Roots Revealed

By Beans

Join me as we dive deep into the story of plants, tracing their origins, exploring surrounding folklore, their influence on art and history, and rounding off with interesting medicinal and scientif

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FAQs about Roots Revealed:

How many episodes does Roots Revealed have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.

Roots Revealed episodes:

July 14, 2026The Salem Witch Trials: Did a Fungus Cause It?
In 1692, twenty people were put to death in a small Puritan village for something that never really happened: witchcraft. For over three hundred years, people have blamed this on fear, superstition, and social pressure. But what if the real cause weren't witches or demons? What if it was something in their bread? This is the story of Salem witch trials, and of ergot fungus that may have started it all.
Episode artwork: Witch Hill (The Salem Martyr)- sourced from wikimedia
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Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
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*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
16min
June 08, 2026The King of Fruits: A History of the Mango
Why is the mango hailed across the globe as the "King of Fruits"? Simple Answer: Its history is a vibrant tale of trade, cultural migration, and royal obsession. In this episode, we trace the journey of the mango from its wild origins in South Asia to its status as a global culinary icon. Learn about the legends, folklore, and horticultural history that cemented its status on the throne of fruits.
*I'm re-releasing this episode because it remains one of my personal favourites. It has a fascinating history that I didn't know about, and I enjoyed learning amazing facts during content curation. Also, since it's mango season, a re-release felt fitting.
Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
18min
May 26, 2026Rosemary: The Herb of Remembrance and Ancient Folklore
Most people know rosemary as a kitchen herb. Something you strip from a sprig and toss over roasted potatoes. But for most of human history, it meant something else entirely. In this episode delve into the ancient folklore surrounding this aromatic herb, explaining why it was carried at weddings and funerals alike. Listen to the botanical history behind why civilisations from the Mediterranean to the modern day have associated rosemary with the human mind and memory.
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Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
18min
April 28, 2026Ancient Aphrodisiacs: The Dangerous History of Plants
For centuries, humans have scoured the botanical world in search of plants that spark desire. But this pursuit often came with a heavy price. In this episode, we explore the dangerous history of ancient aphrodisiacs, examining the plants that were prized for their potency and feared for their toxicity.
Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
19min
March 05, 2026The Date: A Story of Time, Faith & Science
If you’ve ever walked through a desert oasis or browsed a market in the Middle East, you’ve seen them: towering palms that seem to defy the harshness of the sun. But the story of how this tree became the "Tree of Life" for millions is a fascinating detective story involving ancient DNA, archaeological mystery, and sacred tradition.
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Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
19min
February 02, 2026The Real Cost of Your Valentine's Day Flowers
What is the real cost of your Valentine's flowers?
This episode uncovers the environmental damage and worker exploitation linked to cut-flowers from Kenya and Ethiopia. We shine a light on the use of harmful pesticides, low wages, and sexual harassment in a crisis that stays out of sight. Learn why these symbols of love often come at the cost of human dignity and environmental health.
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Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
17min
January 18, 2026Tulips: Stolen Bulbs, Ottoman Obsession & How They Conquered the World
What better way to start the new year with the flower that represents fresh starts? Today we're looking at the tulip-a sign of hope and renewal.
When you imagine a tulip, you likely think of the Netherlands, but its path to becoming a Dutch icon involves empires, continents, and a midnight robbery.
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Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
17min
December 12, 2025Christmas Trees and Their Forgotten History, Myths & Folklore
Note: This episode has been re-released with improved audio quality.
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In the chilly winter of 1604, in the Alsatian town of Strasbourg, snow blankets the rooftops and candlelight glows through frosted windows. Inside a home stands a fir tree adorned with paper roses, apples, and sweetmeats. This is the earliest recorded Christmas tree, a tradition destined to become a universal symbol of Christmas joy.
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Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
20min
November 25, 2025Victorian Cemeteries: How Grief Transformed the Way We Bury Our Dead
Death was a constant shadow in the Victorian era. But faced with overflowing graveyards and rampant disease, the Victorians didn't just despair—they transformed grief into art.
They looked at the grim, crowded churchyards of their cities and asked a radical question: what if a cemetery wasn't just a place for the dead, but a beautiful, healing garden for the living?
___________________________________
Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
14min
September 07, 2025Silent Assassins: A History of Plants Used As Poisons
Content warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of poisoning, historical murders, and gruesome physical symptoms. Listener discretion is advised.
From ancient assassinations to modern crimes, poisonous plants have quietly shaped history. They've toppled rulers, settled scores, and ironically, become life-saving medicines.
In today’s episode, we will unearth the sinister plants that turned ordinary hands into instruments of death.
___________________________________
Support the show
Join The Newsletter 📩 Get a wild historical fact, a fascinating science tidbit, a botanical quiz & much more to your inbox. Subscribe for free: https://rootsrevealed.org/#newsletter
____________________________________________________
*Royalty-free BGM "Clear Waters" Easy Lemon" ''Parting of Ways'' from incompetech.com
**Royalty-free BGM from pixabay.com
***Podcast logo is designed by me
_____________________________________________________
Got feedback or suggestions?💬 I’d love to hear from you! Drop a message at [email protected]
Episode Details & Website
Find full show notes for every episode: https://rootsrevealed.org/episodes
Visit the official website: https://rootsrevealed.org
Read strange and fascinating plant stories: https://rootsrevealed.org/the-peculiar-herbarium
...more
23min

FAQs about Roots Revealed:

How many episodes does Roots Revealed have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.