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!
Chart trend
Position in the Natural Sciences chart (US), last 90 days.
#1#9#16JunJulAugSep
#6
all-time peak
279
days in the top 10 since Nov 2024
Latest episodes
Showing 20 · updated from the feed
Episode 251 - The Sun
#42 trending · Natural Sciences
The Sun is kind of a big deal. It is the center of our solar system, around which all other objects revolve, and its heat and light are responsible for the life-supportin
Aug 30 2 h 44 min
Episode 250 - Camels
Large, herbivorous mammals come in many shapes and sizes, but few are as famously unusual as camels. This episode, we explore the surprising adaptations of Old World and
Aug 16 2 h 21 min
Episode 249 - Sexual Dimorphism
In most animal species, there are differences in the anatomy, behavior, and lifestyle of male and female individuals. In this episode, we explore the incredible variety o
Aug 2 2 h 57 min
Episode 248 - Big Cats
Felines come in all shapes and sizes, but only a handful of them are large enough and in charge enough to have earned the title of “Big Cats.” This episode, we’re joined
Jul 19 2 h 56 min
Snake Stuff with Ali Ashraf
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!
Jul 16 57 min
Episode 247 – Vipers
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 speci
Jul 5 3 h 16 min
Episode 246 - Gharials
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
Jun 21 2 h 24 min
Croc Chat with Maddie Turala
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!
T
Jun 17 57 min
Episode 245 - Cycads
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, Al
Jun 7 2 h 14 min
Episode 244 - Sea Turtles
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
May 24 2 h 27 min
Episode 243 - Burrowers
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
May 10 2 h 22 min
Leaf it to Us Season 2 Trailer
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
May 1 2 min
Silver Screen Science - The Valley of Gwangi (1969)
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 Dinosa
Apr 30 1 h 12 min
Episode 242 - Fire
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 pr
Apr 26 2 h 29 min
Silver Screen Science - One Million Years B.C. (1966)
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 Dinosa
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 Dinosa
Apr 16 1 h 17 min
Episode 241 - Digestion
The world is full of food, but in order to make the most of it, living organisms need to be able to break it down and extract the useful nutrients. This episode, we explo
Apr 12 2 h 19 min
Silver Screen Science - The Lost World (1925)
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 Dinosa
Apr 9 1 h 15 min
Episode 240 - Terror Birds
For most of the Cenozoic Era, South America was home to an incredible group of predatory birds called phorusrhacids, which included some of the largest carnivorous birds
Mar 29 2 h 42 min
Episode 239 - Nocturnality
Creatures of the night! The world is a different place in the dark, and a whole array of organisms have adapted to being most active outside of daytime hours. This episod
Mar 15 2 h 14 min
Chart positions
Where The Common Descent Podcast ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 12, 2026).
A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.
I've been binging this podcast since I discovered it a week ago. The hosts are so talented at explaining the topics clearly and with infectious enthusiasm. I'm learning so much, and I’m having a great time listening. Definitely one of my favorite podcasts of all time.
sparkmark_abc · Sep 2025
I’ve been binging for almost a month. For any one with an interest in paleontology these guys are awesome!! Dave and Will are very good at using and then explaining the technical terms. Truly can’t recommend this enough!!!
JerryM12345 · Aug 2025
I’ve really been enjoying this podcast so much! I was homeschooled and taught only creationism not evolution, so I’ve just been so hungry for knowledge in this area as I became an adult. I’ve found the wide range of topics so interesting and helpful in learning about topics I wasn’t really taught. I want to give a big thank you to the guys doing this podcast and making this knowledge so accessible to the average person! It’s been so enjoyable and informative! I would highly recommend this podcast!
Catzo1313 · Jun 2025
I found this podcast because I was fascinated by the Western Interior Seaway. So listened to that episode. I have been hooked since. Although paleontology is not my field (I am in environmental science) I love the little bits of geology, ecology, meteorology that I find here. Also, I love the format of this podcast. I am easily overstimulated and this laid back in depth dive is exactly how I can take in information. THANK YOU!!
Dianedm · Jan 2025
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