On Humans
Ilari MäkeläWhere 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
| Publishes | Twice monthly | Episodes | 107 | Founded | 4 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Category | Education | |||
Listen to this Podcast
Latest Episodes
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
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
Several inventions mark the progress towards modernity - the Gutenberg printing press, the Galileo telescope, the Watt steam engine. But why was Europe the birthplace of so many of these?
Joel Mokyr, winner of the 2025 Nobel Prize in economics, thi... more
Why did Western Europe become the richest region of the early modern world? Was the rise of the West powered by colonization, inventions, or something else entirely? And what happened to the medieval might of China and India?
The term “great diverge... more
Key Facts
Similar Podcasts
People also subscribe to these shows.
Recent Guests
Host
Reviews
- 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 Podcasts5cale-for-real
United States5 days ago - Wonderful
So much to learn and to think over and discuss at length in every episode. Highly recommend.
Apple Podcasts5public4jbh
United Kingdom4 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 Podcasts5Jim B Canada
Canada6 months ago - Great podcast
Really well researched and thoughtful interviews. Also enjoy his voice and accent, which are quite soothing. Definitely recommend!
Apple Podcasts5bilaysUnited States7 months ago - Excellent!!
Unique stuff. So many angles covered, and not just Q&A, more like a convo. Learned tons listening to this!!
Apple Podcasts5Iaem2593United Kingdom7 months ago
Listeners Say
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
Chart Rankings
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
Apple Podcasts | #202 | United States/Education |
Apple Podcasts | #204 |  Norway/Education |
Talking Points
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Audience Metrics
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
| Listeners per Episode | |
|---|---|
| Gender Skew | |
| Location | |
| Interests | |
| Professions | |
| Age Range | |
| Household Income | |
| Social Media Reach |
Frequently Asked Questions About On Humans
What is On Humans about and what kind of topics does it cover?
Across recent episodes, the show surveys core questions about what makes humans human through conversations with leading scholars in anthropology, evolution, neuroscience, and history. Topics range from hunter-gatherer lifestyles and social structure, through origins of humankind and Neanderthal genetics, to the cognitive bases of humor and the neuroscience of consciousness. A recurring strength is thoughtful, evidence-based dialogue that connects deep past questions to contemporary debates, with guests who are professors, researchers, and science communicators. The format often blends historical perspective with new data (e.g., ancient DNA, brain evolution, migration), producing rich, multi-disciplinary discussions that appeal to curious, ... more
Where can I find podcast stats for On Humans?
Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for On Humans. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to On Humans and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.
How many listeners does On Humans get?
Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for On Humans, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.
What are the audience demographics for On Humans?
Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for On Humans, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.
How many subscribers and views does On Humans have?
To see how many followers or subscribers On Humans has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.
Which podcasts are similar to On Humans?
These podcasts share a similar audience with On Humans:
1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Short Wave
3. Throughline
4. Freakonomics Radio
5. The Daily
How many episodes of On Humans are there?
On Humans launched 4 years ago and published 107 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.
How do I contact On Humans?
Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.
Where can I see ratings and reviews for On Humans?
Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for On Humans from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.
View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.
How do I access podcast episode transcripts for On Humans?
Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of On Humans. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.
What guests have appeared on On Humans?
Recent guests on On Humans include:
1. Robert Allen
2. Joel Mokyr
3. Kenneth Pomeranz
4. Jeremy De Silva
5. Denise Su
6. Richard B. Lee
7. Manvir Singh
8. Chris Stringer
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.