HerbRally

Mason Hutchison

Welcome to the HerbRally podcast! We take a deep dive into the world of herbalism. We host some of the best teachers in the field with topics ranging from wild foods, botany, nutrition, ecology, herbal medicine and health accessibility. You'll hear class recordings from conferences, narrated plant monographs, interviews, event updates and so much more. There are hundreds of episodes on herbalism so you're bound to find what you're looking for. Thanks for tuning in!

  1. Herbal Pharmacy & the Magic of Plant Medicine | Betzy Bancroft

    5 HR AGO

    Herbal Pharmacy & the Magic of Plant Medicine | Betzy Bancroft

    In this episode of The Herbalist Hour, I sit down with herbalist, teacher, and long-time community mentor Betzy Bancroft to explore the heart, craft, and deep science behind her new book Herbal Pharmacy: The Science and Magic of Preparing and Administering Plant Medicine. Betzy has been teaching herbal medicine making for more than three decades. She co-founded the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, mentors clinical interns, presents at the Vermont NOFA Winter Conference, and serves on the advisory board of United Plant Savers. She also teaches and leads plant walks at the legendary Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, where she lives just down the road. This conversation dives into the practical, the philosophical, and the magical sides of making plant medicine — from water and oils, to home apothecaries, to the evolving spiral of students becoming teachers. What We Talk About 🌿 Tips for leading an inspiring, grounded plant walk 🌿 Advice for herbalists writing their own informational books 🌿 A rich discussion of the water chapter and her reverence for water 🌿 Why oils and fats are both essential and misunderstood in herbalism 🌿 How she chooses fresh vs. dried plant material for tinctures 🌿 How to make homemade vinegar 🌿 Practical tips for building or expanding your home apothecary 🌿 And whole lot more! WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE LINKS & RESOURCES BOOK: Herbal Pharmacy | BUY THE BOOK Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism | VTHerbCenter.org Sage Mountain | SageMountain.com United Plant Savers | UnitedPlantSavers.org If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person. 🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies. 👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com Want to join us live for future interviews?  Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member: HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free! ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

    1h 17m
  2. 4 MAR

    Red Palm Oil, Ancestral Foodways & the Dish "Red Red" | Asia Dorsey

    This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing. LEARN MORE & REGISTER In this clip from The Herbalist Hour episode 59, Asia Dorsey shares the story behind the West African dish Red Red — a vibrant meal made with red palm oil, black-eyed peas, peppers, and plantains. Asia reflects on her time living in Ghana, learning directly from local food traditions, and how that experience reshaped her relationship with ancestral foods. She also speaks about the deep nutritional and cultural importance of red palm oil and why preserving traditional foodways matters. The conversation touches on diaspora cooking, sourcing ingredients with integrity, and reconnecting with the culinary wisdom of our ancestors. Watch the full episode of The Herbalist Hour to hear more of this conversation with Asia Dorsey and Karina DesRoses. If you'd like to learn more from Asia, be sure to check out her Food Genius mentorship program. Enrolling now! LEARN MORE & REGISTER DISCLAIMER The information in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for advice provided by your physician or other medical professionals. Always consult a health care practitioner before using any herbal remedy or food, especially if you are nursing, pregnant, or have any medical condition.

    12 min
  3. Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians | Patricia Kyritsi Howell

    28 FEB

    Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians | Patricia Kyritsi Howell

    This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing. LEARN MORE & REGISTER Herbalist and author Patricia Kyritsi Howell joins Mason and co-host Rosalee de la Forêt to talk about the brand-new second edition of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians.  Patricia shares how decades of walking the mountains have deepened her relationships with plants like bloodroot, sarsaparilla, and sassafras, weaving folk history with practical clinical insight. We also touch on her decision to self-publish, the creative freedom it allowed, and why preserving authentic herbal voices matters now more than ever. If you love Appalachian plants, plant stories, and thoughtful herbal conversations, this episode is for you. RESOURCES & LINKS Website | PatriciaKyritsiHowell.com BOOK | Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians Wild Crete Trip | LEARN MORE & REGISTER Rosalee's Website | HerbsWithRosalee.com WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person. 🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies. 👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com Want to join us live for future interviews?  Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member: HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free! ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

