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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
Saturday Sep 23, 2017
Saturday Sep 23, 2017
This time, by request, we discuss an ancient story so detailed, compelling, and important that we had to split it in two! In part one, we find our own place on the family tree of life, and trace the history and evolutionary innovations of our ancestors and cousins: the early hominins.
In the news: four-flippered swimming; the life of a dodo; weird whale teeth; and the many possible paths of evolution.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:03:30
Main discussion: 00:33:30
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Sep 10, 2017
Sunday Sep 10, 2017
In this episode, David tells tales of his trip to Calgary for this year’s SVP meeting: research presentations; meeting new people; paleo-field trips in Alberta; and more. If you’re into vertebrate paleontology, this is one of the biggest and more exciting events of the year!
In the news: several hundred research projects presented by paleontologists from all over the world, who came together at the end of August for the annual meeting of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology! We mention just a few of these studies.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
Main discussion (with News throughout): 00:04:00
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Aug 27, 2017
Sunday Aug 27, 2017
This episode, by request, we’re talking about one of our favorite groups of invertebrates! Specifically, invertebrates with big brains and squiggly arms - some with beautiful shells and others with incredible camouflage - and a fantastically rich fossil record stretching back over 500 million years: the cephalopods.
In the news: a giant gets a name; a confusing early dinosaur; some really old ice; and a rockstar croc.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:02:00
Main discussion: 00:30:00
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Aug 13, 2017
Sunday Aug 13, 2017
This episode, we’re talking mass extinction again! Last time, we touched on the event that ended the Age of Dinosaurs, but this time – by listener request! – we’re discussing the event that started it: patterns and potential causes of the end-Triassic mass extinction.
In the news: a colorful armored giant; a surprise apex predator; epigenetics and variation; and some fast-evolving big-headed geckos!
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:00
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Jul 29, 2017
Saturday Jul 29, 2017
This episode, we finally take the time to talk in detail about the dig site we mention more than any other, the site where we both spent many years: the Gray Fossil Site! We discuss the site’s discovery, ongoing work, ancient ecosystem, and some of our own experiences.
In the news: the speed of T. rex, warm-blooded evolution, dinosaur sails, and the earliest Australians.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:30
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Wednesday Jul 19, 2017
Wednesday Jul 19, 2017
And now for something completely different!
Just how deep is Deep Time? Exactly how are important events arranged throughout our planet’s history? Which events are recent and which are ancient?
In this special episode, we take a tour through Earth History, from beginning to end, one million years per second: a virtual trip through geologic time!
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
Tour Through Time: 00:04:30
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
Sunday Jul 16, 2017
The episode comes to you from inside the fossil prep lab, where we explore what goes into cleaning, repairing, and generally making fossils ready for study. We are joined by our friend Shawn Haugrud, as well as two of his lab’s head preparators: Shayleigh Maden and Davis Gunnin!
In the news: swimming strategies of plesiosaurs, surprise marine mass extinction, a bone-crushing Jurassic croc, and the temperature of dinosaur eggs.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:00
Main discussion: 00:32:30
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Jul 01, 2017
Saturday Jul 01, 2017
This episode is about the history of the earth, and how we compile all that we know about the ancient past in the great Geologic Time Scale.
In the news: the shapes of bird eggs, very ancient amphibians, more dinosaur faces, and the history of hippos.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:03:00
Main discussion: 00:32:00
Patron announcements & question: 01:32:00
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
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Saturday Jun 17, 2017
Saturday Jun 17, 2017
This episode is another listener-requested topic! We’re discussing the fascinating and mysterious continent of Antarctica, its long complex history, and the rare and intriguing fossils that are found there.
In the news: a baby bird in amber, ancient elephant genetics, surprisingly early humans, and the formation of a famous dinosaur site.
Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:02:30
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/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
Friday Jun 09, 2017
Friday Jun 09, 2017
We’re back for another digression!
Another new study is making (ridiculous) headlines all across the internet! It’s the first published investigation of Tyrannosaurus scales, by Bell et al., and it has people asking: where are the feathers?
You can access the study itself here: http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/13/6/20170092
Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast
The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.