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The Common Descent Podcast

The Common Descent Podcast

Common Descent

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 to paleontology and evolution. Each episode ends with the answer to a question submitted by subscribers on Patreon. New episodes with new topics every fortnight!

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Top 10 The Common Descent Podcast Episodes

Goodpods has curated a list of the 10 best The Common Descent Podcast episodes, ranked by the number of listens and likes each episode have garnered from our listeners. If you are listening to The Common Descent Podcast for the first time, there's no better place to start than with one of these standout episodes. If you are a fan of the show, vote for your favorite The Common Descent Podcast episode by adding your comments to the episode page.

The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 20 - The Scientific Method

Episode 20 - The Scientific Method

The Common Descent Podcast

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10/22/17 • 100 min

This episode, we’re taking a big step back at the concept that underlies everything we talk about on this podcast: the scientific method! Our discussion includes what exactly the method is, why we use it, and what can sometimes get lost in translation.

In the news: fossilized salamander organs, dinosaur proteins (or not), the bizarre comb jellies, and fanged kangaroos.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:02:00
Main discussion: 00:29:30

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 18B - Human Evolution Part 2

Episode 18B - Human Evolution Part 2

The Common Descent Podcast

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09/24/17 • 93 min

In the second part of our exploration of our own evolutionary past, we focus in on one particular recent group of big-brained, bipedal hominins. We explore their incredible diversity, their clever creations, and the origins of a species that we know better than any other.

In the news: Neanderthal plaque; very surprising footprints; our tiny mysterious cousins; and an ancient sugary secret.

Time markers:
Intro & Recap: 00:00:00
Main discussion: 00:03:30
News: 01:03:00

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 23 - Jurassic Park

Episode 23 - Jurassic Park

The Common Descent Podcast

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12/03/17 • 92 min

Hold onto your butts ... in this episode, we celebrate the intersection of science and popular culture with a discussion about the biggest dinosaur movie of all time, what makes it unique, and the incredible effect it had on the real-life world of paleontology: Jurassic Park.

In the news: a new Jurassic glider, Tasmanian stromatolites, the world’s longest dinosaur trackway, and a tool for tracking fossils.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:30
Main discussion: 00:28:00

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 21 - Dinosaurs, An Introduction

Episode 21 - Dinosaurs, An Introduction

The Common Descent Podcast

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11/05/17 • 93 min

There is no group of prehistoric creatures more iconic, more widely-studied, or more requested by our listeners, than the subject of this episode! This time, it's a brief introduction to Dinosaurs.

In the news: colorful dinosaurs, the rise of big herbivores, an Indian ichthyosaur, and saber-tooth DNA.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:00
Main discussion: 00:29:00

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 19 - Women in Paleontology

Episode 19 - Women in Paleontology

The Common Descent Podcast

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10/08/17 • 116 min

This is a listener-requested topic and a guest episode! We are joined by super-special guest Michelle Barboza-Ramirez of the Femmes of STEM podcast, who is here to help us explore the deep subject of Women in Paleontology. We talk about female scientists past and present, discuss the challenges they face, and reflect on the broad questions of diversity in the field of paleontology and other sciences.

In the news: baby saber-tooths; Triceratops brains; surprises in dinosaur poop; and super-ancient trilobite guts!

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:30
Main discussion: 00:31:30

HUGE thanks to Michelle for helping us out! Find her at www.femmesofstem.com!

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 175 - Plant Defenses

Episode 175 - Plant Defenses

The Common Descent Podcast

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10/01/23 • 115 min

Plants are delicious, nutritious, and full of energy, so they’re prime targets for all sorts of herbivores, parasites, and pathogens. But plants aren’t just sitting passively accepting attacks, they use a variety of strategies to defend themselves, from the frustrating to the fatal. This episode, we’re joined by our favorite paleobotanist, Aly Baumgartner, to discuss the many ways plants defend themselves – physically, chemically, and beyond – and the fascinating evolutionary history of plant defenses and their offenders.

