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. Palaeo Jam uses fossils, and other objects and research from palaeontology, to explore a range of scientific and social issues, and incorporate key discoveries into its content. That fancy description aside, it’s really an opportunity for host Michael Mills to chat with his palaeo pals and learn some cool things!
Each episode is restricted to a maximum of 30 minutes. Each episode has a panel of up to three guests, and is hosted by award-winning science communicator Michael Mills.
You can buy a Palaeo Jam mug, and eventually othersPalaeo Jam merch from the Dinosaur University shop at https://dinosaur-university.teemill.com/ (https://dinosaur-university.teemill.com/)
What can a tiny fossil tooth tell us about a world that disappeared thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years ago? Quite a lot, as it turns out! In this episode of Palaeo Jam, host Michael Mills is joined by Dr Tiah Bampton of Adelaide University to explore the fascinating world of stable isotopes and how palaeontologists use them to investigate the past.
Tiah explains how the chemistry locked inside fossilised teeth can reveal what extinct animals ate, what they drank and the environments in which they lived. We discover how stable isotopes are helping researchers reconstruct changing climates and vegetation at places like the Naracoorte Caves, and how the humble fossilised tooth can become a remarkable record of an animal’s life, and the world around it.
But this isn't just about looking backwards. By understanding how animals responded to environmental change in the past, stable isotope research can also help us understand extinction, resilience and the challenges facing Australia's wildlife today.
To learn more about Tiah, follow the link… https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/tiah.bampton
To learn about Tiah Bampton’s journey, check out this story with the ABC… https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-05-03/tiah-bampton-living-dream-at-naracoorte-caves-palaeontology-dig/12209876
Host Michael Mills can be found on Bluesky as The Heaps Good Guy at… https://bsky.app/profile/heapsgood.bsky.social
He occasionally inhabits LinkdIn at… https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-mills-86906335/
And is also on Insta at… https://www.instagram.com/heapsgood/
26 Mar 2026
When a palaeo-artist and a palaeontologist are the same person!
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
4 Mar 2026
Making a mammal
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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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
4.9 / 5
9 ratings
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