Talking Apes

This week on Talking Apes, we record on site in the rainforests of Cameroon at Ape Action Africa’s Mefou Sanctuary, where art and primate conservation intersect. Our guest is primate portrait artist Robin Huffman, who left a career in New York City interior design to become a full-time sanctuary volunteer and internationally recognized wildlife artist.
Robin first arrived at Ape Action Africa in 2007 after raising funds, taking French lessons, and stepping far outside her comfort zone to care for orphaned primates. What began as volunteer work repairing sanctuary signs unexpectedly evolved into a calling. Today, she is known for her enormous, lifelike primate portraits that capture not only the detail of fur and eyes, but the personality and story of each individual she paints.
In this conversation, Robin shares how she left behind what she calls the golden handcuffs of corporate life to dedicate herself fully to primate welfare. We talk about painting gorilla Jenga on site during our visit, the emotional story behind her monumental Lesula portrait, and why she believes art can turn viewers into messengers for primates. It is a heartfelt, inspiring look at creativity, courage, and conservation in action.
Watch the full on site filmed episode here
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Explore Robin’s artwork: https://www.robinhuffmanart.com
Ape Action Africa: https://www.apeactionafrica.org
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Bonobos may be our closest living relatives, but we still have so much to learn about and from them. In this episode of Talking Apes, we sit down with Ariel Rogers, Executive Director of Friends of Bonobos, and evolutionary anthropologist Dr. Brian Hare to explore the remarkable social world of bonobos and why their survival matters now more than ever.
From decades of research at Lola ya Bonobo Sanctuary in the Democratic Republic of Congo to the day-to-day realities of running a frontline conservation organization, this conversation weaves together science, storytelling, and on-the-ground action. Ariel and Brian share insights into bonobo anatomy, behavior, cooperation, and what these peaceful primates can teach us about humanity’s own evolutionary story.
We also dive into the challenges facing bonobos today, and the hope found in community-led conservation, ethical research, and long-term commitment. Thoughtful, curious, and full of perspective, this episode is a celebration of connection, compassion, and the power of understanding our closest relatives.
Watch on YouTube: [youtube link]
Listen on our website: https://globio.org/Ariel-Brian
Learn more about Friends of Bonobos: https://www.bonobos.org
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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.
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Have you ever wondered how we became the upright, big-brained, tool-wielding species we are today? In this fascinating episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with Dr. Carol Ward - Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri - to explore the origins of humanity and our ape relatives.
From fossil digs in Kenya to 3D-scanning ancient bones, Carol reveals how every discovery adds another piece to the incredible puzzle of our evolution. Why did we stand up? What did climate change have to do with it? And how do new technologies, like CT imaging and protein analysis, help us read messages hidden in fossils millions of years old?
Join us for a joyful, insightful conversation about curiosity, science, and what fossils can still teach us about who we are, and where we’re headed.
 
Listen and learn more: https://globio.org/carol/
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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.
Support the show
Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
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Send a text
Support the show
Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.
Support the show
Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
BUY OUR MERCH

Have you ever wondered how we became the upright, big-brained, tool-wielding species we are today? In this fascinating episode of Talking Apes, Gerry Ellis sits down with Dr. Carol Ward - Curators’ Distinguished Professor of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences at the University of Missouri - to explore the origins of humanity and our ape relatives.
From fossil digs in Kenya to 3D-scanning ancient bones, Carol reveals how every discovery adds another piece to the incredible puzzle of our evolution. Why did we stand up? What did climate change have to do with it? And how do new technologies, like CT imaging and protein analysis, help us read messages hidden in fossils millions of years old?
Join us for a joyful, insightful conversation about curiosity, science, and what fossils can still teach us about who we are, and where we’re headed.
Watch on YouTube: [youtube link]
Listen and learn more: https://globio.org/carol/
Send us a text
Support the show
Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.
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Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
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Join us for a lively, curiosity-filled deep dive with author and researcher Cat Bohannon, whose award-winning book Eve reframes 200 million years of evolution through the female body. Cat brings her signature blend of science, storytelling, and humor to Talking Apes, guiding us through the missing pieces in our evolutionary story and the surprising role that female biology plays in shaping everything from mammal reproduction to primate societies.
In this episode, we explore how scientific blind spots took hold, why female behavior and anatomy were overlooked for so long, and what happens when you return the female body to the center of the evolutionary narrative. From gynecology as the original technology to rethinking ape sociality and the hidden histories behind everyday traits, Cat illuminates a world that’s been hiding in plain sight.
Expect laughter, big ideas, and a refreshingly human conversation about what our bodies can teach us, and what we’ve missed by ignoring half the story. Watch the full episode on our Apes Like Us YouTube Channel, or listen on our website at talkingapes.org
.
More about Cat’s work: https://www.catbohannon.com
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Talking Apes is an initiative of the nonprofit GLOBIO.
Support the show
Buy us a coffee to say thanks!
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