WYLDE, the podcast about foraging and herbalism in Europe

Recorded at the 10th-anniversary meetup of the Association Of Foragers, host Lieve Galle sits down with a diverse panel of wild food experts: Fern Freud, Richard Mawby, Nic Roams, Łukasz Łuczaj, and Monica Wilde.

This special episode explores the profound physical and mental shifts that happen when we return to wild spaces.

We dive into the hard science of the Wild Biome Project, revealing how our gut bacteria actually adapts to process wild plants. The conversation also unpacks the cultural phenomenon of "herbophobia" (the fear of eating wild greens), the emotional toll of media backlash against foragers, and the powerful necessity of finding a supportive, non-competitive "tribe".

Whether you are a professional herbalist, a passionate weekend forager, or someone who simply feels crushed by the expectations of modern society, this episode offers a deep sigh of relief.

You will hear fascinating historical and scientific insights, while also discovering why simply spending time in nature is the ultimate antidote to a disconnected world.

Listen in to find out why foraging isn't just about picking food, it's about reclaiming an ancient birthright and falling back in love with the land.

Follow The Association Of Foragers on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/association_of_foragers/
Or find more information here: https://foragers-association.org/

In this episode you heard:
Fern Freud https://www.instagram.com/foraged.by.fern/
Nic Roams https://www.instagram.com/nicroams/
Łukasz Łuczaj https://www.instagram.com/thewildfood/
Richard Mawby https://www.instagram.com/foragefrolics/
Monica Wilde https://www.instagram.com/monicawilde/

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation

I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe. If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.

You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.
You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart

music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Gabrijela Vrbetić is the passionate founder of "It Is Gaby's Garden" where she hosts wild plant workshops and sells products made with freshly foraged herbs. She's also a proud member of the Croation Botanical Society.
Growing up in a farming family, with an uncle who was a sailor, she developed a deep love for nature and traditional herbal medicine from a young age.

Join is in this wonderful conversation.

About her unique approach to foraging.

About witchcraft and herbal medicine in the Balkan region.

About the legal framework for foraging and practicing herbal medicine in Croatia.

About foraging in real life compared to what you see on social media.

About the grey area in toxicity of plants and toxic plant stories.

And lots more.

You can find out more about Gaby and her work on the website:
https://itisgabysgarden.com/
Or follow Gaby on Instagram @itisgabysgarden

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation

I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe. If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.

You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.
You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart

music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Eleni Bourou is a pharmacist, herbalist, and plant storyteller from Greece.
Her work moves between the clinical and the intuïtive, the ancestral and the contemporary. For the past 15 years Eleni has cultivated a unique practice in foraging, transforming plants into remedies, and creating experiences that guide people back to their bodies and to the land.

Join us in this lively conversation.

About the added value of having a background in both pharmacy and herbalism.

About the intimacy of foraging and building a relationship with plants.

About how important it is to share knowledge and talk to people, the basic botanical knowledge of the Greeks, and where to go for formal herbal education in Greece.

About the black and white thinking about toxicity of plants.

About how alternative medicine is actually traditional medicine.

About the legal framework around practicing herbalism in Greece, and quality control on herbal products.

About Eleni's hopes and dreams for foraging in Europe and te consequences of climate change.

And lots more.

You can follow Eleni on Instagram @officinalis.drogeriii

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation

I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe. If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.

You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.
You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart

music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Columbia Hillen is a herbalist whose journey bridges the ancient herbal traditions of Romania and the wild rich landscapes of Ireland. She's the founder of Anamcara Healing Herbs Garden in Donegal.
She grew up in Transylvania where herbs and spices are traditionally important in both food and medicine, and is now on a mission in Ireland to help people rediscover and trust all that is around them, and teach them that medicine starts with food.

We hope to inspire you too with this tasty conversation.

About how Columbia's grandmother never used medicine, only herbal teas.

About how moving to Ireland and getting to know Nikki Darrell opened a new world for her. (Nikki was a guest on episode 12)

About getting people to trust herbs again and how medicine starts with food.

About Romanian folk traditions and herbal remedies vs modern medicine, and how that is opposite to Belgium and Ireland.

About plants growing where they are needed.

About challenges and opportunities for herbalism in Europe.

About how also being a photographer influences how she looks at plants.

And lots more.

You can find out more about Columbia and her work on these websites:
Her herbalist website: https://www.anamcarahealingherbs.com/
Her writing retreat website: https://www.irelandwritingretreat.com/
Her photography website: https://www.columbiahillenphotography.com/

Or follow her on Instagram @anamcaraherbalgarden or Facebook.

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation

I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe. If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.

You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.
You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart

music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.

Rita Roquette is the founder of Bloom Sativum, a botanical initiative in Portugal that bridges traditional herbal knowledge with contemporary practice. With a deep passion for plant medicine, Rita cultivates, crafts, educates, and helps you to embrace your wild side.

Join us in celebrating the healing power of herbs in this wonderful conversation.

About growing up as a city girl but spending weekends and holidays in rural Portugal.

About agroforestry, regenerative agriculture, and working with the different ecosystems in the garden and on the farm.

About the general herbal knowledge in Portugal and the ongoing little rituals in daily life.

About how people in Portugal are connected to plants through family names and place names.

About folk herbalism and herbal education.

About the future of herbalism in Portugal, and how more popularity comes with more restrictions.

About Rita's favourite local plants to work with.

And lots more.

You can find out more about Rita and her work on https://bloomsativum.wixsite.com/bloom-sativum
Or follow her on Instagram @bloomsativum

Support us so we can continue the WYLDE Podcast series, a living archive for foragers & herbalist across Europe.

https://whydonate.com/fundraising/wylde-podcast-donation

I'm looking for more interesting guests to talk about European herbalism and foraging in Europe. If you know anyone that would be perfect for this podcast, please let me know.

You can find me on Instagram @wildplantforager, and on Facebook.
You can also find more about me or contact me through my website www.wildplantforager.com
But please don't hang around online for too long. Go outside, and follow your wild heart

music by Eva LaRuna

Disclaimer:
The information in the WYLDE podcast has been compiled with the utmost care. We try to keep it as current, complete and accurate as possible, yet no rights can be derived from this podcast episode.
We accept no liability for: direct or indirect damages resulting from possible errors and omissions, the content of linked websites, or the opinions of interviewed guests.
Please take into account that transcripts were automatically created by A.I. and may contain mistakes.
The content of this podcast in no way replaces personal medical advice or treatment by doctors and other medical professionals.