The History of Flower Societies + The Pros and Cons of Substack + The Story Behind the Zingerman’s Brand with Allie Lehman (founder of Wonderly and Huge Fan)
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
Release Date: 11/04/2025
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we start outside and talk about West African indigenous spices (their history, importance, and how some have even been banned). Then we go outside and talk about the trend of the personal curriculum, the rise of the “intellectual creator,” and commodifying things that are already free. About this week’s guest: Afia runs Eat with Afia — where she highlights Ghanaian food through culture, history, and tradition. With her platform, Afia tries to underscore the diversity of culinary traditions as a porduct of centuries of meticulous food science, agriculture and...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we go outside to talk about the wild world of reptile private parts. And then we head inside to discuss the 1988 Crystal Light Aerobics Competition, R.I.P Mr. Belding, Nathan Fielder’s new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes, The Traitors, and the new ROHNY cast. About this week’s guest: Ally is a personal stylist, shopper, and resident pop culture reporter. Show notes! This week’s sponsor: Sign up for ! via National Geographic (new Nathan Fielder documentary) To advertise on the podcast:
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we discuss the debate around biophilia / a love of nature – is it an innate attraction, is it in our genes, or are we just othering nature altogether? Then we move inside and talk about the death of the (fun) internet scroll, how Google is slowly killing businesses, how to stay curious, building your own internets, and going offline to find out what you actually like again. About this week’s guest: Laura Wright is the founder of The First Mess, a blog for plant-based recipe inspiration as well as a of cookbook of the same name. Laura enjoys taking on way too many...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we discuss what happened when a scientist let an abandoned field rest (no seeding, no weeding, no special care). Lots of metaphors in this one! And then we move inside to discuss the craze of Beanie Babies, high-level collecting, and the genius/shady marketing of Ty Warner. About this week’s guest: Timothy Pakron is a cookbook author (Mississippi Vegan and Garden Variety), food blogger, and recipe developer. His work has been featured by NPR, Garden & Gun, Food & Wine, and VegNews, among others. Show notes! This week’s sponsor: Sign up for the ! Tim’s...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we talk about how Dutch scientists used thousands of underwear to test soil (and the results!). Plus, we take a deep dive into the drama and controversy surrounding Anthropic and the discourse around the dangers of AI (and the hope). About this week’s guest: Aaron is a 3x Emmy-nominated designer, director, and co-founder of Filmograph, an LA-based production studio specializing in title sequences for film and television. He’s work includes titles for just about anything you’ve ever watched in the last ten years: Get Out, Nope, F1, Mission: Impossible, Backrooms,...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we talk about how Amsterdam has banned meat and fossil fuel-related ads and oak trees fighting off caterpillars in the most wild way. And then we move inside with an ethical moral question about a very big fashion party, how cigarettes and Diet Coke have made a comeback, Brooke Shields on reality TV, The Devil Wears Prada, and a wee bit of Summer House, and more. About this week’s guest: Ally is a personal stylist, shopper, and resident pop culture reporter. Show notes! This week’s sponsor: Flower Pressing Workshop at Fine Feather - via BBC via Science Daily ...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we discuss the hope that nature can bring to our lives, how it can promote social well-being, and the parallels of gardening and running a startup. Then we move inside to talk about historical fashion, how body standards have changed over time, and how they’re changing (even more) with GLP-1s. About this week’s guest: Lauren ("Lar") Lee is the cofounder of Semaine Health, a plant-based women's supplement brand built on the belief that your body isn't a collection of symptoms — it's a system worth understanding. She started Semaine in 2020 with her twin sister Cath and...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we discuss the significant role flowers have played in creating our world, the biological reason we’re attracted to flowers, women in horticultural, and David’s inside pick (which is sort of an outside one). About this week’s guest: David George Haskell is a writer and biologist acclaimed for his lyrical explorations of the living world. Haskell is a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction, for The Forest Unseen and Sounds Wild and Broken. He is recipient of an Award in Literature from American Academy of Arts and Letters. Haskell has also written...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we start outside and talk about how gardens can be part of a revolution for positive change, the easiest way to start as a beginner, and the connection between gardens and habit stacking. Then we move inside to talk about Lottie’s kitchen obsession. About this week’s guest: Lottie Delamain is an RHS Chelsea award-winning garden designer. She trained at the Inchbald School of Design and has worked on gardens around the UK, from small urban spaces to historic estates. She is also a regular contributor to House and Garden magazine, and a trustee of We Are...
info_outlineINSIDE AND OUTSIDE: Nature + Pop Culture News with Jessica Murnane
In this episode, we start outside and talk about the Nature Fakers controversy (and how Teddy Roosevelt was involved). Then we talk about Mason’s new book and the struggle of making art while also making a living (day jobs, get rich schemes, and family help). And then Mason shares his inside thing - which leads us into a conversation about nostalgia for pre-internet days. About this week’s guest: Mason Currey is the author of the Daily Rituals books — Daily Rituals: How Artists Work and Daily Rituals: Women at Work. His new book, Making Art and Making...
info_outlineAbout this week’s guest: Allie Lehman is the founder of Wonderly, a design and development studio. She also writes Huge Fan, a publication about fandom and business (it’s part storytelling, part strategy, and always about the way fans shape what lasts).
She’s also an artist and illustrator and serves on the board of All People Arts.
Show notes!
This week’s sponsor: Semaine
Sign up for the Inside + Outside newsletter
New session: Starting A Well-Being Garden
Where you can find Allie:
Wonderly
Huge Fan
Illustrations
Things we talked about:
American Iris Society
North American Lily Society
American Daffodil Society
National Chrysanthemum Society
American Begonia Society
American Peony Society
The Story Behind Wayfair via Business Insider
Zingerman’s Community of Businesses
Zingerman’s Olive Oils
To advertise on the podcast: [email protected]