The Frontline Herbalism Podcast

Content warning - explicit references to state violence, murder, torture, raids, imprisonment

This episode is an interview with Boris (he/him) from Anarchist Black Cross Belarus (ABC) about life under dictatorship, solidarity and resistance. We talk about what the reality of dictatorship means and how even under dictatorship, collective solidarity is impossible to destroy. Boris shares how ‘violence spread like a wildfire’ in response to the uprising in 2020 and the different forms of ongoing state violence people are experiencing. We talk about the horrific prison conditions in Belarus, intergenerational trauma from Soviet authoritarianism, and life in the diaspora. We talk about the importance of solidarity and how people can support the work of Belarus ABC, who have been supporting repressed, arrested and imprisoned anarchists, anti-fascists and social activists since 2009.

Links & resources from this episode

• ABC Belarus website
• Donate to ABC Belarus
• Become a supporter
• Merchandise
• Write to a prisoner
• Telegram
• Twitter
• Instagram

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

In this episode, Nicole (she/her) shares five reasons to join the Herbalism, PTSD and Traumatic Stress course which is closing for enrolment on Thursday 2nd November 10pm BST!

She shares more about the course, why it matters and why it can be transformational for folks working through it.

Links & resources from this episode

• Herbalism, PTSD and Traumatic Stress Course

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

In this episode, Nicole (she/her) talks about herbal support for panic attacks. We explore what is a panic attack and why they happen, how to reduce activation in the sympathetic nervous system and how plant medicines can support this. We look at herbs that can be taken acutely during a panic attack, as well as those that can help prevent panic attacks by nourishing the nervous system ongoingly.

Links & resources from this episode

• Herbalism, PTSD and Traumatic Stress Course (closes 2nd November)
• Episode 49 - 5 Kinds of Nervines
• Making Herbal Medicine with Glycerine Workshop

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

In this episode, Nicole (she/her) introduces nervines - herbs with an affinity for the nervous system. We explore the differences between five kinds of nervines - Relaxant nervines, Hypnotic nervines, Nerve Tonics, Cardiac nervines and Stimulating nervines. Learn what these herbal actions mean and why they are so important to herbalists and anyone experiencing PTSD or ongoing traumatic stress.

Content warning - brief references to prison, suicide, sexual trauma, non-consensual sedation, psychiatric imprisonment

Links & resources from this episode

• Solidarity with Palestine: What can you do
• Herbalism, PTSD and Traumatic Stress Course (closes 2nd November)

This episode is an interview with Cyree Jarelle Johnson (he/him) from the organisation Sins Invalid that is a disability justice based performance project that incubates and celebrates artists with disabilities, centralising artists of colour and LGBTQ / gender-variant artists as communities who have been historically marginalised. Cyree also describes Sins Invalid as a think tank.

In this episode we explore Sins Invalid’s framework and principles on disability justice, why the disability justice movement must be led by disabled people of colour, and disabled queer and gender non-conforming people, how disability relates to trauma and what ‘Nobody left behind’ looks like in practice. We talk about how capitalism is disabling and antithetical to disability justice, connections with the climate crisis and more. Cyree also shares about his herbal studies, love of mushrooms and tarot practice! Plus so much more!

Links & resources from this episode

Sins Invalid’s Links

• Free Email Course: Crip Crash Course
• Sins Invalid Website
• Skin, Tooth, and Bone: The Basis of Movement is Our People, Disability Justice Primer
• Sins Invalid Youtube

Cyree Jarelle Johnson’s Links

• Website
• Slingshot Poetry book
• Collective Cartomancy

Other links mentioned in this episode

• Herbalism, PTSD and Traumatic Stress Course (closes 2nd November)

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

This episode is an interview with Diffwys Criafol (she/her) a former anarchist organiser, mother and writer who is writing in order to process class-related trauma and how our social movements are so anthemic to working class people. 

In this episode we discuss narratives around class, how they can flatten people’s experiences, concepts such as the underclass and how people can co-occupy several oppressions and desperate situations that are barriers to making life stable. We talk about how class and trauma are completely intertwined and what ‘recovery’ is meant to mean when in active trauma and when trauma is not just in the past. Finally we touch on solidarity and redistributing resources and how to challenge a class based society. Plus so much more!

