Best Paleontology Podcasts (2025)

1
Episode 165: Ants Pt2 49:34

3h ago49:34

49:34

Ants are a hugely successful family of eusocial insects with over 14,000 modern species described. They are known from every continent except Antarctica and show a wide range of ecologies. Whilst many of us are familiar with their highly organised social structures and castes, there still remain a lot of public misconceptions about how their societ…

1
Episode 165: Ants Pt2 49:34

3h ago49:34

49:34

Ants are a hugely successful family of eusocial insects with over 14,000 modern species described. They are known from every continent except Antarctica and show a wide range of ecologies. Whilst many of us are familiar with their highly organised social structures and castes, there still remain a lot of public misconceptions about how their societ…

1
Podcast 312 - Sick Skateboard Tricks 1:36:56

3d ago1:36:56

1:36:56

The gang discusses two papers about the ecology of sauropods. The first paper investigates the biomechanics of the Plateosaurus tail, and the second paper looks at direct evidence of sauropod diet from gut contents. Meanwhile, James “makes it interesting”, Amanda may have recorded on the wrong microphone, Curt makes a bold rebrand, and everyone vag…

1
Jurassic World Rebirth 1:29:31

6d ago1:29:31

1:29:31

We saw Jurassic World Rebirth on opening day, but haven't discussed it with each other yet. We share all our favorite moments, dinosaurs, and theories about the movie. For all of our fun facts and other details go to https://iknowdino.com/-Episode-543/ In this episode, we break down the horror-infused tone of Jurassic World: Rebirth, from malfuncti…

1
Jurassic World Rebirth 1:29:31

6d ago1:29:31

1:29:31

We saw Jurassic World Rebirth on opening day, but haven't discussed it with each other yet. We share all our favorite moments, dinosaurs, and theories about the movie. For all of our fun facts and other details go to https://iknowdino.com/-Episode-543/ In this episode, we break down the horror-infused tone of Jurassic World: Rebirth, from malfuncti…

1
Episode 221 - Legless Lizards 2:30:24

10d ago2:30:24

2:30:24

Lizards are extremely good at becoming snake-shaped. A long body with small or absent limbs is a shape that has evolved dozens of times across nearly every major lineage of lizards. This episode, we explore the diversity of leglessness in lizards, we discuss which groups have done it and which groups have done it best, and we examine what’s known a…

1
Episode 164: Ants Pt1 44:05

14d ago44:05

44:05

Ants are a hugely successful family of eusocial insects with over 14,000 modern species described. They are known from every continent except Antarctica and show a wide range of ecologies. Whilst many of us are familiar with their highly organised social structures and castes, there still remain a lot of public misconceptions about how their societ…

1
Episode 164: Ants Pt1 44:05

14d ago44:05

44:05

Ants are a hugely successful family of eusocial insects with over 14,000 modern species described. They are known from every continent except Antarctica and show a wide range of ecologies. Whilst many of us are familiar with their highly organised social structures and castes, there still remain a lot of public misconceptions about how their societ…

1
Podcast 311 - On a Wing and a Trace 1:17:26

17d ago1:17:26

1:17:26

The gang continues “Wet Hot Archosaur Summer” with a discussion about pterosaur trace fossils. The first paper tests a method for assigning pterosaur traces to potential trace makers, and the second paper is a case study of actually assigning traces to a species. Meanwhile, Amanda herds cats (figuratively and literally), James can only accomplish t…

1
All About Allosaurus 1:12:36

18d ago1:12:36

1:12:36

New species, old species, size, behavior, and everything we else we know about Allosaurus! For links to every news story, sources about Allosaurus, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Allosaurus revisited-Episode-542/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosaur requests, bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more. Dinosaur of the …

1
All About Allosaurus 1:12:36

18d ago1:12:36

1:12:36

New species, old species, size, behavior, and everything we else we know about Allosaurus! For links to every news story, sources about Allosaurus, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Allosaurus revisited-Episode-542/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosaur requests, bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more. Dinosaur of the …

1
TLS11E06 LIVE AT FOSSIL FESTIVAL 1:07:50

21d ago1:07:50

1:07:50

June, rather incredibly, marks the fifth anniversary of the launch of series 1, episode 1 of the podcast. As a rather fortuitous bit of timing, we were invited to host a live Terrible Lizards event at Lyme Regis (home of Mary Anning) for their Fossil Festival. We could hardly say ‘no’, so here is a recording of that hour long session where we field…

