128. Botanizing, Complex Answers, and Being Part of Nature w/ Dr. Ben Goulett-Scott and Dr. Jacob Suissa

What's up, Plant People! I'm back today with an episode that's been a LONG time coming! I chatted with Dr. Ben Goulet-Scott and Dr. Jacob Suissa back at the beginning of the year to talk about their social media outlet/non-profit/incredible new book, all called Let's Botanize! They met in graduate school, and built a strong friendship that grew into what Let's Botanize is today. Tune in to today's episode as we discuss:

• botanizing as a natural history hobby rooted in observation and note-taking 
• how Jacob and Ben’s paths through grad school shape their approach to teaching plants 
• using curiosity about plants to support climate and biodiversity awareness 
• building Let’s Botanize as a nonprofit with a board, interns, and shared skills 
• why their book uses 101 prompts to help anyone connect with plants 
• balancing social media reach with real-world learning and community “third spaces” 
• how scientific uncertainty can be communicated without dumbing it down 
• memorable plant mysteries like marcescence and why some trees keep dead leaves

This is a fun and insightful conversation, and I know y'all are going to love it!

Learn more about and connect with Let's Botanize at the links below!

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

Website

Timestamps:

00:00 Welcome and Guest Tease

02:55 Meet Jacob Souissa

04:09 Meet Ben Goulet Scott

09:16 Why Start Lets Botanize

11:58 COVID Growth and Mission

16:16 Plants and Human Connection

20:23 Public Feedback and Aha Moments

24:16 Midroll and Support

26:31 Nonprofit Team and Board

30:30 Interns Community and Next Steps

33:33 Book Mission And Prompts

36:43 Three Sections Parts Patterns Perspectives

39:42 Paper Book And Unplugging

42:53 Botanizing As Community

45:10 Instagram Process And Philosophy

48:44 Marcescence Mystery Explained

52:11 Embracing Scientific Complexity

54:35 Take Home Messages

57:48 Where To Find Lets Botanize

58:54 Final Reflections And Outro

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As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

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• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

127. 40 by 40, the Future, and Some Good News

What's up Plant People?? Planthropology is finally back! It may look a little different over the next year, but ride along with me today and let's chat about the plans I have and the cool stuff that's coming up. Thanks for sticking with me, and if you know of some good news you'd like to hear on my new segment, let me know. If you'd like EVEN MORE good news and hope about our world, go check out Alaina Wood and Katharine Hayhoe!

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

126. Science Illustration, AI Cardinals, and Frozen Asters w/ J. Spahr

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What's up, Plant People?? On today's episode, I chatted with scientific illustrator, J Spahr of @Science_Visuals to unpack how art turns complex research into clear, accurate stories that spark curiosity. From watercolor botanicals to layered digital paintings and ecosystems in one frame, we explore process, ethics, and impact.

• the path from a found textbook to a science illustration career
• Europe’s legacy of artists working with scientists
• art as storytelling and science communication
• choosing mediums and building layered digital workflows
• designing infographics that condense seasons, species, and behavior
• client collaboration, revisions, and scientific accuracy
• social media’s trade-offs and unexpected reach
• why AI images miss context, accuracy, and trust
• the joy of learning fast through research illustration
• practical plant science: why asters shrug off frost

Make sure to follow J on Instagram and check out her website at scivisuals.com!

If you'd like to support the show, leave a rating and review, email planthropologypod@gmail.com, find me all over the place on social media, snag merch at planthropologypodcast.com, or buymeacoffee.com/planthropology

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

125. Spooky Mushrooms, Modern Folklore, and Mycelial Mind Control w/ Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifni

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A perfect circle of mushrooms in the grass can feel like a message. We follow that feeling into the heart of fungi and folklore with Amanda McLoughlin and Julia Schifini of Spirits, exploring why mushrooms unsettle us, how they anchor myth, and what they can teach us about living with limits and wonder. From fairy rings and house spirits to cordyceps and body horror, we trace the line between ecology and story: a mycelial network expands and fruits at the edge, myth calls it a threshold, and we decide whether to cross.

We dig into the science that fuels the myths—external digestion, predatory oyster mushrooms hunting nematodes, and the eerie intelligence of networks that appear overnight. Then we connect those facts to the rules of folklore: hospitality laws, shared flood stories, and warnings against greed that echo modern forager ethics. We also examine the complicated modern history of psychedelics, sacred ritual, and the mid‑century rush that stripped context in favor of spectacle, reminding ourselves that power without reciprocity becomes a curse in every tradition.

Finally, we turn to fungi as caretakers: recyclers of forests, soil makers, and even potential allies against plastic pollution. Along the way, Amanda and Julia share why house spirits matter, how rituals make homes feel alive, and why returning to stories of reciprocity might be the most practical climate strategy of all. Press play for a smart, spooky tour of mushrooms, myth, and the moral math of sharing a planet. If this conversation re‑enchanted your sense of the woods, subscribe, share with a curious friend, and leave a review telling us the mushroom story you’ll never forget.

