The Elder Tree Podcast

This is a live talk given as the keynote speech at the Welsh Confest "Plants People Culture" at Pandy Farm in North Wales, just a few days ago. In this presentation, Stephanie Hazel situates knowledge of plants and herbalism within the broader context of cultural heritage, belonging, sovereignty and ecological repair.This episode explores these themes using concrete examples of wild local plants, particularly Nettle, Dandelion and Apple. Main pointsPlant knowledge is part of humanity’s shared cultural heritage - as such, herbalism belongs to everyone.Plants’ roles in ecosystems can offer clues to their relationship with human health - our bodies are mirrors of landscapes.Plants heal humans because humans are part of the ecosystem too.Knowing local medicinal plants (even just a few!) can strengthen connection to place, land and community.Herbalism and Western medicine can complement one another.Relationship to land, intuition, careful observation, traditional knowledge and rational analysis all must be woven together into a larger tapestry of wisdom. Heading to Wales?Check out Pandy Farm (or at least pick up some of their incredible veggies) here: www.pandyfarm.org Want a short course on Plant Listening? You can study with me for one month here -⁠https://stephaniehazel.com.au/plant-allies/ **BUY ME A CUPPA**If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels my work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time!To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theeldertree.org/makeadonation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.The intro and outro song is "⁠Sing for the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Eating "clean." Skipping breakfast for intermittent fasting. Feeling guilty after carbs. They sound like healthy habits… but are they? In this episode, Cat Green sits down with naturopathCasey Conroy to pull apart the blurry line between wellness culture and disordered eating, and why so many of us- health-conscious folk and practitioners alike- are missing the red flags hiding in plain sight.Casey shares why disordered eating is so much more commonthan most of us realise, especially when restrictive habits get dressed up as "discipline" or "clean living." Together, they explore how naturopathic principles can offer a more grounded, whole-person approach to food and body image, why weight loss so often gets used as a catch-all fix for problems it can't actually solve, and what the research says about the real cost of yo-yo dieting and weight cycling.It's an honest, wide-ranging chat covering wellness culture,body image, the history behind our obsession with body size, and how practitioners and everyday people alike can build a healthier, more compassionate relationship with food; one rooted in curiosity and care rather than control. Casey’s got a tonne of free resources:⁠Instagram⁠⁠Free webinar: Shit, I Think My Client Has Disordered Eating. Now What?⁠⁠Free Guide: 7 Red Flags of Disordered Eating ⁠⁠DECIDE practitioner training⁠ ⁠and her website⁠Casey Conroy is a dietitian and naturopath with aparticular interest in eating disorders, disordered eating and helping practitioners practise in ways that support health without causing more fear around food or bodies.She started her professional life as a veterinarianbefore eventually finding her way into nutrition and natural medicine. Her work is informed by both clinical experience and her own lived experience of an eating disorder, and she now spends much of her time working at the intersection of nutrition, herbal medicine, eating disorder care and weight-inclusive practice.Casey is the creator of DECIDE, a disordered eatingtraining program for naturopaths, nutritionists, herbalists and other natural health practitioners, and she has a particular love of bringing eating disorder-informed practice back to the foundations of naturopathy: First Do No Harm, Treat the Whole Person, and the Therapeutic Order.Connect with Cat Green, Everyday Empowered⁠Instagram⁠ and her ⁠website ⁠ and learn about her online membership the ⁠Home Herbalist Club⁠*BUY ME A CUPPA*If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppafuelsourwork and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree **THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**You can join our Patreon and gain a deeper connectiontoourpodcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! ⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the ⁠⁠website ⁠⁠orfollow us on ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠or ⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠Find out more about this podcast and the Cat at her ⁠⁠website,⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram ⁠⁠or ⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠.Get in touch with The Elder Tree at: [email protected] The intro and outro song is "Sing for the Earth"and was kindlydonated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠here ⁠⁠and ⁠⁠here⁠⁠.

This special edition episode is a reflective field note from Gruyere, Switzerland, where Stephanie Hazel explores what it means to meet ancestral plants in their native landscape while living in a different country. The episode moves between family history, herbal medicine, ecology, and the emotional tension of belonging, loss, and rediscovery. The conversation centres on how plants like dandelion, nettle, elder, plantain, and willow reveal both ecological function and cultural memory. It also asks a bigger question: how do we listen to the land we live on, especially when we are not indigenous to it?Connect With Stephanie HazelA 4-week introductory course in Plant Listening: Plant AlliesConnect With the Elder Tree**BUY ME A CUPPA**If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels mywork and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠⁠**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to haveaccess to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus supportthe Elder tree at the same time!To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theeldertree.org/makeadonation⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠signup to the newsletter⁠.Music courtesy of Chad Wilkins.

