Geology Podcast Network

Thanks for an excellent first year! Here’s a bonus episode where Amy demonstrates she’s learned more about Chameleons since we started (kinda). Images are on weirdanddead.com CW: Cursing

Meaghan loses her mind about how gross rugose corals are. Try evolving something that doesn’t involve genetically manipulating your babies, you lonely jellyfish-emulating losers. CW: cursing. Gagging noises.

It may not have happened in lakes but it certainly did happen – so how? Let’s dive into fossilized cloacas, theoretical genitals, and the impracticalities of sexing a dinosaur. CW: sexual content, genitalia, brief discussions of nonconsensual sex between animals, Nanotyrannus, making fun of old white men

From friends to enemies to roommates (to lovers??), we discuss classic examples of animals found fossilized together, how that happens, and how some of the interpretations are… a stretch. CW: Animal death, dead babies, lubed holes, incest, cursing

500 some million years ago the world was full of ‘abnormal shrimp’ and ‘blunt feet’ and other animals that defy comprehensible definitions. In this episode we talk all about the mind-boggling biology and bizarre geology of the Cambrian. CW: Drug references, cursing, dead animals, cavalier jokes at the expense of white men, dick jokes

Bones are sick – and this time, we mean it literally. From infected bite marks to the ever-prevalent markings of tuberculosis, we’re talking about the signs of illnesses and injuries in fossils and what they tell us about the lives (and deaths) of these animals. CW: Cancer, infections and pus, injuries, animal suffering

Did Diplodocus have a trunk? Did T. rex have a wobbly turkey neck? This week’s episode is all about fleshy face flaps and their uses, and how to detect them in the fossil record. CW: Animal death, cursing, making fun of dinosaurs, urine

There were dinosaurs in Antarctica and Alaska – but what did it look like when they lived there? Was it cold? Was it dark? Did they stay there year round? Also, Meaghan learns how magnets work (finally). CW: cursing, death of people and animals

Sometimes boners have actual bones! This episode is all about the evolution, use, and occasional loss of/damage to genital bones in both male and female animals. CW: Cursing, genitalia, brief mention of non-consensual sexual behavior in animals

How much do we really know about the brains of ancient animals? In this episode we dive into the fantastic world of endocasts, aka, brain impressions! CW: soft tissue, cursing, Nanotyrannus, brief mention of the Nazis in regards to Tilly Edinger

Today we’re answering the big questions, like why do whales have hips when they don’t have legs? And why did Tyrannosaurus rex have such tiny tiny arms? CW: Genitalia, cursing, discussion of unwanted sexual contact in whales

From the anal chimneys of crinoids to the tushy lungs of turtles, this episode covers all the weird things that buttholes can do… but shouldn't. CW: Buttholes, cursing, poop, tobacco use, alien abduction

On this podcast we dish the details on the wildest stories that 500 million years of evolution have to offer. The grosser, the better! That said, this podcast is not intended for kids and is rated E for strong language and crude senses of humor. Season 2 begins 6-19-2024!

For our final episode of season 1 we go into detail on how the two of us met, how we got into paleontology, and the various twists and turns that have made up our two careers. CW: Cursing. Yep, that’s all this time – we were surprised too!

From dinosaurs to rhinos to bugs, things used to get a whole lot bigger than they seem to today. In this episode we talk all about evolutionary constraints, the narrow set of bumper bars enforced on us by biology. CW: Body fluids. Using the term bug incorrectly (sorry entomologists). Cursing.

…and then some. From the eggs of the platypus to the eggs of dinosaurs, we’ll talk about how eggs are formed, why humans don’t lay them, and of course, why the egg definitely came before the chicken. CW: Placentas and afterbirth, body fluids, cursing

It’s time to be more afraid of seals, everyone. And hyenas. And tigers. And… birds? And big crocodiles. Really, the deeper you go into human history, the longer that list of fears gets – and on this episode, we go real, real deep.  CW: death, dead bodies, being hunted, cannibalism.

Trace fossils are an incredible resource to understand behavior… even behavior those animals wish maybe there wasn’t a record of. From the results of terrible food poisoning to the fossil equivalent of a xeroxed buttocks, trace fossils record some animals’ most humiliating moments. CW: Everything in the title, cursing, stomach stones (bezoars)

Did you know that technically, the name ‘dinosaur’ is a rebrand? The original name was a lot more… wrinkly. In this episode we discuss how to name fossils and bring up the funniest fossil names we could find.  CW: Cursing. Discussion of European colonization and Native Americans. Many references to genitalia.

Asteroids, volcanoes, and sex lakes – in this episode we discuss the varied and sometimes hilarious hypotheses of why animals have gone extinct. CW: Extinctions/animal death, toxic shock syndrome, menstruation, serial killers, suicide in reference to having to do geochronology. Referring to non-avian dinosaurs as just dinosaurs.

