Talking Apes

This week on Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis is joined by one of the world's leading gibbon experts, Dr. Susan Cheyne. After nearly three decades working in the rainforests of Borneo, Susan has dedicated her career to studying these remarkable yet often overlooked apes.

Often called the "forgotten apes," gibbons are extraordinary animals. They are masters of movement, capable of swinging effortlessly through the forest canopy, and their h...

This episode explores aspects of primate behavior, including non-reproductive sexual behaviors, from a scientific and evolutionary perspective. Some listeners may find parts of the discussion sensitive.

This week on Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis is joined by evolutionary biologist Dr Matilda Brindle for one of our most fascinating, funny, and unexpectedly revealing conversations yet.

From kissing to masturbation, Neanderthals to bonobos,...

Welcome to our Earth Day 2026 Special. 

What happens when cutting-edge technology meets community-led conservation? In this episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with Dr. Lilian Pintea, Vice President of Conservation Science at the Jane Goodall Institute, to explore how data, people, and innovation are reshaping the future of conservation.

From satellite imagery and AI to village-led land-use planning, Lilian shares how...

Environmental storytelling has never been more important. In this episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with journalist and podcast host Mike DiGirolamo, the voice behind Mongabay’s flagship podcast, The Mongabay Newscast.

Mike spends his days speaking with scientists, conservationists, and investigative reporters working on the frontlines of climate change, biodiversity loss, and global conservation. In this fascinat...

How did human language evolve and what can our closest relatives teach us about its origins? In this episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with primatologist Katie Slocombe to explore the fascinating world of chimpanzee communication and what it reveals about the evolution of language itself.

Katie has spent decades studying how chimpanzees communicate in both wild and captive settings. From food calls and alarm signals to ...

This week on Talking Apes, we record on site in the rainforests of Cameroon at Ape Action Africa’s Mefou Sanctuary, where art and primate conservation intersect. Our guest is primate portrait artist Robin Huffman, who left a career in New York City interior design to become a full-time sanctuary volunteer and internationally recognized wildlife artist.

Robin first arrived at Ape Action Africa in 2007 after raising funds, takin...

Bonobos may be our closest living relatives, but we still have so much to learn about and from them. In this episode of Talking Apes, we sit down with Ariel Rogers, Executive Director of Friends of Bonobos, and evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Brian Hare to explore the remarkable social world of bonobos and why their survival matters now more than ever.

From decades of research atLola ya Bonobo Sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of...

Have you ever wondered how we became the upright, big-brained, tool-wielding species we are today? In this fascinating episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with Dr. Carol Ward - Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri - to explore the origins of humanity and our ape relatives.

From fossil digs in Kenya to 3D-scanning ancient bones, Carol reveals how every d...

Join us for a lively, curiosity-filled deep dive with author and researcher Cat Bohannon, whose award-winning book Eve reframes 200 million years of evolution through the female body. Cat brings her signature blend of science, storytelling, and humor to Talking Apes, guiding us through the missing pieces in our evolutionary story and the surprising role that female biology plays in shaping everything from mammal reproduction to pri...

Paleoanthropologist Dr. Matt Tocheri joins host Gerry Ellis to explore the remarkable discovery of Homo floresiensis — the so-called Flores “Hobbit” of Indonesia. What does this small-bodied, small-brained human tell us about our own evolutionary story?

In this episode of Talking Apes, host Gerry Ellis is joined by paleoanthropologist Dr. Matt Tocheri, one of the world’s leading experts on Homo floresiensis&m...

This World Gorilla Day, Talking Apes kicks off Season 5 with a fascinating guest: behavioral ecologist and evolutionary biologist Robin Morrison.

Robin has worked with both mountain and western lowland gorillas, giving her a rare perspective on how these species live, love, and organize their social worlds. From group size to subtle bonds between males and females, she reveals the quiet but powerful ways gorillas build their societi...

In this episode of Talking Apes, we follow Dr. Rachna Reddy into the the African rainforest, where the laughter of chimps and the quiet rhythms of bonobo life echo deeper truths about who we are. As a biological anthropologist and co-director of the Ngogo Chimpanzee Project, Rachna’s research focuses on the social bonds that shape us across the lifespan - from infant cuddles to adolescent rebellion and elder respect.

We explor...

What does a Congolese rainforest childhood reveal about the roots of human cooperation? In this captivating episode of Talking Apes, we sit down with Dr. Gul Deniz Salali, evolutionary anthropologist at University College London, to explore her groundbreaking research with the BaYaka people of the Congo Basin. Dr. Salali shares intimate insights into how BaYaka children learn through play, observation, and social bonds—offeri...

Are we really the only "talking apes"?  Get ready for a mind-blowing episode with Dr. Adriano Reis E Lameira, one of the world’s leading experts on the evolution of speech and language! 

Dr. Lameira has spent years deep in the rainforests of Borneo, decoding the vocal mysteries of orangutans. His groundbreaking research challenges long-held beliefs about what separates us from our primate cousins. Can great apes ...

Hanging with Our Ancestors: Luke Fannin on Climbing, Evolution & Ape Locomotion

Ever wondered why kids instinctively love monkey bars? Or why apes move so deliberately in the trees? In this episode of Talking Apes, biological anthropologist Luke Fannin takes us on a journey through the evolution of climbing, exploring how primates, from ancient hominins to modern chimps, have adapted to life in the canopy.

Luke breaks down the su...

                                The Amazing People Behind Jane Goodall 

What does it take to lead one of the most iconic conservation organizations in the world? In this episode of Talking Apes, we sit down with Anna Rathmann, Executive Director of the Jane Goodall Institute USA, to find out. With a background spanning international conservation, bu...

Earth Month Special: A Deep Dive into Global Conservation with Sean Southey 

“This is our global education moment. This is the time to champion. This is the time to be noisy. This is the time to dream.”

What if we told you there’s a conservation powerhouse that’s been quietly shaping environmental policies, protecting endangered species, and inspiring global action for over 75 years—but most people ...

In this episode of Talking Apes, we’re joined by Dr. Andie Ang, a primatologist dedicated to the conservation of Southeast Asia’s elusive and endangered colobine monkeys. From the dense forests of Vietnam to the urban green spaces of Singapore, Andie has spent years studying these fascinating leaf-eating primates, whose complex digestive systems, striking colors, and secretive nature make them some of the least understo...

Bipedalism - How Walking Made Us Human with Jeremy DeSilva

“The history of our lineage is filled with multiple species coexisting—this moment, with only one upright walking ape on the planet, is exceptionally rare.”

Why do humans walk on two legs when no other mammal does? And what did it cost us? From back pain to difficult childbirth, our bipedal evolution has its drawbacks—but it also shaped everything abou...