Meet the YouTube Botanist with a Thick Chicago Accent and Foul Mouth 

I've been a botanist for over 50 years. So refreshing to meet a botanist with a sense of humor.

Why did I think this guy was an over weight Italian guy talking about plants

First time I’ve ever heard “thank god the depression hit”

my favorite quote of his is when he goes to the grocery store in the bay area, then walks to the bargaining section and says something along the lines of " this is where hippies come to beat each other with cucumbers"

"Amateur", "crass approach". WTF? This guy is legit and provides more info per minute than any other plant RU-vidr I've come across.

Dude I’ve never seen a negative comment on Crime Pays. Don’t sweat it, Joey.. just keep going we love you.

I didn't hear any language my mother would disapprove of so I'm not convinced it's actually him.

"Its fer da tix." I love this guy. More news stations need to focus on positive things like this man and what he's doing instead of focusing on negativity 24/7

I’m a retired research biologist who worked in agriculture. Love this guy.

When a smile slips out as he talks about how plants calm him down from the 'revolting infrastructure' created by humans...so adorable and awesome 🐢❣️🌻

This cover doesn't accurately portray his truly immense familiarity with botany.

Narrator: "Santore is an amateur botanist" Santore, seconds later: "this is one of my favorites right here, this is silfian terabinthenasium it's a relative of sunflowers, it's an Asteraceae " I... I don't even know how to spell any of that.

*Reporter* : “so do u ever encounter any dangerous wildlife?” *This Guy* : “Only Daaa Bearse” 🍻

"Thank GOD the Depression hit" I'm DYING!!! 🤣🤣

This guy is amazing. _He's got a ruler tattooed on his finger_ so he can do science without tools. He's a legend.

He inspired me to go on a walk in the woods in Central Florida. It was 105° today and in the forest the humidity was 100000000% and i fucking loved every moment looking at that wild flowers in at forest. Ill be back tomorrow with a clipboard and a Botanist book

Ahh I was so disappointed. All this time I thought he learned Botany in prison.

“Most of the human infrastructure that I find revolting “ same bro same

He's awesome. I wish my college Botany professors had this much passion for our ecology.

One of my favorite RU-vidrs! Love him!

and I always thought he would look like an overweight Italian mob boss from the 40’s.

The way he goes out and teaches botany in the field rather than just pictures in a book is fantastic

I'm a professional plant ecologist and this guy's plant knowledge game is way better than mine is. Total dude. Really knows his forbs/shrubs and geologic history.

Thank you for showing people you can be highly educated without college. Your knowledge of botany is amazing. God bless you, sir

This is the definition of “you can be anything you want to be.” So wholesome. Love it.

no idea he was "kinda hot"

_Sees a snake on his path_ *"Hey, I'm walkin here!!!"*

That constant beeping noise made me feel like i was going to wake up in a cold sweat and punch a clock.

I watch this guy. He is wicked smart and hilarious and really puts life into perspective. Knows a lot about geology too. Love him.

People always say “be yourself” and when you’re yourself people see you as not normal.. this guy is just himself and I love it 🤞 be yourself

Well shit, he is a damn good-looking man! I have watched his videos for a while now and his personality is great but he is pretty attractive too. Who woulda known, I have only seen his hands before this haha. Smart guy

I assumed he was Italian and learned about plants while disposing of bodies for the mob.

this man is a legend.

Just because after a year they still haven’t linked his channel. “Crime pays but botany doesn’t”

Me: *is from chicago* Also me: “where is the accent?”

Dude is a legend. Just an honest hearted person. You can sense it. His videos are a little long winded, but he’s such a knowledgeable and interesting person, with the sole goal of inspiring people to go outside and spend time in nature. I love it

Joey Santore is a "Shot in the Arm" for the world of botany! He is educational, funny, kind hearted, and gives you a hunger to want to know more. Yes, his choice of words is sometimes a little too colorful, but he is a great guy, intelligent and entertaining! Keep it up Joey!!! And thank you for your channel!!! Also, thank you wttwchicago for letting us see our most beloved botanist!!!

this dude has some serious plant knowledge and even some geology and such, pretty brilliant guy.

