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Depending on where you live, you may know this tree better as Cedar. There's the Northern White-Cedar, the Western Redcedar, and a few others. But these species, more broadly known as Arborvitae or Thuja, are in a completely different plant family than "true Cedars." Today, I'll address this name confusion and dive way deep into why these incredible and unique trees don't need to bank off of someone else's success. From sacred forests in Japan, to swamps in the Upper Midwest, to the groves of giants in the Pacific Northwest, Arborvitaes are some of the most deserving individuals of the title "Tree of Life."

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

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On this rare trip to the African continent, we look at a keystone savanna species: the Marula. These trees reflect the movement of the great Bantu Migration, play a key role in certain fertility traditions, and allegedly get elephants drunk. The Marula will also teach us that apparently everything is a nut tree.

Tons of bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

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Of the many Pine species in the world, only a few yield seeds that we know as Pine Nuts. That's right, we're not done with nuts quite yet. In the US, we call these nut-producing Pines Pinyons. The Pinyon Pine is found all over the American southwest and has played a vital role in the diet and culture of numerous indigenous nations in that region for thousands of years. Come explore this history and learn about how Pine Nuts are viewed around the world.

Tons of Bonus Content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

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For the conclusion of this second Nut Tree Miniseries, I present you with the Macadamia Nut. An exotic snack with an absurdly hard shell that many associate with the island state of Hawaii--but one whose origins actually bring us to the rainforests of northern Australia. Learn about the aboriginal human relationship with this nut tree, how it became so strongly associated with Hawaii, and why a 21st century scandal sent its popularity skyward in South Korea.

Bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

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The Pistachio is considered the most successful plant introduction to the United States in the 20th century. Up until then, they were a staple part of a diet that didn't stray far from western Asia and the Mediterranean. Though they've been a part of human life for thousands of years, their presence in the global market is just a few decades old. And even if you're at all familiar with how the western world perceives Iran, you may be surprised as to how much of an impact those relationships have affected this little green nut.

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

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Welcome to the start of my second Nut Trees miniseries! Last year, I covered in sequence the trees that give us Almonds, Walnuts, and Pecans--but I've returned to the snack bowl to dig into the history of Cashews, Pistachios, and Macadamia Nuts.

I simply had to start with Cashews since they are my favorite nut, so come learn about a South American tree that took on a South Asian identity. These trees probably have the weirdest fruits that I've covered yet, excluding Figs obviously, and there is inevitably some weird stuff that humans have done with them.

Bonus content is available on my Patreon! (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

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The Pawpaw tree is a mysterious one, somehow being both my most requested topic and one many are likely to not have heard of. This tree species produces the largest native tree fruit in North America, but despite growing among temperate Oaks and Hickories, it has qualities seen only in otherwise tropical plants. Explore the Pawpaw with me, from its earliest impacts on human history to how it could find its way back into the spotlight today.    

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

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This is the first of a new episode type I'll be sprinkling into the mix, where I dive into the life of notable individuals who helped shape the profession of forestry and revolutionize our relationship with forests. To kick things off, I'm shining a light on Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief Forester of the US Forest Service. We'll get into what motivated him to introduce the idea of resource conservation in America and how he came to expand the role the government played in land management. Then we'll go deeper to understand his relationship with preservationist John Muir and how they came to be on opposing sides in the battle to dam a scenic valley in Yosemite National Park.

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

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Admittedly, I was drawn to this tree because I assumed it served as the inspiration for the Peruvian Puff Pepper that was mentioned in Season 3, Episode 2 of Nickelodeon's "Drake and Josh." I'm still not sure if it is or not, but that doesn't lessen this tree's right to get its own episode. The Peruvian Peppertree is the source of the pink peppercorns we see on grocery store shelves. And this pink pepper has found its way into pre-Incan civilizations, early California missions, and French food fads of the 1980s.

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast

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Hawaii's upcoming Statehood Day has historically been a controversial holiday for its people. With this in mind, I have chosen this occasion to take a closer look at Hawaiian culture through the lens of its state tree, the Candlenut. As the name suggests, this tree has been used as a candle, but also a clock, a bitter cold remedy, tattoo dye, and so much more. Today, we'll explore how this tree can also serve to enlighten us on the history of Hawaii and her people.

Join my Patreon for bonus content and to help contribute to sustainable organizations (patreon.com/MyFavoriteTrees)

Music is by Academy Garden (academygarden.bandcamp.com)

Cover Art is by @boomerangbrit on Instagram

Script Editing and Social Media is by Laurie Hilburn (lhilburn.journoportfolio.com)

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook @MyFavoriteTrees and on Instagram @treepodcast