Best Sassafras Podcasts (2025)

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Spicebush with Rebecca Beyer + Spicebush Honey Bounce 43:52

Play Pause

4d ago43:52

43:52

What happens when we follow one plant deeply enough to uncover its stories, traditions, and medicines? In this episode, I sit down with herbalist, artist, and folk magic researcher Rebecca Beyer to talk about her lifelong devotion to spicebush (Lindera benzoin)—a plant rooted in Appalachian folk tradition and brimming with story. Rebecca shares how…

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Thru-Hiking 11,000+ Miles Together with Chris and Sara, aka Endless and QB (BPR #326) 2:32:32

6d ago2:32:32

2:32:32

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by thru-hiking power couple who’ve hiked more than 11,000 miles together Chris and Sara, known on trail as Endless and QB. “What haven’t they hiked?” is a fair question, because it’s been a lot, including the AT, the PCT (twice), CDT, CT (twice), Ari…

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Rosalee’s 200th Episode: Stories, Lessons & Gratitude | Guest Host Mason Hutchison 1:51:55

11d ago1:51:55

1:51:55

Can you believe we’ve made it to 200 episodes of the Herbs with Rosalee podcast?! Week after week, I get to sit in the host’s chair—asking the questions, guiding the conversation, and shining the spotlight on other herbalists (and the plants we love). Honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to do. So when we realized the 200th episode was coming u…

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Ashwagandha Monograph 59:50

12d ago59:50

59:50

This episode highlights Ashwagandha, a medicinal herb that originates from the Indian Ayurvedic tradition. I’m spending time with this nourishing plant today with an herbal monograph episode. An herbal monograph is also called materia medica. It is a collection of knowledge about one plant that helps to describe the plant as a material of medicine.…

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Vancouver Island Trails, PCT Pie Record, and Canadian Culture with Spencer "Boiler" Dunn (BPR #325) 2:29:22

13d ago2:29:22

2:29:22

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, we are joined by Spencer “Boiler” Dunn. Boiler, is a self-described “pro-yapper”, improv leader, former employee of Parks Canada, pie enthusiast, and of course, a backpacker. Spencer takes us through his long trail adventures across Canada, including the Bruce Trail, West Coast Trail, No…

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Fighting a Grizzly Bear and Leaving the Mormon Church with Wesley "Megaman" Tils (BPR #324) 2:18:58

20d ago2:18:58

2:18:58

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Wesley Tils, known on trail as Megaman. Buckle in because oh boy does Megaman have an origin story. After growing up in the Mormon church, leaving the church to become a pro boxer, quitting boxing to give the church another shot and going …

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Dandelion with Mason Hutchison + Spiced Dandelion-Chicory Herbal Brew 1:10:42

25d ago1:10:42

1:10:42

What happens when a playful kid turns dandelion fluff into mischief? Spoiler alert—those days of early herbal mischief may just turn into a lifelong passion for the plant world, as it did for my good friend Mason Hutchison. In this episode, Mason discusses the many virtues of the much-maligned (though not in the herbal world!) dandelion, Taraxacum …

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Jeff Oliver aka IBTAT on Sober Triple Crowning, The Scottish National Trail, and Kungsleden Trail (BPR #323) 2:18:07

27d ago2:18:07

2:18:07

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek brought to you by LMNT, we’re joined by Jeff Oliver, better known on trail and online as IBTAT. In addition to building a large following on YouTube and Instagram, IBTAT will be a familiar voice to long-time Backpacker Radio listeners, as he was part of our first season of Trail Correspo…

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Lady’s Mantle with Alyssa Dennis + Lady’s Mantle Tincture 56:18

1M ago56:18

56:18

What hidden stories of women are tucked inside this humble herb—linking old folklore, a touch of alchemy, and even today’s healing practices? My guest today, Alyssa Dennis, invites us into the world of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla spp.), a plant whose cloak-shaped leaves hold both practical healing gifts and threads of ancient story. From her experien…

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Liz "Handstand" Kidder: Scary Moments in the Sierra, Skydiving Near Miss, and Donating a Kidney (BPR #322) 2:19:39

1M ago2:19:39

2:19:39

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by social media and YouTube sensation, Liz “Handstand” Kidder. Liz is a thru-hiker, vlogger, dreadlock artist, former skydiving fanatic, and a handstand-expert. Liz gives us her full story, including the events that lead to her becoming sober…

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5.8 Roman Household Religion as Model for Modern Pagans 17:18

1M ago17:18

17:18

It's all in the title, the more I learn about it, the better it fits. In fact, I think most modern pagans model it without even knowing.

