Paleo Nerds

paleonerds

English Earth Sciences Education Natural Sciences Science

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Episodes 98

Avg. Duration 1h 12m

Activity Highly Active

Apple Rating ★ 4.8 (164)

Since Jul 2020

Latest Episode May 2026

Publishing Details

Schedule

Monthly

Format

Episodic

Consistency

90%

Hosting

feed.podbean.com

About This Podcast

A Paleo Nerd is a grown-up who still has the child-like wonder and love for dinosaurs, fossils, science, and paleontology. Paleo Nerds follows Alaskan artist, Ray Troll, and his friend ventriloquist David Strassman, as they host exciting interviews with paleontologists, scientists and fellow paleo nerds from around the world. They take what would’ve been a boring science class and turn it into an exciting and extremely informative party.

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Recent Episodes

Ep #98 How one fossil can change everything with MOR's Scott Williams

May 27, 2026 1h 10m

Ray and Dave interview field paleontologist and museum leader, Scott Williams, Senior Director of Exhibitions at the Museum of the Rockies whose work has helped uncover major Late Cretaceous fossils…

Ep #97 Paleo Nerds Journey to the Galápagos Islands with Naturalist Guide Sandra Masaquiza

Apr 29, 2026 1h 20m

After a Galápagos trip with his partner Stephanie and paleontologist friends Lee and Ashley Hall, Dave realized the group was so impressed by their tour guide and conservationist, Sandra Masaquiza,…

Ep #96 Nanotyrannus vs. Juvenile T-rex Solved with James Napoli

Mar 25, 2026 1h 19m

Ray and Dave review the evidence with James Napoli, co-author of the new research paper that resolves the long-standing debate over whether Nanotyrannus represents a distinct species or a juvenile…

Ep #95 From Fossils to Film and the Science of Motion with Stuart Sumida

Feb 25, 2026 1h 13m

Ray and Dave talk with vertebrate paleontologist and SVP President Stuart Sumida about sail-backed synapsids, pelycosaurs, and the world before dinosaurs while also diving into his work advising…

Ep #94 The Marvelous Mini-Monsters of Mazon Creek with Arjan Mann

Jan 28, 2026 1h 6m

Ray and Dave discuss the amazing biota of the Mazon Creek Lagerstätte with Arjan Mann, Assistant Curator of Fossil Fishes & Early Tetrapods at the Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois

Ep #93 Cretaceous Kansas Geology with Kate Andrzejewski

Dec 31, 2025 1h 3m

Ray gets schooled on the Cretaceous geology around the shores of Kansas Lake Kanopolis by paleontologist Kate Andrzejewski.

Ep #92 From Smok to Spinosaurus with Smithsonian Curator Hans-Dieter Sues

Nov 25, 2025 1h 15m

Ray and Dave talk with Smithsonian paleontologist Hans-Dieter Sues about the origins of reptiles, the rise of dinosaurs, and a lifetime unearthing Triassic treasures from around the world.

Ep #91 The Incredible Paleo Impressionist Art of Doug Henderson

Oct 29, 2025 1h 1m

Ray and Dave explore the mind of paleo artist Doug Henderson exploring his techniques, inspirations, and the breathtaking body of work that re-imagines ancient worlds.

Ep #90 Fossil Fish, Antarctic Adventures and Teaching Anatomy with Kerin Claeson

Sep 24, 2025 1h 13m

Ray Troll shares morning coffee in his Ketchikan lounge room with Dr. Karin Claeson, exploring fish evolution, anatomy, development, and variability across deep time.

Ep #89 Brachiopods Deserve Your Love with Dr. Susan Butts

Aug 27, 2025 1h 3m

Ray and Dave learn all about Brachiopods, one of the hardy survivors of the Big Five extinctions, with Susan Butts, Director of Collections and Research at the famous Yale Peabody Museum.

Ep #88 Unearthing Egg Mountain’s Dinosaur Nursery: Field Insights from Montana with John Scannella

Jul 30, 2025 1h 5m

Dave goes out on a dig at the famous Egg Mountain site in western Montana with Dr. John Scannella, curator of paleontology at the Museum of the Rockies.

Ep #87 Anvil Sharks, Lampreys & Ratfish with Head-Sprouting Teeth featuring Vertebrate Paleontologist Michael Coates

Jun 27, 2025 1h 19m

Ray and Dave explore jaws, fins and fossil fish while tracing the deep origins of vertebrate life with Dr. Michael Coates, Vertebrate Paleontologist and Chair of Organismal Biology and Anatomy…

Ep #86 Painting Prehistoric Worlds and Dinosaur Dreams with Mark Hallett

May 30, 2025 1h 4m

Ray and Dave talk Sauropods, Smilodons, and Spielberg with artist and paleo visionary Mark Hallett, whose decades of work bring ancient worlds to life.

Ep #85 Mammoth Tusks, Gomphothere Shovels and Elephant Trunks with Advait Jukar

Apr 30, 2025 1h 9m

Ray and Dave explore the history of all things Elephantidae, including Mammoths, Mastodons, and Gomphotheres, with Advait Jukar, delving into their shovels, tusks, and trunks.

Ep #84 Turning to Stone: Earthlings on a Dynamic Granite Planet with Marcia Bjornerud

Mar 26, 2025 1h 17m

Ray and Dave go rock hunting through billions of years of Earth's history with Marcia Bjornerud, a structural geologist, inspirational author, and Professor of Geosciences at Lawrence University in…

Ep #83 Diggin' the Beasts of the Badlands

Feb 19, 2025 1h 3m

Ray and Dave talk about the amazing fossils and strata found in Badlands National Park, South Dakota, where park ranger Mattison Shreero explains how it all got there and why she absolutely loves her…

Ep #82 The Ultimate Paleo Vlogger, That We Know Of

Jan 29, 2025 1h 6m

Ray and Dave discuss the wide-reaching influence of one of YouTube's paleo stars, Lindsay Nikole, who has millions of followers and incredible outreach with her remarkable video series, The History…

Ep #81 Paleo Nerds at Nebraska's Prairie Pompeii

Dec 18, 2024 1h 15m

Ray takes a road trip with fellow Paleo Nerds to visit the great death assemblage, the "Rhino Pompeii", at the Nebraska Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park

Ep #80 Walking Egyptian Whales from the Sahara with Dr. Hesham Sallam

Nov 27, 2024 1h

Dave travels to Cairo, Egypt, for a fascinating interview with Dr. Hesham Sallam, Egypt's leading paleontologist and founder of the country's first Vertebrate Paleontology Center. As a fellow Paleo…

Ep #79 Teen Rex and the Triumph of Turtles with Tyler Lyson

Oct 30, 2024 1h 7m

Ray and Dave come out of there shells to talk Turtles and the latest T-Rex discovery with Vertebrate Paleontologist Tyler Lyson.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Paleo Nerds have?

Paleo Nerds has published 98 episodes since July 2020, covering topics in Earth Sciences, Education.

Is Paleo Nerds still active?

Paleo Nerds is currently highly active with new episodes monthly. Average episode length is 1h 12m.