In this episode, I sit down with my brother, a longtime social worker who’s spent years on the ground in both Montana and Pennsylvania, to talk about The Preventionist, the newest podcast from Serial Productions—and why its themes hit so close to home for him.

We dig into the realities of frontline social work, from crisis response to the day-to-day responsibilities of Youth and Protective Services. My brother offers an inside look at what the job really entails, what most people misunderstand, and why prevention work rarely gets the spotlight it deserves.

We also break down Pennsylvania’s Chafee Program and the ongoing effort to grant social workers first-responder status in the state. It’s a conversation about power, policy, and the people who fall through the cracks when systems don’t work the way they should. Along the way, we raise a call to action: contact your state representatives and local officials to advocate for better funding, smarter policy, and a more humane support system—because no single doctor, agency, or authority should hold disproportionate power over a young person’s future.

If you’ve ever wondered what social workers actually do, why prevention matters, or how to get involved in meaningful change, this episode opens the door.

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This week we’re stepping into the aromatic, ancient, wildly abundant world of the Mint family — Lamiaceae. From basil and thyme to peppermint and oregano, these herbs show up in our kitchens, gardens, and history books — but most people don’t realize just how medicinal and powerful they truly are.

In this episode we explore:

🌿 What makes a mint a mint

🌿 Latin binomials + why they matter

🌿 How to store fresh herbs for maximum life + potency

🌿 What to look for when buying dried herbs

🌿 Volatile oils, terpenes, flavor profiles + medicine

🌿 Peppermint vs. spearmint (and when to use each)

🌿 Basil, oregano, sage + thyme as everyday healing allies

🌿 Myth + story: Minthe, Hades & the herb of hospitality

🌿 How to prepare teas + tinctures safely

The mint family is one of the most useful herbal lineages, offering digestive relief, respiratory support, emotional grounding, culinary beauty, and some of the highest antioxidant activity of any common herb.

If you’ve ever reached for mint tea, sprinkled oregano on pizza, or made fresh pesto— this episode will help you see those plants with new eyes and deeper reverence.

Listen in, sip something mint tea, and let the aromatics open you to a whole new world.

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Recorded round-table style in Paul’s studio, Paul, Jay, and the crew dig into ICE brutality, shifting attitudes toward the Second Amendment, and why more marginalized communities are turning to firearms for protection.

We talk poverty, racism, the farm industry, SNAP benefits, climate-driven insurance spikes, and the growing disaster risks facing countries like the Philippines.

We close with a big question for listeners—especially Trump voters: Did this administration deliver what you expected?

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This week, we explore the medicine of tryptophan — the amino acid most will be consuming in the form of turkey this week, but did you know its the precursor for two main alkaloids many take supplements and pills for…. From plants to mushrooms, from body to spirit, we dive into how this amino acid becomes an invitation back into connection with the world around you and the world within you. We talk about slowing down, listening inward, and carving out sacred space for yourself — especially during a season that pushes us to spend more, do more, and rush more.

Instead, let this be a reminder to return to presence, to your breath, and to the people and moments that matter most.

And for those ready to deepen their herbal journey, I’m offering 30% off everything on my website — a gift to support your rituals, your wellness, and your sovereignty. Stayt Savage.

✨ Shop the apothecary: www.savagesoulsbotaniks.com/shop

🌿 Connect with me on Instagram: @savagesoulsbotaniks

Take what you need, sip slowly, and stay connected to the season, the plants, and yourself.

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In this episode, we dive into the messy, confusing, and downright frustrating landscape of modern American responsibility and politics. We start with a sliding scale of responsibility around guns—who’s using them, who’s misusing them, and how recent stories (including that wild Netflix Greatest Neighbor doc) expose the contradictions in “stand your ground” culture. From homeowners firing at federal agents in unmarked vans to communities slipping into racialized fear, we ask: if no one is actually using their Second Amendment the way it was intended, what’s the point?

From there, we explore the historical contrasts between the Black Panthers and modern white nationalist movements, with nods to Michael Moore’s documentaries and how they still echo today. Then we shift to the political arena, where we talk about Democrats being… well, a bust. From their refusal to back candidates like Zorhan to their broader pattern of performative politics, we ask whether small-town organizing and real town halls—Bernie-style—might be the only way out.