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

124. Thunderstorms, Hidden Nature, and the Cryptonaturalist w/ Jarod K. Anderson

We talk with writer and poet Jarod K. Anderson, aka the Cryptonaturalist, about mental health, ADHD, and rediscovering wonder through woods, poems, and honest work. From “brain weather” to dandelion myths, we explore how stories shape healing and how nature keeps us present.

• origin of a lifelong nature connection and early poetry in a “land lab”
• leaving academia, starting therapy, and naming depression as “brain weather”
• enthusiasm over expertise as a path back to the woods
• the Cryptonaturalist: blending natural history, humor, and gentle horror
• balancing sincerity online with a creative career
• separating dandelion facts from internet folklore
• ADHD frameworks: “more than nothing” and consistency over intensity
• sitting still versus covering ground as different forms of success in nature
• poem “Woodland You” and the idea that self-worth is innate
• book recommendations and where to find Jarod’s work

Pre-order the new novel, Strange Animals, anywhere you buy books. We’re fans of ordering from your favorite local bookstore. Find more at jarodkanderson.com and follow the Cryptonaturalist on social media

If you want to connect with the show, go to planthropologypodcast.com or follow along on social media, either Planthropology Pod or The Plant Prof. Send me an email at planthropologypod@gmail.com

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

123. Gathered: On Foraging, Feasting, and the Seasonal Life w/ Gabrielle Cerberville

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Gabrielle Cerberville, known as the Chaotic Forager, returns to discuss her new book "Gathered on Foraging, Feasting, and the Seasonal Life" and shares insights on building relationships with wild spaces beyond mere resource collection.

• Moved to Virginia at the base of Shenandoah National Park to pursue a PhD in Composition and Computer Technologies
• Uses biodata from fungi and plants to create music as a form of science communication
• Created a community-based approach to foraging through workshops and classes in her converted basement classroom
• Wrote "Gathered" as a combination of memoir, cookbook, and field guide to share both technical knowledge and the deeper meaning of foraging
• Collaborated with experts including culinary specialists, plant and mushroom identifiers, and indigenous food practitioners to ensure accuracy
• Challenges individualistic "self-sufficiency" narratives in foraging communities, emphasizing that these skills developed in community contexts
• Recommends beginning foragers start by finding local clubs and experienced guides rather than relying solely on books
• Suggests approaching foraging with curiosity rather than conquest, focusing on building relationships with plants before harvesting
• Emphasizes observation and spending time with individual species to develop deeper understanding and connection

Pre-order "Gathered on Foraging, Feasting, and the Seasonal Life" now at your local indie bookstore or wherever books are sold. You can find Gabrielle as Chaotic Forager across all social media platforms and at chaoticforager.com for workshop information.

Also, be sure to check out the Blue Life Podcast! You can support them by donating to their funding campaign at givebutter.com/BlueLife, following them on social media, and lis

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

122. Green Communities, Urban Conservation, and Just Showing Up w/ Gary Cocke and Carole Fergusson

Gary Cocke and Carole Fergusson share their journeys in sustainability and community conservation, revealing how partnerships between universities, cities, and local organizations create meaningful environmental impact in Waco and beyond.

• Gary's background in biology and ecology led him to sustainability work, first in water conservation during drought conditions
• Carole entered sustainability through nonprofit marketing and event planning, combining her personal passion for gardening with professional skills
• The Baylor "Bearly Used" program diverted 13 large pods of student move-out items to community partners instead of landfills
• Keep Waco Beautiful volunteers generate approximately $200,000 in economic impact annually through their service hours
• The Green Communities Conference brings together academia, government, nonprofits, and citizens to address local sustainability challenges
• Both leaders emphasize that sustainability is fundamentally about people and building community resilience
• Climate impacts are increasingly visible in Texas through longer heat spells, winter storms, and worsening allergy seasons
• Small personal actions like composting and planting native species create "pockets of joy" while contributing to larger solutions

Join us at the Green Communities Conference on September 17-18 in Waco, Texas to connect with sustainability leaders and learn practical approaches to building greener communities.

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

121. Paleobotany, Museums, and Lessons from Deep Time w/ Dr. Aaron Pan

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Journey through millions of years of plant evolution with paleobotanist Dr. Aaron Pan, who unearths fascinating stories locked within fossilized leaves, fruits, and seeds from Earth's distant past. As Executive Director of the Museum of Texas Tech University, Dr. Pan bridges the worlds of scientific research and public education, sharing how ancient plant remains challenge our understanding of modern ecosystems.

Prepare to have your assumptions about plant origins completely upended. Did you know eucalyptus trees – quintessentially Australian icons – likely originated in South America? Or that Africa once had thriving palm forests despite hosting fewer palm species today than tiny Singapore? Dr. Pan's research in Ethiopia reveals evidence of lush, palm-filled landscapes that existed 21-27 million years ago, before continental collisions dramatically reshaped Earth's biodiversity.

The conversation explores how paleobotany differs from other paleontological disciplines, with plants presenting unique challenges since their various parts – leaves, flowers, fruits – can be scattered and fossilized separately. We delve into the collision of Africa with Eurasia that introduced zebras, giraffes, and lions to the continent, fundamentally altering both plant and animal communities in ways that continue to influence modern ecosystems.

