TRIBE With Sebastian Junger - Episode 4 - Richard Wrangham
In this episode, host Sebastian Junger talks with Harvard evolutionary biologist Richard Wrangham about the stark differences between chimpanzee and bonobo societies and what they reveal about human violence and cooperation. Wrangham explains how male chimpanzees engage in organized, often lethal raids on rival groups for the sheer thrill of aggression, while bonobo females dominate through strong, egalitarian alliances that curb male brutality. He argues that human males have historically formed large, shallow coalitions that eliminated the "alpha male" model, enabling complex societies but also giving rise to modern forms of patriarchal power. The conversation ties these evolutionary insights to contemporary issues of war, leadership, and gender dynamics.
TRIBE With Sebastian Junger - Episode #3 - Sarah Chayes
In this episode, host Sebastian Junger talks with longtime friend and Afghanistan expert Sarah Chayes about her on‑the‑ground experiences, from living in Kandahar to advising U.S. military leaders. Chayes explains how pervasive corruption in the Afghan government undermined the war...
THE SECRET TO GOOD WRITING
The blog post dissects a vivid passage by Mary Heaton Vorse describing the 1920 Pittsburgh Steel Mill Strike, highlighting the massive, ritualistic atmosphere of the mills and the minimal human presence. Vorse, a pioneering feminist journalist who covered both World...
RULES
In this episode, the host—a veteran war journalist and former anthropologist—explores the three fundamental types of rules that govern human societies: survival rules, power rules, and divine rules. Drawing on harrowing personal experiences from Afghanistan, the Niger Delta, and Sierra...