Robert Sapolsky | Father-Offspring Interviews

Latest Episodes:

Testosterone, Why We Cry, Shame | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #93 Jan 08, 2026

Show notes

Episode 93 of Father-Offspring Interviews. Topics in this episode include why we cry for various reasons, the reason for shame, and the truth about testosterone in the context of the MAGA era.

Access the referenced NYT article here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/01/opinion/testosterone-maga-men-masculinity.html

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:18 Question 1 (Why we cry)

00:13:26 Question 2 (Shame)

00:19:03 Question 3 (Testosterone)

Alice in Wonderland, Psychiatrists’ Mental Health | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #92 Dec 25, 2025

Show notes

Episode 92 of Father-Offspring Interviews. This episode includes Alice in Wonderland syndrome, the “Red Queen” arms races between humans and COVID, and, in light of a recent tragedy, the mental health of those who work in mental health.

SENSITIVE MATERIAL: this episode contains discussion of su*cide. Please reach out to a professional for support if you need support with this yourself.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:21 Question 1 (Alice in Wonderland Syndrome)

00:08:35 Question 2 (Red Queen arms races)

00:22:49 Question 3 (Psychiatrists’ mental health)

Naked Mole Rats, Aspartame, Restless Leg Syndrome | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #91 Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Episode 91 of Father-Offspring Interviews. This episode discusses the link between aspartame and cognitive decline, causal mechanisms of Restless Leg Syndrome, and why naked mole rats don’t get cancer.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:13 Question 1 (Aspartame)

00:14:01 Question 2 (Restless Leg Syndrome)

00:23:23 Question 3 (Naked Mole Rats)

Hormones All The Way Down | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #90 Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Episode 90 of Father-Offspring Interviews. Topics in this episode include the relationship between hormones and the brain and how creativity exists without free will.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro and Updates

00:01:26 Question 1 (Hormones and the Brain Part 1)

00:16:16 Question 2 (Creativity without free will)

00:27:26 Question 3 (Hormones and the Brain Part 2)

Male Rejection, Pandemic Effects, Night Primates | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #89 Dec 11, 2025

Show notes

Episode 89 of Father-Offspring Interviews. This episode discusses male-on-female violence in other primates, what primates do at night, and what impact pandemics have on societies long-term. NOTE: this episode discusses issues of r*pe and sexual violence.Social & WebsitesQuestion Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolskyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky00:00 Intro00:00:14 Question 1 (Rejected male violence)00:14:00 Question 2 (Primates at night00:20:07 Question 3 (Effects of pandemics)

Vegans, Near-Death Experiences, Fertility Figures | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #88 Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

Episode 88 of Father-Offspring Interviews. Topics in this episode include what humans’ natural diet should be, the history of fertility figures, and what the heck is up with near-death experiences.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:15 Question 1 (Ideal human diet)

00:14:28 Question 2 (Fertility figures)

00:19:52 Question 3 (Near-death experiences)

Heroism, Fainting, Autoimmune Schizophrenia | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #87 Nov 20, 2025

Show notes

Episode 87 of Father-Offspring Interviews. This episode discusses the potential relationship between autoimmunity and psychoses, why the heck humans faint, especially at the sight of blood, and what makes some of us perform acts of heroism.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:14 Question 1 (Autoimmunity and psychoses)

00:09:48 Question 2 (Fainting and vasovagal reflex)

00:18:34 Question 3 (What makes us heroes)

Multiple Sclerosis, Anti-Breeders, Before Turtles | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #86 Nov 13, 2025

Show notes

Episode 86 of Father-Offspring Interviews. This episode discusses why some have no desire to reproduce from an evolutionary perspective, what comes before the turtles, and the factors behind Multiple Sclerosis.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:02:11 Question 1 (Why some don’t reproduce)

00:13:22 Question 2 (Before the turtles)

00:18:33 Question 3 (Multiple Sclerosis)

Obesity, Deja Vu, History of ASD | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #85 Nov 06, 2025

Show notes

Episode 85 of Father-Offspring Interviews. Topics in this episode include the history of ASD, whether there is healthy obesity, and what deja vu is about.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:14 Question 1 (History of ASD)

00:16:06 Question 2 (Healthy Obesity)

00:23:04 Question 3 (Deja vu)

mRNA Vaccines, Reckless Youth, Teeth | Robert Sapolsky Father-Offspring Interviews #84 Oct 30, 2025

Show notes

Episode 84 of Father-Offspring Interviews. This topic discusses why youth are so reckless, how stress impacts tooth decay, and whether mRNA vaccines have any long-term risks.

Captions available soon for translation.

Social & Websites

Question Submission: https://ha66meqrpqz.typeform.com/sapolsky

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robert.sapolsky

00:00 Intro

00:00:41 Question 1 (Reckless youth)

00:11:12 Question 2 (Stress and teeth)

00:18:59 Question 3 (mRNA vaccines)