Shows
80,000 Hours Podcast#144 Classic episode – Athena Aktipis on why cancer is a fundamental universal phenomenaWhat’s the opposite of cancer? If you answered “cure,” “antidote,” or “antivenom” — you’ve obviously been reading the antonym section at www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cancer.But today’s guest Athena Aktipis says that the opposite of cancer is us: it's having a functional multicellular body that’s cooperating effectively in order to make that multicellular body function.If, like us, you found her answer far more satisfying than the dictionary, maybe you could consider closing your dozens of merriam-webster.com tabs, and start listening to this podcast instead.Rebroadcast: this episode was originally release...
2026-01-093h 30
New Books in the History of ScienceAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2025-08-0857 min
New Books in Science, Technology, and SocietyAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2025-08-0857 min
New Books in MedicineAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2025-08-0857 min
New Books in Biology and EvolutionAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2025-08-0857 min
Princeton UP Ideas PodcastAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2025-08-0857 min
New Books in ScienceAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2025-08-0857 min
80,000 Hours PodcastRebuilding after apocalypse: What 13 experts say about bouncing backWhat happens when civilisation faces its greatest tests?This compilation brings together insights from researchers, defence experts, philosophers, and policymakers on humanity’s ability to survive and recover from catastrophic events. From nuclear winter and electromagnetic pulses to pandemics and climate disasters, we explore both the threats that could bring down modern civilisation and the practical solutions that could help us bounce back.Learn more and see the full transcript: https://80k.info/cr25Chapters:Cold open (00:00:00)Luisa’s intro (00:01:16)Zach Weinersmith on how settling space won’t help with threats to civilis...
2025-07-154h 26
InShanely CuriousApocalypse Road Show With Athena AktipisAthena Aktipis is a cooperation theorist in the social psychology department of ASU.Her book “A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times” is a whole lot of fun packed into a pragmatic and optimistic examination of preparedness.Check out Athena's books and podcasts here https://www.athenaaktipis.org/ I’m taking part in a few live variety shows she is putting together combining science, comedy, music and surprises.Here is one at San...
2025-04-081h 20
Everyday Better with Leah SmartWhy Cooperation Is Key to Humanity’s Survival With Psychologist Athena AktipisAthena Aktipis is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Human Generosity Project. She studies how people work together, especially during crises, through the lenses of evolutionary biology and psychology. Her latest book, “A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times”, digs into the history and science of cooperation.On this week’s episode of Everyday Better, Athena joins Leah to discuss the history of human survival during times of crisis. Drawing from her research with the Maasai tribe, Athena explains why cooperation is key to surviv...
2024-12-1041 min
CohesionThe Role of Cooperation in Surviving Apocalyptic Times with Athena Aktipis, Author & ProfessorThis episode features an interview with Athena Aktipis, author of A Field Guide to the Apocalypse: A Mostly Serious Guide to Surviving Our Wild Times. She is also an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University, director of the Cooperation and Conflict Lab and co-director of the Human Generosity Project, the first large-scale collaborative project to investigate the interrelationship between biological and cultural influences on human generosity. Athena also created and co-hosts the Zombified Podcast.
In this episode, Shawn sits down with Athena to discuss the dynamics of need-based transfers in societies, the...
2024-10-1551 min
UNSW Centre for IdeasAthena Aktipis: A Field Guide to the ApocalypseHas climate chaos, the cost-of-living crisis and the threat of AI overlords got you feeling like the end is nigh? Don’t stress. As psychologist and evolutionary biologist Athena Aktipis points out, humankind is hardwired to survive big existential crises. In this engaging talk, Athena—armed with her trusty ukulele—and UNSW’s Rob Brooks journey through history, psychology, and shared humanity to uncover the tools that will help us survive—and thrive—amidst the chaos. Tune in to the podcast and you can expect to learn about the psychology of stress, tips for prepping (hint: duct tape is essen...
2024-10-031h 07
Scientific American Podcast: Science TalkThe Apocalypse Is Going to Be a Lot Friendlier Than You ThinkPsychologist and cooperation theorist Athena Aktipis shares advice from her new book, A Field Guide to the Apocalypse, on how to survive and thrive in doomsday scenarios from catastrophic natural disasters to zombie outbreaks. Related Reading:– Could the Zombie Fungus in TV’s The Last of Us Really Infect People?– The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to HorrorEmail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our dai...
2024-05-2218 min
Science QuicklyThe Apocalypse Is Going to Be a Lot Friendlier Than You ThinkPsychologist and cooperation theorist Athena Aktipis shares advice from her new book, A Field Guide to the Apocalypse, on how to survive and thrive in doomsday scenarios from catastrophic natural disasters to zombie outbreaks. Related Reading:– Could the Zombie Fungus in TV’s The Last of Us Really Infect People?– The Evolutionary Reasons We Are Drawn to HorrorEmail us at sciencequickly@sciam.com if you have any questions, comments or ideas for stories we should cover!Discover something new everyday: subscribe to Scientific American and sign up for our dai...
