iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Spook-E Season is here! We evolve our first aliens TOMORROW!

Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 30/04/2026

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!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

This episode, we visit a classic of mid-century caveman-versus-dinosaur cinema, with One Million Years B.C.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 09/04/2026

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).

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 07/03/2026

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 28/02/2026

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 14/02/2026

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 07/02/2026

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!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 30/01/2026

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.

The words "Next week..." above a red-and-white ball featuring the title "Pok-E" and a stylized evolutionary tree.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 31/12/2025

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 15/11/2025

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!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 12/11/2025

The latest episode of Briks with Bask is a LEGO tribute to one of our favorite Spook-E creations!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 01/11/2025

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 25/10/2025

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 18/10/2025

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 11/10/2025

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

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!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 04/10/2025

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.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

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!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 01/09/2025

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!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

We're going to be at DragonCon NEXT WEEKEND! Come say hi!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 01/07/2025

July is SNAKE MONTH here at Common Descent! Join us for snake-themed content, our Snake Stuff channel on Discord, and our Snake Month Livestream on July 16th! AND join the Snakes & Crocs Tier on our Patreon to support us and our scaly friends at the same time!

A cartoon snake (Coil) wearing a party hat and with a party favor in their mouth. Text says "Happy Snake Month!"

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 18/06/2025

Next week, on episode 220... Happy Croc Month!

Close-up of a strange fossil skull. Text says "Next week, on Episode 220..." Photo by Smokybjb

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 01/06/2025

Happy CROC MONTH! In honor of World Croc Day, we celebrate Crocs throughout June! We'll have themed episode discussions AND the Croc Chat channel is open on Discord AND the Crocs & Snakes Tier on Patreon is BACK - subscribe to contribute to charitable donations we're making to reptile conservation!

Bask the Alligator wearing a party hat and smiling (one assumes) with text that says "Happy Croc Month!"

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

It's Silver Screen Science month, and this month's episode of Briks with Bask is a favorite of ours - Godzilla! buff.ly/PifaLmS

A Lego build of Godzilla (the Legendary Pictures version). Text says "LEGO - Godzilla (2014)"

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 18/04/2025

Hey there plant- and paleo-fans, @restingdinoface.bsky.social wrote a new book! 🌿🥬🦕 AND she did us the honor of coming onto the podcast to talk about it! You can hear it all on our latest episode (215)!

A hand holding a book, titled When the Earth was Green by Riley Black

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 16/04/2025

This month's third episode of Silver Screen Science is out now! So much science to talk about in this movie!

Title screen for the new episode of the Common Descent Podcast: Silver Screen Science - Rise of the Planet of the Apes

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

Silver Screen Science is underway! In this year's first episode, we explore the science (and scientists) of the original Planet of the Apes.

Title screen for the newest episode of the Common Descent Podcast: Silver Screen Science: Planet of the Apes (1968)

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

We’re proud to announce a new podcast, Leaf it to Us, hosted by Nora Spurling and Aly Baumgartner! As a special preview, the pilot episode and its accompanying bonus episode are both now out on the Common Descent podcast feed! Take a listen and let us know what you think!

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Holotype is a board game about discovering and publishing ancient species! We had a great time playing and discussing with Brian and Jason from Gaming with Science. You can listen to our discussion here: www.gamingwithscience.net/e/s2e01-holo...

Cards and game pieces for the board game Holotype. There are discovery cards featuring ancient animals and a player board with researcher figures and tokens to track progress.

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 01/02/2025

Paleontology meets Lego in our new video series Briks with Bask! In the first episode, Will builds a Lego Geologic Time Scale, complete with critters from throughout Earth history! youtu.be/5JQEDeNwVS0

Blocky letters say "Briks with Bask!" on a red background. A Lego alligator peeks in from the bottom (that's Bask the alligator).

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Common Descent @commondescentpod.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

Today is our Eight-Year Anniversary! Thank you so much to everyone who has listened and engaged and supported us over the years! Our Anniversary Livestream is this weekend!

A cartoon alligator and snake (Bask and Coil) wear party hats and sit at a desk with a microphone. Art by Rob Soto.

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