THE
WILD ROSE
PODCAST
Welcome to the Wild Rose College Podcast — where the healing power of plants meets real-world practice.
Each episode, we sit down with leading herbalists, plant people, and holistic practitioners to explore the art, science, and spirit of natural health. From grassroots herbalism to integrative medicine, from plant stories to clinical insights — we’re here to share conversations that inspire, educate, and reconnect us with the wisdom of nature.
Whether you’re a budding herbalist, a seasoned practitioner, or simply curious about the world of plant medicine, this is your space to learn, grow, and walk the path of herbalism alongside a thriving community.
Interested in being a guest on the Wild Rose College Podcast?
We’d love to hear from you. If you have a story, area of expertise, or perspective on herbalism, plant medicine, or holistic living that you’d like to share, please fill out our guest submission form to be considered for an upcoming episode.
What does it really mean to care for the plants we use? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Susan Leopold, Executive Director of United Plant Savers, for a thoughtful conversation about medicinal plant conservation, biodiversity, wildcrafting, and our responsibility to the ecosystems that sustain herbal medicine.
Susan shares how United Plant Savers approaches conservation through relationship and reciprocity, while exploring habitat loss, invasive species, restoration, forest farming, and the importance of protecting intact ecosystems.
We also look at how herbalists can support conservation by learning where our medicines come from, asking better sourcing questions, paying attention to what is abundant within our own bioregions, and finding meaningful ways to give back to the plants and places we depend on.
Herbalist and author Matthew Wood joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the ideas behind The Shamanic Herbal and a lifetime of learning to perceive plants beyond their chemical constituents. Matthew reflects on the doctrine of signatures, intuition, dreams, traditional ways of knowing, and the possibility of developing a deeper, more participatory relationship with the natural world.
The conversation considers how herbal knowledge can emerge through observation, experience, symbolism, and relationship as well as through science. Matthew shares stories and perspectives from decades of practice, inviting listeners to think more broadly about how plants communicate and what it might mean to approach herbal medicine as a living exchange.
Marketing educator Tad Hargrave joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore how herbalists, healers, and values-led practitioners can share their work without relying on pressure or manipulation. From self-promotion and social media burnout to niche, money, sustainability, and community, Tad offers a more relational and human approach to building a meaningful business.
The conversation examines why marketing can feel uncomfortable for so many practitioners and what can change when it is approached through clarity, consent, and genuine connection. Tad reflects on visibility, accessibility, and the importance of creating businesses that support both the practitioner and the people they are hoping to serve.
Herbalist and author Maria Noel Groves joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the interconnected world of digestive health and herbal medicine. Drawing from her book Herbal Gut Health, Maria discusses the foundations of healthy digestion, the influence of stress and lifestyle, and practical ways that food and herbs can support the gastrointestinal system.
The conversation looks beyond isolated digestive symptoms to consider the nervous system, inflammation, microbiome health, elimination, and daily habits. Maria offers an approachable framework for understanding the gut as part of a larger whole and shares ways herbalists can think more broadly about supporting digestive resilience over time.
Wild Rose College founder Dr. Terry Willard returns to the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the rapidly changing relationship between artificial intelligence, herbal medicine, and education. Terry considers where emerging technology can be genuinely useful, where discernment remains essential, and why critical thinking and direct experience cannot be replaced by an algorithm.
The conversation looks at both the opportunities and limitations of AI in research, learning, and clinical thinking. Terry reflects on what herbalists risk losing when information becomes separated from experience, while also considering how technology might support practitioners when it is used thoughtfully, responsibly, and alongside a strong relationship with plants and people.
Physician, midwife, and herbalist Aviva Romm joins the Wild Rose Podcast for a grounded look at perimenopause and the many changes that can accompany it. From fluctuating hormones and common symptoms to stress, lifestyle, herbs, and conventional care, Aviva offers perspective for navigating this transition with greater understanding and discernment.
The conversation moves beyond simplified explanations of hormonal change to consider sleep, nervous system health, metabolism, emotional well-being, and individual variation. Aviva shares practical context for understanding what may be happening in the body, while encouraging listeners to approach this stage of life with informed choices rather than fear or hype.
In this episode of The Wild Rose Podcast, Ayurvedic practitioner Amber Lynn Vitale joins us for a thoughtful conversation on what it truly means to live in alignment with your nature.
We explore the doshas as tools for self-understanding, the importance of seasonal rhythms and daily practices, and why healing cannot come through punishment or perfectionism. From orthorexia and wellness culture to leftovers, digestive fire, and the power of practitioner–patient relationship, this episode offers grounded and practical insight into applying Ayurveda in modern life.
If you’re curious about constitutional balance, elemental wisdom, and a more compassionate approach to health, this conversation is for you.
Herbalist Marie Zak joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the meeting place between herbal medicine, somatic practice, and nervous system healing. Drawing from her work with plants and embodied awareness, Marie considers how the body communicates through sensation, pattern, and response, and how learning to notice those signals can deepen both personal and clinical herbal practice.
