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PODCAST

The Common Descent Podcast

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

science natural sciences

All Episodes

102:01

Spook-E - Xenomorphs

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/10/03

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.Spook-E Season is back! All throughout October, we pick monsters from myth and media and speculate how they – or something like them – could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet’s history. This year’s theme is Aliens! Where better to begin than with the quintessential big screen terrors from beyond the stars? How might Earth-based evolution produce a human-hunting monster that’s equal parts predator and parasitoid

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163:10

Episode 253 - Kangaroos

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/09/27

Kangaroos – and their wallaroo and wallaby cousins – are some of the most recognizable, charismatic, and impressively strange mammals on the planet. This episode, we explore the surprising diversity of this group, we discuss how they manage to be world’s pre-eminent hoppers, and we delve into some of their unexpected fossil relatives. In the news: warm tyrannosaurs, sea star ancestors, traveling dinosaurs, and new cats. Time Markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:06:35 Main

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130:56

Episode 252 - The Ice Age

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/09/13

About 10% of the Earth’s land surface is currently covered in persistent glacial ice, but for most of Earth history, that number was much closer to zero. This episode, we explore what happens when ice overtakes our planet and how we investigate icy conditions of the distant past, and we’ll take a close look at the most recent (and ongoing) global climate event that we commonly call the Ice Age.In the news: distant space objects, snake embryos, Jurassic chirps, and polar dinosaur nests. Time

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164:28

Episode 251 - The Sun

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/08/30

The Sun is kind of a big deal. It is the center of our solar system, around which all other objects revolve, and its heat and light are responsible for the life-supporting conditions here on Earth. This episode, we take a close look at how the Sun actually works and what makes it different from other stars. Then, we track the lifetime of the Sun, exploring how it originally formed, how it has changed over its lifetime, and how it will eventually burn out.In the news: carnivorous plants, ancient

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141:47

Episode 250 - Camels

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/08/16

Large, herbivorous mammals come in many shapes and sizes, but few are as famously unusual as camels. This episode, we explore the surprising adaptations of Old World and New World camelids, from the dromedaries of Middle Eastern deserts to the llamas of the Andean highlands. Then, we take a tour through their fossil record to investigate the many forms this family took on the way to our modern diversity.In the news: stomach stones, aquatic reptiles, tiny dinosaurs, and a Poop Explosion. Time

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177:24

Episode 249 - Sexual Dimorphism

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/08/02

In most animal species, there are differences in the anatomy, behavior, and lifestyle of male and female individuals. In this episode, we explore the incredible variety of these differences and the equally incredible blurry areas between the sexes, we investigate the evolutionary processes behind these features, and we examine the constant and confounding discussion about whether or not we can spot sexual dimorphism in the fossil record.In the news: The Story of Birds, early snakes, and early

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176:22

Episode 248 - Big Cats

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/07/19

Felines come in all shapes and sizes, but only a handful of them are large enough and in charge enough to have earned the title of “Big Cats.” This episode, we’re joined by special guest Lindsay Nikole as we take a tour through the surprising diversity of the “official” and “unofficial” big cats, and we explore how their evolutionary past has shaped this impressive assortment of apex predators.Find more of Lindsay here: https://www.youtube.com/@LindsayNikole And shout-out to the Cheetah

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57:22

Snake Stuff with Ali Ashraf

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/07/16

Happy Snake Month! In this bonus episode, we're joined by friend of the podcast Ali Ashraf to talk about his research on the distribution and evolution of water snakes! This month only! Join the Snakes & Crocs Tier on our Patreon to receive a Snake Month sticker and to contribute to charitable donations toward reptile and other wildlife conservation! www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast This year, our donations are going toward: Save the Snakes https://savethesnakes.org/ The Crocodile Research

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196:19

Episode 247 – Vipers

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/07/05

Happy Snake Month! Some of the most fascinating, famous, and dangerous snakes on the planet belong to the family Viperidae. Vipers include some of the world’s most specialized ambush hunters, and they are one of the most diverse and successful groups of snakes. This episode, we take a tour through the many visages of vipers, we explore their unique adaptations from head to tail, and we investigate the deep history that led them to their incredible modern success. In the news: colorful crocs,

