Best Naturalscience Podcasts (2025)

1
"Suciasaurus rex," the State Dinosaur of Washington 17:56

3d ago17:56

17:56

(image source: https://www.heraldnet.com/northwest/suciasaurus-rex-named-washington-states-official-dinosaur/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Jason Zolle discuss “Suciasaurus rex,” an informally named fossil that’s probably Daspletosaurus or something but that’s not the state dinosaur of Washington, is it? Listen to our episode on that parti…

1
Hoplitosaurus, the Hoplite Lizard 15:16

10d ago15:16

15:16

(original image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/sauropelta_5c34.jpg) Happy 300 episodes! Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Leonychus the Hoplitosaurus, King of the Lakota Formation, discuss (by performing an overly dramatic farcical audiodrama) Hoplitosaurus, a heavily defended creature that fought the encroaching Acrocanthosaurus a…

1
Cover Crops and the Transition to Organic with Nick Boogades 44:33

14d ago44:33

44:33

“Early impacts of cover crop selection on soil biological parameters during a transition to organic agriculture” with Nick Boodages. Incorporating cover crops is an important step in the transition from conventional to organic growing practices, but in Texas, limited resources can bring complications. In this episode, Nick joins me to discuss his w…

1
Rhizodus, the Rooted Tooth 20:10

17d ago20:10

20:10

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Rhizodus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Rhizodus, the largest ever freshwater fish that had so much rizz it lived for 30 million whole years. Rhizodus-dizz, thanks for all the rizz! From the Early Carboniferous, this 20-foot sarcopterygian was actually more closely relat…

1
Shantungosaurus, the Lizard of the Shandong Province 20:20

24d ago20:20

20:20

(image source: https://makerworld.com/en/models/767570-shantungosaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Shantungosaurus, a big big BIG duckbilled dinosaur, and in fact the biggest non-sauropod dinosaur ever! Then again, I’m the biggest guy named Matthew who’s written a book called Megazoic. Probably, anyways. From the La…

1
Catactegenys, the Crushing Jaw 20:50

1M ago20:50

20:50

(image source: http://bit.ly/4kjy8Dk) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Catactegenys, a type of night lizard, which is a group still alive today BUUUUT there’s a really big and exciting study about them involving the big meteor that killed the dinosaurs so it counts. I make the rules! From the Late Cretaceous to the Late Ho…

1
Shuvuuia, the Mongolian Bird 29:56

1M ago29:56

29:56

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Shuvuuia-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-hosts Jaymes Buckman and their boyfriend Toby discuss Shuvuuia, the tiny, quirky desert-dwelling dino-bird-thing that proves you don’t need claws, wings, or teeth to be iconic, just a good sense of direction and a thirst for termites. Yum. From the Late …

1
Soybean Seed Protein Decline with Dr. Anuj Chiluwal 36:45

1M ago36:45

36:45

“United States soybean seed protein concentrations – current status, challenges and some potential crop management solutions” with Dr. Anuj Chiluwal. Soybeans are a crucial crop in the United States for a variety of uses, including for its use as a protein source in animal feed. However, in recent years, high yield varieties have seen a steady decl…

1
Gallimimus, the Chicken Mimic 19:39

2M ago19:39

19:39

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/gallimimus-paleoart-by-me--236087205460103553/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Gallimimus, a classic dinosaur and pioneer of the visual effects industry… at least for us humans. I doubt it dabbled in any visual effects work itself. From the Late Cretaceous, this 20-foot ornit…

1
David Zigan: Bigfoot Forensics | ST 66 1:32:45

2M ago1:32:45

1:32:45

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team is joined by David Zigan, a veteran investigator with over two decades of experience as a certified peace officer in Georgia, currently working in a Crime Scene Investigations Unit near Atlanta. A graduate of the National Forensic Academy, Zigan holds certifications in latent fingerprint examination…

