Rephonic
Artwork for On Humans
Human Evolution
China
Consciousness
Human Brain
Neanderthals
Neuroscience
Climate Change
Anthropology
Evolution
Homo Sapiens
Bipedalism
Language
Parenting
Great Divergence
Cognitive Science
Agriculture
Hunter-Gatherers
John Bowlby
Human Origins
Shamanism

Where do we come from? How did we get here? And what kinds of creatures are we? On Humans features conversations with leading scholars about the human story, making new research about humanity more accessible to everyone and more meaningful to the big questions about who we are. In addition to regular episodes, the show now includes longer series on some of the greatest arcs in the journey of our ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes109Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Education

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Artwork for On Humans

Latest Episodes

History is full of wars. Why? Is war driven by fear? Greed? Revenge? Ambitious leaders? Is it rooted deep in human nature—or does it emerge only under particular social conditions?

And what do we learn if we change the angle from wars to non-wars? ... more

Was India once an affluent empire, later impoverished by British colonisation? Or was India never rich to begin with?

More generally, what does historical data on wages and other economic indicators tell us about the broader story of the making of ... more

YouTube

The tech gap between China and the West is closing fast. But why did the land that invented paper and gunpowder ever fall behind?

Debin Ma is the world’s leading economic historian of East Asia. In this fourth episode of our Great Divergence series... more

YouTube

Why was industrial modernity born in Europe and not, say, China? This is one of the most consequential questions about the origins of the modern world. Yet asking “why Europe” can mislead. The Industrial Revolution was not a European event. It was a ... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Bishnupriya Gupta
Professor of India's place in the Great Divergence
Warwick University
Episode: The Big Picture: Measuring the Origins of the Modern World ~ Bishnupriya Gupta & Stephen Broadberry (Great Divergence #5)
Stephen Broadberry
Professor and expert on historical GDP comparisons
Oxford University
Episode: The Big Picture: Measuring the Origins of the Modern World ~ Bishnupriya Gupta & Stephen Broadberry (Great Divergence #5)
Debin Ma
Leading economic historian of both China and Japan
Fudan University, Shanghai
Episode: A View From the East: China, Japan, and the Other Paths to Prosperity ~ Debin Ma (Great Divergence #4)
Robert Allen
Oxford historian and economist who studies the British Industrial Revolution
University of Oxford
Episode: Why Did the Industrial Revolution Happen in Britain? ~ Robert Allen (Great Divergence #3)
Joel Mokyr
Northwestern University economic historian, Nobel Prize in Economics 2025
Northwestern University
Episode: Why Did So Many Inventions Come from Europe? ~ Joel Mokyr (Great Divergence #2)
Kenneth Pomeranz
Professor, University of Chicago
University of Chicago
Episode: Why the West? Colonies, Fossil Fuels, and Lessons from China ~ Kenneth Pomeranz (Great Divergence #1)
Jeremy De Silva
Fossil expert and author of First Steps, How Upright Walking Made Us Human
Harvard (implied through work), author
Episode: Encore: Walking Towards the Human Condition (with Jeremy De Silva)
Denise Su
Paleoecologist at Arizona State University's Institute of Human Origins
Arizona State University, Institute of Human Origins
Episode: Where Did Humans Evolve? Gazing at the Changing Nature of the Garden of Eden ~ Denise Su
Richard B. Lee
Canadian anthropologist known for research with the Juhoansi hunter-gatherers
University of Toronto
Episode: The Original Affluent Society? Lessons from 60-Years of "Man the Hunter" Research ~ Richard B. Lee

Host

Ilari Mäkelä
Host of On Humans, science communicator and podcaster involved in On Humans collaborations

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 257 ratings
  • Excellent Host, Guests, and Content

    Ilari is the perfect host. I can tell he does his homework before each episode, making him a good counterpart for each guest. He has a keen ability to guide a conversation in a way that reaches the desired destination while still letting his guests roam the territory. I’ve been listening for over a year and continue to be pleasantly surprised when I realize how relevant anthropology can be for non-scholars like myself. I think that’s the magic of this show, and I’m grateful for Ilari and his gue... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cale-for-real
    United States2 months ago
  • Wonderful