2024-05-2218 min
The Creative Condition podcastEp 219: Who is on your zombie apocalypse team? Professor Athena Aktipis on joy in vulnerability, zombie teams & surviving wild timesArizona State University professor in psychology Athena Atkipis joins me as her new book 'A Field Guide to the Apocalypse' hits the bookshelves.Athena's smart and fun zombie apocalypse approach to encouraging and supporting us in facing our fears during wild times carves out her beautiful niche in the field of psychology.We discuss why we've always felt like we're on the brink as a species, and, whether the worst happens, or a pipe simply bursts and floods your house, preparing for greater resilience in wild times can be fun, exciting, and a great route to happiness and optimal...
2024-04-101h 14
Begin The Full Audiobook Everyone Is Talking About — So Breakthrough!A Field Guide to the Apocalypse by Athena AktipisPlease visithttps://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/2/audible/24841to listen full audiobooks.
Title: A Field Guide to the Apocalypse
Author: Athena Aktipis
Narrator: Athena Aktipis
Format: mp3
Length: 6 hrs and 58 mins
Release date: 04-09-24
Ratings: 3.5 out of 5 stars, 2 ratings
Genres: Safety & Emergency Preparedness
Publisher's Summary:
Is this finally it? The end times? Because from COVID-19 to climate catastrophe to the looming AI revolution—not to mention the ever-growing background hum of rage, fear, and anxiety—it’s starting to feel like the party we call civilization is just about over. The good news? It’s always felt that way.
2024-04-096h 58
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Rise of AI: Andrew MaynardThe Dawn of AI is here! But where does that leave us? Will it improve our lives, zombify us, or completely replace us? We talk to tech expert, thought leader and futurist Andrew Maynard about whether or not we can peacefully coexist with the advancing algorithms or whether we are at the beginning of the robot apocalypse.
2023-10-101h 37
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsRussian Shenanigans: Scott RustonWho is that person saying awful things to you on-line? A Russian agent? A zombified member of the opposite political party? Or just your own crazy relatives? We talk to Research Professor and strategic communications expert Scott Ruston about ways enemies of the state may actually be turning us against each other.
2023-09-262h 04
Geek To Me Radio376-Athena Aktipis of Zombified Media-Toyman Toy Show0:00 SEG 1 Athena Aktipis, professor and founder of Zombified Media, talks about her upcoming appearance at the Haunted Garage Horror Fest at the Hi-Pointe October 5-7, her interest in the biology of zombies, starting Zombified media, real-life viruses, and why zombies are real
https://www.hauntedgaragehorrorfest.com/
14:21 SEG 2 Athena Aktipis talks about her book ‘A Field Guide to the Apocolypse’, slow vs fast zombies, the official zombie survival guide issued by the CDC, her speaking engagements, and The Human Generosity Project
https://www.zombified.org/
31:10 SEG 3 James...
2023-09-1955 min
Human Energy PodcastScience of the Noosphere – Cancer, Cheating, and Cell Communication – Athena Aktipis & Michael LevinAthena Aktipis is the director and principal investigator at the Cooperation and Conflict Lab at Arizona State University, where they “explore how cooperation and conflict shape life, from human societies to cellular interactions”. Michael Levin is principal investigator at the Levin Lab at Tufts University, where they study, among other things, “bioelectrical signals that make up part of the language by which cells communicate to serve the patterning needs of the host organism.”Cooperation, conflict, and communicating information — between cells and between multicellular organisms, including humans — follows amazingly similar patterns across multiple scales.One aspect of Michael’s...
2023-07-241h 36
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsParasitized: Kelly WeinersmithDo you like the idea that bugs could crawl right out of your eyes, and that fungus could control your brain? That's weird, but this episode is for you! Join us for a rollicking fun conversation with parasitologist and science communicator extraordinaire, Kelly Weinersmith, about the weird and wonderful world of parasites!
2023-07-041h 32
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsPsychedelified: Shane MaussBehold the twisted paths of the mind, where laughter and shrooms dance a cosmic Macarena. Delve with us into the mind-bending musings of comic and psychonaut Shane Mauss, to awaken our inner selves from the slumber of the undead, and to discuss how psychedelic tourism may create it's own zombie society. Prepare for a mind-expanding mix of science and comedy!
2023-05-311h 19
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsMental Immunity: Andy NormanBad ideas are attempting to take root inside your brain! Listen to this episode with Andy Norman (author of Mental Immunity) to learn how to protect your brain without having to quarantine your mind!
2023-05-161h 17
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Mad Scheme: Gary DirksCan we harness the sun and reach the Green place, or has the world become too addicted to guzzaline? Witness our discussion with Gary Dirks - Senior Director of ASU's Global Futures Laboratory - as he guides us beyond the mad scheme to a better tomorrow.
2023-05-101h 28
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsEducational Zombification: Meredith SmallConstant testing. Unhealthy lunches. Underpaid teachers. Are our schools in an apocalypse? Or is everything actually fine? We talk to life-changing author Meredith Small about how we can help all kids survive and thrive in our often-zombifiying educational system.
2023-05-041h 36
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Cult of Academia: Nicole BarbaroAre you looking for a way to expand your mind and learn ancient secrets for the low price of only $70,000 a year? Then join the Cult of Academia - where after only eleven or so years, you can compete for the job of cult leader! We talk with recovering academic Nicole Barbaro about her daring escape from academia and attempt to deprogram others - through her work at the Heterodox Academy and her Bookmarked Reads Substack.
