logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2
1h 51m

Herman Pontzer (on evolutionary anthropo...

Armchair Umbrella
About this episode

Herman Pontzer (Adaptable: How Your Unique Body Works and Why Our Biology Unites Us) is an evolutionary anthropologist, author, and associate professor at Duke University. Herman joins the Armchair Expert to discuss growing up at the end of a dirt road in a house his dad built, unpacking the dark history of anthropometry, and the ewok chapter of human evolution. Herman and Dax talk about why the brain is the most expensive organ in the body, how the first full human skeleton found being named after a Beatles song, and why people burn more calories being anxious. Herman explains the hockey stick inflection point of intelligence when we began hunting and gathering, why research on early humans debunks the paleo diet, and the story of the guy that accidentally killed the world's oldest living organism.

Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting wondery.com/links/armchair-expert-with-dax-shepard/ now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
James Gunn
James Gunn (Superman, Guardians of the Galaxy, The Suicide Squad) is a director, screenwriter, and co-chair of DC Studios. James joins the Armchair Expert to discuss the enduring impact of Super Friends, why people love the fact that Superman can beat up God, and how seeing the S ... Show More
1h 48m
Jul 7
Nicholas Hoult Returns
Nicholas Hoult (Superman, The Great, Nosferatu) is a Golden Globe-nominated actor. Nicholas joins the Armchair Expert to discuss how becoming a blonde for a role hasn’t changed his personality, how he inspired Dax’s body reckoning, and dramatically overreacting when he tore his A ... Show More
1h 46m
Jul 4
Armchair Anonymous: 4th of July
Dax and Monica talk to Armcherries! In today's episode, Armcherries tell about a crazy 4th of July disaster.Follow Armchair Expert on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Watch new content on YouTube or listen to Armchair Expert early and ad-free by joining Wondery+ ... Show More
42m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Brian Wansink: Guess Who’s Conning to Dinner | 146
During the early 2000s Brian Wansink made his mark as a “food psychologist” with quirky studies backed by the USDA and Cornell. His research led to the 100-calorie snack pack, the side plate for dinner, and the idea that Elmo stickers led kids to eat healthier. But one tone-deaf ... Show More
46m 5s
Dec 2021
Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2021
2021 was a big year in science! Fossil discoveries introduced new relatives to our family tree, new findings added fascinating twists to the human story, and breakthroughs in research methods opened new worlds to explore. In this episode, five scientists discuss their favorite hu ... Show More
31m 16s
Sep 2024
How Do Animals Change Over Time?
Want to learn some cool fun facts about some of your favorite animals? And how they might have changed over time? Take a listen to our guest, Alex Re, host of the On Wildlife podcast as he chats with us and teaches us some interesting information about the world of animals.  #sci ... Show More
29m 56s
Apr 3
ASRM Today: Genetics: Episode One
Join us as this season we dive into the topic of Genetics. In this first episode, we'll explore how a 19th-century monk, working quietly in his garden, set the stage for a scientific revolution. Our guest this episode is Janine Gessner Mash, Director at Arbor Genetic Counseling. ... Show More
8m 36s
Jun 2019
How Porcupines Mate, the Bizarre Sex Habits of Giraffes (and Much, Much More)
In this episode of The Brain Food Show, we start by looking at whether or not male humans can get pregnant and carry a baby to full term naturally. (Spoiler- yes and yes. And even breastfeed too! It doesn’t even require fancy science or advanced medical techniques.) Moving on to ... Show More
47m 32s
Oct 2024
Adapting to life's unexpected nature, by Forrest Galante
Jackals and leopards in the fields. The sound of a lion’s roar. Majestic African bush elephants outside the front door. This is childhood for Forrest Galante as a kid growing up on a farm in Zimbabwe. He’s adventurous and instinctive and connected to the living earth. But a sudde ... Show More
31m 47s
Nov 2018
269: Catchphrases, Pizza Everyday, & October Babies
We heard from our listeners & found out what our "catchphrases" are that you all enjoy. Sarah shares what happens to your brain when you read. Susie talks about Steve Jobs & "do-over dads" & how strange dads can be. We celebrate a hero who has been eating pizza for dinner since h ... Show More
59m 12s
Oct 2024
Haunted
In an episode we first aired in 2014, we meet a man named Dennis Conrow, who was stuck. After a brief stint at college, he’d spent most of his 20’s back home with his parents, sleeping in his childhood room. And just when he finally struck out on his own, fate intervened. He lost ... Show More
30m 42s