The Eatweeds podcast

Home

Eatweeds Podcast: For People Who Love Plants | Listen Notes

Discover the fascinating world of wild plants with the Eatweeds podcast. Join us on an audio adventure as we explore how people have used plants throughout history and in modern times.

The show has captivated listeners worldwide, with over 200,000 downloads across more than 100 countries. Tune in to today.


052 Indigenous Plant Practices in India

Filmmaker Nirman Choudhury discusses how India’s indigenous communities use visual storytelling to preserve their traditional ecological knowledge of plants. This episode highlights their sustainable practices, spiritual connections to the land, and the importance of documenting these vital cultural traditions.


051 Green recovery – beyond sexual trauma

Hannah-May Batley explores how plant-based practices and nature connection aid in healing from sexual trauma and rebuilding communities.


050 The sound of trees

Sound artist Jez riley French reveals the hidden sounds of trees, transforming how we perceive forests.


049 So you want to be a herbalist

Helen Kearney shares her journey to becoming a medical herbalist and discusses the evolving role of herbalism in modern healthcare.


048 The car free forager

Andy Hamilton discusses his journey as a car-free forager, sharing insights into sustainable wild food practices and the evolution of the foraging community.


047 Foraging, sustainability and culinary explorations

Matthew Pennington shares his experience of running The Ethicurean, a sustainable restaurant focused on foraging, seasonal ingredients, and fermentation.


046 Foraging in Italy

Marta Udalowa shares her experience of foraging in the Abruzzo region of Italy and her passion for pickling and preserving wild foods.


045 Hawthorn harmony

Robin Harford reflects on the joy of foraging for hawthorn flowers and transforming them into syrup, while exploring the deep connection between nature and the human spirit.


044 A year on wild food

Monica Wilde shares her remarkable year of surviving solely on wild food, revealing its profound effects on her health and her connection to nature.


043 Plants, enchantment and wild words

Zoe Gilbert explores the magical world of plant folklore, storytelling, and how enchantment deepens our relationship with nature.


042 Medicinal forest gardens

Anne Stobart discusses the importance of growing medicinal and food trees, sharing insights from her work with the Medicinal Forest Garden Trust.


041 It’s not just for you human

Robin Harford presents a brief audio essay on the ethics of sustainable harvesting and wildcrafting, emphasising our shared responsibility with nature.


040 Plants and colour

Flora Arbuthnott discusses her journey as a natural plant dye artist, exploring how wild plants inspire creativity and promote wellbeing through sustainable art practices.


039 What’s that plant?

Botanist Mark Duffell shares tips on plant identification, understanding plant ecology, and the importance of sustainability in foraging.


038 Let’s talk trespass

Nick Hayes, author of The Book of Trespass, explores the importance of the Right to Roam for mental health, the environment, and marginalised communities, while discussing the impact of criminalising trespass.


037 Sound walks

Emma Welton shares how active listening deepens our connection with nature, from identifying trees by sound to creating immersive soundscapes of diverse habitats.


036 Nettle eater

Tom Hirons, a nature-based poet and storyteller, discusses the importance of expressing human wildness through creativity and magical acts, while drawing inspiration from the natural world.


035 Darwin’s barberry and catkins

Robin Harford offers a brief exploration of silver wattle, Darwin’s barberry, and catkins, all found near his home.


034 Prison plants

Nicole Rose discusses her work with Solidarity Apothecary, supporting revolutionary movements and communities through plant medicines to enhance resilience against climate change, capitalism, and state violence.


033 Rewilding

Lucy O’Hagan explores the relevance of rewilding, foraging, and nature connection in today’s hyper-digital world, emphasising ancestral practices and their importance for personal and ecological wellbeing.


032 Fantastical fly agaric

Courtney Tyler and Fergus Drennan explore the culinary and medicinal possibilities of the fly agaric mushroom (Amanita muscaria), delving into their cutting-edge research and experiences with this remarkable species.


031 Importance of ethnobotany

Mark Nesbitt delves into the importance of ethnobotany, exploring the deep connections between people and plants, and how these relationships shape cultures and practices throughout history.


030 The edible city

John Rensten, author of Edible City, discusses the challenges and benefits of urban foraging during the COVID-19 lockdown, highlighting how foraging can support both mental and physical wellbeing while ensuring safety.


029 Calm ease

Robin Harford discusses how foraging, stillness, and mindfulness can help manage difficult emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic by encouraging a deeper connection to nature.


028 Introducing plant talk

Robin Harford introduces Plant Talk, a supplement to the regular Eatweeds podcast that encourages listeners to deepen their relationship with plants through engaging discussions and insights.


027 Be your own authority

Robin Harford discusses how foraging and sensory-based nature connection practices empower individuals and communities, while emphasising the importance of storytelling in teaching plants and restoring a vital connection to the ecosystem.


