Rephonic
Artwork for Plantopia
Plant Pathology
Plant Health
American Phytopathological Society
Nematodes
Climate Change
Food Security
Plant Parasitic Nematodes
Phytophthora
One Health
Soybean Cyst Nematode
Agricultural Research Service (ARS)
Mycology
Education
Sugar Beets
Sustainable Agriculture
Citrus Greening
UG99 Wheat Rust
US Department Of Agriculture
Plant Disease
Biosecurity

Healthy plants are the foundation for life on our planet. They produce the oxygen we breathe and over 80% of the food we eat. The Plantopia podcast series explains how protecting plant health can ensure a sustainable future. Inspired by the United Nations declaration of 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health, the American Phytopathological Society created Plantopia so you can explore the w... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes75Founded6 years ago
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Life SciencesEarth SciencesScience

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Artwork for Plantopia

Latest Episodes

In this episode, Dr. Boris Vinatzer, 2026 APS Fellow and Professor of Microbial Genetics and Genomics in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his career working on p... more

In this episode, Dr. Rodrigo Almeida, 2026 APS Fellow, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease Ecology, and Hildebrand-Laumeister Chair in Plant Pathology in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of Califor... more

YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Christina Cowger, 2026 APS Fellow and Research Plant Pathologist with the USDA-ARS Plant Science Research Unit in Raleigh, North Carolina joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her career working on cereal diseases across the U.S., th... more

YouTube

In this episode, Dr. Melanie Medina López, postdoctoral researcher in the Roman-Reyna Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State University, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss phytobiomes, soybean cyst nemato... more

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Rodrigo Almeida
Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease Ecology; Hildebrandt Laumeister Chair in Plant Pathology, UC Berkeley
University of California, Berkeley
Episode: 2026 APS Fellow Feature Part II: Dr. Rodrigo Almeida
Christina Cowger
Research Plant Pathologist, USDA-ARS; Adjunct Professor, NC State University
USDA-ARS; North Carolina State University
Episode: 2026 APS Fellow Feature: Dr. Christina Cowger
Dr. Melanie Medina López
Postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State
Pennsylvania State University
Episode: The Doctor who chose plant health over human medicine
Jim Bradeen
Former Plantopia host (2022-2023)
Colorado State University
Episode: Searching for Plantopia's New Host / Co-Host
Madeline Wade
Partner and founder of Brumidi Group
Brumidi Group
Episode: Lobbying for Plant Health: A conversation with D.C. lobbyist Madeline Wade
Carrie Harmon
Plant pathologist and lab director, University of Florida Plant Diagnostic Center
University of Florida
Episode: A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The National Plant Diagnostic Network
Alicyn Smart
Associate Extension Professor and Director of University of Maine Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab
University of Maine
Episode: A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The National Plant Diagnostic Network
Peng Tian
Assistant Extension Professor and Director, MU Plant Diagnostic Clinic
University of Missouri
Episode: A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The National Plant Diagnostic Network
Matt Bertone
Entomologist and Director, Plant Disease and Insect Clinic
NC State University
Episode: A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The National Plant Diagnostic Network

Host

Matt Kasson
Host of Plantopia; affiliated with Plantopia and the American Phytopathological Society; extensive involvement with plant health media.

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 56 ratings
  • Original and well made!

    It is to awesome to finally get a podcast devoted to plant pathology sciences, and even better that it is well-made and well-produced. Worth your time!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M.Borden
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

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Great depth on plant diseases and practical implications for growers.
Original and well made!
Well-produced and informative for plant pathology enthusiasts.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

2026 APS Fellow Feature Part II: Dr. Rodrigo Almeida
Q: How has APS and the broader community shaped your view of the Xylella research landscape, especially in relation to management in different regions?
The host asks about the applied implications of regional diversity and how management strategies should account for variation in Xylella populations; Rodrigo discusses regional considerations for grape production and landscape trees, as well as the importance of monitoring and adaptive management across California and Europe.
2026 APS Fellow Feature Part II: Dr. Rodrigo Almeida
Q: When did you first get involved with APS, and what was your early experience like?
He recalls joining as a graduate student at Berkeley to attend meetings and eventually becoming a member to reduce registration costs, describing productive and exciting early APS experiences.
2026 APS Fellow Feature Part II: Dr. Rodrigo Almeida
Q: In your APS fellow profile, it mentions both research contributions and public service. Do you think this APS fellowship recognizes mostly your original research or also your broader outreach?
Rodrigo explains that the recognition is largely for his original research, though he notes that his public service and international outreach have been meaningful; he sees his broader contributions as complementary and internationally focused.
Searching for Plantopia's New Host / Co-Host
Q: What kind of future方向 do you envision for Plantopia, in terms of format and accessibility for educators?
Ideas include integrating teaching resources, creating short-form video snippets, and using Plantopia as a companion for plant pathology education while expanding the audience beyond academics.
Searching for Plantopia's New Host / Co-Host
Q: How would you describe the time investment required to produce a single episode, and how might that affect potential host candidates?
Producing an episode, especially with multiple guests, can involve significant time (roughly 15 hours for a complex, multi-guest episode), which is a meaningful service to the profession and something potential hosts should understand upfront.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Plantopia

What is Plantopia about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Plantopia features in-depth conversations with plant health researchers, pathologists, and industry advocates. Episodes frequently center on plant pathogens, disease management, diagnostics networks, and the policy and translational work that connects lab findings to farming practice. A standout trait is the mix of academic experts and practitioners who translate complex science into actionable insights for growers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders, often touching on real-world impacts like food security, crop resilience, and biosecurity. The show's approachable, interview-driven format and its steady stream of high-profile guest experts make it useful for listeners seeking credible, research-backed perspectives on plant health and a... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Plantopia?

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How many listeners does Plantopia get?

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What are the audience demographics for Plantopia?

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How many subscribers and views does Plantopia have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Plantopia has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Plantopia?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Plantopia:

1. Hidden Brain
2. This American Life
3. You're Wrong About
4. Gastropod

How many episodes of Plantopia are there?

Plantopia launched 6 years ago and published 75 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Plantopia?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Plantopia?

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What guests have appeared on Plantopia?

Recent guests on Plantopia include:

1. Rodrigo Almeida
2. Christina Cowger
3. Dr. Melanie Medina López
4. Jim Bradeen
5. Madeline Wade
6. Carrie Harmon
7. Alicyn Smart
8. Peng Tian

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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