Trees in the Foreground: Climbing, Climate, and the Power of Perspective with Marguerite Holloway

Episode 113: In this episode, Kate sits down with author Marguerite Holloway to explore her new book ‘Take to the Trees: A Story of Hope, Science, and Self-Discovery in America’s Imperiled Forests’. Marguerite takes us on a deeply personal journey as she learns to climb trees at a women’s tree climbing workshop—an experience that shifts her perspective—quite literally—and opens her up to new ways of seeing the world. From Aspens to Magnolias, and Hemlocks to Beeches, she brings us into the hidden lives of trees, tracing their biology, history, and the complex relationships they share with our ecosystems.

As we dive into the perils trees face in a warming climate, we also talk about the from arborists, biologists, and ecologists who are working tirelessly to protect them. This conversation brings into focus the often-overlooked world of trees, challenging ‘plant blindness’ and shifting them from the periphery to the center of our attention. At its heart, the conversation is about reconciling the hard truths of ecological loss with the enduring hope that comes from connecting with nature in such a direct and transformative way. This episode is as much about trees as it is about seeing the world through a new lens—one that invites us to reimagine our relationship with the living world around us.

Find Marguerite:

Take to the Trees: A Story of Hope, Science, and Self-Discovery in America’s Imperiled Forests

X: @marg_holloway

New Yorker Articles

Womens Tree Climbing Workshop

Related Episodes:

Episode 93: The Wood Age: Humans and the Forests That Made Them Human with John Perlin

Episode 87: Complexity, Cooperation, and Beauty - A New Story for Earth with Ferris Jabr

Episode 72: Circular Economies and Linear Infrastructure: The Complex Interplay of Roads, Beavers, and Ecosystems with Ben Goldfarb

Episode 66: We are the Drivers of Our Species Tomorrows with Cat Bohannon

Episode 95: Basins of Relations: Water, Fire, Beavers, and beyond with Brock Dolman

Episode 99: Living Into the Life You Want with Caroline Nelson