In this episode Ed interviews Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth foundation. They discuss Brian's mission to photograph and document some of the nation's oldest and largest trees to raise awareness and preserve their legacy.

Additional Resources

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/

https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/

https://nationalchampiontree.org

https://soundcloud.com/user-954267106

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to Gathering Growth Foundation

(01:12) Adventures in Tree Photography

(15:02) The Importance of Documenting Trees

(25:05) Future Projects and Aspirations

(35:03) Engaging the Public with Tree Awareness

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Kelley, B. (Interviewee). S5:E5 (Podcast). Documenting the Nations Grandest Trees: The Gathering Growth Foundation Part 2. 3/25/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Brian Kelley of the Gathering Growth foundation. They discuss Brian's mission to photograph and document some of the nation's oldest and largest trees to raise awareness and preserve their legacy.

Additional Resources

https://www.gatheringgrowth.org/

https://www.americanforests.org/champion-trees/

https://nationalchampiontree.org

https://soundcloud.com/user-954267106

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to I See Dead Plants Podcast

(01:34) Brian Kelly and the Gathering Growth Foundation

(05:32) The Journey from Skateboarding to Tree Photography

(12:54) The Importance of Documenting Trees

(16:01) Understanding Champion Trees

(25:30) The Role of State and Global Tree Registries

(27:49) Why Documenting Trees Matters

(33:55) Documenting Trees: The Process and Outputs

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Kelley, B. (Interviewee). S5:E4 (Podcast). Documenting the Nations Grandest Trees: The Gathering Growth Foundation Part 1. 3/18/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Sam Markell of North Dakota State University. They discuss the emerging threat of SCN in North Dakota and how the SCN coalition aims to combat this ever-present threat.

Additional Resources

https://www.thescncoalition.com/

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to the ICDeadPlants Podcast
(05:57) Understanding Soybean Cyst Nematode (SCN)
(12:08) The Impact of SCN in North Dakota
(17:59) The SCN Coalition: A Public-Private Partnership
(23:58) Reviving the SCN Coalition and Its Strategies
(31:18) Building Partnerships for Agricultural Success
(41:06) Advice for Future Public-Private Partnerships
(46:09) Recognizing Achievements and Future Directions
(51:01) The Impact of the SCN Coalition on Farmers

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Markell, S. (Interviewee). S5:E3 (Podcast). Silent Yield Killer: Soybean Cyst Nematode and the SCN Coalition. 3/11/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Lauren Diepenbrock, Entomologist from University of Florida. They discuss the devastating and complicated insect/plant disease complex, citrus greening.

Additional Resources

https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/research/citrus-production/disease-identification/citrus-greening-huanglongbing/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261219424002990

Time Stamps

(00:00) Understanding Citrus Greening and Its Impact

(03:03) The Role of Alternate Hosts and Landscape Changes

(06:03) Geographical Spread of Citrus Greening

(09:13) Global Challenges in Citrus Production

(11:50) Management Strategies for Citrus Greening

(15:03) Innovative Approaches to Pest Management

(23:11) Managing Citrus Pests and Diseases

(27:51) Innovative Approaches in Citrus Research

(30:43) International Collaboration in Citrus Management

(35:10) Future Research Directions in Citrus Greening

(42:38) Understanding Citrus Greening's Complexity

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Diepenbrock, L. (Interviewee). S5:E2 (Podcast). When Life Doesn't Give you Lemons: Citrus Greening Part 2. 3/4/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Lauren Diepenbrock, Entomologist from University of Florida. They discuss the devastating and complicated insect/plant disease complex, citrus greening.

Additional Resources

https://crec.ifas.ufl.edu/research/citrus-production/disease-identification/citrus-greening-huanglongbing/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261219424002990

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to Citrus Greening and Guest Background

(14:03) Understanding the Citrus Industry and Its Challenges

(20:07) Innovative Solutions in Citrus Growing

(25:34) Challenges in Citrus Production

(31:14) Understanding Citrus Greening

(39:42) The Role of Psyllids in Citrus Health

Zaworski, E. (Host) and Diepenbrock, L. (Interviewee). S5:E1 (Podcast). When Life Doesn't Give you Lemons: Citrus Greening Part 1. 2/25/2026. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Danielle Mikolajewski a postdoctoral candidate in the plant pathology department at the University of Florida. Ed and Danielle discuss some of Danielle's Ph.D. research on chestnut blight and one of the methods being studied in attempt to bring back the American Chestnut; hypovirulence.

Additional Resources

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/13033/

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to ICDeadPlants Podcast
(10:04) Journey into Plant Pathology
(19:52) Understanding Chestnut Blight
(30:01) Exploring Hypovirulence and Its Implications
(30:30) The Super Donor Concept
(34:25) Challenges and Limitations of the Super Donor
(38:47) Potential Environmental Impacts of Hypoviruses
(42:57) The Importance of American Chestnut
(45:47) Future of American Chestnut Research
(49:33) Exploring Hypovirulence in Other Pathogens
(52:44) Summarizing the Research Impact

Zaworski, E. (Host) Mikolajewski, D. (Interviewee). S4:E45 (Podcast). Blights Get Sick Too: Chestnut Blight and Hypovirulence. 12/31/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode Ed interviews Dr. Adam Varenhorst of South Dakota State University. They discuss Adam's work with an emerging insect problem in soybeans, Sunflowers and other plants the dectes stem borer.

Additional Resources

https://academic.oup.com/jee/article/118/5/2338/8177282

Time Stamps

(00:00) Introduction to I See Dead Plants Podcast
(01:24) Understanding the Dectes Stem Borer
(03:29) Historical Context and Pest Management Challenges
(05:27) Larvae Behavior and Infestation Indicators
(12:25) Crop Rotation and Trap Cropping Strategies
(16:33) Non-Chemical Management Strategies
(20:39) Future Research Directions
(31:42) Key Takeaways for Growers
(37:34) Acknowledgments and Resources

Zaworski, E. (Host) Varenhorst, A. (Interviewee). S4:E44 (Podcast). Boring Problems?: Managing the Dectes Stem Borer Part 2. 12/24/2025. In I See Dead Plants. Crop Protection Network.

Transcript

In this episode of Alternate Hosts Ed is Joined once again by Dr. Madeline Henrickson to interview Dr. Danielle Mikolajewski, post-doctoral candidate at University of Florida. In order to get you into the holiday spirit they discuss the disease that whipped out the American Chestnut and left us all wondering what chestnuts roasting on an open fire may have been like. Thanks for listening and Happy Holidays!

Transcript