Melissa Ilardo
Evolutionary geneticist who studies human adaptation and endurance, known for work with remote populations and research into persistence hunting, sleep genetics, and endurance physiology.
Best podcasts with Melissa Ilardo
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Apr 7, 2026 • 1h 1min
How Walking Rewires Your Brain & Body: Endurance, Habits, Pain Tolerance & Longevity
Foster Kamer, a writer who walked long rucks across NYC after a personal loss, and Dr. Melissa Ilardo, an evolutionary geneticist studying human endurance, explore walking’s role in shaping humans. They discuss persistence hunting, why the brain quits before the body, sleep and genetics for endurance, sex differences in ultra distance, the myth of 10,000 steps, minimum effective step targets, and making walking effortless.
