Alice Rudge, a Lecturer in Anthropology at SOAS, University of London, delves into the lives of the Batek people in Malaysia's rainforests. She discusses their adaptation to environmental changes and the impact of modernization on their cultural identity. The conversation highlights the role of language in their relationship with the ecosystem, challenging colonial narratives about their voicelessness. Rudge also explores themes of cooperative autonomy, emphasizing how social dynamics shape personal freedoms while navigating the complexities of their world.