About the guest: Eske Willerslev, PhD is an evolutionary biologist and Professor of evolution at both the University of Copenhagen and University of Cambridge. Episode summary: Nick and Dr. Willerslev discuss: human evolution out of Africa; the origins of modern Europeans; hunter gatherers, early farmers, and pastoralists; genetics of human disease risk; evolution of diet & metabolism; evolution of light skin color; and more. *This content is never meant to serve as medical advice.

Hi, all, and happy Sunday! Here’s a picture of me and three of my personal heroes—Simon Rosenberg, Rachel Bitecofer, and Tom Bonier—in the Network NOVA green room yesterday. Man, what a blast to meet them! I share the picture because I know lots of you love them, and I’m hoping, too, that the snapshot carries just a tiny bit of the energy, enthusiasm, determination, and fight I absorbed from hanging out with them backstage.

I am so grateful to be sober today. I’m grateful for a little extra sleep, that it’s almost the weekend and for reconnecting with old friends. I’m grateful for getting closer with new friends, for my sponsor who gently pushes me to be better, for coffee and for time spent together. I’m grateful for text from my dad and for working from home tomorrow. Good morning, friends! As always, I hope everyone has been having a lovely week and I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who shared some orchid advice…because of you she’s still hanging in there :)

This is a free post for subscribers of Landline. Consider subscribing to the paid plan to get my weekly email of recommendations and links, a podcast episode, and more! You can also help me spread the word by sharing it with a friend who would love it. Share Note: I’m releasing my free issue on a new day this week. Just trying out some options. One of my many historical obsessions is what exactly drives the fascination around the Kennedys.

After passing on a chance to watch it the past two years following a trailer viewing I thought looked stupid, I gave in and watched “Father Christmas is Back” (2021) on Netflix. It stars Dr. Frazier Crane, Hugh Grant’s absolute smoke show/cougar ex and a bunch of others who’ve I’ve barely heard of and who cares, because quite frankly they brought nothing to the movie anyway. The plot revolves around four mostly unlikeable adult daughters getting together for Christmas even though it’s clear only one wants it, with everything thrown into chaos when their father, estranged from all over the past 27 years unexpectedly shows up.