Podcast Summary
Exploring the Fascinating World of Butts with Natalia Reagan: Natalia Reagan, a primatologist, anthropologist, and gluteologist, shares insights into the scientific exploration of the human butt's anatomy, evolution, and cultural significance, debunking common myths and promoting self-acceptance and body positivity.
Our guest today, Natalia Reagan, a primatologist, anthropologist, and gluteologist, dives deep into the fascinating world of butts in her field of study. Gluteology is the scientific exploration of the anatomy, evolution, and cultural significance of the human butt. Natalia debunks common myths and shares intriguing insights into the various cultural preferences and meanings behind our fascination with butts. She also discusses the role of self-acceptance and body positivity in embracing our bodies in all their forms. The episode is filled with humor, personal revelations, and plenty of cheeky puns. So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn something new about the gluteal region.
The Fascinating Evolution of the Human Butt: The human butt is larger due to evolution, supporting our ability to walk and stand, and houses essential muscles like the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus.
The study of the human body, specifically the butt, stems from personal experiences and a fascination with evolution and primate biology. The speaker, who is a self-proclaimed "gluteologist," shares how they became interested in the subject due to childhood memories and societal trends. They explain that humans have a larger butt due to the evolution of walking on two legs and the development of the gluteus maximus, medius, and minimus muscles. Contrary to popular belief, these muscles are not primarily used for twerking, but rather for supporting the body's ability to walk and stand. The speaker also shares their amusement at the various names for the butt pads found in primates, such as ischial callosities or sit bones, and how humans have evolved to have a more cushioned, rounded posterior. Overall, the speaker's passion for the subject shines through as they share their unique perspective on the importance and evolution of the human butt.
From West Africa to Miley Cyrus: The Evolution of Twerking: Our fascination with twerking's origins led us to appreciate the importance of pelvic muscles and their evolution in humans
Miley Cyrus did not invent twerking, but rather it has roots in West African dance. The pelvis and hip movements are the main contributors to the dance, with the butt getting jiggled around as a result. I, Natalia, went from having a fascination with primates due to childhood nightmares involving King Kong, to studying them as a biological anthropologist. I was initially drawn to theater and comedy to cope with bullying, but my fascination with how the environment shapes us led me to study biological anthropology in college. I became particularly interested in the evolution of our body features, such as our butts, which are a result of walking upright on two legs. These muscles attach to different parts of the pelvis in humans compared to non-human primates, allowing us to maintain balance and stability. So, the next time you're twerking or studying primates, remember the importance of our pelvic muscles and the evolutionary history behind them.
Understanding primates' intrinsic value: Primates offer valuable insights into human behavior, but their intrinsic fascination comes from their unique evolutionary history and role in the world.
Our connection to nonhuman primates goes beyond just understanding their behavior as a model for human behavior. While it can provide valuable insights, it's essential to remember that primates have been evolving independently for millions of years. Anthropology student Allie's journey illustrates this, as she initially saw primates as a reflection of human behavior but later found them intrinsically fascinating. Her passion for anthropology was sparked in community college classes, but a life-altering accident led her to pursue her education more seriously. The accident served as a catalyst, pushing her to return to school and deepen her understanding of primates and their role in the world. Ultimately, the study of primates offers a unique perspective on our shared evolutionary history and the intricacies of life on our planet.
Overcoming physical challenges leads to new opportunities: Despite serious injuries, the speaker went back to school and became a primatologist, discovering a unique feature of spider monkeys and gaining a deeper appreciation for the human body and natural habitats
Overcoming physical challenges can lead to new opportunities and a deeper appreciation for life and the human body. The speaker, who was hit by a truck and sustained serious injuries, shares how her experience taught her about anatomy and resilience. Despite having a limp and other physical limitations, she went back to school and became a primatologist, studying spider monkeys in Panama. The discovery of the females' hypertrophied clitoris was an unexpected finding that helped distinguish males and females in the field. The speaker's determination and adaptability not only led to a successful career but also a newfound appreciation for the strength and complexity of the human body. The experience also showed her how important it is to protect and preserve natural habitats for these fascinating creatures.
