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The Common Descent Podcast

Common Descent
Paleontology
Evolution
Dinosaurs
Camouflage
Dragonflies
Filter Feeding
Natural Selection
Eels
Evolutionary Biology
Fossil Record
Odonata
Ecological Niches
Trilobites
Cephalopods
Insects
Behavioral Ecology
Osteophagy
Durophagy
Fish Fossils
Dragons

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... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes364Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Natural SciencesScienceEarth Sciences

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Latest Episodes

Creatures of the night! The world is a different place in the dark, and a whole array of organisms have adapted to being most active outside of daytime hours. This episode, we’ll explore the regular traits that allow nocturnal animals to get by, we’l... more

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Welcome ... to Pok-É!

This year is the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, so we’re picking some of our favorite Legendary Pokémon and speculating upon how they – or something like them – might evolve in real life, pulling inspiration from sp... more

One of the benefits our Patrons can receive is a personalized mini-episode on an animal of their choice! Every now and then, we throw them together into a compilation for all to enjoy!

As always, an enormous thanks to all of our wonderful Patrons!

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Some bones are only skin deep! In many species of reptiles, mammals, and amphibians, bones called osteoderms develop within the skin, serving as body armor, additional muscular support, display features, or any number of other functions. This episode... more

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Why This Universe?Dan Hooper, Shalma Wegsman

Recent Guests

Riley Black
Author of several books on paleontology, including 'When the Earth Was Green' and 'The Last Days of the Dinosaurs'
Episode: Episode 237 - The Dinosaur Renaissance
Ben Goulet Scott
Runs education programs at Harvard Forest and co-director of Let's Botanize
Harvard Forest and Let's Botanize
Episode: Episode 236 - Chalicotheres
Jacob Suiza
Assistant professor of botany and evolutionary biology at the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Episode: Episode 236 - Chalicotheres
Dr. Aly Baumgartner
Plant expert extraordinaire, paleobotanist
Episode: Episode 235 - Aquatic Plants
Brandon Strauss
PhD candidate specializing in forensic entomology
Texas A&M
Episode: Episode 233 - Flies and Mosquitoes
Derek Dinaudin
An outgoing ETSU Master's student and an incoming Arizona State University PhD student, focusing on shrews.
East Tennessee State University
Episode: Episode 222 - Shrews
Dr. Ali Baumgartner
Paleobotanist and expert on ferns
Episode: Episode 215 - Ferns
Amy Atwater
Paleontologist, Director of Paleontology at Dinosaur Ridge
Dinosaur Ridge
Episode: Episode 214 - Saber Teeth
Astrid Lundberg
Paleontologist and science communicator
Episode: Episode 211 - Edward Drinker Cope

Hosts

David
Host of The Common Descent Podcast; Co-host; specializes in paleontology and Earth history.
Will
Co-host of The Common Descent Podcast; hosts main discussions and contributes to news segments and audience Q&A.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • The best podcast I’ve listened to

    WONDERFUL

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Common descent
    United States23 days ago
  • This Podcast Deserves More Than Five Stars

    Super informative and fun. There are and never can be any bad episode topics. Quite scientific and detailed, which is a compliment.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dark Side Rising
    India2 months ago
  • Mind expanding

    This podcast is pitched at the perfect level to help us understand the natural world. Apart from just enjoying the conversation between smart people discussing the wonders of the natural environment. I have actually learned so much from listening to the amazing topics covered here. Brilliant work and a big thank you for one of the best things on the internet.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    VinnieOC
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Loving this

    Just what I was looking for, in depth full fat explorations of all the many branches of life in a friendly genial easy listening package. Major thanks to the creators.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Zoyza
    United Kingdom3 months ago
  • Minecraft series

    Can you make a Spook-E about the science and creatures of Minecraft? Love the podcast, thank you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Sep 22 2022
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Hosts are engaging and knowledgeable, making complex topics accessible without sacrificing rigor.
Feedback notes occasional critique about overused phrasing but overall high satisfaction.
Listener comments highlight strong chemistry and entertaining banter between hosts.
Show is praised for thorough research and clear explanations, with broad appeal to science fans.

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 238 - Osteoderms (Skin Bones)
Q: Could invertebrates have evolved an internal skeleton, or vertebrates external?
The boundary between exoskeleton and endoskeleton is blurry; completely switching to an external skeleton would require extensive anatomical changes, making it unlikely but not impossible in theory; however, many invertebrates already have internal support systems or dermal ossifications that blur the lines.
Episode 238 - Osteoderms (Skin Bones)
Q: How math-heavy are the fields like paleontology and anthropology?
The field uses statistics and modeling in many studies, but a researcher can work with minimal math if they focus on identification and qualitative comparisons; many projects rely on collaboration with statisticians or using software to handle calculations.
Episode 237 - The Dinosaur Renaissance
Q: Do you have any advice for amateur paleontologists who want to contribute to science communication?
Focus on what you love doing, find your community, and share your enthusiasm for paleontology through your chosen platform, whether it's writing, art, or social media.
Episode 237 - The Dinosaur Renaissance
Q: If you could go back in time, which historic paleontologist or naturalist would you most like to meet, and what reassuring information from the future would you give them?
I would meet Annie Montague Alexander, a pioneering paleontologist, and tell her that her contributions to the field will inspire many and that paleontology will become a much more diverse and accessible field.
Episode 236 - Chalicotheres
Q: Do you have a favorite example of convergent evolution, something weird or improbable or just really cool?
Will mentions that convergent evolution is reflected in the similarities between Calicotheres and other animals like gorillas and okapis, and lists other examples including that of flying in four separate unrelated groups of animals.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About The Common Descent Podcast

What is The Common Descent Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two hosts discuss life on Earth from a paleontologist's viewpoint, blending current research news with listener-inspired main topics. Episodes mix accessible deep dives into fossils, evolution, and deep time with behind-the-scenes notes and community-driven questions, often inviting expert guests to illuminate areas like plants, insects, and vertebrate evolution. Noteworthy are the conversational, educational tones and a strong emphasis on connecting scientific ideas to broader natural history, while maintaining humor and audience participation that may appeal to both science enthusiasts and aspiring guests or sponsors looking for thoughtful, nerdy conversations with broad appeal.

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Which podcasts are similar to The Common Descent Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Common Descent Podcast:

1. The Ancients
2. The Supermassive Podcast
3. In Our Time: Science
4. In Our Time
5. Why This Universe?

How many episodes of The Common Descent Podcast are there?

The Common Descent Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 364 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Common Descent Podcast?

Recent guests on The Common Descent Podcast include:

1. Riley Black
2. Ben Goulet Scott
3. Jacob Suiza
4. Dr. Aly Baumgartner
5. Brandon Strauss
6. Derek Dinaudin
7. Dr. Ali Baumgartner
8. Amy Atwater

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