Language and Communication with Thom Scott-Phillips
What do the lindy hop, ostensive communication, and the evolution of language all have in common? Thom Scott-Phillips! In this episode, we discuss if language is an adaptation, why art museums have th...
9 Sep 20251h 38min
The Evolutionary Psychology of Humor
Humor is one of the great puzzles of evolutionary psychology. Co-host David Pinsof (UCLA) presents the coordinating “mix-up” hypothesis of humor, in which….well, you’ll have to listen to find out. By ...
2 Sep 20251h 45min
Plants, Infants, and the Evolution of Social Learning with Annie Wertz
Plants are mini chemical weapon factories! Learning and evolution are not opposed! This week, Annie Wertz (UCSB) joins us to describe her groundbreaking world on the evolutionary psychology of what ba...
26 Aug 20251h 58min
Cooperation with Pat Barclay
Pat Barclay (Guelph) joins us to discuss his work solving the mysteries of the evolution of cooperation. Pat is a wonderful human being and an exceptional scientist, whose work is at the forefront of ...
19 Aug 20251h 55min
Drugs, Delusions, and Depression with Ed Hagen
Why would a mind ever be delusional or depressed, and can we understand these as functional or maladaptive outcomes? Why do humans take drugs, and why do plants make them in the first place? (And why ...
12 Aug 20252h
Conspiracy Theories and Group Boundaries with Cristina Moya
Guest Cristina Moya (UC Davis) is one of our favorite evolutionary behavioral scientists. In this episode, we discuss her work in Peru on ethnolinguistic group boundaries, why we all believe crazy thi...
5 Aug 20252h 1min
Thoughtful Warriors with Brenda Bowser
Guest Brenda Bowser (CalState Fullerton) recounts a life spent studying conflict and politics in Canambo, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, with her late husband and colleague John Q. Patton. Brenda shares fi...
29 Jul 20252h 22min
Egalitarianism in the Amazon with Chris Von Rueden
Egalitarianism is not what you think it is! Guest Chris Von Rueden (URichmond) has wrapped his head around what egalitarianism is and shares his insights and what he’s learned living with and studying...
22 Jul 20251h 57min
