The Plants of the Gods podcast

Ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin conducts a fascinating interview with William Siff, who is a licensed acupuncturist, clinical herbalist, and ethnobotanist who practices an unusual combination of both Ayurvedic and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Bill is best known to the general public as author of the classic work, "The Plant Medicine Protocol." The interview not only covers Siff's intriguing background...

Join host Dr. Mark Plotkin, ethnobotanist and founder of the Amazon Conservation Team, we continue our discussion about cacao. In this episode, Dr. Plotkin sheds light on the often-overlooked contributions of Maria Sibylla Merian, a pioneering naturalist whose groundbreaking work in the Amazon predated that of many famous explorers. Discover how this remarkable woman, who began as an artist in 17t...

In this episode of Plants of the Gods, join us as we continue delving into the rich and complex world of chocolate. Our guest, Denise Castronovo, founder of Castronovo Chocolates, shares her journey from tasting fine Swiss chocolates as a child to sourcing cacao directly from the Northwest Amazon. She works with indigenous and local communities to ensure ethical practices and the highest quality i...

In this episode of "Plants to the Gods," we continue our discussion about cacao and chocolate. Join us as Dr. Mark Plotkin delves into the rich history of chocolate and its entanglement with capitalism. Learn how the cacao plant, originally cherished by the Olmecs, Aztecs, and Mayas, went from the rainforests of the northwest Amazon to becoming a global commodity. Discover the fascinating story of...

Today, we kick off Season 6 of Plants of the Gods, as host Dr. Mark Plotkin of the Amazon Conservation Team explores the fascinating history of cacao, highlighting its ancient origins in the Amazon rainforest and its transformation into the beloved chocolate consumed worldwide today. From its discovery by indigenous peoples in South America to its role in the highly sophisticated Mayan and Aztec c...

In this season finale of Plants of the Gods, join host Dr. Mark Plotkin as we learn about everything mushrooms, which are truly having a moment! Drawing from an article he published in HerbalGram, Dr. Plotkin provides an overview of how our daily lives are transformed by fungi, in the past, present and the future. From Pink Floyd to hit TV show "The Last of Us", from magic mushrooms to our favorit...

In this episode of Plants of the Gods, join host Dr. Mark Plotkin in conversation with colleague Dr. Bruce Hoffman, Senior Manager of Scientific Research at ACT, as we learn about the ethnobotany of Amazonian lianas. Dr. Hoffman is a conservation biologist focusing on flora of the Guianas, with 20 years of experience in conducting biodiversity inventories and monitoring and assessing plant populat...

In this episode of Plants of the Gods, join ethnobotanists Dr. Mark Plotkin and Dr. Gary Nabhan in conversation as we learn about the power of the desert and its plants and animals, from mescal to tequila to magic toads. Dr. Nabhan is a McArthur Genius award-winning ethnobotanist and desert conservation biologist with 50 years of botanical, cultural and conservation research experience. In his sem...

In this episode of Plants of the Gods, join ethnobotanists Dr. Mark Plotkin and Dr. Gary Nabhan in conversation as we learn about the power of the desert and its plants and animals, from mescal to tequila to magic toads. Dr. Nabhan is a McArthur Genius award-winning ethnobotanist and desert conservation biologist with 50 years of botanical, cultural and conservation research experience. In his sem...

Shauheen  Etminan, PhD, is the co-founder of VCENNA, a CNS drug discovery biotech company inspired by the ethnobotany and wisdom of ancestral medicinal practices for mental wellness treatment. Born and raised in Iran,  Shauheen 's heritage and background in chemical engineering fueled his interest in studying the intersection of plants, chemicals, religion and ancient wisdom. In this episode of Pl...

Coffee is the most widely consumed mind-altering plant product in the world. The human species arose in or near the Rift Valley in East Africa, the northern edge of which abuts the forests of Ethiopia in which the coffee plants originated. The drunk monkey hypothesis proposes that human consciousness was born when our ancestors ingested fermented grapes. The stoned ape hypothesis suggests that the...

Coffee is the most widely consumed mind-altering plant product in the world. The human species arose in or near the Rift Valley in East Africa, the northern edge of which abuts the forests of Ethiopia in which the coffee plants originated. The drunk monkey hypothesis proposes that human consciousness was born when our ancestors ingested fermented grapes. The stoned ape hypothesis suggests that the...

