Botany and The Bronx with Anthony Basil Rodriguez

Born in the Bronx, Anthony Basil Rodriguez moves through New York with a mix of spontaneity and intention from his father’s tattoo shop on Fordham Road, to foraging wild berries in Manhattan, to seeking out rare plants in the Lower East Side. This short feature captures the everyday textures that shape his work and vision. Directed by Jack Klein

PODCAST

Conversation with Crime Pays But Botany Doesn’t

A no-filter podcast exploring plants, ecology, and the intersections with human culture. Anthony Basil Rodriguez joins host Tony Santore for a conversation on ethnobotany and rare bananas.

PODCAST

Featured on Gastropod

Gastropod digs into the science and history behind what we eat. In this two part series on bananas, Anthony Basil Rodriguez appears alongside other experts, sharing insights on banana diversity, origins, and the crop’s uncertain future.

Lecture

Ethnobotany, Bananas, & Global Exploration at Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Anthony Basil Rodriguez presents his global research on bananas, sharing stories from his expeditions, rare banana species, and the cultural significance of this iconic plant. The talk explores the science, history, and human connections behind bananas around the world.

FILMMAKING

The Fungal Fortunes of William Padilla-Brown

I served as Director of Photography and appeared in this Mud Wtr short film, which follows a citizen mycologist’s journey from Pennsylvania to the jungles of Puerto Rico in search of new mushroom species.

Photography Contribution

The Wild Bananas – a catalogue of wild Musa species and tribute to Markku Häkkinen

Anthony Basil Rodriguez contributed photographs to this international publication documenting the diversity of wild Musa species. The book honors the pioneering work of banana taxonomist Markku Häkkinen, with Anthony’s images helping to showcase the beauty and significance of these rare plants.