2023-05-031h 34
80,000 Hours Podcast#144 – Athena Aktipis on why cancer is actually one of our universe's most fundamental phenomenaWhat’s the opposite of cancer?If you answered “cure,” “antidote,” or “antivenom” — you’ve obviously been reading the antonym section at www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cancer.But today’s guest Athena Aktipis says that the opposite of cancer is us: it's having a functional multicellular body that’s cooperating effectively in order to make that multicellular body function.If, like us, you found her answer far more satisfying than the dictionary, maybe you could consider closing your dozens of merriam-webster.com tabs, and start listening to this podcast instead.Links to learn more, summary...
2023-01-263h 15
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsResistance: Mzilikazi KonéAre you tired of being zombified by indoctrination, incarceration, and educational institutionalization? Join the resistance with this week's guest Political Science Professor Mzilikazi Koné and spread the wonderfully contagious dream of freedom and resistance!
2023-01-171h 20
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Twitterpocalypse: Steven BeschlossIs Twitter heralding the end of society as we know it? We have an apocalyptically great time talking to award-winning author (and passionate tweeter) Steven Beschloss about the good, the bad and zombifying aspects of social media, including his personal successes and struggles trying to use Twitter to build a virtual space for true dialogue. In the aftermath of the Twitterpocalypse, can we build a new social media world that is a public good that makes all of our lives better? Tune in to find out!
2023-01-111h 20
unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc232. Cancer, Cooperation, and Cheating feat. Athena AktipisAll multicellular organisms face the risk of cancer cells developing and growing. When these cells work together and cooperate they can create new problems that require novel approaches to solve. Healthy cells also cooperate with each other in the effort to eliminate the cancer as the two sides battle for territory in the body. Athena Aktipis is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, the Director of ASU’s Interdisciplinary Cooperation Initiative, and a member of the Center for Evolution and Medicine. Athena is also the author of The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Und...
2023-01-0953 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsDigitizing Humanity: Liz GrumbachWhose voices get to carry on after death, and whose stories get buried with time? In this suprisingly optimistic episode, we talk with Liz Grumbach about the future of the human-tech interface and the way that technology can be used as a tool for understanding ourselves and our place in the world. We also chat with her about the social factors that decide who gets silenced, and how the field of Digital Humanities is giving a new voice to the silent dead.
2022-12-2258 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsPrezombification: Bob CialdiniHas your brain been turned into a fertile ground for the planting of other people's ideas, goals and influence? In this episode, we talk to best-selling author Bob Cialdini about 'pre-suasion,' the idea that you can make people more receptive to persuasion by setting up the context and situation in certain ways. Learn about your own susceptibilities to influence, how to tell if you're being zombified, and how we can use these techniques to zombify ourselves for good!
2022-12-081h 10
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsRefusing to Die: Season 4 live premierAre you barely alive or feeling a little undead? Well, it's time to crawl out of the ground and re-embrace this messy, wonderful thing called livin', with our new season of Zombified! Join hosts Athena Aktipis and David Lundberg-Kenrick as they talk with Liz Grumbach, Mzilikazi Koné, Tamas David-Barret and Baba Brinkman about the many ways that we can be resilient in times of crisis and embrace the joy and insanity of life.
2022-12-0854 min
Here We AreCasual Apocalypse w/Athena AktipisThis week I went Arizona State University to talk with Athena Aktipis about the potential of apocalyptic events, both natural and human-caused, and how we can prepare, respond, and prevent the end of the world.
Athena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Cooperation Science Network and The Human Generosity Project.
This episode is a part of a new series we're working on where we present ideas from scientists in a more structured format. We're still fine-tuning the way this will work, so make sure...
2022-10-2755 minHere We AreThriving in the End Times w/Athena AktipisThis week I'm talking with Athena Aktipis about the gradients of apocalyptic events and how humans cope with the end times.
Athena is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Cooperation Science Network and The Human Generosity Project.
This episode is a part of a new series we're working on where we present ideas from scientists in a more structured format. We're still fine-tuning the way this will work, so make sure and join the brainstorm over on my Discord.
Athena's T...
2022-10-0557 minNew Books in Biology and EvolutionAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2021-09-2257 minNew Books in ScienceAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2021-09-2257 minNew Books in MedicineAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2021-09-2258 minPrinceton UP Ideas PodcastAthena Aktipis, "The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer" (Princeton UP, 2020)When we think of the forces driving cancer, we don’t necessarily think of evolution. But evolution and cancer are closely linked because the historical processes that created life also created cancer. The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer (Princeton UP, 2020) delves into this extraordinary relationship, and shows that by understanding cancer’s evolutionary origins, researchers can come up with more effective, revolutionary treatments.Athena Aktipis goes back billions of years to explore when unicellular forms became multicellular organisms. Within these bodies of cooperating cells, cheating ones arose, overusing resources and replicating out of con...
