The Common Descent Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Spook-E - Turtle Dragons Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

It’s October, and that means it’s Spook-E Season once again! Each episode in the series, we pick a type of monster and explore how it – or something like it – might evolve under the rules of evolution and natural selection, pulling inspiration from life in the real world. This year’s theme: Dragons.

This episode, we combine some disparate mythologies. How could nature give rise to a shelled wonder with a mixed reputation? Our creatures to create this time: Turtle Dragons.

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

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

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

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

You can email us at commondescentpodcast@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.

Spook-E - Wyverns Oct 21, 2023

Show notes

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

This episode, we investigate a modern favorite. How could natural selection give us a (perhaps) more reasonably shaped dragon? Our creatures to create this time: Wyverns.

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

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

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

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

You can email us at commondescentpodcast@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.

Episode 176 - Hadrosaurs Oct 14, 2023

Show notes

Hadrosaurs (the so-called “duckbill” dinosaurs) and their fellow ornithopods were among the most abundant and successful dinosaur groups of all time. This episode, we discuss their evolution and diversity, and we explore some of the most outstanding and unique features of the group, including their incredible fossil record, complex social behaviors, wacky head ornaments, and their truly incredible mouths.

In the news: fluorescent mammals, snake tracks, leaf mining, and terror bird footprints.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:40
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:41:30
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:14:25
Patron question: 02:18:15

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/

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

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/

Spook-E - East Asian Dragons Oct 14, 2023

Show notes

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

This episode, we travel to another part of the world. How could we end up with an elemental being that combines the features of many animals? Our creatures to create this time: East Asian Dragons.

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

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

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

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

You can email us at commondescentpodcast@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.

Spook-E - European Dragons Oct 07, 2023

Show notes

Welcome ... to Spookulative Evolution.

This episode, we start with something familiar. How might evolution produce a fearsome serpentine beast with four legs and two wings? Our creatures to create this time: European Dragons.

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

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

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

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

You can email us at commondescentpodcast@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.

Episode 175 - Plant Defenses Sep 30, 2023

Show notes

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

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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/

Episode 174 - The Mesozoic Marine Revolution Sep 16, 2023

Show notes

Earth’s oceans change over time, not just in their size and shape, but also in the very dynamics of their ecosystems. The stage was set for modern ocean ecosystems by an event called the Mesozoic Marine Revolution, a dramatic restructuring of ecology in shallow seas that saw the rise of many forms of active predatory lifestyles. This episode, we discuss the fossil evidence, the major players, and the ongoing and sometimes contentious research into this crucial period.

In the news: early arthropods, early apes, prehistoric ravens, and long-necked marine reptiles.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:07:00
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:35:00
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:18:35
Patron question: 01:51:00

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

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/

Episode 173 - Herbivores (Plant-Eaters) Sep 02, 2023

Show notes

Eating plants isn’t easy, and yet the habit has evolved many times over the history of life on Earth, and herbivores have become essential components of ecosystems as we know them. This episode, we discuss the adaptations animals use to get around the challenges of plant-eating, as well as the incredible history of the repeated origins of herbivory.

In the news: vampire squids, death by ammonite, early archosaurs, and dinosaur tracks.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:35
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:37:10
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:18:35
Patron question: 02:04:00

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

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/

Silver Screen Science - 65 (2023) Aug 27, 2023

Show notes

There’s a new paleontology-adjacent movie out there, and as usual, it’s a great opportunity to examine how science is translated to the big screen.

Back to the Cretaceous (kind of) – 65 (2023)

Check out our website for more stuff:
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

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.

Episode 172 - Toothed Whales Aug 19, 2023

Show notes

For much of their evolutionary history, whales have been divided into two main lineages: baleen whales and toothed whales. The toothed variety are especially diverse today, including sperm whales, belugas, porpoises, and so, so many dolphins (among others). This episode, we explore what makes toothed whales distinct – besides the obvious – and what the whale fossil record tells us about how they came to be among the most successful marine animals in Earth history.

In the news: leaf-eating birds, tiny whales, whale-like reptiles, and giant whales.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:07:25
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:42:45
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:24:15
Patron question: 02:23:45

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

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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