Talking Apes

For our Season 5 finale, Talking Apes marks World Chimpanzee Day with one of the most fitting guests imaginable.

Dr. Deus Mjungu is Director of the Jane Goodall Institute's Gombe Stream Research Centre in Tanzania, home to the world's longest-running study of wild chimpanzees. Having begun his career there as a young research assistant in 2002, Deus now leads the very research programme founded by Dr. Jane Goodall more than sixty years ago.

In this fascinating conversation, Gerry and Deus explore what decades of continuous research have taught us about chimpanzee behaviour, family life, personalities and conservation. From following chimpanzees from dawn until dusk to uncovering new insights through genetics and disease monitoring, this episode celebrates the remarkable science, extraordinary people and enduring hope that continue to shape Gombe today.

Watch the full video first on Apes Like Us 

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Learn more about the Jane Goodall Institute:

https://janegoodall.org

Learn more about Gombe Stream Research Centre:

https://janegoodall.org/our-story/about-jgi/where-we-work/tanzania/

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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 haunting songs echo across the rainforest each morning. In this fascinating conversation, Susan explains why gibbons deserve far more attention, what they can teach us about evolution, and why their family lives, communication, and behaviour continue to surprise scientists.

From spectacular brachiation to lifelong pair bonds and the challenges posed by habitat loss and the illegal pet trade, this episode is a celebration of one of the world's most remarkable primates. Whether you're discovering gibbons for the first time or already love apes, this conversation will leave you hearing the rainforest in a completely new way.

Watch the full video on YouTube:
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Learn more about Susan's work:
www.susancheyne.com

With Thanks to Susan and Borneo Nature Foundation for your collboration.

www.borneonaturefoundation.org

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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, Matilda takes us deep into the evolutionary roots of behaviours many of us assume are uniquely human. Her research asks bold questions: Why do we kiss? Did our ancestors kiss too? And what can chimpanzees and bonobos teach us about the origins of intimacy, attraction, and social bonding?

Packed with brilliant science, sharp humour, and some wonderfully eyebrow-raising moments, this episode explores how behaviours we often treat as taboo are in fact deeply rooted in the primate family tree. It is thought-provoking, wildly entertaining, and might just change the way you think about being human.

Watch first on YouTube:
youtube.com/apeslikeus

Listen on the website:
talkingapes.org

More from Dr Brindle:
https://www.matildabrindle.com/

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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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 his work in Tanzania revealed a stark reality: while protected forests were recovering, chimpanzee habitats beyond park boundaries were rapidly disappearing. That discovery helped spark a powerful shift toward conservation that works with communities, not around them.

This is a fascinating, hopeful conversation about technology, trust, and the human side of conservation. If you care about wildlife, climate, and the future of our planet, this episode offers a fresh perspective on what it really takes to create lasting change.

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Learn more 

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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 fascinating conversation, he shares what it is like to sit on the other side of the microphone, and how storytelling, journalism, and long-form interviews can help audiences understand some of the most urgent environmental challenges facing our planet.

From uncovering hidden environmental crimes to translating complex scientific research for a global audience, Mike explains why narrative matters in environmental journalism and how podcasts are becoming powerful tools for connecting people to the natural world. If you care about conservation, science communication, or the future of environmental reporting, this episode is not to be missed.

Watch the full episode on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/ApesLikeUs

Or listen on our website:
https://talkingapes.org

Learn more about Mongabay:
https://news.mongabay.com

Listen to Mongabay Podcast:
https://news.mongabay.com/podcasts/

Read Mike's Op-Ed:
https://news.mongabay.com/2025/08/dont-quit-a-podcasters-charge-to-listeners-fellow-humans-commentary/

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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 complex vocal combinations and gestures, chimpanzee communication is far richer and more nuanced than many people realize. In this conversation, Katie explains how scientists investigate the building blocks of language by comparing humans with other primates and what surprising discoveries researchers are making about chimp cognition and social communication.

The discussion ranges from snake alarm calls in the forests of Africa to whether chimpanzees might have dialects, and why young human children are so uniquely motivated to share information. It is a thought-provoking and engaging conversation about one of the biggest questions in science: how language evolved and what it means for understanding ourselves.

Watch the full episode on YouTube

Katie's research profile

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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, taking French lessons, and stepping far outside her comfort zone to care for orphaned primates. What began as volunteer work repairing sanctuary signs unexpectedly evolved into a calling. Today, she is known for her enormous, lifelike primate portraits that capture not only the detail of fur and eyes, but the personality and story of each individual she paints.

In this conversation, Robin shares how she left behind what she calls the golden handcuffs of corporate life to dedicate herself fully to primate welfare. We talk about painting gorilla Jenga on site during our visit, the emotional story behind her monumental Lesula portrait, and why she believes art can turn viewers into messengers for primates. It is a heartfelt, inspiring look at creativity, courage, and conservation in action.

Watch the full on site filmed episode here

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Explore Robin’s artwork: https://www.robinhuffmanart.com

Ape Action Africa: https://www.apeactionafrica.org

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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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 at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the day-to-day realities of running a frontline conservation organization, this conversation weaves together science, storytelling, and on-the-ground action. Ariel and Brian share insights into bonobo anatomy, behavior, cooperation, and what these peaceful primates can teach us about humanity’s own evolutionary story.

We also dive into the challenges facing bonobos today, and the hope found in community-led conservation, ethical research, and long-term commitment. Thoughtful, curious, and full of perspective, this episode is a celebration of connection, compassion, and the power of understanding our closest relatives.

Watch on YouTube: [youtube link]
Listen on our website: https://globio.org/Ariel-Brian
Learn more about Friends of Bonobos: https://www.bonobos.org

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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 discovery adds another piece to the incredible puzzle of our evolution. Why did we stand up? What did climate change have to do with it? And how do new technologies, like CT imaging and protein analysis, help us read messages hidden in fossils millions of years old?

Join us for a joyful, insightful conversation about curiosity, science, and what fossils can still teach us about who we are, and where we’re headed.
 
Listen and learn more: https://globio.org/carol/

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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

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Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
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Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

Help Borneo Nature Foundation Save Indonesia's Forests

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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 discovery adds another piece to the incredible puzzle of our evolution. Why did we stand up? What did climate change have to do with it? And how do new technologies, like CT imaging and protein analysis, help us read messages hidden in fossils millions of years old?

Join us for a joyful, insightful conversation about curiosity, science, and what fossils can still teach us about who we are, and where we’re headed.
 
Listen and learn more: https://globio.org/carol/

Send us a text

Support the show

Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.

Support the show
Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
BUY OUR MERCH