Botanize!

Podcast Series

Botanize!, hosted by Melissa Petruzzello, is a podcast that will introduce you to some of the world’s most remarkable plants, fungi, and algae. These overlooked organisms have fascinating evolutionary stories to tell about survival, exploitation, adaptation, and general scrappiness, and every episode will pique your curiosity. From parasitic plants to kelp forests, Botanize! aims to showcase some of Earth’s finest nonanimal life-forms and their brilliant ecologies.

Hosted By

Melissa Petruzzello

Melissa Petruzzello (she/her) is Assistant Managing Editor and covers a range of content including plants, algae, and fungi; insects and spiders; and renewable energy and environmental engineering. She also handles certain topics in Christianity, notably Protestant history and churches. She joined Britannica in 2009 and oversees a team of editors covering visual arts, film and television, sports, and technology.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Ecological Society of America
• Entomological Society of America
• National Association of Science Writers
• Florida Native Plant Society
• Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation
• Board of Directors: St. Kateri Conservation Center (2022–2025)

EDUCATION

M.S. Plant Biology and Conservation | Northwestern University, Evanston, IL. Her thesis examined plant-pollinator interactions in a Penstemon population in Zion National Park, UT.

B.S. Biological Science; minor Biblical Studies | Biola University, La Mirada, CA.

IN MELISSSA’S OWN WORDS

At Britannica I am responsible for many of the overlooked and underappreciated branches of the tree of life. I love showcasing the beauty, diversity, and importance of these groups with visual storytelling. A lifelong learner myself, nothing gives me more joy at work than discovering new and incredible facts about these organisms and their biology, and then getting to convey that knowledge to a curious public. If I can make someone slow down and ponder the beauty of a spider, or marvel at the mindblowing biochemistry of photosynthesis, I’ve done my job well. Science can feel intimidating to many people, and I find it immensely rewarding to try to distill dense or seemingly boring concepts into accessible pieces for a range of audiences.

Episodes

Episode 1

“On Plant Blindness”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica discusses “plant blindness” as a form of cognitive bias and why understanding plants is important for humanity. This is the first installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 2

“Plants on Fire”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica and Emily Booth of Temple University discuss the effects of fire on plants and how climate change may alter the impacts of fire on plant communities. This is the second installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 3

“Doting on Dodder”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica delves into parasitic plants and some of the unique adaptations found in dodder. This is the third installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 4

“Otters, Algae, and Plants, Oh My”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica and Kyle Shanebeck of the University of Alberta discuss the relationship between sea otters and the health of giant kelp forests and eelgrass meadows. This is the fourth installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 5

“The Clone Giants”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica explores two of the largest organisms on Earth and the asexual reproductive strategies that have facilitated their remarkable growth. This is the fifth installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 6

“Seeds on Ice”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica and Åsmund Asdal of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault discuss crop diversity, seed banking, and the important work done by this remote facility. This is the sixth installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 7

“Rare but Not Forgotten”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica and Dr. Naomi Fraga of the California Botanic Garden discuss rare plants and their conservation. This is the seventh installment in the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 8

“Stench of the Titans”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica delves into the incredible life cycle of the titan arum, a massive corpse flower. This is the eighth installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 9

“The Orchid and the Fungus”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica and Dr. Lynnaun Johnson of Rush University, Chicago, discuss the relationship between orchids and fungi and the effect this dependence has on orchid conservation. This is the ninth installment of the Botanize! podcast series.

Transcript

Episode 10

“Mangroves Matter”

Melissa Petruzzello of Encyclopædia Britannica and Dr. Stacy Baez of the Pew Charitable Trusts discuss mangrove conservation and explore the many services these critical plants provide humans and ecosystems. This is the tenth installment of the Botanize! podcast series.