1
Enhydriodon, the Otter Tooth 21:47

2M ago21:47

21:47

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/676736281530757612/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Enhydriodon, a giant species of otter that you really otter avoid. That’s the kind of humor you should expect on this show. I truly can’t believe we’re nearing 300 episodes. From the Early Pliocene, this 7-foot mustelid was b…

1
Megantereon, the Giant Beast 21:48

2M ago21:48

21:48

(image source: https://newdinosaurs.com/megantereon/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lawrence Mack discuss Megantereon, a fairly typical saber-toothed cat with one major claim to fame in that we have direct evidence of it hunting early humans, so any time you think there’s danger in the darkness, you can thank this guy for instilling that in…

1
Scleromochlus, the Hard Limb 22:35

2M ago22:35

22:35

(image source: https://prehistoria.fandom.com/es/wiki/Scleromochlus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Scleromochlus, a cute little dude with absolutely nothing remarkable about it on its own and is more interesting in what it evolved into; this guy was in fact an early ancestor of the pterosaurs! Celebrate, all ye boring pe…

1
FUCA, the First Universal Common Ancestor 21:05

2M ago21:05

21:05

(image source: https://medium.com/@smartap3s/luca-and-fuca-our-great-great-great-grandmas-7880b0950e53) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-hosts Jennifer Grossman and Matt’s niece Logan (against his will) discuss FUCA, the original, original life before even LUCA was a thing, which I also covered with Jennifer about two hundred episodes earlier. From…

1
Precision Turfgrass Management with Dr. Briana Wyatt and Dallas Williams 34:22

3M ago34:22

34:22

“Using electromagnetic induction to inform precision turfgrass management strategies in sand-capped golf course fairways” with Dr. Briana Wyatt and Dallas Williams Golf courses are well known for their beautiful greens, but overusing fertilizer and water to keep them looking pristine can lead to inefficient, expensive, and environmentally damaging …

1
The Sasquatch Data Project | ST 65 1:14:50

3M ago1:14:50

1:14:50

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team presents an update on the well-attended annual Ohio Bigfoot Conference, before taking a deep-dive into one of the most promising new analytical endeavors related to relict hominoid research, The Sasquatch Data Project. Joining us to discuss this ambitious effort is Terrestrial, the nom de plume of t…

1
Dromaeosaurus, the Running Lizard 19:52

3M ago19:52

19:52

(image source: https://dinopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Dromaeosaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Dromaeosaurus, the namesake of the dromaeosaur family that are more commonly known as “raptors.” Which means Velociraptor is more the namesake of the family, but I’m talking scientifically! “Uh, actually, they’re not raptors, …

1
Smok, the Polish Dragon 19:44

3M ago19:44

19:44

(image source: https://alchetron.com/Smok-(archosaur)) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Smok, a basal archosaur that looks like a dinosaur but apparently is not. Look, it looks like one to me, but I ain’t no scientist. You should listen to them instead of this dumb show. From the Late Triassic, this 20-foot reptile was one…

1
Dinocrocuta, the Terrible Hyena 32:15

3M ago32:15

32:15

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinocrocuta by Dmitry Bogdanov) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Dinocrocuta, which is not an awesome dinosaur/crocodile hybrid like the name suggests but is instead some lame hyena thing. Oh wait, it’s actually a fricking enormous hyena thing? Eh, it’s still not as cool as a di…

1
Kunpengopterus, the Kunpeng Wing 21:14

3M ago21:14

21:14

(image source: https://marchan-forest.blogspot.com/2021/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Kunpengopterus, a monkey-like pterosaur in that it had opposable thumbs, which is pretty cool I gotta say. There’s no joke there, I genuinely think that’s cool. From the Late Jurassic, this 3-foot wukongopterid was first thought to be…

1
The Soil Health Cycle with Dr. Bijesh Maharjan 38:33

4M ago38:33

38:33

“Soil Health Cycle” with Dr. Bijesh Maharjan Researchers, advisers, and farmers alike know that soil health is important, but taking steps forward in the knowledge of which practices to use and their impacts can be difficult. Enter the soil health cycle, an iterative approach to help track how practices and their implementation take soil health for…

