ADHD BCE
ADHD-BCE is the podcast uncovering the role of neurodiversity in shaping human history. Join George Lomas as he explores ancient minds and big ideas with archaeologists and experts. Different isn't new, and it might just be what changed the world.
Theophrastus and the ‘Obtuse Man’ - Ep 3
Theophrastus wrote a series of character descriptions in 3rd C BCE Athens. The Obtuse Man describes a fictional character based on Theophrastus' encounters with real Athenians and perfectly describes the distractible and often frustrating symptoms of ADHD.
Were Neanderthals neurodiverse? Part 1/2 - Ep 01
This is the first of two episodes on neurodiversity in Neanderthals with Dr Andy Shuttleworth, who is an honorary fellow at the department of Anthropology at Durham university. In this episode Andy talks about Neanderthals; where they lived, how they survived so long` and what their world was like. Long gone are the days of viewing Neanderthals, our nearest and dearest relatives, as simple cave-dwelling ancestors. Not only did Neanderthals survive incredibly challenging environments for hundreds of thousands of years, but they displayed signs of neurodiversity such as survival strategies, creativity, symbolism and may even have passed on autism to those of European decent.
Were Neanderthals neurodiverse? Part 2/2 - Ep 02
This is the second episode of Neurodiverse Neanderthals with Dr Andy Shuttleworth, an honorary fellow at the department of Anthropology at Durham university. In this episode we learn more about the enigmatic Neanderthals and discuss further evidence for neurodiversity! This two-parter was so interesting and fun and threw up some unexpected signs of spectrum-esque behaviours among our closest relatives.
Introducing the ADHD-BCE Podcast
Welcome to ADHD-BCE, the podcast scouring the ages in search of neurodiversity! Join late diagnosed ADHDer and archaeology enthusiast George Lomas in this quest to find and celebrate some of the most interesting and significant people in the human story (so far)…
From our earliest ancestors who created ways to survive and thrive in Jumani-esque environments to the builders of pyramids, cities and empires, neurodiversity has helped create the world as we know it, and it’s high time we started to celebrate this fact.
This podcast is all about pride, compassion and understanding. If you’re struggling with being or simply feeling different, that’s understandable, but we want you to feel proud of who you are. The human story is epic, enormous, mad, brilliant - and we’re all part of it.
Neurodiversity is a relatively new term, but it’s nothing new. In each episode George will be chatting with archaeologists, academics and neurodiversity specialists to highlight or even uncover signs of neurodivergent traits in the archaeological record. Does it not make sense, that the people who changed things, who left the trees, the savannas, the safety of ‘normal’ and created something never before seen, were neurodivergent? Let’s find out together!