matters! from 2020-09-08T07:30
Razib talks to evolutionary anthropologist Joe Henrich about his new book, The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous, Listen
Why much of science is fiction from 2020-09-03T16:10:38
Razib talks to Stuart Ritchie about his new book, Science Fictions: How Fraud, Bias, Negligence, and Hype Undermine the Search for Truth
https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/125022269...
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Siberian paleohistory from 2020-08-06T06:59:34
Razib and Spencer discuss the geography, prehistory, and genetics, of Siberia. Also, the time Spencer experienced a Siberian winter!
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Sundaland: a human evolutionary hearth from 2020-07-31T22:01:34
Razib and Spencer discuss why the geology and biogeography of Southeast Asia may explain why it is so important in the history of human evolution. Show notes: Listen
Peopling the Americas 32,000 years ago from 2020-07-23T22:00
Razib discusses revolutionary new work published in Nature that tells us that modern humans were present in the Americas 32,000 years ago with one of the authors, Lorena Becerra-Valdivia.
Ghost in the machine from 2020-07-16T21:15:38
Spencer and Razib talk about what we mean when we say "ghost population" in human genetics, and why it's so important to understand our origins.
Native American admixture into Polynesia! from 2020-07-09T22:02:18
Razib talks to Alex Ioannidis on the new paper which he is a first author of which argues that there is pre-Columbian Native American ancestry in Eastern Polynesia. Did the Polynesians bring the...
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Will to Power and the Holocene transition from 2020-06-26T00:56
Razib and Spencer talk about what a new ancient DNA paper from Neolithic Ireland suggests about radical inequality and power differentials in early agricultural societies, and what that says abo...
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Two cultures, humanities and science from 2020-06-18T22:14:39
Spencer and Razib discuss what the humanities can offer to science with Kerim Yasar, professor of East Asian literature https://twitter.com/nihonk...
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Psychiatry and genes from 2020-06-11T22:32:56
Razib talks to Dr. Emily Deans on what's like to work in psychiatry today in a world with personal genomics. https://twitter.com/evolutionarypsy
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American Downfall: Cultural evolution, Peter Turchin, and the return of history from 2020-06-03T19:02
Spencer and Razib discuss current events in the context of cultural evolution. The history of decline, the American "Empire", and Peter Turchin's thoughts on social disorder Listen
The genetic basis of facial variation from 2020-05-28T22:27:28
This week Razib talks to Dan Crouch about what we know about the genetics of the variation shape and features. https://www.pnas.org/conte...
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Ancient DNA and China from 2020-05-21T20:38:09
Spencer and Razib discuss the latest ancient DNA work that sheds light on East Asian prehistory (and also some coronavirus status update) Listen
Chris Stringer on paleoanthropology in 2020 from 2020-05-14T18:11:11
Razib catches up with Chris Stinger on the state of paleoanthropology in 2020 and the ramifications of what genetics has taught us about the diversity in Denisovans in the past few years!
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Genetically Modified Organisms from 2020-05-07T18:21:23
Razib talks to Chad Niederhuth at Michigan State on the promise of GMO agriculture! http://niederhuthlab.com/
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Coronavirus 2020: vaccination and the specter of revolution from 2020-05-01T19:07:32
Spencer and Razib discuss the state of the pandemic, why Spencer is skeptical of rapid vaccine development, and the political and cultural fallout of COVID-19. Listen
Alfred Russel Wallace and the Prehistory of the Indo-Malaysian Archipelago from 2020-04-25T16:35:57
Spencer describes Wallace's encounter with Indonesia and his insight into evolution by natural selection.
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Genetics, genealogy, and secrets unknown from 2020-04-22T19:16:28
Razib talks to Libby Copeland about her new book, The Lost Family: How DNA Testing is Upending Who We Are https://www.ab...
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Coronavirus 2020: preamble to Weimar? from 2020-04-16T18:18:18
Spencer and Razib discuss the updates to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020 as of mid-April. Spencer delves into the possible social and cultural ramifications, and they both discuss the trajector...
