Plant Crimes

Latest Episodes:

Plants in the Court of Last Resort May 10, 2022

The biggest threat to plants is climate change and habitat destruction. There's some people who are more responsible for those crises than others, and they might have to speak for their disastrous decisions. In court.

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to support the show, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Death by drowning Sep 03, 2021

There's a form of virtually indestructible phytoplankton that can hold the secret to a murder investigation. In this episode, guest Kirstie Scott, lecturer at Liverpool John Moores University, shows us how diatoms have helped solve the case.

The Front Yard versus Toronto Jun 07, 2021

Professor Nina-Marie Lister had a yard she loved. The City of Toronto wanted to put a stop to it. In this episode, we hear from Lister as well as Simon Chollet, assistant professor at the Université de Rennes.

I have really exciting news this week, which is that I made Plant Crimes hats! They’re available on the $10 tier on my Patreon or if you don’t want to deal with Patreon you buy them through the plant crimes website and they’re $35 that way. Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. This month’s episode pictures were taken by Nina Marie Lister. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, @plant_crimes on Twitter, Plant Crimes on Facebook or @ellenairhart on Instagram.

The Big Bend Cactus Thieves Apr 01, 2021

People were stealing living rock cactuses from Big Bend National Park. In this episode, we learn about the institutions and people who stopped them. We hear from guests Al Barrus, public affairs specialist at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Eric Jumper, Special agent for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; Louis Volpe, South Florida Area Director at the Miami Plant Inspection Station; and Leo Castaneda, botanist at the Miami Plant Inspection Station.

How Citizen Science Apps Protect Plants Mar 01, 2021

Citizen science apps can be invaluable to researchers and give everyone a chance to document wildlife. However, they could also lead people with less-than-ideal intentions directly to rare plants. In this episode, we hear from guests Dr. Connie Hausman, executive director of the Ohio Biological Survey; Adam Welz, a South African environmental journalist, photographer, and filmmaker; and Ken-ichi Ueda, naturalist and co-founder and co-director of iNaturalist.

How to Buy an Endangered Plant Online Feb 01, 2021

Obtaining endangered plants is not as difficult as you might think. In this episode, my friend and I have a competition to see who can find illegal plants online the fastest. We also hear from a researcher who's coming up with innovative ways to stop indiscriminate sellers in their tracks.

Animal Crossing Flower Thieves May 11, 2020

Growing hybrid flowers in Animal Crossing takes a lot of game time. In this episode, we talk about people who have found a shortcut.

The Redwood Poachers Nov 25, 2019

In this episode, we learn about people who rob our country’s most iconic tree. We also speak to a team of scientists who did something about the problem.

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Alaskan Killer Plant Mystery Nov 18, 2019

In this episode, we review the controversy of what happened to Chris McCandless, a 24-year-old college grad who died in Alaska in 1992.

The Orange Petunia Massacre Nov 11, 2019

In this episode, we hear from a reluctant whistleblower who found escaped genetically modified petunias.

The Butterwort Vandal Nov 04, 2019

Someone has been planting spotted butterwort in Tongariro National Park in New Zealand. They seem to be trying to establish a population, which could put native plants at risk. In this episode, we investigate who might be responsible, and their motives for this plant crime.

The Case of the Big Green Slime Monster Oct 20, 2019

Today, we’re investigating harmful algae blooms, the mysterious bacteria that killed a dog this in Austin.
Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

How Lemons Led to the Rise of the Mob Oct 14, 2019

In this episode, we learn how the biology of lemons, combined with the historic weakness of the Italian state, is tied to the rise of the Silician mafia. We’ll also learn about what it takes to grow lemon in present-day San Francisco.

Guitars On Trial Oct 07, 2019

For plant crimes, we need plant laws. The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora regulations are the closest thing to international plant laws in existence. Today, we’re going to learn about who decides whether one gorgeous electric guitar can legally enter the U.K. We’re also going to learn about the groups who are fighting those laws, and why.

How a Botanist Nearly Solved the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Sep 30, 2019

In this episode, we learn about Arthur Koehler, who pioneered the field of forensic botany. He brought this evidence strategy onto a national stage at the trial of Bruno Hauptmann for the Lindbergh baby kidnapping.

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM Music. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Miley Cyrus Versus the Joshua Tree Sep 30, 2019

In April 2019, Miley Cyrus sat on a Joshua tree. In this episode, we investigate the consequences of that plant crime. While trying to figure out basic information about Joshua trees, we learn how mysterious they are. And how these iconic trees have way bigger problems than the Hannah Montana star.

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM Music. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

The Case of the Missing Water Lily Sep 30, 2019

In this episode, we learn about how the world’s smallest water lily was stolen from The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew in 2014. We speak to those closest to the crime to hear their stories of what happened that day and their theories on the identity of the thief. We look forward to the future of this species, which is relatively bright, and the future of life on this planet, which is not.

Plant Crimes is written and produced by me, Ellen Airhart. If you like this episode, please subscribe and tell people about it through a review. If you want to make sure there’s a season two, here’s a link to my Patreon. Plant Crimes art is by Nikki Duong. Intro music by Doxent Zsigmond and theme song and outro music is by APM Music. If you want me to investigate a plant crime or you would like to advertise on the show, please get in touch via email at plantcrimes [at] gmail [dot] com, Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.

Plant crimes trailer Aug 28, 2019

Plants don’t have rights in the same way that humans do. But that doesn’t mean that they can’t be the victims, the drivers, and the perpetrators of crime. Join host Ellen Airhart on September 30 as she investigated the seedy underworld of our chlorophylled friends.

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