The Common Descent Podcast

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 discov…

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 th…

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,…

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 amph…

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…

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 h…

This episode, we’re taking the time to talk about a subject that comes up just about every episode: the classification and relationships of living organisms. Taxonomy, Phylogeny, and the Tree of Life…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 …

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…

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…

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…

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…

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 …