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Paleogenetics of East Asia from 2020-04-09T17:24:15
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the latest discoveries about the paleogenetic history of East Asia. Where did the Tibetans, Han, and Japanese come from? Listen
Coronavirus pandemic of 2020 from 2020-03-31T20:39:10
Razib and Spencer discuss the state-of-the-pandemic at the end of March 2020. https://blog.ins...
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Natural Selection among indigenous Americans from 2020-03-25T21:20:35
Razib talks to Austin Reynolds about what he's discovered about adaptation in indigenous peoples of the New World. https://www.pnas.org/...
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The Importance of Summer from 2020-03-23T06:14:15
An excerpt from Spencer's book Pandora's Seed about the eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia in 1815.
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Genomics of Mendelian Conditions from 2020-03-19T02:47:54
Razib talks to Dr. Jessica Chong of the University of Washington about how genomics has changed how we view and understand rare disorders Listen
Decreasing genetic diversity with distance from Africa from 2020-03-11T20:29:03
Razib talks to Dr. Sohini Ramachandran of Brown about her classical paper from 2005 which showed decreasing genetic diversity as a function of distance from Africa Listen
Ancient Egyptian genetics from 2020-03-04T20:31:53
Razib and Spencer talk about the history of ancient Egypt, and the insights genetics can shed on the origins of the ancient Egyptians https...
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Genetics and (pre)history of Southeast Asia from 2020-02-26T17:53:17
Razib and Spencer talk all things genetic and prehistorical Southeast Asia! https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6476732/...
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Coronavirus and Zoonoses from 2020-02-19T23:08:39
Spencer and Razib discuss the evolutionary and historical context of zoonotic diseases, and their relevance to current events.
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Genetics of Fertility from 2020-02-13T20:09
Razib talks to Melinda Mills about the intersection of demographics and genetics. https://www.rsfjournal.org/content/rsfjss/4/4/122.full.pdf
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Genetics of Papuans from 2020-02-04T23:09:11
Razib talks to Anders Bergstrom of the Crick Institute about the genetic history of New Guinea https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5802383/
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Paleogenetics of Africa from 2020-01-29T19:57:01
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the ramifications of a new paper which reports on the ancient DNA of West Africans who lived 8,000 and 3,000 years ago. Listen
3000 years in the Levant from 2020-01-23T01:19:13
This week Razib discusses the genetics and history of the Levant with Dr. Marc Haber. https://blog.insito.me/3-000-years-...
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Predictions for genetics in the 2020s from 2020-01-15T20:07:54
Spencer and Razib offer up 10 predictions for what genetics will bring in the 2020s, from free sequencing to going beyond "Out of Africa." Listen
Ten years of human genetics and evolution from 2019-12-20T19:24:13
What was big in human evolution and genetics over the last 10 years? https://blog.insito...
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Scandinavian Genetics from 2019-06-26T20:33:17
Talking the genetic history of Scandinavians with Torsten Günther. Show notes http...
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Tibetan Denisovans from 2019-06-19T20:04:16
Razib talks about a Denisovan finding from Tibet with Dr. Frido Welker. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/jcQr2gSy
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Obesity and genetic prediction from 2019-06-12T23:17:45
Razib talks to a researcher who developed a method to predict extreme obesity looking at genetic profiles. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/76367O2I
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Evolution of Family from 2019-06-05T23:00:14
Razib discusses the evolutionary and ecological context of human families with Dr. Rebecca Sear. Listen
Natural Selection and "Deep Learning" from 2019-05-29T23:37:13
Evolutionary biology and computer science don't seem to have much in common. But this week Razib talks to a geneticist who brings both together in his research. Listen
Altitude Adaptation and Denisovans from 2019-05-22T21:30:45
Razib talks to Emilia Huerta-Sanchez about her finding that altitude adaptation in Tibetans is due to Denisovan admixture. https://pxlme.me/RECg03af
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Neolithic Massacre from 2019-05-15T22:36:50
This week Razib talks to two researchers who have published a paper that reconstructs the relationships between a group of people who seem to have been killed in a conflict during the Neolithic ...