026 Herbalism with attitude

The Seed Sistas, known for their rebellious approach to herbalism, discuss why plant medicine should remain accessible to everyone, share their battle with authorities over selling a herbal balm, and champion self-care as an act of resistance.


025 Edible acorns

Marcie Mayer and Robin Harford explore the forgotten culinary potential of acorns, discussing their nutritional value, processing techniques, and sustainable food practices.


024 Nutritional cultural identity

Krishna McKenzie shares how Masanobu Fukuoka’s principles inspired his organic farm in Auroville, focusing on the importance of wild food, soil fertility, and cultural identity in sustainable farming.


023 Wild tea ceremonies

Robin Harford and Mary Morgaine shares insights on how to create local wild tea ceremonies and celebrations, fostering community connections and promoting wellbeing through nature.


022 Foraging the future

Miles Irving discusses why humans must be part of conservation efforts, the sustainability of foraging, and how it can address the challenges of a growing population while restoring our connection to the land.


021 Potherb to hipster food

Ethnobotanist Lukasz Luczaj discusses the fascinating journey of famine-era potherbs becoming trendy, sustainable foods, highlighting their cultural and nutritional significance.


020 Discovering new wild edible plants

Lukasz Luczaj shares his research on wild edible plants, exploring how certain plants deemed poisonous in one culture are used as food in others.


019 The foraging farmer

Martin and Sara from Hilltown Organics share how they are integrating wild edible plants into their polyculture farming systems, creating nutrient-rich soils and sustainable farming practices.


018 The wild art of fermentation

Viola Sampson, a former plant biochemist, discusses the nutritional and flavourful benefits of wild fermented foods and their impact on gut health.


017 Busted by the cops

New York vegan forager Steve Brill and his daughter discuss their adventures in urban foraging, sharing creative vegan recipes made from wild edible plants and their encounters with the law.


016 Herbalists without borders

Becs Griffiths and Annwen Jones from Herbalists Without Borders discuss social justice, radical herbalism, and providing free healthcare to people fleeing conflict and persecution.


015 The handmade apothecary

Kim Walker and Vicky Chown from The Handmade Apothecary discuss building health resilience through herbal medicine, the balance between self-medication and modern healthcare, and the wisdom of traditional remedies.


014 Balsam bashers are wrong

Pete Yeo challenges conventional views on invasive plants, proposing a fresh perspective on their ecological roles and potential benefits, including their contributions to foraging and wildcrafting.


013 Absinthe alchemy

Absinthe expert T.A. Breaux shares the forgotten history of absinthe, dispelling myths and revealing the artistry behind the once-outlawed spirit.


012 Passion potions

The Seed Sistas discuss the power of passion potions, radical herbalism, and how herbal practices intersect with wellbeing, resilience, and activism.


011 Intuitive herbalism

Nathaniel Hughes explores intuitive herbalism, discussing how to build deep, personal relationships with healing plants beyond intellectual understanding and the role of lay-herbalism in communities.


010 The wild world of fungi

Craig Worrall from Edible Leeds takes Robin Harford on a fungi foraging walk, where they discover species like Penny Bun, The Miller, Amethyst Deceiver, and Hedgehog Fungi, while discussing all things fungi.


009 Foraging in Europe

Foraging grand-master, François Couplan shares his early influences, discusses animism and relationships between humans and non-humans, and highlights the rise of wild edible plants in modern gastronomy.


008 First steps to seeing plants

Emma Kidd shares practical techniques to help you deepen your connection with plants by enhancing your ability to truly “see” them in ways that go beyond traditional botany.


007 On foraging and sustainability

Miles Irving from Forager Ltd. discusses the shift from traditional conservation approaches to new sustainability practices, emphasising the importance of commercial foraging and its role in ecological balance.


006 Nettle leaf protein

Michael Cole, creator of Leafu, discusses how nettle leaf protein is beneficial for both human health and the environment, highlighting its potential as a sustainable food source.


005 Remembering Frank Cook

Friends of the late Frank Cook reflect on his lasting influence in the world of plant-based healing, discussing how his work continues through the organisation Plants & Healers International, with interviews from notable figures like Sandor Katz, Mary Morgaine, and Marc Williams.


004 Plant observation

Craig Holdrege from the Nature Institute explores Goethean science and plant observation, teaching listeners how to deepen their understanding of plants beyond conventional classification methods.


003 Revisioning herbal medicine

Herbal pioneer Simon Mills, discusses the importance of viewing plants as more than just pills, advocating for people to reclaim control over their health through a deeper relationship with herbal medicine.


002 Beyond botany

Robin Harford discusses with Olya Mairoba how to discover the edible and medicinal uses of plants through direct observation, bypassing the need for books, herbalists, or teachers.


001 Wild dolmades

Wild food chef Paul Wedgwood shares how to use Jack-by-the-Hedge leaves as dolmades wrap, Monica Wilde discusses whether comfrey is safe to eat, and Alex Laird emphasises the importance of using common plants for self-care and wellbeing.