A look back out our five most popular episodes of 2025!! 🎉🎉 (in order of release)

A look back out our five most popular episodes of 2025!! 🎉🎉 (in order of release)

Had fun with this one! In which I discuss: dolphins, elephants, marmosets, teknonymy, necronymy, reciprocal names in New Guinea, nominative determinism, the Bob-Kirk effect, the face-name-matching effect, name signs, toponyms, dog names, name uniqueness, alexinomia, toponyms, name taboos, etc.

New episode!! 🎉🎙️ An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world. The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name? Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...

New episode!! 🎉🎙️ An audio essay from @kensycoop.bsky.social about names in the natural world. The search for "name-like" symbols in animals is intensifying. But if the enterprise is to succeed, we first need to pause and ask ourselves: What even is a name? Listen: disi.org/in-search-of...

For the finale of season 7, we have a new audio essay out @manymindspod.bsky.social by @kensycoop.bsky.social! It's an exploration of names in the animal kingdom - what they are, who uses them, and why. In case you get hooked, we've put together a separate playlist of all our essays so far. Enjoy!

To survive and flourish, many animal species rely on ecological knowledge. But this knowledge is not always spread across the group—it's often held by certain "keystone individuals." Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...

To survive and flourish, many animal species rely on ecological knowledge. But this knowledge is not always spread across the group—it's often held by certain "keystone individuals." Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...

Loved the @manymindspod.bsky.social on the function of memory, with @aliboyle.bsky.social and @jomahr.bsky.social. Highly recommended if you didn't listen to it (yet)!

As usual, I am late to the party, but I just finished listening to the fantastic episode on episodic memory from @manymindspod.bsky.social. Super informative interview to @aliboyle.bsky.social and @jomahr.bsky.social by @kensycoop.bsky.social. Cheers to the Many Minds Team! Highly recommend!

New episode!! 🎙️🎉 A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation. Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation? Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...

This was a fascinating episode!

New episode!! 🎙️🎉 A chat w/ @pbrakes.bsky.social about animal cultures and animal conservation. Culture was once thought to be uniquely human. No longer. We now know culture is found throughout the natural world. How does this complicate conservation? Listen: disi.org/the-value-of...

One for my next commute

Come for the (more-puzzling-than-you-realize!) puzzle of episodic memory. Stay for our discussion of infantile amnesia, highly superior autobiographical memory, cryptomnesia, evidential systems in languages, cow stomachs...

The sound of your uncle's laugh; an ice cream cone you had ten years ago. Why do we hold on to memories like these? Are they more than mere mental clutter? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...

The sound of your uncle's laugh; an ice cream cone you had ten years ago. Why do we hold on to memories like these? Are they more than mere mental clutter? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...

Working my way slowly through the @manymindspod.bsky.social back catalogue. This one with @iyadrahwan.bsky.social is really good on a cultural evolution analysis of machine / digital culture podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

Check out the interview I did on the Many Minds Podcast - we chat about all things memory: manyminds.libsyn.com/what-is-memo...

New episode!! 🎉🎙️ A conversation with @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social about the functions of memory. We may not immediately think of memory as an evolutionary puzzle. But in certain respects—and from certain angles—it is quite puzzling indeed. Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...

New episode!! 🎉🎙️ A conversation with @aliboyle.bsky.social & @jomahr.bsky.social about the functions of memory. We may not immediately think of memory as an evolutionary puzzle. But in certain respects—and from certain angles—it is quite puzzling indeed. Listen: disi.org/what-is-memo...

It was long thought that domestication leads to reductions in brain size. But as we understand dog brains better, the truth is proving more complicated—and more interesting. Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...

• many minds | traversing the fourth dimension • @kensycoop.bsky.social and dr. adam bulley dive into how humans mentally travel through time, discussing memory, foresight, and the psychology of imagining futures • manyminds.libsyn.com/traversing-t...

My main takeaway from this one: Dog domestication is a singular "natural experiment" in brain evolution, one that we're just starting to understand. It's a bit bonkers more neuroscientists aren't working on it.

@erinhecht.bsky.social does amazing work on brain evolution in wolves and doggos, among other things Give this one a listen and give Dr.Hecht a follow #neurosky #neuroskyence

It was long thought that domestication leads to reductions in brain size. But as we understand dog brains better, the truth is proving more complicated—and more interesting. Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...

Super! One of the best episodes so far, IMHO.

New episode!! 🎙️🎉 A conversation w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social about the diversity and evolution of canine brains. We've lived and worked with dogs for 15,000+ years, sculpting their brains and bodies along the way. What can we learn from their singular story? Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...

A great episode for anyone who likes dogs!

