This Old Tree

By: Doug Still
  • Summary

  • 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.

    © 2025 This Old Tree
    Show More Show Less
Episodes
  • Tree Story Shorts IV
    Feb 24 2025

    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
    Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com

    Artwork
    Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home

    Website
    thisoldtree.show
    Transcripts available.

    Follow on
    Facebook or Instagram

    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

    Show More Show Less
    46 mins
  • India's Kabirvad Banyan Tree
    Feb 5 2025

    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 Redemptive Future of Fig Trees, Michael Shanahan

    Additional thanks to
    Dr. Paula Richman and Dr. Michael Fisher for sharing their knowledge and resources on India.

    Lisa Rodriguez at Osco Pharmacy, for providing all of the vaccinations I needed

    Theme Music
    Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com

    Artwork
    Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home

    Website
    thisoldtree.show
    Transcripts available.

    Follow on
    Facebook or Instagram

    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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 20 mins
  • London's Charlton House Mulberry
    Nov 18 2024

    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
    Diccon Lee, www.deeleetree.com

    Artwork
    Dahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/home

    Website
    thisoldtree.show
    Transcripts available.

    Follow on
    Facebook or Instagram

    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

    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 1 min

What listeners say about This Old Tree

Average customer ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.