What does it mean to love medicinal plants while participating in an industry that can also place them under threat?In this episode, I sit down with herbalist, naturopath, medicine maker and herb farmer Monica Francia of Hop Valley Herb Farm to explore a conversation I believe we need to be having much more often in herbalism: the conservation of at-risk and endangered medicinal plants.Herbal medicine is often assumed to be inherently sustainable because it is “natural”, but our medicines exist within complex global supply chains. Increasing demand, wild harvesting, habitat loss, slow-growing species and a lack of transparency around sourcing can place enormous pressure on the very plants we claim to love. Rather than simply creating another list of herbs we should or shouldn't use, Mon and I explore how we might build a more thoughtful, relational and non-extractive practice around them.We talk about Mon's experience growing plants such as rhodiola, arnica, ginseng and bloodroot, and what happens when you actually witness the years of growth, difficult germination, careful propagation and tending required to produce a small amount of medicine. Growing these plants changes our understanding of their value. Suddenly, a root isn't simply something that arrives dried in a bag—it is a living being that may have taken four years or more before it was ready to harvest.We also explore bioregional herbalism and medicinal sovereignty: using the abundant medicines around us, supporting local herb farmers, growing what we can ourselves, and developing networks where growers in different climates can exchange medicines rather than expecting every herb to grow everywhere. Sometimes the humble, abundant plants—lemon balm, nettle, chamomile or blue vervain—can be incredibly potent medicines, without the ecological pressures attached to rarer species.Ultimately, this conversation is an invitation to bring reverence back into herbalism.If we are going to call ourselves plant people, then our relationship with herbs must include not only what they can do for us, but how we can tend to them in return.Monica FranciaHop Valley Herb Farmhttps://www.hopvalleyherbs.com.au/Books Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Business of Botanicals Ann ArmbrechtGrowing At Risk Medicinal HerbsRicho Cech RITUAL HERBALISM COURSE - Botanical EducationCommencing September 2026https://www.botanicaleducation.com.au/ritual-herbalismA Seasonal Exploration of Ancestry, Ecology & Ritual through a Botanical Lens.**BUY ME A CUPPA**If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels mywork and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: ⁠⁠⁠https://buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**You can join our Patreon ⁠⁠here⁠⁠and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to haveaccess to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus supportthe Elder tree at the same time!To find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theeldertree.org/makeadonation⁠⁠⁠.You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠Facebook⁠and ⁠Instagram⁠ and ⁠signup to the newsletter⁠.Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠here⁠.Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠[email protected]⁠The intro and outro song is "⁠Singfor the Earth⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠here⁠and ⁠here⁠.** TAJ SCICLUNA / BOTANICAL EDUCATION OFFERINGS**Taj Scicluna is a Botanical Educator, Bioregional Herbalistand Awe Seeker.Rekindling Herbal Enchantment whilst Honouring the Science.Discover her offerings here:⁠⁠⁠http://www.botanicaleducation.com.au⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.instagram.com/botanical_eduation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.facebook.com/botanicaleducation⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠http://www.tiktok.com/botanicaleducation⁠⁠

Linda Bates is a fourth generation herbalist who trained in 19 schools around England and the Mediterranean. She was in clinical practice for 4 decades and is a truly inspirational herbal elder in Australia. I met Linda about 12 years ago, at Pindari farm in Tasmania at a week-long medicine making intensive which was taught by her and Sandra Parker (who I interviewed in episode 17). They were carrying on Ken Atherton's legacy.This episode is my first re-release and I do so for sad reasons. less that a year after I interviewed Linda, she passed away in October 2024.I was (as many were) devastated when she passed away in. We had exciting plans together- she was going to develop programs for interns at The Elder Tree school, to train them in the deeper, shamanic elements of being a herbal practitioner. In the deeper work required to be a true space holder and healer. She was going to help teach this program and I mourn still that this never came to be. But I am grateful that her knowledge lives on through her students and through this beautiful book that was published after she passed. When I interviewed her in late 2023, she was excited about this upcoming book. I love that the cover of this book has the same concept as The Elder Tree logo.... the plant medicine coming from the people to the people. I think a lot about legacy.... about succession... about impact. Linda's passing has me more determined than ever to facilitate preservation of knowledge from our elders, to facilitate spaces of recollection and reclamation of our own innate wisdom, and to provide spaces where healing and education meet. I hope that you enjoy this wonderful interview, and may it be a reminder to listen to your elders and preserve their wisdom while they are still with us.SHOW NOTESYou can purchase Linda's book "The Medicine Woman" here.*BUY ME A CUPPA*If you liked the episode and want more, a cuppa fuels our work and time, which is given for free. Leave a comment and a few bucks here: buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠buymeacoffee.com/theeldertree⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**THE ELDER TREE TROVE PATREON COMMUNITY**You can join our Patreon and gain a deeper connection to our podcast. Pay only $2 per week to have access to bonus and often exclusive resources and opportunities- plus support the Elder tree at the same time! Access our Patreon here:www.patreon.com/theeldertreeTo find out more about The Elder Tree visit the website at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theeldertree.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and donate to the crowdfunding campaign ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.You can also follow The Elder Tree on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠sign up to the newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Find out more about this podcast and the presenters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Get in touch with The Elder Tree at:  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠ The intro and outro song is "⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sing for the Earth⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠" and was kindly donated by Chad Wilkins.  You can find Chad's music ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.