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Paleo Nerds

paleonerds

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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21 episodes
monthly
Avg 1 hr 7 min
English

Episodes 21

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#101
August 25 · 20 min
Ep #101 PaleoNerds: A New Epoch
Dave and Ray have no guest today, just a short check in before they embark on their next 99 episodes!
#100
July 29 · 1 hr 11 min
Episode 100: The Legendary Philip J. Currie and the Real Dinosaur Park
Ray and Dave celebrate their 100th episode of Paleo Nerds with the legendary paleontologist and co-founder of the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, Philip J. Currie
#99
June 24 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep #99 Gigantic Ichthyosaurs, Enormous Octopuses and the Importance of Museums with Makoto Manabe
Ray and Dave interview worldly traveled and renowned Japanese paleontologist and curator who was just appointed President and Director General of the National Museum of Nature and Science in Tokyo
#98
May 27 · 1 hr 10 min
Ep #98 How one fossil can change everything with MOR's Scott Williams
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 Including the famous tyrannosaurid, “Jane.”
#97
April 29 · 1 hr 20 min
Ep #97 Paleo Nerds Journey to the Galápagos Islands with Naturalist Guide Sandra Masaquiza
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, that she became the perfect candidate for the next Paleo Nerds guest.
#96
March 25 · 1 hr 19 min
Ep #96 Nanotyrannus vs. Juvenile T-rex Solved with James Napoli
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 T-Rex.
#95
February 25 · 1 hr 13 min
Ep #95 From Fossils to Film and the Science of Motion with Stuart Sumida
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 filmmakers and animators on how extinct animals should really move, look, and behave.
#94
January 28 · 1 hr 6 min
Ep #94 The Marvelous Mini-Monsters of Mazon Creek with Arjan Mann
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
#93
Dec 31, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep #93 Cretaceous Kansas Geology with Kate Andrzejewski
Ray gets schooled on the Cretaceous geology around the shores of Kansas Lake Kanopolis by paleontologist Kate Andrzejewski.
#92
Nov 25, 2025 · 1 hr 15 min
Ep #92 From Smok to Spinosaurus with Smithsonian Curator Hans-Dieter Sues
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.
#91
Oct 29, 2025 · 1 hr 1 min
Ep #91 The Incredible Paleo Impressionist Art of Doug Henderson
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.
#90
Sep 24, 2025 · 1 hr 13 min
Ep #90 Fossil Fish, Antarctic Adventures and Teaching Anatomy with Kerin Claeson
Ray Troll shares morning coffee in his Ketchikan lounge room with Dr. Karin Claeson, exploring fish evolution, anatomy, development, and variability across deep time.
#89
Aug 27, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep #89 Brachiopods Deserve Your Love with Dr. Susan Butts
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.
#88
Jul 30, 2025 · 1 hr 5 min
Ep #88 Unearthing Egg Mountain’s Dinosaur Nursery: Field Insights from Montana with John Scannella
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.
#87
Jun 27, 2025 · 1 hr 19 min
Ep #87 Anvil Sharks, Lampreys & Ratfish with Head-Sprouting Teeth featuring Vertebrate Paleontologist Michael Coates
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 Professor at the University of Chicago.
#86
May 30, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
Ep #86 Painting Prehistoric Worlds and Dinosaur Dreams with Mark Hallett
Ray and Dave talk Sauropods, Smilodons, and Spielberg with artist and paleo visionary Mark Hallett, whose decades of work bring ancient worlds to life.
#85
Apr 30, 2025 · 1 hr 9 min
Ep #85 Mammoth Tusks, Gomphothere Shovels and Elephant Trunks with Advait Jukar
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.
#84
Mar 26, 2025 · 1 hr 17 min
Ep #84 Turning to Stone: Earthlings on a Dynamic Granite Planet with Marcia Bjornerud
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 Wisconsin.
#83
Feb 19, 2025 · 1 hr 3 min
Ep #83 Diggin' the Beasts of the Badlands
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 job.
#82
Jan 29, 2025 · 1 hr 6 min
Ep #82 The Ultimate Paleo Vlogger, That We Know Of
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 of Life on Earth, as we know it.

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