

The History of Being Human
Noel Armstrong
History, anatomy and physiology, philosophy, psychology, anthropology. The podcast that attempts to resurrect sense and meaning from the dust of a billion factoids.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 17, 2024 • 38min
HBH 56: The Psychopathography of Adolf Hitler
Hitler was a failure who achieved the opposite of nearly all of his stated intentions. But was he insane as well? His life and legacy might argue he was, but what do the experts say?If he was insane, what was the diagnosis? And if he was not insane, how do you account for his actions?Was he a meth head, dragon chaser, narcissist, psychopath, schizophrenic, oedipal conflicted anal regressive, or what? In this episode we explore the body of literature devoted to explaining the motivations and actions of Adolf Hitler, and ask the question of whether he should be explained at all.To support this podcast:https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support

Feb 27, 2024 • 30min
HBH 55: The Gruesome Wretched Death of Herod the Great
He's one of the most reviled people in Western history -- a man whose cruelty, jealousy, and violence are proverbial. And yet his legacy is much more nuanced, his person more complicated than most of us know. One thing that is not in question is that he died a miserable death; in pain, angry, and resentful. Was it, as Josephus said, divine justice? Was it foul play? Spoiler: as bad as it was, it appears to have been neither, and can be easily explained.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

Feb 7, 2024 • 6min
Introductory YouTube Video
I have released my first TouTube video and this is the audio -- see the episode here:https://youtu.be/uVfn5Ar1rmg?si=e3TE_6tCWEuQxf7hSchrodinger's Cat Quick and Easy Yes, this is based on a longer podcast episode -- but hey, you've got to start somwhere!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

Jan 1, 2024 • 38min
HBH 54: Homo Erectus
The OG, greatest generation of Human ever! At least if your metric is a dogged determination to keep existing.For 2 million years these prehistoric hominins wandered far and wide, high and low, filling every available lakeshore and riverbed. What can we know about them? Their looks, abilities, traits? Did they use fire? Language? Clothing? Where did they come from and get to?And why, after such a successful run, did they exit the world stage?Today on the History of Being Human, the essential guide to all things Erectus.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

Nov 14, 2023 • 37min
HBH 53: 23,000 Year-Old White Sands Footprints with Dr. Edward Jolie
This week I wander off the topic of Life Extension (more next episode) to take advantage of an opportunity to interview an anthropologist about the White Sands footprints.Not since the Laetoli Australopithecus prints has a set of human footprints rocked the world of paleontology like those found in White Sands, New Mexico. Studies have dated these prints to 21-23,000 year ago, more than 6000 years older than humans were known to have arrived in the Americas!Many scientist are convinced the date is accurate; but if it is, it means a reshaping of an entire paradigm.In this episode I speak with Dr. Edward Jolie about his work, and about those prints. Dr. Jolie is the Clara Lee Tanner Associate Professor of Anthropology (School of Anthropology) and Associate Curator of Ethnology (Arizona State Museum) at the University of Arizona. In this wide-ranging discussion we cover:0: 00 Intro to Dr. Jolie and his work12:10 Were the Anasazi (Ancestral Pueblo people) cannibals? (Sorry, I couldn't resist the Man Corn debate!)14:40 The White Sands footprints16:40 The "Clovis First" paradigm (ie., the "Standard Model" of peopling of Americas20:50. Why the White Sands prints are potential paradigm changers28:40 The reliability of oral cultural transmission30:40 Two objections to the 21-23K year old datingThank you to Dr. Jolie for sharing his insights with us. See him here: https://www.nps.gov/media/video/view.htm%3Fid%3DA09EF77D-2A1B-47FD-A9B9-B9F1EC9BD00EGraphic by Ian ArmstrongBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

Oct 27, 2023 • 37min
HBH 52: Human Lifespan, Aging, and Death
It is time to take a trip to that Undiscovered Country and visit our greatest teacher. How long do we live, how long did we live, and why don't we just keep on going?Never mind that we do the world and our gene pool a great service by only taking up space for a finite time, what are the chances we can extend our time for a while? Indefinitely?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

Aug 29, 2023 • 25min
HBH 51: Quantum Entanglement
This episode explores the world of classical physics and its luminaries, such as Newton and Einstein. It then delves into the fascinating and counterintuitive phenomenon of Quantum Entanglement, challenging our understanding of the universe. The concept of locality, along with practical applications of quantum entanglement, are also discussed. Additionally, the chapter briefly mentions human fallibility, unknown existence, and Judy's transformation through a website discovery.

Jul 16, 2023 • 15min
HBH 50: Schrödinger's Cat Made Easy
In this episode, the host explains Schrödinger's Cat thought experiment, highlighting the strangeness of quantum mechanics. They discuss the concept of superposition and provide background information about Irving Schrödinger. The discomfort with quantum mechanics and Schrödinger's dilemmas are explored, along with the complexities and misconceptions surrounding the cat experiment. The episode concludes with closing remarks and reflections.

Jun 14, 2023 • 30min
HBH 49: What is Truth?
At Long Last - Pilate's Old Question Will Get an Answer!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.

May 8, 2023 • 38min
HBH 48: Night Vermin Triumphant
In this episode, the massive, rapacious king power lizards of the Cretaceous are finally taken off the board by an asteroid. We trace the origins and progress of the skulking night vermin that are unleashed in their absence. These night vermin, with their whiskers and fur and fancy new brains, become the superpowers of the Cenozoic (our current era).This is the story of the mammals, from a time long before their origin until the last common ancestor between humans and chimpanzees. Although this is a re-release of a previous episode, it contains never-before released material about the latest estimates of warm-bloodedness ariiving on the stage. Illustration by Ian ArmstrongBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-history-of-being-human--5806452/support.


