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Episode 7: Saturnalia
Ancient Rome boasted an impressive polytheistic religion. Festivals to various gods were celebrated throughout the year, and Saturnalia and Natalis Invictus occurred around the winter solstice (Dec 20/21). Kara and Josh explore these holidays and what, if any, influence they have on the date of Christmas and how the holiday is celebrated today.
Image Credit:“Saturn”, Giuseppe Niccolo Vicentino aka Rospigliosi c.1540-50https://www.agsa.sa.gov.au/collection-publications/collection/works/saturn/22851/ 
Episode 6: Fungi
Building on Episode 2: Roots!, Josh goes deeper into the mysterious world of mycelium, molds, mildews, and more. Discover how the fungi, known as molds, became a vital part of medicine and what certain types of fungi have in common with BookTok’s favorite books.
Image Credit:By W.J.Pilsak, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=167753
Episode 5: Cranberry
Listen along as Kara and Josh learn more about the iconic holiday fruit, native to North America; from it's growing process to how canned cranberry sauce became a staple food at the winter holidays!
Image Credit:https://www.oncranberry.com/Cranberries.html
Episode 4: Megaflora
Josh guides us on a hike through the Redwoods and Pando to teach us about megaflora. From tree hollows to heartwoods, Josh and Kara discuss how Redwoods get so old and so tall, how many plants clone themselves to create new life, and why Pando is argued to be the largest living organism on the planet.
Image Credit: © 2024 Humboldt County Visitors Bureau
Episode 3: Hozier
Musician Hozier has had a career full of popular hits and masterful lyricism. Explore the themes of feminism, civil rights, LGBTQIA+ discrimination and more in his music. Then consider as Kara and Josh discuss parasocial relationships and celebrity and activism vs celebrity and politics.
Image Credit: Neon Tommy/Katie Buenneke, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Episode 2: Roots!
We're digging down this week and researching the basics of root structures and mycelium! Learn as Josh presents about their similarities and differences and our hosts discuss their wider effect on our natural world. Topics include internal structures and common ancestors to how roots helped solve the Dust Bowl.
Image Credit: Photo by Dr. Shannon Guichonhttps://www.nationalforests.org/blog/underground-mycorrhizal-network
Episode 1: Samhain
The Irish-Pagan holiday of Samhain is one of the largest influences on our modern Christian and Secular holiday of Halloween. This episode explores the history and tradition of Samhain and how those traditions are seen today.
Image Credit: https://oghamart.com/blogs/news/samhain-halloween-celtic-roots