2021-09-2257 min
Pizza QuestThe Queen of the Zombie ApocalypseProfessor Athena Aktipis's mission at Arizona State University is to prepare us all for the "zombie apocalypse," which is more than a metaphor to her, and involves lots of dough making and fermentation. This episode will blow your mind!Click here for the video versions of Pizza Quest. If you count on HRN content, become a monthly sustaining donor at heritageradionetwork.org/donate.Pizza Quest is Powered by Simplecast.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
2021-08-1545 minHere We AreViruses + The ApocalypseToday I speak with returning guest, Athena Aktipis, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Human Generosity Project. We talk about how viruses can hijack behavior, the diversity of cancers, and what a real apocalypse could look like.
http://www.athenaaktipis.org/
Listen to Athena's podcast :https://www.zombified.org/
Read Athena's new book: https://amzn.to/3yXv8F4
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-07-141h 28
Here We AreViruses + The ApocalypseToday I speak with returning guest, Athena Aktipis, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University and co-Director of The Human Generosity Project. We talk about how viruses can hijack behavior, the diversity of cancers, and what a real apocalypse could look like. http://www.athenaaktipis.org/Listen to Athena's podcast :https://www.zombified.org/Read Athena's new book: https://amzn.to/3yXv8F4Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
2021-07-141h 28
Evolution 2.0Zombie Cells Gone WildHow does a psychology prof find herself writing a book on cancer evolution?And what does this have to do with the Zombie Apocalypse? Today’sconversation is with Dr. Athena Aktipis from Arizona State University, whohosts the Zombified podcast. We explore the not-so-obvious byproducts thatemerge you change the rules of cooperation and convention-defyingbreakthroughs in cancer treatment.WEBSITE LINKS:Athena’s personal website: http://www.athenaaktipis.org/Zombified podcast: www.Zombified.orgThe Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps...
2021-04-3056 min
Science NightZombification Featuring: Athena AktipisIs the zombie apocalypse really possible? Worse yet, has it already started? Dr. Athena Aktipis stopped by to answer these questions and more.
Athena Aktipis is a psychology professor at Arizona State University that studies cooperation in ways ranging from its evolution in human societies and all the way down to the cellular level with her work in researching how we think about cancer and potential new ways to treat it. She’s also really into the zombie apocalypse and zombification which is the topic of this show, so grab your go bag and head to your bu...
2021-04-1654 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Infopocalypse: Kristy RoschkeDo you feel like your neurons are getting taken over by your smartphone, tablet, computer or TV? Then the infopocalypse has probably already infiltrated your brain. In this episode, journalist and media literacy expert, Kristy Roschke, explains how we get hijacked by the constant stream of information we consume from our devices. She also shares tips for keeping your brain safe from manipulative information that could compromise you, hurt those you love, or destroy civilization all together. Listen now to protect your brains—and the world!Links:Transcript
2021-04-071h 17
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsShabamified: Josh Kurz & Wendy RoderweissWhat would your kids do if they were stuck in the zombie apocalypse and you were nowhere to be found? That’s the premise of Shabam!, a podcast where the story of the zombie apocalypse is a vehicle for explaining science and infrastructure to audiences of all ages. We talk to creators, Josh Kurz and Wendy Roderweiss, about the challenges of communicating scientific ideas and how to use engaging storytelling and silly voices to create a compelling narrative that is both interesting and informative. Listen with your kids, so they learn how to survive if you get eaten by a...
2021-03-231h 13
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsZombie Politics: Mary ZieglerDoes politics turn us into zombies? We talk with law professor, Mary Ziegler, about the politics around the abortion debate and how a personal, medical issue can get hijacked for political ends. We also chat about the ways that politics can make us see others—specifically those who don’t agree with us—as zombies. If you think you or somebody you don’t agree with might be a zombie, you’ll definitely want to listen to this episode.
2021-03-161h 00
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsFamished: Cathryn TownsendWhat happens to humans when they are not just hungry, but truly famished? In this episode we talk with anthropologist Cathryn Townsend about the ways that starvation can change who we are and how we relate to one another. She completed fieldwork with the Ik people of Uganda who were vilified as selfish and nasty by Colin Turnbull 50 years ago when he observed their society mid-famine. Cathryn explains how the Ik are just as generous as the rest of us—and why it’s problematic to blame culture for human selfishness. This is the episode you’ve been hungering for.
2021-03-091h 00
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsSocial Web: Tamas David BarrettDo you ever have the feeling that your friends are talking about you behind your back? In this episode we talk with interdisciplinary social scientist Tamas David-Barrett about why we might actually want our friends to talk about us behind our backs. We also talk about how smaller family size has caused a fundamental shift in the structure of the social networks that we inhabit, and chat about giving unusual gifts to strangers at Burning Man. Listen to this episode and get caught in Tamas’s web of intriguing ideas, fascinating findings and sensational stories!Links:Tr...
2021-02-171h 30
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsInfluenced: Robert FrankIf all the cool kids jumped off a bridge, would you jump, too? Should you? Many of us grew up with parents, guidance counselors, and school assembly lecturers teaching us to resist peer pressure, go our own way, and ignore the zombie crowd. And people online will quickly call you out for “virtue signaling” and “humble bragging” if you so much as mention how you rescued that eagle that got hit by your yacht. But are peer pressure and virtue signalling all bad? In today’s episode, we talk with brilliant (and popular!) economist and author Robert H. Frank about when...
