Can you believe we’ve made it to 200 episodes of the Herbs with Rosalee podcast?!

Week after week, I get to sit in the host’s chair—asking the questions, guiding the conversation, and shining the spotlight on other herbalists (and the plants we love). Honestly, it’s one of my favorite things to do.

So when we realized the 200th episode was coming up, we knew it had to be something different.

At first, someone suggested I should be the one in the hot seat. My reaction? Hard no. Absolutely not.

But the idea kept tugging at me… and eventually, I caved.

And! If anyone was going to flip the script and interview me, it had to be my dear friend Mason Hutchison from HerbRally. Not only do I love his hosting skills, Mason knows me better than most people on this planet—which meant he could ask the kinds of questions I’d never think to ask myself.

And wow… he did.

We laughed over bloopers, looked back at how the show has grown, and talked about the ways podcasting has stretched me—not just as an herbalist, but as a person.

I shared stories about my ever-evolving plant path—from activism, to my early days with herbs, to how UTIs (yes, really!) shaped my herbal journey in surprising ways. We also pulled back the curtain on what goes into producing this podcast, and chatted about some of the threads that run through my life right now: walking, strength training, friendship, grief, and resilience.

There are also a few surprises in there - one that left me in tears.

But! No spoilers! You’ll just have to watch the show. (And I DO recommend watching this one as there’s lots of entertaining b-roll going on.)

It was one of those conversations that felt both light and deep at the same time. I’m so grateful to share it with you—and to be celebrating 200 episodes together.

Here’s a peek at what we covered:

► Why most podcasts don’t make it past seven episodes—and what it really took for me to reach 200

► How creating a podcast has shaped me as an herbalist and educator

► The behind-the-scenes teamwork that goes into every single episode

► How my dad’s adventurous spirit and my mom’s ethnobotanical work continue to shape my life today

► How getting arrested as a young activist eventually led me deeper into herbalism (and guided me toward a gentler, less in-your-face approach to bringing herbalism to people!)

► and so much more…

For this episode, I also have to give a big shout-out to YOU. Truly, this podcast wouldn’t exist without you listening, sharing, and showing up week after week. Your enthusiasm for the show is what keeps me going.

And a special thank-you to all of my students here at Herbs with Rosalee—you make it possible for us to keep producing the podcast.

An extra-special nod goes to our Podcast Circle members, whose direct support means so much. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you.

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Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com

You can find Mason at HerbRally.com.

For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram!

Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter.

If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone...

What happens when a playful kid turns dandelion fluff into mischief?

Spoiler alert—those days of early herbal mischief may just turn into a lifelong passion for the plant world, as it did for my good friend Mason Hutchison.

In this episode, Mason discusses the many virtues of the much-maligned (though not in the herbal world!) dandelion, Taraxacum officinale. From stories of childhood antics to his first taste of this “gateway herb,” Mason shares how dandelion has shaped his path as an herbalist and community builder. Along the way, we taste-test dandelion creations (all delicious, though some are decidedly bitter!), dive into its surprising nutritional and medicinal powers, and celebrate the joy this sunny little plant brings. You’ll never look at a patch of dandelions the same way again!

Along with several other tasty dandelion beverages, Mason and I said cheers over a warm cup of my Spiced Dandelion-Chicory Herbal Brew. This is a new recipe that I’ve never shared before—and a personal favorite of mine!

Check out the beautifully illustrated recipe card here, and enjoy this crowd-pleasing dandelion drink with your own friends!

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► How to tell dandelion apart from its many look-alike cousins

► The many nutritional and medicinal benefits of dandelion roots, leaves, stems, and flowers

► One fun way to work with dandelion seeds (aside from the inevitable wish-making, of course!)

► The surprising reason behind dandelion’s French nickname, “pissenlit”

► and so many other reasons to love this humble weed!

For those of you who don’t know him, Mason Hutchison is the founder of HerbRally, an herbal community hub that promotes herbalism education and events. He is also the host of The Herbalist Hour, a podcast and YouTube series where he interviews a diverse array of plant people. Mason is a proud father, avid chess, basketball and ping pong player, spring water gatherer, and an enthusiast in the art of frugal nutrition.

I’m so excited to share our conversation—and plenty of dandelion love—with you today!

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Get full show notes, transcript, and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com

You can find Mason at HerbRally.com.

For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram!

Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter.

If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it!

On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health.

Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com.

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Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book

What hidden stories of women are tucked inside this humble herb—linking old folklore, a touch of alchemy, and even today’s healing practices?

My guest today, Alyssa Dennis, invites us into the world of lady’s mantle (Alchemilla spp.), a plant whose cloak-shaped leaves hold both practical healing gifts and threads of ancient story. From her experiences in urban herbal sanctuaries to a life-changing encounter on the sacred isle of Iona, Alyssa shares how this humble herb invites us to see plants not just as remedies, but as storytellers and companions on the path of reconnection.

Alyssa’s favorite way to work with lady’s mantle is as a tincture, using just the right amount of glycerin to sweeten it up and draw out the toning, astringent nature of the plant. You’ll find a beautifully-illustrated recipe card for Alyssa’s Lady’s Mantle Tincture here.

By the end of this episode, you’ll know:

► Why lady’s mantle is such a trusted ally for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum healing

► How the downy leaves of lady's mantle collect dew—and why alchemists once revered this process

► What makes lady’s mantle both an ancient wound healer and a modern digestive ally

► How myth, folklore, and modern ecology can come together to shape our understanding of plants

► and so much more…

For those of you who don’t know her, Alyssa Dennis is a dedicated earth activist, educator, interdisciplinary artist, and clinical herbalist devoted to the movements of peace, justice, and ecological kinship. Her work has been to reawaken to her ancestral traditions of plant medicine in order to guide her community back into relationship with the living world.

Alyssa has two fine art degrees, advanced training in clinical herbalism, and spent years within the natural building profession. She is the founder of Eclipta Herbal and steward of a vibrant herbal sanctuary in Baltimore City—a living classroom home to over 100 species of medicinal plants (and counting). This space is a heart-centered venture of ecological conservation—of both the human body and the land body—which serves as gathering ground for plant medicine education, community building, earth skills workshops, and collaboration.

I can’t wait to share our conversation with you today!

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Get full show notes and more information at: herbswithrosaleepodcast.com

For more behind-the-scenes of this podcast, follow @rosaleedelaforet on Instagram!

Working successfully with herbs requires three essential skills. Get introduced to them by taking my free herbal jumpstart course when you sign up for my newsletter.

If you enjoy the Herbs with Rosalee podcast, we could use your support! Please consider leaving a 5-star rating and review and sharing the show with someone who needs to hear it!

On the podcast, we explore the many ways plants heal, as food, as medicine, and through nature connection. Each week, I focus on a single seasonal plant and share trusted herbal knowledge so that you can get the best results when using herbs for your health.

Learn more about Herbs with Rosalee at herbswithrosalee.com.

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Rosalee is an herbalist and author of the bestselling book