The Common Descent Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Snake Stuff with Ali Ashraf Jul 16, 2026

Show notes

Happy Snake Month!

In this bonus episode, we're joined by friend of the podcast Ali Ashraf to talk about his research on the distribution and evolution of water snakes!

This month only! Join the Snakes & Crocs Tier on our Patreon to receive a Snake Month sticker and to contribute to charitable donations toward reptile and other wildlife conservation!
www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

This year, our donations are going toward:
Save the Snakes
https://savethesnakes.org/
The Crocodile Research Coalition
https://crocodileresearchcoalition.org/
The Natural Resources Defense Council
https://www.nrdc.org/

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

Episode 247 – Vipers Jul 04, 2026

Show notes

Happy Snake Month!

Some of the most fascinating, famous, and dangerous snakes on the planet belong to the family Viperidae. Vipers include some of the world’s most specialized ambush hunters, and they are one of the most diverse and successful groups of snakes. This episode, we take a tour through the many visages of vipers, we explore their unique adaptations from head to tail, and we investigate the deep history that led them to their incredible modern success.

In the news: colorful crocs, pregnant mussels, tiny migration, and surprising snakes.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:45
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:40:25
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:26:15
Patron question: 03:04:40

With the help of our Patrons, we’ll be donating this year to:
Save the Snakes https://savethesnakes.org/
The Crocodile Research Coalition https://crocodileresearchcoalition.org/
The Natural Resources Defense Council https://www.nrdc.org/

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

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

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

Episode 246 - Gharials Jun 20, 2026

Show notes

Happy Croc Month!

Most living crocodilian species look pretty similar overall – that’s why there are so many tips for telling alligators from crocodiles – but one group really stands out with their bulging eyes and remarkably slender snouts. This episode, we explore the various features and habits that make gharials unique among crocs, and which have caused no end of confusion for scientists trying to sort out their evolutionary history. And, of course, we’ll take a trip into the fossil record to visit some of the most extraordinary long-snouted crocs of the distant past.

In the news: hagfish eyes, dinosaur arms, fungal spores, and fishing dinosaurs.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:45
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:40:30
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:09:35
Patron question: 02:12:00

With the help of our Patrons, we’ll be donating this year to:
The Crocodile Research Coalition https://crocodileresearchcoalition.org/
Save the Snakes https://savethesnakes.org/
The Natural Resources Defense Council https://www.nrdc.org/

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

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

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

Croc Chat with Maddie Turala Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Happy Croc Month!

In this bonus episode, we're joined by friend of the podcast Maddie Turala to talk about her research on estimating body size in fossil alligators!

This month only! Join the Crocs & Snakes Tier on our Patreon to receive a Croc Month sticker and to contribute to charitable donations toward reptile and other wildlife conservation!
www.patreon.com/commondescentpodcast

This year, our donations are going toward:
The Crocodile Research Coalition
https://crocodileresearchcoalition.org/
Save the Snakes
https://savethesnakes.org/
The Natural Resources Defense Council
https://www.nrdc.org/

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

Episode 245 - Cycads Jun 06, 2026

Show notes

Cycads are cousins of conifers, and although they can be found throughout the modern tropics, they are often considered a visual indicator of prehistory. This episode, Aly joins us to explore what sets cycads apart from other plants, what we know of their deep history, and whether they truly deserve their reputation as dinosaur food.

In the news: toothless crocs, Arctic mammals, turtle relations, and crater life.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:10:35
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:41:00
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:25:55
Patron question: 02:00:45

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

Episode 244 - Sea Turtles May 23, 2026

Show notes

Most modern turtles are pretty good in the water, but only some are truly ocean-dwellers. This episode, we explore the unique and diverse lifestyles and anatomy of modern sea turtles, then we take a tour of turtles through time, visiting the surprising number of ancient lineages that have taken to the seas and the surprising forms some of them have taken.

In the news: twisted jaws, early centipedes, Ediacaran microbes, and Neanderthal teeth

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:04:45
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:43:50
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:30:10
Patron question: 02:14:60

Happy World Turtle Day! https://worldturtleday.org/

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

Episode 243 - Burrowers May 09, 2026

Show notes

A lot of life on Earth happens underground. This episode, we sample the species that have taken to a life of digging in the dirt – and elsewhere – why they do it and what physical adaptations help them along the way. Then, we’ll take a tour of burrows in the fossil record and explore what clues paleontologists can use to determine which ancient critter constructed a given burrow.

In the news: malaria history, false octopus, pterosaur tracks, and giant octopus.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:05:55
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:45:05
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:17:55
Patron question: 02:12:45

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

Leaf it to Us Season 2 Trailer May 01, 2026

Show notes

Leaf it to Us Season 2 is coming! Episode 1 drops on May 7th!

You can find Leaf it to Us on any podcast platform!

Consider supporting Leaf it to Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

And connect with the community in these places: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

The Leaf it to Us theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/

Silver Screen Science - The Valley of Gwangi (1969) Apr 30, 2026

Show notes

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore science on the big screen and beyond. This year, we’re taking a tour through cinematic history with Old School Dinosaurs!

This episode, we’re wrapping things up with a tale of cowboys and dinosaurs in The Valley of Gwangi!

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.

Episode 242 - Fire Apr 25, 2026

Show notes

Earth is a very flammable world. The combination of heat, oxygen, and burnable plants makes fire a constant feature of our planet. Many modern ecosystems thrive in the presence of fire, and lots of plant and animal species have adapted to avoid or take advantage of the flames. This episode, we explore the diverse topic of fire ecology, and we take a tour through the deep history of fire on Earth.

In the news: Triassic crocs, anglerfish lures, behavior and evolution, and synapsid babies.

Time markers:
Intro & Announcements: 00:00:00
News: 00:06:30
Main discussion, Part 1: 00:48:25
Main discussion, Part 2: 01:35:05
Patron question: 02:17:55

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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