1
Episode 220 - Terrestrial Crocs 2:27:35

24d ago2:27:35

2:27:35

Today’s crocs are iconic semi-aquatic predators, but their extended family tree features lots of land-dwelling cousins. This episode, we take a tour through croc evolutionary history and explore the many times these reptiles have taken to life on dry land. We’ll examine what features these terrestrial crocs shared, which ones they didn’t, and what …

1
Podcast 310 - This Podcast Is Two Darth Vaders Tall 1:13:06

1M ago1:13:06

1:13:06

Wet Hot Archosaur Summer continues as the gang discusses two papers about crocodylomorph evolution. The first paper looks at the impact mass extinctions had on disparity within the group, and the second paper uses new phylogenetic data to revise our understanding of size trends and biogeography of crocodylomorphs during the Cenozoic. Meanwhile, Cur…

1
Dungeons, Dragons, & Dinosaurs 58:32

1M ago58:32

58:32

Dr. Michael O'Sullivan joins to discuss his part in bringing dinosaurs to Dungeons & Dragons (and Pathfinder). We also cover the latest and greatest AI methods used in paleontology. Plus two new "compsognathid-like" dinosaurs and an ankylosaur for our dinosaur of the day. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Panoplosaur…

1
Dungeons, Dragons, & Dinosaurs 58:32

1M ago58:32

58:32

Dr. Michael O'Sullivan joins to discuss his part in bringing dinosaurs to Dungeons & Dragons (and Pathfinder). We also cover the latest and greatest AI methods used in paleontology. Plus two new "compsognathid-like" dinosaurs and an ankylosaur for our dinosaur of the day. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Panoplosaur…

1
Episode 219 - Beringia 1:48:37

1M ago1:48:37

1:48:37

For over 100 million years, North America and Asia have been connected over the Pacific Ocean through a region called Beringia. The comings and going of plants and animals across this connection have shaped ecosystems of the past and present. This episode, we explore the geologic history of the region and which ancient species have managed to live …

1
Podcast 309 - Wet Hot Archosaur Summer Begins 1:18:27

1M ago1:18:27

1:18:27

The gang kicks off a summer of archosaurs by talking about crocodyliforms. The first paper describes an early Cenozoic large notosuchian, and the second paper investigates how cryptic species impacts divergence times within the clade. Meanwhile, Curt diagnoses a problem, James tries to “help”, and Amanda does not care. Up-Goer Five (Curt Edition): …

1
Three Cute New Titanosaurs 41:46

2M ago41:46

41:46

Uriash kadici and Petrustitan hungaricus lived on Hateg island and would have had to deal with the murder giraffe—Hatzegopteryx. Plus the "titan of salt" Chadititan. We also celebrate world metrology day with some dinosaur size comparisons. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Eodromaeus, and our fun fact check out http…

1
Three Cute New Titanosaurs 41:46

2M ago41:46

41:46

Uriash kadici and Petrustitan hungaricus lived on Hateg island and would have had to deal with the murder giraffe—Hatzegopteryx. Plus the "titan of salt" Chadititan. We also celebrate world metrology day with some dinosaur size comparisons. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Eodromaeus, and our fun fact check out http…

1
TLS11E05 Curating Dinosaurs II Curate Harder 59:01

2M ago59:01

59:01

Curating Dinosaurs II Curate Harder! On this episode we welcome Jordan Mallon, a long-time collaborator of Dave’s and, against the odds, a long-time listener of Terrible Lizards. While we talk about Jordan’s research and career in this pod, and his work on dinosaur sizes and ecology, this one also serves as something of a sequel to our previous epi…

1
Episode 218 - Lungs 2:15:11

2M ago2:15:11

2:15:11

Take a deep breath and appreciate for a moment the organs that let you do it so efficiently. Lungs are an invaluable tool for life out of the water, and are therefore a favorite topic for paleontologists interested in early animals on land. This episode, we explore the diversity of modern lungs and the few but fascinating insights we have into the …

1
Podcast 308 - Failing to Talk About the K/Pg Mass Extinction 1:45:05

2M ago1:45:05

1:45:05

The gang tries to discuss two papers that look at the evolutionary impacts of the K-Pg mass extinction. Specifically, they look at one paper that estimates sampling probability throughout the late Cretaceous to determine if record bias influences our understanding of the extinction, and another paper that looks at species area relationships to inve…

1
Award Winning Paleoartist Franco Tempesta 53:46

2M ago53:46

53:46

We have loved Franco's art longer than we knew the term "paleoart". He joins to explain his process of illustrating for books–including ours. Plus a new sauropodomorph with a big head named Lishulong wangi. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Chilantaisaurus, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Chilantaisa…

