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In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants
Climate Change
Biodiversity
Botany
Ecology
Native Plants
Paleobotany
Plant Conservation
Invasive Species
Pollination
Conservation
Bryophytes
Plant Ecology
Plant Evolution
Orchids
Gardening
Fireflies
Devonian Period
Plant Stress
Evolutionary Biology
Ecosystem Health

Plants are everything. They are also incredibly interesting. From the smallest duckweed to the tallest redwood, the botanical world is full of wonder. Tune in for a podcast celebrating everything botany.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes586Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureScienceNatural Sciences

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Artwork for In Defense of Plants Podcast

Latest Episodes

When you start studying a group of plants, you never know what you are going to find. Sometimes it's important insights into pollination and seed dispersal. Other times it's how the uplift of mountain chains shapes wetlands and rivers. These are the ... more

Plants are habitat. Heck, even a single leaf is habitat. Same goes for plant roots. This is especially true when we consider insects and fungi. But how do these organisms interact? How do they change over gradients of moisture, temperature, space, an... more

What could be better than a tiny plant with an outsized impact on the world around it? Hornleaf riverweed AKA Podostemum ceratophyllum is one such plant. This tiny aquatic plant has so many mysterious surrounding it but what we do know is that it is ... more

Seed storage is one of the most important tools in plant conservation, but did you know you can also store pollen? We still have a lot to learn about storing both pollen and seeds for most species, and people like Dr. Dustin Wolkis of the Center for ... more

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Recent Guests

James Wood
Professor at Tennessee Tech University researching Podostomaceae in rivers
Tennessee Tech University
Episode: Ep. 580 - Celebrating a Foundational Aquatic Plant
Dustin Wolkis
Director of Science and Conservation, Center for Plant Conservation
Center for Plant Conservation
Episode: Ep. 579 - Pollen & Seed Storage Efforts
Dr. Jill Hamilton
Associate Professor at Pennsylvania State University; Director of the Schatz Center for Tree Molecular Genetics
Pennsylvania State University
Episode: Ep. 578 - Trees & Their Hybrids in a Changing World
Dr. Chelsea Specht
Botanist specializing in monocots and Zingiberales; professor and researcher
Cornell University
Episode: Ep. 577 - Ginger Flowers & Plant Evolution
Jason Dombroski
Researcher specializing in micromoths and plant interactions
Cornell University, Insect Diagnostic Lab
Episode: Ep. 576 - Of Micro Moths & Plants
Elizabeth White
Dr. Elizabeth White, researcher focusing on endemism and phylogeography in the Eastern Gulf Coastal Plain
University of Florida
Episode: Ep. 575 - Endemic Plants of the Gulf Coast
Ryan Folk
Associate professor researching Heuchera evolution and hybridization
Mississippi State University
Episode: Ep. 574 - Of Alumroots & Coral Bells: Hybridization in Heuchera
Ashley Hillman
Climate refugia researcher focusing on lakes and plant responses
Canadian Forest Service, Alberta, Canada
Episode: Ep. 573 - Great Lakes Climate Refugia
Robert Colautti
Associate Professor, biology department, Queen's University; lab focuses on biological invasions, especially plants, and integrates ecology, genetics, and fieldwork
Queen's University
Episode: Ep. 572 - Novel Weapons & Plant Invasions

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 2.5k ratings
  • Matt should introduce his guests

    The main reason I wrote this review is to address how Matt, the host, handles his introductions. He starts every interview by asking the guest “Tell us who you are and what you do”. Ok fine, that’s a proper way to start an interview, by explaining to the audience who the guest is. What bothers me is that the host isn’t doing the introduction himself. These are scientists and professionals in their field he’s interviewing, people who deserve respect. I’m not saying he is being disrespectful, but ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    RoseJ647
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love Matt’s presentation

    Please don’t change your style as in tone of voice, or calm way you question and allow the stream of consciousness. Love the discussions. The guest is always able to present lots of information and then Matt summarizes and guides the discussion with questions to pull out more specifics or to begin to discuss another part of study or research. I didn’t find merch.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mpkfeedback
    United States2 months ago
  • Time Machine

