Herbcast

Sebastian welcomes renowned ethnographer, writer, and filmmaker Wade Davis to discuss the profound relationship between plants and cultures around the globe. With a wealth of experience as an Explorer in Residence at the National Geographic Society and a Professor Emeritus of Anthropology, Wade shares his unique insights into how traditional knowledge and modern herbal science can harmoniously coexist.
Wade takes us on a journey through his early experiences in anthropology, revealing how his fascination with plants evolved into a deep appreciation for the wisdom embedded within various cultures. He reflects on his adventures in the Amazon, where he learned that plants are not merely resources but vital gateways to understanding human existence and cultural identity.
Throughout the conversation, Wade emphasises the importance of viewing every culture as a unique answer to the question of what it means to be human.
In this episode:
The significance of cultural relativism and the wisdom to be found in diverse traditions.
Wade's transformative experiences in the Amazon and how they shaped his understanding of botany and culture.
The vital role of herbalists in bridging the gap between traditional knowledge and contemporary health practices.
The impact of colonial attitudes on the perception of herbal medicine and the demonisation of plants like coca.
How embracing a deeper relationship with plants can foster respect for the natural world and promote sustainability.

About Wade Davis:
Wade Davis is a writer, photographer, and filmmaker whose work has taken him from the Amazon to Tibet, Africa to Australia, Polynesia to the Arctic. Explorer-in-Residence at the National Geographic Society from 2000 to 2013, he was Professor of Anthropology and the BC Leadership Chair in Cultures and Ecosystems at Risk at the University of British Columbia until retiring in 2024. Davis holds degrees in anthropology and biology and received his Ph.D. in ethnobotany, all from Harvard University. His 23 books, published in 26 languages, include The Serpent and the Rainbow, One River, The Wayfinders and Into the Silence, winner of the 2012 Samuel Johnson prize, the top award for nonfiction in the English language. His many film credits include Light at the Edge of the World, an eight-hour documentary series written and produced for the NGS. One of 20 Honorary Members of the Explorers Club, Davis is the recipient of 12 honorary degrees, as well as the 2009 Gold Medal from the Royal Canadian Geographical Society, the 2011 Explorers Medal, the 2012 David Fairchild Medal for botanical exploration, the 2015 Centennial Medal of Harvard University, the 2017 Roy Chapman Andrews Society’s Distinguished Explorer Award, the 2017 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Medal for Exploration, and the 2018 Mungo Park Medal from the Royal Scottish Geographical Society. In 2016, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. In 2018 he became an Honorary Citizen of Colombia. His recent books include Magdalena: River of Dreams (2020) and Beneath the Surface of Things (2024).
Follow & Connect
Follow / connect with Wade: https://daviswade.com/ / @wadedavisoffical
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

Introducing Herbcast Series 5!
Welcome back to Herbcast from Herbal Reality. We’re delighted to bring you our fifth series, this time with a focus on exploring the intersection of Herbalism and Modern Healthcare.
Join Simon Mills & Sebastian Pole as they return to hosting duties to delve into the rich tapestry of herbal medicine and its relationship with contemporary healthcare. This series is all about exploring the meeting point between clinical herbalism and modern medical practices, featuring as always a diverse array of guests: medical doctors who incorporate herbal remedies, ethnobotanists who explore the cultural significance of plants, and clinical researchers dedicated to validating herbal efficacy.
In this short trailer Sebastian gives us a preview of episodes to come, considering the pressing health challenges faced by society today, from diminishing healthy life expectancy to the impact of environmental degradation on our well-being. This series aims to unpack how the principles of herbalism, such as individualised care, ecological respect, and the fostering of community, can provide valuable insights and support for navigating these challenges.
Whether you are a practitioner, student, or simply curious about medicinal plants, this series is bound to inspire you on your own health journey and beyond.
Follow & Connect
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work! These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

Women's Health Revelations from Season 4 with Sebastian & Marion
Welcome back to a brand new series of Herbcast.
We’re beginning series 5 with a look back at series 4, as Sebastian welcomes back herbalist and researcher Marion Mackonochie back to discuss the insights gained from her series on women's health.
Sebastian and Marion delve into the rich conversations Marion had with various expert herbalists, reflecting on the challenges and opportunities in treating women's health issues through herbal medicine. With a focus on personal experiences and the importance of holistic care, they explore recurring themes of diet, stress management, and the significance of individualised treatment.
Marion shares key insights from her discussions, highlighting the wealth of knowledge among herbalists, the urgent need for more research and funding in women's health, and how herbalists can offer support through tailored approaches.
The conversation also emphasises the value of community and shared experiences in empowering women to take control of their health.
In this episode:
The importance of personalised care and the time herbalists can dedicate to understanding their clients.
Recurring themes in women's health: lifestyle, stress, and dietary influences.
Challenges in treating conditions like endometriosis and perimenopause.
The need for more robust research to demonstrate the effectiveness of herbal practices.
Empowering young women through education about healthy cycles and nutrition.