1
Compsognathus, the Elegant Jaw 17:13

4M ago17:13

17:13

(image source: https://ar.inspiredpencil.com/pictures-2023/compsognathus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Compsognathus, famously the smallest dinosaur of all but not so famously actually not the smallest dinosaur of all anymore, not even close. It’s been working out, getting yoked and stuff. From the Late Jurassic, this…

1
Historical Hominoids: Relicts From the Past | ST 64 1:27:03

4M ago1:27:03

1:27:03

What were the strange, hair-covered "whistlers" encountered by ancient Chinese woodsmen? What about the eerie, chest-beating "monsters" described in the legends of Indigenous Americans? And what can be made of strange tales of "wild men" encountered in various parts of the world throughout the Middle Ages? Could these early accounts actually repres…

1
Elasmotherium, the Plated Beast 20:33

4M ago20:33

20:33

(image source: https://newdinosaurs.com/elasmotherium/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Jaymes Buckman discuss Elasmotherium, a woolly rhino that’s not the Woolly Rhino but is woolly and is a rhino, so call it whatever you want I guess. From the late Pleistocene, this 18-foot rhinoceratid came equipped with a seriously metal nose horn coming …

1
Homo sapiens, the Intelligent Man 23:00

4M ago23:00

23:00

(image source: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/ ) April Fools, puny humans! Host Emperor Splozzitrox, Supreme Ruler of the Planet Zurkabong, and co-host Karzagloth, the underest of underlings, discuss Homo sapiens, the recently exterminated ground vermin that once overpopulated this hunk of space rock named Earth, a backwater planet in the Goo…

1
Megalograptus, the Great Writing 19:53

4M ago19:53

19:53

(image source: https://www.darwinsdoor.co.uk/timetour/the-ordovician-period.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Megalograptus, another nope of a creature but this time an ocean-bound nope, so it’s slightly more forgivable. Wait, I’ve just been told they can sometimes go onto land anyway? Nope, nope, NOPE! From the Late…

1
Protoceratops, the First Horned Face 22:31

5M ago22:31

22:31

(image source: https://www.thoughtco.com/things-to-know-protoceratops-1093796) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Protoceratops, a hardy and stocky fellow with a tubby body and a grumpy attitude. I really relate to this creature. From the Late Cretaceous, this 8-foot ceratopsian lived in the desert with the more famous Velo…

1
Speed Breeding to Combat Wheat Disease with Drs. Nidhi Rawat and Vijay Tiwari 37:50

5M ago37:50

37:50

“Evaluation of speed breeding conditions for accelerating Fusarium head blight and deoxynivalenol screening in wheat” with Nidhi Rawat and Vivek Tiwari. Fusarium head blight (FHB), also known as head scab, is one of the most significant diseases affecting wheat, causing substantial economic losses for farmers in the U.S. and worldwide. While FHB re…

1
Appalachiosaurus, the Appalachian Lizard 31:43

5M ago31:43

31:43

(image source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/347129083760903111/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Appalachiosaurus, a tyrannosaur living on the East Coast like some city slicker sellout. Never forget your Western roots here in Laramidia! Remember who you are! From the Late Cretaceous, this 25-foot theropod dinosaur is the on…

1
Jeff Carpenter: In Search of the Appalachian Sasquatch | ST 63 1:11:40

5M ago1:11:40

1:11:40

In this installment, after the team opens with a discussion about new legislation in California that seeks to make Bigfoot the official state cryptid, we are joined by researcher Jeff Carpenter, who discusses his experiences covering more than 20 years of research into the Sasquatch (Bigfoot) legend as well as local history/legends from the WNC mou…

1
Ceratosaurus, the Horned Lizard 31:56

5M ago31:56

31:56

(image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/Ceratosaurus3_1b79.jpg) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Ceratosaurus, an almost-famous dinosaur that often gets overshadowed by Allosaurus, which gets overshadowed by Saurophaganax, which just recently got overshadowed again by Allosaurus because the latter is now unfortu…

