Plot Synopsis

Hosted by biologist Shane Campbell-Staton, HUMAN FOOTPRINT is a six-episode documentary series that embarks on a journey to understand all the ways humans have transformed the planet. Part science series and part travel show, HUMAN FOOTPRINT takes viewers from farms to restaurants, from a high-tech lab to a sweltering street market, from pristine rain forests to the sewers of New York City. In 4.5 billion years, the planet has never experienced anything like humans; we are no ordinary organism. Even our most basic needs -- food, water, and shelter -- place a staggering burden on the planet's resources. Through unique interactions with an eclectic cast of characters -- from scientists and historians to rat exterminators and dog dancing gurus -- Shane discovers the complex motivations behind our impacts and unveils opportunities for a less lopsided coexistence. Stories of science, history, and culture reveal the complicated, conflicted, and remarkable species that is Homo sapiens. The series is an honest reckoning with our vast footprint and our species' singular history of transforming the planet. Episodes include:

"Strangers in Paradise" (Wednesday, July 5, 2023): Invasive species are reshaping the world's ecosystems, but who's to blame? Shane wrestles a python, hunts a wild pig, and gets sucker-punched by a carp to answer the question: in the age of humans, how does our species decide what belongs?

"Top Predator" (Wednesday, July 12, 2023): There is a killer inside us. Our biology, culture, technology, and economy have transformed our species into the world's greatest predator. From Yellowstone to Mozambique, Shane explores our global impact as the planet's Top Predator.

"Man's Best Friend" (Wednesday, July 19, 2023): Shane discovers why dogs are more than "Man's Best Friend" -- they have been reshaped by evolution into humans' perfect partner. And just as we've transformed them, dogs have left an unmistakable pawprint on us -- and the world we share.

"The Replacements" (Wednesday, July 26, 2023): Shane explores the surprising science and unexpected histories of "The Replacements": five animal and plant species that made allies of humans, grew to dominate the planet alongside us, and changed their destinies (and ours) forever.

"The Urban Jungle" (Wednesday, August 2, 2023): Shane explores the modern city: an ecosystem built by and for us. He encounters three species thriving in the city, reckons with our complex urban history, and envisions a new and wilder urban future.

"The Ground Below" (Wednesday, August 9, 2023): In an episode that hits close to home, Shane explores the history and science of cotton. A prehistoric coastline from North Carolina to Texas laid the foundation for a crop that re-shaped our history, our culture, and even our DNA.