The Pain Beat podcast covers a wide range of topics related to the study and treatment of pain. In the most recent episode (Episode 11), Dr. Robyn Crook and four other leading pain researchers discuss the evolution of nociception and pain, whether nociceptors are the archetypal sensory neuron, and whether chronic pain is adaptive or maladaptive. This podcast is a live recording of a panel discussion at the Gulf Coast Pain Consortium meeting, where clinicians and basic researchers convene to discuss new ways to approach pain treatment. As evolutionary and comparative perspectives on prolonged and chronic pain gain traction, our hope is that broader understanding of the diversity of pain states among different animals will lead to improvements not only in human health, but in the treatment and prevention of pain in all animal species.