From bipedalism to large brains and sexual features: Human evolution includes the development of upright walking, large brains, and sexual features, which may be interconnected.
The evolution of humans' upright walking and the development of our large brains and sexual features, including our butts, are interconnected. Humans likely evolved to walk upright for reasons such as better vision of the environment, ability to carry things, and thermoregulation. The large brains and sexual features, including the roundness of butts and breasts, may have evolved as a result of the shift from being on all fours to bipedalism and the hiding of sexual swellings. Additionally, cultural differences play a role in what is considered attractive. The exact timeline and reasons for these developments are not definitively known, but theories suggest that they are linked to our evolutionary history.
Hormones and genetics influence the shape and size of buttocks: Hormones like estrogen and testosterone determine fat storage, affecting buttock size. Historical climate may have influenced body shape, but modern cultural influences and cosmetic procedures add complexity.
The shape and size of a person's buttocks can be influenced by both muscle development and body hormones. Hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, determine where fat is stored in the body. People with higher levels of estrogen tend to carry more fat in their hips, thighs, and buttocks, while those with more testosterone may store more fat in their bellies. Additionally, people living in colder climates historically had shorter limbs and stockier builds to help retain body heat. However, with global travel and cultural evolution, body types have become more diverse, making it difficult to determine if physical characteristics are due to genetic adaptation or recent cultural influences. In modern times, people can also alter their body shape through cosmetic procedures, such as implants or fat transfers.
Pressure to conform to societal beauty standards leads to risky body modifications: People make dangerous choices to alter their bodies, but the long-term consequences and potential regret should be considered, and self-love is crucial.
People go to great lengths to alter their bodies to fit societal beauty standards, with procedures ranging from fat transfers to risky injections. The pressure to conform to these standards can lead individuals to make dangerous choices, such as injecting unsanitary substances into their bodies. Despite the risks, some believe that if these modifications bring happiness, they are worth the cost. However, the cyclical nature of these trends raises concerns about the long-term consequences and potential regret. Ultimately, it's essential to appreciate and love the body we have, as it is the one we are most intimately connected to. Our butts, in particular, play a crucial role in our daily lives, and we should show them the love and respect they deserve.
The Importance of Proper Post-Bathroom Cleaning: Proper post-bathroom cleaning with a fragrance-free moisturizer and toilet paper can maintain anal health. Bidets are effective but underutilized in the US due to unfamiliarity or laziness.
Personal hygiene practices, including cleaning methods after using the bathroom, can have significant impacts on our health. The speaker shares an experience where a proctologist advised against overuse of baby wipes, as it can dry out the anal area. Instead, using a fragrance-free, chemical-light moisturizer with toilet paper can be an effective alternative for those without access to bidets. The speaker also discusses the differences in anal grooming habits among animals and humans, with some animals not requiring the same level of post-defecation cleaning as humans due to their anatomy. The conversation also touches on the growing popularity of bidets and the potential reasons for their underutilization in the US, which the speaker speculates may be due to laziness or unfamiliarity.
Wipes Clogging Sewer Systems and Funny Animal Questions: Wipes contribute to the formation of large clogs called fatbergs in sewer systems, primarily made up of congealed fat and wipes. Meanwhile, listeners had amusing animal-related queries.
Wipes, even though they may seem convenient, are contributing to the formation of large clogs called fatbergs in sewer systems. These fatbergs are primarily made up of congealed fat and wipes. Meanwhile, listeners had various questions, including which animal has the largest "bedonk" or butt, to which the answer is humans, specifically women, due to the amount of fat stored in that area. Other animal-related queries included whether fish have butts (they don't) and which dog breed has the best butt (a subjective matter, but Boston terriers and corgis were mentioned). The episode was sponsored by Project Chimps, an organization that helps former research chimpanzees live out their lives at a sanctuary.
Why don't humans sniff each other's butts like animals do?: Our sense of smell is weaker and humans have body hair to reduce friction and potential bacteria in the butt area, explaining why we don't engage in this behavior like animals do.