In this episode of Plants of the Gods, we hear from Rhett Butler, editor-in-chief and CEO of Mongabay. Mongabay is a nonprofit environmental science and conservation news platform that produces original reporting by leveraging over 800 correspondents in 70 different countries. With a main focus on forests, wildlife, oceans, and the conservation sector, Mongabay reports on many regions that POTG ho...

Welcome to part two of The Ethnobotany of Beer! This week, we continue to explore the question on everyone's mind these days: did civilization invent beer, or did beer invent civilization? And then we help solve a cold case: did ancient Africans know and use antibiotics? And why are we asking this in a discussion of beer? And is there really a 10 CD set comprised entirely of German beer drinking s...

This two-part special edition kicks off Season Five of "Plants of the Gods: Hallucinogens, Healing, Culture and Conservation." We start by asking the question that is on everyone's mind these days: did civilization invent beer, or did beer invent civilization? And then we help solve a cold case: did ancient Africans know and use antibiotics? And why are we asking this in a discussion of beer? And...

Season 4 of Plants of the Gods wraps up today with an episode featuring Peter Grinspoon, MD, cannabis specialist at Harvard Medical School. During this conversation, Dr. Plotkin and Dr. Grinspoon discuss everything from the pain-relieving and uplifting qualities of cannabis sought by people with chronic illnesses to marijuana in popular culture (cannabis trilogy to brush up on your history!), as w...

Today's episode features world-renowned mycologist Giuliana Furci. Giuliana is the founder of the Fungi Foundation, the first NGO in the world solely dedicated to Fungi. This two-part discussion between Giuliana and Dr. Plotkin covers everything from her experiences in the field of mycology, influential mycologists and their work, and even a new species of fungi named after fellow mycologist Paul...

Today's episode features world-renowned mycologist Giuliana Furci. Giuliana is the founder of the Fungi Foundation , the first NGO in the world solely dedicated to Fungi. This two-part discussion between Giuliana and Dr. Plotkin covers everything from her experiences in the field of mycology, influential mycologists and their work, and even a new species of fungi named after fellow mycologist Paul...

Today's episode features ethnobotanist and anthropologist, Dr. Glenn Shepard. This two-part discussion between Dr. Shepard and Dr. Plotkin covers an array of fascinating topics, including the role language plays in ethnobotany, shamanism in a changing world, and personal encounters and experiences with tobacco in indigenous Amazonian communities (revisit our most recent two episodes to brush up on...

Today's episode features ethnobotanist and anthropologist, Dr. Glenn Shepard. This two-part discussion between Dr. Shepard and Dr. Plotkin covers an array of fascinating topics including the role language plays in ethnobotany, shamanism in a changing world, and personal encounters and experiences with tobacco in indigenous Amazonian communities (revisit our last two episodes to brush up on tobacco...

In today's episode, we continue learning about tobacco, one of the most widely used mind altering substances. During this two-part discussion, Dr. Plotkin addresses the duality of this well-known plant of the gods. Between its spiritual significance and its ties to addiction, disease and enslavement, the story of tobacco is complicated yet fascinating. In the second half, we'll hear about some of...

In today's episode, we embark on a journey learning about one of the most widely used mind-altering substances: tobacco. During this two-part discussion, Dr. Plotkin addresses the duality of this well-known Plant of the Gods. Between its spiritual significance and its ties to addiction, disease and enslavement, the story of tobacco is complicated but fascinating. With his usual mix of knowledge, i...

In today's episode, we continue our discussion with  Brian Muraresku , author of the  New York Times  bestselling book,  The Immortality Key , and Dr. Mark Plotkin, the President of the Amazon Conservation Team. This two-part discussion between Muraresku and Plotkin examines the role psychedelics have played in Western civilization. In the second half, we'll cover topics spanning from ancient wine...

Today's episode features Brian Muraresku, author of the  New York Times  bestselling book,  The Immortality Key . This two-part discussion between Muraresku and Dr. Plotkin examines the role psychedelics have played in the development of Western civilization. In the first half, we'll cover topics ranging from the Eleusinian Mysteries, early Christianity, and the pagan continuity hypothesis to the...

In today's episode, we launch Season 4 of Plants of the Gods by delving more deeply into our most popular topic to date: ayahuasca. Also known as "the vine of the soul", ayahuasca is native to the northwest Amazon and is employed by indigenous shamans for therapeutic and other purposes. This sacred potion has played a fundamental role in the ongoing mainstreaming of hallucinogenic plants into west...