The FitMind Podcast: Mental Fitness, Neuroscience & Psychology #22: Biohacking, Amazonian Tribes & the Evolved Human Mind - Jevan Pradas, MA
Sep 17, 2019
Jevan Pradas, a master’s graduate in Mind, Brain, and Behavior Research and author of The Awakened Ape, shares transformative insights from his time living with the Waroni tribe in the Amazon. He discusses how ancient lifestyles offer lessons on happiness and resilience, contrasting them with modern issues. Pradas explores gut health, challenging conventional hygiene and emphasizing natural practices. He highlights the significance of mindfulness and social bonds, drawing connections between ancestral wisdom and contemporary mental health.
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Living With The Wauroni
- Jevan lived with the Wauroni tribe in the Amazon to study hunter-gatherer happiness firsthand.
- He observed constant positive affect, especially among women, and virtually no visible negative emotions.
Mosquitoes, Termites And Local Fixes
- Jevan suffered heavy mosquito bites but noticed tribe members were rarely bitten.
- Locals used termite-smear techniques and other pragmatic fixes when supplies ran out.
Brains Are Still Hunter-Gatherer Brains
- Human brains evolved largely during 300,000–10,000 years when people were hunter-gatherers.
- Our minds are still adapted to that environment and lag behind rapid modern societal changes.
