From Nature to Nurture

What if the greatest barrier to foraging isn't a lack of edible plants, but a lack of confidence?In this episode, I sit down with wild food educator, creator of Feral Foraging, and founder of Gather: The Foraging App, Jesse, to explore what it really takes to begin building a relationship with wild food.Together, we discuss why so many people feel intimidated by foraging, how toxicity myths have shaped our perception of edible plants and mushrooms, and the practical skills that help us move from fear to confidence when learning the plants around us.Jesse shares his journey into the world of wild food, why identification is about understanding relationships between plants rather than memorizing endless species, and how thoughtful gathering and preparation can deepen our connection to the landscapes we live in.Known for his in-depth educational content, Jesse is passionate about making foraging approachable for everyone. Through clear, evidence-based education, he encourages curiosity over fear and reminds us that wild food isn't something reserved for experts; it's an invitation to reconnect with the abundance growing all around us.Whether you're just beginning your foraging journey or looking to deepen your knowledge of edible plants and mushrooms, this conversation offers practical insights, thoughtful perspectives, and plenty of encouragement to step outside with fresh eyes.Follow & learn from Jesse:https://youtube.com/@feralforaginghttps://get.gatherapp.co/O5xE/FERALBio:Jesse is a wild food educator best known for his YouTube channel, Feral Foraging, where more than 500,000 subscribers learn practical, in-depth approaches to foraging. He is also the creator of Gather: The Foraging App, designed to make identifying and learning about wild food more accessible.Passionate about developing better methods for gathering and processing wild foods, Jesse is dedicated to debunking toxicity myths that have wrongly vilified many edible plants and mushrooms. More than anything, he wants to create clear, approachable education that empowers people to confidently reconnect with the abundance of wild food growing around them.

Have you ever noticed that certain plants seem to find their way back into your life?Sometimes it's a plant you've worked with for years but suddenly see through new eyes. Other times it's a plant you never paid much attention to until, seemingly out of nowhere, you can't stop thinking about it.In this episode, I'm sharing two plants that have been asking for my attention this season: mountain mint and raspberry. Their stories couldn't be more different, yet both have reminded me that our relationships with plants are never static. They deepen, evolve, surprise us, and often reveal something about ourselves along the way.Together, we'll explore what it means to return to a familiar plant, why our understanding of medicinal herbs changes over time, and how slowing down to revisit a plant can become one of the greatest teachers in our herbal journey.Whether you're just beginning to explore herbalism or have been walking this path for years, I hope this conversation encourages you to look again at the plants growing around you, and perhaps to return to one that's been quietly waiting for your attention.

What does it take to actually stay well when summer turns up the heat, not just survive it, but work with the season instead of against it?In this episode, I'm sharing my herbalist's summer toolkit: the plants and preparations getting me through a proper Tennessee heatwave. We talk about why water alone doesn't actually hydrate you, how my first aid kit shifts once I'm spending more time barefoot in the garden, and the herbs I reach for when summer's big, buzzy energy makes it hard to wind down at night.This is also an invitation to treat your summer herbal practice like play instead of a prescription, to experiment, to sip your way through the season, and to slow down enough to notice what's blooming (and buzzing) right outside your door.

What if your cycle wasn't something to fight against, but something to learn from?In this episode, I sit down with clinical herbalist, fertility awareness educator, and founder of Eclipsic Herbs, Denise Rodriguez, to explore the intersection of herbalism, body literacy, and cycle health.Together, we discuss why our menstrual cycles are more than just a reproductive function, how cycle tracking can become a powerful tool for understanding overall health, and the ways herbal medicine can support hormonal balance throughout different phases of life.Denise shares her perspective on fertility awareness, common misconceptions about cycle health, and how learning to understand the body's natural rhythms can help us make more informed decisions about our wellbeing.Rooted in both bioregional herbalism and her Colombian herbal tradition, Denise brings a thoughtful and empowering approach to women's health that encourages us to see our cycles not as a burden, but as a source of valuable information and insight.Whether you're curious about cycle tracking, hormonal health, fertility awareness, or herbal support for women's wellness, this conversation offers a grounded introduction to understanding the body through a new lens.Follow & work with Denise:https://www.Instagram.com/eclipsicherbs/https://www.eclipsicherbs.com/Bio:Denise is a clinical herbalist, cycle and sexual health educator. She is the owner of Eclipsic Herbs, where she teaches in-depth cycle tracking and personalized cycle health support. Denise's work focuses on bridging together body literacy and plant medicine. She believes that our cycle is not our shackle, it is our compass. That our cycles go beyond just for reproduction, it's core to our health and wellbeing. Her formal education and experience is rooted in bioregional herbalism in North Eastern America incorporating her Colombian herbal tradition. She is certified as a Fertility Awareness educator, with a focus on hormonal imbalances

