Five Seasons, 75+ Episodes, One Mission: Why Talking Apes Is a Must-Listen
What Makes Talking Apes Different
In a digital world brimming with niche content, it’s rare to discover something that’s truly one-of-a-kind. Talking Apes is that rarity – the only podcast on Earth dedicated entirely to apes. With over 75 episodes and in its fifth season, it delivers essential, intimate, and intelligent conversations about ape behavior, conservation, science, and survival. This isn’t just another wildlife podcast, it’s a powerful voice connecting us to our closest living relatives – apes like us.
From the Canopy to the Airwaves
Hosted by award-winning photographer and filmmaker Gerry Ellis, Talking Apes takes listeners deep into the world of gorillas, chimpanzees, bonobos, orangutans, and humans. It bridges the forest canopy and the academic archive: making complex science relatable while keeping the stories grounded in real-world fieldwork. Whether the conversation takes place in a jungle village, a genetics lab, or a remote research outpost, the show captures the personal urgency and profound insights of those who dedicate their lives to apes.
Voices from the Frontlines of Conservation
The podcast has welcomed a remarkable lineup of guests: field researchers, sanctuary leaders, evolutionary biologists, documentary filmmakers, community advocates, and more. From the ground-level realities of human-wildlife conflict to cutting-edge studies on ape intelligence, each episode offers a unique perspective on what it takes to protect species that share over 98% of our DNA.
Themes span far and wide, here are a few:
- Cultural transmission in wild chimpanzees
- Forest loss and climate impacts on ape ranges
- The links between human health and gorilla conservation
- Ethical filmmaking and storytelling in conservation
- The evolutionary threads that connect us all
Behind the Mic: A Platform for Urgency and Hope
What sets Talking Apes apart is not only its unique focus, the only podcast in the world dedicated to apes like us, but its tone – curious, compassionate, and unsensational. Listeners are not bombarded with catastrophe but instead drawn into the nuance: where science meets hope, and where the work of saving apes becomes a mirror for understanding our own species.
Each episode feels like sitting down at camp after a long hike, hearing stories that crackle with insight and authenticity. It’s a podcast that respects the listener’s intellect while nourishing the heart.
How to Dive In: Four Episodes to Get You Started
If you’re new to Talking Apes, these four episodes offer an excellent gateway:
- “Walking with Gorillas” with Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka (Episode 36)
One of Africa’s most respected conservation voices, Dr. Gladys shares how protecting mountain gorillas in Uganda is intrinsically tied to improving local community health: a model of conservation that puts people and apes on the same side of the equation. - “CHIMP EMPIRE: The Making of, with Director James Reed Behind the Scenes” (Episode 42)
Get a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the Netflix series Chimp Empire as Oscar-winning filmmaker James Reed reflects on filming the largest known chimpanzee group and the ethical storytelling challenges that come with it. - “Tracing Our Footsteps Through Time” with Jeremy DeSilva (Episode 64)
Paleoanthropologist Jeremy DeSilva explores how walking on two legs transformed our species, and what studying fossil footprints and ancient bones reveals about our shared past with apes. - “Rockstars of the Rainforest” with Dr. Cat Hobaiter (Episode 26)
Specializing in wild chimpanzee communication, Dr. Cat discusses what decades of studying gestures and vocalizations can teach us about the origins of language, culture, and social complexity, in apes and in ourselves.
These episodes are just the beginning. With topics ranging from conservation tech to ape empathy, and juvenile development to zoonotic disease, there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a student, a scientist, a teacher, or simply a curious mind.
Be Part of the Movement
Apes are vanishing and yet they are also among the most intelligent, emotional, and socially complex animals on the planet. Their fate is tied to our own. By listening to Talking Apes, you’re not just learning, you’re becoming part of the global conversation that may determine whether they survive.
Explore the full archive at globio.org/talking-apes-podcast, subscribe on your favorite podcast platform, and share your favorite episode with a friend or classroom.
Because the stories we tell – and listen to – just might change the world.
