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A podcast about things that used to be alive. With Gavin, Mike, and Fia.
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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 sub ...
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It’s the final part of our fungal trilogy! Fungi and animals interact in a wide variety of ways, from parasitism to partnership to predation. This episode, we explore how fungi and animals have evolved alongside each other and the adaptations they have developed to take advantage of each other, and we’ll examine how far back we can find these fungu…
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Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. October is Spook-E Season on Common Descent! Each episode, we pick monsters from fiction and fable and ponder how they – or something like them – could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet’s history. This year’s theme is Tiny Monsters. This episode, we explore a f…
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Election Season is upon us here in the United States. While Fia is traveling and preparing for Hurricane Milton, Gavin and Mike talk about how politics effects science, and the bad things that happen when politics interferes with science. Hurricane relief information: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/us/hurricane-helene-victims-aid.html Check you…
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Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution. October is Spook-E Season on Common Descent! Each episode, we pick monsters from fiction and fable and ponder how they – or something like them – could evolve here on Earth, pulling inspiration from real-world species across our planet’s history. This year’s theme is Tiny Monsters. This episode, we’ve chosen a…
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Spotlight 2024 - Dave Marshall, Palaeocast
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Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. This episode, we’re joined by one of the longest-running paleo-podcast hosts around: Dave Marshall from Palaeocast! Find Palaeocast here: https://www.palaeocast.com/ Connect with Common Descent: https://linktr.ee/common_d…
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Quick Update On This Episode & Hurricane Helene
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We're postponing this episode to give Fia some time to get life in order after Hurricane Helene (she's okay). In the meantime, check out some ways to contribute to relief efforts if you're able: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/30/us/hurricane-helene-victims-aid.html Palaeocast Gaming Network video Gavin made about the new Pokemon Games: https://www…
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Our fungal celebration continues! The relationship between fungi and plants is one of the most famous and consequential connections in biological history. This episode, Aly is here to help us explore how fungi and plants work together and work against each other, what we know about the deep history of their relationship, and how fungi and plants to…
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Mini-episodes are rewards for our high-level supporters on Patreon, each one focusing on a requested topic for a specific Patron. From time to time, we combine a bunch of these and release them as a bundle for all our listeners to enjoy. Enjoy! A huge thanks as always to our Patrons for their kind contributions to our education efforts. Intro: 00:0…
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Normally this would be a "Fia Takes The Wheel" episode,but she's busy doing science. In honor of that though, Gavin teaches us about swamps and their role in the ecosystems of today and Earth's history! Palaeocast Gaming Network video Gavin made about the new Pokemon Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIgFW91jPXc …
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Here it is! The most requested episode topic in the history of the podcast! Fungi are everywhere. This episode, we explore how fungi work, what makes them different from other organisms, and how they achieve a wide variety of lifestyles all over the world. We’ll also look back at their evolutionary history and fossil record to explore some of the m…
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Spotlight 2024 - Gavin, Fia, and Mike, I Wish You Were Dead
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Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. This episode, we chat with Gavin, Fia, and Mike, hosts of I Wish You Were Dead! Find I Wish You Were Dead in these places: https://open.spotify.com/show/4lMCmCwK9y9xThOMVUcHiM https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbKAuMrj_7PU…
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Who was the greatest paleontologist ever? We may just get our answer today with our discussion of Mary Anning. The famous fossil collector and early paleontologist lived a tough life that has been often misrepresented over the last 200+ years, so let's talk about her in some detail! Thanks again to the Common Descent Podcast for giving us a chance …
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Sometimes, an animal just needs to power down and wait. Many animals exhibit some form of torpor, including the long-term dormancy of hibernation. This episode, we explore how these species adjust their body functions, we discuss the pros and cons of this surprisingly common biological strategy, and we’ll take a look at what we know about the evolu…
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Ep. 143: The Rise of Grasses (The Oligocene Epoch)
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Continuing our march through Earth's history, today we're talking about the Oligocene Epoch! A time when Earth sure looked a heck of a lot like today, but with some very noticeable differences, like the grass! What do I mean by that? Let's find out! YouTube Playlist link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAt3VarqxmjVLGbTUnk8ednFMcIGORtli Pala…
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Eels are long-bodied fish found in a variety of aquatic habitats, famous for their unusual body plans, distinctive life cycles, and occasional anatomical oddities like extra jaws. This episode, we’re joined by special guest Shay Maden to discuss the diversity, evolution, and fossil history of the true eels of the Order Anguilliformes, and we’ll als…
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Spotlight 2024 - Meredith Johnson, Origin Stories
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Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. This episode, another returning guest: Meredith Johnson, host of Origin Stories, the Leakey Foundation podcast! Find Origin Stories here: https://leakeyfoundation.org/learn/originstories/ Connect with Common Descent: http…
