Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe

In this episode of Ethnocynology, David sits down with Bradley Rydholm of Nature Is Not Metal to discuss animal cognition, ecology, and humanity’s relationship with the natural world. Bradley shares the story behind his popular Instagram page, his work as an outdoor educator, and why he believes wild animals possess rich social lives and individual personalities that are often overlooked. The conversation explores everything from wolves to topics like anthropomorphism, cooperation in nature, and the emotional lives of animals. David and Bradley also discuss how experiences in the wilderness can change the way people view themselves, other species, and the world around them. Finally they examine environmental philosophy, the challenges of communicating science online, and why both dogs and wild animals can help reconnect us to a deeper understanding of nature and our place within it.

Please enjoy this Promo episode from the Great Plains Podcast this week! In this episode, I sit down with Nebraska archaeologist Nolan Johnson to talk about his work uncovering and interpreting the state’s rich historic past. We begin with the Beaver Creek Trail Crossing, a site that offers a glimpse into the experiences of travelers along the overland trails and the material traces they left behind. Nolan shares the story of how the site was investigated, what artifacts reveal about life on the move, and why these places remain important today. In the second half, our discussion broadens to post-1492 archaeology across Nebraska, what makes it distinct, what challenges archaeologists face in preserving and interpreting recent pasts, and why connecting communities to these stories continues to matter.

In this third installment of the “Horse Series,” David sits down with Dr. Carlton Shield Chief Gover to explore the intersections of Indigenous oral traditions, radiocarbon dating, and the archaeology of horses across the Great Plains and the Caribbean. Carlton shares how Pawnee oral traditions align with archaeological evidence, revealing new insights into the transitions from hunter-gatherer to agricultural societies. The conversation expands into how the reintroduction of horses revolutionized Plains warfare, movement, and culture — transforming not just how people traveled, but how they defined bravery, honor, and trade. The episode then dives underwater — literally — as Carlton recounts his work with the Indiana University Underwater Science Program in the Dominican Republic. From Spanish shipwrecks to 400-year-old hazelnuts used to fight scurvy, the discussion highlights how horses, colonization, and trade converged across continents and oceans.

In this episode of Ethnocynology with David Ian Howe, I sit down with my good friend and former graduate school cohort member Cassidee Thornhill, Collections Manager at the University of Wyoming Archaeological Repository. Cassidee’s research dives into the early contact era in Wyoming, focusing on the arrival and spread of horses before and during European colonization. We discuss her fascinating thesis work on the Black’s Fork River site, where a young foal was found buried alongside three coyote skulls—an extraordinary archaeological discovery that sheds light on early human–horse relationships on the Plains.

In this episode of Ethnocynology, host David Ian Howe sits down with friend and creator North02 to dive into one of North America’s most fascinating and overlooked archaeological stories—the Old Copper Culture. Together, they explore how Native communities in the Great Lakes region began shaping some of the world’s earliest metal tools and weapons, thousands of years before metallurgy took hold in Europe. From massive copper swords and fishing hooks to spear throwers and intricate ornaments, this culture reveals a technological world far beyond the usual “stone tool” narrative.

An Anthro Chat With Stefan Milo. In this episode of ethnic psychology, David sits down with good friend Stefan Milo, archaeologist, YouTuber, and overall outstanding chap. David and Steve catch up on recent anthropology news and discussed the recent archaeological findings at White Sands national Park, as well as the recent genetic findings surrounding Dragon Man, the Denisovans, and the peopling of the Americas. David and Stefan also discuss the growing concern among content creators regarding automated intelligence and whether or not the recent advancements with AI video generation will put people like David and Stefan out of work. Stefan is a brilliant guy, and this conversation is as educational as it is pretty funny. So be sure to give it a listen!

In this episode of ethnic psychology, David sits down with a friend of the pod, Artur Hulu. But you may know him by his Instagram pseudonym Gaius Flavius. Arthur is a prolific memes it is pretty tapped into the cultural Zeitgeist of the Internet. Well, most of his memes have to do with ancient Rome and classical history, they are successful because he understands the complex history of memes and modern internet culture. David and Arthur discuss different memes that have done well, their strategies for posting, and why this is important for science and history.