The conversation explores regulation, resilience, relationship, and the ways herbs can support people alongside somatic tools and greater body awareness. Marie offers a perspective that moves beyond simply treating symptoms, inviting us to consider how healing can emerge through connection, presence, and a more attentive relationship with ourselves.
Herbalist and Wild Rose College founder Dr. Terry Willard joins the Wild Rose Podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about neurodivergence through a holistic lens. Terry explores the roles of herbs, nutrition, the microbiome, flower essences, education, and environment while inviting us to reconsider how we understand different ways of thinking, learning, and experiencing the world.
Rather than focusing only on symptoms or labels, the conversation looks at the broader context in which each person lives and develops. Terry reflects on individuality, resilience, and the importance of creating supportive environments, offering a perspective that encourages curiosity, flexibility, and a deeper appreciation for neurological diversity.
Botanist, mycologist, and author Robert Rogers joins us to explore the quiet yet powerful world of lichens. These ancient partnerships of fungi and algae have shaped life on Earth for millions of years, creating soil, producing oxygen, and offering lessons in resilience and cooperation.
In this episode, Robert shares insights from over five decades of study and teaching, blending Indigenous knowledge and modern pharmacology to reveal the healing potential of lichens. From the antimicrobial properties of Usnea to the soothing, food-based medicine of Iceland moss, he uncovers how these overlooked organisms bridge the gap between tradition and science.
We also reflect on the deeper teachings lichens hold about community and interdependence, reminding us that true healing often begins with how we relate to the world around us.
Herbalist, teacher, and activist Fiona Heckels of the Seed Sistas joins us to explore the fascinating and often misunderstood world of poison plants. From belladonna to henbane and beyond, the Solanaceae family has long been associated with danger, magic, and transformation.
In this episode, Fiona shares insights into the history, folklore, and pharmacology of these plants, as well as their place in modern herbal practice. We also discuss how plants intersect with activism, gender dynamics, and the reclaiming of ancestral knowledge.
Whether you’re curious about the myths, the medicine, or the magic, this conversation offers a thought-provoking look at the power of plants to challenge, heal, and inspire.
Renowned herbalist David Winston joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the legacy of the Eclectic physicians and their lasting influence on modern herbal medicine. Drawing from more than five decades of clinical practice, David discusses specific indications, individualized herbal care, vitalism, and the importance of understanding both the person and the plant when choosing a remedy.
The conversation considers how traditional clinical knowledge can continue to inform modern herbal practice without becoming rigid or outdated. David reflects on the value of careful observation, pattern recognition, and experience, while offering insight into how herbalists can carry forward the strengths of historical systems in a thoughtful and relevant way.
Medical astrologer, herbalist, and author Judith Hill joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the long-standing relationship between astrology, medicine, and the rhythms of the natural world. Drawing from decades of study and practice, Judith introduces the foundations of medical astrology and considers how planetary patterns, lunar cycles, and timing have historically been used to better understand health and healing.
The conversation moves from the history of astrological medicine into its practical application, including remedy timing, planetary transits, constitutional patterns, and the ways astrology can add another layer of individualization to herbal practice. Judith also shares some of the more unusual areas of her research, inviting listeners to consider how celestial and earthly patterns may be more interconnected than we often assume.
Clinical herbalist and educator Yarrow Willard joins the Wild Rose Podcast to reflect on a lifetime spent learning from plants. Through stories of seasonal living, intuitive practice, community herbalism, and his own journey along the plant path, Yarrow explores what it means to develop a relationship with herbal medicine that goes beyond simply memorizing actions and constituents.
The conversation looks at learning through experience, paying attention to place, and allowing a herbal practice to evolve over time. Yarrow also reflects on the role of community, observation, and direct relationship with the natural world in shaping a deeper and more enduring understanding of plant medicine.
Herbalist, teacher, and community clinician 7Song joins the Wild Rose Podcast to share lessons from decades of practising herbal medicine in clinics, classrooms, and first-aid settings. Known for his practical, direct approach, 7Song reflects on what it means to meet people where they are and use herbal medicine in ways that are useful, accessible, and grounded in real-world experience.
The conversation explores community herbalism, first aid, clinical decision-making, and the value of learning through direct observation. 7Song also speaks to the importance of adaptability, curiosity, and service, offering a perspective on herbal practice shaped by years of working closely with both plants and people.
Clinical herbalist and holistic nutritionist Carley McConkey joins the Wild Rose Podcast to explore the relationship between food, herbs, energetics, and everyday wellness. Drawing from her own path into herbalism, Carley shares how nourishment, plant medicine, and deeper awareness of the body can work together to support health in a practical and sustainable way.
The conversation touches on flower essences, hormonal health, food as medicine, and the importance of understanding each person as an individual. Carley offers a grounded perspective on building a relationship with the body, listening to its signals, and using herbs and nutrition as supportive tools rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.
Your herbal journey doesn’t stop here.
Step into the Herbal Village and surround yourself with education, inspiration, and a vibrant plant-loving community. Inside, you’ll find plant monographs, herbal webinars, medicine-making masterclasses, and a supportive forum where herbalists of all levels connect, learn, and grow together. Whether you’re just beginning or deepening your practice, there’s a place for you here.