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Gavin and Fia talk about the best (according to Fia) invertebrates out there; clams and their relatives! Do they live up to the hype? Let's find out! Palaeocast Gaming Network video Gavin made about the new Pokemon Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIgFW91jPXc Follow us on Twitter …
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Episode 197 - Durophagy (Eating Hard Stuff)
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Some animals are specialists at eating particularly tough foods like shells, seeds, and bones. Adaptations for a durophagous diet come in many forms in almost all major groups of life. This episode, we discuss how so many animals tackle tough foods, what behaviors and anatomy help them to do it, and the importance of durophagy for understanding fos…
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Ep. 141: Parasites and Other Freeloaders
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In this particularly gross episode, Gavin talks to Fia about parasites and the various disgusting, albeit very interesting, lifestyles that they live. Palaeocast Gaming Network video Gavin made about the new Pokemon Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIgFW91jPXc Follow us on Twitter …
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Boas and pythons include some of the most famous snake species on Earth, renowned for their incredible tropical diversity, their often beautiful scale patterns, and their often impressive size. This episode, we discuss what sets these two lineages apart from other snakes – and each other – and we explore the evolutionary path recorded in their foss…
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Ep. 140: Mike Takes The Wheel vol. 14: Death By Baseball (Ray Chapman)
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On this episode of Mike Takes The Wheel, Mike tells us about Ray Chapman, the only player to die as the result of a professional baseball game. Palaeocast Gaming Network video Gavin made about the new Pokemon Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIgFW91jPXc Follow us on Twitter …
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Leaves. They’re everywhere. They’re the main photosynthesizing organs of plants, and they’re the main source of green on our green-and-blue planet. Leaves come in a truly dizzying variety of shapes, sizes, and specialized functions, and their early evolution laid the foundation for terrestrial ecosystems as we know them. This episode, Aly joins us …
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Spotlight 2024 - Travis Holland, Fossils and Fiction
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Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. Joining us for this episode is Travis Holland, host of Fossils and Fiction! Find Travis and Fossils and Fiction in these places: fossilsfiction.co travisholland.com.au https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/persons/tholla05…
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Ep. 138.5: Tattoos and Dinosaurs w/ Sierra Swenson, Lora Bird, & Rudy Hummel
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For this follow-up episode, Gavin is joined by Sierra and Rudy from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, as well as Lora Bird, owner of Nest Art Collective tattoo shop in Denver, Colorado.YouTube lecture that Lora, Sierra and Rudy gave about the tattooing: https://youtu.be/dGg73w5wwOM?feature=sharedDenver Museum of Nature & Science socials: Faceb…
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Gavin, Fia, and Mike have had a busy few weeks! Early June is always a busy time for us, because we all volunteer for the same youth leadership organization called HOBY. We've all been volunteering for this organization for over 10 years and in this episode we talk about why we do it, and why you should volunteer in your local communities as well. …
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Episode 194 - Alligators and Caimans
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Happy Croc Month! Alligators and caimans are the living members of the family Alligatoridae. In this episode, we explore how the gator lineage differs from other crocs, and we’ll dive into the fossil record of the extended gator family tree, a history that includes a diversity of species and some of the largest crocodilians to ever live. In the new…
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Terrestrial animals get around using a variety of gaits: walking, running, galloping, etc. Some of these gaits are particularly bouncy! Hopping comes in many forms in many different groups of animals. This episode, we’ll discuss what makes a particular gait “hoppy,” what functions hopping serves, and what adaptations are found in the best hoppers. …
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Spotlight 2024 - Sabrina and Garret, I Know Dino
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Welcome to Spotlight 2024! In this series, we’re sitting down with our fellow paleo-podcasters to discuss Science Communication. Returning to the podcast for this episode are Sabrina and Garret, hosts of I Know Dino! Find I Know Dino at these places: https://iknowdino.com https://www.patreon.com/join/iknowdino https://pod.link/960976813 Connect wit…
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Ep. 138: How Not To Do Helicopter Science w/ Dr. Dave Krause & Sierra Swenson
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Gavin is joined by a pair of great scientists from the Denver Museum of Nature & Science to talk about helicopter science, and how to do international science ethically. Madagascar Ankizy Fund website: www.ankizy.org Palaeocast Gaming Network video Gavin made about the new Pokemon Games: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIgFW91jPXc …
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Update and a Listener Question About Dinosaurs and Presidents
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Our usual episode is postponed until next week due to some scheduling hang ups with the guests for the episode. But! My best-good-friend Tug reached out with a great question about presidents and dinosaurs.
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Tongues are a common feature among tetrapod animals, but the evolution of this organ is complex and fascinating. Through time, tongues have evolved a wide variety of functions from feeding to sensing to speech. This episode, we’ll explore the diversity of tongues and their bony counterparts in the hyoid apparatus, we’ll examine what’s known about t…
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