Explore human evolution one story at a time. This award-winning show blends storytelling with science that will change your understanding of who we are.
Origin Stories
Claim This Podcastby The Leakey Foundation
4.8(519 reviews)
92 episodes
Updated Weekly
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
80
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality87
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement91
Podcast Overview
Explore human evolution one story at a time. This award-winning show blends storytelling with science that will change your understanding of who we are.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
4/1/2015
Unlock The Full Podcast Authority Score Report
See how your podcast performs across key metrics
80
Podcast Authority
BetaExcellentBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality87
Social0
YouTube93
Engagement91
12
Excellent Areas
1
Good Performance
6
Growth Opportunities
excellent
Episode Length
37 minutes
Performing excellently!
good
iTunes Tags
7.2/10
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
poor
Publishing Consistency
Every 42 days
Recommendations available
Unlock the full report to see detailed tips
+16 More Metrics
Unlock comprehensive insights including:
- • YouTube presence analysis
- • Social media reach metrics
- • RSS compliance scoring
- • Podcast 2.0 features
- • Technical standards
What's Included in Your Full Report
Detailed Analytics
- Complete breakdown of all 19 authority metrics
- Personalized recommendations for each metric
- Industry benchmarks and comparisons
- Technical RSS feed analysis and compliance scoring
Growth Strategies
- Step-by-step action plans for improvement
- Quick wins to boost your score immediately
- Pro tips from successful podcasters
Get your free podcast insights report
See how your show performs across every key metric
Instant delivery
No spam
Attract Better Guests
High authority scores make your podcast more attractive to industry leaders and influencers who want to appear on credible shows.
Secure Sponsorships
Sponsors look for podcasts with proven authority and engagement. Your score demonstrates your podcast's value to potential partners.
Grow Your Audience
Understanding your strengths and weaknesses helps you make data-driven decisions to expand your listener base effectively.
1 verified contact email on file for Origin Stories
Pitch yourself as a guest, propose sponsorships, or reach out directly to the host.
Recent Episodes
March 31, 2026
Biruté Mary Galdikas - A Life Among Orangutans
<p dir="ltr">Biruté Mary Galdikas passed away on March 24, 2026, at the age of 79. She spent more than 50 years studying orangutans in Borneo and fighting to protect them. Before she began her work, orangutans were the least understood of the great apes. She changed that. Her research formed the foundation of what we now know about orangutans. She was the first to learn what they ate, how they lived, how they moved, their long interbirth intervals, and so much more. Including the many threats to their survival. Her lifelong dedication inspired generations to care about orangutans and their forests, and to pursue careers in the field she helped shape. </p> <p dir="ltr">I had the honor and privilege of interviewing Birute Galdikas in 2021, on the fiftieth anniversary of her study. We're re-releasing this episode in her honor. </p> <p dir="ltr">Links:<br /> <a href="https://www.orangutan.org/" target="_blank" rel= "noopener">Orangutan Foundation International</a><br /> <a href="https://orangutan.org/campaigns/">Ways to get involved</a><br /> <a href= "https://leakeyfoundation.org/in-memory-of-dr-birute-marija-filomena-galdikas/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In Memory of Dr. Biruté Marija Filomena Galdikas: A remembrance by primatologist Erin Vogel</a></p> <p>Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding human origins research and outreach.<br /> Support this show and the science we talk about. Your donations will be matched by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation. <a href= "https://www.leakeyfoundation.org/donate">leakeyfoundation.org/donate </a></p> <p dir="ltr">Credits:<br /> Produced by Ray Pang and Meredith Johnson. Sound design by Ray Pang. Our editor is Audrey Quinn. Thanks to Talain Blanchon for audio of Dr. Galdikas in the field and for recording our interview with Dr. Galdikas in his studio. And special thanks to Marcus Foley and Emily Patton for all their help.</p> <p>Archival lecture audio is from The Leakey Foundation archive.</p> <p>Music by Henry Nagle and Lee Roservere.</p> <p> </p>
December 31, 2025
Top Human Origins Discoveries of 2025
