Why are so many of our favorite houseplants so dangerous to our pets? Nora and Aly investigate the antagonism between plants and animals and share some of their favorite stories of plants vs pets.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/  

After each episode of Leaf it to Us, we record a bonus discussion where Nora, Aly, and David chat some more about plants and podcasting.

For more Before We Leaf episodes, join us on Patreon to support the podcast and enjoy bonus content!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/  

Nora brings along some surprising news about trees that spontaneously changed sex, and Aly explains how plant sex works and what makes a tree suddenly swap from male to female.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/  

Aly sent Nora a CT-scan of a pinecone, and it blew Nora’s mind so much that she had to get Aly on the podcast to explain what exactly is going on in there.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Did you know that dozens of our favorite vegetables are all the same species? How did that happen? This episode, Nora and Aly explore the science and history of Brassica.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Since they first moved onto land, plants have had to adapt to world full of fire, and not only do they survive, they thrive! This episode, Nora and Aly explore how plants persist despite being some of the most flammable things around.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

What if you traveled back in time to the Jurassic Period … and got hungry? Could you make a meal with the plants available at the time? This episode, Nora and Aly do some speculative cooking to see what they might include in a Jurassic Salad.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Plants do not have mouths, but that doesn’t stop them from expressing themselves! This episode, Nora and Aly touch on the topic of plant communication and explore how plants signal distress.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Read Roald Dahl's 'The Sound Machine' https://fleurmach.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/rdahl_screamingtrees.pdf

Listen to a distressed plant: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/content/dam/nhm-www/discover/plants-emit-sound-when-stressed/Sound-of-plant-under-stress.mp3 

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

We all learned that roots are the below-ground part of a plant. Well, it turns out there are exceptions … a lot of them. This episode, Nora asks Aly to explain the many and varied reasons why a plant might wave its roots in the air like it just don’t care.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Did you know that placing a banana next to an apple can help the banana ripen faster? Well that was news to some people! This episode, Nora and Aly discuss what exactly is going on inside a ripening fruit and how the fruit knows it’s time to signal its own deliciousness.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Some plants get big – like, several acres big – like, an entire forest big – like, the largest living things on the planet big. This episode, Nora and Aly address some of the most sprawling plants on Earth and explore the plant super-powers that allow them to achieve super-size.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Plants require sunlight to survive, but when night falls and the daytime-dwellers disappear, many varieties of flower come alive. This episode, Nora and Aly explore the allure of “moon gardens” and the adaptations that allow beautiful and aromatic flowers to thrive in darkness.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Scientists organize the history of the Earth based on the experiences of animals. But what if the Geologic Time Scale was plant-centric? This episode, Aly presents Nora with her take on a time scale based on the evolution and extinction of plants through time.

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Nora and Aly wrap up Season 1 by answering a bunch of questions from fans!

A huge thanks to all of our listeners and supporters for making this podcast happen. Stay tuned for Season 2 in 2026!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Back in January 2025, during the planning of Season 1, Nora and Aly sat down to record an “Episode 0” to get a feel for the process and decide if they really wanted to make a podcast after all. Spoilers: they did. Merry Christmas!

Some plants are famously active in the winter. So famous, in fact, that they have become immediately recognizable symbols of Christmas and Winter Solstice holidays. This episode, Nora and Aly talk Christmas trees, mistletoe, holly and ivy!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Forests have age, and it’s not just about the age of the trees! What happens as a forest grows older? How is a young forest different from an old forest? Answers to these questions and more in this episode!

We’re doing something new this season, a plant-themed book club called Reading Between the Pines! Follow us at the links below to join in!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Welcome to Season 2!

To start off the season, Nora asks Aly to explain the complex and confusing science behind what is and isn’t a berry! Did you know bananas are berries? Also watermelon! But strawberries and raspberries aren’t! What’s the deal? Listen to find out!

We’re doing something new this season, a plant-themed book club called Reading Between the Pines! Follow us at the links below to join in!

Please consider supporting Leaf it to Us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Many places to connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/  

Season 2 is about to bloom! Episode 1 drops on May 7th! 

As always, please consider joining us on Patreon, Discord, Instagram, and Bluesky to keep updated and engage with our lovely community! 

And join us for something new: Reading Between the Pines, our plant-themed book club! Details on Discord!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/ 

Sometimes there are plants where we don’t want them! What makes weeds so … weedy? Why do we dislike them so much? And is a weed truly in the eye of the beholder?

We’re doing something new this season, a plant-themed book club called Reading Between the Pines! Follow us at the links below to join in!

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/leafittouspod

Connect with us: https://linktr.ee/leafittouspod

Our theme song is “Late Bloomer” by Devours. Find more from Devours at https://devours.bandcamp.com/