I love his conversations with the wild animals.

High quality Chicago content. I’m here for it.

A great educator. Very informative and amusing. Humor makes learning easier.

I'm so glad he's getting more popular. His stuff is great.

amateur , are you kidding me he knows his sh=t . i love the guy , nice to meet him .

"Most people are dying to learn more about the natural world… get some greater context for the world they live in." I am an outdoor professional and this man just put in to words what I have been trying to understand my entire life.

When he see’s a grizzly: *DAAA BEARSSS*

I stumbled upon him accidentally. Great surprise, never felt so amused by an italian guy talking about illegal gardening. Love him already

After watching dozens and dozens of his videos and never seeing his face, i thought I had a pretty good idea of what he would look like. I was wrong. This dude is cool as frick.

Freight train driver, that would explain how he is always releasing videos from all over the place

Oh wow the fact that he used to hop freights and now is an freight train engineer is super cool and makes me respect him and what he does even more so especially because I didn't know that before now. Great video nonetheless!

"an addiction to information" i am the same. I try to learn something new each day. And he helps

Most underrated RU-vid channel by far! Joey is the man!

This guy is my RU-vid favorite. His subs have exploded because every video is entertaining, informative, and interesting. I have a degree in plant biology, and plants are my life long hobby- I learn something* every time I watch one of his videos. edit:* more likely a bunch of things

The mismatch of the way he talks and his overflowing intelligence had me for a while, now I see what he looks like, I officially have a crush on him. the first video I saw of his was when he visited this park. Talk about full circle.

I love the “thank god they didnt develop” part. I love him. I wanna ride trains by him and learn plants while drinking green tea.

i love how this is somewhat through the lens of "if youre from chicago you cant be a botanist"

NOT an amateur! One of my favorite channels!

I just found his Chanel a few days ago and love it. I Can’t stop watching his videos.

Came from a similar background... His videos inspired me to continue to learn about what I’m truly passionate about. They pulled me out of a pretty hopeless and miserable state. 💚Thank you so fuckin much man!!!!!!!

Amateur?!?! More like the most knowledgeable botanist RU-vidr

I was born and raised in Chicago. I moved to FL 3 years ago. This is the FIRST time i have ever been able to hear the "chicago accent." Also, to grow ANYTHING in chicago, besides corn or beans, is absolutely astonishing. That place is a frozen tundra 6 months out of the year.

That brain, those dimples... Makes my heart flutter.

I love this guy. He is legit and his content is great, and so informative. I hope his channel grows to millions of subs. He deserves it.

I’m so glad he’s finally being discovered by more people. His videos are the best

This is by far one of the best channels on RU-vid

This guy is just doing what he loves and is educating all those out there! Props to him! He seems like a chill dude. 😁

It's a lot younger than I imagined from his videos. Great to put a face to that voice.

We need more visibility for rockstar scientists like this guy. Someone who your average person can really relate to. In our current anti-science political and social climate, science overall (at least in the US) needs a face lift in terms of PR, and people like this are perfect. This guy is passionate but relatable to the masses, and I mean that in the best of ways

Love Joey to bits - his raw honest comments on stupid lifers and super enthusiasm for the most precious living beings on this planet. Nice to meet you Joey - thanks for taking us on walks in the wild places.

He doesn't look anything like I thought he did. Absolutely love his channel!

Just found this man, this week. Cannot believe how I missed his channel. Love his delivery and find his knowledge of the natural world extensive.

"fir da ticks"

Dude, I really thought he's an old Italian mafia turned botanist on the coyote burrito video. That was very wholesome and I subscribed to his channel instantly.

LMFAO what the hell thats where I went to smoke weed when I was in high school

This guy is the funniest and most informative on RU-vid.

I had many college professors, and the best teachers were those who made learning fun. It's a real gift sir. Thanks bro. There's hope!

