
Laura Spinney
Science writer and journalist. Author of 'Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global'.
Top 5 podcasts with Laura Spinney
Ranked by the Snipd community

283 snips
Aug 21, 2025 • 23min
224. Make Your Messages Epic: The Evolution of Words and the Stories They Carry
Laura Spinney, an acclaimed author and journalist known for her work in major publications like the Atlantic and National Geographic, dives deep into the power of language. She explains how our ancient words and stories shape human connection and understanding. Spinney reveals that the narratives we tell have endured for millennia, highlighting their role in building community. Discussing storytelling’s fundamental impact on engagement, she emphasizes how effective communication continues to evolve alongside language itself.

66 snips
Apr 24, 2025 • 43min
The Birth of Indo-European
Laura Spinney, a science journalist and author of 'Proto,' dives into the fascinating world of Indo-European languages and their origins. She explores the evolution from Proto-Indo-European roots to modern languages like Latin and Sanskrit. Spinney discusses the complexities of linguistic history, emphasizing diverse origins rather than a single starting point. Also highlighted are the techniques used by linguists and archaeologists to unravel ancient languages and the impact of the Yamnaya culture on language evolution and trade.

19 snips
Apr 21, 2025 • 42min
Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global, with Laura Spinney
Laura Spinney, a renowned science writer and journalist, is joined by global historian Caroline Dodds Pennock to explore the fascinating legacy of Proto-Indo-European, the ancient tongue that influenced countless modern languages. They discuss how this prehistoric language spread across continents due to trade and migration. The duo also unravels the intricate relationship between language evolution and human movement, revealing how wheeled vehicles played a pivotal role in cultural exchange. Their insights shed light on the connections between language, identity, and history.

15 snips
May 17, 2025 • 1h 1min
Laura Spinney: rise of the proto-Indo-Europeans
Laura Spinney, a Paris-based British author and science journalist, dives into the fascinating origins of the Indo-European languages. She discusses the revolutionary role of paleogenetics in understanding these ancient people's migrations. Spinney explores the ongoing debates about the proto-Indo-European homeland, weighing archaeological versus linguistic perspectives. The conversation also touches on the unique journey of the Albanian language and the significance of storytelling in connecting cultures throughout history.

8 snips
Apr 30, 2025 • 54min
Laura Spinney, "Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global" (Bloomsbury, 2025)
In this enlightening conversation, Laura Spinney, a British science journalist based in France, unravels the astonishing journey of the Proto-Indo-European language. She reveals how this ancient tongue influenced half of humanity’s languages today. Spinney discusses the Yamnaya culture’s pivotal role in language evolution and highlights the interplay of migration, culture, and identity. Additionally, she explores the intriguing concept of 'ghost' languages and the critical need to document fading tongues, making it clear that language shapes our very existence.