This week, Don sits down for a compelling one-on-one interview with Simon Parkin, a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society, journalist, and acclaimed author. We delve into Simon’s latest book, “The Forbidden Garden: The Botanists of Besieged Leningrad and Their Impossible Choice.” In this episode, we explore the harrowing history of the Siege of Leningrad during WWII—a nearly 900-day blockade that led to unimaginable suffering for its citizens. We discuss the creation of the Plant Institute, the world’s first seed bank, founded to preserve vital crop species for future generations. Amidst starvation, freezing conditions, and wartime pressures, the botanists at the Institute faced an impossible choice: protect this precious genetic resource or sacrifice it to survive. Tune in to hear about the sacrifices, courage, and resilience of these scientists and how they protected a legacy that continues to impact the world today.
