In creating the biweekly This Old Tree podcast and
radio show, which features heritage trees and the
human stories behind them, This Old Tree Consulting
Arborist Doug Still wanted to explore the story-
telling aspect of trees and forestry. He says there is
a deep well of stories to find and draw from around
the globe, but "they are way under the radar."
"As professional urban foresters we focus on
increasing tree canopy, developing programs,
sharing research and practical experience, and
serving our constituencies," he says. "But during
my time as Providence City Forester (2005-2022),
I found that people are also hungry to make emo-
tional connections with trees, and to find the
cultural connections. This is no small thing."
Doug sees that the ability to tell an engaging story—
whether about a tree, a person, a community, or
a public program—is a powerful tool to engage
people. He says, "Some people are naturals at it,
and can speak off the cuff. I am definitely not one of
those people, but I knew I had it in me, so I viewed
it as a challenge. I'm still learning the skills."
Judging from the popularity of the This Old Tree
podcast in its first ten episodes (as of this writing),
listeners are enjoying the extensively researched
content of the "pod" as well as Doug's hosting,
including his rich speaking voice, calm manner, and
the humor he injects into his interviews and scripts.
Podcast analytics show that new listeners to This Old
Tree tend to download the full back catalog, which
is a good sign—it means the concept is speaking >>
This Old Tree podcast
and radio show
Doug Still
"The Survivor Tree" is a well-known tree planted at
the 9/11 Memorial and Museum in New York City
that was rescued from the rubble at the World Trade
Center site after the terrorist attacks. It has become
a stirring symbol of resilience and survival visited
by millions of people. But few people remember
there were six other trees rescued from the site and
transplanted in early October of 2001. Host Doug
Still was part of the NYC Parks Department team
that found them along with his former boss, Bram
Gunther. Doug and Bram recount the day they visited
Ground Zero, describe how these remarkable trees
were saved, and discover what's become of them.
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