In this week's episode, I’m joined by the wonderful Leah Song, musician, storyteller, activist and co-founder of Rising Appalachia, for a deeply nourishing conversation about music, plants, place, culture and keeping the old ways alive. Together, we explore how Leah's journey into folk music unfolded alongside her relationship with herbalism and the important role the herbal community played in supporting Rising Appalachia during its early years. Leah shares how she and her sister Chloe were guided and encouraged by the "fairy godmother of modern herbalism," Rosemary Gladstar, and how the worlds of plants, folk traditions and music have remained deeply intertwined throughout their lives and creative work. Leah shares her reflections on mythology and folk traditions as living forms of communication, the role of creativity as both a spiritual and political act, and how music can become a vessel for collective healing, resilience and belonging. We also discuss the impact of Hurricane Helene on her community in Appalachia, what it taught her about mutual aid and human connection, and the ways people come together through hardship, song and shared purpose. Along the way, Leah shares about Rising Appalachia’s forthcoming album Trade My Troubles, as well as her beautiful new analogue collaboration with Duncan Wickel, My Hope Lies Down in the Mississippi, recorded entirely on tape. Inside this episode: • Leah’s path into folk music, herbalism and creative expression • How the herbal community helped nurture Rising Appalachia’s journey • Reclaiming folk practices and ancestral ways of knowing • Claiming our lineage and reconnecting with cultural roots • Drawing from the stories, traditions and landscapes of the places that raised us • Mythology, folklore and music as vessels for wisdom and remembrance • Creativity as a spiritual practice and form of activism • Community resilience, mutual aid and healing after Hurricane Helene • Music as medicine and a tool for collective healing • Rising Appalachia’s upcoming album Trade My Troubles • Leah’s new album with Duncan Wickel, My Hope Lies Down in the Mississippi • The Living Traditions Ireland journey and preserving folkways in the modern world This conversation is a beautiful reminder that the old ways are not lost. They live on through story, song, place, community and the everyday acts of remembering who we are and where we come from. If you’ve ever felt called to reconnect with your roots, deepen your relationship with place, or explore the healing power of creativity and community, I think you’ll love this one. P.S. Leah shares about the upcoming Living Traditions: Ireland journey, a beautiful exploration of Irish folk culture, craft, story and place. At the time of recording, there were still a handful of spaces available for anyone feeling called to join. Leah Song is a storyteller, song-catcher, musician, poet, and activist known for her role as front woman of Rising Appalachia, alongside her sister. She incorporates sultry vocals, rhythm, banjo, guitar, ballads, Irish drum, spoken-word and storytelling into her work. Her music is based in the traditions of Southern soul and international roots music. Song engages in social activism and is involved with the environment, food justice, human rights and prison outreach. She has studied and worked alongside some of the greatest teachers of our time... including Clarissa Pinkola Estés, Martin Shaw, Joanna Macy, Winona LaDuke, Sobunfu Some, and Rosemary Gladstar among others... Gathering tools and teachings of resilience, mythology, ritual, and rewilding. Find Leah: - Websites: https://www.leahsongmusic.com/ https://www.risingappalachia.com/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leahsongmusic/ https://www.instagram.com/risingappalachia/ - Living Traditions: Ireland tour: https://www.leahsongmusic.com/wild-routes-ireland - In Love with the Quiet single: - My Hope Lies Down in the Mississippi album: Find Hannah: - Website: hannahforest.com - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hannahforest.herbalist/ - Book a session: https://www.bodhiholistichub.com/practitioners/hannah-forest-moore Mentioned in Episode: - Rosemary Gladstar: https://www.instagram.com/rosemarygladstar/ - Starling Arrow music: https://www.instagram.com/starlingarrow/ The Old Ways pod is a listener-supported production. If you value my work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber! Get full access to Hannah Forest Herbalist at hannahforestherbalist.substack.com/subscribe
