Ep.169: Mambo Liz & Yvonne Chireau on Voodoo, Hoodoo, and Africana Spirituality

In this special episode of the Plant Cunning Podcast, hosts AC Stauble and Isaac Hill welcome two distinguished guests: Dr. Yvonne Chireau, a scholar who has authored the influential book 'Black Magic: Religion and the African American Conjuring Tradition', delving into hoodoo and voodoo in America, and Mambo Elizabeth Ruth, the proprietor of Big Liz Conjure. This episode takes listeners on a journey into the intersections of African diasporic spiritual practices and plant-based knowledge. Dr. Chereau and Mambo Ruth share their personal paths to becoming scholars and practitioners, exploring themes of ancestral heritage, the influence of family, and the importance of nature and healing in African American spirituality. The conversation expands into discussing the cultural and historical contexts of these practices, the implications of white supremacy, and the ethics of magic and healing. Join us for a profound discussion that sheds light on not only the spiritual but also the cultural and historical facets of African American traditions.