Podcasts are a wonderful beast. Apple have yet to monopolise the platform, allowing many wonderful shows to be distributed through iTunes as well as private websites for free.
And have I only just discovered this?
... maybe. But I'll make up for living under a rock, for I hereby present to you: two awesome palaeontology themed podcasts, Past Time and Palaeocast.
And have I only just discovered this?
... maybe. But I'll make up for living under a rock, for I hereby present to you: two awesome palaeontology themed podcasts, Past Time and Palaeocast.
Past Time is hosted by Adam Pritchard and Matt Borths, two graduate students from Stony Brook University, New York. Topics cover vertebrate palaeontology theory and recent fossil discoveries, from mammals to dinosaurs, crocodiles to birds. If you've wanted to brush up on evolutionary theory, this is the place to come.
I especially appreciate the effort made with editing: sound bites from interviewees are spliced with clarifications from the hosts (similar in style to Radiolab, an amazing science and philosophy podcast - check it out!) and ambient sound effects. Sometimes quite distracting sound effects, but still useful in creating the right atmosphere.
The banter between the hosts is also enjoyable to listen to. It's like you're part of a conversation, where sometimes one host will play the "devil's advocate", and the other will spend time explaining the evidence behind their position.
I especially appreciate the effort made with editing: sound bites from interviewees are spliced with clarifications from the hosts (similar in style to Radiolab, an amazing science and philosophy podcast - check it out!) and ambient sound effects. Sometimes quite distracting sound effects, but still useful in creating the right atmosphere.
The banter between the hosts is also enjoyable to listen to. It's like you're part of a conversation, where sometimes one host will play the "devil's advocate", and the other will spend time explaining the evidence behind their position.
Hosted by Dave Marshall (Marshall Biostratigraphic) and Joe Keating (The University of Bristol), Palaeocast covers a broad range of topics including palaeobotany, and invertebrate and vertebrate palaeontology.
Palaeocast follows a one-on-one interview style format, where you feel like you're in the room listening to the interviewer and interviewee converse live (think Inside the Actor's Studio or The 7.30 Report). It's the closest you can come to speaking directly to the experts themselves, and it's quite nice to hear the interviewees wax lyrical about their subject matter. They clearly love what they do!
They have also recorded podcasts from palaeontology conferences (including the 2013 Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and the 2013 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting) including interviews from attendees presenting new palaeontological research. For those of us who have either not enough time or money to attend these conference, and would otherwise miss out on all the cool palaeo-goss, we salute you.
Palaeocast follows a one-on-one interview style format, where you feel like you're in the room listening to the interviewer and interviewee converse live (think Inside the Actor's Studio or The 7.30 Report). It's the closest you can come to speaking directly to the experts themselves, and it's quite nice to hear the interviewees wax lyrical about their subject matter. They clearly love what they do!
They have also recorded podcasts from palaeontology conferences (including the 2013 Society of Vertebrate Palaeontology and the 2013 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting) including interviews from attendees presenting new palaeontological research. For those of us who have either not enough time or money to attend these conference, and would otherwise miss out on all the cool palaeo-goss, we salute you.
Both Past Time and Palaeocast supplement their podcasts with online material, including images, videos, and summary blog posts. I think both palaeontology enthusiasts and professionals can gain a lot from both these shows. Saying, "I'm a palaeontologist" often leaves you open to any question about any fossil spanning THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE EARTH. These are two excellent podcasts for increasing your general knowledge, and more importantly, keeping up the all-seeing, all-knowing palaeo persona.
So let me know: do you listen to these podcasts? What do you think of them? And are there any other palaeontology podcasts out there I've missed?
So let me know: do you listen to these podcasts? What do you think of them? And are there any other palaeontology podcasts out there I've missed?