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144:23

Episode 246 - Gharials

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/06/21

Happy Croc Month!Most living crocodilian species look pretty similar overall – that’s why there are so many tips for telling alligators from crocodiles – but one group really stands out with their bulging eyes and remarkably slender snouts. This episode, we explore the various features and habits that make gharials unique among crocs, and which have caused no end of confusion for scientists trying to sort out their evolutionary history. And, of course, we’ll take a trip into the fossil record to

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57:14

Croc Chat with Maddie Turala

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/06/17

Happy Croc Month! In this bonus episode, we're joined by friend of the podcast Maddie Turala to talk about her research on estimating body size in fossil alligators! This month only! Join the Crocs & Snakes Tier on our Patreon to receive a Croc Month sticker and to contribute to charitable donations toward reptile and other wildlife conservation! www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast This year, our donations are going toward: The Crocodile Research

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134:56

Episode 245 - Cycads

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/06/07

Cycads are cousins of conifers, and although they can be found throughout the modern tropics, they are often considered a visual indicator of prehistory. This episode, Aly joins us to explore what sets cycads apart from other plants, what we know of their deep history, and whether they truly deserve their reputation as dinosaur food.In the news: toothless crocs, Arctic mammals, turtle relations, and crater life. Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:10:35 Main discussion, Part

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147:46

Episode 244 - Sea Turtles

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/05/24

Most modern turtles are pretty good in the water, but only some are truly ocean-dwellers. This episode, we explore the unique and diverse lifestyles and anatomy of modern sea turtles, then we take a tour of turtles through time, visiting the surprising number of ancient lineages that have taken to the seas and the surprising forms some of them have taken.In the news: twisted jaws, early centipedes, Ediacaran microbes, and Neanderthal teeth Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News:

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142:54

Episode 243 - Burrowers

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/05/10

A lot of life on Earth happens underground. This episode, we sample the species that have taken to a life of digging in the dirt – and elsewhere – why they do it and what physical adaptations help them along the way. Then, we’ll take a tour of burrows in the fossil record and explore what clues paleontologists can use to determine which ancient critter constructed a given burrow.In the news: malaria history, false octopus, pterosaur tracks, and giant octopus. Time markers: Intro &

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2:05

Leaf it to Us Season 2 Trailer

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/05/01

Leaf it to Us Season 2 is coming! Episode 1 drops on May 7th! You can find Leaf it to Us on any podcast platform! Consider supporting Leaf it to Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod And connect with the community in these places: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod The Leaf it to Us theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/

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72:03

Silver Screen Science - The Valley of Gwangi (1969)

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/04/30

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs! This episode, we’re wrapping things up with a tale of cowboys and dinosaurs in The Valley of Gwangi! 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:

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149:45

Episode 242 - Fire

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/04/26

Earth is a very flammable world. The combination of heat, oxygen, and burnable plants makes fire a constant feature of our planet. Many modern ecosystems thrive in the presence of fire, and lots of plant and animal species have adapted to avoid or take advantage of the flames. This episode, we explore the diverse topic of fire ecology, and we take a tour through the deep history of fire on Earth.In the news: Triassic crocs, anglerfish lures, behavior and evolution, and synapsid babies. Time

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79:40

Silver Screen Science - One Million Years B.C. (1966)

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/04/23

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs! This episode, we visit a classic of mid-century caveman-versus-dinosaur cinema, with One Million Years B.C. 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

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77:41

Silver Screen Science - Dinosaur Shorts (Gertie,...

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/04/16

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs!This episode, we compile and compare a handful of dino-themed short films from the early days of dinosaur movies: Gertie the Dinosaur, The Ghost of Slumber Mountain, and the Rite of Spring segment from Disney’s Fantasia. Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ Join us on Patreon to

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139:30

Episode 241 - Digestion

The Common Descent Podcast ·

2026/04/12

The world is full of food, but in order to make the most of it, living organisms need to be able to break it down and extract the useful nutrients. This episode, we explore the fundamental process of digestion and the many, many ways that life has adapted this process to various diets. And we’ll take a look at what the fossil record has to tell us about ancient diets and the evolutionary history of digestive systems.In the news: predator bites, coelacanth lungs, Cambrian claws, and squid

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