About Marion
Marion Mackonochie is a herbalist and researcher, recently appointed president of the College of Phytotherapeutic Practitioners in the UK. With a passion for women's health, she has conducted insightful interviews with expert herbalists, sharing their experiences and knowledge to enhance understanding and practice in the field.
Follow & Connect
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications.
We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative

Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

Herbal support during pregnancy: Guidance on safety with herbalists Eve Brazil and Simon Mills.
In this episode of Herbcast, editor and first-time host Eve sits down with veteran herbal practitioner, educator, and author Simon Mills to explore one of the most sensitive and deeply important topics in herbal care: using herbs safely during pregnancy.
With over four decades of clinical experience and co-authorship of The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety, Simon brings clarity to a subject often clouded by caution, conflicting advice, and limited research. Together, Eve and Simon discuss why safety is such a critical consideration in pregnancy, how herbs are assessed for risk, which plants are truly well-supported, and where professional judgement is essential. The episode also covers supportive herbs for nausea, digestion, nourishment, and late-pregnancy preparation, plus key considerations for herbal use while breastfeeding.
In this episode
Why the precautionary principle is so important in pregnancy and why most herbs are best avoided in the first trimester.
How herbs are assessed for safety (including the A–X categories) and why hard data in pregnancy is still very limited.
Herbs with supportive safety data (e.g. ginger, chamomile, echinacea, raspberry leaf, nettle) and those historically used to bring on a period that are best avoided.
Practical herbal support for morning sickness, digestion, and nourishment, including ginger, chamomile, dandelion root, nettle and food-based strategies.
Late-pregnancy and postpartum considerations: raspberry leaf, caution with licorice, and how certain herbs may support breastfeeding or colic through the mother.

About Eve
Eve is the editor of written content at Herbal Reality and the host of this Herbcast episode. With a deep love of language and plants, she helps translate complex herbal knowledge into clear, accessible articles, features, and resources for the Herbal Reality community. This episode marks her Herbcast debut, where she brings her editorial curiosity and grounding in herbal philosophy into conversation with experienced practitioners.
Follow & Connect
Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
Herbcast is proudly produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/

In this episode of Herbcast, Marion Mackonochie talks with medical herbalist Kathie Bishop about vaginal health, why it’s so often overlooked, how the vaginal microbiome really works, and the herbal and holistic strategies that can make a difference. Kathie shares her personal story of recurrent thrush from childhood into her 30s, what finally helped, and why every person’s microbiome and needs are unique.
In this episode:
The vaginal microbiome 101 - lactobacilli, glycogen, and the powerful role of oestrogen across the cycle and life stages.
Thrush vs. bacterial vaginitis (and aerobic vaginitis), why thrush often flares around ovulation/post-ovulation, why BV is more common post-menopause, and practical symptom clues (itch, discharge, odour) to tell them apart.
Testing without the anxiety - when microbiome tests help (and when they don’t), plus why symptom-led care with a practitioner can be enough.
Herbal care & applications
Everyday choices that matter - hygiene (only water internally), breathable underwear (cotton/bamboo), managing heat and moisture, toilet paper swaps (bamboo to avoid dusty pulp irritation), and exploring personal diet triggers (e.g., sugar, alcohol, wheat) and iron status.

About Kathie
Kathie Bishop is a Medical Herbalist specialising in vaginal health and author of It’s Your Power Portal: Take Control of Your Vaginal Health with Herbal and Holistic Care (2022). She received the Innovation in Practice Award from the National Institute of Medical Herbalists (2021) and was a finalist in the Great British Workplace Wellbeing Awards for her contributions to women’s health. Kathie also founded Into the Wild, an award-winning natural, organic, vegan intimate lubricant brand, and continues to support women in clinical practice.
Follow & Connect
Book: It’s Your Power Portal: Take Control of Your Vaginal Health with Herbal and Holistic Care (2022)

Explore a world of plant-powered knowledge at herbalreality.com or connect with us on Instagram @herbal.reality.
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/
Mentioned in this episode:
Support our cause - Donate to Herbal Reality
We are fundraising to continue our work!
These funds will allow us to produce our next season of the Herbcast and commission our 2026 publications. We are asking for a contribution of £3 or whatever you feel able to offer, to sustain our website and content creation in the years ahead.
Donate: https://www.herbalreality.com/donate/