1
Award Winning Paleoartist Franco Tempesta 53:46

2M ago53:46

53:46

We have loved Franco's art longer than we knew the term "paleoart". He joins to explain his process of illustrating for books–including ours. Plus a new sauropodomorph with a big head named Lishulong wangi. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Chilantaisaurus, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Chilantaisa…

1
Episode 217 - Bears 2:23:51

2M ago2:23:51

2:23:51

Bears are among the most charismatic and impressive mammals. They have large bodies, very flexible lifestyles, and an extensive fossil record that includes some of the best-preserved and largest fossil mammals of all time. This episode, we explore what makes bears so distinctive and successful, and how their diversity has changed over time. In the …

1
Dinosaurs on Trial 2: Double Jeopardy 41:02

2M ago41:02

41:02

We bring back our fan-favorite segment: Dinosaurs on Trial! Patrons submitted dinosaur “crimes,” and we argue the cases like whether or not compsognathids are misidentified juvenile theropods. Plus a new ornithomimid from Uzbekistan named Dzharacursor. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Nurosaurus, and our fun fact ch…

1
Dinosaurs on Trial 2: Double Jeopardy 41:02

2M ago41:02

41:02

We bring back our fan-favorite segment: Dinosaurs on Trial! Patrons submitted dinosaur “crimes,” and we argue the cases like whether or not compsognathids are misidentified juvenile theropods. Plus a new ornithomimid from Uzbekistan named Dzharacursor. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Nurosaurus, and our fun fact ch…

1
Podcast 307 - Glow in the Dark Shrew Jorts 1:36:26

2M ago1:36:26

1:36:26

The gang discusses two papers that look at the evolutionary impact of shifts in habitat occupation. The first paper looks at a clade of sharks moving into the depths, and the second paper investigates habitat shifts in mammals across the Cretaceous and Paleogene. Meanwhile, Amanda has some opinions, James is doing much better, and Curt is easy to a…

1
Over 100 Middle Jurassic tracks from Scotland 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Interview with Tone Blakesley, who recently described 131 dinosaur footprints on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The tracks include those made by Megalosaurus and Cetiosaurus (or close relatives) and Tone made an accompanying documentary for the paper. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Ornithodesmus, links from Tone Blak…

1
Over 100 Middle Jurassic tracks from Scotland 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Interview with Tone Blakesley, who recently described 131 dinosaur footprints on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. The tracks include those made by Megalosaurus and Cetiosaurus (or close relatives) and Tone made an accompanying documentary for the paper. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Ornithodesmus, links from Tone Blak…

1
TLS11E04 Curating Dinosaurs 59:07

3M ago59:07

59:07

We have talked about all manner of fundamentals of research on fossils over the years here on Terrible Lizards, including finding and excavating fossils, writing and publishing papers, reconstructing animals from fragments and more. But we’ve somehow really glossed over the role of museums that store and protect fossils and make them available for …

1
Episode 216 - Plankton 2:10:20

3M ago2:10:20

2:10:20

Just about every body of water on Earth, from oceans to puddles, is home to an ecosystem of tiny drifting organisms. This episode, we discuss what sorts of organisms we might expect to find in a swarm of plankton, we’ll explore how plankton is so fundamental to biological and geological systems on Earth, and we’ll take some time to lay out some of …

1
A New Middle Jurassic Allosauroid 17:41

3M ago17:41

17:41

Yuanmouraptor wasn't a raptor or a megaraptorid, but it did have two foot long jaws full of sharp, serrated, teeth. Plus a "noble" tyrannosauroid, Kileskus, that had a long crest down its head and lived about 100 million years before T. rex. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Kileskus, and our fun fact check out https…

1
A New Middle Jurassic Allosauroid 17:41

3M ago17:41

17:41

Yuanmouraptor wasn't a raptor or a megaraptorid, but it did have two foot long jaws full of sharp, serrated, teeth. Plus a "noble" tyrannosauroid, Kileskus, that had a long crest down its head and lived about 100 million years before T. rex. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Kileskus, and our fun fact check out https…

1
Podcast 306 - Birbs Grinding on the Edge of the Pareto Front 1:42:43

3M ago1:42:43

1:42:43

The gang discusses two papers that use morphometrics to investigate patterns of selection on bird morphology. The first paper looks at the morphology of feathers, while the second paper looks more broadly at various parts of the avian body. Meanwhile, James breathes new life into a classic, Amanda is passionate about formatting, and Curt exposes “t…

