This Old Tree

Doug Still
  • 4.9 (49)
  • NATURE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our imagination. What are their stories? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and regular folks to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. If you're a tree lover, join in to look "beyond the plaque" at heritage trees and the human stories behind them. Monthly.

  1. Arborists Live: Our Tree Stories

    NOV 27

    Arborists Live: Our Tree Stories

    What happens when six arborists come down from the trees to step behind the mic? Find out by listening to this special episode of stories by tree professionals told LIVE in front of an audience at the annual conference of the New England Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture.  Where does the adrenaline come from? What barriers have been climbed? What drives them, ropes and harness in hand? Hear what arborists say about defining moments in their careers, their struggles, and what they love about their profession. Guests Heidi Shingleton Arborist Dirigo Tree Service Freeport, ME David Anderson Arborist Mayer Tree Service Essex, MA June Moulis Student, Urban Forestry and Arboriculture Concentration UMASS Amherst Tom Marino Certified Arborist SavATree Norwalk, CT Lindsay Watkins Strafford County Forester UNH Cooperative Extension Durham, NH Rich Cartier Northeast Territory Manager Rainbow Ecoscience Milford, MA Stories told on location at "The Canopy Connection: 2025 New England Chapter ISA Annual Conference and Trade Show," Southbridge, MA, October 7, 2025.  Music "Not Long Now," Falconer Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1 hr
  2. The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters

    OCT 27

    The General Sherman Tree: First Encounters

    High up in California's Sierra Nevada mountains stands the largest tree on earth by volume - the General Sherman Tree. The famous giant sequoia has captivated millions of visitors, but few know the rich tapestry of stories woven around its massive trunk. Join us as we explore the “Giant Forest” of Sequoia National Park with former park ranger and author William C. Tweed. From the indigenous Monache and Yokuts who first walked among these giants, to ambitious Euro-American explorers like John Muir, to a Black Army Captain who became the parks first true manager, discover how "first encounters" with giant sequoias become life altering events.  What evolutionary secrets allow sequoias to get so big? Why do frequent fires help them to survive? And what is "sequoia time?" The General Sherman tree and its mates have changed how we view the natural world and our place within it. Guest William C. Tweed Author and Retired Chief Naturalist Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, CA King Sequoia Challenge of the Big Trees: The History of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks (co-author with Lary M. Dilsaver) Readers Josh Abrams (Hale Tharp) Ewen Eadie (John Muir) Jeff Taliaferro (Capt. Charles Young) Music Justin Peters Tree Visitor Interview Tom Allen Emmy Riley Alex Allen Organizations That Support Giant Sequoias National Park Service, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks Giant Sequoias Land Coalition Sequoia Parks Conservancy Save the Redwoods League Ancient Forest Society Tule River Tribe of California Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1h 9m
  3. S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia

    AUG 24

    S'Ozzastru and the Ancient Olive Trees of Sardinia

    Some trees are old — and then there's S’Ozzastru. Nestled near the village of Luras on the island of Sardinia, this ancient olive tree has stood for nearly 4,000 years. Also known as "The Great Patriarch" or "The Patriarch of Nature," the bronze age tree is a living witness to the rise and fall of civilizations. How has it endured for millennia? Who, across the centuries, has found shelter beneath its branches? And will the millennial olive trees of Sardinia continue to survive? Join us as we travel to the heart of the Mediterranean in search of secrets to one of the world’s oldest living trees. 🌿 Guests Anna Maria Corda Tour Guide, Olivastri di Millenari di Luras Luras, Sardinia, Italy Marco Campus Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Fabio Piras Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Gianluigi Pili Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Emanuele Cauli Agronomist, AGRIS Progetto Olivi Montiferru Oristano, Sardinia Music Launeddas - Luigi Lai Cantu a tenore vocals - Su Dillu Songs from "S'arreppicu," Luigi Lai     Ripsosa pippiu     Fiorassiu in la (danza)     Goccius a Santu Idiu     S'arrepicu Reading Elias Portolu by Grazia Deledda Translated by Kevan Houser Guest Reader Manuela Buonanno Other References International Olive Council website "Why the Mediterranean is a Climate Change Hotspot," MIT News Special thanks to Ed Nardell Cristiana and Valerio, Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1h 6m
  4. The Ginkgo at Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple

    MAY 19

    The Ginkgo at Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple

    Have you seen those breathtaking aerial photos of a solitary ginkgo tree in a courtyard, its leaves creating a perfect golden carpet of fallen leaves? This isn't just any tree—it's a 1,400-year-old living witness to history, standing tall within the walls of China's Gu Guanyin Buddhist Temple. While its stunning autumn transformation goes viral online each year, the story behind this magnificent being remains largely unknown to Western audiences. Why was this particular tree planted at this particular temple? Could it really have been placed there by Emperor Taizong himself, one of China's most celebrated rulers? Why are ginkgo trees so special? Join us as we unravel the mysteries of this famous ginkgo tree and explore its remarkable connection to the golden age of the Tang Dynasty. Guests Professor Ruihong Di Northwest University Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China Peter Del Tredici Urban Ecologist and Botanist Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University Boston, MA www.peterdeltredici.com Wild Urban Plants of the Northeast: A Field Guide Reader Wiley Wang Machine Intelligence Engineer Palm Springs, CA "Traditional Folk Tale of Gu Guanyin Temple" edited by Doug Still Voiceover Reading for Ruihong Di Martha Douglas-Osmundson LinkedIn Profile Music "Farewell at the Yangguan Pass," traditional, Tang Dynasty Xiao-zhong Wu soloist People's Association Chinese Orchestra 1992 Yellow River Other References The Ruler's Guide: China's Greatest Emperor and His Timeless Secrets of Success, Chinghua Tang, Scribner, 2017. Ginkgo: The Tree That Time Forgot, Peter Crane, Yale University Press, 2013. Photo Credit FlyOverChina, Xinhua News Agency Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1h 5m
  5. Tree Story Shorts IV

    FEB 24

    Tree Story Shorts IV

    Welcome to the fourth edition of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, where guests get to tell their own tree stories! Salacious pepper trees, historic oaks, a tree named after a Marvel character, a beech tree's farewell at a college reunion, big tree hunters, an old growth tulip poplar in Queens, a neighborhood ash tree in Amsterdam, and the largest tree at Kew Gardens - this episode has it all. Listen to what people have to say about the trees that inspire them. Guests Stephanie Carrie Screenwriter, Sketch Writer, Comedian Los Angeles, CA Trees of LA @treesofla (Instagram) https://www.stephaniecarrie.me/ Denise Lewis Masters Student, Urban Forestry UMASS Amherst Amherst, MA Devi Lakhia Student, The Learning Center Goa, India Fred Breglia Executive Director, The Landis Arboretum Ancient Forests and Champion Trees (Facebook) Big Tree Hunters (Instagram) Ellen Cliggott Freelance Content Marketing Writer and Editor LinkedIn Profile Barnstable, MA Magali Duzant Artist and Writer Website A Tree Grows in Queens Nadina Galle Ecological Engineer, Technologist, Writer, Speaker Website The Nature of Our Cities The Netherlands and Canada Mark Johnston Arborist, Urban Forester, Consultant, Professor, Author Website Planting Ideas in the Urban Forest: Autobiography of a Tree Expert Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    46 min
  6. India's Kabirvad Banyan Tree

