GH Squad Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of the GH Squad podcast, the Squad welcomes special guest (and now “friend of the show”) Stephanie Whitehouse. They all reminisce about their long-standing friendships and discuss various horticultural topics, including the old Seely Conference at Cornell, how plant breeders are our industry’s unsung heroes and the Pantone Color of the Year (which might be OK for our industry, but is generally pretty lame). Stephanie shares her journey into horticulture, her experiences at a couple leading greenhouses and garden centers and her current role at Dümmen Orange. The wide-ranging conversation also touches on memorable events and shows, highlights from their 2025 gardens and the importance of integrating horticulture into education.

They also discuss cheap chicken wings, money laundering, celebrity plant influencers, walk-in music, sourdough, more inspiration from Disney, Martha Stewart, raspberry plants and so much more—you never really know where the conversation is going to go!

In GH Squad Podcast episode 4, Seth, Mason and Bill dive into a variety of topics ranging from bad movie reviews to brilliant horticultural insights. They spend time on Firefly Petunia and the future of plant genetics (Oreo plants, carnivorous Snapdragons). The conversation also touches on importance of quality tradeshow swag, why Mason won’t eat invertebrates, and ends with shout outs (pickleball players, WC wrestlers) and hot takes on various subjects, including the merits of (and future of) novelty poinsettias.

Join Seth, Mason and Bill for the latest episode of the GH Squad podcast as they dive into the world of horticulture, share personal stories and discuss the official launch of their podcast on December 3. The guys talk about favorite Christmas gifts they got as kids and then turn it into a discussion of best gifts for people on the professional hort side of things.

They preview some winter trade shows, how to maximize the value of trade shows and tips for convincing your boss to send you to events for education and idea generation. In Shout Outs and Hot Takes, the Squad gives props to the Jason’s Nuts tabletop game and then brainstorms ways to turn empty greenhouses into kids’ party moneymakers in winter.

Also … How Taylor Swift and the GH Squad podcast are similar, why Mason AND Seth are both a lot like Sylvester Stallone, Roadhouse and Patrick Swayze, using an app to generate NIL money in horticulture, Mason’s old shoes might be worth big bucks and so much more.

Leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you.

And follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Jason’s Nuts (it’s safe to click the link): https://www.jasonsnuts.com/

In this episode of the GH Squad Podcast, Bill Calkins, MasonDay and Seth Reed explore the differences between botany and horticulture, debate the timing of holiday decorations, explain California Spring Trials and discuss the ideal attributes of a new AmericanHort CEO. The Squad also shares travelmishaps, the plan for an American garden party and why Pokémon belongs in garden centers.

Leave a comment below! We’d love to hear from you.

And follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Botany (according to Wikipedia): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botany

The Martian (official trailer): https://youtu.be/ej3ioOneTy8?si=lfBLFXI2qbTyCJG9

Welcome to the inaugural episode of the GH Squad Podcast!Join Bill Calkins, Mason Day and Seth Reed as they share their own unique perspectives into the world of horticulture and beyond. In this episode, the trio discusses their journeys into the industry, the unique opportunities they've encountered and the friendship that keeps them coming back for more.

From tales of the Kentucky Derby and the magic of Disney's flower festivals to why Seth loves the relatively obscure Kevin Costner movie Waterworld, this episode is packed with stories that highlight the unique world of horticulture.

Tune in for laughs, insights and a few hot takes on holidays and industry competition. Don't miss out on getting to know the voices behind the podcast!

Leave a comment! We’d love to hear from you.

And follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

Mason’s USDA Video Cameo – representing us for 2025National Ag Day (about 1:00 in): https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1DNtk1RAn4/

Waterworld Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/NpKbULrB9Z8?si=z2TLdEGKuiTH_DsE

In this episode of the GH Squad podcast, the Squad reflects on their holiday experiences, discuss the dynamics of having guests on the show, thoughts on Christmas traditions and their kids’ gifts. They also introduce the concept of a Fantasy Plant Draft! Next week (on episode 7), they’ll select their teams of 10 starting-lineup plants and two bench players in a competitive format.

Of course, there’s much more in this episode … including the conclusion of Bill’s Costco Christmas tree saga, holiday meals, Big Ham, a recent trip to a local garden center, why New Year’s Eve is overrated, Mason’s lactose intolerance and plenty of other fun facts. The conversation wraps up with shout outs and hot takes.

