Spit is an iHeartRadio podcast with 23andMe where host Baratunde Thurston sits down with the most interesting cultural influencers of our time to explore how DNA testing gives us a new perspective on who we are and how we are all connected. Join us for an intimate conversation and the unscripted thoughts and opinions of award-winning recording artists John Legend, Melissa Etheridge, Wyclef Jean and Pete Wentz as we talk science vs stories, nature vs nurture, family, race and a whole lot more.
We Are (All) Family With AJ Jacobs and Brothers Darren and Chuck Criss
Scientists often refer to the concept of "family bias," which states that we are prone to treat family members better than strangers, even if that family member is a distant cousin. Does this mean we could achieve a more unified and inclusive world if everyone understood that they were part of the same "genetically proven" family tree?
On the latest episode of Spit, host Baratunde Thurston sits down with AJ Jacobs, NY Times best-selling author of “It’s All Relative,” and brothers Darren and Chuck Criss of the band Computer Games to discuss the concept of family and the potential for creating unity across the entire human population.
Both have very different stories and experiences. Darren and Chuck share how they were raised as a close-knit family in San Francisco, thousands of miles from relatives across the country and as far as the Philippines.
“A lot of our cousins and extended family, we didn't really know growing up because it was just on the other side of the world and we didn't grow up in the age of social media and everything, so it wasn't till later in life we connected with them”
AJ, on the other hand, shares how being approached by his “12th cousin” ignited his quest, through research and science, to unite the entire human race in one all-encompassing family tree to prove how every single one of us is related through genetics -- even going so far as to create the largest Global family reunion.
“At the Global Family Reunion, the moment that I feel that it was most united was when 75% of Sister Sledge was singing "We Are Family" and everyone was singing along in 40 different countries. It was quite moving.”
Listen in as our guests’ curiosity to understand their DNA unfolds into their DNA families and some unexpected stories.
Darren and Chuck Criss continue to work on new music for their band Computer Games and hope to release their next track in the new year. http://weplaycomputers.com/
AJ Jacobs is set to release his latest book "Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey" in which he “thanks every single person who had a role (however small) in making his morning cup of coffee possible.” ajjacobs.com @ajjacob
Spit is an iHeartRadio podcast with 23andMe. Enjoy this episode? Subscribe, rate and review Spit on Apple Podcasts. And be sure to tell your friends all about it. Find out more about our host Baratunde Thurston at Baratunde.com or sign up for his text messages at 202-902-7949 and #spitpodcast.