While usually it’s just the hard bits that fossilize, occasionally the fossil record can preserve things like skin, organs, blood and more. This episode talks about what happens when soft tissue fossilizes, and what weird things scientists have done upon finding it. CW: Dead animals/babies, eating gross things, blood and gushy body bits, placentas.

Sometimes paleontology is awe-inspiring. Sometimes it’s gross and hilarious. This episode is at the weird epicenter of all of those things, because it turns out the best preserved fossil sturgeons are found up the rear end of duck-billed dinosaurs. CONTENT WARNINGS: Hemorrhoids, butt jokes, maligning archeologists, misinterpreting a cloaca as a butthole for the purposes […]

Throughout time we find evidence that animals made it to other continents seemingly by crossing vast oceans. In this episode we talk all about how animals can survive these strange events of accidental seafaring, and how the odds are always stacked against them. CW: Cruel research methods (not ours!), inbreeding, death.

The more rocks you talk about, the more you learn! Tune in for another bonus episode of Backyard Geology: Canada Edition where Serena talks with Henry Gage, who studies freeze-thaw weathering in the Niagara Escarpment. When it comes to urban landscapes, geologists play a key role in predicting, understanding and preventing  geohazards. Host Information: Serena […]

Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess brings us a beautiful tale of her time spent exploring the wonders of Tibet, and how she unraveled her path to geology. Listen as she shares memories of her father and how his connection to his daughter led Jess to embark on a trip through the mountains of Tibet as a young graduate student. From this incredible experience, Jess is now able to explain some of the complex geology that characterizes the Himalayas, one of the most famous mountain ranges in the world. Join Jess for the most thrilling and moving episode of Storybook Earth yet, as Season 1 comes to a dramatic end in the mountains of Tibet. Resources associated with this episode: Kapp, P., and Peter G. DeCelles, 2019, Mesozoic-Cenozoic geological evolution of the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen and working tectonic hypotheses. American Journal of Science March 2019, 319 (3) 159-254. Kapp, Jessica L.D., T. Mark Harrison, Paul Kapp, Marty Grove, Oscar M. Lovera, and Ding Lin, 2005, The Nyainqentanglha Shan: A window into the tectonic, thermal, and geochemical evolution of the Lhasa block, southern Tibet. Journal of Geophysical Research, Vol. 110, Issue B8. Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess unravels the amazing geologic history of the Grand Canyon! If you have never been to this incredible geologic wonder before, then this episode is the perfect place to begin. Jess leads you through time as if you were walking the Canyon yourself. She also details a few spectacular must-see lookouts as well as some of the current geological investigations surrounding the mysteries of the Grand Canyon rocks. This is an episode you don’t want to miss, so join us for a trek through time in this week’s Storybook Earth. Resources associated with this episode: Gehrels, George E., Ron Blakey, Karl E. Karlstrom, J. Michael Timmons, Bill Dickinson, and Mark Pecha, 2011, Detrital zircon U-Pb geochronology of Paleozoic strata in the Grand Canyon, Arizona. LITHOSPHERE; v. 3; no. 3; p. 183–200. doi: 10.1130/L121.1 National Park Service Grand Canyon Website Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess shares the stories of zircons and why they have become a cornerstone of geochronology, or, the study of geologic aging. Find out how Jess discovered her passion for zircon geochronology, what zircons are, where you can find them, and why they can be compared to the rings of a tree. You’ll be surprised how much tree rings, clocks, and rocks have in common in this intriguing episode of Storybook Earth. Resources associated with this episode: Arizona Laserchron Center, University of Arizona Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction: In this episode, Jess begins our story with the mountains of Tibet, a landscape shaped by time, and an encounter with a lone wolf. From this beautiful setting, Jess tells the tale of oxygen. Oxygen has a varied and interesting history on Earth, and evidence of its existence in the distant past is still visible today in something called a banded iron formation. Listen to this beautifully told episode of Storybook Earth to discover the complex and striking history of oxygen and the banded iron formation. Resources associated with this episode: American Museum of Natural History, Banded Iron Formations Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess tells how some rocks’ stories begin with color. Being able to detect pattern and color is an important tool for any scientist, geologists included. But, color can also be deceiving. Why? Well, Jess can tell you! In a tale woven with color Jess explains the significance of certain colors, which colors can be deceiving, and how the color of a rock can help you to identify how it was formed. Join Jess and learn the stories about the colors beneath your feet in this episode of Storybook Earth. Resources associated with this episode: Felsic and Mafic, Miami University Igneous Rocks, Columbia University Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess will tell the story of rocks. Did you know that there are many different kinds of rocks? Do you know how they are made? Well, Jess has all the answers and will share the ins and outs of the earth under your feet. She will even share her favorite rock type! Who knows, maybe by the end of this episode of Storybook Earth you will have a favorite type of rock too. Resources associated with this episode: American Museum of Natural History – Three Types of Rocks Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess tells the intricate tale of faults. She will talk about exactly what a fault is, how it is formed, as well as the different kinds of faults...yes, there are more than one! She will even talk about her own experiences with faults and a special one close to her home in Tucson, Arizona. Tune into this exciting episode to discover the story the Earth has to tell about geologic faults and where you might be able to see one yourself, because they are all around. Main points/Main Episode Takeaways Resources associated with this episode: USGS – What is a Fault and What are the Different Types https://www.usgs.gov/faqs/what-a- fault-and-what-are-different-types?qt-news_science_products=0#qt-news_science_products Arizona Geological Survey – Brittle-Ductile Shear Zone on Santa Catalina Mountain Core Complex http://azgs.arizona.edu/photo/brittle-ductile-shear-zone-santa-catalina-mountain-core- complex Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary: In this episode of Storybook Earth, Jess shares her own experiences with the natural environment of her childhood home and how its unique landscape was shaped by glacial activity during the ice ages of geologic history. What are ice ages? How do they happen? When was the last one? Jess has answers to all of these questions in this beautiful story of the ice ages. Resources for further inquiry: • Milankovitch (Orbital) Cycles and Their Role in Earth’s Climate, By Alan Buis, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, February, 2020 https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2948/milankovitch-orbital-cycles-and-their-role-in-earths- climate/ • How They Were Made, Sea Grant, University of Wisconsin https://www.seagrant.wisc.edu/resources/the-formation-of-the-great-lakes/how-they- were-made/ Host Information: Jess Kapp is an associate professor of practice in the geosciences department at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, and a member of the Geology Podcast Network. Her research background is in using geochronology to better understand magma dynamics and tectonics. She is also deeply involved in geoscience education, particularly general education for non-science majors, and is dedicated to accessible and inclusive teaching. She enjoys the outdoors, travel, and spending time with her family. She is also the host of the podcast Plucky Ladies, an exploration of female curiosity, perseverance, and feats of excellence, available on Soundcloud, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, and her website. As a member of the Geology Podcast Network, she promotes earth science education and enjoys sharing her love of the Earth. Find Jess on Facebook, UofAZ, and Twitter.

