Remedy & Rhyme - by Joyful Roots

In this episode, we’ll explore Rue (Ruta graveolens) and what it means to see clearly in an age clouded by noise — where media, politics, and consumerism all compete for our attention, and clarity becomes a form of rebellion. Rue reminds us that to see clearly is also to live truthfully, even when that truth makes us a heretic in the eyes of others. Together, we’ll explore Rue’s mythic threads, her modern uses, and her call to reclaim our own holy land — the sacred ground of body, mind, and heart that belongs only to us.

✨ Support the P...

Himalayan cedar seen from the Pipeline Track, Ayubia National park, Nathiagali by Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Alongside stories and reflections, we’ll explore Cedar’s personality—its physical support, spiritual qualities, and the ways it weaves itself into traditions and daily life. Whether you meet Cedar in the forest, as a bundle of leaves curling into smoke, or in the quiet presence of a warm cup, this episode invites you to listen to what Cedar might be offering you.

In this episode of Remedy & Rhyme, we turn toward the ta...

In this episode, we explored the wisdom of mullein, a plant that teaches us to stand tall, root deep, and move through life with gentle courage. From its velvety leaves to its spiral flowers, mullein invites us to release what has become rigid or stuck, trusting the slow, steady unfolding of growth. We also shared a poem that came through as a personal message from the plant, highlighting breath, grounding, and the courage to rise while holding space for gentleness.

We then journeyed into mullein’s mythic role as a lightbearer, connecting its towering stalks to the gu...

In this episode of Remedy & Rhyme, we sit with the wise and aromatic presence of Garden Sage (Salvia officinalis) — a plant known across cultures not only for its culinary charm, but for its deep-rooted connection to memory, protection, and transformation. We explore how Sage’s gifts of clarity and discernment can support us in times of transition, especially as we age, offering the invitation to ripen rather than wither. 

We also dip into how this plant can bless and cleanse through the ancient practice of smoke medicine, honoring the many cultures that have tended this sacred fire in di...

Content Note: This episode includes reflections on collective grief, injustice, and current global events, including war, displacement, and systemic harm. These topics are explored through the lens of healing, plant wisdom, and emotional transformation—but they may still feel heavy or activating. Please care for yourself as you listen.

In this episode of Remedy & Rhyme, we explore the wild and protective spirit of blackberry (Rubus fruticosus)—a plant known for its fierce thorns and abundant sweetness. Growing thick along roadsides and forest edges, blackberry guards its gifts with sharp resolve, asking us to approach with intention. Its leav...

In this episode of Remedy and Rhyme, we explore the radical abundance of Mesquite — a desert tree whose generosity stretches from myth to medicine. We reflect on what it means to live in relationship with abundance — the kind that’s rooted, reciprocal, and attuned to the rhythms of the earth. The kind of abundance that gives and gives and gives.

We'll hear a traditional story of Siwani and Coyote, which uncovers how mesquite came to scatter its sweet pods across the land. From its fiber-rich nourishment and blood sugar support to its deep cultural roots among Indigenous commun...

In this episode of Remedy and Rhyme, we sit with the sacred plant known as Tulsi—Holy Basil—not just as an herb, but as a being that bridges the physical and the spiritual. Long honored in Ayurvedic tradition and daily rituals across India, Tulsi invites us into devotion, resilience, and deep remembering of our sacredness. We explore Tulsi’s stories, nourishing gifts, and the many ways she continues to support the body, mind, and spirit—especially in times of stress or disconnection. ✨

You’ll hear about Tulsi’s mythology, reflections on Tulsi’s adaptogenic nature, and practical insigh...

In this episode, we explore the timeless and tender paradox of Rose — a flower that embodies both softness and strength.

From mythology to herbalism to personal reflection, Rose invites us to dwell in the space where opposing truths coexist: beauty and protection, openness and boundaries, love and discernment. We’ll dive into folklore, plant wisdom, and lived experience to ask—what can Rose teach us about tending to ourselves and the world with grace? 🌹

Each episode will begin with a poem and flow into a deeper dive into the featured herb—its stories, energetics, remedies, and reflect...

In this episode, we explore the rich and rooted medicine of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)—an herb of clarity, protection, and deep remembrance. From its physical gifts like supporting the nervous system and easing headaches, to its sacred use in rituals of honoring the dead, rosemary invites us to reconnect with our ancestors and the wisdom they left behind. We'll look at traditional uses across cultures, its connection to memory and the feminine archetype, and how rosemary can support us in reclaiming our wholeness—body, mind, and soul.

Each episode will begin with a poem and flow into a de...

Welcome to the very first episode of the Joyful Roots podcast! In this opening episode, I’m sharing the heart behind this project—a weaving of plants and poetry as portals to reconnection with ourselves, each other, and the Earth.

We’ll explore how the living world invites us back into resonance when things feel chaotic, and how both herbs and poems can help us remember who we really are. I’ll share how this podcast was inspired by an interview with Rosemary Gladstar, why now feels like the right time, and how you’re invited into this space...