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The Epigenetics Revolution from 2019-05-08T22:24:12
This week Razib talks to Dr. John Greally on what epigenetics really is, and why it is important. Show notes https://pxlme.me/ZoXCz98p
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The $1000 Genome from 2019-05-01T23:12:04
Razib talks to Rodrigo Martinez of Veritas Genetics about what the age of "social genomics" will mean to us. https://pxlme.me/uWk0IqrZ
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Deconstructing the Denisovans from 2019-04-24T19:07:11
Spencer and Razib discuss who the Denisovans were, where they lived, and what it means for us as humans. https://pxlme.me/UPzHwYX6
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The ape that understood the universe from 2019-04-16T21:49:41
Razib talks to evolutionary psychologist Steve Stewart-Williams about how the origins of our mind can inform how we interact with the world around us. Show notes: Listen
Solving the Missing Heritability from 2019-04-10T22:52:45
Razib talks to Alexander Young on whether the missing heritability is solved, and what it is in the first place https://pxlme.me/LgByOD37
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The genetic history of Ice Age Europe from 2019-04-02T18:46:52
Razib discusses the genetics of Pleistocene Europeans with Cosimo Posth. https://pxlme.me/Rxv09mQ2
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This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution from 2019-03-27T21:00:50
David Sloan Wilson talks about the application of evolutionary theory to policy and people, and his book, This View of Life: Completing the Darwinian Revolution. Listen
Historical Linguistics from 2019-03-19T01:52:24
Asya Pereltsvaig joins us to talk about historical linguistics, how language evolution relates to genetic evolution (or not), and what sorts of features are important in creating a phylogenetic ...
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Irish genetics over the past 10,000 years from 2019-03-13T18:24:17
This week Razib talks to Dr. Lara Cassidy about what genetics can tell us about Ireland's history. https://pxlme.me/mUUwq7u9
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Polygenic risk scores and diversity from 2019-03-07T01:00:58
This week, medical genetics and diversity https://pxlme.me/bmjzWq8R
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Blueprint, a conversation with Robert Plomin from 2019-02-27T07:01:45
This week we talk about behavior geneticists with one of the doyens of the field, Robert Plomin. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/wv1-WXQK
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The Prehistory of the Arabian Peninsula from 2019-02-20T02:53:15
Archaeologist Jeff Rose talks about the incredible Paleolithic finds in Oman and their implications for the origins of modern humanity. Show notes: https://p...
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Love and biology! from 2019-02-14T02:07:43
This week we talked to evolutionary biologist Steve Phelps about love. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/Qe6cieei
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Is the FBI Watching Your DNA? from 2019-02-06T22:31:53
This week Razib and Spencer talk to Judy Russell and Debbie Kennett about the recent controversy about Family Tree DNA's cooperation with law enforcement. Show notes: Listen
The New York Times takes on Ancient DNA from 2019-01-30T20:17:50
This week Razib and Spencer talk to Bastien Llamas, a researcher at the University of Adelaide, about the recent expose about ancient DNA in The New York Times Magazine. Show notes: Listen
Cultural Evolution from 2019-01-24T00:17:35
This week Razib discusses cultural evolution with anthropologist Richard McElreath. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/HCVcxcZh
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2018 in genomics from 2018-12-20T06:36:31
This week, Spencer and Razib discuss the stories which defined 2018 in genomics. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/35Tq7n7g
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African Genetics from 2018-12-12T23:47:44
This week Razib and Spencer discuss the changes occurring in the genetics of Africa, and the ramifications for all of us. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/83LHp9...