Beyond the science, Dr. Pan offers insights into museum work and the importance of preserving both specimens and knowledge. With 9.5 million items in its collection, the Museum of Texas Tech stands as the 19th largest natural history collection in America. Whether you're fascinated by ancient plants, curious about how continents shape evolution, or simply love museums, this episode invites you to appreciate the incredible depth of time and the long, winding journey of plant life on our planet.

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

120. Godfather Figs, Coastal Ecology, and Really Old Rocks w/ Phil D'Angelis

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What happens when scientific curiosity meets ancestral connection? Phil DeAngelis, founder of Phil's Figs and coastal geologist, takes us on a journey that weaves together seemingly unrelated passions into a life of purpose and discovery.

Phil's story begins in Pennsylvania, where gardening was simply part of life in his Italian-American and German-American household. Following the expected corporate path after college, he worked in marketing for Zipcar while an undercurrent of scientific curiosity continued to pull at him. A transformative trip to Italy not only connected him with his heritage but introduced him to fresh figs for the first time—awakening memories of his great-grandfather's cherished fig tree that had been ceremoniously wrapped each winter to survive Philadelphia's cold.

The podcast explores how Phil's mounting fascination with figs coincided with his decision to leave corporate life and pursue graduate studies in geoscience. With remarkable candor, he describes the humbling experience of returning to school, the challenges of scientific writing, and the painstaking research of collecting foraminifera from deep ocean sediments to study climate change events.

We delve into the fascinating geology of East Coast barrier islands—remnants of ancient Appalachian Mountains—and how Phil's work with coastal plant species helps determine environmental boundaries within inches of elevation. The conversation shifts to the extraordinary world of figs, their ancient relationship with humanity dating back to Mesopotamia, and their unique reproductive cycle involving specialized wasps.

Whether you're a science enthusiast, plant lover, or simply someone wondering about different career paths, Phil's story reminds us that curiosity is the greatest guide. As he says, "Play the long game and just keep going on something that truly interests you. If you don't know, go out and start trying stuff."

Ready to experience the incomparable taste of a fresh fig or learn why coastal plants matter? This episode will inspire you to let your passions—however diverse—lead the way.

Phil's Links

Facebook

YouTube

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com

119. Plant Hoarding, the Garden Party, and Being an Influencer w/ Destin Noak

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Ever wondered how working with plants could transform your life? Destin Noak, known online as the Texas Garden Guy, discovered gardening's therapeutic power during a period of uncertainty after leaving the Air Force in 2011. What began with his father's simple suggestion to till the backyard evolved into a passionate pursuit that would eventually open doors to a fulfilling career.

"It kind of gave me that relaxation, that therapy that I didn't know I needed," Destin explains, describing how working in the garden creates a meditative "white noise" that allows everything else to fade away. This accidental discovery became the foundation for a journey that would lead him from container gardening on an apartment balcony to managing a greenhouse filled with rare plants in his suburban yard.

Destin's pragmatic approach to gardening challenges makes him relatable to gardeners of all experience levels. Living with poor clay soil that "cracks when it hasn't rained for about two weeks," he turned to raised beds and container gardening as solutions rather than fighting an uphill battle. His collection now includes 50 fig trees, numerous desert roses, and rare succulents – all thriving in a modest subdivision lot. For gardeners struggling with less-than-ideal conditions, Destin's success offers both inspiration and practical strategies.

The conversation explores the evolution of Texas Garden Guy from pandemic hobby to multimedia platform, including his co-hosting role on The Garden Party podcast and recent position with Nelson Plant Food. Throughout the episode, Destin emphasizes starting small, growing what you genuinely enjoy, and creating garden spaces that reflect your personal preferences rather than conventional standards. "Your garden can be whatever you want it to be," he insists – advice that liberates new gardeners from unnecessary pressure.

Want to meet Destin and Vikram in person? Join them at Plantapalooza 2025 at Smith's Garden Town in Wichita Falls, Texas on May 31st for a day of plant talk, community building, and garden inspiration. Check out Destin's content across social platforms as @TexasGardenGuy and catch The Garden Party podcast live every Wednesday at 7pm CT.

Support the show

As always, thanks so much for listening! Subscribe, rate, and review Planthropology on your favorite podcast app. It helps the show keep growing and reaching more people! As a bonus, if you review Planthropology on Apple Podcasts or Podchaser and send me a screenshot of it, I'll send you an awesome sticker pack!

Planthropology is written, hosted, and produced by Vikram Baliga. Our theme song is "If You Want to Love Me, Babe, by the talented and award-winning composer, Nick Scout. Midroll tunes are by Rooey.

• Substack: Office Hours

• Website: www.planthropologypodcast.com

• Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/Planthropology

• Facebook: Planthropology

• Facebook group: Planthropology's Cool Plant People

• Instagram: @PlanthropologyPod

• e-mail: planthropologypod@gmail.com