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PODCAST

Plantopia

The American Phytopathological Society (APS)

Healthy plants are the foundation for life on our planet. They produce the oxygen we breathe and over 80% of the food we eat. The Plantopia podcast series explains how protecting plant health can ensure a sustainable future. Inspired by the United Nations declaration of 2020 as the International Year of Plant Health, the American Phytopathological Society created Plantopia so you can explore the world of plant health in company with plant pathologists—people on a mission to protect plants and our

science life sciences

All Episodes

48:37

Plant Health in the Non-profit Landscape

Plantopia ·

2026/09/30

In this episode, Dr. Laura Kaminsky, Co-director for Research at Pasa Sustainable Agriculture, a non-profit organization based out of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that supports sustainable farms and equitable food systems, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her career working on soil microbiology and ecology. She also discusses the non-profit organization where she currently works and discusses how it fits into the larger agricultural and plant health landscape.show notes Dr. Laura Kaminsky’s

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51:14

2026 APS Fellow Feature Part III: Dr. Boris Vinatzer

Plantopia ·

2026/08/31

In this episode, Dr. Boris Vinatzer, 2026 APS Fellow and Professor of Microbial Genetics and Genomics in the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his career working on plant biotechnology and plant pathogenic bacteria with an emphasis on Pseudomonas syringae and Rolstonia solanacearum. He also talks about his work on ice nucleation activity in bacteria and fungi and genome-based approaches for plant disease

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49:33

2026 APS Fellow Feature Part II: Dr. Rodrigo Almeida

Plantopia ·

2026/07/30

In this episode, Dr. Rodrigo Almeida, 2026 APS Fellow, Professor of Emerging Infectious Disease Ecology, and Hildebrand-Laumeister Chair in Plant Pathology in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California Berkeley joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his career working on insect-transmitted plant pathogens inside and outside California with an emphasis on the bacterial plant pathogen Xylella fastidiosa, the causal agent of Pierce’s Disease of

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46:28

2026 APS Fellow Feature: Dr. Christina Cowger

Plantopia ·

2026/07/07

In this episode, Dr. Christina Cowger, 2026 APS Fellow and Research Plant Pathologist with the USDA-ARS Plant Science Research Unit in Raleigh, North Carolina joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her career working on cereal diseases across the U.S., the contemporary threats wheat producers face, and the management tools and cultivars that the USDA and others are helping to develop and deploy to maximize production. She also gives an impromptu lesson on wheat production across the U.S. and

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55:11

The Doctor who chose plant health over human medicine

Plantopia ·

2026/05/29

In this episode, Dr. Melanie Medina López, postdoctoral researcher in the Roman-Reyna Lab in the Department of Plant Pathology and Environmental Microbiology at Penn State University, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss phytobiomes, soybean cyst nematode, and biocontrol. She also discusses growing up in Puerto Rico, her time working on vaccine development, and her love of science. *Show Notes * Dr. Melanie Medina López PSU profile: https://plantpath.psu.edu/directory/mkm6528 Dr. Melanie

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42:23

Searching for Plantopia's New Host / Co-Host

Plantopia ·

2026/04/30

In this episode, former Plantopia host, Jim Bradeen, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss the origins and current state of APS's Plant Health podcast. In addition to providing a behind the scenes look of putting together a single episode, they also discuss some of their favorite memories and where they see the podcast headed as the search for a new host / co-host gets underway. *show notes * Featured episodes Going Viral: https://www.plantopiapodcast.org/64 Plant Pathology 101:

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48:09

Lobbying for Plant Health: A conversation with D.C....

Plantopia ·

2026/03/30

In this episode, D.C. lobbyist Madeline Wade, M.P.P., partner and founder of Brumidi Group, joins host Matt Kasson to discuss all things lobbying including her firm’s role in working on behalf of APS to advance their policy priorities and implement meaningful policy actions. She also discusses her time on The Hill working under U.S. Representative Greg Walden, navigating the crowded D.C. political ecosystem, and the role of social media and its influence on political discourse. *Show

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56:05

A Conversation With Four Clinic Directors Behind The...

Plantopia ·

2026/02/27

In this episode, Dr. Carrie Harmon (University of Florida), Dr. Matt Bertone (North Carolina State University), Dr. Alicyn Smart (University of Maine), and Dr. Peng Tian (University of Missouri) join host Matt Kasson to discuss the history and importance of National Plant Diagnostic Network, their various roles in the NPDN and the regional diagnostic networks, and their responsibilities as Directors of their University’s Plant Disease and Pest Diagnostic Clinics. They also discuss some of

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46:50

Field of Dreams: Plant Pathology in the Corn State

Plantopia ·

2026/01/29

In this episode, Dr. Alejandro Olmedo-Velarde, Assistant Professor of Host-Microbe Interactions in the Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his lab’s research program on multi-trophic interactions in vector-borne diseases in corn, soybean, and other crops. He also discusses growing up in Ecuador, his time working on numerous tropical plant viruses in Hawaii and transitioning to working with