<p>2025 was another exciting year in human origins research! In this episode, four scientists and Leakey Foundation grantees (and one podcast host) share their picks for the top discoveries of the year.</p> <p>Support this show and the science we talk about. Your tax-deductible gift to The Leakey Foundation will be matched! <a href= "https://leakeyfoundation.donorsupport.co/page/4xmatch2025" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Click here to donate.</a> </p> <p>Want more science between podcast episodes? Join our monthly newsletter for human origins <a href= "https://mailchi.mp/leakeyfoundation.org/2024-email-landing-page">news and updates from Origin Stories and The Leakey Foundation</a>.</p> <p><strong>Links to learn more</strong></p> <p>All research articles are open-access and free to read</p> <p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09594-8">New research reveals the hand of Paranthropus boisei</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09855-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Earliest evidence of making fire</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-08816-3">Complete sequencing of ape genomes</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-025-24460-3">Highly selective cannibalism in the Late Pleistocene of Northern Europe reveals Neandertals were targeted prey</a></p> <p><a href= "https://www.cell.com/cell/fulltext/S0092-8674(25)00627-0" target= "_blank" rel="noopener">Denisovan mitochondrial DNA from dental calculus of the >146,000-year-old Harbin cranium</a></p>
September 5, 2025
Origin Stories x The Science Podcast
<p dir="ltr">This episode features two stories from the Science Podcast. First, Science writer Ann Gibbons tells the story of three ancient hominin species that lived side-by-side in South Africa’s Cradle of Humankind. Then, anthropologist Melanie Beasley discusses her new study on why chemical signals in Neanderthal teeth and bones make them look like hypercarnivores. Her research suggests they were just eating a lot of maggots! </p> <p dir="ltr">Origin Stories is a project of The Leakey Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to funding human origins research and sharing discoveries. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Science podcast is a weekly show from the journal Science and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Search for Science Magazine in any podcasting app to subscribe. Learn more at https://www.science.org/podcasts</p> <p dir="ltr">Origin Stories is audience-supported. Additional support comes from Jeanne Newman, the Anne and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.</p> <p> </p>
92 total episodes available with 5 transcripts
Similar Podcasts
Discover related shows you might enjoy
The Common Descent Podcast
Common Descent
The Ancients
History Hit
Terrible Lizards
Iszi Lawrence and David Hone
Geology Bites
Oliver Strimpel
I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast
I KNOW DINO, LLC
Daniel and Jorge Explain the Universe
iHeartPodcasts
On Humans
Ilari Mäkelä
PlanetGeo: The Geology Podcast
Chris and Jesse
Gone Medieval
History Hit
Dan Snow's History Hit
History Hit
The Michael Shermer Show
Michael Shermer
Why This Universe?
Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman
The Supermassive Podcast
The Royal Astronomical Society
Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas
Sean Carroll
The Science of Everything Podcast
James Fodor
Deep-dive analytics for Origin Stories
Frequently asked questions
Have a different question and can't find the answer you're looking for? Reach out to our support team by sending us an email and we'll get back to you as soon as we can.
- What is Origin Stories?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates weekly.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 8 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
Legal Disclaimer
Pod Engine is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected with any of the podcasts displayed on this platform. We operate independently as a podcast discovery and analytics service.
All podcast artwork, thumbnails, and content displayed on this page are the property of their respective owners and are protected by applicable copyright laws. This includes, but is not limited to, podcast cover art, episode artwork, show descriptions, episode titles, transcripts, audio snippets, and any other content originating from the podcast creators or their licensors.
We display this content under fair use principles and/or implied license for the purpose of podcast discovery, information, and commentary. We make no claim of ownership over any podcast content, artwork, or related materials shown on this platform. All trademarks, service marks, and trade names are the property of their respective owners.
While we strive to ensure all content usage is properly authorized, if you are a rights holder and believe your content is being used inappropriately or without proper authorization, please contact us immediately at hey@podengine.ai for prompt review and appropriate action, which may include content removal or proper attribution.
By accessing and using this platform, you acknowledge and agree to respect all applicable copyright laws and intellectual property rights of content owners. Any unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or commercial use of the content displayed on this platform is strictly prohibited.