Herbal Radio

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by the founder of Puff Herbals, Lian Bruno. From rolling herbal cigarettes in her living room to running a national brand, Lian Bruno is reimagining what it means to smoke. In this episode, join Tommy and Lian as they explore: The spark (pun intended) that turned into Puff Herbals Different reasons that people smoke beyond habitual use Using fire and smoke as a menstruum Difference between conventional cigarettes versus organic tobacco leaf How conventional cigarettes became so normalized within our day-to-day culture   As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are so honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are an invaluable piece to our podcast. Email us at podcast@mountainroseherbs.com to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism. Learn more about Lian below! ⬇️ 🌬️🍃 Lian Bruno is a clinically-trained herbalist, holistic health educator, writer, and founder of Puff Herbals—a brand redefining smoking rituals with tobacco-free, cannabis-free herbal alternatives. With a background in ethnobotany, she blends science, storytelling, and subculture into smoking blends designed for modern rituals. She began crafting herbal smoking blends while still in herb school, and started selling them around town after unexpected success at her local herb conference in 2016. In 2019, she officially launched Puff Herbals with a mission to make mindful moments, not habits — whether that’s winding down after dinner, out for a drink with friends, or just stepping outside on break. Rooted in harm reduction and what she calls holistic hedonism, Puff Herbals makes herbalism approachable for anyone looking to light up—from the sober-curious and wellness-obsessed to skeptics and smokers looking to quit or cut back. These days, you’ll find Lian teaching at herbal conferences across the country, breaking down how herbs work in smoke form and why ritual matters just as much as chemistry. Find Lian’s blends and smoking-centered blog! 🪻 Puff Publications 🪻 ~ Want to learn which puff personality type you are? 🌱 Take the Puff Personality Quiz! 🌱 ~ Looking to shop Lian’s herbal smokes IRL? 🗺️ Check out the Puff Herbals stockists list!  🗺️   ~ 📱 Follow along on Instagram at @puff.herbals and @liantheherbalist 📱 ~ ⬇️ More of a visual learner? Check out Lian's video interview! ⬇️   Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok  🌿 Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. 🌿

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by the author, herbalist, and accomplished girl boss of the botanical world, Rachelle Robinett. Join Tommy and Rachelle as they explore: Rachelle’s recent book launch, Naturally: The Herbalist's Guide to Health and Transformation Reflecting personal experience, science, and herbal knowledge into writing Rachelle’s lifelong fascination with our connection to the “ness” of life How herbalism relates to modern life The permanence of putting your writing out into the world Writing from the perspective of the educator while learning alongside the reader Learn more about Rachelle below! ⬇️ Rachelle Robinett, RH (AHG), is a writer, herbalist, educator, and life-long naturalist. She’s the founder of multidisciplinary companies dedicated to the art and science of natural wellness. Combining traditional medicine and current health insights with an understanding of individual behavior modification, Rachelle has provided accessible plant-based healing to countless people. She’s based in New York and Costa Rica. 🌿📖 Get your hands on Rachelle’s new book! 📖🌿 Naturally, The Herbalist’s Guide to Health and Transformation (US version) Tuning in from the UK? Naturally is available there too! Naturally, The Herbalist’s Guide to Health and Transformation (UK version) 🌸 Learn about Rachelle’s other herbal business ventures! 🌸 Rachelle Robinett - Pharmakon Supernatural Find Rachelle on social media! 📸 Instagram - @rachellerobinett 📱Facebook - @Rachelle Robinett 💻 YouTube - @RachelleRobinettSupernatural   📺 More of a visual learner? 📺 Check out Rachelle's video interview HERE!   ~~~ Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok  🌿 Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. 🌿            

