Compiled by Madelyn Ostendorf
Ed Zaworski (’14 MS plant pathology), plant extension specialist, hosts “I See Dead Plants,” a podcast on integrated pest management (IPM). He welcomes expert guests to discuss research-based topics like fungicide, disease modeling and historical plant pests. “I See Dead Plants” episodes are posted Wednesdays at 7 a.m. CST. Find other ISU Extension and Outreach Agriculture and Natural Resources podcasts online.
What inspired you to start a podcast about pest management?
Ed Zaworski started the podcast, “I See Dead Plants,” to create a more accessible and entertaining way for people to learn about integrated pest management. Submitted photo
We want to educate the general public about integrated pest management - from the tomatoes in your garden to controlling disease on corn. Because I am a plant pathologist, many of the topics focus on plant diseases. However, we also cover a lot of insect pest problems. With support from the Crop Protection Network, we aim to educate the public and industry on plant pathogens and insect problems affecting crops.
How do you decide on topics and experts?
It’s a combination of things people suggest, timely things and just personal curiosity. If I find something interesting, I try to set up an interview about it. For example, corn tar spot has been one of the major diseases in corn for more than five years. That's one that we have had several podcasts on to try and keep people educated.
How do you keep your content both engaging and informative for your audience?
I get to have conversations that interest me, and I try to use that energy to drive the story. I try to balance out a bit of a background story for the person I'm interviewing, along with the subject matter. You're getting a little of both things. You're getting this humanization of the scientist or whoever I'm interviewing, along with this factual information, so I think those two balance out.
What kind of response have you received from your listeners?
You don't get as much feedback from a podcast as you do from other social media, but what I have gotten has been supportive. We aim to get information out there in as many forms as possible. You have the traditional ‘Here's a pamphlet,’ but then you have this podcast, the Phytopoet series, YouTube videos and other content that presents IPM in an easily digestible format.
What should people expect to learn or hear about when tuning in to the podcast?
There’s a few minutes of background banter and a deep dive into the main topic. Some are about current research, some are more historical, and others are random one-offs. I always end by asking people to sum up the work they're doing, or the topic we just talked about, as if they were speaking to a general public member.