The Top 8 Episodes of My Podcast, Ranked (by me)
Haven't listened yet? Use this guide to help you pick your gateway episode of "In the Company of Trees".
We’re coming up on a month of “In the Company of Trees,” the podcast I started in order to pursue long-form discussions about nature with great people but also dive a bit more deeply into my worldview—namely that, more often than not, I look at everything through the lens of trees.
Thus far, I’ve discovered an emerging theme when talking to people in and out of the nature space: cool ideas about nature are great, but the deepest and funniest conversations happen when asking “why” in a personal sense. As in “why, Jon Kung, did you think it would be a good idea to take a run on Runyon Canyon in the dark and almost die?” or “Why, Gabrielle Cerberville, do you behave as if you’ve dropped acid every time you’re in the woods, because I’m pretty sure you haven’t?” or “Why, Justin Davies, did you feel the need to disrobe in order to spend quality time with that Utah Juniper?”
So I’ll be probing a little further with guests in the future, trying to discover their reasons for living life close to the earth as opposed to just discussing their accomplishments, which anyone can see for themselves. As for my solo episodes, finding a place of spontaneity and excitement is all that matters to me, so I’m going to keep seeking out topics that make me feel that way.
I’ve made a guide for you below to help you decide which episode to listen to first, if you haven’t yet. And, if you haven’t, please do, and please give it a rating on Itunes, and perhaps even a review. I think you’ll like it.
If it wasn’t obvious by now, the title of this newsletter was somewhat clickbait-y. How could I rank episodes with guests with the knowledge that they would quite possibly see this? That would be mean! So for those, I’ve evaluated them, partly in their guffaw rating (0 being polite nodding, 5 being wildly hysterical and entertaining) and in their makes ya think rating (0 being entirely useless, 5 being a passable cheat sheet for the ISA Arborist exam). The solo episodes, however, I have ranked. PS, the guffaw and makes-ya-think ratings going up chronologically are a result of me getting more relaxed, not my guests being more awesome, because they’re all awesome.
Interview Episodes:
10/5: Tyler Gaca Adores Some Gentle Chaos
Guffaw rating: 3, Makes Ya Think rating: 2
My wonderful friend Tyler and I discuss his book, Gentle Chaos, which you should buy. We also discuss spooky things, gentle things, chaotic things, and the power of imagery. And dead luna moths. I loved this conversation.
10/9: Casey Clapp Once Broke Up With His Girlfriend for a Tree
Guffaw rating: 3, Makes Ya Think rating: 3
I was able to pick repeatedly at the brain of Casey Clapp and, the co-host of Completely Arbortrary and eminent dendrologist, in order to get at his most personal tree-related insecurities. And, as I think you will see, I succeeded.
10/16: Justin Davies Prefers his Trees with a Side of Nudity
Guffaw rating: 4, Makes Ya Think rating: 4
Tiktok tree and wood man Justin and I had fun breaking down why he feels the need to deny that he was completely nude whilst having a near-spiritual experience with a Utah Juniper. I also had a good time modestly humiliating him with the entirety of his LinkedIn profile from his ad-man days. We also talked trees. A lot.
10/25: Jon Kung Almost Died on Influencer Mountain
Guffaw rating: 5, Makes Ya Think rating: 2
I was looking for a great excuse to hang out with Chef Jon Kung, who just released his first cookbook, Kung Food, this past week. And, boy, did this podcast give me one. We share some absurd TikTok anxieties, all wrapped up in a very fun conversation.
10/30: David Allen Sibley wrote the book on Trees. And Birds.
Guffaw rating: 2, Makes Ya Think rating: 5
Guest host Casey Clapp and I fanboy David Allen Sibley, author of the Sibley Guide to Trees, for about an hour. And we’re really good at it, since this was the second time we got to do it, owing to my audio failures the first time around. David was happy to oblige, and let us bask in his glow for a gentle season.
Now, my personal ranking of my three solo pods thus far.
3. Bonsai Eulogies (10/12)
This was a heavy episode because I did my best to address the horrors of Israel and Palestine during the opening. The main part of the episode also took on a slightly too-self-serious tone as I recalled the good times I had with a few trees that went belly-up this past summer. All in all, I think this podcast will be at its best when I can find the excitement of being amongst trees and translate that the best acoustically.
2. This Week in Trees (10/19)
I adored this episode that attempted to contextualize the vibes in the tree news world at the present moment. It was full of opinions on White House Christmas Trees, deep-dives into what makes a tree holy, and the logistics of carbon dating and its intersection with dendrology. It may have been a bit too niche for most though.
1. On the Personality of Trees (10/2)
I was so pumped to record my first episode, and I think I did it in a way that made it creative useful as well: “see folks, this is how you can assign a tree human behavior qualities and character attributes.” Then I do it with two trees, The English Oak and the Giant Sequoia. Boo-yah.
Have a wonderful week,
Tobin