Read along with Steph and Kat as we rediscover the delights of the Earth's Children book series by Jean M. Auel. Each season we will go chapter by chapter through the books, starting with Clan of the Cave Bear. We'll talk about the writing, the characters, and of course the research that combine to make these books such classics.
This podcast is about a series of books for grown ups, and we do occasionally swear while discussing it. The books and the podcast sometimes describe sex and violence. Listen accordingly.
S1 E10 Chapter 18; Clan of the Cave Bear - Joy and Pain
Warning: This episode includes discussion of sexual violence.
In Chapter 18, Broud's attacks on Ayla escalate eventually resulting in her pregnancy.
References:
And Sometimes They Kill You (https://btlbooks.com/book/and-sometimes-they-kill-you), Pamela Cross, 2024
Against Our Will (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Against_Our_Will), Susan Brownmiller, 1975.
Men Who Rape, (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4899-6078-8) A Nicholas Groth, 1979.
King Kong Theory (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Kong_Theory), Virginie Despentes, 2026.
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
13 Oct 2026
S1 E9 Chapters 15, 16 & 17; Clan of the Cave Bear - Snowed In
Ayla is dead, long live Ayla. In this episode, Ayla is cast out but returns triumphant, with a really nice new outfit.
Physical pain of rejection, Naomi Eisenberger
Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/kindred-rebecca-wragg-sykes-9781635579895.html), by Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 2020
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
6 Oct 2026
S1 E8 Chapters 13 & 14; Clan of the Cave Bear - Saviour Complex
In this episode, the clan goes fishing, two children are rescued from certain death and for some reason Australian fauna is on our minds.
References:
Wild (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/wild-9780307476074.html), by Cheryl Strayed, 2012
Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/kindred-rebecca-wragg-sykes-9781635579895.html), by Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 2020
Neanderthal Surfer's Ear (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/neanderthals-had-lots-surfers-ear-suggesting-they-were-seafood-180972917/), Smithsonian Magazine, 2019
A Cry in the Dark (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rt7o0XMMY90), film, 1988
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
29 Sept 2026
S1 E7 Chapters 11 & 12; Clan of the Cave Bear - Sick Burn
In this episode, Ayla gets a sign from her totem, kills a hyena, and treats her first patient - and we contemplate how dinner menus have changed over time.
References:
slinging.org (https://www.slinging.org/) - Online community
Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/kindred-rebecca-wragg-sykes-9781635579895.html), by Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 2020
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
22 Sept 2026
S1 E6 Chapters 9 & 10; Clan of the Cave Bear - Private Dancer
Welcome to Prehistoric Book Club with Kat and Steph. Set down your hand axe, light a fire in your hearth and join two old friends for a close read of Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel.
In this episode, we get a two year time jump, Ayla picks up a sling and Broud attacks Ayla. Note: This episode includes discussion of violence.
References:
slinging.org (https://www.slinging.org/) - Online community
King Kong Theory (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/king-kong-theory-virginie-despentes-9780374539290.html), by Virginie Despentes, 2006 (French) and 2009 (English translation)
Born a Crime (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/born-a-crime-trevor-noah-9780385689243.html), by Trevor Noah, 2016
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
15 Sept 2026
S1 E5 Chapters 7 & 8; Clan of the Cave Bear - Feeling 22
In this episode, Ayla learns to sign, Iza has a baby and Creb falls victim to performative parenting.
References:
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/eve-cat-bohannon-9780345813305.html), by Cat Bohannon, 2025
Laughter in Hominids (https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/humans-and-great-apes-giggle-with-a-similar-rhythm-and-timing-suggesting-we-have-shared-our-style-of-laughter-for-15-million-years-180989031/) - Smithsonian Magazine, 2026
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
8 Sept 2026
S1 E4 Chapters 5 & 6; Clan of the Cave Bear - Thirst Trap
In this episode Broud makes his first kill, Ayla gets her totem, and Iza and Creb go full Cuthbert.
References:
Anne of Green Gables (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/anne-of-green-gables-l-m-montgomery-9781770497313.html), by L.M. Montgomery, 1908
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/eve-cat-bohannon-9780345813305.html), by Cat Bohannon, 2025
Kindred: Neanderthal Life, Love, Death and Art (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/kindred-rebecca-wragg-sykes-9781635579895.html), by Rebecca Wragg Sykes, 2020
Your Inner Fish (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/your-inner-fish-neil-shubin-9780307277459.html?srsltid=AfmBOoqpsGGwdZwEexzWCsAW5HPRNHHxp1O93F2T05KSTasLRclljEt6), by Neil Shubin, 2008 | Evolution of human ear
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
1 Sept 2026
S1 E1 Chapter 1; Clan of the Cave Bear - Cat Scratch Fever
In our first episode, we recap the first short chapter of the book and discuss how the idea for this series came to the author, the research she did to complete it and our memories of first discovering the magical world she created.
References:
Shanidar: The First Flower People (https://archive.org/details/shanidarfirstflo00sole/page/n7/mode/2up), by Ralph S. Solecki, 1971 (out of print)
Don's Maps - www.donsmaps.com (https://www.donsmaps.com/) - Clan Cave Area map (https://www.donsmaps.com/earth5.html)
The Valley of Horses (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/the-valley-of-horses-jean-m-auel-9780553250534.html), Jean M. Auel, 1982
Also mentioned: V.C. Andrews, Lois Duncan
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
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1 Sept 2026
S1 E3 Chapters 3 & 4; Clan of the Cave Bear - Hyena Junk
In this episode, our wandering clan find a five-star cave, our tiny protagonist finally gets a name, and Creb takes a lovely wander through the woods.
In this episode we mention:
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/eve-cat-bohannon-9780345813305.html), by Cat Bohannon, 2025
New Penguin Atlas of Ancient History (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/the-new-penguin-atlas-of-ancient-history-revised-edition-9780140513486), Colin McEvedy & John Woodcock
Alone, TV Series, 8 season, available on Crave and History
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
1 Sept 2026
S1 E2 Chapter 2; Clan of the Cave Bear - Stone Age Birkin
In this episode, we meet the clan, ponder the significance of the totem spirits, and question the effectiveness of Brun’s leadership - but who are we to quibble, after all we’re just women!
References:
A Short History of the World According to Sheep (https://libro.fm/audiobooks/9781800242654-a-short-history-of-the-world-according-to-sheep), by Sally Coulthard, 2020
The Carrier Bag of Fiction Theory (https://www.ursulakleguin.com/the-carrier-bag-theory-of-fiction), by Ursula K. Le Guin, 1989
Eve: How the Female Body Drove 200 Million Years of Evolution (https://www.booksellers.ca/books/eve-cat-bohannon-9780345813305.html), by Cat Bohannon, 2025
Prehistoric Book Club is hosted by Steph and Kat, two old friend doing a deep dive into the Earth's Children books by Jean M. Auel. Season One covers The Clan of The Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel, 1980
Theme Music: Sanskrit, courtesy iMovie/Apple.
10 Aug 2026
Preview: Meet Your Hosts
Welcome to Prehistoric Book Club - meet your hosts, Kat and Steph. Set down your hand axe, light a fire in your hearth and join two old friends for a close read of Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. Join us beginning September 1, 2026 for weekly episodes going chapter by chapter - think of it as a re-watch podcast, but for a book. We'll get into the writing and the archeology that makes these books so remarkable.
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