In this episode of pplpod, we explore the extraordinary life of Mary Anning, the self -taught fossil hunter who helped revolutionize paleontology from the dangerous cliffs of Lyme Regis in early 19th century England. Born into poverty and largely excluded from formal scientific institutions because she was both working class and a woman, Anning spent her life excavating prehistoric creatures that forced scientists to confront the reality of extinction and the immense age of Earth itself. Her discoveries of marine reptiles like the ichthyosaur and plesiosaur completely transformed humanity’s understanding of prehistoric life and helped lay the foundation for modern paleontology.

The episode examines how Anning risked her life hunting fossils along unstable coastal cliffs, taught herself anatomy and geology through relentless self -study, and ...