Dr. Shirley Strum Interview

In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Shirley Strum, professor of anthropology and director of the Uaso Ngiro Baboon Project in Kenya. For over five decades, Dr. Strum has observed wild baboons, uncovering surprising truths about their lives—and about our own. Her new book, Echoes of Our Origins: Baboons, Humans, and Nature, brings readers into the world of baboon society, revealing what these remarkable primates can teach us about cooperation, conflict, survival, and what it really means to be human. We discuss the joys and challenges of long-term fieldwork, the deep connections between humans and baboons, and how storytelling can inspire conservation and empathy across species.