2021-02-111h 38
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsPerfect storm: Clyde CainWhat do you do when the shit hits the fan, and the government isn’t there to help? When need overwhelms infrastructure, we all need to work together to survive, but figuring out how to actually help each other isn’t so easy. This episode’s guest, Clyde Cain, leads the Louisiana Cajun Navy, which is a group of volunteers that help people during floods, storms and other emergencies. Clyde talks about how to stay calm during a disaster and what drew him to this unconventional life of service. Links:Transcript
2020-12-221h 17
Sausage of ScienceSoS 101- Zombification: Being at the edge of what’s known and unknown with Dr. Athena AktipisAthena Aktipis is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University and is the co-director of the Human Generosity Project. She is also the chair of the Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting: http://www.zombiemed.org/ and host of the podcast Zombified: https://www.zombified.org/ on Channel Zed: https://www.channelzed.org/. Today Chris and Cara talk to her about science communication, how zombification is everywhere, and her new book The Cheating Cell: How evolution helps us understand and treat cancer, which you can find here: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691163840/the-cheating-cell as well as on Audible: https...
2020-11-1652 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsConspiracy: Chelsey Weber-SmithWho is really behind conspiracy theories? From the idea that the CIA killed Kennedy to the idea that people actually walked on the moon, we’ve all heard conspiracies ranging from the slightly plausible to the downright bizarre. But where do these theories come from? Are they themselves created by some nefarious shadow government? Or do they arise naturally as people attempt to make sense of the world. If you're curious to know the truth behind conspiracy theories, listen to this episode with guest Chelsey Weber-Smith. Chelsey is the host of the American Hysteria podcast, a former conspiracy theorist an...
2020-11-031h 15
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsCompetified: Scott BrooksHave you been zombified by competition? On this week's episode we talk with sociologist and assistant director of the Global Sport Institute at ASU about his experience as a competitive athlete, and his experience as a parent and coach, helping kids get the benefits of sports without becoming completely competified. No matter if you're a professional athlete, or spend all of grade school being picked last in gym class, you'll enjoy Scott's take on how sports and competition can be a force for good in today's zombified world.Links:Transcript
2020-10-151h 23
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsAddicted: Matt MeierDrugs on the brain? From coffee and beer to opiates and bath salts, drugs have fascinating effects on our behavior, our desires and our personalities. In this episode we talk to addiction expert and clinical psychologist Matt Meier about being under the influence. We cover the serious side and the silly side of the many ways that drugs can zombify us. Once you start listening to this episode, you won't be able to quit. Links:Transcript
2020-10-061h 22
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsWho's on your Z-team? Cam CarlsonWho you gonna call in the zombie apocalypse? In this extraordinarily apocalyptic episode, we talk with Cam Carlson - one of the leaders of the Zombie Research Society, a doctor of public health, and an active duty officer in the US Navy - about how to put together your Z-team. We cover everything from the most important zombie apocalypse survival skills, to the challenges of going it on your own, to the all-important skill of how to build trust among strangers in the post-apocalyptic world. Also, Dave discusses the circumstances in which he would eat his dog. ...
2020-10-031h 20
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Toxopocalypse: Jessica BrinkworthWe've all seen how disease changes our behavior, but did you know that there are diseases that actually hijack our brains? In this episode we talk with immunologist and evolutionary anthropologist Jessica Brinkworth about the parasite toxoplasma gondii, perhaps best known for it's presence in kitty litter. Jessica explains the many ways that toxo zombifies us and other mammals, hijacking even our own cells to make them little zombies bent on perpetuating toxo. Toxoplasma gondii also plays a role in human behavior, affecting risk taking behaviors and vulnerability to schizophrenia. The toxopocalypse expands even outwards to the ecosystems we...
2020-10-031h 20
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsApocalyptish Times: Season 3 live premierJoin Zombified hosts Athena & Dave for an apocalyptish afternoon as we launch Season 3 of the Zombified podcast. We talk with immunologist Jessica Brinkworth and zombie apocalypse survival expert Cam Carlson about our current apocalyptish times. We also chat with Channel Zed director Ilana Rein, collaborating producer Erica O'Neil and host of the Dr. Zed Show, Joe Alcock. Don't miss the special appearance from Carl Flink and Black Label Movement. They join us in hazmat suits and describe their plans to dance their way from Minnesota to Arizona in an RV as part of Channel Zed's new reality show, Unreal...
2020-10-031h 17
Stories of ImpactDr. Athena Aktipis: How Cooperation Emerges in CrisisHost Richard Sergay speaks to Athena Aktipis, co-director of the Human Generosity Project, about the current results of her study of cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor Aktipis discusses the insights both past and current research offer about the extent and the limits of human generosity during catastrophic events. This is the third episode in a special, five-part Covid-19 conversation series. Learn more about Athena Aktipis and The Human Generosity Project Mentioned in this episode: A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit Subscribe to Stories of Impact wherever you list...
2020-07-1426 min
Sausage of ScienceSoS 81- Human Generosity with Drs. Athena Aktipis and Lee CronkThis week, Chris and Cara chat with Drs. Athena Aktipis, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, and Lee Cronk, Professor of Anthropology at Rutgers University, to discuss their research with the Human Generosity Project. As always, we get to hear about their research journies, interests, and collaborative efforts. Additionally, we get a sneak preview on their latest research on human generosity, cooperation, and COVID-19. Be sure to check out the Human Generosity Project website at: http://www.humangenerosity.org/ or on Twitter @generousnature. To learn more about Dr. Aktipis, check out her lab website at: http://www.aktipislab...