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51:49

The Accidental Plant Pathologist That Stayed

Plantopia ·

2025/12/22

In this episode, Dr. Tiffany Lowe-Power, Associate Professor Plant Pathology at the University of California, Davis joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her lab’s research program on Ralstonia, her NSF CAREER Award, and her cohort based undergraduate research experience (CURE) focused on integrating the next generation of novel investigations of toxin ecology and evolution (IGNITE) in Ralstonia. She also discusses the importance of good mentorship and navigating academia with a unique phenotype.Show

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54:23

Standing Sentry for Sweetpotato and Squash

Plantopia ·

2025/11/24

In this episode, Dr. Lina Quesada, William Neil Reynolds Distinguished Professor of Vegetable Pathology at North Carolina State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her lab’s research program on downy mildews and sweet potato diseases. She also discusses her love of extension and how she connects her basic science research with growers’ needs. *Show Notes * Dr. Quesada’s NC State University profile: https://cals.ncsu.edu/entomology-and-plant-pathology/people/lmquesad/ Dr. Quesada’s google

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41:15

Vampire Plants, Witchweeds, and Other Sinister...

Plantopia ·

2025/10/29

In this episode, Dr. Jim Westwood, Professor of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss parasitic plants and his lab’s work on their novel structures and mechanisms for information exchange with their hosts. He also discusses his time in the Peace Corps in Mauritania and as a Fulbright Scholar in France along with management strategies used against parasitic plants both in the U.S. and abroad. Show Notes Dr

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46:14

Going Viral

Plantopia ·

2025/09/29

In this episode, Dr. Libby Cieniewicz, Associate Professor of Plant Virology in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences at Clemson University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss general plant virology and her lab’s work in plant virus ecology and epidemiology across diverse fruit production systems. She also discusses the challenges of managing plant viruses and their disease vectors and advocating for grad student-led associations. Show Notes Dr. Cieniewicz’s Clemson profile:

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43:19

Lessons in Resilience

Plantopia ·

2025/08/28

In this episode, PhD student Isako (Izzi) Di Tomassi from the Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology Program in the School of Integrative Plant Science at Cornell University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her formative research experiences as an early career plant pathologist, the challenges of losing her graduate advisor due to unprecedented reorganization across the USDA, and her motivation for co-creating and co-organizing the McClintock Letters Initiative. She also discusses her love of

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41:07

More than peanuts in the Peach State

Plantopia ·

2025/07/29

In this episode, Dr. Bob Kemerait, Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Georgia, Tipton joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his long career as an extension plant pathologist working primarily on peanut and cotton diseases both across the southeastern U.S. and internationally in the Philippines, Haiti and Guyana. He discusses the busy life of an extension plant pathologist, the importance of international research in providing perspective, and the value of building long-term working

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51:43

Good Fellows Part III

Plantopia ·

2025/06/27

In this episode, 2025 APS Fellow Dr. Carolyn Young, Professor of Plant Pathology and Department Head of Entomology and Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her non-traditional career path as a research scientist in New Zealand and the U.S. along with her passion for fungal endophytes, effectors and secondary metabolites, and phytobiomes. She also discusses the challenges that academia is currently facing, but also the importance of our communities,

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56:12

Good Fellows Part II

Plantopia ·

2025/05/29

In this episode, Dr. Michael Boehm, Professor of Plant Pathology, Vice President for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and Harlan Vice Chancellor for the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his 2025 APS Fellow Award, his decades long career as an academic leader at both The Ohio State University and The University of Nebraska, and his diverse and meaningful experiences serving in the U.S. military. He discusses the

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35:04

Good Fellows Part I

Plantopia ·

2025/04/30

In this episode, Dr. Tim Widmer, Plant Pathologist and former USDA ARS scientist and National Program Leader joins host Matt Kasson to discuss his 2025 APS Fellow Award, his career as a federal researcher focused on biological control and emerging pathogens, and his more recent role as USDA ARS program leader. He discusses the challenges that service-minded scientists face in today's changing political and funding landscape, while encouraging those that are able to pursue federal positions to do so

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40:01

A Conversation with APS President Dr. Karen Garrett

Plantopia ·

2025/03/31

In this episode, Dr. Karen Garrett, Preeminent Professor of Plant Pathology at the University of Florida and current APS President joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her research journey and diverse research program on tropical and international agriculture, microbiomes, epidemiology and disease ecology among others. She discusses the various ways APS is supporting and advocating for its members during a time of uncertainty and rapid policy change. She also highlights some of the exciting workshops

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43:15

Plants Get Parasitic Worms Too

Plantopia ·

2025/02/27

In this episode, Dr. Marisol Quintanilla, Assistant Professor of Nematology in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University joins host Matt Kasson to discuss her research on plant parasitic nematodes in Michigan’s vegetable, fruit, and field crops. She discusses the various life strategies and management approaches for diverse nematodes threatening U.S. soybean, hops, and sugar beet production among other crops. She also talks about the challenges of engaging with the general public

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76 results

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