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The Human Element with Joe Massey
The Human Element is an investigation into the patterns of our past and the potential of our future. We bridge the gap between the four fundamental pillars to understand the core of who we are:
• HISTORY: The context for understanding today.
• SCIENCE: The blueprint of our identity.
• EXPERIENCE: The frontier of human capability.
• PHILOSOPHY: The connective tissue between the other pillars and humanity.
From the ruins of Ancient Egypt to the cutting edge of CRISPR and the minds of elite performers—we interview world-class experts to uncover the "Golden Threads" that connect us all.
The Human Element with Joe Massey
#13 - Professor Ernst Wolvetang: Making Mammoth Meatballs & T Rex Leather
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Join myself and Professor Ernst Wolvetang, a top bioengineer from the University of Queensland and Chief Scientific Officer of The Organoid Company, as he shares groundbreaking work in genome editing, mini-brains, and regenerative medicine.
In this episode you’ll hear about:
1. Lab-grown mammoth meatballs made with stem cells and ancient mammoth proteins — real meat, no animals harmed.
2. T-Rex collagen grown in chicken cells to make eco-friendly dinosaur-style leather.
3. The truth about de-extinction: bringing back mammoths, dire wolves, or even T-Rex — what’s actually possible and where the ethical lines are.
4. Tiny brain organoids that learn to play Pong, show signs of consciousness, react to psychedelics, and help study epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, and PTSD.
5. How these mini-brains could lead to personalized medicine tailored just for you.
6. CRISPR fixing genetic diseases today — and the big questions about designing “perfect” humans.
7. Why losing genetic diversity could be risky, plus how AI is changing science (for better and worse).
From ethical meat and dino leather to unlocking brain mysteries and the future of humanity, this chat dives into where biology meets sci-fi — and what it means for our health, planet, and who we become.
How far is too far? Watch now and decide for yourself.