Ancestors and Identity: Unraveling the Genetics of the Levant with Dr. Pierre Zalloua

What do our genes really reveal about who we are? In this episode, Dr. Pierre Zalloua, geneticist and author of Ancestors, takes us deep into the DNA of the Levant. We explore how personal experience, history, and science intersect to shape identity. From Phoenician expansion to the Crusades, from consumer genetic testing to cultural memory, Dr. Zalloua shows how ancestry is far more complex and more unifying than we might think. We discuss surprising genetic signatures in the Levant, the dangers of oversimplifying identity, and the balance between biology and lived experience. Whether you’re curious about your own heritage or the shared human story, this episode offers a profound look at how genetics can illuminate and complicate our understanding of ourselves. #Genetics #Identity #Lebanon #Heritage #Levant #HumanStory #Podcast