Podcast Episodes

Episode 9 - The Cambrian Explosion

Season 1 Episode 10

In this episode, we’re discussing the dramatic event that saw the rise of modern animal life and formed the foundation for all animal ecosystems – an event as fascinating as it is mysterious – the Ca…

Published on 8 years, 6 months ago

Episode 8 - Conservation Paleontology

Season 1 Episode 9

This episode topic comes from a fan request! We’re discussing how lessons from our planet’s prehistoric record can guide our efforts to preserve modern ecosystems: this is the field of conservation p…

Published on 8 years, 7 months ago

Episode 7 - Primates

Season 1 Episode 8

In this episode, we are joined by special guest Ethan Fulwood! He shares with us the fascinating diversity and evolutionary history of a familiar group of mammals called Primates.

In the news: an anc…

Published on 8 years, 7 months ago

Episode 6 – Evolution of Flight

Season 1 Episode 7

On this episode, we’re discussing one of nature’s most incredible inventions: flight – who has it, how do they do it, and most mysteriously, how did it evolve?

In the news: Dinosaur footprints; tyran…

Published on 8 years, 7 months ago

...But We Digress - Ornithoscelida

Episode 6

Some big dinosaur-related news dropped last week - so big we just had to talk about it! So here's a mini-episode (a small digression) about the new study by Baron et al., and the phenomenon that has …

Published on 8 years, 8 months ago

Episode 5 - The K-Pg Extinction (the "Dinosaur Extinction")

Season 1 Episode 5

In this episode, we discuss one of the most famously devastating events in Earth history – the mass extinction that ended the Age of Dinosaurs.

In the news: the first fish on land, the earliest shark…

Published on 8 years, 8 months ago

Episode 4 - Island Evolution

Season 1 Episode 4

In this episode, we’re exploring the unique and sometimes bizarre directions evolution takes on islands.

In the news: ancient tortoise DNA, a better picture of dinosaurs, oyster conservation, and a g…

Published on 8 years, 8 months ago

Episode 3 - Snakes

Season 1 Episode 3

This time around the topic is David’s favorite group of life: snakes. We look at their impressive diversity, their mysterious origins, and their long fossil history.

In the news: live-birth in archos…

Published on 8 years, 9 months ago

Episode 2 - Crocodilians

Season 1 Episode 2

We’re back for Episode 2!

This episode we’re talking about Will’s favorite group of animals: crocodilians, their fascinating modern diversity, and their even more astonishing fossil history.

In the n…

Published on 8 years, 9 months ago

Episode 1 - Paleontology

Season 1 Episode 1

It’s the first episode of the Common Descent Podcast!

Episode One’s discussion topic is the field of paleontology, our own experiences, and the kinds of things we’ll end up talking about in future …

Published on 8 years, 9 months ago