Links & resources from this episode

• https://twitter.com/DiffwysCriafol
• https://diffwys.substack.com/
• No Births Behind Bars
• Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress Course

Books mentioned in this episode

• Chav Solidarity, D. Hunter
• The Enemy is Middle Class, Andy Anderson
• Chavs, Owen Jones
• A Nation of Shopkeepers: The Unstoppable Rise of the Petty Bourgeoisie, Dan Evans 
• Trauma and Recovery, Judith Herman

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

Episode 46 of the Frontline Herbalism Podcast is an interview with Dr. Ghassan Hamdan of Palestinian Medical Relief Society (PMRS). PMRS is a grassroots NGO that's provided a much needed response to the medical crises caused by the occupation. PMRS' workers, like other Palestinian medical workers, are constantly targeted by the occupation forces. On top of providing medical care. PMRS has trained up thousands of people, building resilience to the occupation's attacks on the Palestinian people. Organisations like PMRS are a vital part of remaining steadfast against Israel's colonisation policies. 

This interview was originally published on the International Solidarity Movement Podcast and took place in December 2022. Due to the genocide happening in Gaza, it is being shared again on this platform to help generate solidarity for people in Palestine.

Links & resources from this episode

• Donate to the Palestinian Medical Relief Society
• Palestinian Medical Relief Society - @palestinianmedicalreliefsoc
• International Solidarity Movement - @ismpalestine
• Tinyurl.com/Palestinetexts - massive collective of resources curated by Palestinian woman @izdiharafyouni
• IMEU news from Palestine - @theimeu
• Adalah Justice Project - @adalahjusticeproject
• Youth of Sumud - @youthofsumud
• Palestinian Youth Movement - @palestinianyouthmovement
• Jewish Voice for Peace - @jewishvoiceforpeace
• Palestine Solidarity Campaign - @palestinesolidarityuk
• Palestine Action - @pal_action

Find the transcript of the main interview at: https://palsolidarity.org/2023/08/international-solidarity-movement-podcast-episode-8-building-autonomous-healthcare-in-palestine/

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

This super brief episode is just to announce that the Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress course is open for enrolment!!!

Links & resources from this episode

• Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress Course
• Previous podcast episode all about the course (episode 14)

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

This episode is an interview with Amani (she/her) all about trauma and chronic illness. We talk about her experiences with chronic illness, connections to childhood trauma, medical neglect and the effects of repeated hospitalisations. We talk about medical gaslighting, prejudice around chronic illness and what meaningful support and solidarity can look like. Plus so much more!

Links & resources from this episode

• Empty Uterus Club Instagram
• A talk by Amani with the Do Lectures
• Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress Course

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.

This episode is an interview with Aiyana Goodfellow (he/she/they) about age trauma, youth oppression and youth liberation. Aiyana is an abolitionist, writer, liberator and delinquent. We discuss their new book - INNOCENCE & CORRUPTION: An abolitionist understanding of youth oppression. 

We explore how children are some of the most at risk, coerced, and oppressed people on the planet. Grounded in their experiences of youth oppression as a Black teenager in the UK, we talk about family structures, the school system, youth imprisonment and the prison system, their delinquent philosophy and so much more! Finally, Aiyana shares some ideas about solidarity and how we can organise so that youth are liberated, safe, and empowered.

Content warning - references to child abuse, prison

Links & resources from this episode

• Aiyana’s website - https://aiyanagoodfellow.com/
• DELINQUENTS - https://delinquents.noblogs.org/
• The Anima Print - https://www.theanimaprint.org/
• Neuromancers - https://www.neuromancersmagazine.com/
• The Radical Companionship Project - https://www.radicalcompanionship.com/
• Aiyana’s instagram - https://www.instagram.com/aiyana.goodfellow/
• Why You Hate Kids Workshop on patriarchy and abuse coming up on October 1st - https://aiyanagoodfellow.com/whyyouhatekids/
• Herbalism, PTSD & Traumatic Stress Course

Find them all at solidarityapothecary.org/podcast/

Support the show

Music from Sole & DJ Pain – Battle of Humans | Plant illustrations by @amani_writes | In solidarity, please subscribe, rate & review this podcast wherever you listen.