João Teixeira, an esteemed population geneticist and Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow, dives deep into the fascinating world of human evolution. He discusses the complexities of modern versus archaic humans and challenges the idea of a singular migration out of Africa, emphasizing multiple waves and interactions. Teixeira sheds light on Denisovans’ genetic legacy and how interbreeding has shaped human ancestry. The conversation also tackles misconceptions about superiority in human diversity and highlights the randomness and nuance in our evolutionary journey.