5.6M
Downloads
354
Episodes
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
Sunday Feb 25, 2018
Sunday Feb 25, 2018
In the earliest millennia of vertebrate life on Earth, the seas were home to the placoderms, a diverse group of extinct armored fish whose evolutionary innovations set the stage for some of the most important features of vertebrate life. This episode, we talk about some of history's most influential placoderms, with a special spotlight on the most famous of armored fish, the giant predator Dunkleosteus.
In the news: asteroids and volcanoes, running lizards, Shawn's turtle, walking fish, and more on broken mastodon bones.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:02:30
Main discussion: 00:35:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Feb 11, 2018
Sunday Feb 11, 2018
Happy Darwin Day!
In honor of Chuck's birthday (Feb 12), we are joined this episode by Dr. Sarah Bray of the Discovering Darwin podcast, to chat about the man whose research and writings laid the groundwork for our modern understanding of biology and evolution: Charles Darwin!
In the news: orange crocs, insect evolution, and footprints at NASA!
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:00
Main discussion: 00:31:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Jan 28, 2018
Sunday Jan 28, 2018
This episode, we explore the evolutionary innovation that brought us a diversity of animal companions, from corgis to cattle to cauliflower, and jump-started our species’ rise to world dominance: Domestication.
In the news: a colorful new dinosaur, super-ancient butterflies, the evolution of tail weaponry, and migrating whale barnacles.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:02:00
Main discussion: 00:23:30
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Jan 14, 2018
Sunday Jan 14, 2018
This episode, we look to the stars! Our discussion takes a tour across the field of astrobiology, the broad and thought-provoking science that seeks to answer the questions of how life arises, where it thrives, and where we might find it elsewhere in the universe, incorporating everything from astronomy to paleontology along the way.
In the news: Ancient Americans, a frozen baby rhino, unique dinosaur bones, and a surprising shared feature of cells.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:03:30
Main discussion: 00:28:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Dec 31, 2017
Sunday Dec 31, 2017
In this episode, we firmly establish a tradition of extinction-talk! This time, by request, it’s the latest major prehistoric extinction in Earth history, the event that took from us the mammoths, ground sloths, and other giants of the Ice Age, a mass extinction that our own species was around to witness (and perhaps even cause): the Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinction.
In the news: mistaken Archaeopteryx identity, ticks with a taste for dinosaurs, evolution of the Tibetan Plateau, and ancient bear hibernation.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:30
Main discussion: 00:32:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Dec 17, 2017
Sunday Dec 17, 2017
This episode, by listener request, is all about sloths! We explore their bizarre family tree, their adorable and internet-favorite living representatives, and their diverse and truly incredible ancient members.
In the news: pterosaur eggs, a bizarre swimming dinosaur, the plight of paleontological monuments, and the ears of plesiosaurs.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:30
Main discussion: 00:33:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Dec 03, 2017
Sunday Dec 03, 2017
Hold onto your butts … in this episode, we celebrate the intersection of science and popular culture with a discussion about the biggest dinosaur movie of all time, what makes it unique, and the incredible effect it had on the real-life world of paleontology: Jurassic Park.
In the news: a new Jurassic glider, Tasmanian stromatolites, the world’s longest dinosaur trackway, and a tool for tracking fossils.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:30
Main discussion: 00:28:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Nov 19, 2017
Sunday Nov 19, 2017
This episode, we take a super up-close look at the tiniest components of the fossil record, the microscopic remains that are so essential to our understanding of earth history, and the field of study devoted to them: Micropaleontology.
In the news: daytime mammals, unusual dinosaur teeth, the dinosaur family tree (again), and dead male mammoths.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:01:30
Main discussion: 00:27:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Nov 04, 2017
Saturday Nov 04, 2017
There is no group of prehistoric creatures more iconic, more widely-studied, or more requested by our listeners, than the subject of this episode! This time, it's a brief introduction to Dinosaurs.
In the news: colorful dinosaurs, the rise of big herbivores, an Indian ichthyosaur, and saber-tooth DNA.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:00
Main discussion: 00:29:00
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Oct 21, 2017
Saturday Oct 21, 2017
This episode, we’re taking a big step back at the concept that underlies everything we talk about on this podcast: the scientific method! Our discussion includes what exactly the method is, why we use it, and what can sometimes get lost in translation.
In the news: fossilized salamander organs, dinosaur proteins (or not), the bizarre comb jellies, and fanged kangaroos.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:02:00
Main discussion: 00:29:30
Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.