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Palaeocast

Palaeocast
Paleontology
Ants
Fossil Record
Grasslands
Grasses
Cariocecus Bocagei
Society Of Vertebrate Paleontology
Cretaceous Period
Evolution
Climate Change
Portugal
Eusociality
Iguanodontians
Triassic Reptiles
Angiosperm Terrestrial Revolution
Ecosystems
Ornithopods
Iguanodon
Birmingham
Rhynchocephalians

A free webseries exploring the fossil record and the evolution of life on Earth.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes245Founded14 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ScienceEarth SciencesNatural Sciences

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Artwork for Palaeocast

Latest Episodes

The Carboniferous period is host to some of the largest arthropods to have ever lived. Giant taxa such as the griffenfly Meganuera and the millipede Arthropleura are almost talismanic and are often depicted in reconstructions of the period. Since man... more

YouTube

The Carboniferous period is host to some of the largest arthropods to have ever lived. Giant taxa such as the griffenfly Meganuera and the millipede Arthropleura are almost talismanic and are often depicted in reconstructions of the period. Since man... more

YouTube

Prof. Paul Barrett of the Natural History Museum, London, recently authored A History of Dinosaurs in 50 Fossils. We took this as an opportunity to get an overview of what we really know about dinosaurs and how it's even possible to tell their story ... more

YouTube

Petrified Forest National Park in northeastern Arizona, USA is a hub for Triassic palaeontology and has exposures representing 20 million years of the Late Triassic Chinle Formation. Visitors marvel at the colourful fossilised trees from which the pa... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Jon Harrison
Professor of insect physiology, Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Episode: Episode 175: Insect Gigantism Pt1
Paul Barrett
Paleontologist and dinosaur specialist at Natural History Museum
Natural History Museum, London
Episode: Episode 174: A History of Dinosaurs in 50 Fossils
Adam Marsh
Lead paleontologist, Petrified Forest National Park
Petrified Forest National Park
Episode: Episode 173: Petrified Forest
Dr. Victor Beccari
Paleontologist specializing in Rhynchocephalians, completed his PhD with a focus on these animals
Episode: Episode 172: Rhynchocephalians
Nathan Van Vranken
Lead author and paleontologist specializing in Mosasaurs
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Episode: Episode 171: Freshwater Mosasaurs
Dr. Melanie During
Returning guest and paleontologist specializing in freshwater ecosystems
Uppsala University and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Episode: Episode 171: Freshwater Mosasaurs
Helen Birch
PhD student researching paleoecology for Triassic reptiles and award winner of the Patterson Student Fieldwork Grant.
University of Birmingham
Episode: SVP 2025
Dr. Jake Adderby
Expert in fossil fish and previously featured on Palaeocast, working at the Lapworth Museum of Geology.
Lapworth Museum of Geology
Episode: SVP 2025
Phil Curry
Veteran paleontologist from the University of Alberta, specializing in dinosaurs.
University of Alberta
Episode: SVP 2025

Host

Dave Marshall
Co-host and lead presenter with a focus on paleontology, often guiding in-depth technical conversations and fieldwork stories.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 443 ratings
  • Great Palaeontology Podcast!

    I’ve really been enjoying Palaeocast. The topics are all interesting, the interviewers have good questions, and they allow their interviewees to dive deep into subjects they know well. I learn a ton and get a lot out of the discussions.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    C. J. Wolf
    Canada12 days ago
  • Depressing

    Just listened to the introduction to evolutionary biology episode and found it thoroughly depressing. Not sure why anyone would want to study this topic since we are obviously all doomed.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ladybird166
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Amazing

    Love Paleocast. Have learned so much.

    Heidi

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HT0924
    United States2 years ago
  • Always interesting and informative

    I throughly enjoy listening paleocast. I have learned about so many things I never knew existed.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DearMrsB
    United Kingdom3 years ago
  • Listening while I run!!

    When I go on runs, I have this podcast in my ears. Now we are in Wales for my husband to study gravitational waves physics at Cardiff University. I wish I could come meet you in person! I also love forcing my kids to listen 🥰

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    the Tubzizzle
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many appreciate the museum and fieldwork anecdotes that bring science to life.
Listeners praise the accessible depth and strong guest lineup.
Some episodes are praised for inspiring students and teachers to pursue science.
Fans value expert guests and clear explanations of complex topics.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 176: Insect Gigantism Pt2
Q: Has anyone tried growing insects in high-oxygen environments to see if size increases?
Yes, multiple species have been tested; some showed modest size increases in a single generation, but many did not, and high oxygen could occasionally lead to smaller sizes depending on the species and conditions.
Episode 175: Insect Gigantism Pt1
Q: What are the main competing hypotheses for Carboniferous insect gigantism?
The leading idea centers on high atmospheric oxygen enabling diffusion-based oxygen delivery; other hypotheses involve predation pressures by birds or bats, structural/exoskeleton constraints, and challenges of open circulatory systems at larger sizes.
Episode 175: Insect Gigantism Pt1
Q: Why could some Carboniferous insects get so large if their respiratory system is so different?
The tracheal system, especially with air sacs and efficient advection, could support high metabolic rates and flight, allowing larger body sizes in an oxygen-rich Carboniferous environment, though multiple factors beyond oxygen likely contributed.
Episode 175: Insect Gigantism Pt1
Q: What does the basic respiratory system of insects look like and how does it differ from ours?
Insects use a tracheal system of branching tubes that deliver oxygen as a gas directly to tissues, with spiracles as openings; this is in contrast to our lungs and blood-based oxygen transport via hemoglobin, meaning oxygen reaches mitochondria mainly through gas diffusion inside these tubes rather than through blood.
Episode 174: A History of Dinosaurs in 50 Fossils
Q: What was the most surprising discovery or realization during the compilation and writing process?
A striking surprise was how much new information continually emerges, necessitating constant fact-checking and updates, from color reconstruction to new dating techniques, which kept the narrative fresh and accurate over the course of the writing.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Palaeocast

What is Palaeocast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science podcast focused on the fossil record and life's evolution, featuring in-depth conversations with paleontologists and researchers across universities, museums, and field sites. Episodes span dinosaur biology, insect physiology, paleobotany, grassland evolution, and remarkable fossil discoveries, often highlighting methodological shifts (CT scanning, isotopic analysis, cladistics) and the human stories behind science. The show tends to blend rigorous scientific detail with accessible explanations, practical field anecdotes, and public-facing outreach, making it useful for listeners who want a broad, global view of paleontology and deep dives into specific clades or ecosystems. Notable strengths include a steady stream of guest exper... more

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How many listeners does Palaeocast get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Palaeocast has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Palaeocast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Palaeocast:

1. The Common Descent Podcast
2. Terrible Lizards
3. I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast
4. Geology Bites
5. The Ancients

How many episodes of Palaeocast are there?

Palaeocast launched 14 years ago and published 245 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Palaeocast?

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What guests have appeared on Palaeocast?

Recent guests on Palaeocast include:

1. Jon Harrison
2. Paul Barrett
3. Adam Marsh
4. Dr. Victor Beccari
5. Nathan Van Vranken
6. Dr. Melanie During
7. Helen Birch
8. Dr. Jake Adderby

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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