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The Genetics of Game of Thrones from 2018-12-05T20:12:55
This week Razib and Spencer discuss the genetics of the HBO series Game of Thrones. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/6l7Cf6ZI
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CRISPR Babies in China: Across the Rubicon from 2018-11-27T01:23:24
This week, Spencer and Razib talk about "CRISPR babies" in China with Antonio Regalado. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/w385xwhK
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The genetics of taste from 2018-11-21T23:47:57
The genetics of Native Americans from 2018-11-15T03:40:33
This week, Spencer and Razib talk about the history and genetics of the Native Americans. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/ovEQFyCr
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Halloween genetics: fact or fiction from 2018-10-31T20:47:37
This week, Spencer and Razib talk about the intersection of Halloween and genetics. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/Jx54AZoN
Reflections on ASHG 2018 from 2018-10-24T22:07:29
This week Gareth and Razib talk about their impressions of the American Society of Human Genetics meeting for 2018. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/NebRLt1P...
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The Genetics of the Finns from 2018-10-17T19:05:54
This week Spencer and Razib talk about the genetics of the Finns, and the Uralic people more generally. Show notes: https://pxlme.me/GYn1-9Jv
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ANI, ASI, IVC and The Genetics of India from 2018-09-26T21:36:14
This week, Razib and Spencer discuss the history, genetics and anthropology of India.
Show notes: https://pxlme.me/lMHHXFZb
The Greatest Human Journey from 2018-09-20T03:20:44
This week, Razib and Spencer discuss the genetics and peopling of Hawaii
Show notes: https://pxlme.me/HB8t-6GG
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The Legacy of Cavalli-Sforza from 2018-09-12T19:17:19
This week, Razib and Spencer review the legacy of the late L. L. Cavalli-Sforza.
Show notes: https://pxlme.me/sMSUF9il
So you want to be a geneticist… from 2018-08-16T01:45:53
This week, Razib talks to Dr. Austin Reynolds, an early career geneticist at UC Davis. They talk about how Austin got into genetics, and where he's going in the field.
Show notes: Listen
MHC and the Genetics of Attraction from 2018-08-09T00:06:03
This week Spencer & Razib have been ousted! The "interns" take over, as Mackenzie Finklea, Brianna and Isabelle discuss the relationship between genetics and attraction.
Genetics of Educational Attainment from 2018-07-25T21:36:37
Razib and Spencer discuss the genetics of educational attainment and cognitive performance with behavioral geneticist James Lee.
The Genetics of China, Han&Beyond from 2018-07-18T23:48:42
Spencer and Razib discuss the history, genetics, and scientific future of China and the Han people.
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Violence and Warfare! from 2018-07-12T05:01:53
Spencer and Razib discuss the history, psychology, and biology of violence and warfare, from Rousseau to Hobbes.
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Genetic States of America from 2018-07-04T19:51:39
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the genetic and demographic history of the United States of America from the age of European colonization onward.
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Isolated Populations from 2018-06-28T03:35:57
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the genetic and cultural importance of isolated and unique populations.
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Coffee, Milk&Booze from 2018-06-20T23:49:08
This week Spencer and Razib dive into three of the most important beverages in human history: coffee, milk and alcohol.
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Y-chromosomes and the Ascent of Man from 2018-06-13T18:33:46
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the Y-chromosome as tool for studying human history, from early migrations out of Africa to Genghis Khan and Bronze Age bottlenecks.
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Barbarian Genetics from 2018-06-06T21:12:47
This week Spencer and Razib talk to Patrick Wyman, host of the podcast 'Tides of History,' about the genetics of the barbarian invasions during the fall of the Roman Empire.
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She Has Her Mother's Laugh from 2018-05-30T20:32:08
This week Spencer and Razib talk to renowned science journalist Carl Zimmer about his new book, She Has Her Mother's Laugh.
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Molecular Population Genetics from 2018-05-24T05:01:36
Razib talks to professor Matthew Hahn of Indiana University about population and molecular genetics, and how the two have combined to form one field.
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The Evolutionary Importance of Mothers and Grandmothers from 2018-05-09T21:02:31
Spencer and Razib talk to Kristen Hawkes, proponent of "The Grandmother Hypothesis," about the importance of mothers and grandmothers in human evolutionary history.