    So much to learn and to think over and discuss at length in every episode. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    public4jbh
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • Consistently fascinating interviews and analysis on what makes us human

    A chance to listen to some of the world’s leading thinkers and researchers in the studies of the human condition from biology, anthropology, deep history, psychology and more. Ilari is erudite, and inexhaustibly curious and polite as a host. I’ve learned something from every episode.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jim B Canada
    Canada7 months ago
  • Great podcast

    Really well researched and thoughtful interviews. Also enjoy his voice and accent, which are quite soothing. Definitely recommend!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    bilays
    United States8 months ago
  • Excellent!!

    Unique stuff. So many angles covered, and not just Q&A, more like a convo. Learned tons listening to this!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Iaem2593
    United Kingdom8 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the host's preparation and conversational depth.
Some listeners wish for fewer interruptions during conversations.
Audience notes the show makes anthropology accessible to non-scholars.
Production is well-researched with high-quality interviews.
Guests and topics are consistently engaging and thought-provoking.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#98
United States/Education
Apple Podcasts
#102
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#208
Australia/Education

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

The Big Picture: Measuring the Origins of the Modern World ~ Bishnupriya Gupta & Stephen Broadberry (Great Divergence #5)
Q: What timeline does the data suggest for the Great Divergence?
The data push the divergence back earlier than the traditional Industrial Revolution focus, suggesting a mid-17th-century onset with regional differences shaping the later trajectory.
Where Did Humans Evolve? Gazing at the Changing Nature of the Garden of Eden ~ Denise Su
Q: How do climate and environment shape the human story, especially for late-epoch evolution toward Homo sapiens?
Su emphasizes climate-driven habitat changes (forest contraction, savanna expansion) and local tectonics that produced diverse landscapes, influencing bipedalism, tool use, diet, and long-distance movement, rather than a simple, uniform savannah scenario.
Where Did Humans Evolve? Gazing at the Changing Nature of the Garden of Eden ~ Denise Su
Q: Where did humans evolve?
Denise Su explains that our lineage originated in Africa about six to seven million years ago, with modern Homo sapiens appearing around 300,000 years ago, and that the evolution narrative is enriched by ecological context rather than a single locale.
The Original Affluent Society? Lessons from 60-Years of "Man the Hunter" Research ~ Richard B. Lee
Q: How do you see the legacy of the original affluent society and hunter-gatherers integrating into current discussions?
Lee argues that the original affluent society model has gained validation over time, especially as archaeological findings suggest hunter-gatherers lived healthier lives than early farmers.
The Original Affluent Society? Lessons from 60-Years of "Man the Hunter" Research ~ Richard B. Lee
Q: How has the life of the Juhoansi changed over the decades?
Lee notes that even in recent years, the Juhoansi still obtain a significant portion of their food from traditional bush foods despite modern influences.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About On Humans

What is On Humans about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A thoughtful interview series that examines the human story through deep-dive conversations with leading scholars across anthropology, history, evolution, and related sciences. Episodes frequently explore long-running questions about human origins, global development, and what it means to be human, often balancing data-driven historical debate with accessible storytelling. Notable strengths include rigorous, evidence-based discussions, a willingness to challenge orthodox narratives, and a habit of connecting ancient questions to contemporary issues. Listeners can expect intellectually stimulating dialogue, a broad range of expert guests, and nuanced takes on big-picture topics like the Great Divergence, human evolution, and the cultural roo... more

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These podcasts share a similar audience with On Humans:

1. The Future of Everything
2. Hidden Brain
3. In Our Time
4. The History of Literature
5. Freakonomics Radio

How many episodes of On Humans are there?

On Humans launched 4 years ago and published 109 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on On Humans?

Recent guests on On Humans include:

1. Bishnupriya Gupta
2. Stephen Broadberry
3. Debin Ma
4. Robert Allen
5. Joel Mokyr
6. Kenneth Pomeranz
7. Jeremy De Silva
8. Denise Su

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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