Best Common Descent Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 219 - Beringia 1:48:37

6d 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
Episode 440 - DS9 S06E02 - Rocks and Shoals 31:45

2d ago31:45

31:45

Sisko and crew crash landed on a planet with enemies! How will they survive, or get back home??

1
What the Body Carries: Descent as Ceremony with Dr. Ido Cohen 1:22:42

2d ago1:22:42

1:22:42

Dr. Ido Cohen is back! He joins Rachael for a deep and nuanced conversation about the emotional and relational work of digesting trauma. Together, they explore the space between personal experience and collective pain, and what it takes to create environments where truth, grief, and transformation can unfold. This episode moves through themes of em…

1
Episode 439 - DS9 S06E01 - A Time to Stand 22:29

9d ago22:29

22:29

Sisko and crew board a captured Jem'Hadar fighter to try and destroy the Dominion's supply of white and end the war!

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Episode 438 - DS9 Season 5 Recap 18:07

17d ago18:07

18:07

The Nerds go over Season 5 and its highs and lows.

1
The Mother Within: Grief, Chaos, and the Path to Secure Belonging (Mackenzie Amara) 1:29:28

18d ago1:29:28

1:29:28

In this episode, I sit down with Mackenzie Amara for a rich and reverent conversation about the mother wound—how it lives in our bodies, our culture, and our ancestral lines. We explore grief as a spiritual excavator, the path to existential secure attachment, and what it means to surrender to love even when loss is inevitable. Mackenzie brings the…

1
Episode 218 - Lungs 2:15:11

20d 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
Episode 437 - DS9 S05E26 - Call to Arms 27:51

25d ago27:51

27:51

The Dominion is coming, so DS9 is going to place mines at the wormhole, if they don't get destroyed first.

1
Episode 436 - DS9 S05E25 - In The Cards 19:20

1M ago19:20

19:20

Jake and Nog scurry around the station trying to do enough favors for the crew to get a 1951 Willie Mays baseball card for Sisko.

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Metabolizing Truth: From Dissociation to Sensual Aliveness (Marisa Radha Weppner) 59:54

1M ago59:54

59:54

In this conversation, Radha and Rachael explore the themes of transformation, self-awareness, and the importance of personal responsibility in navigating both individual and collective challenges. They discuss the role of relationships in self-discovery, the significance of open-mindedness, and the impact of the nervous system on our ability to fee…

1
Episode 217 - Bears 2:23:51

1M 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
Episode 435 - DS9 S05E24 - Empok Nor 20:28

1M ago20:28

20:28

The crew of DS9 go to Empok Nor to get spare parts for their station and find its not as abandoned as they thought it was.

1
When the House Burns Down: On Integration & the Relational Psyche (Dr. Ido Cohen) 1:23:47

1M ago1:23:47

1:23:47

Season 5 opens with one of the most compelling minds in the field of psychedelic integration: Dr. Ido Cohen—clinical psychologist, founder of The Integration Circle, and someone who brings rare clarity, warmth, and rigour to the transformational path. In this conversation, Rachael and Ido trace the arc from personal rupture to collective insight—be…

1
Episode 434 - DS9 S05E23 - Blaze of Glory 22:13

2M ago22:13

22:13

Invisible space missles fly towards Cardassia from the Maquis. Can Capt Sisko stop an all out war by working with Eddington to stop them?

1
Episode 216 - Plankton 2:10:20

2M 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
6. Treehouse Project | BONUS episode: A Guided Encounter with Earth & Body 46:14

2M ago46:14

46:14

A guided somatic journey into your body and into the body of the Earth. In this bonus episode from the Treehouse Project, Rachael shares a short, potent commentary on the origins of this guided meditation—created during a time of deep personal and political upheaval. Originally made to regulate her own nervous system while navigating a wave of coll…

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

2M 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
Special Episode with the Common Descent podcast! 1:00:11

2M ago1:00:11

1:00:11

We interrupt your usual progress through DS9 to bring you a SPECIAL EPISODE. We have Will from the Common Descent Podcast on with us to talk about all the weird and strange creatures of trek and how they may have come about. Everything from Armus to HUMPBACK WHALES. Check it out!

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Episode 215 - Ferns 2:33:18

2M 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…

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The Commodification of the Sacred: Psychedelics, Activism, & the Feminine Reclamation (Marisa Radha Weppner) 1:22:48

2M ago1:22:48

1:22:48

What happens when spiritual awakening meets a collapsing world? In this pivotal episode, Rachael sits down with psychedelic therapist and spiritual activist Marisa Radha Weppner for a soul-deep conversation on truth, discernment, and sacred responsibility. Together, they name what many are afraid to: the commodification of psychedelics, the seducti…

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

2M 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
Episode 433 - DS9 S05E22 - Children of Time 28:49

2M ago28:49

28:49

The crew of DS9 meet their descendants, and then have to decide if they sacrifice themselves or murder them all.