2020-06-2957 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsAdapted for the apocalypse: Mike GurvenAre we ready for the apocalypse? In this episode, evolutionary anthropologist Mike Gurven explains how humans have encountered apocalyptic conditions - whether disease, disasters or war - throughout our evolutionary history. We talk with Mike about what the likely scale of destruction was in ancestral apocalypses, how sex helped us bounce back from population decimation, and why we need math to understand how much a part of life death was for our ancestors. This one is definitely dark, but also morbidly inspiring. If we evolved to deal with apocalypses, we might be a hell of a lot more resilient...
2020-06-051h 00
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsScreen time: Ilana ReinIn this episode, filmmaker Ilana Rein explains how screens zombify us for better and for worse. We talk about the mind-numbing comfort of zoning out on our screens, the creepiness of having Netflix algorithms poking our brains, and how her Alzheimer's afflicted mom avoided getting hijacked by a scammer by covering her computer with a tablecloth.
2020-05-291h 40
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsSocial parasites: Doug KenrickWhat was it like for Zombified co-host Dave Lundberg-Kenrick growing up with an evolutionary psychologist for a dad? Like growing up in a constant existential crisis, says Dave. In this episode we talk with Doug Kenrick, one of the founders of the field of evolutionary psychology (and Dave's dad) about how our evolutionary history has shaped our brains and behavior, making us susceptible to being parasitized. According to Doug, our evolved motives set up us to be parasitized by all sorts of parasites, from friends and family, to the many social parasites lurking on our computers and smartphones.
2020-05-191h 51
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe age of ascension: Lee CronkCurious what makes for a successful internet meme? In this episode, we talk with Anthropologist and cultural transmission expert Lee Cronk about memes, fake news and lying to children. Lee explains why his kids thought they were going to the planet Zandar when they turned 14, what coney dogs are really made of, and how Nike's marketing department messed up in the 80s. We talk about how our receptivity to taking in information from others is part of what makes humans so awesome, but it also part of why we are so damn vulnerable to being manipulated.
2020-05-121h 13
A Scientist Walks Into A BarThe Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat CancerWhat if everything we think we know about cancer is wrong? Listen as Dr. Athena Aktipis, author and Arizona State University professor talks about her new book The Cheating Cell: How Evolution Helps Us Understand and Treat Cancer. Rather than trying to eradicate all cancer, she describes how changing our approach could help us learn to control and live with cancer instead. Get a 20% discount and free shipping when you buy the book through the Princeton University Press website! Use the code AKT20-FG at checkout. (Note: The coupon code is ONLY valid on the Princeton site.)
2020-05-1142 min
At length with Steve Scher. - The House of PodcastsAthena Aktipis At LengthCancer has been part of life since the origins of evolution.
2020-04-1600 min
At length with Steve Scher. - The House of PodcastsAthena Aktipis At LengthCancer has been part of life since the origins of evolution.
2020-04-1623 minHere We Are(Pandemic Edition) Zombie Apocalypse MedicineReturn guest Athena Aktipis is an author, professor and podcaster. She is also the chair of the (wait for it...) Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Meeting (ZAMM) an interdisciplinary conference where art, science and medicine come together with the aim of solving complex issues.Yup. You read that right. Sure she does a bunch of more sciencey sounding things too, but who more fitting at a time like this than a cancer researching badass with a delightful science podcast about apocalypse scenarios?Check out all the amazing things she does.Main site: http://www.athenaaktipis.orgBook: w...
2020-03-271h 09
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsImitate this! Cristine LegareIn this episode, Cristine Legare explains how imitation is at the heart of what makes us human. Cristine studies how kids learn through imitation, and how this helps kids learn what they need to know in order to survive and thrive in whatever environment they find themselves in. She also explains how our ability to imitate is both a great power and a serious vulnerability. Cristine offers a serious brain share in this inimitable episode.
2020-03-241h 21
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsParanoid: Nichola RaihaniIn this episode, psychologist and evolutionary biologist Nichola Raihani talks talks about why being paranoid might not actually be so crazy. Nichola tells us about the many influences on paranoid thinking, the evolutionary reasons why we can be suspicious of others, and she explains the difference between paranoia and conspiracy thinking, If you're a little bit paranoid, or know somebody who is, this episode is for you!
2020-03-171h 00
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsBat shit: David QuammenWhere do pandemics come from? In this Zombified episode, author and science communicator David Quammen talks with us about the origins of viral diseases and the stories behind how pandemics start and spread. We talk about bats and their role in zoonotic diseases, the origins of AIDS, and David presciently warns of the Zombie Apocalypse by way of single stranded DNA viruses (despite the fact that we recorded this episode before the COVID19 outbreak).
2020-03-101h 36
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsMy GPS made me do it: Katina MichaelHave you ever driven onto an airport runway when you were just following your GPS? In this episode of Zombified, we talk to technologist Katina Michael about the risks and opportunities that come from embedding ourselves more and more deeply in technology, and embedding technology more deeply in ourselves. From brain implants to the economic technopocalypse, we hear from Katina about how we can protect our humanity, or at least give it up more gracefully as we relinquish more and more of our autonomy to devices and the algorithms that live inside them.
2020-03-031h 20
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsMicrochimeric mombie: Amy BoddyWhile you were in the womb, cells from your mom took up residence inside you. And cells from your baby body transferred to your mom as well, settling down in her tissues and organs. In this episode we talk with evolutionary biologist Amy Boddy about this phenomenon - called maternal-fetal microchimerism - and what it means for our understanding of who we are. If you've had a baby (or a few babies), cells from those babies may be inside your body and brain right now, proliferating and interacting with the rest of you. What are they doing and why...