This week on Tea Talks with Jiling, we are joined by Kirsten K. Shockey. Kirsten is the author of 🌿Homebrewed Vinegar, and coauthor of several award-winning and bestselling fermentation books alongside Christopher Shockey: 🌿Fermented Vegetables; 🌿Fiery Ferments; 🌿The Big Book of Cidermaking; and 🌿Miso, Tempeh, Natto & Other Tasty Ferments. She is a co-founder of The Fermentation School, a women-owned and women-led benefits corporation supporting the voices of independent educators to empower learning and build culture. Go forth and ferment! Listen in as Jiling and Kirsten discuss how fermentation works, with examples like salt brines and fermented pastes. Learn about easy ways to get started fermenting with a dry brine fermentation and making herbal vinegars. Visit Kirsten Shockey at: 🌿FermentWorks Homepage 🫧Substack: FermentWorks  🍂Instagram @kirstenkshockey ~~~ 🪷Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) and herbalist in Ventura, CA. A clinician and teacher, Jiling is also a passionate traveler, artist, and adventurer. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com— and get her free Nourishing Life (養生) template and Five Phases (五行) outline. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com and join her newsletter for seasonal beauty. ~~~ Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok  🌿 Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. 🌿

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by Kody Hilton, a passionate plant person and friend to all furry, fuzzy, and feathered critters who weaves over 30 years of collective experience from both the human and animal side of herbalism into her practice. Join Tommy and Kody as they explore: Working with animals using a holistic approach Matching herbal energetics to animal energetics Preventative vs. reactionary healthcare for pets The benefit of whole foods and herbs in your pet’s diet How to go about finding a holistic veterinarian Herbs for pet loss and grief 📺 Consider yourself more of a visual learner? 📺 Watch Kody’s video interview on YouTube! Learn more about Kody below! ⬇️ 🐾 Kody Hilton is an animal herbalist (people too!) and the Owner of the veterinary-supported herbal animal product line, Animal Alchemy. With over 20 years of experience as a Registered Veterinary Technician, she has worked with a wide range of animals in both conventional and holistic veterinary settings. Kody’s career highlights include being part of the veterinary staff at the Oakland Zoo, volunteering with international wildlife rescues, and providing compassionate care at the Animalkind Holistic Veterinary Clinic. Kody’s veterinary work is matched by 15 years of herbal study and experience. Beyond self-study (of which there is a lot), she has formally studied with several prominent herbalists, including Karyn Sanders and Sarah Holmes from the Blue Otter School, Jane Bothwell at the Dandelion Herbal Center, and various instructors at the California School of Herbal Studies, among many other potent teachers along the way. Her boss, Dr. Jeffrey Judkins, has also been an important mentor. As a human herbalist, Kody worked for many years at Moonrise Herbs in Arcata, CA. She is also an active core member of the Wellness and First-Aid Teams at the Northern California Women’s Herbal Symposium and the Oshala Farm Herb Camp. This year, Kody was honored to be one of the featured teachers at the 2025 Oshala Farm Herb Camp. Animal herbalism is the marriage of Kody’s passions: animals, veterinary nursing, and herbalism! She currently works at Animalkind Holistic Veterinary Clinic and runs her own veterinary-supported herbal animal product line, Animal Alchemy. While Kody loves all animals, she is definitely a “cat person” and is the guardian of two beloved Ragdoll kitties, Hans and Sonja. Kody also loves birds and will always carry a spider outside. If you would like to learn more about Kody’s boss and mentor, Dr. Jeffrey Judkin, check out the Veterinary Botanical Medical Association (VBMA). VBMA’s mission is to foster herbal knowledge amongst Veterinarians and Qualified Herbalists working with animals. 🐱🌿 Meet some of Kody’s tail-wagging and purring patients! 🌿🐶 Animal Alchemy: Testimonials ~ 🩺 Looking for a holistic veterinarian for your furry friend? 🩺 Check out the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association ~ 🐾 Peruse Kody’s line of animal-approved and veterinary-supported products! 🐾 Animal Alchemy: Shop Internal Remedies ~~~ Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok  🌿 Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. 🌿  

