Gather 'round fellow nerds, you’re about to learn about the wildest not a fern not a bush not a cactus plant you never knew you never knew about: CYCADS. These endangered ancient plants have been around for 270 million years, give or take, and now they’re some of the most valuable vegetation in the world. Come along to learn about these uncomfortably sexy gymnosperms and the international crimes people do to steal them. Also: neurotoxins, Jurassic Park, and one of the best fixes for procrastination we’ve ever heard with the world’s favorite botanist and cycadologist, Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum.

Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum’s website

Follow Dr. Nathalie Nagalingum on Twitter and tell her you love her

Dr. Nagalingum’s profile at California Academy of Sciences

Speaking of which, Alie will be moderating a Women in Science Nightlife event there coming up March 3rd, and you can get tickets for that here

A donation was made to Ovarian Cancer Australia

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Sound editing by Jarrett Sleeper of MindJam Media

Transcripts by Emily White of The Wordary

Website by Kelly R. Dwyer

Theme song by Nick Thorburn

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