1
A. anax, the Usurper of Saurophaganax 26:50

5M ago26:50

26:50

(image source: https://images.dinosaurpictures.org/Saurophaganax-Paul-Heaston1_2121.jpg) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Allosaurus anax, the new lord of the lizard eaters after supplanting the great and now dubious Saurophaganax after a hard-fought duel. There is truly no mercy sometimes in the battlefield of science. F…

1
Kidnapped by Sasquatch | ST 62 1:42:12

5M ago1:42:12

1:42:12

In this episode of Sasquatch Tracks, the team takes a deep dive into the enigma of Sasquatch kidnappings, with a look at the most well-known cases involving alleged abductions by relict hominoids. We also examine traditional beliefs among Indigenous American groups regarding such incidents, and the possible anthropological and biological factors be…

1
Temnodontosaurus, the Cutting-Tooth Lizard 35:29

5M ago35:29

35:29

(image source: https://artpictures.club/autumn-2023.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Michele C. Hollow discuss Temnodontosaurus, a rather large marine reptile with potentially the largest eyes of any animal ever at 10 inches wide. Sheesh, my most impressive body part in terms of size is only half that length! From the Early Jurassic, thi…

1
Economics of Autonomous Strip-Cropping with Professor James Lowenberg-DeBoer 34:46

6M ago34:46

34:46

“Economics of strip cropping with autonomous machines” with James Lowenberg-DeBoer. With the growing global population, the demand for food continues to rise. However, increasing food production often depends on intensive farming practices and agricultural inputs that can negatively impact environmental health. To counter this, promoting crop diver…

1
Hippodraco, the Horse Dragon 23:35

6M ago23:35

23:35

(image source: https://dinosaurpictures.org/Hippodraco-pictures) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Laura Owsley discuss Hippodraco, a dinosaur with a funny name that makes me think of hippos, horses, dragons, and a shipping portmanteau between Draco Malfoy and the hippogriff he tried to get killed. What a cacophony of emotions this guy brings o…

1
Magnolia, of Great Excellence 21:38

6M ago21:38

21:38

(image source: https://fineartamerica.com/featured/styracosaurus-eating-magnolias-with-lambeosaurus-phil-wilson.html) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Magnolia, another wonderful example of a prehistoric animal we cover on this show in that it is not an animal and is also still around today. It’s okay to break rules if yo…

1
Atlasaurus, the Lizard of the Titan Atlas 27:24

6M ago27:24

27:24

(image source: https://www.minizoo.com.au/eofauna-atlasaurus/) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Jaymes Buckman discuss Atlasaurus, a lanky and wonky longneck that looks just wrong and quite frankly disgusts me. Look at its proportions, look at it! It’s like if A.I. made a dinosaur. From the Mid Jurassic, this 49 foot sauropod had a shorter nec…

1
Tim Halloran: The Bigfoot Influencers | ST 61 1:21:53

6M ago1:21:53

1:21:53

It's an all new year of Sasquatchery... and as the team kicks off 2025, we dive into the famous story of the "Minnesota Iceman" and the claims involving a frozen relict hominoid, and then shift out attention over to recent news involving a Texas-based company's efforts to try and revive ancient extinct species that include the Woolley Mammoth, the …

1
Lokiceratops, the Horned Face of Loki 23:58

6M ago23:58

23:58

(image source: https://allthatsinteresting.com/lokiceratops-rangiformis) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Lokiceratops, a dinosaur with asymmetrical horns, much like my relationship with my girlfriend where we’re asymmetrical in our horniness for each other. From the Late Cretaceous, this 22-foot centrosaurine ceratopsid is a…

1
Benefits of Microarthropods with Dr. Ashley Jernigan 33:06

7M ago33:06

33:06

“Microarthropods improve oat nutritional quality and mediate fertilizer effects on soil biological activity” with Dr. Ashley Jernigan Microarthropods are little critters that can have a big impact on crop production, particularly when it comes to nutrient cycling and nutrient acquisition. However, there’s still much to learn about how the work thes…

