Best Common Descent Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 231 - Back to the Water (Secondarily Aquatic Vertebrates) 2:43:14

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9d ago2:43:14

2:43:14

Nearly 400 million years ago, an unusual group of fish gave rise to the first land-dwelling vertebrates. Since then, their descendants have repeatedly moved back into the water. This episode, we explore the many ways these species adapt to the challenges of turning a terrestrial body into one that can survive at sea, and we investigate some of the …

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Jurassic World Rebirth with Common Descent 1:42:10

27d ago1:42:10

1:42:10

We joined the Common Descent podcast for their Silver Screen Science segment. We go through everything Jurassic World Rebirth got right and wrong as well as our nit-picks of the details that got under our skin. Check out the More Thoughts segment at https://www.patreon.com/posts/142875146/ for more. Check out the Common Descent Podcast at commondes…

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The point of being human, according to Nick Offerman 29:50

2h ago29:50

29:50

Geoff Bennett talks with comedian and actor Nick Offerman about his love of woodworking, how it shapes his acting, and his dream role. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacyBy PBS News

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White House says U.S. fired twice at alleged drug boat, raising bipartisan legal concerns 3:58

4h ago3:58

3:58

The White House confirmed that the military fired twice at a suspected drug boat during its campaign of airstrikes in the Caribbean. A source familiar with what happened tells PBS News that a second strike in early September came despite the military knowing there were survivors in the water. That has sparked bipartisan concern that strikes like th…

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‘That 2nd strike was a violation of the laws of war,’ former senior military lawyer says 6:16

20h ago6:16

6:16

For perspective on the U.S. military strikes on suspected drug boats and the legal concerns, Geoff Bennett spoke with retired Maj. Gen. Steven Lepper. He served as the Air Force's Deputy Judge Advocate General, and as such, was the service's second-highest-ranking uniformed lawyer. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funde…

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News Wrap: White House says Trump’s MRI was focused on heart and abdomen 5:29

4h ago5:29

5:29

In our news wrap Monday, the White House says that a recent MRI performed on President Trump was a preventative screening focused on both his heart and abdomen, a federal appeals court ruled that Alina Habba has been serving unlawfully as the U.S. attorney in New Jersey and a West Virginia National Guard member shot last week in Washington has show…

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Trump declines to mark World AIDS Day as funding cuts threaten HIV-prevention efforts 7:46

20h ago7:46

7:46

Communities across the globe commemorated World AIDS Day, reaffirming a commitment to end an epidemic that has killed more than 44 million. But this year, for the first time in decades, the U.S. government decided not to mark the occasion, and the Trump administration has reportedly barred agencies from commemorating or participating. William Brang…

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Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on the political reaction to Trump’s boat strikes 9:16

20h ago9:16

9:16

NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report with Amy Walter join Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest political news, including lawmakers on both sides of the aisle search for answers on how the military carried out strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats, President Trump's picks for U.S. attorney jobs and a special election in Tenn…

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Rise of crisis pregnancy centers highlights shift in anti-abortion movement 9:31

5h ago9:31

9:31

The Supreme Court will hear arguments in a case involving faith-based pregnancy centers in New Jersey. The organization is hoping to block the state from investigating whether they misled women into believing the centers offered abortions. The case highlights an effort to crack down on so-called crisis pregnancy centers. Special correspondent Sarah…

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A Brief But Spectacular take on leadership and community through farming 2:41

20h ago2:41

2:41

In this season of gathering around the table, we hear from self-proclaimed proud “AG youth” Anixia Davila from Salinas Valley, California, known as the “salad bowl of the world." Davila shares her Brief But Spectacular take on what she’s learned about leadership, responsibility and community through farming. PBS News is supported by - https://www.p…

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Peace remains elusive for Lebanese Christians as Pope Leo visits war-torn country 6:53

10h ago6:53

6:53

On his first international trip as pontiff, Pope Leo XIV is carrying a message of unity and peace to the Middle East. Sunday in Lebanon, he challenged leaders to be true peacemakers and set aside their differences. It’s a precarious time in the country, which faces deep domestic political divisions and regular Israeli strikes in the south. Special …

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News Wrap: Netanyahu asks Israel’s president for pardon amid corruption trial 2:01

