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The Elder Tree Podcast

The Elder Tree Podcast

The Elder Tree 190 Episodes Aug 1, 2026

The Elder Tree is a not-for-profit organisation empowering people through grassroots herbal education. This podcast showcases a range of amazing plant medicine practitioners from around Australia doing inspiring things. It features four segments: Herbal Education, Permaculture Herbalism, Sacred Herbalism, and Self Care With Herbs, each hosted by different presenters. The show highlights the work of these herbal educators and the broader plant medicine community in Australia.

Episodes

190. Terrence McKenna & The Psychedelic Boom: John O'Connor on Sacred Herbalism
190. Terrence McKenna & The Psychedelic Boom: John O'Connor on Sacred Herbalism Aug 1, 2026 01:19:03 In this episode, I speak with journalist John O’Connor about his book A Short Strange Trip and Terence McKenna’s influence on the psychedelic movement. We explore McKenna’s ideas, the “stoned ape” theory, and the tension between psychedelic mysticism and modern medicalized use.John also shares a deeply personal perspective on psychedelic therapy through his father’s experience with ketamine and ps
189. Three Essential Episodes to Revisit with Tonielle Christensen on Permaculture Herbalism
189. Three Essential Episodes to Revisit with Tonielle Christensen on Permaculture Herbalism Jul 28, 2026 00:55:47 In this short reflection episode, Tonielle Christensen shares an update from her season of motherhood, healing and slowing down, while highlighting three powerful Permaculture Herbalism conversations from The Elder Tree Podcast archive.Exploring themes of local food security, regenerative agriculture, agroforestry, native plant restoration and the wisdom of permaculture, Tonielle invites listeners
188: The Unhinged Teapot (and other medicine-making adventures)
188: The Unhinged Teapot (and other medicine-making adventures) Jul 13, 2026 00:47:58 Naturopath and medicine-maker Claire Murray joins Cat for aconversation that ranges from the constituents of a herb, all the way to the heart of why we make medicine at all. There's gems for home herbalists and practitioners alike as they explore:How to choose the right extract for the right herbWhy your expensive mushroom product might not be doing what you think it isSourcing herbs locally v
187. A Farewell: Jess Bosscha on Self Care with Herbs
187. A Farewell: Jess Bosscha on Self Care with Herbs Jul 13, 2026 00:05:34 It's time for me to say goodbye folks- it's truly been an honour to share this space with you. Thank you so much for being here and enjoying these conversations.May your herbal cuppa always be hot and your herb garden continue to grow.Take gentle care of yourselves and until our paths cross again- bye folks, Jess xxx
186. The Alchemy of Spirit & Dreams on Sacred Herbalism
186. The Alchemy of Spirit & Dreams on Sacred Herbalism Jul 4, 2026 01:06:50 This episode explores the startling similarities between Chinese Medicine's Three Treasures (Qi, Jing and Shen) with Alchemy's Three Primes (Salt, Sulphur and Mercury) and we discuss how these both point to a common understanding of the transformational nature of reality. Dr Phi also shares some incredible stories of using lucid dreaming to learn directly from plants in the aetheric realms. Dr. Ph
185. Relationship, Observation & Wonder: Caroline Parker on Permaculture Herbalism
185. Relationship, Observation & Wonder: Caroline Parker on Permaculture Herbalism Jun 21, 2026 00:54:39 What happens when we stop trying to control our gardens and start listening to them instead?In this delightfully rambling conversation with herbalist, gardener, author, tea maker, and all-round cottage herbalist Caroline Parker, we explore the magic that unfolds when gardening becomes less about perfection and productivity and more about relationship, observation, and wonder.Together we chat about
184. Regenerative Herbal Culture: Nick Pratt on Herbal Education
184. Regenerative Herbal Culture: Nick Pratt on Herbal Education Jun 21, 2026 00:49:14 Join us in this chat with Nick Pratt , discussing Agroforestry, Fruit Tree Medicine & Building Resilience.What if the most medicinal part of your fruit tree isn't the fruit at all, but the leaf you've been pruning and composting? In this episode, Tatiana Dawn sit down with permaculture and agroecology educator Nick Pratt to explore the deep, often-overlooked connection between food and
183. Held by Herbs During Times of Transformation: Kristin Zanotti on Self Care with Herbs
183. Held by Herbs During Times of Transformation: Kristin Zanotti on Self Care with Herbs Jun 10, 2026 01:08:02 A rerelease of a profound chat with Kristin Zanotti punctuated with deep connections with herbs and natural medicine at pivotal times throughout her life. This one was really inspiring and I'm so happy to share it with you again.
182. Cannabis as Teacher: Yelena Bide on Sacred Herbalism
182. Cannabis as Teacher: Yelena Bide on Sacred Herbalism May 30, 2026 01:19:44 What is your relationship to Cannabis like? This powerful plant has been systematically slandered and maligned for generations, and is now making a comeback as a cure-all in the medical cannabis industry. But there are deeper invitations that this plant can draw us into, when we meet Cannabis with intention, reverence and caution. These invitations centre around embodiment, tantric sexuality, myst
181. Getting Grounded with Permaculture Action: Rupert Faust on Permaculture Herbalism
181. Getting Grounded with Permaculture Action: Rupert Faust on Permaculture Herbalism May 26, 2026 00:55:47 As the founding member and driving force of Grounded Permaculture Action Party (Inc.) Rupert's enthusiasm for growing food, community and culture is highly contagious. His life-long dedication to environmental, social and cultural change is second to none. In this in-depth interview, Rupert shares his journey into permaculture, the origins of Grounded permaculture action parties, and his visio
180. The Lost Language of Herbal Medicine: Elizabeth Greenwood on Herbal Education
180. The Lost Language of Herbal Medicine: Elizabeth Greenwood on Herbal Education May 16, 2026 00:55:04 The lost language of Western Herbal medicineYou might be familiar with Ayurvedic doshas: vata, pitta and kapha, but did you know that our Western Herbal traditions have our own constitutional theory? Tune in to find out more about energetics and whether you’re more choleric, sanguine,melancholic  and phlegmatic?I’m joined by Elizabeth Greenwood: a MasterHerbalist, naturopath, pharmacognosist, arom
179. The Alchemy of People and Plants: Jess Allan on Self Care with Herbs
179. The Alchemy of People and Plants: Jess Allan on Self Care with Herbs May 12, 2026 01:05:53 This is a rerelease of a deep, insightful chat I had with Jess Allan from right back in the beginning of the podcast. You'll love this episode that dives into:- nature connection- the beauty of flower essences and the relationship with the plants that's cultivated when creating an essence- holding onto self care while in the depths of motherhoodand so much more!

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