We wrap by tackling government responsibility: why are we paying taxes while people wait endlessly for basics like SNAP benefits? What does “representation” even mean when the people in charge won’t deliver on the essentials?

It’s a conversation about the strange sourdough rise of American modernity.

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In this week’s episode, we wander into the ancient, aromatic world of rosemary — an herb of memory, protection, and vitality. I share why this resilient little needle-leafed guardian has been treasured for centuries, from kitchen witchery to energetic cleansing to supporting the brain, nervous system, respiratory, skin, and spirit.

We pause with Shakespeare’s timeless line from A Midsummer Night’s Dream:

“There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance.”

I also break down how to work with rosemary in daily ritual, herbal practice, and simple home remedies…and at the end, I gift you a rosemary fire cider recipe, infused with kitchen alchemy and seasonal spice.

✨ Come Find Me:

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Website: https://savagesoulsbotaniks.com

Leave a rating & review & send a screen shot for a free tea <3

P.S. - I HAVE MERCH NOW!

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In this special crossover episode, guest host Paul Brown — barbershop owner, life insurance pro, and creator of It’s Always Personal in Philadelphia — jumps in to co-host and open up his studio as we sit down with someone we both know from North Star Mixed Martial Arts: Jay.

When I first walked into North Star MMA, I wasn’t there to make friends.

Hood up, earbuds in, train hard, go home. That was the entire plan.

But then there was Jay — the human contradiction to my antisocial gym routine. Loud, outgoing, endlessly positive, and somehow always able to pull you out of your shell. Within weeks he had me at my first Korean hot pot. Months later, he had become one of the most genuine connections I’d made in adulthood.

But behind Jay’s energy is a story that doesn’t show on the mats.

A story that weighed over 300 pounds at its heaviest.

One that now stands at 166 — but the real fight was never on the scale.

From early relapses to moments of doubt, from fighting in the cage to fighting in your own head, Jay shares a brutally honest look at what it really takes to rebuild a life — not just a body.

We wrap with reflections on self-worth, advice for anyone feeling stuck, and what work is still ahead.

This isn’t a weight-loss episode.

It’s a human one.

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In this episode, I dive deep into Crataegus spp., the beloved hawthorn — an herb, well technically tree of the heart, both physically and energetically. From easing grief and heartbreak to strengthening the cardiovascular system, hawthorn has long been a bridge between emotional and physical healing.

I share folklore, personal stories, and ways to work with hawthorn through tea, syrup, and solid extract — plus why she’s become a lifelong ally in my own heart health journey.

Tune in to learn how this sweet, thorny tree can help mend the heart, calm the nerves, and infuse your daily rituals with love and resilience. 💗

🎧 Available now on Spotify + Apple Podcasts

🌿 www.savagesoulsbotaniks.com | @savagesoulsbotaniks

In this episode, we sit down with Dalton Dreihaus — better known online as someidiotwithawrench — to dig into what it really means to be working class in America today. From the garage to the grain field, Dalton brings a no-BS perspective on how car culture, farming, and labor have all been twisted by modern narratives.

We talk about how the working class — the original left — built the foundation for fair labor laws, the 40-hour work week, and the right to live with dignity. We dive into everything from coal miners’ fights against company towns and mining scripts to today’s farmers being squeezed by soybean shortages and cuts to SNAP and WIC benefits.

This isn’t about politics — it’s about survival, solidarity, and remembering who built this country from the ground up. Dalton’s raw honesty reminds us that being “blue collar” isn’t an aesthetic — it’s a history of resistance.

We built this city on rock n’ roll.

👉 Follow Dalton on YouTube and Instagram: @someidiotwithawrench

🎥 Watch him on YouTube: @@someidiotwithawrenchSomeIdiotWithaWrench

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What’s in a name?

In this episode, I share the heart and meaning behind Savage Souls Botaniks — where it came from, and what it truly stands for. We dive into the deeper layers of the health care industry, the patterns of the American diet, and why herbal healing, though it may take longer, offers a gentler, more sustainable path toward true wellness. I also touch on practical ways to avoid health care debt and reclaim your sovereignty over your own body and healing journey.

🌿 Learn more or shop at www.savagesoulsbotanik.com

💚 Connect with me on Instagram @savagesoulsbotaniks