2020-02-251h 01
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsPlacental hijacking: David HaigDid you know that genes from your mom and genes from your dad battled it out inside you (and in your placenta) while you were in the womb? In this episode, Harvard evolutionary biologist, David Haig, explains where babies come from and how they hijack their parents to take care of them. From the intricate details of shark pregnancy to the parenting strategies of plants, David shares both curious sex facts and disturbing strategies of reproduction across the tree of life. And you'll learn more than you wanted to know about the most wonderful and creepy organ of all...
2020-02-1457 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsPill brain: Sarah HillHas the birth control pill zombified you? Sarah Hill, author of "This is your brain on birth control," shares her personal experience with the pill, her expert knowledge as a hormone researcher and her also perspective on the politics of the pill in this episode. Yes, the pill fucks with us, she says, from messing with our stress system to changing our mating and dating preferences - but that doesn't mean we should get rid of it. If you've struggled with finding birth control that doesn't mess with your brain, dated somebody who has, or you're simply interested in...
2020-02-141h 34
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsLove zombies: Diana FleischmanHas love turned you into a zombie? In this episode of Zombified, we talk to evolutionary psychologist and relationship expert Diana Fleischman about the many ways love zombifies us: from romantic relationships to parent-child interactions. She offers tips for how to train your boyfriend, how to resist getting behaviorally conditioned by those you love, and talks to us about when getting zombified in relationships might not really be such a bad thing.
2020-02-141h 08
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsUndead love: Season 2 live premierJoin us for the live launch of season 2 of Zombified. Athena and Dave chat with are awesome guests Diana Fleischman and Katina Michael about love, technology, the pluses and minuses of monogamy, and how to train your boyfriend. Listen alone or with someone you think you love.
2020-02-141h 10
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsLoving exploitation: Mark FlinnIn this episode, Anthropologist and hormone expert Mark Flinn give us his unique perspective on love: That love is essentially when you enjoy being exploited. He talks about how this 'loving exploitation' plays a role in our romantic relationships and our families. Is Mark's view of love cynical or undyingly romantic? You'll have to listen to find out!
2020-01-2133 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsZombified by design: Neil SmithGo behind the scenes with Zombified illustrator Neil Smith. In this delicious Zombified Brain Snack mini-episode, Neil tells us about his process for creating our insanely creepy-amazing episode illustrations and we talk about how design in general can take over our brains. If you like design, zombies or just sweat Neil's morbid aesthetic, you'll love this one.
2019-12-1939 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsDave's mindfulnessIn this tasty brain snack, we follow up on Mary Davis' suggestions in the Mindfulness Cure episode. Dave reports back about his attempts to de-zombify himself by implementing greater mindfulness in his life and work. Dave and Athena also discover they have very different attitudes about the social implications of distributing muffins in the office.
2019-11-0744 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsRabid: Clive WynneLooking for a delicious brain snack to tied you over until the next season of Zombified? In this tasty rabies flavored tidbit, we hear from Clive Wynne about the rabies virus and what happens to humans when we get infected. Spoiler alert: it has to do with sex.
2019-10-2111 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe Sound of the Apocalypse: Lee MilesHungry for a brain snack between Zombified seasons? In our first ever mini-episode, we take a deep dive into Zombified's theme song, Psychological, with artist Lee Miles.
2019-10-0731 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsDuct tape before guns: Emily ZarkaEmily Zarka has her go bag in the trunk of her car, just in case. And you’d be lucky to have her on your Z-team. Not only is she prepped with her Zombie Apocalypse supplies, she’s also got a PhD. in Monsters. In this episode, Emily talks with us about all things zombie - from how we can use the ZA as a way to prepare for disasters, to how zombies can help us reflect on being human. She explains how in movies zombies are often a red herring for the real monsters, us humans. She also shar...
2019-07-301h 06
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsInsatiable: Mark MannucciMark Mannucci is voraciously curious about the kind of creepy, deathly, science-gone-wrong stories that you can’t help but pay attention to. As a producer and director, he has been making movies and TV series about the morbid for decades, offering up his brains for projects about death, dying and darker side of science. In this episode we talk about brains in vats, living mortuaries, zombified narcissists, and the perils of insatiable curiosity.
2019-07-231h 10
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsCuriosity kills: Barbara Natterson-HorowitzWhy are we so into monsters, zombies, and scary things in general? In this episode, physician and evolutionary biologist Barb Natterson-Horowitz explains why we seek out the frightening and the morbid, and how our fascination with things that can kill us can actually help us survive. Barb also explains why teenagers are likely to save us in the Zombie Apocalypse.
2019-07-1654 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe red zone: Keith TidballKeith Tidball has seen it all, from war to disaster to real-life zombies. In this episode he talks with us about how chaos can hijack us, how disasters affect human behavior, and how to keep your sht together when you’re in the red zone. Looking for psychological conditioning tips to increase your survival odds in the zombie apocalypse? Better listen to this one.
2019-07-091h 17
EvolutionMedicineZombifiedThis episode introduces listeners of the Evolution Medicine podcast to a brand new podcast started by Athena Aktipis PhD, of the Department of Psychology at Arizona State University. Download Zombified and give it a review. Athena interviewed me for this episode. The topic? How gut microbes can make us into zombies. Listen and learn how the Zombified podcast came to be, along with the Zombie Apocalypse Medicine Alliance, and the bi-yearly conference the Zombie Apocalype Medicine Meeting, a radically interdisciplinary medical conference where fiction meets fact. http://www.zombiemed.org/
The next conference is planned for October 15th, 2020.