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by three passion-driven land stewards who are dedicated to protecting and preserving the Mount Pisgah Arboretum in our hometown, Eugene, Oregon. As a 209-acre nature education facility nestled on the traditional homelands of the Kalapuya people, Mount Pisgah Arboretum has been offering invaluable environmental education to the Eugene community since 1973. Tune in with Ilana Jakubowski, Kevin House, and Patrick Wegner to explore: Origin story of Mount Pisgah Arboretum Annual Wildflower Festival and (upcoming!) Mushroom Festival Mt. Pisgah’s environmental education field trips, workshops, and community initiatives How to create a space where nature is accessible to everyone Behind the scenes work to uphold a community-shared land Learn more about Mount Pisgah Arboretum's staff below! ⬇️ 🪻 Ilana Jakubowski is the Executive Director of Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Ilana was born and raised in the Willamette Valley and is deeply connected to this bioregion. Ilana’s most cherished childhood memories were playing underneath the wide canopy of Oregon White Oaks near her home. Ilana has worked in social services, outdoor education, and local nonprofit management for almost twenty years. She holds a Master of Social Work and is passionate about the intersection between social work and environmental work. Ilana believes that healing can occur when communities are able to connect with the natural world, and this, in turn, will inspire people to protect their environment. Outside of work, Ilana loves to further explore Oregon’s wild areas by camping, hiking, and backpacking. You also may see her on the dance floor as part of the local Salsa dance community! 🌾 Kevin House is the Environmental Educator at Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Kevin was born and raised in Oregon where he grew up camping, hiking, and enjoying the outdoors. He has a master’s degree in biology and spent several years teaching biology and ecology classes at a community college in Southern California before driving around the country in an RV with his partner, Marli, and eventually moving back up to Oregon to work in outdoor education. Kevin loves watching birds, finding fungi, and talking excessively about cool nature stuff. 🌿 Patrick Wegner is the Habitat and Trails Manager at Mount Pisgah Arboretum. Patrick joined the Arboretum in the spring of 2020. Born and raised in Oregon, he graduated from Oregon State University’s Natural Resources program with an emphasis in Recreation and Tourism Management. Patrick has held several positions throughout Oregon with the Oregon State Parks and Recreation and the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation Department, and has volunteered with various natural resources organizations. He has extensive field experience performing habitat restoration and monitoring projects, along with outdoor education experience. Patrick is excited to bring his knowledge and passion to the Mount Pisgah Arboretum. During his free time, he can be found spending time outdoors hiking, fishing, hunting, or traveling with his girlfriend. 🌲 Want to support the Arboretum’s community initiatives? 🌲 Become a Mount Pisgah Member! ~ ⛰️ Looking to learn more about the Arboretum’s education offerings? ⛰️ Check out the Mount Pisgah Environmental Education Programs page! ~ Come out and visit the Arboretum’s bi-annual event traditions! 🌿🍄 2026 Mushroom Festival 🍄🌿 🌻🌷🪻 2026 Wildflower Festival 🪻🌷🌻 ~~~ Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok  🌿  Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. 🌿  

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by the environmental steward and change-maker on a mission to make FairWild a household name in the herbal industry, Sarah Vito. Join Sarah and Tommy as they explore: What it means to uphold the FairWild certification The seven key principles of wildharvesting Upholding biodiversity and uplifting humans with the FairWild Standard How plants have evolved alongside humans Unique challenges wild harvesters face in the herbal industry As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are so honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are an invaluable piece to our podcast. Email us at podcast@mountainroseherbs.com to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism. 📺 Consider yourself more of a visual learner? 📺 Check out the video interview on YouTube! 🌾 Sarah Vito is FairWild's North American Business Development Representative, working specifically with US-based brands and wild harvesters. Her work has been instrumental in certifying the first wild-harvested ingredients out of North America. A long-time sustainability advocate, Sarah began her career at Greenpeace USA in Washington, DC, after graduating from Gonzaga University, where she worked in the fundraising department while completing her Master's in Organizational Management from the George Washington University. Apart from sustainability, Sarah has over 15 years of experience working in manufacturing, including dietary supplements, food, and personal care. Her work experience spans sourcing, production management, sales, and finance. Previously, she served on the American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) Board of Trustees. Currently, she is an active participant in the Sustainable Herbs Initiative and a co-lead for One Step Closer's Peer Women's Circles. Additionally, she holds certifications in Permaculture Design, Ecovillage Design, and Herbalism. Sarah also dedicates her time to teaching yoga at her local YMCA, writing poetry, tending her native and medicinal micro-forest in Salem, OR, and enjoying hiking and camping trips with her husband and two children. A native of Rhode Island, she and her family frequently return to her childhood home to enjoy New England's woods and shoreline. 🌿 Want to get your hands on FairWild ingredients? 🌿 Peruse certified FairWild ingredients! 🍂 Looking to get your business FairWild Certified? 🍂 Check out the FairWild for Business page! 📓 Can’t get enough of FairWild education? 📓 Dive into the FairWild Knowledge Hub! 📝 Learn more about our work with FairWild on the Mountain Rose Herbs Blog! Mountain Rose Herbs is Helping to Bring FairWild Certification to US Wildcrafters Furthering Our Commitment to Sustainability and Transparency: FairWild  ~~~ Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok 🌿  Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. 🌿  