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The Golden State Killer and the Genetic Panopticon from 2018-05-02T20:48:26
This week, Spencer and Razib talk to genetic genealogist Roberta Estes about the Golden State Killer case and how the rise of genetic genealogy and citizen science databases helped to track down...
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Lee Berger and the Dawn of "Big Data" in Paleoanthropology from 2018-04-18T23:36:33
Lee Berger sits down with Razib and Spencer to discuss his work in paleoanthropology, the discovery of Australopithecus sediba and Homo naledi, and the new era of "big data" in...
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The Genetics of Human Behavior from 2018-04-12T00:01:41
This week Spencer and Razib talk to Stuart Ritchie, a leading behavioral geneticist, about the genetics of intelligence and personality.
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Jewish Genetics: The Exodus Comes Full Circle from 2018-04-04T19:52:42
This week, Spencer and Razib discuss the genetics of Jewish populations. From an origin in the Fertile Crescent thousands of years ago to a worldwide diaspora, it's a fascinating story of faith,...
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Inside Helix from 2018-03-28T22:17:20
This week Spencer and Razib talk to James Lu, co-founder of Helix, about the past, present and future of the "app store for personal genomics."
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Multiregionalism is Dead...Long Live Multiregionalism! from 2018-03-21T23:56:07
This week, Razib talks with renowned paleoanthropologist Milford Wolpoff about how he was both wrong and right about human evolution.
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23andMe, the FDA, and Our Genomic Future from 2018-03-14T21:05:58
Spencer, Razib and Gareth discuss the recent launch of breast cancer susceptibility (BRCA) testing by 23andMe, including the science behind the test and the policy challenges surrounding direct-...
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Paradise Lost from 2018-03-07T22:59:19
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the three great "Pleistocene Paradises" lost to rising sea levels at the end of the last Ice Age: Doggerland, Beringia and Sundaland.
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Chris Stringer and The Human Revolution from 2018-02-28T23:59:17
This week Spencer and Razib discuss the Out of Africa theory, Neanderthal admixture, and The Human Revolution with Chris Stringer, Head of Human Origins Research at London's Natural History Muse...
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Cheddar: More Than A Cheese from 2018-02-22T00:09:14
This week, Spencer and Razib do a deep dive into the early history of the British Isles, focusing specifically on the famous "Cheddar Man." Who were the first Brits, and what did they really loo...
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Darwin Day Special: Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? from 2018-02-15T00:48:50
Spencer and Razib discuss Charles Darwin's scientific impact on our understanding of evolution, and delve into the mechanism by which selection - both natural and sexual - produces biological ch...
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Journey of Man Redux from 2018-02-07T23:59:19
15 years after the premiere of the PBS/National Geographic documentary ‘Journey of Man’ and the publication of Spencer’s book, Spencer and Razib talk about the impact they have had on the public...
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Ancestry Deconvoluted from 2018-01-31T23:08:04
Spencer and Razib discuss how geneticists infer ancestry from genomic data, with guest Joe Pickrell - geneticist, founder & CEO of consumer genomics startup Gencove. Find out why telling you yo...
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Consumer Genomics Goes Mainstream from 2018-01-24T23:25:29
Spencer, Razib and Gareth discuss the past, present and future of consumer genomics, from its early days as a cottage industry to where it goes in 2018 - and beyond.
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The Indo-European Enigma from 2018-01-17T20:39:13
Razib and Spencer discuss the genetic evidence for the migration of Bronze Age Indo-Aryan steppe nomads across Eurasia, including the political issues surrounding their impact on the Indian subc...
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Neander-Me Part 2 from 2018-01-10T23:30:14
Today, humans are the only species of hominin in the world. 50,000 years ago, however, we were not alone - our cousins, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, walked the Earth with us. Their legacy li...
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Neander-Me, Part 1 from 2018-01-03T21:57:10
Today, humans are the only species of hominin in the world. 50,000 years ago, however, we were not alone - our cousins, the Neanderthals and Denisovans, walked the Earth with us. Their legacy li...
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