Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't

Ad-Free episodes of the Crime Pays But Botany Doesn't podcast are available on the Patreon atwww.patreon.com/CrimePaysButBotanyDoesntRollie 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.

Reed Booth, an experienced killer-bee exterminator from Bisbee, Arizona, joins the conversation to discuss the notorious scutellata hybrid, or killer bees, and their aggressive nature. He explains how these hybrids dominate native bee populations and harm biodiversity. The duo emphasizes the risks of backyard beekeeping, highlighting misconceptions about honeybees versus native pollinators. They share gripping stories of dangerous bee encounters and stress the importance of professional hive removals to protect both people and the environment.

Ad-Free episodes of the podcast are available on the Patreon at : www.patreon.com/CrimepaysbutbotanydoesntKrystle Hickman is a biologist, native bee researcher, and conservationist from Los Angeles, California and author of the book "The ABCs of California's Native Bees". In this 2-hour conversation we talk about how to identify bees to genus, different groups of native bees (IE longhorn bees, cactus bees, leaf cutter bees, sweat bees, Euglossine bees, and more), specialist relationships between native bees and native plants, how native bees could be utilized to pollinate human crops simply if farmers created hedgerows of native plants in between their fields, how honeybees reduce native bee species diversity as well as reducing fitness in native plants, how to get good macro photos and more.

Join Alexis Nicole Nelson, also known as Black Forager, a passionate forager and ethnobotanist communicator, as she dives into the world of native plants and ecological stewardship. She shares her journey from environmental engineering to community education and emphasizes the importance of connecting with nature through foraging and native landscaping. Alexis discusses the benefits of killing lawns for biodiversity, the ethics of foraging, and how we can turn grief for the environment into actionable community projects. Plus, get insights on her upcoming book and hands-on learning experiences!

Cyrus Harp, an ethnobiologist and author from Central Texas, dives into the world of Indigenous plant uses. He discusses the medicinal and dye-making properties of Agarita and the ceremonial history of Mescal Beans. Cyrus shares his expertise in primitive skills like flintknapping and explains the edible potential of plants like Yucca and Agave. He also reveals traditional techniques for harvesting prickly pears and making sumacade. This conversation is a fascinating blend of nature, culture, and useful skills for foragers.

Ethan Tapper is a passionate forester and ecologist from Vermont, known for his advocacy of ecological forestry. In this intriguing discussion, he delves into the impacts of climate change on tick populations and shares his personal experiences with Lyme disease. Tapper highlights the importance of restoring degraded landscapes, like Bear Island, and the balance between wildlife and habitat management. He argues for a shift from exploitative practices to stewardship that nurtures ecosystems, emphasizing the long-term benefits of living machine management for our forests.

*Rants about the fire-dependent sand scrub of Central Florida, some of the rarest, most unique and underappreciated plants of the world. The plant community here occurs in nutrient-poor, fire dependent sands that were the beachfront 2 million years ago. These plants evolved in a region that gets upwards of 60 in of rain of year but has a pronounced dry season between November and May. Even more astonishing is that so many of these plants are under immediate threat of extinction due to fire suppression, land clearance and an orgy of development tied to political corruption and the coziness with which Florida developers court the politicians. The end rant consists of a ten minute assault on the city of Orlando, also known as "Satan's Anus".Ad-Free episodes of the podcast are available on the Crime Pays patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt

A live show originally recorded at The Hideout in Chicago on September 13th 2025. First 4 minutes got cut off accidentally by the sound guy, who otherwise did a great job (the sd card f*cked up, it wasn't his fault). On that note, I mistakenly refer to Artemisia ludoviciana when I meant Artemisia vulgaris. full episodes of this podcast are available ad free on the Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt

Rants about KILL YOUR LAWN tour in the Midwest, River Geography, Hemp Farms in Wisconsin, Prairies, Bison, upset affluent suburban ladies in St Paul, horticultural atrocities, Lincoln vs Omaha Nebraska, Feral Paht and more.Thanks to the all the venues that put us up and thanks to everyone who came out for the shows/presentations in Milwaukee, St Paul, Omaha, Lincoln, Kansas City, Omaha, Lincoln and the Quad Cities.As Always, Ad-Free Episodes of the podcast are available on the Patrol for 5 bucks a month at : https://www.patreon.com/c/CrimePaysButBotanyDoesnt

Ad-Free episodes of the podcast are available on the Patreon at www.patreon/crimepaysbutbotanydoesnt