#36: Dr. Paul Sereno - The Real-Life Indiana Jones and the Age of Discovery

<p>In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Paul Sereno, a paleontologist, professor, explorer, artist, author, teacher, and one of the closest things you will find to a real-life Indiana Jones.</p><p></p><p>Dr. Sereno has led expeditions across the world, from the Sahara to South America and now toward the Amazon. We get into AI, de-extinction, lost fossils, the asteroid that changed Earth’s history, whether humans would exist if that asteroid had missed, his course on intelligence in the universe, and why he believes the world is still a playground for the next generation.</p><p></p><p>Subscribe for more conversations like this on Pieces of Impact.</p><p></p><p>Join the newsletter: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://substack.com/@steveseger" target="_blank">https://substack.com/@steveseger</a><br />Watch on YouTube: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://youtube.com/@steve_seger2?si=2E2mUXAfOLL9ztyQ" target="_blank">https://youtube.com/@steve_seger2?si=2E2mUXAfOLL9ztyQ</a><br />Listen on Apple Podcasts: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast" target="_blank">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast</a>...<br />Listen on Spotify: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTS" target="_blank">https://open.spotify.com/show/2IGYfTS</a>...<br />Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="http://www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger" target="_blank">www.linkedin.com/in/steveseger</a></p><p></p><p>Guest Links</p><p>Paul Sereno Website: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/" target="_blank">https://paulsereno.uchicago.edu/</a></p><p>Instagram: <a rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.instagram.com/paulserenoofficial/?hl=en" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/paulserenoofficial/?hl=en</a><br /></p><p>Chapter Markers</p><p>00:00 Intro and why I wanted to have Dr. Paul Sereno on<br />02:02 Dr. Sereno joins the show<br />06:44 Dr. Safety, black bones, and leading expeditions<br />11:21 The real-life Indiana Jones comparison<br />16:15 Why discovery is far from over<br />24:00 AI, de-extinction, and what people misunderstand<br />31:59 The Amazon expedition and the next big discovery<br />37:10 Teaching, science, and the evolution of intelligence<br />49:19 Lost fossils, repatriation, and preserving history<br />54:25 Would humans exist if the asteroid missed?<br />57:49 Naming discoveries, future expeditions, and final wisdom<br />1:06:54 Where to find Dr. Sereno</p>