16h ago2:01

2:01

In our news wrap Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu asked the country’s president for a pardon in the midst of his corruption trial, Homeland Security Secretary Noem said the Afghan national accused of shooting two National Guard members appears to have adopted radical ideas while in the U.S., and severe winter weather is interrupting million…

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Former USAID employees keep dismantled agency’s life-saving work afloat 6:20

2d ago6:20

6:20

When the U.S. Agency for International Development shut down, more than 80% of its programs were cancelled. In an attempt to keep the most cost-effective and life-saving projects up and running, two laid-off agency employees created a website to match donors with threatened programs. Ali Rogin speaks with founders Caitlin Tulloch and Rob Rosenbaum …

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The story behind one man’s historic descent of Mount Everest on skis 6:01

2d ago6:01

6:01

When adventurers talk about Mount Everest, most often it's about climbing the world's highest peak. In October, Jim Morrison became the first person to ski down Everest’s most dangerous route. The feat was chronicled by mountaineer and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jimmy Chin for an upcoming National Geographic documentary. John Yang speaks with …

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News Wrap: Trump declares Venezuela’s airspace ‘closed’ after weeks of escalating tensions 2:22

3d ago2:22

2:22

In our news wrap Saturday, Trump declared Venezuela’s airspace to be considered closed despite not having the legal authority to do so, Russia carried out deadly drone and missile attacks overnight in Ukraine, the FAA ordered airlines to update software in a widely used aircraft, and acclaimed British playwright Tom Stoppard died at age 88. PBS New…

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Whooping cough cases remain elevated as vaccination rates drop 5:36

3d ago5:36

5:36

As friends and family gather this holiday season, there’s a warning for new parents. The CDC says cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, remain elevated this year. An unvaccinated infant died from the illness in Kentucky this week, while other states across the country are also experiencing a surge of cases. Ali Rogin speaks with pediatric infectio…

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Millions of full-time workers are struggling to afford a place to live. Here’s why 5:43

3d ago5:43

5:43

The skyrocketing cost of living has left millions of people struggling to afford a place to live despite working at full-time jobs or a number of part-time jobs. Journalist Brian Goldstone, author of “There Is No Place for Us: Working and Homeless in America,” joins Ali Rogin to discuss this growing nationwide crisis. PBS News is supported by - htt…

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Top Zelenskyy aide resigns in midst of Ukraine corruption scandal 4:18

3d ago4:18

4:18

A political earthquake in Ukraine has taken place as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff Andrii Yermak, the country’s second-most-powerful person, was forced to resign amid a corruption scandal. This comes as Ukraine is enmeshed in negotiations with the Trump administration on a possible end to Russia’s war in Ukraine. Jack Hewson joins …

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Questions emerge about National Guard shooter’s motives and the impact on immigrants 2:24

4d ago2:24

2:24

More details are coming to light about the shooting of two West Virginia National Guard members that happened earlier this week blocks from the White House. New questions are also emerging about the motives of the shooter, and what the attack could mean for immigrants across the country. White House correspondent Liz Landers has the story. PBS News…

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Trump vows to stop immigration from poorer countries after fatal National Guard shooting 5:16

3d ago5:16

5:16

President Trump said Friday he wants to “permanently pause migration” from poorer nations in the wake of Wednesday’s shooting of two National Guard members. David Bier, director of immigration studies at the libertarian Cato Institute, joins Liz Landers for more on the president's call for immigration reforms. PBS News is supported by - https://www…

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News Wrap: Trump says he will cancel Biden’s executive actions signed with autopen 4:50

3d ago4:50

4:50

In our news wrap Friday, President Trump said he would cancel all executive actions signed by former President Biden using an autopen, police in Hong Kong arrest more people involved with renovating an apartment complex that caught fire, torrential rains battered Southeast Asia and more than 50 million Americans were under some sort of winter weath…

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Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising 6:48

4d ago6:48

6:48

The internet has already revolutionized holiday shopping but worries about the labor market and the effect of tariffs are prompting even more Americans to search for holiday deals online. Annemarie Conte, deputy editor for The New York Times’ Wirecutter, joins Stephanie Sy to discuss. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/fu…