    From Devonian forests to the High Sierras to Florida Everglades this show takes me back through time and forward to new scientific understandings of the green and beautiful world and how cleverly it has developed and survived as a basis of life on earth and as a huge planetary ecosystem full of coolness and colour and hearts delight and calmness. This is where science becomes magical

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Chamsqiz
    Australia3 months ago
  • Lack of substance

    I appreciate the host’s deep knowledge but wish he could approach interviews with more of a « beginner’s mind. » Most of the conversation is commiserating, marveling, humble bragging but not on the substance of the research. Rarely do I come away with a better understanding of the subject, sadly.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Valjean2000
    United States6 months ago
  • Too much fluff

    I was excited by the topics listed in the titles of this podcast but after listening to 7 or 8 episodes, it’s feeling painfully repetitive and lacking in substance. When the guests actually get to talk about the science in their work, it’s really interesting. Unfortunately, the majority of the podcast is often the host buttering up the guests and trying to show how passionate he is about the subject. Way too much time is spent talking about the guests’ career paths, how fascinating everything is... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Imanj24
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes are praised for accessibility and credible guest expertise.
Some listeners feel the show can be heavy on host storytelling at times.
Listeners commend clear, engaging delivery and deep dives into plant science.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 580 - Celebrating a Foundational Aquatic Plant
Q: What makes Podostomum serratifilum so hard to study compared to more typical aquatic plants?
Its habitat is fast-flowing, rocky substrates with little soil, making access and replication in experiments difficult; plants are difficult to cultivate in labs, and field conditions vary widely between rivers.
Ep. 580 - Celebrating a Foundational Aquatic Plant
Q: How did you become interested in studying this unusual river plant?
Dr. Wood describes a lifelong love of rivers and plants, a serendipitous invitation from a fish biologist, and a bridging of kayaking with field biology that led to focusing on Podostomum serratifilum.
Ep. 577 - Ginger Flowers & Plant Evolution
Q: Why is the labellum in Costaceae so important to understanding their pollination strategies?
Because the labellum is a key floral structure formed from fused infertile stamens, it acts as the primary display while the true petals are less conspicuous; studying its diversity across species reveals how development and pollinator interactions drive speciation.
Ep. 577 - Ginger Flowers & Plant Evolution
Q: How did you become interested in botany and monocots specifically?
The guest describes an early love of biology and the joy of field experiences; mentorship and a shift from a pharmacology focus to ethnobotany and evolutionary chemistry steered her toward studying plant development and biodiversity, with monocots and the Zingiberales providing a rich system for exploring floral evolution.
Ep. 574 - Of Alumroots & Coral Bells: Hybridization in Heuchera
Q: What are Heuchera, broadly speaking, and why are they interesting?
Heuchera are a genus of small to medium-sized garden plants with diverse habitats and complex pollination biology; they're especially interesting because they exhibit extensive hybridization, plasmid-like organelle dynamics, and varied ecological adaptations that illuminate broader questions in evolution and systematics.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About In Defense of Plants Podcast

What is In Defense of Plants Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A science-forward show that explores plants, botany, and ecological interactions through expert interviews and field stories. Episodes often cover plant evolution, conservation, restoration, and the role of plants in climate resilience, with a mix of lab work, field observations, and practical takeaways for gardeners, conservationists, and science enthusiasts. Noteworthy strengths include accessible explanations of complex topics, strong guest credibility from universities and research institutes, and a propensity to connect plant science to real-world applications like habitat restoration and citizen science. The format tends to blend detailed botanical concepts with engaging narratives, making it appealing to listeners who crave depth wit... more

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Which podcasts are similar to In Defense of Plants Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with In Defense of Plants Podcast:

1. Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't
2. Completely Arbortrary
3. Native Plants, Healthy Planet
4. Plant People
5. Ologies with Alie Ward

How many episodes of In Defense of Plants Podcast are there?

In Defense of Plants Podcast launched 9 years ago and published 586 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on In Defense of Plants Podcast?

Recent guests on In Defense of Plants Podcast include:

1. James Wood
2. Dustin Wolkis
3. Dr. Jill Hamilton
4. Dr. Chelsea Specht
5. Jason Dombroski
6. Elizabeth White
7. Ryan Folk
8. Ashley Hillman

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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