Pam Montgomery, an herbalist and Earth elder, shares her profound understanding of plant consciousness and our interconnectedness with nature. She discusses the spiritual evolution of plants and humans, emphasizing how this awareness can foster harmony with the environment. The conversation dives into practical ways to connect with nature, including cultivating sacred basil and engaging in transformative plant initiations. Listeners are encouraged to deepen their relationships with plants and explore the vibratory language that enhances co-creative partnerships with the natural world.

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by certified herbalist, educator, and nerd for all things herbs, Colleen Bingham. Tag along with us as we explore Colleen’s herbalism journey, which began with the one and only Rosemary Gladstar, the river of experiences Colleen has floated through since then, and her views on our uncharted future with AI. As the founder of Herb Nerd, Colleen shares her scientific approach to herbalism, explaining how her methods offer insight into not only the medicinal properties of the plant itself, but also provide a deep understanding of how an herb interacts with the human body. As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are so honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are an invaluable piece to our podcast. Email us at podcast@mountainroseherbs.com to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism. More of a visual learner? 🌿📺 Check out the video interview here! 📺🌿 🌷Colleen Bingham is a lifelong nature-loving nerd and the founder of Herb Nerd, a digital education hub for herbal medicine making and natural product development. She started her herbal journey in 2010 thanks to the writings of Rosemary Gladstar and an introductory herbal program with Jane Bothwell at the Dandelion Herbal Center, later deepening her knowledge at the California School of Herbal Studies, where she became core faculty and taught for a decade. Colleen is a Certified Herbalist, natural product formulator, and educator with 13+ years of experience in the wellness space. She’s taught hundreds of students how to make herbal remedies from scratch, combining traditional wisdom with scientific insight. At herbnerd.com, her deep love of solubility, extraction, and phytochemistry culminate in niche courses that deepen her students’ understanding of why and how plants heal. Herbal skincare was her gateway into this work. In 2013, she launched Poppy Botanicals, a cult-favorite brand and creative incubator for plant-based beauty before “green beauty” became mainstream. She’s also worked behind the scenes as a copywriter, formulator, education strategist, and DSHEA compliance/claims substantiation expert for national brands like Traditional Medicinals, Urban Moonshine, Dr. Morse’s, and Herbal Academy. Her students know her for making herbalism accessible, fun, and crystal clear, blending her BFA in theatre with her Virgo moon sensibilities to keep classes engaging and practical. Whether you’re curious about making your own face cream or building a home apothecary, she’s here to help you nerd out on nature! Hone in your Herb Nerd skills! 🤓🌿 Herb Nerd Classes & Downloads 🌿🤓  Check out Colleen’s blog! 📝 Herb Nerd Blog 📝 Peruse Colleen’s YouTube channel! 📀 @HerbNerdSchool 📀 ~~~ Mountain Rose Herbs is a purveyor of the highest quality organically grown herbs and spices, teas, essential oils, & botanical goods. You can find our organic botanical offerings on MountainRoseHerbs.com. Join our community!Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok 🌿Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world.🌿