New episode!! 🎙️🎉 A conversation w/ @erinhecht.bsky.social about the diversity and evolution of canine brains. We've lived and worked with dogs for 15,000+ years, sculpting their brains and bodies along the way. What can we learn from their singular story? Listen: disi.org/of-breeds-an...

Really enjoyed this podcast with @sheinalew.bsky.social and @dorsaamir.bsky.social on evolution and childhood. Super-smart people talking about a super-interesting topic podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m...

Fun, wide-ranging podcast about monsters throughout history and what they mean. On a linguistic note, I loved @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social's use of the word "monstertopian" in reference to the Muppets and Star Trek

How have monsters changed over history? Do they morph with shifting cultural anxieties? Or do they mostly stay the same, sprung from primal, timeless fears? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence! Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...

How have monsters changed over history? Do they morph with shifting cultural anxieties? Or do they mostly stay the same, sprung from primal, timeless fears? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence! Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...

Natalie Lawrence (ENCHANTED CREATURES) and I (HUMANS: A MONSTROUS HISTORY) were interviewed by @kensycoop.bsky.social on the @manymindspod.bsky.social #podcast! Some monster-making egs we explored: 1/ 💙📚 🧪🗃 #ancient #medieval #earlymodern #histsci #histmed #18thCentury #politics #psychology #HAMH 🧵

New episode!! 🎉😱 A conversation with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence about monsters of all kinds. Monsters seem to be everywhere—our myths, our maps, our children's books, our political discourse. What do these creatures tell us about ourselves? Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...

New episode!! 🎉😱 A conversation with @drsurekhadavies.bsky.social & Natalie Lawrence about monsters of all kinds. Monsters seem to be everywhere—our myths, our maps, our children's books, our political discourse. What do these creatures tell us about ourselves? Listen: disi.org/monsters-and...

Digital lovers, robot caretakers, chatbot teachers—to many this sounds utterly dystopian. But is there an optimistic scenario for the future of social AI? What would that look like? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ Dr. Henry Shevlin! Listen: disi.org/the-age-of-s...

Digital lovers, robot caretakers, chatbot teachers—to many this sounds utterly dystopian. But is there an optimistic scenario for the future of social AI? What would that look like? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ Dr. Henry Shevlin! Listen: disi.org/the-age-of-s...

This was a fascinating, uncomfortable episode!

Many fear that AI companions will lead to widespread social "deskilling," particularly in young people. But could we harness these bots for "upskilling" instead? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ Dr. Henry Shevlin! Listen: disi.org/the-age-of-s...

The age of social AI podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/m... [These Many Minds podcasts are always excellent. This is a great one about the social use of AI. You hear a lot of doomerism but less on the possibility of relieving loneliness for the elderly or marginalised.]

Many fear that AI companions will lead to widespread social "deskilling," particularly in young people. But could we harness these bots for "upskilling" instead? Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ Dr. Henry Shevlin! Listen: disi.org/the-age-of-s...

New episode!! 🎙️🎉 A conversation with Dr. Henry Shevlin about the emerging world of "social AI." Digital lovers. AI coaches and tutors. Griefbots and artificial friends. What will this mean for our relationships, our social skills, and our society as a whole? Listen: disi.org/the-age-of-s...

My reaction to social AI had always been one of dismay, disgust, fatalism, maybe even grief for our species. I won't say this conversation left me feeling optimistic, exactly, but it certainly broadened my imagination.

New episode!! 🎙️🎉 A conversation with Dr. Henry Shevlin about the emerging world of "social AI." Digital lovers. AI coaches and tutors. Griefbots and artificial friends. What will this mean for our relationships, our social skills, and our society as a whole? Listen: disi.org/the-age-of-s...

Incorporating AI into scientific research may well boost productivity. But it could also leave scientists vulnerable to illusions. Just one of the topics discussed in our recent episode, w/ @mjcrockett.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/science-ai-a...

Incorporating AI into scientific research may well boost productivity. But it could also leave scientists vulnerable to illusions. Just one of the topics discussed in our recent episode, w/ @mjcrockett.bsky.social! Listen: disi.org/science-ai-a...

It's not all about animal sounds, but guessing a lot of our followers will want to hear @evoneuro.bsky.social & Georg Striedter talk about their new book Bird Brains & Behavior on @manymindspod.bsky.social pod #prattle 💬 #neuroskyence

Bird brains aren't the same as mammal brains. They took their own twisty evolutionary path. So what can they teach us about brains in general? A lot, it turns out. Just one of the topics discussed in our latest episode, w/ @evoneuro.bsky.social & Georg Striedter! Listen: disi.org/brains-of-a-...