Podcast · Tech & Science
by Pinelands Nursery, Bleav · English · Tech & Science
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick interview some of the top minds in ecology, restoration, conservation, and of course, native plants. Join them on their journey towards knowledge and understanding of some of the larger problems that our ecosystems face.
9 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 41 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Ethan Tapper (Forestry Consultant and author of How to Love a Forest) to discuss his new book The Forest Year: Finding Hope in a World Worth Saving. Topics include how life has changed for Ethan over the last two years, focusing on your surroundings for ecosystem understanding, becoming one with the sense of home, finding inspiration every day, and what comes next after book number 2.
E336 · 2 Oct 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. Tom and Fran are eating on air again. What are they eating this time? “That’s Hot” spend some time in the prairies. “This or That” asks some difficult questions about what is best. We are giving listener shoutouts – Lots of them! Tom introduces a brand new segment and you can bet it's a good one.
E335 · 25 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick reside over a panel of experts including Nathan Shampine (Natural Lands Manager, Mt. Cuba Center), Sam Hoadley (Manager of Horticultural Research, Mt. Cuba Center) and Jenna Webster (Senior Associate, LWLA) to discuss warm season grasses. Topics include the role warm season grasses play in restoration and meadows, what people should know before starting a meadow, which warm season grasses have the most untapped potential, wild type of cultivars, and seed vs. plugs vs. gallons. The session ends with some wonderful audience questions.
E334 · 18 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. How does Jam sound on the Podcast? Listen and find out. “That’s Hot” features some heavy lifting! “This or That” offers hope for for some species in peril. We are giving listener shoutouts - Lots of them! A wonderful shoutout leads to some introspective thoughts.
E333 · 11 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 2 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Willow Defebaugh (Co-Founder of Atmos, Podcast Host The Nature Of, Author The Overview: Meditations on Nature for a World in Transition) to discuss connectivity and deep ecology. Topics include allowing grace and reverence help guide our journey, connecting with nature by listening, allowing nature to teach us beyond words, allowing queer ecology to see what a traditional environmental lens may miss, and what gives Willow a sense of hope.
E332 · 4 Sep 2026 · 1 hr 44 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. There will be a live Podcast in September! Will you be there? “That’s Hot” becomes a is Fragrant and Shiny! “This or That” comes leaves Tom and Fran with more questions than answers. We are giving listener shoutouts! A wonderful call leads to some introspective thoughts.
E331 · 28 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 34 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Jared Rosenbaum (Co-Owner Wild Ridge Plants, Author Wild Plant Culture) to discuss connectivity with our natural heritage. Topics include revisiting the recent NY Times article about ecologically minded gardening and what it means to the novice and what it means to the professional, how disconnected are we from nature and what is the path back, and places you can look for inspiration.
E330 · 21 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 19 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. There will be a live Podcast in September! Will you be there? “That’s Hot” becomes a chuckle patch. “This or That” comes to a home near you. We are giving listener shoutouts! We have a brand new Mt. Rushmore.. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E329 · 14 Aug 2026 · 2 hr 3 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Travis Bayer of Pathos Wildlife to discuss the discovery of the Cozumel Fox. Topics include learning what we know about the Cozumel Fox, how long it was thought to be extinct and how it was rediscovered, what technology is needed to learn more about this animal, how we can help protect and preserve this species, and what obstacles are in the way of accomplishing this mission.
E328 · 7 Aug 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Oh Baby! Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. Native Plants were the hot topic at the Perennial Plant Association's National Symposium in East Lansing, Michigan. “That’s Hot” is influenced by tall grass prairies. “This or That” biodiversity on both land and sea. We are giving listener shoutouts! Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E327 · 31 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 27 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Luke and Linda Black Elk to discuss Ethnobotany and Food Sovereignty. Topics include choosing zombie apocalypse teams, reconnecting with indigenous foods, personal paths into environmentalism, heroes in ecology, favorite indigenous plants and food, and milkweed soup!
E326 · 24 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 29 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. Native Plants are in the news again, let's discuss what it means. “That’s Hot” has us eating crow and expanding our horizons. “This or That” meets up in some unexpected places. “Listener Shoutouts” questions emoji choices. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E325 · 17 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 35 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Samantha Nestory (Engagement Manager at Natural Lands) to discuss the importance of not only pollinators, but all insects. Topics include the history and Natural Land's aspirations for Stoneleigh: A Natural Garden, what threatens our insect populations and what you can do to help, empowering yourself with the knowledge of your ecosystems and asking "and why", and what insects are currently on Sam's radar.
E324 · 10 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. Can you pronounce "Surprise"? “That’s Hot” Has deep roots and pretty flowers. “This or That” widens the expanse of native plants. “Listener Shoutouts” speak many kind words. We go back to the Question and Comment Line. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E323 · 3 Jul 2026 · 1 hr 37 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick share one of their favorite episodes from the Native Plants Healthy Planet Archives. In this episode, Tom and Fran talk with Owen Wormser (Author of Lawns into Meadows) of Abound Design. They discuss Owen's unique upbringing, the importance of meadows and their benefits, ecological facts about maintaining turf grass, and native plants to help turn your meadows into a reality.
