Episode

Ghost Orchid with Dr. Melissa Abdo

Podcast: Plant People
Published: Mar 16, 2026
Duration seconds: 1618
Processing state: not_requested
Canonical source: https://play.prx.org/listen?ge=prx_7023_d99dfc86-f0c2-4756-b265-b1edbcc26350&uf=https%3A%2F%2Fplantpeople.podcast.nybg.org%2F
Audio: https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/tracking.swap.fm/track/sblTq32fyWAjsHzze2LG/dovetail.prxu.org/7023/d99dfc86-f0c2-4756-b265-b1edbcc26350/NYBG_PP_S3_E4_FINAL.mp3
JSON: /v1/public/podcasts/plant-people-6889546/episodes/ghost-orchid-with-dr-melissa-abdo
Markdown: /podcast/plant-people-6889546/ghost-orchid-with-dr-melissa-abdo.md

Actions

POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/plant-people-6889546/episodes/ghost-orchid-with-dr-melissa-abdo/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/plant-people-6889546/ghost-orchid-with-dr-melissa-abdo.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

Summary

In this episode we’re joined by Dr. Melissa Abdo, a Floridian whose work in conservation has brought her face to face with countless captivating yet threatened plants in the swamps of the southeast—including the ghost orchid. Long coveted by poachers, and central to the plot of author Susan Orlean’s bestselling book, The Orchid Thief , this ethereal flower faces an uncertain future, inspiring calls for its protection under the Endangered Species Act. Join us as we dive into this orchid’s story, one of passion and even obsession.