    1h 23m
  4. The Complete Folk Herbal with Rebecca Beyer | Cohost Rosalee de la Forêt

    19 FEB

    The Complete Folk Herbal with Rebecca Beyer | Cohost Rosalee de la Forêt

    Today on the Herbalist Hour I'm joined by author, illustrator, and Appalachian folk magic practitioner Rebecca Beyer, along with my special co-host Rosalee de la Forêt. We dive deep into Rebecca's newest book, The Complete Folk Herbal, exploring everything from ethical wildcrafting to plant history, folk medicine-making, and the lived stories that shape her work. Rebecca shares her thoughts on learning from many teachers, cultivating authentic plant relationships, avoiding "guru-ism," and keeping humility at the center of herbal practice. We talk about sustainable foraging, the realities of plant lust, and how she hand-illustrated every page of this beautiful book. This episode is full of history, heart, humor, and grounded wisdom — a rich conversation for anyone who loves herbalism. RESOURCES & LINKS BOOK: The Complete Folk Herbal | BUY THE BOOK Rebecca's Website | BloodAndSpicebush.com Rebecca's Substack | BloodAndSpicebush.Substack.com Rebecca on Instagram | @bloodandspicebush Rosalee's Website | HerbsWithRosalee.com WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe, and share it with a fellow plant person. 🌿Grab FREE Herbal Resources Sign up for the HerbRally newsletter and get instant access to a 91-page Botanical Anthology sampler—plus a bundle of herbal freebies. 👉 Get the freebies | HerbalFreebies.com Want to join us live for future interviews?  Become a HerbRally Schoolhouse member: HerbRally Schoolhouse | HerbRally.com/Schoolhouse Use coupon code SCHOOLHOUSE30 for your first 30 days free! ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

    59 min
  5. 14 FEB

    Pine Medicine: Learning the Plant Before the Books | April Punsalan

    🌿 Enroll in Medical Botany: Foundations in Ancient Plant Medicine Enrollment is now open for April Punsalan's 13-week apprenticeship focused on wild plant medicine, plant evolution, botany, Ayurveda, and the 6 tastes. Enroll by Monday night and receive the Wild Apothecary medicine-making course FREE (tinctures, oils, salves, extractions with primarily wild plants). 👉 ENROLL HERE 🌲 Episode Description In this episode of the Wild Herbs Podcast, April dives deeply into the medicine, botany, and spirit of Pine — an ancient evergreen ally that shows up when we need resilience the most. Pine has survived ice ages, climate shifts, and mass extinctions, and in the heart of winter it continues to offer powerful medicine for the lungs, immune system, and spirit. In this episode, April weaves together botany, herbal medicine, Ayurveda, and intuitive plant wisdom to explore why Pine is such a profound teacher for 2026. In this episode, you'll learn: Why Pine is one of the most ancient and resilient trees on Earth How Pine's xylem and spiral water movement reflect rhythmic growth How to identify pines using needles, fascicles, sheaths, and cones Why Pine is especially important medicine in winter Pine's medicinal actions (expectorant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory) How Pine supports colds, mucus, immunity, and inflammation Why fresh Pine is preferred over dried The spiritual symbolism of Pine, spirals, and Fibonacci patterns What Pine teaches about receiving, presence, and sustainable growth Why building a relationship with plants comes before turning to books ⚠️ DISCLAIMER This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.

    27 min

About

Welcome to the HerbRally podcast! We take a deep dive into the world of herbalism. We host some of the best teachers in the field with topics ranging from wild foods, botany, nutrition, ecology, herbal medicine and health accessibility. You'll hear class recordings from conferences, narrated plant monographs, interviews, event updates and so much more. There are hundreds of episodes on herbalism so you're bound to find what you're looking for. Thanks for tuning in!

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