Free Daily Podcast Summary
A Botanical Podcast: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Botanical Society of America
A new podcast series with interviews from a variety of botanical science researchers. The podcast focuses on research and topics found in the BSA’s publications—American Journal of Botany, Applications in Plant Sciences, and Plant Science Bulletin—along with other unique topics.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 4 days ago47 min
BONUS EPISODE: Humans in the (Plant Trait Selection) Loop! A Wide-Ranging Discussion with Irwin Goldman
For this lively bonus episode of “A Botanical Podcast,” host Shiran Ben-Zeev and guest Irwin Goldman share their enthusiasm for a subject of great mutual interest: plant breeding and domestication. In addition to discussing research, they introduce anecdotes, poetry, and the ideas expressed by economists, plant breeders, and even our human ancestors to the conversation. In determining what makes a vegetable palatable and delicious, humans often choose traits that are counter to what’s best fo...
- 4 days ago1h 6m
BONUS EPISODE: More Humans in the Loop! A Fascinating Discussion of Plant Domestication with Eric JB von Wettberg
In this second bonus episode of “A Botanical Podcast,” host Shiran Ben-Zeev and guest Eric von Wetttberg debate plant domestication as an abrupt event vs. as a continuum. (Spoiler alert: The host and guest agree on more than they disagree!) They discuss Eric’s wide-ranging research interests and special fondness for legumes. They discuss and offer numerous examples of wild relatives of domesticated plants, gene flow, archeological traditions around the world, the importance of collections, th...
- Jul 30, 202632 min
CAM! An Enlightening Discussion with Karolina Heyduk
Welcome to the first episode of the second season of "A Botanical Podcast"! Host Shiran Ben-Zeev talks with Dr. Karolina Heyduk, University of Connecticut, about why she and her colleagues and students sometimes have slumber parties with (very special) plants. She's interested in how plants adapt to stressful conditions, such as a lack of water and super-high temperatures. Karolina is very interested in the ecophysiology of plants, especially CAM (Crassulacean Acid Metabolism) photosynthesis,...
- Jul 30, 202637 min
Growing Biodiverse Communities on Campus (Students Dig It, Literally!): A Conversation with Caprice Disbrow
Prepare to be inspired! Podcast host Shiran Ben-Zeev and Caprice Disbrow, a Biology and Botany Instructor at Santa Rosa Junior College, enthusiastically talk about the SRJC Campus Biodiversity Initiative, whose goals are to increase awareness of and deepen knowledge of the species found on campus, engage with campus biodiversity, and provide research and career development opportunities through independent and course-based learning, research, and stewardship. The Initiative is a collaboration...
- Jul 30, 202633 min
Herbaria Meet Citizen Science (+”Weird Plant” Talk!): A Conversation with Adam Schneider
Herbaria are amazing libraries of plant biodiversity—they serve as time capsules of a particular time and place, but they are also so much more! Listen in on this conversation between our podcast host and Adam Schneider, associate professor at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse, as they discuss their love of plant collections and how herbaria and iNaturalist (a social network of naturalists, citizen scientists, and biologists built on the concept of mapping and sharing observations of bi...
- Jul 30, 202638 min
Plant People For the Win! A Conversation with Chris Martine
Join us "in the weeds" for this fascinating conversation with Chris Martine, a Professor at Bucknell (and incoming President of BSA), who has many interests and talents, as well as an infectious enthusiasm for plants and the people who study them. Chris and Shiran talk about numerous topics, including Chris's deep dive into Solanaceae, the Nightshade Family, and in particular the bush tomatoes that grow primarily in the Australian Monsoon Tropics. They talk about how cool herbaria are a...
- Jun 2, 202531 min
Timing! Shifting Climate Conditions and Plant Flowering: A Conversation with Jessica Savage
In this episode of “A Botanical Podcast!” host Shiran Ben Zeev and Dr. Jessica Savage have a wide-ranging conversation about how flowering plants respond to shifting seasonal changes in temperatures, especially when those changes are unpredictable—early warming periods (false springs), followed by light or hard freezes. What is the difference between plants that flower and those that wait? What is the impact of freezing on plants in flower? Jessica draws on research by her and people in her l...
- May 27, 202524 min
Let's Look at Vegetative Phase Change: A Conversation with Erica Lawrence-Paul
Is it better/more advantageous to be a juvenile or an adult? As with humans, in plants, "it’s complicated"! In this episode of “A Botanical Podcast!” host Shiran Ben Zeev and Erica Lawrence-Paul discuss vegetative phase change in plants, i.e., the transition between juvenile and adult phases of vegetative growth. This transition can be visually subtle and easy to overlook in many species; however, morphological and physiological differences between juvenile and adult phases can lead to meanin...
About A Botanical Podcast
A new podcast series with interviews from a variety of botanical science researchers. The podcast focuses on research and topics found in the BSA’s publications—American Journal of Botany, Applications in Plant Sciences, and Plant Science Bulletin—along with other unique topics.
Customized Recaps
AI-powered recaps with compact key takeaways, quotes, and insights.
Straight to Your Inbox
Get key takeaways from A Botanical Podcast in a 5-minute read.
Save Hours Every Week
Stay current on your favorite podcasts without falling behind.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Podzilla's A Botanical Podcast daily summary?
It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of A Botanical Podcast as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
How does the A Botanical Podcast podcast summary work?
When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
Is this an official A Botanical Podcast product?
No. Podzilla is an independent service that summarizes publicly available podcast content. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by Botanical Society of America.
Can I get summaries of other podcasts too?
Absolutely! The free plan covers up to 3 podcasts. Upgrade to Pro for 15, or Premium for 50. Browse our full catalog at /podcasts.
How often does A Botanical Podcast release new episodes?
A Botanical Podcast publishes biweekly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
What topics does A Botanical Podcast cover?
A Botanical Podcast covers topics including Science, Life Sciences. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
Start getting A Botanical Podcast summaries tomorrow morning.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.
Free forever for up to 3 podcasts. No credit card required.