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Join David and Will as they explore the paleontologists’ perspective on various topics in life and earth history. Each episode features a main discussion on a topic requested by the listeners, presented as a lighthearted and educational conversation about fossils, evolution, deep time, and more. Before the main discussion, each episode also includes a news segment, covering recent research related to paleontology and evolution. Each episode ends with the answer to a question submitted by subscribers on Patreon. New episodes with new topics every fortnight!
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
Bears are among the most charismatic and impressive mammals. They have large bodies, very flexible lifestyles, and an extensive fossil record that includes some of the best-preserved and largest fossil mammals of all time. This episode, we explore what makes bears so distinctive and successful, and how their diversity has changed over time.
In the news: ancient alligators, rattlesnake venom, late land crocs, pterosaur tracks, and Caribbean crocodiles.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:45
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:43:25
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:25
Patron question: 02:12:25
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Listen to our new podcast, Leaf it to Us!
https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Saturday Apr 26, 2025
Saturday Apr 26, 2025
Just about every body of water on Earth, from oceans to puddles, is home to an ecosystem of tiny drifting organisms. This episode, we discuss what sorts of organisms we might expect to find in a swarm of plankton, we’ll explore how plankton is so fundamental to biological and geological systems on Earth, and we’ll take some time to lay out some of the many ways that ancient plankton are a crucial part of the fossil record.
In the news: climbing reptiles, croc extinctions, Ashfall rhinos, and ankylosaur tracks.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:40
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:15
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:23:00
Patron question: 02:00:30
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Listen to Will talk speculative evolution on the Nerd Trek Podcast
https://open.spotify.com/episode/2NzdG8TMfwGLzpP8sKXHQA
And listen to David talk de-extinction on the House of Pod
https://open.spotify.com/show/3z6EgP0BzaHQoXzCtxQ32t
Support links:
ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Wednesday Apr 16, 2025
Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!
Finally, we visit the ongoing prequel franchise with the story of how it all got started: Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Apr 12, 2025
Saturday Apr 12, 2025
With several thousand living species, ferns are the second most diverse vascular plants around today, after angiosperms. Ferns are also abundant and well-known in the fossil record. This episode, Aly joins us to explore the dizzying variety of ferns and their ferny-friends, past and present.
In the news: When the Earth Was Green, weird wasps, and ancient claws. And also dire wolves.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:20
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:46:45
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:37:00
Patron question: 02:20:40
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
When the Earth Was Green:
https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-the-earth-was-green-plants-animals-and-evolution-s-greatest-romance-riley-black/21356911
https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781250354211-when-the-earth-was-green
Find Riley at @restingdinoface.bsky.social
And http://rileyblack.net/
Support links:
Assigned Media: https://www.assignedmedia.org/
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Wednesday Apr 09, 2025
Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!
It’s the reboot of the original, a 21st-Century take on the concept – Planet of the Apes (2001).
Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
Wednesday Apr 02, 2025
Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!
This episode, we begin where it began, with the original movie about a world where simian society is turned upside-down – Planet of the Apes (1968).
Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Mar 29, 2025
Saturday Mar 29, 2025
Evolution just loves a nice pair of oversized canines, especially on mammalian predators. Saber-toothed animals have shown up over and over again – we even have some today – but despite their similarities, not all of these toothy species were using their canines the same way. This episode, we explore the various shapes of functions of saber teeth and the disparate lineages that have sported them.
In the news: The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure, the size of megalodon, and vulture feathers.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:07:00
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:44:30
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:30
Patron question: 02:27:30
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
The Fossil Keeper’s Treasure: https://www.edelweiss.plus/#sku=1917044267&g=4400
Find Amy online at @MaryAnningsRevenge
Support links:
National Immigrant Justice Center: https://immigrantjustice.org
Researcher Support Consortium: https://researchersupport.org/
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Saturday Mar 22, 2025
Saturday Mar 22, 2025
Our high-level Patreon supporters get to request a topic for their very own mini-episode! For the sixth time, we’ve put the latest bunch together for everyone to enjoy!
Thank you as always to our incredible Patrons of all levels for keeping the podcast going!
Intro: 00:00:00
Ambulocetus for Ambulocetus – 00:01:45
Abelisaurs for Quinn – 00:18:30
Capybaras for Melissa – 00:41:22
Pelicans for Johnathan – 01:02:05
Pikas for Hana – 01:31:45
Wooly rhinos for Eric – 01:51:25
Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/
Saturday Mar 15, 2025
Saturday Mar 15, 2025
Leave a carcass or a log or a pile of poop out in the wild long enough and it will break down into its component parts. Decomposers are an often-overlooked but essential component of ecosystems past and present. This episode, we explore the varied processes of decomposition and how scientists study decomposers and use that information. We’ll also discuss the importance of decomposition to the fossil record, as well as how we can identify signs of decomposers from the distant past.
In the news: temnospondyl extinction, hot crocs, foraging birds, narwhal tusks, and giant flying squirrels.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:55
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:44:45
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:28:05
Patron question: 02:12:30
Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/
Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here: https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/
Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org
Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0
Monday Mar 10, 2025
Monday Mar 10, 2025
After you’ve listened to the Leaf it to Us pilot episode, enjoy this follow-up discussion where Nora, Aly, and David share their thoughts about that first episode and the upcoming season of the new podcast.
You can contact us – and find more from Common Descent – here: https://linktr.ee/common_descent
The Intro and Outro music is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at http://devours.bandcamp.com