Nepenthes Talk with Rob Cantley - Episode 07 | The Kenny Coogan Takeover

In this episode of Nepenthes Talk, the script is completely flipped. Our guest, Kenny Coogan, commandeers the podcast to turn the tables on Rob Cantley and hold his feet to the fire with burning questions from the community. From secret careers in surveillance and the Hong Kong Police to a major announcement about the future of the Borneo Exotics brand, this is the most unfiltered interview in our series yet. TIMESTAMPS & CHAPTERS 00:00:06 - Podcast Hijacked: The Unplanned Intro 00:01:21 - The Pseudo Cop: Rob’s Secret Background 00:04:44 - The Leech Merchant: Collections for Eye Surgery 00:09:04 - ICPS 2026 Leiden Conference Announcement 00:10:09 - MAJOR SCOOP: Renaming Borneo Exotics? 00:11:00 - From Brunei Tin Cans to the Sri Lankan Highlands 00:14:55 - The Mystery of the BE Numbering System 00:17:19 - The Science of Micropropagation vs. Cloning 00:20:41 - Breeding Bloody Mary: The 5-Year Selection 00:22:15 - The Striped Peristome Lucky Dip 00:25:00 - Naming Plants for Helen Mirren & Bill Bailey 00:27:44 - Rob's Favorites: Why Villosa Beats Edwardsiana 00:32:00 - Growing the Diabolical Species 00:37:06 - Conservation Ethics & the IUCN Specialist Group 00:43:52 - What's Next for Borneo Exotics? 00:45:05 - Final Words of Wisdom for Growers 🔗 CONNECT WITH KENNY COOGAN: Website & Shop: https://kennycoogan.com YouTube:    / @carnivorousplantsbykennycoogan   Instagram: @CarnivorousPlantsByKennyCoogan 🔗 RESOURCES & LINKS: Borneo Exotics: https://borneoexotics.com Join the ICPS: https://www.carnivorousplants.org ABOUT THIS EPISODE: Rob Cantley reveals he was a Chief Inspector of Police in Hong Kong specializing in counter-surveillance before moving to Sri Lanka. He also clarifies that he never arrested anyone, jokingly calling himself a "pseudo cop" who eventually traded machines for plants. He also reveals his early days as a "leech merchant," collecting leeches for Moorfields Eye Hospital. Perhaps most surprisingly, Rob shares that he dislikes the name "Borneo Exotics" and plans to change it in the future. #Nepenthes #CarnivorousPlants #BorneoExotics #RobCantley #KennyCoogan #PlantConservation #Horticulture #PitcherPlants #ICPS2026 #RarePlants #Micropropagation