In the news: deep-sea fish, Wollemi pines, learning birds, and plant technology.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:55
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:38:15
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:12:25
Patron question: 01:48:10

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.com/

Join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content! https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

Got a topic you want to hear about? Submit your episode request here:
https://commondescentpodcast.com/request-a-topic/

We’re an Audible Affiliate Partner! Use this link for a 30-day free trial to Audible: https://www.audibletrial.com/CommonDescent

Or make a one-time donation via PayPal: https://tinyurl.com/4c68u4hp

Find merch at the Common Descent Store! http://zazzle.com/common_descent

Join the Common Descent Discord server! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

Follow and Support us on:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/commondescentpodcast/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/

You can email us at commondescentpodcast(at)gmail.com
Or send us physical mail at:
The Common Descent Podcast
1735 W State of Franklin Rd. Ste 5 #165
Johnson City, TN 37604

The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 107 – Tusks

Episode 107 – Tusks

The Common Descent Podcast

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02/21/21 • 124 min

Taking teeth to the extreme! Tusks have evolved numerous times, particularly in mammals, and they’ve come in a striking array of shapes and sizes for a variety of uses. From the monstrously huge ivory tusks of mammoths to the modest yet effective tusks of fanged deer to the bizarre and perplexing tusks of babirusas and narwhals, in this episode we discuss trends, drivers, and mysteries in the evolution of tusks.

In the news: razor-toothed mosasaurs, walk the dinosaur, sidewinder skin, and really old giant sloths.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:03:30
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:38:00
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:15:30
Patron question: 01:54:30

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Find merch at the Common Descent Store! http://zazzle.com/common_descent

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast
Instagram: @commondescentpodcast
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2

The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

Musical Interludes are "Professor Umlaut" by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com). Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 25 - The Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinction
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12/31/17 • 100 min

In this episode, we firmly establish a tradition of extinction-talk! This time, by request, it’s the latest major prehistoric extinction in Earth history, the event that took from us the mammoths, ground sloths, and other giants of the Ice Age, a mass extinction that our own species was around to witness (and perhaps even cause): the Pleistocene Megafaunal Extinction.

In the news: mistaken Archaeopteryx identity, ticks with a taste for dinosaurs, evolution of the Tibetan Plateau, and ancient bear hibernation.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:30
Main discussion: 00:32:00

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 22 - Micropaleontology

Episode 22 - Micropaleontology

The Common Descent Podcast

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11/19/17 • 94 min

This episode, we take a super up-close look at the tiniest components of the fossil record, the microscopic remains that are so essential to our understanding of earth history, and the field of study devoted to them: Micropaleontology.

In the news: daytime mammals, unusual dinosaur teeth, the dinosaur family tree (again), and dead male mammoths.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:01:30
Main discussion: 00:27:00

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCePRXHEnZmTGum2r1l2mduw

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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The Common Descent Podcast - Episode 18A - Human Evolution Part 1

Episode 18A - Human Evolution Part 1

The Common Descent Podcast

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09/24/17 • 89 min

This time, by request, we discuss an ancient story so detailed, compelling, and important that we had to split it in two! In part one, we find our own place on the family tree of life, and trace the history and evolutionary innovations of our ancestors and cousins: the early hominins.

In the news: four-flippered swimming; the life of a dodo; weird whale teeth; and the many possible paths of evolution.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:03:30
Main discussion: 00:33:30

Check out our blog for bonus info and pictures:
http://commondescentpodcast.wordpress.com/

Follow and Support us on:
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CommonDescentPC
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/commondescentpodcast/
PodBean: https://commondescentpodcast.podbean.com/
iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-common-descent-podcast/id1207586509?mt=2
Stitcher: http://www.stitcher.com/podcast/common-descent/the-common-descent-podcast

The Podcast music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome.
More music like this at http://ocremix.org.

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FAQ

How many episodes does The Common Descent Podcast have?

The Common Descent Podcast currently has 311 episodes available.

What topics does The Common Descent Podcast cover?

The podcast is about Natural Sciences, Podcasts, Education and Science.

What is the most popular episode on The Common Descent Podcast?

The episode title 'Episode 22 - Micropaleontology' is the most popular.

What is the average episode length on The Common Descent Podcast?

The average episode length on The Common Descent Podcast is 103 minutes.

How often are episodes of The Common Descent Podcast released?

Episodes of The Common Descent Podcast are typically released every 8 days, 22 hours.

When was the first episode of The Common Descent Podcast?

The first episode of The Common Descent Podcast was released on Feb 10, 2017.

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