Humans have decreased olfaction senses and lack the accessibility to sniff each other's butt cheeks like some animals do. This, along with the presence of hair between our butt cheeks to decrease friction and potential bacteria, might be reasons why humans don't engage in this behavior. Renee, a first-time question asker, wanted to know why humans don't sniff each other's butts like dogs do. Mandy Smith, a scientist, explained that our sense of smell is not as strong as it once was and that our buttholes are not exposed like those of cats and dogs. Additionally, there are varying degrees of body hair, which might serve to make the area less frictiony and sweaty. Rebecca Prater asked a unique question about why one of her butt cheeks makes a louder sound when slapped, and the team plans to investigate this further. Kyle Pollock asked about a person with a hole indentation at the top of their butt crack, and Ellie Radaj shared that she has a similar indent. The team plans to explore these questions further.
How our body features impact our comfort and experiences: Body features like a long tailbone, dimples, and buttock shape can affect comfort and experiences, leading to pain or discomfort during sitting or falling, and coldness in the area.
Our body features, such as a long tailbone or dimples, can impact our comfort and experiences. For instance, having a long tailbone can lead to painful sitting or falling, while a sacral dimple might be a normal variation. Additionally, the shape and cushioning of our buttocks can influence our comfort, with some people experiencing discomfort or even pain when sitting for extended periods. This could be due to various reasons, including poor spinal development or conditions like sciatica. Furthermore, our butts can get cold more quickly than other parts of our body due to the lack of insulation or circulation in the area. These are just a few examples of how our body's unique characteristics can impact our daily lives.
The Butt: Cold, Sexy, and Confusing: The human body's core stays warm while the butt can get cold. Humans engage in various sexual activities, including anal sex, and squatting instead of sitting is better for defecation. Contrary to popular belief, butts are not legs.
The human body's core temperature stays warm while the butt can get cold due to the lack of heat-generating blood vessels and fat in that area. Humans, like many animals, engage in various sexual activities, including anal sex, which is common in the animal kingdom as well. Regarding bathroom habits, squatting instead of sitting is better for defecation as it allows for proper colon flow and can result in cleaner excrement. Lastly, there seems to be confusion online about whether "butt legs" is a term. In reality, butts are not legs but part of the trunk.
Understanding the Complexity of the Human Body, Even the Butt: Embrace the complexity of the human body, challenge assumptions, and appreciate the value of expert knowledge and humor in making complex concepts accessible.
Our understanding and perception of the human body, even the seemingly trivial parts like the "blegg" or the undercarriage, can be subjective and intriguing. Natalia Reagan, a gluteologist, shares her unique perspective on the anatomy of the butt and challenges the common belief that the butt ends where the legs begin. She encourages us to question our assumptions and appreciate the complexity of the human body. Additionally, Reagan emphasizes the importance of embracing and loving our bodies in all their variations. She also highlights the value of learning from experts and the power of humor in making complex scientific concepts more accessible and memorable. So, next time you ponder the mysteries of the human body, remember that even the smallest and seemingly insignificant parts can hold fascinating stories. For more of Natalia Reagan, follow her on social media or visit her website, and don't forget to check out the links in the show notes for free transcripts, bleeped episodes, and every episode sorted by topic at alieward.com.
The power of teamwork and collaboration in content creation: Appreciate the contributions of team members, even the unexpected ones, to create engaging content. Celebrate together, even during socially distanced circumstances.
The importance of teamwork and collaboration in creating engaging content. The speaker acknowledged and thanked various individuals who contributed to the production of the podcast, from transcribers and editors to hosts and musicians. A fun and unusual piece of advice shared was the use of writing "happy birthday" on someone's butt cheeks with a Sharpie and mooning them as a surprise birthday greeting, especially during socially distanced celebrations. The speaker also shared that she was recording these asides in an idling rental car outside Seattle while shooting for Innovation Nation. The episode showcased the behind-the-scenes efforts of a team and the unique ways we can connect and celebrate with each other, even in unusual circumstances.