Episode summary introduction:​ ​  “How old is the Earth?” Generations of scholars have asked this fundamental question, and estimates ranged from a few thousand years to indefinite time spans. Geologic and biologic observations from the 18th and 19th centuries (like Darwin’s theory of evolution and Hutton’s concept of deep time) suggested that Earth was old – but […]

Episode summary introduction:​ ​This episode of GEOY explores the incredible and inspiring life of notable geologist Tanya Atwater, the Mother of Plate Tectonics. Geologists Mikaela Moore and Gillian Ivey discuss Atwater’s life from a young age, through her major discoveries regarding the theories of plate tectonics, obstacles and discrimination faced as a woman in science […]

Episode summary:​  This episode of GEOY explores the life of Dr. John Tuzo Wilson, the famous geologist responsible for the Wilson cycle and the discovery of transform faults. Geologists Noelle Lin and Mikaela Moore discuss the important contributions Wilson made, including his time at the Geological Survey of Canada, his research on hotspots, and contributions […]

Episode summary:​ ​ This episode of GEOY takes you back to the 18th century when James Hutton set out for his famous expedition to Siccar Point, and introduced the concept of geological time. Back in Hutton’s day when it was widely believed that Earth came into creation only about 6000 years ago, the narration of […]

Episode title:​ The Love of Fish Bones with Meeman Chang Episode summary introduction:​ ​ This episode of GEOY explores the life of Dr. Meeman Chang, a leading Chinese vertebrate paleontologist. She spent her life studying fish faunas and clarified the link between Paleozoic fish and land-based vertebrates’ evolution. Geologists Noelle Lin and Xi Wang discuss […]

The first Canadian female geologist.

The true discoverer of sea-floor spreading.

This episode of GEOY is dedicated to brilliant interdisciplinary scientist, and pioneer polar explorer Alfred Wegener, whose theory of continental drift shook the foundations of geology, paleontology, and biology research. While today continental drift and plate tectonics are firmly established concepts, when first proposed Alfred Wegener’s theory was ridiculed and received immense push-back by the scientific community. In this episode geology researchers Janne Liebmann and Bryant Ware take you on a science odyssey from initial rejection of Wegener’s ideas as a “geo fairy tale” to the accumulation of evidence that finally prompted its acceptance and laid the groundwork for the theory of plate tectonics.

As geologists, we are all standing on the shoulders of giants.

GPN coming next week!