2019-07-0400 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsMicrobial Zombification: Joe AlcockJoe Alcock is all about microbes and evolution. He is also an Emergency Room Physician who sees what microbes do to people every day - and it ain’t pretty. How do we keep our microbes from zombifying us against our will? In this episode we talk about the microbiome and how it can affect our health, our behavior and even our moods. Joe talks about mind controlling parasites, how our microbes can turn against us sometimes, and what all this means for our understanding of what really goes on during death and dying.
2019-07-021h 09
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsLaugh like a Zombie: Tom WisdomIn this episode, comedian (and psychology PhD) Tom Wisdom covers the ins and outs of humor: why it makes us laugh, when it doesn’t and what it means for our evolutionary fitness to be funny. We also take a few detours into the physiology of laughter, what makes it involuntary (or voluntary), what laughter sounds like and why.
2019-06-251h 14
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsZombie friends: Jaimie KremsYour friends have your best interests at heart. Don't they? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. In this episode, friend expert Jaimie Krems talks about the good and the bad of friends influencing our behavior. She also offers some tips on dealing with controlling friends without getting zombified.
2019-06-181h 09
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsGet Zombified! Season 1 live launchHave you been Zombified? Listen to our live launch of Season 1 of the new Zombified Podcast! Hosts Athena and Dave talk about how the podcast started, how and why are susceptible to zombification and some of our favorite things to be zombified by. We chat with Clive Wynne about the Puppypocalypse, Mary Davis about The Mindfulness Cure and with our live studio audience about all the things that take over our brains, including podcasts....
2019-06-1151 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe mindfulness cure: Mary DavisIf you're zombified by stress, this episode is definitely for you. We talk with stress and mindfulness expert Mary Davis about how stress changes the way we think and makes us more vulnerable to being manipulated. Mary also gives us a crash course in how to use mindfulness practice to counteract the mind-less-ness of being a stressed out zombie.
2019-06-081h 10
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsStress zombies: Mark FlinnIn this episode, Anthropologist Mark Flinn explains how witchcraft works and how manipulation of the stress system is key to its effectiveness. Mark admits to being a witch himself (albeit a good one) and describes how our mental health and physical health is intimately tied to our social relationships - and how witchcraft works by breaking down trust and raising anxiety.
2019-06-0859 min
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsMonster algorithms: Ed FinnEd Finn knows what algorithms want: brains. In this episode we explore how technology has been changing our capacity for autonomous action, how monsters are more than just a metaphor for our relationship with technology and how algorithms deployed by powerful tech companies zombify us. Hold on to your brains for this one.
2019-06-081h 14
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe zombie diet: Corrie WhisnerIf you’re worried that you’ve been zombified by your diet, listen on! In this episode, nutritionist and ASU professor Corrie Whisner talks about food, diet and the nutritional needs of zombies. How does our relationship with food relate to our personal autonomy? How can we tell fact from fad in the diet industry? How many calories are in a brain? All your zombie diet questions, all answered here.
2019-06-081h 23
Zombified: Your Source for Fresh BrainsThe puppypocalypse: Clive WynneHave you been zombified by your dog? This episode we chat with dog expert Clive Wynne about how our dogs hijack us - sometimes for our own good. We'll learn about how to prepare for the Puppocalypse and what do if you're already zombified by how fucking cute your dog is.
2019-06-041h 09
Brain BuzzCooperation, Cancer, and Conmen with Dr. Athena AktipisIn Episode 27 Dr. Athena Aktipis from the Department of Psychology at the Arizona State University joins us to chat about cooperation from a cellular to human scale. Athena shares with us how the five principles of cooperation can be applied across systems, how cancer represents a breakdown of this multicellular cooperation, and how a need based transfer system is an optimal cooperation and generosity strategy. What is cooperation and can any action be altruistic? Do we need bad people to have cooperation? What can zombies tell us about cooperation and psychology? All this and much more in Cooperation, Cancer...
2019-03-301h 05
Ask A Biologist PodcastAre Your Cells Cooperating or Cheating?Cooperation is something that humans and animals are known to do. It turns out that the 30 trillion cells in our body also need to cooperate. Like some humans, there are cells that are cheaters when it comes to cooperation. They do not do their share of the work and cause a lot of other problems. These are cancer cells. Cooperation theorist Athena Aktipis talks with Dr. Biology about her research and how it might help us learn more about cancer cells.Learn more: Cooperation or Conflict?Learn more: There's No I in Human...
2018-09-2929 min
StorycraftAthena AktipisAthena Aktipis, Assistant Professor at ASU & co-director of the Human Generosity Project, talks to me about cancer from a very unique perspective. We discuss her study of cooperation across systems, from human generosity to cancer, her focus on specific parallels between cancer and human behavior, how that may be revolutionizing cancer treatment now and into the future. This is a jaw-droppingly intriguing episode for science nerds, people who've been affected by cancer, and those looking for a little ray of sunshine on the future. Read Athena's article on slate.com "Why Cancer isn't going anywhere". F...
2017-09-301h 08