The Story of Us with host Madison Reed explores how human intelligence evolved—from ancient instincts to modern cognition. This Skoob podcast, powered by AI, unpacks the true story of how the human brain became nature’s most powerful tool.

Why did our brains get so big? How did social deception, instinct, and trust shape human evolution? And what does it all mean for the future of artificial intelligence? Through gripping storytelling and cutting-edge science, this episode breaks down the biology of intelligence, the cost of consciousness, and why our minds are wired the way they are.

From the Machiavellian Intelligence Hypothesis to the hidden role of instinct in decision-making, you’ll discover how humans became the smartest species on Earth—and what we’ve had to sacrifice to get here.

Created using Skoob, the AI podcast tool that transforms nonfiction books into short, powerful audio stories. This is human evolution like you've never heard it.

Stream “The Story of Us” on Spotify, YouTube, and Apple Podcasts.

Timestamps:

(00:00) The Miracle in Your Head

(01:38) The Great Brain Gamble

(04:43) The Hidden Puppet Masters

(08:18) The Machiavellian Mind

(13:58) Measuring the Unmeasurable

(18:28) Cosmic Conversations

(22:17) The Uniquely Human Mind

(27:09) Closing: The Intelligence Chronicles Continue