If you are fond of plants and live in the UK (maybe even if you don't) you will have heard of Alice Vincent; author, journalist, plant person. We discussed Alice's new book, Rootbound, and talked about the upcoming Houseplant Festival at the Ga

#28 Trespass and Land Rights, with Nick Hayes

Sep 3rd, 2020 49m 24s

Nick Hayes recently authored The Book of Tresspass, which is equal parts anecdotal, historical, political, and inspiring. As well as illustrating and printmaking Nick is a land rights campaigner. We talked about the commodification of wildness,

#27 Too Many T's, Too Many Trees

Aug 17th, 2020 43m 34s

UK rappers Too Many T's made a song called This Earth Is F*cked. It's a great tune (listen through to hear the song) but it's a depressing message; Ross and Leon felt they needed to do something positive to balance out the energy of the song so

#26 Hedge Herbs with Rasheeqa

Aug 15th, 2020 1h 13m

Rasheeqa is a north/east London herbalist. In this episode we discuss intersectional health care, radical herbalism, unani medicine, as well as the power of tinctures and teas.

#25 Miss Jake; extraterrestrial nuisance, houseplant collector, drag creator

Jul 27th, 2020 1h 2m

Is flowering to plants as art is to the human? Miss Jake is a creature of drag whose creations are both otherworldly and oddly natural. During lockdown Jake's houseplant collecting has reached new heights. We discuss gender, art, houseplant car

#24 Digital forest bathing in Animal Crossing; New Horizons

Jul 27th, 2020 5m 10s

I busted my collarbone and did nothing for weeks... except play animal crossing. Also, some Russian scientists recently regenerated incredibly old seeds, for science.

#23 Intersectional environmentalism

Jun 15th, 2020 5m 10s

It's a wild time to be a live. Here's a hot take o the state of things; BLM, climate change, etc.

#22 In which we discuss late Spring foraging

May 14th, 2020 26m 44s

What's edible and growing in the northern hemisphere right now? We will let you know. Also, a recipe suggestion, and ethical discussion.

#21 How to make apple cider, and other apple facts. With my Husband, Josh

Apr 26th, 2020 31m 59s

This week we learning how etymology and ancient punning framed apples as the forbidden fruit. We learn about their heterozygosity, the wild ancestors, and... how to make cider. My husband Josh is joining me this week because he makes cider, and

#20 Nettles are underrated

Apr 19th, 2020 7m 45s

Nettles! Edible, medicinal, industrially useful and almost universally maligned. Let's learn about this remarkable perennial.

#19 What trees can tell us about digital communication

Apr 12th, 2020 7m 12s

In which we address the unavoidable spectre of Covid-19, talk about digital communication and the similarities to mycelial networks, and explore what community looks like amongst trees.

#18 Exploring Blue Zones and the plant based diet with Lincoln Hall

Apr 5th, 2020 1h 35m

Blue zones are places on earth where people live the longest. Filmmaker, teacher, and plant based diet enthusiast Lincoln Hall heard about the blue zones, and decided he wanted to experience them. In this episode Lincoln shares his observations

#17 Indigo; the plant, the colour, and a life's work with Lucy Patterson

Mar 24th, 2020 1h 20m

Indigo producing plants exist all around the globe. These plants tend to be entrenched in indigenous cultures, spirituality, tied ceremony, industry, even class. The pigment the plant creates is one of the most durable, ancient, technical and h

#16 Cacao! Open your heart with the Food Of The Gods; a talk with the lady of love, Hamaima

Mar 15th, 2020 45m 42s

I had heard of cacao ceremonies, and was curious. I imagine you are too? How does something so commonplace have ceremonial, or shamanic properties? What are the benefits? Do you need to be with a shaman to enjoy the benefits of cacao yourself?

#15 A cup of coffee with Petroesjka Grundemann

Mar 8th, 2020 39m 28s

Coffee is a considerably influential plant. It changes our mood, affects our cognition, and is a daily part of many lives. I love coffee, and Petroesjka Grundemann does too. I met Petroesjka by accident really; I was out in Bethells beach and h

#14 Mels Barton; what is Kauri dieback, and why is it a big deal?

Mar 1st, 2020 51m 32s

Kauri trees, Agathis australis, are a keystone species of New Zealand's Native bush. Phytophthora agathadicida specifically affects this tree but there is very little information about it, or research on it yet. Mels Barton runs the Kauri Rescu

#13 Carolyn Melling; the bamboo keeper

Feb 22nd, 2020 47m 27s

Bamboo is a weird and wonderful plant; it's a grass, an economic force, and it's flowering pattern is mind boggling. Carolyn also talks about her family history of plant hunters and gardeners, the land she cares for, and her philosophies of pla

#12 Robin Long, and the Mothers of Botany

Feb 15th, 2020 43m 53s

Theophrastus, Linnaeus, Banks; we're well acquainted with the Fathers of Botany but the female pioneers of botany are often overlooked, if recognised at all. Robin Long works for the department of Conservation in New Zealand, surveying plant li

#11 What makes a bedroom jungle?

Feb 9th, 2020 39m 7s

Shanna likes plants, and runs an instagram account that focuses on her bedroom jungle. You can find her at @mybedroomjungle.

#10 Nicole Bettencourt Coelho: A sonic alchemist incorporating seasonal herbs into a healing practice.

Feb 1st, 2020 54m 55s

I wanted to know how and why sound therapist Nicole Bettencourt Coelho incorporates seasonal herbs into her sound baths. The process of answering this question lead us through abstract thought, altered states of consciousness, seasonal and phys

#9 Matt Collins: Plant hunters, and the history of London's Garden Museum

Jan 18th, 2020 43m 20s

This week we're talking to Matt Collins, head gardener from London's Garden Museum. We learned about ancient plant hunters, the history of the museum, the Tradescant family (of tradescantia fame) and America's Redwoods.

#8 Rebecca James: indigo, woad, and other natural blues.

Jan 12th, 2020 59m 12s

Rebecca James is an artist and creator. Rebecca has worked with natural fabrics and dyes for years creating pieces that sit between sculpture, textile, and installation.

#7: The Solstice and where the Christmas tree came from

Dec 22nd, 2019 7m 42s

This week we take a quick look at some of the ways in which plants are included, and honoured in solstice celebrations through history and around the world. Including, most obviously, the Christmas tree. This is the last Botanical Lovecast for

#6: Proplifting with Fiona Garden

Dec 15th, 2019 44m 30s

It's not a nom de plume, it's nominative determinism at it's finest. Fiona Garden talks succulents, phyto-necromancy, plant-reddit, and the fractal life-giving magic of propagation.

#5 John Foley: The Organic Perfumer

Dec 9th, 2019 1h 40m

Are plants manipulating us with their scents? Are organic scents superior to synthetics? Why do so many perfumers smoke? Why are smells so emotionally affective? What is your favourite bad smell? Scent artist John Foley takes me on a wonderful