Completely Arbortrary

Completely Arbortrary

Tree advocate Casey Clapp and his tree-curious friend Alex Crowson bring you a podcast about trees and other related topics. History, culture, art, religion, science... trees affect and are affected by everything. Join Casey and Alex on their silly and educational journey to prove it.

Episodes

October 16, 2025 51 mins

We need a tall, straight, decay-resistant, fragrant wood… call THE COFFINTREE (Taiwania cryptomerioides). Why has this tree been used consistently for coffin wood?…. Nobody knows (including us!).

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Out of the black tea lagoon comes a swamp monster! It’s the swamp tupelo (Nyssa biflora)—swollen butt and all—who has learned how to breathe… underwater.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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What if your left foot was in charge of keeping your left hand alive? What if your right big toe was responsible for the right ear? With sectored architecture, the future is now! (Actually, it's about 2000 years ago). Join us for a discussion of the Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) and remember to use coupon code BLOWOUT for 30% off everything at arbortrarypod.com/merch

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September 25, 2025 79 mins

The maracuya, the passionfruit, the fruit that serves itself (Passiflora lindeniana) produces one of the best fruits in the world (unbiased opinion), which lends its flavor to one of the best desserts in the world (unbiased opinion).

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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September 18, 2025 66 mins

Did you save room for dessert? We're having zwetschgenkuchen, or German plum cake, made with the European plum (Prunus domestica).

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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September 11, 2025 66 mins

Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) is the centerpiece of a Korean dish called baesuk; a dessert even Frankenstein would love.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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September 4, 2025 66 mins

It's Plant Based Diet: Just Desserts, where we talk about 4 of the world's sweetest trees. First up, the pistachio! (Pistacia vera) Hear all about its origins in the Middle East and the dessert that made it famous: baklava.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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August 28, 2025 64 mins

Buzz buzz! Let’s connect some pollen the new fashioned way with the Bigberry Manzanita (Arctostaphylos glauca).


Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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What's up Fungal Associates!? This week we have part 2 of our bonus episode fortnight and bring you "What is Bark?" Which asks the question.... well, what is bark? We'll see you next week with new episodes!

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What's up Fungal Associates! For the next two weeks we bring you some OLD SCHOOL bonus episodes (circa 2021). Why? Well, because Casey took a frisbee to the throat, and Alex took a vacation to Hawaii. Classic! Enjoy this break as I know we will <3

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August 7, 2025 76 mins

I think, therefore I am... a tree - American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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July 31, 2025 64 mins

The tree you don’t know that you know, but you know it! The Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata) is the center of a fascinating tale of isolationism, plant espionage, and gunboat diplomacy.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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July 24, 2025 63 mins

Don't go chokin' on this cherry (Prunus virginiana) or else you may turn red! And Canadian!

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Find Arbortrary merch on our store

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals


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July 17, 2025 54 mins

A mystery cone… a mystery tree! What the maxipiñon has to say about genetic bottlenecking may unlock its secrets!


Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

Support the pod and become a Treemium Member

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Find Arbortrary merch on our store

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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July 10, 2025 52 mins

What happens when trees have to run for their lives and the only way is up? The Vietnam cypress (Xanthocyparis vietnamensis), that's what!

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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Find Arbortrary merch on our store

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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It’s a BANANZA with the banana (Musa acuminata), a fruit so popular that it helped shape the political landscape of the world.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

Support the pod and become a Treemium Member

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Find Arbortrary merch on our store

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Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

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June 26, 2025 57 mins

Lazy, back problems, or just a Fonzie-esque casual attitude? Whatever the reason, the Cook Island pine (Araucaria columnaris) leans mysteriously toward the equator. Let’s discuss the possibilities! Then, we play a game about Filipino pines and oaks—The Filipineoak Affair.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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June 19, 2025 80 mins

Introducing... TROPICAL VACATION! 🌺 a series all about tropical trees! Our first visit is Brazil, where the ipê (𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘳𝘰𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘦𝘵𝘪𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘰𝘴𝘢) reigns supreme. This tree has no shortage of strengths, quite literally! From decking to medicine, this tree has it all. Then, we play a special musical edition of The Slang Game.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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June 12, 2025 66 mins

Kick back with Casey and Alex while we play you our favorite jams from recent days. Become a Treemium Member at arbortrarypod.supercast.com to enjoy bonus episodes like this one, ad-free listening to mainline episodes, 20% off our merch store, and join the Cone Club to get monthly botanical stickers mailed directly to you!

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

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June 7, 2025 50 mins

Parthenowhatnow? Parthenocarpy! Why are 90% of the paperbark maple's (Acer griseum) infertile? Only nature knows.

Completely Arbortrary is produced and hosted by Casey Clapp and Alex Crowson

Support the pod and become a Treemium Member

Follow along on Instagram

Find Arbortrary merch on our store

Find additional reading on our website

Cover art by Jillian Barthold

Music by Aves and The Mini-Vandals

See Privacy Policy at https://art...

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