E322 · 26 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 10 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. “That’s Hot” spills the tea and even adds honey. “This or That” speaks to preservation and understanding. “Listener Shoutouts” gets hype and “This or That” takes an unexpected turn. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E321 · 19 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 18 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Kyle Wendtland (Wyoming Energy Authority Director of Fossil Fuel Development) to discuss reclamation work in the state of Wyoming. Topics include the biggest threats to Wyoming's ecosystems, the challenges of recreating sagebrush ecosystems and the presence of large animals, how the reclamation industry has changed over the decades, the role reclamation plays toward Wyoming's youth, and examining what the future of reclamation might look like.
E320 · 12 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 28 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. “That’s Hot” highlights some backyard favorites. “This or That” speaks to Darwin and Gauwane. “Listener Shoutouts” gives gratitude and respect and "This or That" makes a triumphant return. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E319 · 5 Jun 2026 · 1 hr 22 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Andrew More (Author Pawpaw: In Search of America’s Forgotten Fruit) to discuss his new book The Beasts of the East: The Fall and Rise of America’s Eastern Wilderness. Topics include doing justice to ecological events through research, collaboration in the field of restoration ecology, the importance of large animals to our ecological web, and signs of hope in our ecological future.
E318 · 29 May 2026 · 1 hr 36 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. “That’s Hot” highlights a memorial and a tribute. “This or That” questions how we look at restoration. “Listener Shoutouts” spark some great questions and “Grow Read A Book” makes a triumphant return!
E317 · 22 May 2026 · 1 hr 23 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Sarah McAnulty (Biologist and Executive Director of Skype a Scientist) to discuss Squid and Native Plants in urban setting. Topics include making science accessible to schools, getting the idea of native plants to an unsuspecting patron, marketing in unconventional ways, and the connection between education and art.
E316 · 15 May 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick share one of their favorite episodes from the Native Plants Healthy Planet Archives by remembering Captain Al Modjeski of the American Littoral Society. In this episode, Tom and Fran talk with Captain Al about coastal resiliency. Topics include the history of the American Littoral Society, how oysters and Christmas Trees both help in coastal resiliency, the importance of collaboration and community, as well as how you can make a difference.
E315 · 8 May 2026 · 1 hr 30 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Charlotte Lorick (Head of Biodiversity Conservation at Oak Spring Garden Foundation) to discuss collaboration in Land Stewardship Planning. Topics include finding your inner Plant Whisperer, misconceptions about land stewardship planning, plant blindness, and tips on starting your own land stewardship plan.
E314 · 1 May 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. What is the demographic this month and does it include jokes?. “That’s Hot” highlights some great spring blooms. “This or That” both feature how plants interact. We have plenty of "Listener Shoutouts" and "This or That" makes a triumphant return!
E313 · 24 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 21 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Doug Tallamy (Author, Homegrown National Park, and Professor in the Department of Entomology and Wildlife Ecology at the University of Delaware), Michael Curran (CEO Abnova Ecological Solutions) and Timothy Robinson (Professor in the University of Wyoming Department of Mathematics and Statistics) to discuss collaboration in ecology. Topics include the collaboration between our guests, influence and legacy, the importance of funding and results, Climate Change, and AI in research.
E312 · 17 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 6 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. Is there a new host?!? Welcome to Native Plant Month. “That’s Hot” highlights a listener suggestion. “This or That” highlights a community that hurts and a community that helps. Tom and Fran are boots to the ground with a new Mt. Rushmore. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E311 · 10 Apr 2026 · 1 hr 16 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Beth Ginter (Executive Director) of the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council, to discuss education, community, and quality in stewardship. Topics include the beginnings of the CCLC, the importance of the Turning a New Leaf Conference, why training matters, and how you can become involved.
E310 · 3 Apr 2026 · 59 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. Did you hear? The Buzz is HOT! Welcome to National Frog Month. “That’s Hot” highlights emerging color. “This or That” tackles theft and highlights a former guest. Tom and Fran get stuck with a Mt. Rushmore. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
E309 · 27 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 4 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick connect with Joshua Moody (Research Scientist at NJDEP), to discuss Coastal Resilience. Topics include Coastal Resilience, the NJCCRC Conference and the importance of collaboration, the wonders of Atlantic White Cedar habitat, Josh's journey through ecology, and the promise of a better future.
E308 · 20 Mar 2026 · 1 hr 12 min
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick are back with a brand new episode of The Buzz. It’s still conference season! Tom shares his experience at his latest speaking engagement. “That’s Hot” is sticky in more ways than one. “This or That” tackles biodiversity, or lack thereof. Tom and Fran sink into a new Mt. Rushmore. Are you listening to the end for our secret?
Hosts Fran Chismar and Tom Knezick interview some of the top minds in ecology, restoration, conservation, and of course, native plants. Join them on their journey towards knowledge and understanding of some of the larger problems that our ecosystems face.
Native Plants, Healthy Planet is a English tech & science podcast from Pinelands Nursery, Bleav. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.
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