The Elder Tree Podcast

Amber Alekhamis is a qualified naturopathic herbalist (BHSc), certified in iridology and flower essences. Her work and life revolve around being in reverie with nature and advocating for us as people to be in a reciprocal relationship with the earth. She continues to try to always be a proponent for traditional practices of Naturopathy and to be guided by the light of nature. Amber lives in the No...

Pull up a chair and a cup of tea and settle down in your garden for this warm and cosy conversation between Stephanie Hazel and Tonielle Christensen. Tonielle shares personal stories of moments of magic and connection with plants, and together they explore the intersection of spirituality, animism, magic and gardening. Show Notes: Sign up for Wild Edge of Herbalism here: https://stephaniehazel.com...

Asher-Lily Green is an Ayurvedic Doctor and natural fertility specialist whose work bridges the ancient wisdom of Ayurveda with the regenerative practices of permaculture. Rooted in deep reverence for the intelligence of the Earth, she guides women and couples through transformative fertility & pregnancy journeys that reconnect them to their natural rhythms using food, herbs, and cyclical awar...

In today's episode I interview with Benjamin Turale from Temple of Mercury.  Benjamin lives on Wudawurung land in Victoria.  Benjamin is an award winning alchemist who lives live and breathes the Hermetic current. He is Director of Education in the   International Alchemy Guild and is very active in the alchemy community internationally, and works to help preserve and pass on the Albertian Alc...

Kerri is a naturopath, herbalist and menstrual health women's wisdom educator living and working on Darug and Guringai Country. She holds an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy from Nature Care College and completed post-graduate studies in Western Herbal Medicine at the University of New England in Armidale with commendation. Kerri is passionate about helping women heal and reconnect to their bod...

When herbal trends meet capitalism, how does the practice of herbalism remain ethical? What does it mean for herbal businesses and herbal practitioners to be thinking about sustainability, social ethics and the lifespan of plants? In this interview with Superfeast's Mason Taylor, Stephanie Hazel opens a conversation around these thorny questions that might not have answers but rather an invita...

Liana is the Nursery Manager at ClimateForce and designer of organic and holistic food systems rooted in ecology, wellness and care. With a strong foundation in growing native and productive trees, she works at the intersection of ecosystem restoration, endangered plant conservation, and regenerative agriculture. Her work makes permaculture and agroforestry practical and inspiring, bridging grassr...

In todays episode, Tatiana interviews Kerrie Oakes who is a truly inspiration community herbalist, practitioner and educator, who lives on Waka Waka, Jinibara, and Yuggera Ugarapul country in Somerset. Kerrie helped to establish the Southeast Queensland chapter of the international Herbalists Without Borders network, providing herbal medicine support to homeless services, refugees, and those affec...

During this episode I chat with Lou Hardwick, a single mother and folk herbalist based on Gumbayniggir country on the mid-north coast of New South Wales. Lou’s herbal creations focus on whole-plant, hand made remedies. She orients her offerings, and by extension her business, to the process of making itself. It’s the presence and interaction with the plants and the process of creating that provide...

Can purity be toxic? The stories we tell ourselves and our clients about health and disease can both cause harm, and can help us to integrate our illnesses with grace, and maybe even to heal. A detox can support our health, or it can deepen our disconnection from the world around us as we relentlessly pursue purity and freedom from contamination. Come with Miriam Latif and Stephanie Hazel as they...

Join Toni Perin from Millstream Meadows as she shares her journey from novice home gardener to regenerative farmer. She is on a mission to reconnect North Queensland communities with their food, nurture the land, and cultivate a sustainable culture of stewardship and abundance. She's not just growing food, but cultivating a movement towards a future where food is fresh, local, and sustainable!...

In this conversation, Taj Scicluna from 'Botanical Education' on Warundjuri Djadjung Wurung land in Riddles Creek, Victoria, shares insights on herbal education, emphasizing the importance of hands-on learning, creativity, and fostering curiosity among students. A lot of this conversation is really relevant for herbal educators and though there is certainly something in it for everyone. Ta...

