The Curious Botanist

Sawflies and Two Cool Guys

In this episode, botanist Nathanael Pilla sits down with naturalist Charley Eiseman to dive into the curious, often overlooked world of sawflies. In this conversation Charley and Nathanael highlight why thinking deeply about the natural world can lead to some incredible discoveries and how little we actually know about the world around us. Make sure to follow Charley at www.charleyeiseman.com [http://www.charleyeiseman.com] or support him through Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/bugtracks [https://www.patreon.com/bugtracks/home]

The Hidden World of Nature’s Smallest Wasps

In this episode, botanist Nathanael Pilla joins in a conversation with entomologist Dr. John Heraty as they explore the spectacular superfamily of Chalcidoidea. These tiny wasps are out-of-this-world with their specialized evolutionary relationships and stunning morphology! In this episode, John shares his infectious enthusiasm for these incredible creatures, focusing on the really cool life cycle of the Eucharitidae and their highly specialized relationships with ants. Dr. John Heraty is the co-editor and an authors of the new book “Chalcidoidea of the World [https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/doi/book/10.1079/9781800623545.0000]” (CABI, 2025). Make sure to check out the Chalcid 101 website too [https://outreach.chalcid.org/diversity]!

Orchid Mimicry, Vanilla, and Rock Music

What does orchid mimicry, rock music, and vanilla have in common? All three are topics of this week's episode. Join botanist Nathanael Pilla as he converses with orchid specialist and author Adam Karremans. They dive deep into the world of orchid sex, the science of why vanilla tastes so good, and the reason rock song titles found their way into Adam's latest book. To purchase Karremans' book, "Demystifying Orchid Pollination Stories of Sex, Lies and Obsession", click here [https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/D/bo208647046.html] or wherever you buy your books. Make sure to check out his ongoing research at https://www.adamkarremans.com/research/ [https://www.adamkarremans.com/research/]

What Does an Oak and Miles Davis have in Common?

In this episode, Nathanael sits down with botanist Andrew Hipp, author of the book Oak Origins, to deconstruct the mystery of the oak tree. While we often think of species as fixed categories, Dr. Hipp reveals that the oak genome is a fluid, radical masterpiece of evolution. Whether you are a nature lover, a jazz head, or a curious listener, this episode will change the way you look at the trees and species in your backyard and the music in your headphones. Check out Andrew's book "Oak Origins [https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/O/bo236998258.html]"

Truth About Spiders and Metal Music with Dr. Marc Milne

What’s the connection between the tiny arachnid in your house and metal music? In this episode, join spider expert Marc Milne and botanist Nathanael Pilla discuss why spiders are these misunderstood creatures who deserve our respect (and maybe a little love) and how that mirrors often misunderstood genres of metal music. After listening, you might just open up a new appreciation for the diverse and incredible things in the world. Tune in to learn why both spiders and metal deserve a second look.