Description

For decades, dominant narratives in evolutionary biology have told us that conflict, competition, and dominance are the fundamental drivers of social life — both in animals and humans. But what if that story is not only incomplete, but misleading?

In this deeply reflective conversation, host Joseph Grove sits down with Dr. Shirley C. Strum, the pioneering primatologist behind “Echoes of Our Origins: Baboons, Humans, and Nature.” Drawing on more than 50 years of field research observing wild baboons in Kenya, Dr. Strum shares how her long-term work uncovered surprising truths about social life in one of our closest animal relatives — truths that have profound implications for how we understand evolution, intelligence, and ourselves.

Rather than a world dominated by brute force, Dr. Strum’s research reveals:

• Baboons rarely use violence — and only when it’s strategically necessary.
• Social stability arises from predictability, cooperation, and enduring relationships.
• Female baboons are key to social continuity, not peripheral observers.
• Mistakes and adaptability — not “perfect optimization” — are part of survival.

Grove and Dr. Strum also discuss how human cultural assumptions about gender, power, and competition have shaped scientific interpretations of animal behavior — and why those assumptions deserve scrutiny if we hope to move toward a more compassionate, accurate understanding of life on Earth.

Whether you’re fascinated by animal behavior, curious about the ethical implications of science, or simply interested in what other species can teach us about coexistence and resilience, this episode offers fresh insights and profound takeaways.

The Animal Wellness podcast is produced by Animal Wellness Action and the Center for a Humane Economy. It focuses on improving the lives of animals in the United States and abroad through legislation and by influencing businesses to create a more humane economy. The show is hosted by veteran journalist and animal-advocate Joseph Grove. 

www.animalwellnessaction.org

www.centerforahumaneeconomy.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnimalWellnessAction

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AWAction_News

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHumaneCenter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/animalwellnessaction/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/centerforahumaneeconomy/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/animal-wellness-action/ 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI_6FxM4hD6oS5VSUwsCnNQ