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

2M 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 432 - DS9 S05E21 - Soldiers of the Empire 16:27

3M ago16:27

16:27

Warf goes to work on a Klingon Bird of Prey, and finds out they kind of suck.

1
Myth as Medicine: Animism, Psychedelics, & Cultural Repair (Simon Yugler) 44:05

3M ago44:05

44:05

In this episode of Deconstruction, I’m joined by Simon Yugler—depth psychotherapist, psychedelic guide, and author of Psychedelics and the Soul: A Mythic Guide to Psychedelic Healing, Depth Psychology, and Cultural Repair. Together, we spiral into the terrain of mythopoetics as a lens for meaning-making in times of upheaval and unknowing. We explor…

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5. Treehouse Project | Finale: Guided Inner Child Meditation 35:01

3M ago35:01

35:01

This final meditation in the Treehouse Project is a tender homecoming! Created as a sanctuary for the moments when big emotions rise—when you recognize the feeling isn’t just about now, but something from long ago. This is a guided journey into the safe forest within you, where your inner child awaits your presence. Here, you’re invited to tend gen…

1
Episode 214 - Saber Teeth 2:37:58

3M 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
Episode 431 - DS9 S05E20 - Ferengi Love Songs 21:25

3M ago21:25

21:25

Quarks broke. Again. So he visits Moogie and she is ...what???

1
Patron Mini-Episode Compilation #6 2:17:47

3M ago2:17:47

2:17:47

Our high-level Patreon supporters get to request a topic for their very own mini-episode! For the sixth time, we’ve put the latest bunch together for everyone to enjoy! Thank you as always to our incredible Patrons of all levels for keeping the podcast going! Intro: 00:00:00 Ambulocetus for Ambulocetus – 00:01:45 Abelisaurs for Quinn – 00:18:30 Cap…

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Episode 430 - DS9 S05E19 - Ties of Blood and Water 30:20

3M ago30:20

30:20

Kira has to deal with her daddies - her Cardassian daddy thats dying, and her daddy daddy that died. Its very sad.

1
4. Treehouse Project | Fear Becoming Courage: Sitting with Sensations Meditation 20:56

3M ago20:56

20:56

The Fourth episode of the Treehouse Project, this guided meditation invites you into the depths of your own body, where sensations hold stories and fear is simply courage waiting to unfold. Born from a deeply attuned therapeutic relationship, this meditation was originally created for someone who had spent years building resilience, learning to mee…

1
Episode 213 - Decomposers 2:17:54

3M ago2:17:54

2:17:54

Leave a carcass or a log or a pile of poop out in the wild long enough and it will break down into its component parts. Decomposers are an often-overlooked but essential component of ecosystems past and present. This episode, we explore the varied processes of decomposition and how scientists study decomposers and use that information. We’ll also d…

1
3. Treehouse Project | The First Meditation 31:27

3M ago31:27

31:27

This meditation was the first one I recorded for the Treehouse Project! Though I almost did not release it. I avoided listening to it. But when I finally sat down to listen, I saw something I had not expected. I saw nervousness. I saw nervousness, but I also saw courage. I was stepping into something unknown, offering something deeply personal. And…

1
Episode 429 - DS9 S05E18 - Business as Usual 22:32

3M ago22:32

22:32

Quark is about to go broke...again. So what do you do? Traffic in illegal weapons, of course!

1
Leaf it to Us - Before We Leaf 30:27

3M ago30:27

30:27

After you’ve listened to the Leaf it to Us pilot episode, enjoy this follow-up discussion where Nora, Aly, and David share their thoughts about that first episode and the upcoming season of the new podcast. You can contact us – and find more from Common Descent – here: https://linktr.ee/common_descent The Intro and Outro music is “Late Bloomer” by …

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Leaf it to Us - Pilot Episode 32:54

3M ago32:54

32:54

Enjoy this special preview of the upcoming podcast Leaf it to Us, hosted by Nora Spurling and Dr. Aly Baumgartner. In this pilot episode, they discuss the fascinating phenomenon of sex-changing trees! The first season of Leaf it to Us is in the works, and we’re excited to hear your feedback for this pilot episode. Please reach out to us and let us …

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2. Treehouse Project | A Guided Meditation & Story for Sleep * 37:47

3M ago37:47

37:47

This is the second episode of the Treehouse Project, a series of six guided meditations designed to root people into their bodies, to restore the relationship between Self and Body, Us and Land. This project unfolds as an interactive multimedia art exhibit. It moves between meditation, storytelling, and direct action, This guided meditation was des…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Common Descent Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen