Palaeo Jam

Palaeo Jam is a podcast exploring a range of issues in science and the community, using the multidisciplinary aspects of, and public fascination with, palaeontology. This Australian-produced palaeo podcast was launched at a publicly accessible live event at Flinders University, where the first two episodes were recorded in front of a live audience. Palaeo Jam uses fossils and other objects from palaeontology to explore a range of scientific and social issues, and incorporate key research and discoveries into its content. Each episode has a theme and it’s covered within a strict, 30-minute timeframe. Adding to the theatre of the recording, a timer is visible to the audience in live records. Each episode has a panel of up to three guests, and is hosted by Michael Mills, award-winning science communicator.

Palaeo Jam is a science podcast hosted by Dinosaur University, with 55 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Dinosaur University hosts Palaeo Jam, a science show with 55 episodes published.

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  Episode #13

  When a palaeo-artist and a palaeontologist are the same person!

  Mar 26, 202630 minS4

  Dr Brian Choo is both a palaeontologist and a palaeo-artist. In this fascinating episode of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills chats with Brian about the path to becoming both, and how his understanding in each area, informs the other. Along the way, the two explore Brian’s passion for natural history, his inspirations, the process of creating art from science, the role of palaeo-art in the public understanding of science, and, of course, touch on the horrors of AI. Brian’s amazing artwork has been featured in a number of scientific journals. You can find an extensive catalogue of his work at… https://www.deviantart.com/gogosardina Brian has a profile for his scientific work on ResearchGate at… https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Brian-Choo Brian is a also regular judge in the Mary Anning Art Prize, a natural history art prize for young South Australians… https://www.sasta.asn.au/student_activities/mary-anning-art-prize You can find Michael on Blue Sky at… https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social You can find links to much of his creative work at… https://linktr.ee/heapsgoodproductions To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at… https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity At Palaeo Jam, we have an Instagram account at… https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_jam

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  Episode #12

  Making a mammal

  Mar 4, 202630 minS4

  Carl Sagan once said "If you wish to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe". As it happens, that very same universe is the one that made possible the making of mammals. So, what are some of the essential ingredients and conditions that made the making of a mammal possible? In this episode of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills chats with Dr Peter Bishop, an Aussie abroad, currently engaged in palaeo research at Harvard University. Through his background in physics and mathematics Peter has applied biomechanical principles to understand extinct animals, particularly synapsids, which has led to some fascinating insights in to how to do just that- to make a mammal! Michael begins the discussion by asking Peter about his journey from an outback Queensland mega-fauna site where the two first met several years ago, while digging up giant, prehistoric kangaroos, extinct , to Harvard… You can find Peter’s work at… https://www.mcz.harvard.edu/people/peter-bishop https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=M5u3GysAAAAJ&utm Host Michael Mills can be found on Insta as The HeapsGood Guy at https://www.instagram.com/heapsgood/ On Bluesky at https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social Palaeo Jam has its own Insta account at https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_jam/

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  Episode #11

  Let's talk about fish!

  Feb 7, 202630 minS4

  Let’s talk about fish… Those creatures of the rivers and oceans that we often think of as somehow distant from us, but that from an evolutionary perspective, are central to the story of who we are. In a wide ranging conversation, Palaeo Jam host Michael Mills chats with Dr Alice Clement of Flinders University about why understanding fish evolution matters in trying to understand ourselves, some key moments in fish evolution, and the key role that the Australian fossil record tells us about this remarkable story. You can find Alice’s blog at https://draliceclement.com And her Research Gate profile… https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Alice-Clement Alice posts from time to time on Twitter at… https://x.com/DrAliceClement Alice has been a guest in several previous Palaeo Jam episodes, including the important “Life as a Palaeo Mum” recorded LIVE at the launch of the Palaeo Jam podcast. You can find it here… https://palaeojam.podbean.com/e/s01e03/ You can find Michael on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity At Palaeo Jam, we have an Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_jam

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  Episode #10

  The Curious Life of Mary Anning

  Jan 24, 202652 minS4

  What happens when you hurl the definitive biographer of palaeontology pioneer Mary Anning, and the writer of a musical about Mary Anning together? In this episode of Palaeo Jam, host and writer of musicals, Michael Mills, is joined by Mary Anning biographer Tom Sharpe to explore the life, science, and enduring legacy of Mary Anning, one of the most important figures in the history of palaeontology. Drawing on years of meticulous research, Tom paints a vivid picture of Mary Anning as not just a fossil collector, but a formidable scientific mind operating at the birth of palaeontology. We explore her groundbreaking discoveries including the first complete plesiosaur, her close (and often complicated) relationships with leading scientists of the day, and the steep barriers she faced as a working-class woman. Beyond the science, this episode digs into the human story of Mary, what she might have been like to meet, personal losses, precarious finances, unanswered questions about her private life, and how myth, film, and modern retellings have sometimes distorted her legacy. The conversation closes by connecting Mary’s enduring legacy to contemporary creative work, including the development “A Curious Thing”, a new musical inspired by her life, making this episode a must-listen for anyone interested in deep time, women in science, and how we tell history responsibly and creatively. This is the first ever episode of Palaeo Jam to ever exceed the strict time limit of 30 minutes per episode, because, well… Michael and Tom decided to just keep talking! We can confirm, that once the mics were turned off, the conversation about this remarkable woman continued! Tom’s book “The Fossil Woman- A Life of Mary Anning” is the most deeply researched book on her life and legacy. It is available through most book stores. Tom regularly shares moments in Mary’s life on BlueSky at https://bsky.app/profile/tomsharperocks.bsky.social @tomsharperocks.bsky.social You can follow Michael’s telling of Mary’s story through the various links at… https://linktr.ee/TheseCuriousThings This link includes a booking link to the 2026 Adelaide Fringe show "A Curious Thing- The Story of Mary Anning." You can find Michael on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity At Palaeo Jam, we have an Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_jam

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  Episode #9

  The Art and Science of Gondwanarama!

  Jan 9, 202630 minS4

  How do you go from being a young kid growing up around Riversleigh terrified of a reconstructed Thylacoleo, and a Diprotodon exhibit at the Queensland Museum, to be one of Australia’s most talented, interesting, emerging palaeo-artists? And how did her emotional responses to these exhibitions help shape the delightful career that Nellie Pease is now creating to much acclaim? In the latest episode of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills chats with palaeo-artist Nellie Pease about her palaeo-artist origin story, while discussing the origin of her fabulous website name, Gondwanarama, a website that describes her as a big fan of marsupials, bugs, & ancient supercontinents. Why those three? Along the way, they also discuss Nellie’s unique creative process, providing insights for anyone interested in how the creative process works in conjunction with the scientific process. They also chat about a transformational conversation Nellie once had with one of Australia’s most palaeo-artists Dr Peter Trusler, and how it has helped shape where she’s at today. You can find Nellie on Instagram at @Gondwanarama https://www.instagram.com/gondwanarama And definitely check out her Etsy shop at… https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/Gondwanarama Her website is at… https://gondwanarama.com/ You can find Michael on Blue Sky at https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social To connect with Dinosaur University on Facebook, follow us at https://www.facebook.com/DinosaurUniversity At Palaeo Jam, we have an Instagram account at https://www.instagram.com/palaeo_jam

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