Plant People

In today’s episode, we’re proving that botany is for everyone—yes, even you! We’re joined by Jacob Suissa, Ph.D., and Ben Goulet-Scott, Ph.D., botanists and founders of Let’s Botanize, a nonprofit dedicated to making plant science fun and accessible. Using social media, they share everything from practical foraging to plant identification—making it not only educational, but also exciting and easy to understand. We’ll discuss their book, learn how to dig into botany (especially for beginners!) and acknowledge why it’s important to democratize plant science—for the health of people and the planet.

Listen in as we talk about a niche and noble hobby: tree collecting. Author Amy Stewart joins us to discuss her newest book, The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession, which profiles 50 different tree aficionados ranging from scientists cataloging rare species, to families preserving their heritage, and conservationists fighting to reforest their land. Their stories shed light on both the cultural and environmental necessity of trees—and how climate change, policy shifts, and financial barriers are all hindering their protection. Stick around for insights into the ways these collectors are benefiting biodiversity, and what roles you can play in the effort.

In this week’s episode, we discuss the future of horticulture—and the simple, sustainable changes that can help the planet heal. Come join Chad Massura, founder of Rosy Soil, and Kurt Morrell, VP of Horticulture Operations at NYBG, for a chat about the importance of peat-free soil for a carbon-neutral world. Massura shares the story behind potting products like his that move beyond the extractive model of the peat industry, while Morrell elaborates on eco-friendly practices in horticulture. You’ll leave the conversation with a new tactic in hand to make your own garden greener!

Acclaimed author and poet Camille Dungy joins us this week to explore the intersection of nature, identity, and systemic change. With insight from her latest book, SOIL: The Story of a Black Mother’s Garden, Dungy shares her view of gardening as another form of storytelling. Listen in as we talk about environmental advocacy and stewardship—and the ways nature and narrative are more intertwined than you might think.

In the first episode of Season 2, we explore the resilience and creativity of the Bronx through the eyes of acclaimed author Ian Frazier, whose new book—Paradise Bronx: The Life & Times of New York’s Greatest Borough—is an ode to the City’s greenest and most diverse borough. Frazier’s love for the neighborhoods of the Bronx introduces us to a rich history of rebuilding and revitalization driven by the people who call it home, even as the borough grew and evolved around institutions like the New York Botanical Garden, which was first established in the 1890s.Through Ian’s perspective, we’ll navigate the Bronx’s complex past, from its historical landscapes and development, to environmental and municipal neglect—and its incredible bounce-back efforts over the decades.

In our final episode of the season, we sit down with Merlin Sheldrake, biologist and author of Entangled Life: How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds, and Shape Our Futures, to talk fungi. Mushrooms are a culinary sensation, but they’re also lifeforms that we’re still trying to understand. Join in as we learn how the grim work of fungi—death, decay, and “the end” of organic life—is key to the survival of all living things, and far from a foraging fad, mycology is at the root of Earth’s ability to function.