Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't

Tony Santore
  • 4.8 (547)
  • NATURAL SCIENCES
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Why do some plants grow where they do? How can geology cause new plant species to evolve? Why are some plants pollinated by flies, some by bats, some by birds, and others by bees? How does a plant evolve to look like a rock? How can destroying lawns soothe the soul? This is a show about plants and plant habitat through the lens of natural selection and ecology, with a side of neurotic ranting, light humor, occasional profanity, & the perpetual search for the filthiest taqueria bathroom. 

  1. Rainwater Harvesting & Plants-As-Infrastructure with Brad Lancaster

    2D AGO

    Rainwater Harvesting & Plants-As-Infrastructure with Brad Lancaster

    Brad Lancaster is a guerilla tree-planter and rainwater harvester in Tucson who has been instrumental in changing the way that the city he lives in treats rainwater and street trees. He has helped covince the city of Tucson to update its own infrastructure so as to absorb - rather than waste - rainwater by using things like curb-cuts, street-side infiltration basins and native plants. In this conversation, we learn how cities in hot, arid climates can update infrastructure and use native plants to reduce flooding, keep the landscape cooler and provide a better overall quality of life for the people that live in them. This conversation is full of hope. check out the abundance of resources and diagrams on Brad's website : www.harvestingrainwater.com and neighborhoodforesters.org Ad-free episodes of the crime pays podcast are available on the patreon at : www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt BRAD'S WEBSITES: HarvestingRainwater.com CosechaDeAguaDeLluvia.com NeighborhoodForesters.org BRAD LANCASTER'S YouTube CHANNEL: https://www.youtube.com/c/HarvestingRainwater BRAD'S BOOKS (available at deep discount direct from him): https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/shop/ RAIN GARDEN PLANTING ZONES - and how to figure out what to plant where https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/resources/rain-garden-planting-zones/ Urban Drool Harvesting in Los Angeles https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/2009/03/harvesting-urban-drool/ Self-guided water tours in Tucson (in-person or virtual) https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/tour/ Hydrologic redistribution of soil moisture by mesquites (there are better studies, but this is a start) https://eos.org/research-spotlights/how-mesquite-trees-gain-a-competitive-edge-in-arid-arizona Guerilla planting https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/2022/09/guerrilla-planting-of-rain-and-native-food-forests-vibrant-acts-of-hope-collaboration-and-letting-go/ Before and after images of water-harvesting in our neighborhood streets: https://dunbarspringneighborhoodforesters.org/2022/09/before-and-after-photos-of-green-infrastructure-in-dunbar-spring-neighborhood/ Eddy basins: https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/resource/backwater-or-eddy-basins/ DIY curb cuts: https://www.harvestingrainwater.com/resource/do-it-yourself-curb-cut-guide/

    2h 13m

  2. 4D AGO

    Ecuador Rantzzzz

    All episodes of The Crime pays podcast can be listened to ad-free on the patreon : www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt

    1h 58m

  3. JAN 28

    Rants about the Texas Caper, Abuelitas Hating Nature, Asphalt Heat Islands, etc

    Ad-free episodes of the CPBBD podcast can be heard at www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt In this episode we talk about South Texas Development, remnant thorn forests surrounded by McMansions, the Asphalt Heat Island, the South Texas Caper (Quadrella incana, Caper Family - Capparaceae, Mustard Order - Brassicales), grannies that hate street trees Crime Pays fan appreciation, Fighting City Hall for native scapes, general societal ignorance regarding the living world, Jack faking his own death in order to eat more hot dogs and more.

    1h 31m

  4. JAN 20

    Rants about Tree Planting, the Urban Heat Island, Etc

    Ad-free episodes of the podcast can be enjoyed on the crime pays Patreon at www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt Opening song is about Jerry Falwell.

    1h 25m
  5. Estado de Hidalgo Rants

    12/13/2025

    Estado de Hidalgo Rants

    Rants about the plant life of the state of Hidalgo Mexico, including but not limited to Cephalocereus senilis, Fouquieria fasciculata, Fouquieria purpusii, Magnolia scheidiana, obsidian piles, and more.  All episodes of The Crime Pace podcast are available for ad-free listening on the Patreon at : https://www.patreon.com/CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt Mexico Plants Checklist : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1a5GcJ39ysO_n2XbsazLZeyF9H1wDi4Zx/view?usp=drivesdk Diversidad Floristica Oaxaca : https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-EXwZV3FOd5sahIE2wlnUmqN_JcLC4bB/view?usp=drivesdk

    1h 17m

  6. 12/05/2025

    San Luis Potosí Rants

    In this episode we rant about cacti that grow in ephemeral lagoons, 1500 year old Montezuma Cypresses, cryptic cacti that grow in salty mud basins, Mexican Jays dispersing weeping pinion pine seeds, a fern that grows out of marble, how the summer-wet/winter-dry habit affects some carnivorous plant forms, and more... Reminder that episodes of this podcast are available ad-free on the Crime Pays Patreon at www.patreon.com/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt

    1h 12m

  7. 11/24/2025

    Climate Town with Rollie Williams

    Ad-Free episodes of the Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't podcast are available on the Patreon at www.patreon.com/CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt Rollie Williams is host of the youtube series "Climate Town". In this episode, we talk about "supplying demand" Capitalism, the Oil Lobby, why certain interests are just so dang good at propaganda, how the CEOs became the heroes and the scientists became the bad guys, palm oil plantations, ethanol, government-sponsored cheese caves and more.

    1h 38m

  8. 11/15/2025

    Please Don't "Save the (honey)Bees"

    Reed Booth and his assistant Hosh are killer bee exterminators based out of Bisbee, Arizona. In this episode we talk about the ferocity of the scutellata hybrid (aka "killer bees"), the fact that this hybrid doesn't occur in nature ANYWHERE, why most feral honeybee colonies end up being dominated or taken over by the scutellata hybrids, the reductions in native bee and plant biodiversity that the presence of both feral and domesticated honeybees results in, and why it may just not be a good idea to keep backyard honeybees anymore (at least in North America).

    1h 54m
See All (278)

4.8
out of 5
547 Ratings

About

Why do some plants grow where they do? How can geology cause new plant species to evolve? Why are some plants pollinated by flies, some by bats, some by birds, and others by bees? How does a plant evolve to look like a rock? How can destroying lawns soothe the soul? This is a show about plants and plant habitat through the lens of natural selection and ecology, with a side of neurotic ranting, light humor, occasional profanity, & the perpetual search for the filthiest taqueria bathroom. 

Information

  • Creator
    Tony Santore
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    278
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Tony Santore
  • Show Website
    Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't

You Might Also Like