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SassafrasCast Episode 59: Working with the Element of Earth. 58:54

1M ago58:54

58:54

In today's episode I talk about how to work with the element of earth in your spiritual or folk magick practice. This episode was recorded live with a (virtual) studio audience - thanks for tuning in, Sassafras Patrons! Sign up and claim this and other perks at patreon.com/sassafrastarot. --- Find Sassafras Tarot online: http://www.patreon.com/sass…

1
Yarrow with Carolyn Jones + Medicine for the Soul: Courage Blend 52:17

1M ago52:17

52:17

Warrior, healer, and protector—could this common roadside plant be nature’s ultimate ally for both body and spirit? In this episode, herbalist and educator Carolyn Jones shares about a plant often called the “mother of all wound healers”—yarrow (Achillea millefolium). I was so excited that she chose to discuss this plant, as it’s my herbal ally for…

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Dan Durston 2.0: Durston Gear's Cult Following, Gear Innovations, and Design Philosophy (BPR #321) 2:30:39

1M ago2:30:39

2:30:39

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined once again by Dan Durston. Dan is the man behind Durston Gear, a backpacking gear brand that has exploded in popularity amongst long-distance backpackers over the last handful of years. Dan gives us the rundown on how his business and life have chang…

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5.7 The Goddess, in short. 8:07

2M ago8:07

8:07

Sort of a mini episode discussing the Goddess, or the Divine Feminine, but in short.

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Yauhtli with Lauren Peterson + Yauhtli Infused Honey 1:02:08

2M ago1:02:08

1:02:08

What if the “ordinary” marigold in your garden was actually a sacred plant with centuries of healing tradition behind it? In this week’s episode, Texas-based herbalist Lauren Peterson shares how she first learned about the medicine of yauhtli (Tagetes lucida), an herb hiding in plain sight all around her. Commonly referred to as Mexican tarragon or…

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The Wonderland Trail with Sassafras: Permits, Campsites, and Gear (BPR #320) 2:21:36

2M ago2:21:36

2:21:36

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are chatting all things Wonderland Trail. The Trek’s very own Jess Stone is fresh off her thru-hike of this near-100 mile lap around Mt. Rainier in Washington, and gives us a detailed breakdown of her journey and the trail at large. We cover the ideal n…

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Red Belted Conk with Logan Keister + Mushroom Extract Powder 1:08:05

2M ago1:08:05

1:08:05

Have you been missing this amazing and underrated mushroom? Chances are if you’ve ever gone out in the woods in North America, you’ve walked past the mushroom red-belted conk (Fomitopsis pinicola)—though you may not have noticed it. This ubiquitous, yet often-overlooked mushroom may not be well known among herbalists, but it certainly deserves to b…

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Top National Park After Dark Stories: Night of the Grizzlies, Grandma Gatewood, and Cocaine Bear (BPR #319) 2:18:54

2M ago2:18:54

2:18:54

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Danielle and Cassie, the hosts of the popular podcast, National Park After Dark. In this episode, Chaunce gets the lowdown on some of the most outrageous stories from the our beloved national parks, including the infamous cocaine bear, tuberculosi…

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5.6 Rider Waite Smith Tarot 9:56

2M ago9:56

9:56

Let's talk Tarot! This is Tarot, no bones about it. A short bit of history regarding all this, and of the makers.

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5.5 Credentials 14:00

2M ago14:00

14:00

What are credentials in witchcraft? Do any of us actually have credentials, and which credentials are of actual value in determining an authority on the subject? Author's note: there's an Easter Egg in this episode. Leave a comment about it (for fun) and see if you've found it.

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Quitting a Thru-Hike, Living Nomadically, and Working as a Chef with Juliette "Scorpion Queen" Kerven (BPR #318) 3:15:08

2M ago3:15:08

3:15:08

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we’re joined by Juliette Kerven, known on trail as Scorpion Queen. Juliette is a Michelin-trained chef, former yacht crew member, full-time nomad, and a thru-hiker of both the PCT and AT, and we caught her during her CDT thru-hike attempt for this conver…

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The Pinhoti Trail with Nathan "Switchback" Wright (BPR #317) 2:13:41

2M ago2:13:41

2:13:41

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Nathan Wright, known on trail as Switchback. Nathan is an ambassador for the Pinhoti Trail and Alabama trails more broadly, wearing almost too many hats to count. He is the co-founder of the Pinhoti Outdoor Center - a hostel he runs with his wife,…

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Sassafras with Matthew Hunter + Sassafras Root Beer 1:04:09

2M ago1:04:09

1:04:09

Once beloved in root beer and medicine cabinets, sassafras was later banned as dangerous. So...is it poison or a powerful plant ally? In this episode, we’re diving into the wild and winding story of Sassafras albidum—a tree deeply rooted in Southern culture, traditional herbalism, and kitchen magic. From thickening gumbo to flavoring root beer (bef…