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Capehart and Wehner on Trump’s reaction to the National Guard shooting 10:34

3d ago10:34

10:34

Jonathan Capehart of MS NOW and Peter Wehner, a contributing writer at The Atlantic and a senior fellow at the Trinity Forum, join John Yang to discuss the week in politics, including President Trump's push for an even tougher crackdown on immigration in the days following the shooting of two National Guard members by an Afghan national on the stre…

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Long-overlooked marvel of ancient Indigenous engineering gets validation in Ohio 7:30

4d ago7:30

7:30

On Native American Heritage Day, we examine a long-overlooked marvel of ancient engineering that had been tucked away beneath a golf course in Ohio. It is a place some archaeologists say is on par with Stonehenge. But its struggle for recognition spanned decades, ending only recently with validation as the state’s only World Heritage site. Stephani…

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PBS News launches ‘Settle In’ podcast with lessons from the 1929 stock market crash 5:46

4d ago5:46

5:46

This week we're launching our new video podcast “Settle In.” In the premiere episode, Amna Nawaz has a fascinating discussion with financial journalist Andrew Ross Sorkin about his new book, “1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History and How It Shattered a Nation.” Sorkin describes how Wall Street titans persuaded everyday Americans to…

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The long road from a Christmas tree farm to your home 4:04

3d ago4:04

4:04

'Tis the season to buy a Christmas tree, but it takes a lot of people and business planning to get that perfect tree all the way to your home. PBS News digital video producer Tim McPhillips visited one stop along the route. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy…

Common Descent Podcasts

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The Common Descent Podcast

Common Descent

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I Know Dino: The Big Dinosaur Podcast

I KNOW DINO, LLC

1
Common Sense with Wes and Matt

Wes and Matt

1
Interfaithing: Why families can embrace two faiths under one roof

Ari Saks & Anna DeWeese

1
PBS News Hour - Segments

PBS News

1
A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Loyal Books

1
Episode 231 - Back to the Water (Secondarily Aquatic Vertebrates) 2:43:14

1
Jurassic World Rebirth with Common Descent 1:42:10

1
The point of being human, according to Nick Offerman 29:50

1
White House says U.S. fired twice at alleged drug boat, raising bipartisan legal concerns 3:58

1
‘That 2nd strike was a violation of the laws of war,’ former senior military lawyer says 6:16

1
News Wrap: White House says Trump’s MRI was focused on heart and abdomen 5:29

1
Trump declines to mark World AIDS Day as funding cuts threaten HIV-prevention efforts 7:46

1
Tamara Keith and Amy Walter on the political reaction to Trump’s boat strikes 9:16

1
Rise of crisis pregnancy centers highlights shift in anti-abortion movement 9:31

1
A Brief But Spectacular take on leadership and community through farming 2:41

1
Peace remains elusive for Lebanese Christians as Pope Leo visits war-torn country 6:53

1
News Wrap: Netanyahu asks Israel’s president for pardon amid corruption trial 2:01

1
Former USAID employees keep dismantled agency’s life-saving work afloat 6:20

1
The story behind one man’s historic descent of Mount Everest on skis 6:01

1
News Wrap: Trump declares Venezuela’s airspace ‘closed’ after weeks of escalating tensions 2:22

1
Whooping cough cases remain elevated as vaccination rates drop 5:36

1
Millions of full-time workers are struggling to afford a place to live. Here’s why 5:43

1
Top Zelenskyy aide resigns in midst of Ukraine corruption scandal 4:18

1
Questions emerge about National Guard shooter’s motives and the impact on immigrants 2:24

1
Trump vows to stop immigration from poorer countries after fatal National Guard shooting 5:16

1
News Wrap: Trump says he will cancel Biden’s executive actions signed with autopen 4:50

1
Tips for holiday shopping in a year when prices are rising 6:48

1
Capehart and Wehner on Trump’s reaction to the National Guard shooting 10:34

1
Long-overlooked marvel of ancient Indigenous engineering gets validation in Ohio 7:30

1
PBS News launches ‘Settle In’ podcast with lessons from the 1929 stock market crash 5:46

1
The long road from a Christmas tree farm to your home 4:04