The Elder Tree Podcast

Is herbalism important postpartum? YES! Is the postpartum period sacred? YES!! Herbs have supported our grandmothers and our grandmothers' grandmothers throughout the ages during the tender and sacred time of the postpartum period. Herbs help the milk come, help the womb return, help the mother's heart stay steady and help the restoration of life force, blood and nutrients that a mother needs afte...

This special feature episode is about The Elder Tree plant , so tune in to explore this revered ally's medicinal, ecological and cultural wisdom with Tonielle Christensen, aka Earth Mumma. Discover its role in permaculture, the differences between Sambucus nigra and Sambucus canadensis , and practical applications in herbalism. From growing elder trees to crafting immune-boosting elderberry sy...

In this episode of the Elder Tree podcast, Twiggy Dawn discusses the significant changes happening within the Elder Tree organisation, including its relocation to Northern New South Wales. She shares her vision for creating a more accessible and community-oriented herbal education system in Australia, addressing the challenges faced by herbal practitioners, educators, medicine growers and medicine...

What happens when we nurture a connection with our inner child? When we treat the imagination as a source of inspiration and keep our eyes, ears and hearts open?  Alyson Maier has had a deep connection with the plant world since early childhood when she would wait expectantly for the May bush in her garden to flower each year and then gather blooms to create a circle for her daily meditation. Like...

What are the biggest challenges you face as a herbalist? What are your favourite herbs for perimenopause? Birth? Depression? Is it important to specialise in clinic? What herb should everyone in the world take for 3 months for collective healing? These are some of the questions that I answer from YOU - podcast listeners, students and social media followers. @nourishingtides @fitzoii @janjapeschel...

Join Cerise Acacia as she delves into the transformative power of permaculture, sharing her journey from feeling adrift and having health issues to finding purpose in growing her subtropical food forest. In this conversation, she highlights permaculture's role in addressing global challenges and stresses the importance of community, long-term stewardship, and the "seven generations"...

In this episode, Tatiana interviews Dominique LivKamal from Medicine Room on Gubbi Gubbi country in Malaney on the Sunshine Coast, which is a space dedicated to herbal medicine making, free herbal treatment, education and community health for the past 25 years.  Medicine Room dispenses 86 organic herbal preparations which are all made onsite and dispensesd in a free clinic instore and at Eumundi m...

During this episode, I chat with Shenel Engel,  a dedicated homoeopathic practitioner specialising in women's health, with a profound personal journey through Poly Cystic Ovarian Syndrome and Endometriosis. Diagnosed at 21 with these conditions and told she might never conceive, Shenel embarked on a transformative journey of healing through diet, lifestyle changes, and homoeopathy. Her personal su...

Could Calendula really help us heal the inner wounded masculine? What does that even mean? What if the medicine of the plants was slowly evolving and changing alongside us? Perhaps not only with human needs, but also with the changes in the ecosystems plants live in. How could they not? Plants are so chemically responsive, they change their makeup depending on the situation they find themselves gr...

In this episode, host Tonielle Christensen, aka Earth Mumma, dives into the rich world of tropical superfoods. She highlights the crucial role that perennial plants play in sustainable gardening and food production. The discussion zeroes in on three nutrient-packed plants—Ceylon Spinach (Basella Alba/Rubra), Leaf Ginseng (Talinum Triangular), and Moringa Oliefera—unpacking their nutritional benefi...

In todays episode, Tatiana interiews Dawn Whitten who is a naturopath, herbalist, researcher, teacher and mentor on Bundjalung country in Northern NSW. She is one of the co-owners of Gould's pharmacy for the past 18 years and has a well grounded approach to blending the academic realms with the traditional practices. In this episode, Dawn shares some of her journey with Goulds, and what led her to...

In this episode I’m lucky enough to chat again with the ever enthusiastic and entertaining Cat Green. We have lots of laughs as always! Cat’s a folk herbalist and grassroots community herbal organiser and educator. She's passionate about making it easy -and normal - for people to make simple, effective herbal remedies at home. Through Everyday Empowered, she offers a wide range of practical wa...

