Explore the fascinating world of human evolution and exercise in this 53-minute podcast episode featuring Harvard evolutionary biologist Daniel Lieberman. Delve into the unique adaptations that make humans exceptional endurance runners, examining our physiology, biomechanics, and paleoanthropology. Discover why exercise is beneficial yet often undesirable, and learn about the "Active Grandparent Hypothesis" that explains the importance of physical activity in old age. Investigate topics such as scavenging vs. hunting, shock absorption, heat dissipation, muscle fiber variation, and the connection between walking and dementia. Gain insights into the evolutionary origins of human endurance, the effects of footwear on running mechanics, and the role of exercise in cancer prevention. Uncover the scientific process behind studying human evolution and exercise, and understand how our ancestral environment shaped our current physiological needs.