Common Descent
@commondescentpod
A podcast about paleontology, evolution, and the history of life on Earth. Hosted by Will🐊 and David🐍
Our final episode of our Old School DInos series! This episode, we’re wrapping things up with a tale of cowboys and dinosaurs in The Valley of Gwangi!
This episode, we visit a classic of mid-century caveman-versus-dinosaur cinema, with One Million Years B.C.
This episode, we compile and compare a handful of dino-themed short films from the early days of dinosaur movies: Gertie the Dinosaur, The Ghost of Slumber Mountain, and the Rite of Spring segment from Disney’s Fantasia.
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 start things off with the great grand-daddy of dinosaur movies: The Lost World (1925).
The last episode of Pok-É! This episode, we take on the super-ancient Pokémon of Hoenn. How could natural selection result in masters of the sea, land, and sky embroiled in an endless feud? Our creatures to create this time: Kyogre, Groudon, and Rayquaza.
More Pok-É! This episode, we take a tour of the Paradox Pokémon. Where on the tree of life could we find a pair of dragons built for battle and all-terrain travel? Our creatures to create this time: Koraidon and Miraidon.
This one's a doozy! This episode, we grapple with the Order Pokémon. What biological explanations can we find for an ecological guardian of many, many faces? Our creature to create this time: Zygarde.
Pok-É continues! 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.
Welcome ... to Pok-É! 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. Listen now!
In honor of the 30th anniversary of the Pokémon franchise, we're expanding the Spook-E-verse with some speculatively-evolved Legendary Pokémon. Five episodes, starting February 7th.
Happy New Year! Please enjoy our annual question-answering marathon, now longer than ever! Thank you so much to everyone who listens, shares, and supports the podcast.
This year's Spook-E theme was Monsters of Nintendo, but a certain franchise was missing... Join us in February for a special Speculative Evolution series called Pok-É!
The latest episode of Briks with Bask is a LEGO tribute to one of our favorite Spook-E creations!
Loyal, curious, and ready to go! Spook-E Season wraps up today with Cute-E! This episode, we pluck precious partners from the soil. What could be the evolutionary background of tiny and colorful workers that blend the features of plants and animals? Our creatures to create this time: Pikmin.
The galaxy is not at peace! And neither is the Spook-E-Verse with these around! This episode, we take the hunt across the stars. What biological explanation can we find for jellyfish-shaped parasites with a complex and terrifying life cycle? Our creatures to create this time: Metroids.
So they're finally here! Episode 3 of Spook-E is out now! This time, we’re sailing with the scourges of DK Isle. What circumstances might lead to the evolution of crocodile-faced humanoid pirates? Our creatures to create this time: Kremlings.
It's dangerous to go alone! There are new monsters afoot! This episode, we take a trip to the Kingdom of Hyrule. How might nature develop an octopus-like monster with a penchant for projectiles? Our creatures to create this time: Ocotoroks.
Next weekend, we're gonna be back in Georgia! Friday, October 17th, 7pm, we're presenting at the Athens Science Cafe at Terrapin Brewery in Athens, GA. Saturday, October 18th starting at 1pm, we'll be hanging out at the Fernbank Museum in Atlanta for a last Museum Meet-up! Come say hi!
Let's-a go! Our first monster of 2025 is here! This episode, we begin with a baddie from the Mushroom Kingdom. What evolutionary path might generate a pipe-dwelling plant-like predator? Our creatures to create this time: Piranha Plants.
IT'S SPOOK-E SEASON! Four episodes! Every Saturday! Monsters of Nintendo! Then Cute-E! Then a Livestream! Follow us all Spook-E Season long on social media, in our Discord, and of course on the episodes themselves!
Spook-E is coming up! Our series where we speculate upon the evolution of fictional monsters! This year's theme: Monsters of NINTENDO New episode each Saturday in October, Cute-E the first of November, and a Spook-E Livestream on November 8th! Engage in your own spookulations over on our Discord!