What would it be like to talk to the trees around us, and hear their whisperings in our hearts? What if we could discover their medicinal properties and their soul properties just by speaking with them? Marjanne Huising urges us to just sit down with trees, and trust what we receive. She reminds us that listening to the plants and trees is something that lives inside all of us, it only needs reawa...

Melinda Norris, born and raised in the 70's in Melbourne (Narrn) suburbia, had a far from a typical suburban upbringing. Both her parents, who were immigrants to Australia, kept their family traditions, such as homesteading and growing their food;  we now know these practices as permaculture. One very important tradition that held strong in the family was caring at home for the young, the old,...

In today's episode, I interview Dr. Jason Hawrelak who is a naturopath, herbalist, and nutritionist on Bundjalung country, and is one of the leading experts in the treatment of gastrointestinal conditions with natural medicines. He has nearly 20 years of clinical experience and a deep passion for gastrointestinal health and the gastrointestinal microbiota. I met Jason at the beginning of this...

This episode, I chat with Cath Lilburn, a Herbalist with over 25 years of experience supporting her client’s physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Her work is grounded in a best of both worlds approach, combining traditional methods of healing with evidence-based medicine (EBM).  During our chat we learn about Cath’s journey from studying an Economics degree to jumping ship to study herbal...

In this interview, I have a wonderful chat with Jessyca Bosscha, a naturopath, herbalist and herbal educator on Bunjalung country. Jess has almost a decade of clinical experience and a deep lived experience of recovery from intense trauma and stress, and is passionate about helping others. As you would likely know, Jess runs the 'Self-Care with Herbs' segment of The Elder Tree Podcast, and...

Matthew Wood, who by his own admission is a ‘herbalist who did homeopathy because he couldn’t understand herbalism’ is one of the most influential herbalists in the English speaking world. He has brought vitalism and herbal specificity to a whole generation of herbalists, perhaps because of his unique experience of learning herbalism from Native Americans before pursuing any further herbal study....

How do we show up for ourselves when the river of grief threatens to sweep us away? Do you allow space in your life to touch the tender places that pain us? To truly grief for those we have lost? To make peace with death? This is a mini episode on Grief and Grace, as Stephanie Hazel steps in to support Tonielle Christensen, our regular Permaculture Segment host, during her own time of grief. Steph...

Cassie Hower is a Clinical Herbalist, Flower Essence Practitioner and Plant Medicine Maker with a deep passion for the natural world. She is an Earth Medicine Practitioner and is passionate about keeping the earth and plant world at the forefront of her mind when working with clients. Cassie believes we were born to live in alignment with nature and that connection to nature is foundational in liv...

What is more sacred than simple moments in the garden? Than walking with the wild thyme in the Pyrenees? Join Stephanie Hazel and Sally Kingsford-Smith as they dive into stories and specific indications for some of our most taken-for-granted herbs. Sally shares stories from her clinic, her own life and her journeys to paint the sweetest picture of a simple love of the world of plants and people. S...

Diana Condylas is a community connector, food lover, plant lover and plastic activist. Growing up in a multicultural family, she was used to herbs being used medicinally and in cooking.  She practiced as a naturopath, herbalist, nutritionist and massage therapist for 12 years until having babies. Permaculture came into her life in Sydney in 2007 and transformed how she saw and processed the world....

In today's episode Tatiana Dawn interviews Sue Evans: a respected herbalist, teacher and herbal historian on Wurrundjeri country in Melbourne. Sue has an incredible birds eye view on Australian herbalism over the past almost 50 years of her education and career, and when she did her PHD, she really dived into the herbal history of Australia since European settlement, and some of the challenges...

During this episode I chat and laugh with Cheryl Smith, a medicinal herb farmer and artisan distiller who balances a busy corporate role with a passion for regenerative agriculture and soil health. With a dedication to leaning into nature and country, Cheryl brings a unique perspective to the intersection of business and environmental holding. Growing up in the city, Cheryl always noticed the Dand...

Join Taj Scicluna (Botanical Education) and Stephanie Hazel as they discuss bioregional herbalism and the way that working with plants through attention, ritual and gardening support us to belong ourselves back to the earth. Taj shares touching personal stories of plant connection, family, life and death and you can find out all about her recent creative project: Ritual Herbalism. For our Patreon...