This week on Everything You Didn’t Know About Herbalism, we are joined by a leader in the herbal industry whose dedication to providing accessible and reliable education thrives in just about every corner of the herb world, Mark Blumenthal. Join Tommy and Mark as they dissect the importance of having trust in an herbal product—not only for the herb itself, but more importantly, trust in the company who makes it. Through the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) by the American Botanical Council (ABC), Mark and his team of experts spend countless hours researching and unmasking deceptive herbal products prevalent in the vast sea that is the herbalism industry today. Mark’s work highlights a science-based approach to herbalism while simultaneously recognizing the rich folklore and cultural traditions behind it. 📺 PREFER VISUAL LEARNING? Check out this episode on Youtube! As always, we thank you for joining us on another botanical adventure and are so honored to have you tag along with us on this ride. Remember, we want to hear from you! Your questions, ideas, and who you want to hear from are an invaluable piece to our podcast. Email us at podcast@mountainroseherbs.com to let us know what solutions we should uncover next within the vast world of herbalism. Learn more about Mark and the American Botanical Council below! ⬇️ 🌿 Mark Blumenthal is the Founder and Executive Director of the American Botanical Council (ABC)—a leading, independent, research and educational nonprofit organization dedicated to disseminating accurate, reliable, and responsible information on herbs and medicinal plants, teas, essential oils, phytomedicines, beneficial plants, and edible and medicinal fungi. Blumenthal is Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of HerbalGram, ABC’s international peer-reviewed quarterly journal. He is also the founder and director of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP), a nonprofit international consortium committed to extensively researching and exposing adulteration and fraud in botanical ingredients sold in the global market. In 2010 he received the American Society of Pharmacognosy’s Varro E. Tyler Award and in 2018 he was named Outstanding International Ethnopharmacologist by the Indian Society for Ethnopharmacology, and WholeFoods Magazine named Blumenthal Person of the Year in 2023. He has appeared on more than 400 radio and television shows and has written more than 500 articles, reviews, and book chapters and forewords for many publications. He was awarded Natural Health Magazine’s Hall of Fame Award for “…opening America’s eye to the healing powers of herbs.” For more than 50 years, he has been a leader in the global botanical and natural products community, promoting science-based herbal education and respect for scientific and clinical research, ethnobotanical traditions, sustainable and regenerative practices, and authenticity and transparency in the manufacture and marketing of herbs and phytomedicines. 📗 Read The Undisclosed Presence of Excipients and Diluents in Botanical Extracts  🌿 Check out HerbalGram issues!  📺 Tune in to HerbTV -- Mark's free video resource  ~~~ Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com

This week on Tea Talks with Jiling, we are joined by Liane Moccia. Liane is a registered herbalist and author specializing in fertility and preconception planning. Liane is the author of The Herbal Fertility Handbook: Natural Strategies to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant. She combines herbs, nutrition, and lifestyle changes with a clear plan to help optimize fertility. Liane’s own infertility diagnosis led her to a career change to help others on similar journeys. She lives outside of Boston and works virtually with clients from all over the country. Liane and Jiling discuss common misconceptions about herbs and other holistic strategies to support fertility, how herbs can support fertility treatments such as IVF and IUI, the importance of sperm health, the role of timing in using herbs and supplements for fertility support — and how can people know when to take what. Visit Liane Moccia at 💻 Website: https://lianemoccia.com/ 📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lianemoccia/ ✏️ Substack: https://lianemoccia.substack.com/ 🍼 Pre-order The Herbal Fertility Handbook: Natural Strategies to Increase Your Chances of Getting Pregnant: https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/liane-moccia-rh-ahg/the-herbal-fertility-handbook/9781635868739/ 🪷Jiling Lin is a Licensed Acupuncturist (L.Ac) and herbalist in Ventura, CA. A clinician and teacher, Jiling is also a passionate traveler, artist, and adventurer. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com— and get her free Nourishing Life (養生) template and Five Phases (五行) outline. Visit Jiling at JilingLin.com and join her newsletter for seasonal beauty. ~~~ Join our community! Subscribe to the Mountain Rose Herbs newsletter Subscribe to Mountain Rose Herbs on YouTube Follow on Instagram Like on Facebook Follow on Pinterest Read the Mountain Rose Herbs blog Follow on TikTok Strengthening the bonds between people and plants for a healthier world. Mountain Rose Herbs www.mountainroseherbs.com