The Handshake: A Gripping History

The Handshake: A Gripping History

Friends do it, strangers do it and so do chimpanzees - and it's not just deeply embedded in our history and culture, it may even be written in our DNA. The humble handshake, it turns out, has a rich and surprising history. In this week's episode palaeoanthropologist Ella Al-Shamahi speaks to science broadcaster Helen Czerski about a funny and fascinating voyage of discovery - from the handshake's origins (at least seven million years ago) all the way to its sudden disappearance in March 2020. We’d love to hear your feedback and what you think we should talk about next, who we should have on and what our future debates should be. Send us an email or voice note with your thoughts to podcasts@intelligencesquared.com or Tweet us @intelligence2. And if you’d like to support our mission to foster honest debate and compelling conversations, as well as ad-free podcasts, exclusive bonus content, early access and much more, become a supporter of Intelligence Squared today. Just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episoder(1506)

The Remarkable True Story of The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970’s, with Jason Burke (Part One)

The Remarkable True Story of The Extremists Who Hijacked the 1970’s, with Jason Burke (Part One)

In the 1970s, a network of radical extremists terrorised the West with plane hijackings and hostage-takings. Among them were the beautiful young Leila Khaled with her jewellery made from grenade rings...

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How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part Two)

How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part Two)

Tim Wu, is one of America’s leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technolog...

2 Jan 44min

How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part One)

How Tech Platforms Threaten Our Future, With Former White House Advisor Tim Wu (Part One)

Tim Wu, is one of America’s leading thinkers on technology, power, and the history of monopoly powers. A Columbia Law School professor and former special assistant to President Joe Biden for technolog...

31 Des 202535min

How Philosophy Explains Our World, with Julian Baggini (Part Two)

How Philosophy Explains Our World, with Julian Baggini (Part Two)

--- If you'd like to become a Member and get access to all our full ad free conversations, plus all of our Members-only content, just visit intelligencesquared.com/membership to find out more. For £...

29 Des 202535min

How Philosophy Explains Our World, with Julian Baggini (Part One)

How Philosophy Explains Our World, with Julian Baggini (Part One)

What would Aristotle make of Keir Starmer? Would Plato be a Republican? And what can philosophy teach us about modern world? In October 2025 philosopher Julian Baggini came to Intelligence Squared t...

28 Des 202538min

Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part Two)

Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part Two)

Michael Rosen has known – and given – great joy in his life. And he has suffered immense sorrow.  Rosen is an author, poet and former children’s laureate, much-loved for his playful humour. He has wr...

26 Des 202542min

Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part One)

Michael Rosen on Hope, Happiness and Finding Joy in the Small Things (Part One)

Michael Rosen has known – and given – great joy in his life. And he has suffered immense sorrow.  Rosen is an author, poet and former children’s laureate, much-loved for his playful humour. He has wr...

24 Des 202534min

Women’s Prize-winner Rachel Clarke in conversation with Rob Delaney (Part Two)

Women’s Prize-winner Rachel Clarke in conversation with Rob Delaney (Part Two)

Dr Rachel Clarke is a palliative care doctor and author, who became widely known for her writing on the challenges facing the NHS from the frontline of the Covid-19 pandemic. Since then she has also ...

22 Des 202539min

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