In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Melissa Abdo, a Floridian whose work in conservation has brought her face to face with countless captivating yet threatened plants in the swamps of the southeast—including the ghost orchid. Long coveted by poachers, and central to the plot of author Susan Orlean’s bestselling book, The Orchid Thief, this ethereal flower faces an uncertain future, inspiring calls for its protection under the Endangered Species Act. Join us as we dive into this orchid’s story, one of passion and even obsession.

In this week’s episode of Plant People, Michael Goergen of The American Chestnut Foundation joins us to discuss the tragic history—and hopeful future—of one of North America’s most iconic trees.

In the early 20th century, chestnut blight arrived in North America, a parasitic fungus that went on to kill an estimated four billion American chestnut trees. But more than a century later, work is underway to cultivate a chestnut tree that can resist the fungus—and thrive doing it.

 In this episode, we’re joined by amateur mycologist, food and nature writer, and NYBG instructor Eugenia Bone to revisit the world of fungi—the not-quite-plant, not-quite-animal lifeforms that keep our planet’s biological processes churning. And as researchers continue to find, mushrooms can benefit our own human processes, too. Listen in as Bone and host Jennifer Bernstein, NYBG CEO & President, explore the ways that species like turkey tail can help our bodies fend off disease, and the promising scientific studies investigating psychedelics. 

Have you ever stopped to admire a patch of green moss—really gotten up close and SEEN the tiny forest of plantlife in all its complexity? For the first episode of Plant People Season 3, we’re doing just that.

Today we’re joined by botanist and best-selling author Robin Wall Kimmerer, who sees moss and other up-close experiences in nature as the doorway to greater curiosity about our world. In today's episode, Kimmerer and host Jennifer Bernstein, NYBG CEO & President, explore the things ancient plantlife can teach us about surviving and truly thriving as people.

From the tallest chestnut trees to the strangest pitcher plants, the botanical world is FULL of fascinating stories. And this season on Plant People—the third for NYBG’s award-winning podcast—we’re doing a deep dive on a different plant each episode.

Tune in every other week starting February 2 as Jennifer Bernstein, the Garden’s CEO and President, joins authors, scientists, and other experts to explore the lives of particularly unique plants on our planet.

While Plant People is between seasons, we have a special episode, "King of the Herbs", from our friends at the Smithsonian's Sidedoor podcast: 

It’s a wild herb that countless cultures have used for centuries as a wonder drug to cure any ailment. It's so rare and valuable that it’s been dug to extinction nearly everywhere, except a small area of the United States. This time on Sidedoor, we go searching for the elusive wild American ginseng—and find that scientists, conservationists, and criminals are also on the hunt.

We’re wrapping up Season 2 with NYBG’s Chief Science Officer, Mauricio Díazgranados, Ph.D., who discusses how engaging with nature through travel makes us more inclined to protect it—and the ways that tourism can actually help our planet. As an avid adventurer and botanist who has worked all around the world, Dr. Diazgranados knows how vital it is to make exploration both sustainable and economically beneficial. Here he walks us through his vision for the bioeconomy, where the world’s biodiversity hotspots become opportunities for ecotourism, enhancing the lives of local communities while funding the conservation of our planet’s irreplaceable flora and fauna.

In today’s episode, we’re proving that botany is for everyone—yes, even you! We’re joined by Jacob Suissa, Ph.D., and Ben Goulet-Scott, Ph.D., botanists and founders of Let’s Botanize, a nonprofit dedicated to making plant science fun and accessible. Using social media, they share everything from practical foraging to plant identification—making it not only educational, but also exciting and easy to understand. We’ll discuss their book, learn how to dig into botany (especially for beginners!) and acknowledge why it’s important to democratize plant science—for the health of people and the planet. 

This week we’re getting right to the root of our coastlines—particularly the roots of mangrove forests, some of the most crucial and vulnerable ecosystems on Earth. Listen in as Dr. Brad Oberle, Associate Curator at NYBG’s Center for Conservation and Restoration Ecology, shares what makes these oceanside forests so important, from their role in carbon sequestration to fighting coastal erosion and providing habitat for marine animals. Dr. Oberle has worked around the world in an effort to restore these forests, and it’s to the benefit of each and every one of us that they continue to thrive. 

 Listen in as we talk about a niche and noble hobby: tree collecting. Author Amy Stewart joins us to discuss her newest book, The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession, which profiles 50 different tree aficionados ranging from scientists cataloging rare species, to families preserving their heritage, and conservationists fighting to reforest their land. Their stories shed light on both the cultural and environmental necessity of trees—and how climate change, policy shifts, and financial barriers are all hindering their protection. Stick around for insights into the ways these collectors are benefiting biodiversity, and what roles you can play in the effort.