Summer offers a different rhythm.The plants are abundant, the days are longer, and many of us feel the pull to spend more time outdoors, move more slowly, and engage with our herbal practices in ways that feel nourishing rather than productive.In this episode, I share some of my favorite ways to live with the plants during the summer months, including herbal drinks, infused body oils, plant meditations, and simple seasonal rituals that help deepen relationship with the natural world.Whether you're looking for new ways to connect with the plants or simply seeking inspiration for your summer herbal practice, this episode is an invitation to slow down, pay attention, and savor the season.Grab a cup of tea and join me for a conversation about creating a summer filled with plant connection, curiosity, and everyday herbal magic.

What does it mean to move beyond consuming herbal information and into true relationship with the plants?In this episode, we explore the philosophy of reciprocal herbalism, a slower, more relational approach to learning plants rooted in stewardship, attentiveness, observation, and coexistence. Together, we’ll discuss information overload in modern herbalism, ethical relationship with the land, and the subtle ways working with plants can begin reshaping how we move through the world itself.From deer eating elderberries to rescuing worms from the driveway after rainstorms, this conversation reflects on the quiet shifts that happen when we begin seeing ourselves as part of an ecosystem rather than separate from it.This episode is an invitation to slow down, notice more deeply, and remember that herbalism is not just something we study: it's something we live.If this conversation resonates with you, I am about to open enrollment for the Reciprocal Herbalism program, a 15-week relationship-based herbal learning container rooted in slow study, sensory learning, seasonal rhythm, and deeper relationship with the plants.Learn more here: https://www.rootandwandercollective.com/reciprocal-herbalism-program

In this episode, I’m joined by fellow herbalist Amelia Andrade for a conversation rooted in the wild edges of spring.We explore the role of bitters in herbal practice, not just as a category of taste or action, but as something that invites us back into relationship with our bodies. Together, we talk about wild weeds, especially Dandelion, and the quiet, persistent ways these plants support digestion, movement, and renewal.This conversation moves between the medicinal and the energetic: how bitters wake things up in the body, how spring asks us to shift and soften, and how working with common plants can become a daily, lived practice rather than something abstract or occasional.We also reflect on nourishment this time of year, what it means to support ourselves gently as we come out of winter, and how paying attention to what’s growing around us can guide that process.If you’ve ever felt drawn to the plants growing just outside your door, or are curious about how to work with herbs in a more grounded, relational way, this episode is an invitation to begin.Check out Amelia's Free Bitter Support Guide:'A beginner’s guide to offer you support in introducing bitters back into your life, expanding your palate & developing an appreciation for this forgotten flavor.' https://darling-dandy-botanicals.myflodesk.com/wwdlamgq83Follow Amelia:instagram.com/amelia_the_wildflowerhttps://bio.site/amelia_the_wildflowerBio:Amelia Andrade is a folk herbalist and mystical muser. Drawing from the Wise Woman Tradition of Healing, her passion is nourishing the sacred and wild relationship between people and plants. While also exploring the world and wisdom of bitter botanicals, inspired by her devotional relationship to the dandelion. 

Nettle has long been woven into folklore as a plant of protection, resilience, and quiet strength.In this episode, we step beyond the physical medicine and into the stories and spirit of Nettle. I share traditional folklore, including the Nine Herbs Charm, along with reflections on the energetic qualities of this plant and the messages it carries.Join me and listen more closely to what Nettle can teach us. This is an episode for those who want to know the plants, not just use them.The translation of the 9 Herbs Charm that I used.