Full Interview: Hobbits, Neanderthals, and Dragon Man

About this episode

Ella Al-Shamahi explores the complexities of human evolution and shares her personal journey in paleoanthropology.

Ella Al-Shamahi explores what it means to be human. She reveals the surprising truth that our ancestors shared the planet with at least seven other human species as recently as 50,000 years ago. Ella and Hakeem dig into Neanderthal culture and the mysterious Denisovans who were identified from a single finger bone. Then Ella shares something more personal: her own journey from creationist to one of the leading voices in paleoanthropology. Learn more about NOVA and visit our YouTube channel. -------------------------- Guest Bio: Ella Al-Shamahi is a paleoanthropologist, explorer, and presenter based in London. She specializes in human evolution and has conducted fieldwork in some of the world's most dangerous and remote regions in search of fossil evidence of our earliest ancestors. She is a TED speaker and has appeared in numerous science documentaries, including hosting NOVA and BBC’s five-part series HUMAN, available on the PBS App and NOVA’s website.

People in this episode

Guest: Ella Al-Shamahi

Topics covered

• human evolution
• paleoanthropology
• Neanderthals
• Denisovans
• human species
• Ella Al-Shamahi

Keywords

• Hobbits
• Neanderthals
• Dragon Man
• human species
• paleoanthropology
• Ella Al-Shamahi
• Denisovans
• human evolution

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NOVA, GBH, BBC

Books & works: HUMAN

Places: London

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