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SassafrasCast Episode 58: Endings and Beginnings 1:08:13

3M ago1:08:13

1:08:13

In today's episode I talk about the reality of how fresh starts, and endings, present in our lives (it's never neat and tidy like in a book or movie!) and how to nurture ourselves through these changes. I offer a "phase in - phase out" ritual to help us cleanse our life of what we no longer want - and bring in the new beginning we are craving. I al…

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The Northern Colorado Trail with Kevin "Sunshine" Silvernale (BPR #316) 2:02:15

3M ago2:02:15

2:02:15

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Kevin “Sunshine” Silvernale. Originally a commercial pilot from Seattle, Kevin thru-hiked the PCT in 2016 and immediately fell in love with the Hiker Trash lifestyle. That passion led him to put his flying career on hold to hike the AT, C…

1
5.4 From Lucifer to Satan 13:56

3M ago13:56

13:56

A shorter episode about Satan/Lucifer, who is this person anyway? #lucifer, #satan, #netflix, #prime

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Jujube Dates with Dana Hutchinson + Lichen Sclerosus Decoction 57:59

3M ago57:59

57:59

I am so excited to share this conversation with Dana Hutchinson! I really identified with her herbal path – like me, as a young person she suffered from a debilitating autoimmune condition, and it was through her search for healing that she found herbalism. As a clinical herbalist herself now, she offers so much hope for others in similar situation…

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Impacts of Climate Change on the Colorado Trail with Triple Crowner and Scientist Karl Ford (BPR #315) 2:22:44

3M ago2:22:44

2:22:44

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Karl Ford. Karl is a retired environmental scientist, conservationist, and author of Triple Crown Hiking Adventures and The Colorado Trail in Crisis: A Naturalist's Field Report on Climate Change in Mountain Ecosystems. In this conversation, we di…

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5.3 Astrology Addendum - Mansions of the Moon 18:45

3M ago18:45

18:45

In this episode we discuss the Mansions of the Moon, which is my personal troubleshooter/filter for astrological readings, though you could use them for another layer with any divination system.

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Passionflower with Lorna Trigg + Soothing Passion Flower Custard Cups 58:58

3M ago58:58

58:58

I’ve been looking forward to this interview with Lorna Trigg for a while now! Lorna’s herbal path was strongly influenced by the practices of the indigenous people who lived near her childhood family farm in South Africa, and she has such a creative and unique perspective that I just had to learn more from her. Lorna shared about a plant that she h…

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Fascinating Colorado Outdoor Recreation Stories with OutThere Colorado's Spencer McKee (BPR #314) 3:22:13

3M ago3:22:13

3:22:13

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Spencer McKee, the Director of Content and Operations for OutThere Colorado. If you’ve been to Colorado and have Instagram, you’ve likely already come across Spencer’s videos - he’s mastered the art of packaging interesting Colorado news …

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5.2 Astrology Revisited 19:13

3M ago19:13

19:13

Astrology Tropical vs Sidereal in an ultimate showdown where noone wins and everyone loses but the points don't matter. #astrology, #tropicalastrology, #siderealastrology, #vedicastrology

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St. John’s Wort with Kyle Denton + Apollo’s Radiance Anointing Oil 1:06:09

3M ago1:06:09

1:06:09

I was so excited to talk about St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) with this week’s podcast guest, Kyle Denton. St. John’s wort is one of my all-time favorite herbs, and Kyle told me he’d be sharing a few things about it that you don’t commonly hear. He certainly didn’t disappoint! Kyle discussed mythological and poetic aspects of the plant, how…

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20,000+ Miles in under 10 Years, a Desert Hike from Tucson to San Diego, and Life as a Mariner with Leah "Twig" Harman (BPR #313) 3:02:27

3M ago3:02:27

3:02:27

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Leah Harman, known on trail as Twig. Although Twig is relatively new to the world of thru-hiking, with less than 10 years of experience, she’s hit the ground running, accruing well over 20,000 miles in the process. In addition to all the usual su…

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5.1 Reintroduction 15:34

3M ago15:34

15:34

After a long hiatus, Sassafras reintroduces the podcast and its intention* 😉

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SassafrasCast Episode 57: How the BLEEP do I heal my inner self?! 1:10:27

3M ago1:10:27

1:10:27

In today's episode I talk about healing your inner self: showing up for doing The Work, healing emotional wounds and learning how to show up for yourself better. We discuss the different parts of healing -- listening deeply to yourself and your subconscious, showing up with kindness to your inner self, and stepping up to make needed changes in your…

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Thru-Hiking for 30 Years, Working for ALDHA-West, Six Moon Designs, & FarOut, and Ridgerunning with a Dog with Whitney "Allgood" La Ruffa (BPR #312) 2:06:25

