Donald Johanson
Founding director of the Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University and the paleoanthropologist who discovered Lucy.
Best podcasts with Donald Johanson
Ranked by the Snipd community
Jun 6, 2025 • 59min
#1107 Donald Johanson: Lucy, Australopithecus afarensis, and Homo habilis
In a fascinating discussion, Donald Johanson, a pioneering paleoanthropologist and discoverer of the 3.18-million-year-old skeleton known as Lucy, sheds light on our ancient ancestors. He reveals the intricacies of Australopithecus afarensis, Lucy's social structures, and dietary habits. The conversation shifts to Homo habilis, emphasizing its tool use and evolution in brain development. Johanson also highlights the significance of African discoveries in reshaping our understanding of human origins, making complex topics accessible and engaging.
Nov 25, 2014 • 4min
Looking Back on 40 Years of Lucy
Paleoanthropologist Donald Johanson discusses the milestone discovery of Lucy, an Australopithecus afarensis fossil in Ethiopia in 1974, revolutionizing the study of human origins.