    FEB 5

    India's Kabirvad Banyan Tree

    Meet Kabirvad, a 500 yr-old, 4 acre banyan tree in the heart of Gujarat, India. The spectacular tree is a national treasure associated with Saint Kabir, a 15th century mystic poet known for his timeless poetry. He challenged institutions, religions and social convention. Who was he, and how is his legend tied to a banyan tree? Journey to India to learn about Kabirvad. In understanding the tree, you may find the essence of Kabir himself. Guests Prof. Srinivas Reddy Guest Professor, Humanities Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, India Author, Illuminating Worlds: An Anthology of Classical Indian Literature Sankalpana Dr. Linda Hess Professor Emerita, Stanford University Linda-Hess.com Bodies of Song: Kabir Oral Traditions and Performative Worlds in North India Ronak Kevadiya Range Forest Officer Forest and Environment Office, Govt. of Gujarat Bharuch, India Dr. Vikrant Jain Professor, Earth Sciences Indian Institute of Technology Gandhinagar, India Short Kabir Interviews Abhia Lakhia Jayraj Bhatt Anuja Bhatt Dr. Sudhanshu Sharma Kabeer Jesusa Kabir Poems Reader Gairik Sachdeva Cambridge, MA Lineages of Innovations (Substack) Kabir poems translated and provided by Linda Hess Music Raga Ahiri, performed by Srinivas Reddy (sitar), Rajiv Bhatt (tabla) and Sameer Sahasrabuddhe (tabla) Other References Burn Down Your House: Provocations from Kabir, Shabnam Virmani Gods, Wasps and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redem Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1h 20m
  7. London's Charlton House Mulberry

    11/18/2024

    London's Charlton House Mulberry

    Did you know the British are mad about mulberries? A 415 yr-old black mulberry tree stands at Charlton House & Gardens, the oldest specimen in London and highly beloved.  Its story involves King James I and a courtier named Sir Adam Newton, the tutor to the King's eldest son Henry. It also involves a government decree gone awry. Guests Peter Coles Author, Mulberry Morus Londinium Dr. Stella Butler Trustee, Royal Greenwich Heritage Trust Chair, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society Jason Sylvan Head Gardener, Charlton House & Gardens Kathy Aitken Volunteer, Charlton & Blackheath Amateur Horticultural Society Music performed by the Renaissonics "Coockow As I Me Walked," John Baldwin "The Satyrs' Masque," Robert Johnson (from Oberon) "Full Fathom Five," Robert Johnson "Strike It Up Tabor," Thomas Weelkes  Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1h 1m
  8. Saving Seeds: Bartram's Franklin Tree

    10/07/2024

    Saving Seeds: Bartram's Franklin Tree

    John Bartram was a Quaker farmer near Philadelphia in the mid 18th century. So how did he become North America's first great botanist? And how did he and his son William find themselves in the wilds of southeastern Georgia, fighting off rain, hunger and mosquitos, in order to find the rare and beautiful Franklin Tree (Franklinia alatamaha)? Come hear the story about why this tree at Bartram's Garden symbolizes the spirit of science and discovery. Guest Tom Reber Director of Landscape and Facilities Bartram's Garden Philadelphia, PA Readers Nigel Holmes Mike Savard Mike Sweney Josh Abrams Harpsichord Music performed by Miyuke Tsurutani "The Saint Catherine," John Barrett "Saraband," John Barrett "Hornpipe," Henry Purcell "Ground," John Blow References "The Life and Travels of John Bartram: From Lake Ontario to the River St. John," by Edmund Berkeley and Dorothy Smith Berkeley. University Press of Florida, 1982. "The Correspondence of John Bartram, 1734 - 1777," edited by Edmund Berkeley and Dorothy Smith Berkeley. University Press of Florida, 1992. "Franklinia alatamaha, A History of That 'Very Curious' Shrub," by Joel Fry. Bartram's Broadside, Winter 2000.  Theme Music "This Old Tree," Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com Artwork Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home Website thisoldtree.show Transcripts available. Follow on Facebook or Instagram This Old Tree podcast is a sponsored project of New England ISA. To support This Old Tree and New England ISA, click here. We want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a ~4 or 5 minute audio story for consideration for an upcoming episode of "Tree Story Shorts" on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to: doug@thisoldtree.net This episode was written in part at LitArts RI, a community organization and co-working space that supports Rhode Island's creators. litartsri.org

    1h 3m
See All (34)

Trailer

4.9
out of 5
49 Ratings

About

Old trees are awe inspiring links to the past that fire our imagination. What are their stories? Seasoned arborist and amateur historian Doug Still interviews local experts, historians, and regular folks to celebrate the myths and uncover the real tales. If you're a tree lover, join in to look "beyond the plaque" at heritage trees and the human stories behind them. Monthly.

Information

  • Creator
    Doug Still
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 This Old Tree
  • Show Website
    This Old Tree

You Might Also Like