logo
episode-header-image
May 2022
1h 4m

Does Curiosity Grow On Trees? with Profe...

Sony Music Entertainment / Jonathan Van Ness
About this episode

*A note from Jonathan and the Getting Curious team: We are covering the latest SCOTUS developments on Instagram and Twitter @CuriouswithJVN. Head there for insights from past guests, resources, and relevant episodes from our archive. We invite you to listen to this episode whenever feels right for you, and we hope that you’ll find comfort and energy from it.*


 

The birds are chirping, the flowers are blooming, and we have a spring in our step because Professor Beronda Montgomery is back on Getting Curious, for an episode all about trees! How do trees know when to unfurl their leaves in the spring? Do they have growth spurts? What’s bud grafting all about? Learn all that and more—plus, catch up on the latest from Jonathan and Mark’s garden. 
 


 

Beronda Montgomery is a writer, science communicator, and currently a Michigan State University Foundation Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and of Microbiology & Molecular Genetics. Beronda will soon be Vice President of Academic Affairs and Dean at Grinnell College. Her recent book is Lessons from Plants (2021, Harvard University Press).

 

If you aren’t already obsessed with Professor Montgomery and following her on all the socials, she’s on Twitter @BerondaM and @PlantLessons, and on Instagram @Beronda_M and @PlantLessons. Her website is berondamontgomery.com. And you can follow her New Scientist column here!


 

Jonathan is on Instagram and Twitter @JVN and @Jonathan.Vanness on Facebook.


 

Transcripts for each episode are available at JonathanVanNess.com.

 

Love listening to Getting Curious? Now, you can also watch Getting Curious—on Netflix! Head to netflix.com/gettingcurious to dive in.


 

Our executive producer is Erica Getto. Our associate producer is Zahra Crim. Our editor is Andrew Carson.

 

Our socials are run and curated by Middle Seat Digital.

 

Our theme music is “Freak” by QUIÑ; for more, head to TheQuinCat.com.

 

Getting Curious merch is available on PodSwag.com.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Yesterday
Are You Trapped In High-Functioning Depression? with Dr. Judith Joseph
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn JVN is joined by the brilliant Dr. Judith Joseph, a board-certified psychiatrist and researcher, to explore high-functioning depression — what it is, ... Show More
52m 23s
Jul 8
Presenting: “Mantra with Jemma Sbeg"
Ready to take a fresh path to self-discovery? Every Monday, Jemma Sbeg brings you a new mantra and shares how you can apply it to your own life. Whether you’re facing a major transition or just looking to evolve your everyday routine, Mantra is the podcast for you. Join Jemma eve ... Show More
11m 47s
Jul 7
Big Beautiful Bill, Future of Planned Parenthood, and A Potential Cure for HIV
Check out the JVN Patreon for exclusive BTS content, extra interviews, and much much more - check it out here: www.patreon.com/jvn This week on The Monday Edit: the impact of the Big Beautiful Bill, updates on the Idaho Four Case, JVN’s life as Pet Parent, beating the summer heat ... Show More
32m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
Are learning styles real?
#171 What ways do you like to learn? Have you ever thought that you're more of a visual learner? Or what about an auditory learner? Why do you think that? What if we told you that whatever way you prefer to learn, might not actually make a notable difference in your learning. It' ... Show More
1 h
Jun 2021
Does Personality Change?
How does our history and environment shape our personality? And is this stable? A/Prof. Doris McIlwains publications are now available for free from https://www.johnsutton.net/doris-mcilwains-writings/ Thanks for Prof. John Sutton. Check it out! Contact Email: philosophyofpsychoa ... Show More
49m 7s
May 2021
A Seedy, Late-Night Adventure
Today, under cover of darkness, we're hunting buried treasure. This is a wild romp through one of the oldest science experiments in the world. And at first, everything was going to plan. Scientists had a secret map, headlamps, shovels … but then — out of nowhere — something got i ... Show More
36m 38s
Mar 2023
The Science of Magic w/ Dean Radin, PhD #404
Have you ever experienced psychic phenomena? How about an experience that could only be regarded as “magic”? It’s more than likely you have, considering a survey conducted where over 90% of participants, all being scientific academics, reported to have had at least one of these e ... Show More
1h 39m
Oct 2020
Science Vs Presents: How to Save a Planet
We’re sharing another great Gimlet show, How to Save a Planet. On this episode: It started with students walking out of school to demand more action on climate change, built into an international movement – and then was propelled forward by a pandemic. This is the surprising stor ... Show More
42m 14s
Feb 2023
Toddle’s School Leaders Bootcamp: Featuring Carolina Ulloa
In this bonus episode, Carolina Ulloa shares how she ventured to build a brand new school that focused on the physical, spiritual, and emotional aspects of every student. Join us as we discuss this incredible journey of constructing an educational environment that connects to the ... Show More
19m 23s
Apr 2024
Cannabis: I Get High With a Little Help From … Science
Weed has gone mainstream, and it's been rebranded as a wellness drug that you can customize to fit your needs. Want to feel relaxed? Well, you'll need a kind of pot called Indica. Want to get pepped up? Go for Sativa. But what can weed really do for us? We’re going to pack a bowl ... Show More
45m 39s
May 2024
Ask a Chemist: Why do you need yogurt to make yogurt? (And other questions)
Question and Response 56 In this bonus edition of Chemistry for Your Life, hosts Melissa and Jam engage with their listeners by answering a variety of chemistry-related questions and addressing listener comments and reviews. They read and discuss both positive and constructive re ... Show More
25m 46s
Sep 2021
The Secret World of Plants
Plants aren’t just sitting around looking cute; they’re doing all sorts of stuff, like defending themselves, and even warning other plants about danger. Today, we’re talking all about the weird and wily world of plants with Professor Beronda Montgomery from Michigan State Univers ... Show More
11m 3s
May 2024
Gossip, Zooplankton, School Bus Science
Today, you’ll learn about the potential positive power of gossip, how climate change is making zooplankton in Lake Erie confused, and a surprising connection between new school buses and student performance in school. Gossip “Can’t Stand Gossip? Let’s Talk, New Research Suggests. ... Show More
10m 2s