Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Harvesting Wisdom, host Mike McMahon sits down with Drew Enigk, Associate Director of Development for Natural Sciences at Arizona State University, to explore his incredible journey from Ohio to the forests of Uganda studying wild chimpanzees.

With a Ph.D. in evolutionary anthropology and primatology, Drew shares what it was like spending over a year conducting field research in Uganda’s Kibale National Park, observing chimpanzee behavior, social strategies, competition, adaptation, and survival in the wild. The conversation dives into evolutionary science, conservation, sustainable agriculture, study abroad experiences, and what humans can learn from our closest relatives in the animal kingdom.

This episode offers a fascinating blend of science, storytelling, anthropology, wildlife research, and environmental awareness.

Why Listen?
Hear firsthand stories from chimpanzee research in Uganda
Learn how chimpanzees adapt socially and survive in competitive environments
Explore the connection between human and chimpanzee behavior
Discover what life is really like conducting field research in Africa
Gain insight into conservation, anthropology, and evolutionary science
Perfect for wildlife lovers, students, researchers, travelers, and sustainability enthusiasts

00:00 – Welcome to Harvesting Wisdom
01:10 – Meet Drew Enigk from ASU
03:00 – Growing up in Ohio and studying animal behavior
05:20 – Study abroad experiences in Costa Rica and sustainable agriculture
08:10 – Pursuing a Ph.D. in evolutionary anthropology
10:30 – Moving to Uganda for chimpanzee field research
14:15 – Life inside Kibale National Park
18:20 – Understanding adolescent male chimpanzee behavior
24:10 – Competition, coalitions, and social survival among chimpanzees
29:45 – Similarities between chimpanzees and humans
34:20 – Visiting mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable Forest
38:10 – Safety, research ethics, and observing primates in the wild
42:30 – Conservation and protecting endangered species
46:15 – Lessons humans can learn from nature and adaptation