From NY to the Rainforest: Elodie Freymann’s Journey

In this episode of Life’s Tough, Explorers are Tougher, host Richard Wiese speaks with Elodie Freymann, a primatologist, botanist, and naturalist whose work blends science, storytelling, and exploration. From her New York roots to her time studying chimpanzees in the forests of Uganda, Elodie’s journey is anything but conventional.

She shares how a chance discovery of javelin in high school led her to Brown University, where she pursued anthropology and ethnobotany. After a stint in documentary filmmaking, Elodie turned toward science, fascinated by chimpanzees’ use of medicinal plants. Her PhD research in Uganda revealed profound connections between human and chimpanzee healing practices, while also exposing the challenges of field science—from isolation to unexpected adventures with termites and army ants.

Elodie discusses the importance of interdisciplinary approaches, the power of community in sustaining scientists, and how storytelling bridges the gap between research and impact. She opens up about imposter syndrome, why young people shouldn’t be discouraged by struggles in math, and her drive to keep expanding into new frontiers, including projects in the Amazon.

This is Life's Tough, Explorers Are Tougher, with your host, Richard Weiss. Scratch the surface of an explorer and you'll find an adventure and a great story. This show is about their tales.

This podcast is a proud supporter of the Explorers Club and the EC50 Initiative. 50 people changing the world that the world needs to know about. For more information, go to explorers.org.