The Common Descent Podcast

By: Common Descent
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  • Summary

  • 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!
    Copyright 2017 . All rights reserved.
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Earth Sciences Natural History Nature & Ecology Science
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Episodes
  • Silver Screen Science - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

    Silver Screen Science - Rise of the Planet of the Apes
    Apr 16 2025

    Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!

    Finally, we visit the ongoing prequel franchise with the story of how it all got started: Rise of the Planet of the Apes.

    Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

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

    Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

    The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Episode 215 - Ferns

    Episode 215 - Ferns
    Apr 13 2025

    With several thousand living species, ferns are the second most diverse vascular plants around today, after angiosperms. Ferns are also abundant and well-known in the fossil record. This episode, Aly joins us to explore the dizzying variety of ferns and their ferny-friends, past and present.

    In the news: When the Earth Was Green, weird wasps, and ancient claws. And also dire wolves.

    Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:04:20 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:46:45 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:37:00 Patron question: 02:20:40

    Check out our website for this episode’s blog post and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

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

    When the Earth Was Green: https://bookshop.org/p/books/when-the-earth-was-green-plants-animals-and-evolution-s-greatest-romance-riley-black/21356911 https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781250354211-when-the-earth-was-green Find Riley at @restingdinoface.bsky.social And http://rileyblack.net/

    Support links: Assigned Media: https://www.assignedmedia.org/

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

    Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

    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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    2 hrs and 33 mins
  • Silver Screen Science - Planet of the Apes (2001)

    Silver Screen Science - Planet of the Apes (2001)
    Apr 9 2025

    Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes!

    It’s the reboot of the original, a 21st-Century take on the concept – Planet of the Apes (2001).

    Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/

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

    Lots more ways to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/common_descent

    The Intro and Outro music is “On the Origin of Species” by Protodome. More music like this at http://ocremix.org.
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    59 mins
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Profile Image for Lydia J

Fun science!

Fun, educational, and just a little nerdy. I’ve listened to every single episode. David and Will and a level of excitement about paleontology that is infectious.

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informative and fun

indepth and up to date science presented in an interesting way. I love listening at work

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I love this

as someone learning about paleontology and other science I love this and makes it fun to learn and get into

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Profile Image for Johnny White

My current favorite podcast

This is a great podcast for those who want to learn more about evolution and current developments in the field.

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