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Inside Kokora | Regenerative Herbalism with Ric Scalzo [Founder]
HerbRally
🌿 Get 15% off your first order with Kokora Use code HERBRALLY15 at In this episode of The Herbalist Hour, I sit down with herbalist and founder of Kokora, Ric Scalzo. Many of you may know Ric as the co-founder of Gaia Herbs, but today we focus on his newest venture and the deeper philosophy behind it. Ric shares how Kokora’s products go from farm to bottle, rooted in regenerative organic agriculture and a commitment to true herbal integrity. We explore the difference between regenerative and organic practices, the role of bioferments and bamboo biochar in soil health, and how these...
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Why You Should Attend Wild Indigo Herb Fest 🌿 (Meet the Team)
HerbRally
In this episode, meet the organizers behind the Wild Indigo Herb Fest and get a behind-the-scenes look at how this one-of-a-kind herbal gathering came to life. From a rainy sugar shack in Northeast Ohio to the rolling hills of Kentucky, this festival is rooted in connection, community, and a shared love of the plants. The Wild Indigo team has woven together their favorite elements of herbal conferences to create something truly special. 🌿 Featuring keynote speakers Linda Black Elk and Marc Williams, along with a diverse lineup of herbalists, teachers, and community voices. Expect: •...
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KEYNOTE | The Life-Saving Magic of Herbing It Up with Lottie Spady
HerbRally
In this special keynote episode, we’re sharing The Life-Saving Magic of Herbing It Up with herbalist, educator, and community leader Lottie Spady, recorded live at the 2025 Great Lakes Herb Faire. In this powerful and heartfelt talk, Lottie shares how her journey into herbalism transformed not only her physical health, but also her sense of purpose, community, and connection to the natural world. Through her story, we’re reminded of the deep, life-changing potential of building relationships with plants as true allies. Huge thanks to Lottie for granting permission to share this keynote,...
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The Life & Times of Mason Hutchison with Special Host Rosalee de la Forêt
HerbRally
In this special episode of The Herbalist Hour, Rosalee de la Forêt turns the tables on HerbRally founder and longtime host Mason Hutchison for a wide-ranging, heartfelt conversation about rebuilding, community, and the person behind the podcast. What starts as a “comeback episode” becomes something deeper: a reflection on major life transitions, self-care, friendship, fatherhood, herbal practice, and the many passions that make Mason who he is. Along the way, Rosalee guides the conversation while surprise video questions and messages from fellow herbalists appear throughout the...
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Herbal Pharmacy & the Magic of Plant Medicine | Betzy Bancroft
HerbRally
In this episode of The Herbalist Hour, I sit down with herbalist, teacher, and long-time community mentor Betzy Bancroft to explore the heart, craft, and deep science behind her new book Herbal Pharmacy: The Science and Magic of Preparing and Administering Plant Medicine. Betzy has been teaching herbal medicine making for more than three decades. She co-founded the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, mentors clinical interns, presents at the Vermont NOFA Winter Conference, and serves on the advisory board of United Plant Savers. She also teaches and leads plant walks at the legendary...
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Red Palm Oil, Ancestral Foodways & the Dish “Red Red” | Asia Dorsey
HerbRally
This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing. In this clip from The Herbalist Hour episode 59, Asia Dorsey shares the story behind the West African dish Red Red — a vibrant meal made with red palm oil, black-eyed peas, peppers, and plantains. Asia reflects on her time living in Ghana, learning directly from local food traditions, and how that experience reshaped her relationship with ancestral foods. She also speaks about the deep nutritional...
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10 Questions for Herbalist Asia Dorsey
HerbRally
This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing. In this episode of the HerbRally Podcast we're joined by herbalist Asia Dorsey. She answers 10 questions, as the title suggests. You'll learn: How she balances traditional herbal knowledge with modern science Her thoughts on the regulation of herbalists When she felt qualified to call herself an herbalist How to know how potent your herbal concoctions are How to keep joints healthy as we age And a...
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Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians | Patricia Kyritsi Howell
HerbRally
This episode is brought to you by FOOD GENIUS A year-long mentorship from Asia Dorsey + Justin Robinson for folks craving a deeper relationship with food, ancestry, and embodied wellbeing. Herbalist and author Patricia Kyritsi Howell joins Mason and co-host Rosalee de la Forêt to talk about the brand-new second edition of Medicinal Plants of the Southern Appalachians. Patricia shares how decades of walking the mountains have deepened her relationships with plants like bloodroot, sarsaparilla, and sassafras, weaving folk history with practical clinical insight. We also touch on her...
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FREE CLASS | The Herbalism of Hot Sauce
HerbRally
If you love hot sauce as much as I do, and you love learning about herbalism through food... this class is a good’n 🔥 Food geniuses Asia Dorsey and Justin Robinson break down the ethnobotany of hot sauce, why so many cultures use heat as medicine, how fermentation boosts flavor, and the many health benefits woven into this fiery tradition. It’s fun, practical, and super informative — all about one of my most beloved condiments. This 90-minute pre-recorded class also includes: a “Living Habanero Hot Sauce” fermented recipe card a lengthy Q&A where Asia...
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The Complete Folk Herbal with Rebecca Beyer | Cohost Rosalee de la Forêt
HerbRally
Today on the Herbalist Hour I’m joined by author, illustrator, and Appalachian folk magic practitioner Rebecca Beyer, along with my special co-host Rosalee de la Forêt. We dive deep into Rebecca’s newest book, The Complete Folk Herbal, exploring everything from ethical wildcrafting to plant history, folk medicine-making, and the lived stories that shape her work. Rebecca shares her thoughts on learning from many teachers, cultivating authentic plant relationships, avoiding “guru-ism,” and keeping humility at the center of herbal practice. We talk about sustainable foraging, the...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Herbalist Hour, I sit down with herbalist, teacher, and long-time community mentor Betzy Bancroft to explore the heart, craft, and deep science behind her new book Herbal Pharmacy: The Science and Magic of Preparing and Administering Plant Medicine.
Betzy has been teaching herbal medicine making for more than three decades. She co-founded the Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism, mentors clinical interns, presents at the Vermont NOFA Winter Conference, and serves on the advisory board of United Plant Savers. She also teaches and leads plant walks at the legendary Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary, where she lives just down the road.
This conversation dives into the practical, the philosophical, and the magical sides of making plant medicine — from water and oils, to home apothecaries, to the evolving spiral of students becoming teachers.
What We Talk About
🌿 Tips for leading an inspiring, grounded plant walk
🌿 Advice for herbalists writing their own informational books
🌿 A rich discussion of the water chapter and her reverence for water
🌿 Why oils and fats are both essential and misunderstood in herbalism
🌿 How she chooses fresh vs. dried plant material for tinctures
🌿 How to make homemade vinegar
🌿 Practical tips for building or expanding your home apothecary
🌿 And whole lot more!
LINKS & RESOURCES
BOOK: Herbal Pharmacy | BUY THE BOOK
Vermont Center for Integrative Herbalism | VTHerbCenter.org
Sage Mountain | SageMountain.com
United Plant Savers | UnitedPlantSavers.org
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⚠️ DISCLAIMER
This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before making changes to your health regimen.