I love this dude, I found his channel a couple weeks ago.

He is incredibly knowledgeable and freely shares this with others. I love his channel. Its human.

this guy has a ruler tattooed onto his finger... and his videos are just as wacky. great viewing, must watch! 👌🏼

Chicago! I thought he was from New York. Lol. I've been following him for a while now. Love his videos.

I absolutely LOVE him, LOVE his channel, and really admire his appreciation for the nature all around us!!! He's hysterical, down to earth, and a real deal Chicago guy...which I happen to enjoy listening to his accent being a native Chicagoan myself. He really knows his stuff!! And it's truly amazing what he has done for his neighborhood in Oakland, CA. He's just a really great person, and I find his stick hilarious! It's always fun learning with some humor! Thanks for spotlighting him, he's a wonderful example we can all follow and learn from! :)

That guy is the shit and I love his channel. He cracks me up. I wish my science teachers were more like him.. this guy connects with me and the other stuffy types don't.

I totally revere this mans irreverence.

I SUBBED TO HIM ALREADY IM SO PROUD OF HIM AND TY FOR COVERING HIM BC HE DESERVES SO MUCH MORE ATTENTION HES A GEM

Joey is a perfect reminder of why it should be a nearly-criminal offense for people like the DeVos family to be allowed to influence anything related to colleges, tuition, student debt, etc. It should be a crime to gatekeep higher learning, knowledge, and usable training/certification behind such ludicrous pay walls. I'm not saying Joey here dropped out of college because of costs, or that he didn't drop out because it simply wasn't for him, or that he doesn't like driving trains, or anything like that. What I am saying is that Joey is a brilliant reminder that there ARE just an incredible number of people out there who have a very rare kind of sponge-like mind for a given subject, but who end up doing something completely unrelated and unfulfilling to them because the necessary certification (i.e. diplomas,) are gatekept behind ludicrous paywalls and other money or status obstacles. The privilege to receive a piece of paper that declares you knowledgeable enough to participate in a given career, is a privilege of people with money, but that rare mind for a given subject has absolutely nothing to do with wealth or income. It's unfathomable the American system has become what it is. You know, when the Boomers were in school, they were able to pay for their degrees with just a part-time job. School was _very_ inexpensive for the most part. But they ruined that excellent status-quo. Damn, man. What a profoundly sad state of affairs.

He has enlightened/educated me to believe that the US still has wild botany that is still thriving. Luv his accent as well. Great person!

One of my favorite utubers, thanks for spotlighting him!

Joey Santore aroused my interest in botany. He has an appealing humility in his way of communicating lessons. And he has a charming accent, after all.

TBH After watching this guy for a while, I was expecting a man who had tats all over his face and looked like Jason Statham, only as an ex convict. Instead we got a handsome man with great style.

A lot more attractive than what I imagined from just his voice. Love his videos!

I love how people hear an accent and I hear it as completely normal. There are only a couple parts that I could see where people could say he has an accent and that is with me really trying to hear the accent throughout the whole video.

Wife and me watching him last night. She said, "is he for real?" Brings it to life and with humor

Wow ok, he's WAY younger than I imagined him being, the dude's an old soul, and second he's kindda hot, this is weird, definitely not how I pictured him.

This man inspired me to learn more about the plants native to where I lived. I starting posting the plants I found interesting on my snapchat story and discussing what I learned about them, and got a ton of positive feedback from friends and even people I don’t really know. I plan on making a channel for it soon as sc isn’t really a good medium for the content

I watch his channel all the time. He goes all over the world and he totally takes you to school with botany. I love him.

I'm both amazed and dismayed that they managed to film enough of an interview without having to bleep anything.

I just bought a guidebook because of this wise guy!

Found his channel about a month ago and really enjoying it.

Possibly the man of my dreams...I adore his passion!

This guy is so relatable he would be a great teacher on PBS letting kids know all about plants and stuff

This guy is great and funny. I love wandering through nature and looking at everything and when I watch his videos it feels like I'm there.