Where did our genus Homo come from, and how confident are we about its earliest members? In this episode, we explore the fossil evidence for human origins with one of the researchers reshaping how we define our own genus.

Dr Brian Villmoare is a paleoanthropologist at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, whose research focuses on the origins of Homo, hominin craniofacial evolution, and the African fossil record. He is best known for his work at Ledi-Geraru in Ethiopia, which has played a key role in redefining what the earliest members of our genus looked like and how, and when, they evolved.

In this interview, Dr Villmoare shares his career journey and reflects on major figures who shaped paleoanthropology. He discusses what his research has found out about the emergence of Homo, how species boundaries are drawn in the fossil record, and how advances in biomechanics and analytical methods are improving our understanding of hominin cranial evolution.

The conversation also covers fieldwork across eastern and southern Africa, the evolutionary relationships of Homo naledi and Homo floresiensis, debates over Neanderthal taxonomy, and the most underrated fossil sites for understanding human evolution. Dr Villmoare also talks about his book The Evolution of Everything and reflects on challenges surrounding fossil access, digital data, and resource sharing in paleoanthropology.

How do slow lorises use venom, and what can these elusive primates tell us about evolution and conservation? In this episode of Our Primate Past, Anna Nekaris takes us inside the world of nocturnal primates, sharing her groundbreaking research and conservation work.

Professor Anna Nekaris OBE is a leading primatologist and conservationist whose pioneering research focuses on lorises and other nocturnal primates. She is particularly renowned for her work on slow loris venom, its ecological and evolutionary significance, as well as her studies of loris behavior and sociality, naming new taxa, and dedication to conservation and public outreach.

In this interview, Professor Nekaris shares her career journey, key research contributions, and perspectives on lorisoid evolution. She discusses the challenges of fieldwork on nocturnal species, the evolution of venom and the toothcomb, and how initiatives like the Little Fireface Project are helping protect these elusive primates. Conservation challenges, including the pet trade and the impact of social media on loris welfare, are also explored.

How do scientists decide what counts as a species in the fossil record? And how certain can we really be about our evolutionary family tree? In this episode of Our Primate Past, paleoanthropologist Bernard Wood explores the evidence behind some of the most debated questions in human evolution.

Professor Bernard Wood is a globally renowned paleoanthropologist whose work has reshaped how researchers classify hominin fossils and interpret evolutionary relationships. Over his career, he has redefined the boundaries of the genus Homo, made major contributions to our understanding of Paranthropus, and helped introduce rigorous phylogenetic methods into paleoanthropology.

In this interview, Professor Wood reflects on his career and most influential research contributions. He discusses the challenges of defining species in the fossil record, the evolutionary significance of Paranthropus and its extreme dental adaptations, and how advances in morphology and phylogenetic analysis have transformed the study of human origins. Topics also include the controversial Sahelanthropus femur, what Homo naledi and Homo floresiensis suggest about hominin diversity, and ongoing debates about fossil access.

Whether you are interested in human evolution, fossil interpretation, or how scientific classifications are built and revised, this episode offers a clear and thoughtful look inside one of paleoanthropology’s most influential careers.