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The Common Descent Podcast

Common Descent
Paleontology
Evolution
Dinosaurs
Fungi
Fossils
Paleobotany
Natural Selection
Nintendo
Pokémon
Evolutionary Biology
Fossil Record
Insects
Conservation
Science Communication
Planet Of the Apes
Speculative Evolution
Symbiosis
Chimaeras
Saber Teeth
Ferns

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

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes391Founded10 years ago
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Natural SciencesEarth SciencesScience

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Latest Episodes

Here on our blue-and-green planet, the green is plants. This episode, Aly joins us again to explore the beginnings of this all-important group of life. We’ll discuss which ancestors gave rise to true plants, what the fossil record tells us about the ... more

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

It’s Spook-E Season! 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... more

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

It’s Spook-E Season! 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... more

During the Cretaceous Period, while tyrannosaurs stomped around the northern continents, the less famous abelisaurs were the top predatory dinosaurs of the south. This episode, we piece together the history and diversity of these predators, and we ex... more

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Recent Guests

Sophia Cord
Marine biologist consulted for a patron question segment
DragonCon connections (marine biology expert)
Episode: Episode 252 - The Ice Age
Steve Bursati
Dinosaur paleontologist and author of The Story of Birds
University of Edinburgh
Episode: Episode 249 - Sexual Dimorphism
Lindsay Nikole
Science communicator, YouTube creator focusing on animals and evolution
YouTube
Episode: Episode 248 - Big Cats
Ali Ashraf
Recent master's graduate; phylogeography researcher focused on the banded water snake
Valdosta State University
Episode: Snake Stuff with Ali Ashraf
Maddie Turala
Graduate student and researcher at East Tennessee State University (ETSU), focused on gray fossil site alligator/crocodilian fossils
East Tennessee State University
Episode: Croc Chat with Maddie Turala
Aly Baumgartner
Paleobotanist
Episode: Episode 245 - Cycads
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

Hosts

David Moscato
Host of The Common Descent Podcast
Will
Co-host of The Common Descent Podcast

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 2.2k ratings
  • Cannot get enough

    This show does such a great job of explaining the science with accessible information and language. David and Will’s sense of humor balances well with the science and makes this a delightful listen. Currently binging my way through and already wish there were more.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Vultures are your friends
    United Statesa month ago
  • Fun and educational

    I’ve been binging this podcast since I discovered it about a year ago. Can’t wait to be caught up!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Manny222864227
    United States2 months ago
  • Amazing podcast!

    Recently discovered this podcast and have been learning so much! David and Will are excellent at presenting information in an engaging & understandable, but still in depth way. Thank you for this wealth of knowledge!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NaylaSmith
    Canada2 months ago
  • Annoying

    They mostly just read Wikipedia articles while one guy chuckles and repeatedly says “YUP YUP.”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    4foryouU
    Canada7 months ago
  • The best podcast I’ve listened to

    WONDERFUL

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Common descent
    United States8 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The show mixes rigorous science with entertaining banter, keeping topics accessible
Some listeners feel the format is overly long, but most praise the depth and range of topics
Enthusiastic hosts explain complex ideas clearly and engagingly

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 254 - Abelisaurs
Q: In the deserts episode on Prehistoric Planet, a herd of Dreadnoughtus is shown hanging out in the desert during the mating season. Without a plant in sight, would that environment actually be a place where sauropods could live? Is there evidence that Dreadnoughtus or other sauropods lived in deserts, or is this more speculation?
Sauropod fossils occur in deposits interpreted as desert or seasonally arid environments. The hosts say sauropods may have crossed deserts, visited them seasonally, or gathered there for mating, though the specific scene in Prehistoric Planet is speculative.
Episode 253 - Kangaroos
Q: How does natural selection balance camouflage and display?
Camouflage and display are balanced through fitness trade-offs: successful mating can favor bright displays, while predation pressure selects for camouflage; over time, species may optimize both based on their ecology, with some displays being temporary or energetically costly, and others being strategic indicators of health or mate quality.
Episode 252 - The Ice Age
Q: Why is there a lack of fossils in New York compared to other places, given the local geology and history?
Even though New York has rich Devonian and Silurian fossil deposits, the last glaciation scoured away many upper layers, and repeated mountain-building events uplifted rocks that later sloughed away, erasing or burying earlier fossil-bearing strata. This combination of glacial scouring, uplift, and erosion means fewer accessible fossil-bearing rocks from certain periods, which is why New York fossils are not as abundant as in other regions.
Episode 251 - The Sun
Q: space related. Luke asks, alien life has been described as likely. What are your thoughts on the different ways that could play out on another planet?
The hosts argue that while there are many plausible scenarios for alien life, we currently have only Earth life as a concrete example, so any predictions should be grounded in familiar, carbon-based biochemistry in habitable-zone contexts, with openness to other possibilities but recognition that evidence is lacking for non-Earth-life forms.
Episode 250 - Camels
Q: How would a Paraserythereum have scratched its back?
They likely rubbed against trees or possibly rolled in mud, drawing on their flexible necks and capable legs to reach difficult areas, though rolling on the ground is less certain given their massive size.

Audience Metrics

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

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Common Descent Podcast

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

This show blends layperson-friendly explanations of life's deep history with timely paleontology news and listener-driven topic requests. Episodes oscillate between in-depth discussions on topics like dinosaur evolution, reptiles, ancient plants, and fossil evidence, and lighter segments that spotlight fieldwork anecdotes, news finds, and practical methods in science. A distinctive trait is the duo's enthusiastic, approachable banter, which makes complex topics accessible without sacrificing rigor. A recurring strength is the willingness to cover a wide range of topics—from anatomy and phylogeny to ecology and conservation—while keeping the pace engaging and the dialogue inviting for both newcomers and seasoned listeners. Notable is the str... more

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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. Origin Stories
2. I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast
3. Terrible Lizards
4. Leaf it to Us
5. Geology Bites: An Earth and Planetary Science Podcast

How many episodes of The Common Descent Podcast are there?

The Common Descent Podcast launched 10 years ago and published 391 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. Sophia Cord
2. Steve Bursati
3. Lindsay Nikole
4. Ali Ashraf
5. Maddie Turala
6. Aly Baumgartner
7. Riley Black
8. Ben Goulet Scott

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