Writing Excuses

20.43: An Interview with Dr. Tara Lepore on Paleontology


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Erin and Howard sat down with paleontologist Dr. Tara Lepore for a fascinating dive into the science—and storytelling potential—of deep time. Dr. Lepore explains why paleontology is about far more than dinosaurs and how mammal teeth can reveal “birth certificates” millions of years old. We hope you come away with new ways to think about science as story—and how to weave the vastness of deep time into your own worlds.

Thing of the Week: University of California Museum of Paleontology 

Homework: Find 3 ways that deep time could be interwoven into your current or upcoming writing project. 

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Credits: Your hosts for this episode were Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Dan Wells, Erin Roberts, and Howard Tayler. Our guest was Dr. Tara Lepore. It was produced by Emma Reynolds, recorded by Marshall Carr, Jr., and mastered by Alex Jackson.

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Writing ExcusesBy Mary Robinette Kowal, DongWon Song, Erin Roberts, Dan Wells, and Howard Tayler

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