Grunts, Grooming, and Goodbye: Joan Silk on the Science of Friendship

Grunts, Grooming, and Goodbye: Joan Silk on the Science of Friendship

Primatologist Joan Silk has spent decades following individual baboons from birth to death, documenting how friendships, conflicts, and early life experiences shape their lives. In this conversation, we explore how grooming, coalition support, and even simple grunts help baboons repair fights and maintain social bonds. We talk about why female baboons have intense relationships with their mothers but more contentious bonds with sisters, what happens hormonally when a close partner dies, and how early adversity can make it harder to form strong social ties later on. We also draw parallels to human life: bullying and social exclusion, the energy cost of maintaining friendships, the vulnerability of pulling back during hard times, and the moment when a relationship moves beyond tit‑for‑tat reciprocity into something more stable. If you’re curious about the biology of friendship, the psychology of conflict repair, and why our social worlds matter for how long we live, this episode is for you. Chapters: 00:00 – How Joan Silk fell in love with primate behavior 08:00 – Why long‑term field studies matter 16:00 – Defining ‘social bonds’ and friendship in baboons 22:00 – Grunts, reconciliation, and benign intent 34:00 – Early adversity and the ability to bond 41:00 – Temperament, isolation, and COVID parallels 50:00 – Social ties and lifespan

Romantic Love and Friendship with Robin Dunbar

Valentine’s Day has come and gone, but we’re relentlessly reminded that romantic love ought to be the most important relationship in our lives. But in this conversation, evolutionary anthropologist Robin Dunbar, Emeritus Professor of Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Oxford, provides a more nuanced idea. We explore where humans sit evolutionarily between monogamy and polygamy, why pair bonding may have evolved as a protective strategy in large social groups, and why romance includes friendship and requires continued investment to remain stable. If we treat romantic partners as permanently secure family members we risk neglecting the very behaviors that sustain long-term bonds. If you want to explore more of Robin's work check out a few of these titles: Explore Robin Dunbar’s Work * Friends [https://www.littlebrown.co.uk/titles/robin-dunbar/friends/9781408711743/] * Grooming, Gossip and the Evolution of Language [https://www.hup.harvard.edu/books/9780674363366] * How Many Friends Does One Person Need? [https://global.oup.com/academic/product/how-many-friends-does-one-person-need-9780674025295] * The Social Brain [https://press.princeton.edu/books/paperback/9780691155682/the-social-brain] You can keep up with me on Instagram (@RealDrJen) and check out Wild Connection TV [https://www.youtube.com/@wildconnectiontv4022] on YouTube where I bring science to life. And check out my Substack for more writings.

On Living a Good Life with Massimo Pigliucci

How do we live well in a world we cannot control? In this episode of Wild Connection, I'm joined by Massimo Pigliucci, evolutionary biologist, philosopher, author, and one of today’s leading voices on modern Stoicism. We explore stoicism not as emotional detachment or passive acceptance, but as a practical philosophy designed to help people navigate uncertainty, loss, and moral complexity with clarity and intention. Drawing on ancient Stoic thinkers and contemporary life, Massimo explains the four cardinal virtues as tools for everyday decision-making.  Books by Massimo Pigliucci: * How to Be a Stoic * A Handbook for New Stoics (with Gregory Lopez) * Think Like a Stoic * Beyond Stoicism * Nonsense on Stilts Massimo’s Substack  [https://figsinwintertime.substack.com/?r=3r2y8z&utm_campaign=referrals-subscribe-page-share-screen&utm_medium=web] Next week, Wild Connection launches a special series on love and relationships, beginning with evolutionary anthropologist Robin Dunbar, whose work on friendship, bonding, and group size helps explain why connection is not optional, it’s biological. You can keep up with me on Instagram (@RealDrJen) and check out Wild Connection TV [https://www.youtube.com/@wildconnectiontv4022] on YouTube where I bring science to life. And check out my Substack for more writings.

Life Between the Stars with Dr. Ersilia Vaudo

What if the building blocks of life are not unique to Earth? In this episode of Wild Connection, I am joined by Dr. Ersilia Vaudo, astrophysicist who serves as Special Advisor on Future Talents at the European Space Agency and author of The Story of Astrophysics in Five Revolutions. Our conversation comes at a moment of renewed cosmic curiosity, following a recent discovery reported by CNN, Universe Today  and others on how scientists have identified a molecule critical to life drifting through interstellar space. We explore the five major revolutions that transformed how we understand the universe from Newton’s gravity and Einstein’s spacetime to dark matter, dark energy. And there are still unanswered questions that shape modern astrophysics. Along the way, Ersilia reflects on why curiosity, humility, and wonder remain essential tools for science, and how shifting our perspective beyond an Earth-centered view can deepen our sense of belonging in a vast, evolving cosmos. From the soil beneath our feet to the chemistry between the stars, this episode invites listeners to consider how deeply connected we are to the universe, not just as observers, but as participants made of the same ancient material. You can order a copy of Dr. Vaudo's book (and you should) here [https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324089278] and keep up with all things astrophysics here [https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Preparing_for_the_Future/Space_for_Earth/Ersilia_Vaudo_Chief_Diversity_Officer_for_ESA].

Shelter and Storm: Finding Belonging in a Changing Landscape with Tamara Dean

In this episode of Wild Connection, Dr. Jennifer Verdolin speaks with author and essayist Tamara Dean [https://tamaradean.media], whose book Shelter and Storm: At Home in the Driftless explores what it means to live in relationship with a place. From the beauty and hardship of rural Wisconsin to the floods, fires, and tornadoes that test both landscape and spirit, Dean shares how community, storytelling, and attentive living can transform adversity into belonging. In this episode we reflect on the practice of slowing down, listening to the land, and learning from the species who share it with us. Our conversation also reveals how small acts like writing a neighbor’s story after a flood or watching fireflies are opportunities for connection and renewal. Keep up with Tamara Dean on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/TamaraDeanAuthor/]  If Tamara’s reflections inspire you to deepen your own sense of place, explore my Reconnect with Nature [https://www.audible.com/pd/Reconnect-with-Nature-Lessons-from-the-Natural-World-Audiobook/B0DYW69VLS?qid=1760208874&sr=1-1&ref_pageloadid=not_applicable&pf_rd_p=83218cca-c308-412f-bfcf-90198b687a2f&pf_rd_r=59N3XYP5A2SFBAA0PSEJ&plink=g2EBI5qxF0Im6CXN&pageLoadId=ZgytBCEkKLGBzavR&creativeId=0d6f6720-f41c-457e-a42b-8c8dceb62f2c&ref=a_search_c3_lProduct_1_1] course on Audible and companion workbook Rooted in Nature [https://a.co/d/6VgjbmD], designed to help you rediscover your connection to the natural world. Next week, the journey continues with astrophysicist Ersilia Vaudo, taking us from the ground to the stars. You can keep up with me on Instagram (@RealDrJen) and check out Wild Connection TV [https://www.youtube.com/@wildconnectiontv4022] on YouTube where I bring science to life.