Rephonic
Artwork for On Humans
John Bowlby
Consciousness
Hunter-Gatherers
Neanderthals
Father Time
Human Evolution
Homo Sapiens
Evolution
Natural History
Symbolic Thought
Parenting
Social Support
Homo Ergaster
Language
Australopithecus
Chimpanzees
Perception
Anthropology
Childhood Development
Philosophy

Where do we come from? What brings us together? Why do we love? Why do we destroy? On Humans features conversations with leading scholars about human nature, human condition, and the human journey. From the origins of war to the psychology of love, each topic brings fresh insights into perennial questions about our self-understanding. Support: Patreon.com/OnHumans Articles: OnHumans.Substack.com F... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes91Founded3 years ago
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Science

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Artwork for On Humans

Latest Episodes

Our brains can feel remote and abstract. Hidden behind Latin names and textbook diagrams, they rarely feel as personal to us as our hearts and stomachs.

In this episode, neurologist and author Pria Anand helps us get a little more intimate with tha... more

Here is a simple story about the origins of the human brain: All primate brains are good at packing neurons into a small space—they are neural supercomputers. The human brain is just what you’d expect from a monkey of our size: big, packed with neuro... more

YouTube

I'm excited to announce that On Humans is launching a new series this fall! This one will explore the wonders of the human brain. The new episodes will drop throughout September and early October.

To set the stage, we will revisit a conversation wi... more

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Why did the great powers of Asia stagnate whilst Europe was rising? This question—often called the Great Divergence—is one of the most defining questions of modern history.

Few case studies illuminate this question as well as the contrast between Br... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Pria Anand
An American neurologist and author of the book "Mind Electric."
Episode: Inside the Brain: A Journey Through the Halls and the Songs of Consciousness ~ Pria Anand
Dean Falk
Neuroscientist and neuroanatomist known for her work in human evolution
Episode: Not So Simple After All? Apes, Einstein, and the Many Mysteries of the Human Brain ~ Dean Falk
Suzana Herculano-Houzel
Brazilian neuroscientist known for her work on brain evolution and human cognition.
Episode: Prologue: The (Very Simple) Story of the Human Brain ~ Suzana Herculano-Houzel
Professor Tirthankar Roy
Professor at the London School of Economics specializing in the economic history of colonialism
London School of Economics
Episode: Climate, Water, and the Origins of Colonialism ~ Tirthankar Roy
Jessica Thompson
Professor at Yale University and researcher at the Peabody Museum.
Yale University
Episode: How Climate Crafted Humanity (Or Did It?) ~ Jessica Thompson
Agustin Fuentes
Professor of Biological Anthropology at Princeton University
Princeton University
Episode: An Essential Difference? Males, Females, and the Spaces In Between ~ Augustín Fuentes
Johannes Krause
Director of the Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology
Max Planck Institute of Evolutionary Anthropology
Episode: A Human Like No Other: The Rise of Homo Sapiens ~ Johannes Krause
Tim Coulson
Head of the Department of Biology at the University of Oxford and author of The Universal History of Us
University of Oxford
Episode: The Big Picture: From the Origin of Life to the Rise of Humans ~ Tim Coulson
Bishnupriya Gupta
Professor of economics at the University of Warwick and one of the world's authorities on the history of Indian economy.
University of Warwick
Episode: What About India? Part I: Mughals, British, and the Causes of Poverty ~ Bishnupriya Gupta

Host

Ilari Mäkelä
Ilari is the primary host, celebrated for his engaging discussions with scholars on diverse topics related to human nature and history, encouraging critical thought and exploration.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 176 ratings
  • Good topics

    I really enjoy the information, but my brain has a hard time understanding his accent. That’s on me, not him. I wish I could keep listening.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Helpersonety
    United Statesa month ago
  • Moderator interrupts too much

    Very interesting topics. It’s unfortunate that the moderator frequently interrupts his guests instead of letting them develop their thoughts. Some episodes, like the one on why agriculture, are particularly bad with Ilari talking more than his guest. I am coming here for the excellent guests, not the moderator’s layman knowledge and stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    hahdeaaaa
    United States2 months ago
  • Good interview

    Very interesting episode on the origins of farming and climate change with Andrea Matranga. He gave a convincing explanation of how and why it developed simultaneously in numerous locations around the globe, all backed up by scientific evidence which he explained in understandable language.

    5 stars

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Ladybird166
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Humanoids

    From Homonoids

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    blueranger52
    United States2 months ago
  • Excellent Podcast

    This show is a new find for me and already feels essential. The interviews are incredibly good, with thoughtful questions that show a deep level of understanding and research on the part of the host. The guests and topics are deeply interesting and thought provoking.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    J Hession
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Overall, the podcast is seen as a valuable resource for those interested in the complexities of human evolution and behavior.
Listeners enjoy the intellectual depth of conversations and the variety of topics, appreciating the thoughtful questions posed by the host.
Occasional critiques target the host's tendency to interrupt guests, suggesting a desire for deeper discussions.
Some express difficulty in following the host's accent, though the content remains compelling.
The quality of guests and their expertise is frequently praised, highlighting the academic rigor of the series.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#11
Singapore/Science
Apple Podcasts
#177
Philippines/Science
Apple Podcasts
#211
Ireland/Science
Apple Podcasts
#231
South Korea/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Climate, Water, and the Origins of Colonialism ~ Tirthankar Roy
Q: How did the British East India Company evolve from trade to governance?
The British East India Company shifted from being a trading body to a governing power as the Mughal Empire weakened, allowing them to expand inland.
Climate, Water, and the Origins of Colonialism ~ Tirthankar Roy
Q: What is the significance of climate in understanding colonialism?
The climate creates a high output, high risk situation that influences the political and economic dynamics during colonial times.
Climate, Water, and the Origins of Colonialism ~ Tirthankar Roy
Q: Why did the emergence of European empires start from the sea?
The British East India Company was a body of merchants, which took over power from an Indian state in the late 18th century in Bengal region of India, though it initially had no military power.
The Rest is History: From the Origins of Farming to the Dawn of Modernity ~ Johannes Krause
Q: When do you think we have the last shared ancestor of all humans alive?
The last common ancestor of all parties can be estimated, but it reflects a network of genetic links across populations rather than a single point in time.
Why Humans? The New Science of the Genus Homo ~ Chris Stringer
Q: How do you think social structures played a role in Homo sapiens' ability to thrive?
Stringer emphasizes the importance of larger group sizes and social networks in knowledge sharing and survival strategies, crucial for Homo sapiens' success.

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?

Focused on illuminating the complexities of the human experience, this series features engaging discussions with prominent scholars on the nature of humanity. Listeners can expect to explore a variety of profound topics, including the origins of love and conflict, the role of culture and environment in shaping human behavior, and the evolutionary threads that connect us to our ancestors. By blending insights from anthropology, psychology, archaeology, and philosophy, this collection seeks to answer age-old questions about human existence and development while also fostering a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.

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How many listeners does On Humans get?

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How many subscribers and views does On Humans have?

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Which podcasts are similar to On Humans?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On Humans:

1. Radiolab
2. Throughline
3. Hidden Brain
4. Fresh Air
5. The Joy of Why

How many episodes of On Humans are there?

On Humans launched 3 years ago and published 91 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.

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What guests have appeared on On Humans?

Recent guests on On Humans include:

1. Pria Anand
2. Dean Falk
3. Suzana Herculano-Houzel
4. Professor Tirthankar Roy
5. Jessica Thompson
6. Agustin Fuentes
7. Johannes Krause
8. Tim Coulson

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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