Dalee Ella is an Artist exploring themes of interconnection, land based relating and relationship. She lives and works on Bandjalang country in Northern NSW, Australia. Dalee was my first guest on this segment back in November 2022- a time when she felt hugely connected to the earth and her garden which was inspiring her creativity and her work. She was excited to be beginning a collaboration with...

What does it mean to meet the wildness of the world in ourselves and in our medicine? Can we be brave enough to hand our safekeeping over to the wildness of the world? What is the medicine we are really craving anyway? In this episode with the brilliant Jimi Wollumbin, we discuss the massive angst and anxiety of the modern culture and how coming into relationship with the Forest within and without...

Join us as we explore the world of local food systems in Far North Queensland, where community farming, seasonal eating, and sustainable agriculture come together to create a more resilient food supply chain. Our guest Angela Nasson from Tablelands to Tabletop is a passionate local food advocate, who shares her personal journey of building a local food network that prioritises community and sustai...

Today's episode is an explorative conversation with Elliot Brinkley, a herbalist and teacher and the owner of the inspirational Dancing Willow Herbs apothecary in Durango Colorado, which is the land of the Yoot Mountain People. Elliot has a beautiful way of joining the science with practical medicine making and an embodied connection with the plants.  She facilitates spaces that invite people...

During this episode, it was a real joy to dive into honouring the cycles of our bodies, mother earth and the phases of life we journey through. I chat with Earth Medicine Woman, Women's Health Advocate & Cyclical Guide Amanda Trieger about how these cycles can help us weave self care into daily rituals by being prepared and understanding what we need at different phases of our lives, our menst...

Our kinship with the natural world can offer a balm for the troubled modern soul, and counsellor, somatic therapist and folk herbalist Rachel Weitz works directly with strengthening this sense of relationships with plants, earth and spirit. After quite an amazing journey of apprenticeships and study that span a counselling degree, a 4-year stint in the Peruvian amazon with the Shipibo peoples, and...

Join us as we dive into the world of sustainable aquaculture and resilience, where innovative practices meet community-driven solutions. In this inspiring conversation, Rodney Ingersoll, CEO and Farmer of Barron River Redclaw and founder of The Aquaponics Gardeners, shares his remarkable journey from working in Papua New Guinea to establishing a thriving aquaculture farm. Rodney's story highli...

Cat Green from Everyday Empowered steps in as guest presenter on the Herbal Education segment in a perfect display of community herbalism and symbiotic support. Our founder Tatiana is in the process of relocating The Elder Tree project (and her family home) to Northern NSW and Cat offered to cover, and we are so glad she did! In this episode, Cat discusses the importance of kitchen medicine and th...

Growing, cooking and sharing food is an important source of connection and fulfillment for Janelle Coggan. From picking veggies with her grandmother as a child, to making tomato chutney for all her neighbours to sharing seeds with the postman, it’s a way of caring for herself and others.  Nelle has 40 years of experience as an educator, instructor, and practitioner in Kinesiology, Neuro-Linguistic...

A powerful and intriguing tribute to Earth Poet, Animist and Herbalist Stephen Harrod Buhner, featuring the magnificent Skye Cielita Flor. In this episode, Stephanie and Skye discuss the potency of SHB’s works, their impact on their own lives and teaching styles, and break some of the key points he covers in his book ‘Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realms’.  Skye is currently offering a trans...

In this episode, Tonielle dives into the world of permaculture zoning, exploring how to design and manage your property to maximise efficiency, productivity, and biodiversity. You'll learn about the zones of permaculture, from the intensive cultivation of Zone 1 to the wild, untouched areas of Zone 5, and tips on how to apply these principles in all climates. She highlights various medicinal p...

Today I interview the inspiring Val Iswaszko who set up the famous Mullum Herbals in 1996 with his wife Annette Morgan. Mullum Herbals has been incredibly influential in the herbal medicine community in Australia, and has been mentioned on many occasions in this podcast. In this interview, Val gives insight into how Mullum Herbals was created and shares about the motivations behind this valuable b...

How can I create a life that puts my energy and my health at the forefront of every single question that I ask, every single decision that I make?  How am I caring for myself in every single moment? These are some of the questions Claire Murray and I ponder during this wide ranging and thoughtful chat.  Claire knew from when she was 16 years old that she wanted to be a Naturopath. After seeing a p...