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In Defense of Plants Podcast

Ep. 530 - Our Relationship with the Joshua Tree

In Defense of Plants Podcast

In Defense of Plants

Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences

4.81.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 June 2025

⏱️ 45 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) has attained celebrity status in recent times, but that hasn't always been the case. For over a century, the Joshua tree was viewed as a useless and repulsive plant that bucked all attempts to tame it. How our relationship with Yucca brevifolia went from hatred to worship is the topic of "Yuck", in which author Barret Baumgart dives into the history of this species, how it has changed over the years and how climate change and rampant tourism may spell disaster for Yucca brevifolia in the future. Join us for a philosophical dive into what the Joshua tree can teach us about our relationship with nature. This episode was produced in part by Lauren, Strych Mind, Linda, Sylvan, Austin, Sarah, Ethan, Elle, Steve, Cassie, Chuck, Aaron, Gillian, Abi, Rich, Shad, Maddie, Owen, Linda, Alana, Sigma, Max, Richard, Maia, Rens, David, Robert, Thomas, Valerie, Joan, Mohsin Kazmi Photography, Cathy, Simon, Nick, Paul, Charis, EJ, Laura, Sung, NOK, Stephen, Heidi, Kristin, Luke, Sea, Shannon, Thomas, Will, Jamie, Waverly, Brent, Tanner, Rick, Kazys, Dorothy, Katherine, Emily, Theo, Nichole, Paul, Karen, Randi, Caelan, Tom, Don, Susan, Corbin, Keena, Robin, Peter, Whitney, Kenned, Margaret, Daniel, Karen, David, Earl, Jocelyn, Gary, Krysta, Elizabeth, Southern California Carnivorous Plant Enthusiasts, Pattypollinators, Peter, Judson, Ella, Alex, Dan, Pamela, Peter, Andrea, Nathan, Karyn, Michelle, Jillian, Chellie, Linda, Laura, Miz Holly, Christie, Carlos, Paleo Fern, Levi, Sylvia, Lanny, Ben, Lily, Craig, Sarah, Lor, Monika, Brandon, Jeremy, Suzanne, Kristina, Christine, Silas, Michael, Aristia, Felicidad, Lauren, Danielle, Allie, Jeffrey, Amanda, Tommy, Marcel, C Leigh, Karma, Shelby, Christopher, Alvin, Arek, Chellie, Dani, Paul, Dani, Tara, Elly, Colleen, Natalie, Nathan, Ario, Laura, Cari, Margaret, Mary, Connor, Nathan, Jan, Jerome, Brian, Azomonas, Ellie, University Greens, Joseph, Melody, Patricia, Matthew, Garrett, John, Ashley, Cathrine, Melvin, OrangeJulian, Porter, Jules, Griff, Joan, Megan, Marabeth, Les, Ali, Southside Plants, Keiko, Robert, Bryce, Wilma, Amanda, Helen, Mikey, Michelle, German, Joerg, Cathy, Tate, Steve, Kae, Carole, Mr. Keith Santner, Lynn, Aaron, Sara, Kenned, Brett, Jocelyn, Ethan, Sheryl, Runaway Goldfish, Ryan, Chris, Alana, Rachel, Joanna, Lori, Paul, Griff, Matthew, Bobby, Vaibhav, Steven, Joseph, Brandon, Liam, Hall, Jared, Brandon, Christina, Carly, Kazys, Stephen, Katherine, Manny, doeg, Daniel, Tim, Philip, Tim, Lisa, Brodie, Bendix, Irene, holly, Sara, and Margie.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Conversations like you're about to hear do not happen unless you support In Defensive Plants.

0:04.0

And now more than ever, we need conversations like this to reach as many ears as possible.

0:09.0

One of the best ways to help keep In Defensive Plants up and running is to become a patron over at patreon.com slash In Defensive Plants.

0:16.0

In return for a tiny bit of support each month, you will get access to a completely separate podcasts.

0:21.0

It explores a lot of really fun gardening topics, everything from seed collection and storage

0:25.2

to growing native plants, the struggles of trying to garden in different climates, and so much

0:30.2

more. It's a heck of a lot of fun. We're learning so much, and we're trying to share that with you.

0:34.5

So come on and join the Patreon over at patreon.com slash indefensive plants and help keep this show up and running in the process.

0:41.3

I hope to see you over there.

0:42.7

But in the meantime, on with the show.

0:45.6

Hello everyone and welcome to the Indefensive Plants podcast, the official podcast of Indefensiveplants.com.

0:50.9

What's up?

0:51.3

This is your host, Matt.

0:52.0

Welcome to the show.

0:52.8

How is everyone doing this week?

0:54.6

Today, we are exploring a tree that has been a big part of American culture for the last decade or so.

1:01.0

The Joshua Tree, Yucca brevafolia. But as popular as the Joshua Tree and its park namesake have become,

1:06.7

it hasn't always been the case. In fact, for much of its recent history in North America,

1:10.7

this tree has been maligned. And its journey from hatred to near worship is chronicled in a recent

1:16.5

book titled Yuck, the birth and death of the weird and wondrous josh a tree, Yucca bravofolia.

1:22.1

Joining us to talk about this is author Barrett Baumgart, who wrote this book after experiencing

1:26.7

that shift in appreciation for

...

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