3M ago2:06:25

2:06:25

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, we’re joined by Whitney La Ruffa, better known in the world of backpacking as “Allgood.” Allgood is the former president of ALDHA-West, the current Chief Revenue Officer at FarOut, and a certified backpacking OG—his first thru-hike dates all the way back to the early ’90s (some of you w…

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Julia "Rocket" Sheehan on Her Social Media Fall from Grace, Quitting on a Thru-Hike, and Her New Book (BPR #311) 1:54:31

4M ago1:54:31

1:54:31

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Julia Sheehan, known on trail, as Rocket. Julia is a thru-hiker, former Trek Vlogger, social media sensation, nurse, and now a published author. Julia details how impulsive decision-making lead her to the wonderful world that is thru-hiki…

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Linden with Josh Williams + Linden Blossom Syrup 53:25

4M ago53:25

53:25

I had such a lovely time chatting with this week’s podcast guest, Josh Williams, about one of my favorite tree medicines, and one that is often found in urban landscapes – the lovely linden (Tilia spp.). Josh shared so many gems about this beloved tree, from harvesting tips to how to make the most of its medicine, and he even told a beautiful story…

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A Lifetime of Trail Maintenance: the Blackburn Trail Center, Building the AT Rollercoaster, and the Potomac AT Club with Chris “Trailboss” Brunton (BPR #310) 1:40:25

4M ago1:40:25

1:40:25

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are joined by Chris Brunton aka “Trailboss”. Trailboss is a legendary force in the construction and maintenance of the Appalachian Trail, most notably, the infamous Rollercoaster section of the trail through Virginia. Trailboss enlightens us with some history o…

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Milky Oats with Yemaya Kimmel + Oh Happy Day Tincture Formula 1:01:50

4M ago1:01:50

1:01:50

In this week’s episode, I sat down with the lovely Yemaya Kimmel to discuss milky oats (Avena sativa). Yemaya is not only a wonderful herbalist, but as you’ll see in this episode, she’s also an amazing singer! She shared so many deep insights about the benefits of milky oats – an herb that most people these days could probably benefit from – plus a…

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Stress Relief from Adaptogens and How Herbs Can Do This 46:35

4M ago46:35

46:35

Plants labeled as adaptogens take the word literally. These herbs lend us a way to adapt, a way to adjust to what life throws at us. You can’t go wrong taking adaptogens, but you can go wrong in how you take them. There are two paths to careful selection. Work with an herbalist who can guide you to adaptogens that fit you best or arm yourself with …

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Thru-Hiking with Your Sister, Triple Crowning without a Trail Name, and Tour du Mont Blanc with Jamie Lambert (BPR #309) 2:00:01

4M ago2:00:01

2:00:01

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio, presented by The Trek, brought to you by Topo Athletic, we are joined by Jamie Lambert. We learn why Jamie doesn’t have a trail name, and why it’s definitely not Strap On, what it’s like to thru-hike with your sister- which she did on the PCT in 2018, what it is about thru-hiking that makes it so addictive fo…

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Red Osier Dogwood with Tiffany Harper + Postpartum Relieving Peri-Soak 54:37

4M ago54:37

54:37

I was so happy when today’s podcast guest, Tiffany Harper, told me she’d like to talk about red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea syn. C. stolonifera). This striking shrub is very common in North America, both in wild lands and cultivated landscapes, and I was excited to learn more about it! Tiffany brings so much heart and wisdom to everything she sha…

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Lightning Safety and Myth Busting with NOAA Meteorologist Charlie Woodrum (BPR #308) 2:04:25

4M ago2:04:25

2:04:25

In today’s episode of Backpacker Radio presented by The Trek, brought to you by LMNT, we are giving you the lowdown on everything to do with lightning safety. We are joined by Charlie Woodrum who is the Preparedness and Resilience Lead with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Weather Service. We learn all about the biggest my…

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SassafrasCast Episode 56: How the BLEEP do I protect my energy? 1:09:28

4M ago1:09:28

1:09:28

In today's episode I talk about energetic protection -- on a practical level, on an emotional level, and on a spiritual level. These three things go hand in hand and I dispell some myths about psychic attack, as well as offer some practices for safety -- and equally importantly -- helping yourself FEEL safer. This episode was recorded live with a (…

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Blue Vervain with Thomas Easley + GTFTS Tincture Blend 1:19:39

5M ago1:19:39

1:19:39

It was such a joy to have my good friend, Thomas Easley, on the show. For some reason, the herb he chose to discuss – blue vervain – surprised me (perhaps because it hit so close to home?), but his insights about it were both thoughtful and expansive. He shared about the type of person who tends to really benefit from vervain, the best time of day …