Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't cover art

Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't

Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't

By: Tony Santore
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Summary

 Why do some plants grow where they do? How can geology cause new plant species to evolve? Why are some plants pollinated by flies, some by bats, some by birds, and others by bees? How does a plant evolve to look like a rock? How can destroying lawns soothe the soul? This is a show about plants and plant habitat through the lens of natural selection and ecology, with a side of neurotic ranting, light humor, occasional profanity, & the perpetual search for the filthiest taqueria bathroom.


Copyright Tony Santore Earth Sciences Nature & Ecology Science
Episodes
  • Culture and Plants in Nuevo León, Mexico : Carlos "Aztekium" Velasco

    Culture and Plants in Nuevo León, Mexico : Carlos "Aztekium" Velasco
    May 14 2026
    Episodes of the Crime Pays Podcast are available Ad-Free on the Patreon at www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt

    Carlos "Aztekium" Velasco is a biologist, educator, and naturalist in Nuevo León, Mexico who has been teaching and studying the region's botany for 30+ years. He has written a guidebook to the plants of Nuevo León and helped describe new species such as Astrophytum caput-medusae.

    In this episode we talk about the endemic plants of the Sierra Madre, the habitat of Huasteca Canyon, the urban river known as Rio Santa Catarina and its potential as native plant habitat, Ethnobotany of Mexican Plants, a growing appreciation of native plants in Northern Mexican culture, why the North lost so much of its Ethnobotany compared to the South, and more.
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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Oakland Bio - Saumitra Kelkar

    Oakland Bio - Saumitra Kelkar
    May 8 2026
    Saumitra Kelkar is a biologist and public educator In Oakland, California. This episode we talk about getting kids into nature, Bay area plant habitats, human selection of native plants and native plant cultivars, remnant edible wild gardens created by indigenous people, human-plant mutualisms, illegal gardening and more.

    Ad-Free Episodes of the Crime Pays Podcast are available on the Patreon at www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt
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    1 hr and 36 mins
  • Dirty Backyard Biology with Damon Tighe

    Dirty Backyard Biology with Damon Tighe
    May 5 2026
    In this episode we talk about the dead fly fungus, fertilizing Trichocereus with piss, how to get a good compost heap running, the science of backyard microbes, human manure composting, cultivating oyster mushrooms, trying to find out what mycorrhizal fungus associates with Texas Madrones, and more.

    Follow Damon Tighe on IG at @damontighe

    Ad-Free Episodes of the Crime Pays Podcast are available on the Patreon at www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt
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    2 hrs
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