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Bedrock: Earth's Earliest History: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Dylan Wilmeth
This podcast starts at the beginning of Earth's prehistory and works forward through time. Bedrock will explore the first 90% of Earth’s past, a time known as the Precambrian Era. Before humans, before dinosaurs… there was the Precambrian. The Earth was an incredibly alien world, but not a dead one. Along the way, you will build a mental toolkit to see the world like a geologist. You will never look at a mountain, the moon, or pond scum in quite the same way again. Welcome to Bedrock.
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- 2 weeks ago41 min
56: The Council of Time (Season 3 Premiere)
Welcome to Season 3 of Bedrock! This season will cover the Paleoarchean Era, from 3.6 to 3.2 billion years ago, or March to April on the "Earth Calendar". Get ready for more fossils and strange new rocks! In this episode, we'll see why Season 3 begins and ends when it does: an extinction? an impact? or something more random? On the way, we'll visit geology's great "Council of Time", meet a bishop who was a founder of modern geology, and make a cake on the edge of the Grand Canyon.Want bonus content? Check out our Patreon! One-off donations on Paypal
- Aug 27, 202632 min
Mail Time! Dylan answers your questions
While we're on a break between seasons, and while I'm starting my new job, I figured this would be a nice palate cleanser. There's no script, just answers like I'd actually give in person.If YOU want your question to be on a future Mail Time (and listen to bonus episodes), join our Patreon here! Today, I talk about the day I fell in love with "fossil pond scum", some of my favorite field locations, and my favorite time period in Earth history. Enjoy!
- Aug 19, 202654 min
Season 2 Recap: The Eoarchean
Get caught up on Season 2!The Eoarchean Era covers 4 to 3.6 billion years ago, Feb 15 to March 19 on the Earth Calendar. Highlights include: the oldest rock on Earth (24), a dimmer Sun (28), the Man in the Moon (35), the oldest ash (46) the oldest uncontested(-ish) evidence for life (50), and the oldest rocks in the USA (55).While you wait for Season 3, check out patreon.com/bedrockpodcast for episodes of Hometown Geology, or bedrockpodcast.com for helpful scripts and images! Thanks for all the support!
- Jul 29, 202631 min
55: The Oldest Rock in the USA
Season 2 Finale!For 50 years, the title of "USA's Oldest Rock" was held on the prairies of western Minnesota. In 2025, that throne was usurped by a brand new study. Where is this "new" ancient location, what rocks are here, and how old are they? Stay tuned to find out!Dylan has an exciting announcement: he has a new visiting professor job at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota! Thanks to everyone for their support.Speaking of which, if you want to donate:Monthly donations on PatreonOne-off donations on Paypal
- Jul 15, 202634 min
54: The End of an Era
We finally end our great Greenland adventure with one final question: how did all these diverse rocks become squeezed together, 3.6 billion years ago? The answer to that question can tell us a lot about how the early Earth worked. According to some folks, plate tectonics was very similar to today. To others, Earth was a very alien world indeed. Along the way, we'll visit trenches off the coast of Japan, and turn our hands into tectonic plates.Dylan also has an exciting announcement: he has a new visiting professor job at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota! Thanks to everyone for their support.Speaking of which, if you want to donate:Monthly donations on PatreonOne-off donations on Paypal
- Jul 1, 202638 min
53: The Great Fossil Debate
At long last, we finish the cliffhanger from Episode 52! Last time, I introduced one of the greatest debates in paleontology and geology. Are a few little triangles on the Greenland tundra Earth's oldest visible fossils, or just some funny-looking rocks? Today, we'll discuss both sides like a court case, laying out a decade of debate. This has been an episode Dylan has waited a long, long time to produce! Click here to see images of the triangles!If you want to donate:Monthly donations on PatreonOne-off donations on Paypal
- Jun 22, 20265 min
The Return of Bedrock and Hometown Geology
Good news: After six months, my girlfriend's hospital odyssey is wrapping up for now.Bad news: My visiting professorship at GVSU has finally ended, and the job hunt continues.For better and for worse, I have more time to return to the podcasts. Bedrock and Hometown Geology will alternate on Wednesdays. The Brisbane episode of Hometown Geology will air June 24 for Patreon subscribers, and Episode 53 of Bedrock will air July 1. Thank you all for your patience once again, I'm excited to get behind the microphone again!If you want to donate:Monthly donations on PatreonOne-off donations on Paypal
- Feb 19, 20264 min
Life Update: Medical Hiatus
This brief update explains the long pause in episodes. A month ago, my girlfriend had a major, sudden hospital visit. The operation went smoothly, but there are many more hospital visits in the next few months. Episodes will return, but probably not until March. As always, thank you for your patience and well wishes!If you want to donate:One-off donations on PaypalMonthly donations on Patreon
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About Bedrock: Earth's Earliest History
This podcast starts at the beginning of Earth's prehistory and works forward through time. Bedrock will explore the first 90% of Earth’s past, a time known as the Precambrian Era. Before humans, before dinosaurs… there was the Precambrian. The Earth was an incredibly alien world, but not a dead one. Along the way, you will build a mental toolkit to see the world like a geologist. You will never look at a mountain, the moon, or pond scum in quite the same way again. Welcome to Bedrock.
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