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The Common Descent Podcast

The Common Descent Podcast

By: Common Descent
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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. Earth Sciences Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • Episode 237 - The Dinosaur Renaissance
    Feb 15 2026

    In the mid-to-late 20th Century, dinosaurs received a major makeover in their scientific and popular image. This episode, Riley Black takes us through the timeline of the Dinosaur Renaissance. We discuss some of the big scientific milestones and the various players which brought dinosaurs into their modern era, and we’ll explore the early signs and lingering notes of this historic shift.

    In the news: sleepy jellyfish, fast mammals, bird beaks, and dinosaur diets.

    Find Riley in these places: https://rileyblack.net/ https://bsky.app/profile/restingdinoface.bsky.social https://us.macmillan.com/author/rileyblack

    Time markers: Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00 News: 00:07:30 Main discussion, Part 1: 00:53:30 Main discussion, Part 2: 01:43:30 Patron question: 02:56:25

    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

    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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    3 hrs and 8 mins
  • Pok-É – Giratina
    Feb 14 2026

    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 species throughout our planet’s history!

    This episode, we confront the Renegade Pokémon. From what ancestors might we get a many-limbed monster from a parallel world? Our creature to create this time: Giratina.

    Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

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

    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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    51 mins
  • Pok-É – Lugia
    Feb 7 2026

    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 species throughout our planet’s history!

    This episode, we set our sights on the Diving Pokémon. How might evolution produce a sea-dwelling bird with a knack for stirring up storms? Our creature to create this time: Lugia.

    Join the Common Descent Discord server for more Pok-É discussion! https://discord.gg/CwPBxdh9Ev

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

    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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    58 mins
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