1
Austroraptor, the Southern Thief 32:02

7M ago32:02

32:02

(image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austroraptor by Fred Wierum) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Ben O’Regan discuss Austroraptor, a dromaeosaurid theropod masquerading as a spinosaurid theropod, because that sentence is comprehensible to more than hardcore dino nerds. From the Late Cretaceous, this 18-foot meat-eating dinosaur snapp…

1
Heterodontosaurus, the Different-Toothed Lizard 22:37

7M ago22:37

22:37

(image source: https://paleontologyworld.com/dinosaurs-%E2%80%93-species-encycolpedia/heterodontosaurus) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Allen Brooks discuss Heterodontosaurus, a very heteronormative dinosaur in that it had heterodont (or “differently-shaped”) teeth. Canceled! You’re canceled by the woke police, Heterodontosaurus! Love is lov…

1
Pulmonoscorpius, the Lunged Scorpion 29:21

7M ago29:21

29:21

(image source: https://prehistoricpark.fandom.com/wiki/Pulmonoscorpius) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Natasha Krech discuss Pulmonoscorpius, another nope of a nope that crept and crawled and stabbed and stung. Why don't you stay over there and I stay way over here, you big monster? I think that's an arrangement we can all agree on. From the…

1
Season's Squatching: A Relict Hominoid Holiday Special | ST 60 1:32:33

7M ago1:32:33

1:32:33

'Tis the season... of Squatching! As the holiday season makes its way to the snowy peaks around the Appalachian Institute for Hominological Studies, the Sasquatch Tracks team is joined for a yuletide-themed holiday Sasquatch conversation covering all things cryptid with friend of the program and renowned artist Sam Shearon. Along with his impressiv…

1
Uintatherium, the Beast of the Uinta Mountains 24:23

7M ago24:23

24:23

(image source: https://www.thoughtco.com/uintatherium-profile-1093289) Merry Christmas! Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host and one of Santa’s elves Snowdrop Jimjam Jollypie discuss Uintatherium, a big hoofed mammal kind of like a rhino but with these weird antler-things on its head like a reindeer on crack. That’s the Christmas connection I’m ma…

1
Grazing Cover Crops in the Great Plains with Drs. John Holman and Augustine Obour 50:08

7M ago50:08

50:08

“Grazing cover crops: How does it influence soils and crops?” with Drs. John Holman and Augustine Obour. Cover crops have a lot of uses depending on where you live and what you grow, but in some regions like the Great Plains, it can take a little extra help to make sure they’re as helpful as they can be. In this episode, John and Augustine join me …

1
Capromeryx, the Dwarf Pronghorn 14:15

8M ago14:15

14:15

(image source: https://alchetron.com/Capromeryx-minor) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Stephen Curro discuss Capromeryx, a teeny-tiny pronghorn with a teeny-tiny amount of information available, perfect for another teeny-tiny bite-sized episode. Dawww. From the Late Pliocene to the Early Holocene, this 2-foot hoofed mammal was among the small…

1
Les Stroud: The Survivorman and Sasquatch | ST 59 1:13:37

8M ago1:13:37

1:13:37

In this installment of Sasquatch Tracks, the team is joined by Canadian survival expert, filmmaker and musician Les Stroud for a wide-ranging discussion about his interest in the search for Sasquatch. Best known as the creator, writer, producer, director, cameraman and host of the television series Survivorman, Les Stroud has impressed television a…

1
Psittacosaurus, the Parrot Lizard 35:23

8M ago35:23

35:23

(image source: https://www.deviantart.com/lucas-attwell/art/Psittacosaurus-meileyingensis-752628599) Host Matthew Donald and guest co-host Lexi Ryan discuss Psittacosaurus, an early representative of the dinosaurs that would later become Triceratops and Styracosaurus and the like despite looking almost nothing like one. It has the parrot-like beak …

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