00:00   Holiday Reflections and Work-Life Balance

03:04   Guest Perspectives and Show Dynamics

05:51   Christmas Celebrations and Family Traditions

12:03   Toys and Gifts: A Parent's Perspective

19:00   The Fantasy Plant Draft: Concept and Rules

26:09   Drafting Strategies in Fantasy Plant Selection

28:17   Holiday Meal Traditions and Family Gatherings

31:44   The Costco Christmas Tree Saga

32:51   Shout Outs and Family Activities

39:51   Reflections on Holiday Decorations

43:55   Closing Thoughts on the Holiday Season

In GH Squad Podcast episode 7, Seth, Mason and Bill assemble their 2026 teams consisting of 12 plants in a classic, fantasy style draft. This is the ultimate horticultural showdown—three industry veterans selecting their best team from a list of more than 55 annuals, perennials and vegetables (plus two bench players not on the formal list). The draft is full of solid plant information, anecdotes and hot takes. There are definitely interesting sleeper picks, major crops that slipped down the board and potentially some debatable genus rostered quite early. Like any fantasy draft, some picks are made to block opponents and others to dominate in the trenches. Each team captain has a strategy (we think) and you’ll need to listen all to the end to see how it all unfolds.

Team Names/Managers:
Hosta La Vista (Seth)

Carlos Lantana (Mason)

Pulmonaria 51 (Bill)
Perhaps most importantly … you can join in the action BY VOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITE TEAM! Rank them 1-3 in the comments for this episode, on the Squad’s individual LinkedIn pages or on Instagram @GHSquadPod. Voting closes at midnight after the Super Bowl—February 8, 2026.

In this episode, Bill debriefs on California Spring Trials 2026—which just wrapped up on March 27—and shares his unfiltered thoughts on the event, some of the big picture trends, new variety direction and a bit about the overall vibe of the event. Mason asks him some hard questions and Bill does his best to not dodge them and actually give honest opinions.

Watch CA Spring Trials coverage videos (starring Bill, Chris Beytes and Jen Zurko)

Bill also adds his own thoughts to the garden center good, bad and ugly discussion from episode 17, which he missed while on vacation with his family. Speaking of families … Seth is away this week with his kids on spring break and Mason’s family had a big weekend conducting a “potty learning boot camp.”

Follow us on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

(NOTE: Apologies for the few times video cuts out … no clue what happened and I’m way too busy catching up on work to try and fix it. ~Bill)

In this episode:

• Key takeaways from Spring Trials including plant innovations, sustainability and market trends
• Personal stories from feed stores to greenhouses, highlighting the evolution of gardening and retail experiences
• Insights on the most innovative plants like black-leaf begonias, glow-in-the-dark petunias and trendy dahlias
• Industry trends: conservative product releases, combo recipes and the future of plant breeding
• Behind-the-scenes tales including propane filling, customer interactions and memorable garden center moments
• Food and travel highlights with restaurant recommendations and parenting wins, like potty training success!
• Lighthearted sports banter about baseball rivalries and seasons
• Parenting shout-outs and personal milestones from potty training weekends to family vacations
• Industry observations: sustainability practices and the shift in plant production

It’s another Squad duo-cast! Seth and Mason run the ship because Bill is on vacation. The topic of the week is their favorite AND least favorite experiences working in garden centers—including horticultural lessons learned, customer interactions and the how things have evolved over time. Of course, this dynamic duo drops plenty of brilliant tidbits weaved throughout wacky stories. You’d be disappointed if they didn’t … Be sure to follow the Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod

This one gets deep. Following up on the 2026 Fantasy Plant Draft in episode 7, the Squad turns introspective this time. They discuss why taking time off work is essential for personal well-being—although 500 emails might crush you—and why balancing work and personal life can be challenging but rewarding. Seth, Bill and Mason share some of their 2026 resolutions and intentions and the shows and conferences they plan to attend this year. After shouting out a new hort podcast and some of the good work being done promote horticulture through different industry initiatives, the guys agree that showing what goes into bringing plants to market might help the overall value proposition.

They also talk about why Seth’s collared shirt and mobile office in the back seat of his own car are signs of sophistication, why Roblox needs Night Sky and Proven Winners, adult men wearing weighted vests, shoveling sidewalks in the suburbs and so much more.

Follow The Squad on Instagram: @GHSquadPod