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Discovering Us

Over the past 50 years, researchers have made extraordinary discoveries that help us understand who we are, where we came from, and what makes us human. Discovering Us: 50 Great Discoveries in Human Origins is a new book and audio series from The Leakey Foundation and Signature Books that brings our shared history to life and tells the stories behind the most important human origins discoveries ever made.

In the audio series Discovering Us, actor and Leakey Foundation advisor Ashley Judd celebrates the thrilling fossil finds, groundbreaking primate behavior observations, and important scientific work of Leakey Foundation researchers.

You can listen to all the episodes of Discovering Us below or subscribe through your favorite podcast app. Click here for links to subscribe.

Photo by Victor Demarchelier.

Ashley Judd is a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated actor who has starred in dozens of films and television shows. She is also a feminist and humanitarian committed to justice and equality. In addition, Ashley Judd is a passionate advocate for great ape conservation and research. 

Judd became an advisor to The Leakey Foundation in 2019. She also serves as an advisor to other organizations such as Apne Aap World Wide and the International Center for Research on Women. She is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Population


Evan Hadingham is the Senior Science Editor of the award-winning PBS series NOVA. He has an MA in Prehistory and Archaeology from the University of Sheffield (United Kingdom). His popular books on archaeology include Circles and Standing Stones, Secrets of the Ice Age, Early Man and the Cosmos, and Lines to the Mountain Gods. His feature articles have appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian, The Atlantic, Discover, and elsewhere.

Discovering Us was made possible by Camilla and George Smith, the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation, and the Joan and Arnold Travis Education Fund.

I [name], of [city, state ZIP], bequeath the sum of $[ ] or [ ] percent of my estate to L.S.B. Leakey Foundation for Research Related to Man’s Origins, Behavior & Survival, (dba The Leakey Foundation), a nonprofit organization with a business address of 1003B O’Reilly Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94129 and a tax identification number 95-2536475 for its unrestricted use and purpose.

If you have questions, please contact Sharal Camisa Smith sharal at leakeyfoundation.org. 

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