1
A Two Fingered Therizinosaur 39:55

3M ago39:55

39:55

Duonychus tsogtbaatari was found in what is now Mongolia with strong evidence that it only had two fingers on each hand. Plus the Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer, Walking with Dinosaurs is coming back, and more. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Sinovenator, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Sinovenato…

1
A Two Fingered Therizinosaur 39:55

3M ago39:55

39:55

Duonychus tsogtbaatari was found in what is now Mongolia with strong evidence that it only had two fingers on each hand. Plus the Jurassic World: Rebirth trailer, Walking with Dinosaurs is coming back, and more. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Sinovenator, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Sinovenato…

1
Silver Screen Science - Rise of the Planet of the Apes 1:07:23

3M ago1:07:23

1:07:23

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes! Finally, we visit the ongoing prequel franchise with the story of how it all got started: Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://comm…

1
Episode 215 - Ferns 2:33:18

3M ago2:33:18

2:33:18

With several thousand living species, ferns are the second most diverse vascular plants around today, after angiosperms. Ferns are also abundant and well-known in the fossil record. This episode, Aly joins us to explore the dizzying variety of ferns and their ferny-friends, past and present. In the news: When the Earth Was Green, weird wasps, and a…

1
A New Carcharodontosaurid That You'll Never See 39:47

3M ago39:47

39:47

Tameryraptor markgrafi is a significant dinosaur that was named by an even more significant paleontologist. But only photos and a braincase of it remain. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Dakotadon, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Dakotadon-Episode-534/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosa…

1
A New Carcharodontosaurid That You'll Never See 39:47

3M ago39:47

39:47

Tameryraptor markgrafi is a significant dinosaur that was named by an even more significant paleontologist. But only photos and a braincase of it remain. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Dakotadon, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Dakotadon-Episode-534/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosa…

1
Silver Screen Science - Planet of the Apes (2001) 59:07

3M ago59:07

59:07

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes! It’s the reboot of the original, a 21st-Century take on the concept – Planet of the Apes (2001). Check out our website for blog posts and more: http://commondescentpodcast.com/ Joi…

1
Podcast 305 - Skin in the Game 1:09:48

3M ago1:09:48

1:09:48

The gang discusses two papers that look at preserved skin/external tissues. The first paper shows a unique record of Cambrian molting, and the second paper looks at the first preserved samples of plesiosaur skin. Meanwhile, Amanda commits an "own goal”, Curt shares some old internet fun, and James has opinions about fins. Up-Goer Five (Curt Edition…

1
The Shady Dinosaur and April Fowls 53:04

3M ago53:04

53:04

Archaeocursor may have been named after an April Fool's Joke, but it was a real dinosaur. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Earl Sinclair, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Earl Sinclair-Episode-533/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosaur requests, bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more. …

1
The Shady Dinosaur and April Fowls 53:04

3M ago53:04

53:04

Archaeocursor may have been named after an April Fool's Joke, but it was a real dinosaur. For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Earl Sinclair, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Earl Sinclair-Episode-533/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dinosaur requests, bonus content, ad-free episodes, and more. …

1
Silver Screen Science - Planet of the Apes (1968) 1:14:47

3M ago1:14:47

1:14:47

Silver Screen Science is our series where we explore how science is portrayed on the big screen. This year, we’re focused on one recurring franchise: Planet of the Apes! This episode, we begin where it began, with the original movie about a world where simian society is turned upside-down – Planet of the Apes (1968). Check out our website for blog …

1
Episode 214 - Saber Teeth 2:37:58

4M ago2:37:58

2:37:58

Evolution just loves a nice pair of oversized canines, especially on mammalian predators. Saber-toothed animals have shown up over and over again – we even have some today – but despite their similarities, not all of these toothy species were using their canines the same way. This episode, we explore the various shapes of functions of saber teeth a…

1
An oviraptorosaurian lovebird 26:54

4M ago26:54

26:54

A pair of Yuanyanglong were found together in the summer of 2021 after fossilizing together for 100 million years. Plus our Dino Duels continue For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Phuwiangosaurus, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Phuwiangosaurus-Episode-532/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dino…

1
An oviraptorosaurian lovebird 26:54

4M ago26:54

26:54

A pair of Yuanyanglong were found together in the summer of 2021 after fossilizing together for 100 million years. Plus our Dino Duels continue For links to every news story, all of the details we shared about Phuwiangosaurus, and our fun fact check out https://iknowdino.com/Phuwiangosaurus-Episode-532/ Join us at www.patreon.com/iknowdino for dino…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Paleontology Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide