Weird Nature: Why Trees Are Texting Us & Mushrooms Are Stealing Our Synth Gigs

The Big Five-Oh is here, Fellow Weirdos! 🎙️✨

To celebrate this monumental 50th episode milestone, we got aggressively fancy just for you!! Throwing on our finest wedding attire from three years ago (and yes, it still fits, thank you very much!), we raise a glass to 50 episodes of absolute chaos and setting our sights on 50 more.

But once the cheers are done we're diving deep under the topsoil and into the forest lore for an episode dedicated entirely to Weird and Whimsical Nature.

In this episode, we explore:

• The Woodwide Web 🌲: Think trees are just standing there looking pretty? Think again. We break down the subterranean secret society of mycelium networks, how matriarchal "Mother Trees" act as central Wi-Fi routers to feed struggling saplings, and why tree gossip includes literal airborne panic signals to ruin a bug's dinner plans.
• Texting a 200-Year-Old Tree 📱: The mind-blowing tech from Trinity College Dublin using bioelectrical sensors and self-contained AI "cyberdecks" to translate tree vibes into text messages.
• The Mushroom Synthesizer Concert 🍄⌨️: How musicians capture the natural biological electricity of mushrooms to drive robotic arms that physically play keyboards. 
• The World's Weirdest Flora 🌺: From the rotting-flesh stench of the Corpse Flower to Venus Flytraps, South Asian dancing plants, and orchids that look exactly like monkey faces.
• The Witch’s Garden 🔮: A historical and botanical deep-dive into high-potency plants like Vervain (the metaphysical shield), Henbane (the infamous ingredient behind flying witch ointments... and broomsticks), Devil's Snare, Wolf's Bane, Wormwood, and Stevie's personal favourite, Mugwort (the ultimate lucid dreamweaver).

Grab your local flora, practice some forest bathing, and get ready to have your minds completely blown by the thin line separating historical witchcraft from modern botany.

Note: The pod is taking a quick summer breather for Canada Day next week, followed by our official August summer holiday. We'll see you back in July for a few more episodes before we prep for next season!

Want more Weirdos of Whimsy? Check out https://bio.site/weirdosofwhimsy to find everything in one place! From there, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel, grab some official merch, or follow us on Instagram to chat!

Have a bone-chilling story of your own? We want to hear it! Send your scary encounters to weirdosofwhimsy@gmail.com or DM us. Your story might just make it onto a future episode! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:00

And no, I'm not talking about grandma Grandma Grandma Grandmother Willow or Tree Beard from Lord of the Rings. This is straight up nature magic backed by science.

SPEAKER_00 0:10

Correct.

SPEAKER_03 0:11

Huzzah!

SPEAKER_00 0:12

For the trees!

SPEAKER_02 0:13

The trees are reading scrolls.

unknown 0:16

Oh my god.

SPEAKER_00 0:16

Amazing. So good. I was gonna say the Lorax. Oh, yeah. That's my favorite story, but I prefer what you said a lot more. The trees! The trees are reading the scrolls.

SPEAKER_01 0:57

You guessed it, Whimsica! Hi, my name is Jacqueline.

SPEAKER_03 1:01

And I'm Stevie.

SPEAKER_01 1:02

And welcome to our 50th episode. Big old 5-0. Um, this is why we're so dressed up for the episode.

SPEAKER_03 1:11

Fancy.

SPEAKER_01 1:12

We got really fancy. Um, we are wearing the attire that we wore to Steven and Dan's wedding. Yeah. Because why not?

SPEAKER_03 1:19

Um it has pretty much exactly. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:21

It has been how long waiting for you married?

SPEAKER_03 1:24

20 2023?

SPEAKER_01 1:26

2023.

SPEAKER_03 1:27

It'll be three years in September.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

Wild.

SPEAKER_03 1:29

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:29

Wild. So um, you know, still, still fits. This looks like it's a lot more stomach than it is. So I just wanted to say I'm gonna be turning towards Steven. Um, but no, I love, I love how when I'm standing, I love how this looks.

SPEAKER_03 1:44

And turns out we're both skinnier since the wedding.

SPEAKER_01 1:46

We're both skinnier since the wedding. Um, so that's great. But um, welcome. Welcome to our 50th episode. We are so excited that joined us for this. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 1:55

It's been 50 episodes.

SPEAKER_01 1:56

I'm I'm I'm shocked. 50.

SPEAKER_03 1:58

I will say 50 since the beginning. We did take a little break in the in between.

SPEAKER_01 2:02

But hey, yeah, it happened. 50th since we decided decided to do this little show.

SPEAKER_03 2:07

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 2:08

Um, and you know, as Steven mentioned, we did take a little break, but it is what it is. I mean, look at us now. We have the set, we have the audio, we have the dedicated time. Yeah, yeah. Set and audio, thank you so much for everything you do. Of course, thank you. Oh, please. No, it's it just makes it just makes it so much fun. It does. Right? We just love doing this. Um, and we're a great team. So thank you, Steven. Thank you. Okay, no problem. And thank you.

SPEAKER_03 2:32

Should we be doing our cheers now?

SPEAKER_01 2:34

Yeah, but I you gotta come to me because I'm gonna be able to do that. I'll come to you.

SPEAKER_03 2:36

I'll come to you. Hold on. I'm moving.

SPEAKER_01 2:38

I can't lift out my arms anymore. Yeah. So cheers. Cheers to 50 episodes. You got it, and here's to 50 more.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

50 more, be weirdos together. I love you.

SPEAKER_01 2:47

Love you, fellow weirdos, party people, cheers. Cheers to you. Mm-hmm. Fresh.

SPEAKER_03 2:54

Delicious, fresh. Fresh.

SPEAKER_01 2:56

I feel like I'm a doll. Like a doll.

SPEAKER_03 2:59

A dainty doll.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

I have this little headband that is obstructing my glasses, but that's fine. No, I'm not even gonna. Okay. Well, here we go.

SPEAKER_03 3:08

Um, first of all, I would like to say if you haven't already, go back and listen and download all the others from like their I I I guess first season. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:18

Are we saying seasons? We're calling it seasons. We're saying season.

SPEAKER_03 3:21

We appreciate your support.

SPEAKER_01 3:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:22

And what do you want to hear? Well, uh within the 50 episodes to come, what else would you like to hear us talk about?

SPEAKER_01 3:29

Yeah. Yeah, exactly. We want to hear from you. We want to hear from you. Um, let us know. Send it in, send in your stories, send in your recommendations.

SPEAKER_03 3:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:37

Um, tell us how cute you look.

SPEAKER_03 3:39

I think we look cute. We look really good. We look we don't just look cute, we look hot.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

We look hot.

SPEAKER_03 3:44

Hot and sophisticated.

SPEAKER_01 3:46

I did not do my hair, but I don't care. Me neither. Look at this. We look cute.

SPEAKER_03 3:49

I got a little curl going on. Embrace the curl.

SPEAKER_01 3:53

It looks amazing at you too. Um, so yay. Will you ever see us this dressed up again? Probably not.

SPEAKER_03 3:58

Probably not, but who knows?

SPEAKER_01 4:00

But you know, you never know. We'll see. Um, but yes, all comments are encouraged as long as they're nice. It better be. Which of course everyone will give us nice comments. Um, okay, well, let's move on to today's episode then. Seeing how it's the 50th and everything. Um CD? Yeah. I think you should introduce this because it's your world.

SPEAKER_03 4:18

Uh so today we are talking weird and whimsical and cool and fun and magical plants and nature.

SPEAKER_01 4:26

Yay, nature.

SPEAKER_03 4:27

What are we dubbing it? Like weird nature.

SPEAKER_01 4:29

Weird nature, I think. Yeah, is like what we've been going with.

SPEAKER_03 4:32

Weird and whimsical nature.

SPEAKER_01 4:33

Weird and whimsical nature. Yeah, we're gonna dive in. But before we do, I have a couple questions for you, Stevie. Ooh, okay. Yes, okay. So, as everybody knows, Stevie is the plant guy. Like you are your green witch, you are the plant daddy, you know, it's it's this is his world. So I have just three questions for you. It won't take long, I promise. But can you tell me and our listeners and viewers when did you become a plant lover?

SPEAKER_03 5:00

Oh my goodness. Okay, I do know this. So I would say before this happened, I obviously knew of plants. Great start.

SPEAKER_00 5:15

What a start.

SPEAKER_03 5:16

But I did not have a green thumb. Okay. I did not have a green thumb growing up for the longest time. But um, my grandma, Grammy, my dad's mom, um, shout out, Grammy, R. I P, love you, miss you. Um, she had a snake plant that I was gifted, given to. Forget how I had it. Um, but it started not looking so hot. Started kind of, it needed some repotting, it needed some love. So I I looked into how to repot it. Kind of I um split it up, I made it into two new plants, repotted them, you know, cared for them, and they bounced back and better than ever, I still have them upstairs. To this day. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 6:03

How long have you had it?

SPEAKER_03 6:04

Oh my god. Like uh 20 years at least. Maybe maybe maybe maybe a little shorter than that.

SPEAKER_01 6:13

That is incredible, but but like over a decade. Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_03 6:16

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:17

Wow.

SPEAKER_03 6:18

Um, so I repotted it, cared for it, they bounced back. And then I don't know. I like to think that it was her kind of energy and her energy and love coming through that it just kind of like all of a sudden, I was just like, I'm obsessed with plants.

SPEAKER_01 6:32

And the rest is host as they say. That's beautiful. What a special story. So this might be a tough question for you because you know you're not allowed to have favorites, but what is your favorite plant that you have?

SPEAKER_03 6:45

Oh my goodness. Okay.

SPEAKER_01 6:46

I do or at like you maybe, maybe you don't have it. What's your favorite plant, period?

SPEAKER_03 6:51

I love I love vining plants. Okay. I do love vining plants. Um there's this, I have a sa uh it's a satin pothos upstairs. It's like a dark moody green with like silver etchings on it.

SPEAKER_01 7:06

Pretty.

SPEAKER_03 7:06

That is very pretty. I love like I love a fern. But I think if we're talking I it's not a houseplant. Okay. But I love moss.

SPEAKER_01 7:19

Ooh, yes, yes, yes.

SPEAKER_03 7:21

Which we didn't add in here. Damn it. We need to like banter some of that.

SPEAKER_01 7:24

Um listen, that'll be all you because I know nothing. I know my dear friend named Moss. That's it.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

There you go. I just something about moss is so cool. And not the person, the plant. Yeah, exactly. Just kidding. I love moss. Moss is like the coolest thing ever. Moss and mushrooms are like some of my favorite. That's cool. Um they're also, fun fact, they are developing um this moss that grows on the sides of buildings in the city to keep things cool. And it's like the, you know, green nature revitalization programs and moss on the sides of buildings. I'm happy.

SPEAKER_01 8:03

Good. I'm happy that people exist in these kinds of powerful positions that can choose to do this because we need more of that. Also, we're gonna get a message from Moss being like, I just love how you just spoke about how cool I am this entire time. Exactly. It's just gonna happen. There you go. Well, that's really cool. What a share.

SPEAKER_03 8:21

I also love ferns. Ferns are great.

SPEAKER_01 8:23

Right. I do not know someone named Fern.

SPEAKER_03 8:26

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 8:27

Um, okay, and how many plants would you say you have right now in this entire home?

SPEAKER_03 8:31

Oh my goodness.

SPEAKER_01 8:33

Tough question. Tough question.

SPEAKER_03 8:36

I wanna say maybe off the top of my head. Yeah. I would say between 50 and 60.

SPEAKER_01 8:46

Ooh, baby.

SPEAKER_03 8:48

I'm thinking I'm going in that range. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 8:50

Well, they all have a place. Like you can't tell that you have 50 or 60 plants. They're all just so perfectly. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 8:56

Once you go upstairs to my office, that's when it the boom is there.

SPEAKER_01 8:59

It's so brilliant.

SPEAKER_03 9:00

Oh no, I I've redubbed it the study since I did my little revamp.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

Yeah, it's like we used to record this. We did, yeah. Um, what would you say you've like, what's the most you've had? If you could guess.

SPEAKER_03 9:13

Over a hundred.

SPEAKER_01 9:14

Yeah?

SPEAKER_03 9:15

Oh yeah.

SPEAKER_01 9:15

Nice.

SPEAKER_03 9:16

Oh yeah. There when I first started getting into it, I every plant person out there will know the like when you're first getting into it, you get excited. And you just go out and go wild at the nursery or greenhouse plant store, and you just buy everything. And I mean, it it's a lot of work. Sure. It's a lot of work. There's a lot of care that goes into it, and you'll start with a ton and then it will peter down a little. I love some plants, but they will die. You especially in my house.

SPEAKER_01 9:51

Steven comes over and he's like, oh, and before we do whatever we're supposed to do, or if it's just hanging or whatever, he like tends to my plants, deadheads them, waters them. He'll be like, you know, Jacqueline, I can tell that you're watering this plant in the exact same place every time. Stop doing that. Ah. Sprinkle it around. Right. Sprinkle it around. Steven it out. Yeah, yeah, yeah. P.S. I need you to come and do that again because they're hurting.

SPEAKER_03 10:12

So I will say, as much as I am like a plant guy, a lot of the plants I currently have thrive on a little bit of neglect. Really? I am, you know, I don't know if you've all noticed, but I am hardcore ADHD.

SPEAKER_00 10:25

I don't think we've ever mentioned that.

SPEAKER_03 10:26

Never. Um so yeah, it comes in waves. Sure. Sure. Understand.

SPEAKER_01 10:33

Well, thanks for answering some of those questions. Of course. Thanks, plant daddy. Of course. I know.

SPEAKER_03 10:38

Well, let's get into the episode. Let's get into it. So get ready to have your minds completely blown, fellow weirdos. Plants. Because today we are diving deep into the forest floor to talk about magical and musical mushrooms. Mushies. Love me some shroomies. And real life talking trees. It's a thing.

SPEAKER_01 10:59

It's a thing.

SPEAKER_03 10:59

It's a thing. It's real.

SPEAKER_01 11:00

It's real.

SPEAKER_03 11:01

And no, I'm not talking about grandma grandma. Grandmother Willow or Tree Beard from Lord of the Rings. This is straight up nature magic backed by science.

SPEAKER_01 11:11

Correct.

SPEAKER_03 11:12

Huzzah.

SPEAKER_01 11:13

And let's start with the trees. I speak for the trees.

SPEAKER_02 11:16

The trees are reading scrolls.

SPEAKER_00 11:20

Amazing. So good. I was going to say the Lorax. Oh, that's. That's my favorite story, but I prefer what you said a lot more. The trees! The trees are reading the scrolls.

SPEAKER_01 11:28

Um I just keep messing with this headband. I'm probably gonna take it off soon, but we'll see.

SPEAKER_03 11:34

I support whatever clothing choices you have.

SPEAKER_01 11:36

Thanks. Thanks, friend. Sorry, you were saying trees. Trees.

SPEAKER_03 11:40

Trees. Trees aren't just standing there looking pretty.

SPEAKER_01 11:44

Like us. Like us.

SPEAKER_03 11:46

They are part of a massive subterranean secret society, if you didn't know. They connect with each other through an underground web of fungi that scientists literally call, wait for it, the woodwide web. Adorable. Through this fungal internet, they trade gossip, share food, and look out for each other like the ultimate neighborhood watch.

SPEAKER_01 12:09

For sure.

SPEAKER_03 12:10

Trees are amazing.

SPEAKER_01 12:11

Amazing. Trees are incredible. I like them better than people.

SPEAKER_03 12:14

Oh my God. Agree.

SPEAKER_01 12:15

Here is how this gorgeous bizarre forest network actually operates. So let's look into the science of tree gossip. They're just like us.

SPEAKER_04 12:23

Yay.

SPEAKER_01 12:24

So beneath the dirt lies a massive microscopic web of fungal threads. Mycelium. Am I saying that right?

SPEAKER_03 12:29

Yeah. My the mycelium network.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Mycelium network. Um, plugging into the roots of different trees. So think of it as a massive underground fiber optic cable system where trees swap water, carbon, and nutrients. This is called the, I'm not going to get this one, mycorazol network.

SPEAKER_03 12:46

Mycorrisol network.

SPEAKER_01 12:47

Okay. So let's give it up for mother trees, which are a thing. Uh every forest has its matriarchs, the biggest, oldest trees acting as a central Wi-Fi routers, if you will. These mother trees use their deep roots and fungal connections to literally pump sugar and life support to tiny, struggling saplings trying to grow in the shade.

SPEAKER_03 13:07

Love that.

SPEAKER_01 13:07

Mother trees.

SPEAKER_03 13:08

Mother trees. So, what about communicating dangers? Turns out trees have airborne panic signals. If a tree starts getting chewed on by bugs, it doesn't just suffer in silence, it releases a cloud of warning pheromones into the breeze. Pretty cool. When the neighboring trees smell the danger, they immediately start pumping nasty tasting defensive chemicals into their own leaves to ruin the bugs' upcoming dinner plans.

SPEAKER_01 13:38

I wish women could do that about men.

SPEAKER_03 13:39

Oh my God. Truly though.

SPEAKER_01 13:42

Right? If someone's bothering you and you're like, I'm sending out a signal to the rest of these ladies around you to be like, stay away from me.

SPEAKER_03 13:47

Yeah. Oh my God. If only.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

Sorry, not sorry.

SPEAKER_03 13:51

I love it. I support it.

SPEAKER_00 13:53

Well, that's cool.

SPEAKER_03 13:54

Yeah, right? Get it, trees. Get it, trees. Uh, so we have uh giving the forest a literal voice. So because humans are beautifully weird and obsessed with nature.

SPEAKER_01 14:06

Especially if you're a viewer or listener.

SPEAKER_03 14:08

Yay. Uh, we've taken inspiration from this and decided to actually talk back.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

This is really cool. I did not know that this was happening. I didn't either, actually. Oh, it's just amazing. So, some wildly creative tech projects are hooking trees up to bioelectronic Yeah, that's the word. Bioelectric. Bioelectrical sensors to read their pulses and moisture levels.

SPEAKER_04 14:29

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 14:30

They feed this real-time data plus the tree's history into an AI model, essentially translating the tree's vibe into human language so people can text a tree and get a live response. Now, they also included a note that um they're not using those giant, soul-sucking, environmentally hurtful data centers. They are creating their own AI computer, module, system, whatever, um, on their own little laptop or device and plugging it into the tree on its own.

SPEAKER_03 15:02

So it's for all you hardcore nerds out there, they're basically creating their own cyber deck, which is its own self-contained system. Oh, got rid of the headband. I loved it. Um, their own like cyberdeck, cyber cyberdeck, self-contained. The AI brain is in there, but it's not connected to, I guess the the big crazy, horrible data centers.

SPEAKER_01 15:27

Data centers. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:28

Um and yeah, it's a really cool stuff.

SPEAKER_01 15:31

It's really cool. And really cool there is so there is a story in a link um from April 2025 from RTE, which of course is a British broadcasting service about a group from Trinity College in Dublin who have set this kind of system up on a 200-year-old tree. We will for sure share it on our story when this comes public. It is really, it's actually quite emotional. It is. Right? Like, I really like it. Yeah, it's it's it's so cool. Um, I also think it's worth saying that um long before we invented AI or coined the term wood wide web, um, indigenous cultures already knew that the forest was alive and communicating. Um today, programs like the Talking Trees Tour in Vancouver's Stanley Park feature First Nation guides who share deep generational knowledge about the profound spiritual and um ecological relationships between plants. So I love that. Crucial, important. It's been happening for years and years and years, decades, hundreds of years.

SPEAKER_03 16:28

Also, Stanley Park in Vancouver is actually one of uh so Doug, my brother, Stanley Park is one of his favorite spots to hang out in. So I should ask him about Are you gonna go? We're gonna try to go, yeah. Fine.

SPEAKER_01 16:40

Wait, do you get to see Doug when you're out there?

SPEAKER_03 16:42

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:42

Yay! Also, hi Doug.

SPEAKER_03 16:44

Um we're uh it's gonna be a world a wild trip. Sure. But we've got um some time on our Vancouver day to see him. So I'm excited to see you, Doug.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

Um well, this next topic is one of your favorites. Yeah, so it should be all you.

SPEAKER_03 17:03

Let's move on to mushrooms, shall we? My fave for sure. Love me some mushies. Imagine a musical performance where the artist is a mushroom.

unknown 17:13

What?

SPEAKER_03 17:14

Cool. It sounds wild, but musicians and engineers have actually found a way to let the fungi play instruments like keyboards and synthesizers. Love me a synthesizer.

SPEAKER_01 17:25

Amazing.

SPEAKER_03 17:26

Very cool.

SPEAKER_01 17:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 17:28

Uh instead of just listening to the mushrooms, they connect it to small sensors and miniature robotic arms, which is very cool to see. So cool. The mushrooms' natural internal electrical pulses are captured and turned into musical data. Uh, M-I-D-I signals. Yeah. MIDI. MIDI. MIDI signals. These signals then tell the robotic arms exactly when and where to cat tap the keys.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

Right. Very cool stuff. Very cool. So, how does it happen? Sorry, you're gonna say something. I've I the video you showed me.

SPEAKER_03 18:00

Yes, which we're gonna get to. Yes. I've never seen it where there was actual physical like arm movements and stuff. I've seen it where they just like hook up, like, I don't know, electrodes to the mushrooms, and then those will send a like the musical signal to the computer and it just creates like a tune. Yeah. But it's not like a physical drum set or something. So cool. So cool.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

It exists.

SPEAKER_03 18:20

It exists.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

And how does this happen? You might be asking. Well, this is due to natural electricity. Just like us humans, mushrooms naturally generate tiny electrical currents as they live and grow.

SPEAKER_04 18:32

Cool.

SPEAKER_01 18:32

Special electrodes read these biological pulses and translate them into digital digital musical notes. A computer then takes those notes and triggers tiny mechanical arms to physically press down on instrument keys as Steven described.

SPEAKER_03 18:46

Because mushrooms constantly react to the world around them, shifting their elect electrical activity based on changes in light, temperature, or touch, their music is a completely live, real-time reflection of their environment. Very cool. Very cool. Essentially, the technology gives the mushroom a voice, turning its everyday biological reactions into a live, organic concert.

SPEAKER_01 19:09

So fun.

SPEAKER_03 19:10

So fun.

SPEAKER_01 19:11

So here is a clip from The Bionic and the Wires, an artistic group based out of Manchester, UK. Manchester. Manchester. I'm sorry. Um they I can't not do it here.

SPEAKER_03 19:22

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 19:23

They record ambient and synth tracks where um mushrooms and plants operate electronic instruments as full band members. So fun. I love it. That is a mushroom playing the synthesizer. Like, how cool is that?

SPEAKER_03 19:37

Like, that's really cool.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

Isn't it? And it's a good little beat. Right? Smart little mushroom. Um so if that doesn't work, we again promise you we will post it.

SPEAKER_03 19:50

A thousand percent.

SPEAKER_01 19:51

Um, I just think that's amazing. I want to see, I want to have a concert in the forest, Stephen.

SPEAKER_03 19:56

Right?

SPEAKER_01 19:56

I want to go see some mushies.

SPEAKER_03 19:58

Just mushrooms in the wild doing it.

SPEAKER_01 19:59

I want to see them tickle those keys.

SPEAKER_03 20:01

Woo! I like it. I like it.

SPEAKER_01 20:04

Um, okay, so I decided to do moving away from mushies, even though they're what? Tell me.

SPEAKER_03 20:09

We forgot to talk about just very quickly.

SPEAKER_01 20:11

What?

SPEAKER_03 20:12

Love me a magic mushroom.

SPEAKER_00 20:13

Oh my god, please go ahead. Truly magic mushroom. Tell me, tell me everything about it because I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 20:17

Because you will never know.

SPEAKER_00 20:18

Never. You will never try. You would never ever try it.

SPEAKER_01 20:21

Do it even a microdose? I don't like to relinquish control.

SPEAKER_03 20:25

Microdosing doesn't do that. Microdosing actually is scientifically proven. It's like for focus and uh energy and helps us sleep.

SPEAKER_01 20:34

And what about this? The old uh idea that, you know, mushrooms, magic mushrooms of the earth are actually truth serums and that we can see into the real things that we otherwise cannot see. 100%. Right.

SPEAKER_03 20:47

Which is it's you know Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 20:48

I'm also convinced nature's drug.

SPEAKER_03 20:50

I don't know.

SPEAKER_01 20:51

I I really do think that they're medicinal. I think a lot more people should be treated with with mushrooms as well for certain, dare I say, psychological situations. I am not a doctor, I just play one on TV. Ao. Uh great point, Steven. Do you do you have like a specific story? I thought earlier you mentioned you wanted to watch this while being.

SPEAKER_03 21:11

Oh, just because it's very cool. Sure. Like um, i if you do like the non-microdose version, you'll see like like rainbow geometric shapes. You'll just laugh a lot. You'll laugh so much.

SPEAKER_01 21:27

But like imagine me a mushroom. I don't think anyone could handle it. I don't know. I would be so annoying.

SPEAKER_03 21:33

I don't think you would. Really? Because um we've done it a few times, even just sitting on the couch, and you'll just laugh at the stupidest shit. And I think we would do that now. Well, that's what I mean. I think we would actually pass away laughing.

SPEAKER_00 21:47

Actually pass how did she die? She had mushrooms for the first time and laughed at Andy or something until she died. That's that's everything.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

Wow. Good times, look.

SPEAKER_03 21:57

This this mane.

SPEAKER_01 21:59

Um All right. So a quick Google search gave me a random list of the weirdest plants on earth. Ooh. Um, this is from yeah, just Google. Just just Google. Okay. So uh let's start with the corpse flower, which we have one in Hamilton at the RBG, I'm pretty sure.

SPEAKER_03 22:15

Right, we do. I just saw that video.

SPEAKER_01 22:17

Yeah, yeah. So famous for being one of the world's largest and stinkiest flowers. Yes. Um, when it blooms, it heats itself up and emits the horrific stench of rotting flesh to attract pollinating carrion beetles.

SPEAKER_03 22:31

I know it's gonna smell gross, but I do want to smell it.

SPEAKER_01 22:35

Yeah, I would go with you. And doesn't it only bloom like once every four or ten years or something? I don't know why that jumped from four to ten, but I genuinely don't know if it's four or ten.

SPEAKER_03 22:43

There you go.

SPEAKER_01 22:43

Um, so there you go. There's there's one of the weirdest plants on earth.

SPEAKER_03 22:46

Love it. Uh, next we have one that everyone will know.

SPEAKER_01 22:49

Everyone will know.

SPEAKER_03 22:50

The Venus fly trap.

SPEAKER_01 22:51

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 22:52

Love it.

SPEAKER_01 22:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 22:53

It's a carnivorous plant whose modified leaves snap shut when triggered by unsuspecting insects, digesting them to survive in nutrient poor soil. Wild. I had them for a while. You did? Um, yeah, but they're a little harder to take care of.

SPEAKER_01 23:08

Yeah. Did they die?

SPEAKER_03 23:10

They did die. Yeah. Yep. R.I.P. R.I.P. But they're cool.

SPEAKER_01 23:14

I think they're very cool. Very cool. Um I listen, I kill plants every day of my life.

SPEAKER_03 23:20

So I don't think it's on here actually, but um in the same vein, there's I forget what they're called, but they look like their flowers look like big jugs. Oh, and they fall in. And they the so the like uh spiders, insects, I think even like some small rodents and stuff will fall in, get trapped, and there's like uh a liquid. It's almost like uh stomach juices. Yes. And it will basically uh um that's how they eat it.

SPEAKER_01 23:49

It dissolves the tissue.

SPEAKER_03 23:51

Dissolves the tissue and feeds the plants.

SPEAKER_01 23:53

Crazy. Plants are wild and cool. Um, so less morose, more fun. We have the dancing plant.

SPEAKER_03 24:01

I love it.

SPEAKER_01 24:01

Found in South Asia. Its leaves move in elliptical, jerky motions in response to sunlight and temperature. Some leaves even complete a full rotation in just one and a half minutes.

SPEAKER_03 24:11

I love that.

SPEAKER_01 24:12

Isn't that cool?

SPEAKER_03 24:13

Even I've got one upstairs, but there's the prayer plants where at night the leaves will close up and kind of uh go in on themselves. Yes. And then they'll open back up in the morning. And it's just magic.

SPEAKER_01 24:24

Very, very magic.

SPEAKER_03 24:25

Yeah. Uh next we have the monkey orchid. So this is a rare orchid found in high elevation cloud forests of Ecuador and Peru. The center of the bloom perfectly resembles a monkey's face.

SPEAKER_01 24:39

Which is so cool.

SPEAKER_03 24:40

So cool. And it really does.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

Yeah, it really does. Google it. It's very interesting.

SPEAKER_03 24:44

Yeah, it's it's it's cool stuff.

SPEAKER_01 24:46

Yeah. Um, and of course, there's a sensitive plant. So when touched, this plant instantly folds its leaves inward and droops like a defense mechanism to startle hungry herbivores, which I feel like I've seen those kinds of plants before.

SPEAKER_03 24:58

Oh, yeah. Um, the greenhouse that I go to a lot, they sell them a lot.

SPEAKER_01 25:02

Cool.

SPEAKER_03 25:02

So you'll uh it's really cool because you'll like just um run your finger along it and they'll all just like whoop and like snapshot is cool. Very, very cool.

SPEAKER_01 25:11

That's so neat. Um, so sticking with sort of plant oddities.

SPEAKER_03 25:15

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 25:16

Um, I grabbed this, just a couple of interesting little facts from naturehills.com.

SPEAKER_04 25:23

Okay.

SPEAKER_01 25:23

A couple of plant oddities. So, number one, fast succession here. Scientists don't actually know what causes four leaf closer clovers.

SPEAKER_03 25:31

That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 25:31

They don't know.

SPEAKER_03 25:32

Like, cause normally it's three. Sure. Three leaves, right? Yep. And then just by flukes of nature. Total fluke.

SPEAKER_01 25:40

We do not know why it happens.

SPEAKER_03 25:41

That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

Mare golds were used to treat hiccups.

SPEAKER_03 25:44

Ooh, I didn't know that.

SPEAKER_01 25:45

Very interesting.

SPEAKER_03 25:46

That's cool.

SPEAKER_01 25:46

Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:48

Um, the caffeine in coffee, uh, the capsicin. Capsican in hot peppers, and the nicotine in tobacco are actually the plants' aversions of pesticides in an attempt to keep things from eating them. And they're all things that we put in our bodies.

SPEAKER_00 26:06

We die.

SPEAKER_03 26:07

Great.

SPEAKER_00 26:08

We ingest them, and plants are like, get out of here. What does that say?

SPEAKER_03 26:14

That doesn't surprise me about the human race, to be honest.

SPEAKER_01 26:16

Fair. Honestly, fair. How about this? Plants prefer music that is between 115 hertz and 250 hertz, with jazz and classical being their favorites.

SPEAKER_03 26:25

Which I can see. Yeah. Because also uh certain frequencies of music calm or like awaken our spiritual things. But a lot of the music these days have has they've changed the frequencies so that it kind of like keeps us on edge and um fucks with our interior stuff.

SPEAKER_01 26:44

Is that why we're all not okay?

SPEAKER_03 26:46

Yeah. I mean, there's probably listen, it's one reason. One of many reasons.

SPEAKER_01 26:50

Can't handle it.

SPEAKER_03 26:51

Um, don't know if you knew this, but plants recognize siblings and help each other out.

SPEAKER_01 26:56

What? I didn't know that. Yeah. That's so cool. Is that cool? Plants are neat. Um, how about this? Feeling stressed, go mow your yard. Freshly cut grass emits green leaf volatiles into the air, and scientists discovered these are great stress relievers. Ironically, though, the smell of freshly cut grass is actually a plant distress distress call. I mean, makes sense. It's being chopped.

SPEAKER_03 27:17

Yeah. It hearing about all of this, and I mean, obviously knowing this before, but it really makes you like when you do have a plant that dies, you're like, oh shit. Like you start feeling a little depressed about it. Sure. And you're like, well, I just murdered this.

SPEAKER_01 27:35

Yes, yes. Bully. Murderer.

SPEAKER_03 27:38

Murderer. So, next, let's take a look at a few plants that are used in the world of witchcraft.

SPEAKER_01 27:45

Ooh, so whimsical. So whimsical. So weird. Woo-hoo!

SPEAKER_03 27:49

Um, okay. First we have vervaine. Or verbena is, I guess, the um the Latin name for it. Uh, also known as the enchanter's herb.

SPEAKER_01 28:02

I love that.

SPEAKER_03 28:03

Do you say herb or herb? I say herb. You say herb, I like herb.

SPEAKER_01 28:06

Herb is an old man.

SPEAKER_03 28:07

Herb herblig. It tastes like a mo Sicilian. Oh, R.I.P., we love you.

SPEAKER_01 28:20

R.I.P. Catherine O'Hara.

SPEAKER_03 28:23

Um, yes. So the Enchanter's Herb, Vervain, this one is a multicultural superstar. The ancient Egyptians believed it sprouted directly from the tears of the goddess Isis.

SPEAKER_01 28:34

What? That's cool.

SPEAKER_03 28:35

Right? Fast forward to Christian lore, and it was allegedly used to staunch the wounds of Christ.

SPEAKER_04 28:41

Ay.

SPEAKER_03 28:41

Wow. Wow. The magical uses. Think of it as your ultimate uh metaphysical shield. It's been packed into the charms for centuries to ward off evil spirits, vampires, lightning strikes, and general bad vibes.

SPEAKER_01 28:58

That's a lot of ground.

SPEAKER_03 28:59

That's a lot of ground. Yeah, 100%. Strip away the lore, and it's just a beautifully resilient garden border plant. It's got fantastic anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties.

SPEAKER_01 29:11

Maybe I'll put some in my garden. Right? All right, let's move on to. You have to tell me if I'm saying this wrong. Henbane.

SPEAKER_03 29:18

Henbane.

SPEAKER_01 29:19

Okay, great.

SPEAKER_03 29:20

This is a fun one.

SPEAKER_01 29:20

Okay, so aka the witch's drug.

SPEAKER_03 29:23

The witch's drug.

SPEAKER_01 29:24

I love that it's like call sign. It's like, you know, what's your call sign? Um witch's drug. A delightfully moody member of the nightshade family sporting pale green petals with a stark black center. Oh, I like that. Yeah. It's like meat. Um, not really. If you've ever heard tales of witches flying on brooms, henbane was likely a star ingredient in those infamous flying ointments.

SPEAKER_03 29:48

Should we tell the story?

SPEAKER_01 29:49

Do we go for it?

SPEAKER_03 29:50

The history of that? Go for it. So the the the history, the lore of how witches on broomsticks came to be was back in the day, it was allegedly. Allegedly. Witches would slather their broomstick handles with this flying ointment made of henbane. And, you know, pleasure themselves. Enjoy a broomstick.

SPEAKER_01 30:15

Enjoy a broomstick with this salve, and it would cause kind of it says here a dizzying sensation of weightless flight, an incredible, vivid, intense hallucination.

SPEAKER_03 30:28

Which sounds fun.

SPEAKER_01 30:29

Sounds like a great that's a Saturday night for so you may never look at a witch's broom the same again. Yeah, for everyone who laughs at us for having them.

SPEAKER_03 30:39

Aw.

SPEAKER_01 30:42

Uh so let's move on to sort of the botanical reality check. Do not try this at home.

SPEAKER_03 30:47

Please don't.

SPEAKER_01 30:48

Or the broomstick one.

SPEAKER_03 30:49

Yeah, don't.

SPEAKER_01 30:50

Um, this is a highly toxic and easily lethal plant. Yes. It packs a heavy punch of powerful alkaloids such as hyocene, hyocyamine, and atrophone. And it's literally classified as a noxious weed in parts of North America. So no touchy.

SPEAKER_03 31:06

No touchy.

SPEAKER_01 31:06

No touchy.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

Uh next we have Datura. Uh, or more commonly, the devil's snare.

SPEAKER_01 31:13

Yes. Most people do know it by that name.

SPEAKER_03 31:15

It has that. There's also Thornapple, Hell's Bells, or Devil's Trumpet.

SPEAKER_01 31:19

Hell's Bells. Hell's Bell. Oh my gosh, Devil's Trumpet.

SPEAKER_03 31:22

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:22

I had wait, no, we had a plant that was. No, this is it, the Datura. Oh, this is just coming to me. If I if I may. Oh, please. So my mom planted Detoura um at our old home on Moxley, which of course is now gone.

SPEAKER_04 31:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:37

Um, it's been torn down. Um and it was so beautiful. But yeah, it was a hallucinogen.

SPEAKER_04 31:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 31:43

And when I went back to like take a look at the pit that is now my once standing home, there was a Deutura just growing out of all the chaos.

SPEAKER_03 31:54

Oh my God, I love it.

SPEAKER_01 31:55

It was amazing. So I took one of the seeds because it's like these bottles. I remember you telling me about this. Yes. Yes. But do you I put it safely in my house because it wasn't time to plant? Do you think I can find that seed anywhere? Now I just have a Deutura plant seed kicking around in my home somewhere. Love it. No idea where it is. But um, yeah, really pretty.

SPEAKER_03 32:12

Oh, I know what this one is. Yay. Uh so sham uh shamans. Shamans. Yep. Shamans and medicine people have used this for spiritual journeys for millennia. Yes. But during the Inquisition in medieval Europe, just having this plant in your garden could get you a one-way ticket to a witchcraft trial.

SPEAKER_01 32:32

Ooh, that and many other things.

SPEAKER_03 32:34

So without you even realizing it, you had witchcraft plants.

SPEAKER_00 32:37

I'm sure my mom realized.

SPEAKER_03 32:39

Oh, true. She, you know. Yeah. So cool. Uh so the magical uses. Uh they're a deep ritual consciousness shifting plant, inducing prophetic trances and acting as a spiritual midwife to transport the mind to other realms. Isn't that fun? Yeah, super fun. Um, it's a widespread, wild, and incredibly dangerous plant. It contains scopolamine, often called devil's breath. I like that name better. Uh, which can leave people entirely suggestible and disconnected from reality. Yet, in precise, safe medical doses, science uses it, uh, uses its derivatives for heavy duty pain and fever relief.

SPEAKER_01 33:24

Well, it's really funny that you say that because my mom would always be like, oh, swirls got into the tutour again.

SPEAKER_03 33:28

Oh, there we go.

SPEAKER_01 33:30

Because they'd be all messed up. So there you go.

SPEAKER_03 33:32

That's fun.

SPEAKER_01 33:33

Wow, so cool. I didn't even realize until literally right now that's that story. Yeah. So let's move on to Wolfspane. Wolfbane, aka monk's hood, because the flowers look like tiny dark cowls.

SPEAKER_03 33:44

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 33:44

She's an autumn.

SPEAKER_03 33:46

She's an autumn.

SPEAKER_01 33:48

Um, Greek myth claims it's toxic sap drips straight from the slothering jaws of Cerberus, the three-headed hound of the underworld. Unsurprisingly, humans historically used it to coat hunting weapons and poison bait.

SPEAKER_03 34:03

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:04

So when it comes to magical uses, your go-to defense for uh warding off werewolves and vampires can be found within its genetic makeup. Lore says it was used in shape-shifting spells, or if you wrap the seeds in lizard skin, it would grant invisibility.

SPEAKER_03 34:20

Isn't that fun? Very well.

SPEAKER_01 34:23

So it is unbelievably lethal. Do not use at home. Again, no touchy. Gardeners have literally passed away from just handling the leaves without gloves because of the toxin. Akonitine. Whatever that is.

SPEAKER_04 34:39

Sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 34:40

The toxin absorbs through the skin. The ultimate plot twist, it belongs to the exact same plant family as the innocent bright yellow buttercup. Buttercup. Wow. It's deadly sister.

SPEAKER_03 34:53

Yep.

SPEAKER_01 34:54

Right. Wild.

SPEAKER_03 34:55

Uh so next we have kind of like a two-parter. There's two here. Uh so the first is Wormwood, which is also known as the Green Fairy's Muse.

SPEAKER_00 35:05

So cool.

SPEAKER_03 35:05

Isn't that fun?

SPEAKER_00 35:06

Yeah, that's really fun.

SPEAKER_03 35:07

Uh, so this bitter botanical has been intertwined with vision seeking since the Stone Age. So a long time. It went on to achieve absolute peak infamy in the 19th century Paris as the key hallucinogenic rumored ingredients in Absinthe. Capturing the minds is yeah, right? Capturing the minds of Gothic poets and artists alike. Have you ever had absinthe? Yeah. Yeah. I think we've talked about it. We have talked about this. Yeah. Love it.

SPEAKER_01 35:36

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 35:36

Um that'll do, but eat eat the magic mushroom from the earth. It's probably way safer.

SPEAKER_03 35:43

Same thing, pretty much.

unknown 35:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 35:45

Um, so it's magical uses. It's used to evoke intense divination, summon spirits, or strip away illusions. It's a heavy-duty psychic cleanser for when you need to banish energetic stagnation completely. Fun. Fun. Um, it contains Thujon, a chemical compound. I think I'm saying that right. A chemical compound that acts as the on the central nervous system, the culprit behind its wild, visionary reputation. On a brilliant, highly practical level, it's a bitter herb historically used to expel intestinal parasites. Oh my God. Hence the literal name wormwood. Ew. Right? That ew. So you shit out those parasites.

SPEAKER_00 36:30

Ew, ew, ew.

SPEAKER_03 36:32

Um, so in the same family, this one is actually one of my favorites to use. Yeah. Mugwort. I love me some mugwort. Uh, also known as the dream weaver.

SPEAKER_01 36:43

Dream weaver. That's also a call-out to my friend Kristen from college. She gets it.

SPEAKER_03 36:49

Love. Or Crohnwort, which I Oh. Uh, so this um this plant is deeply tied to Artemis, the Greek moon goddess of the wild. Roman soldiers used to stuff this hardy herb into their sandals to keep their feet from aching during epic marches. Smart. Isn't that cool? In Anglo-Saxon folklore, it was revered as one of the nine sacred herbs given to the world by the god Woden to fight off the hidden evils and disease.

SPEAKER_00 37:19

Wow. Isn't that cool?

SPEAKER_03 37:20

I didn't know that. Yeah. Magical uses, the ultimate astral travel companion. Mugwort is legendary for unlocking intensely vivid, prophetic, and lucid dreams. Witches sleep with it under their pillows, drink it as a tea before divination, or burn it as a sacred smudge to clean a space while keeping travelers safe from harm and accidents.

SPEAKER_00 37:44

We've done it already earlier.

SPEAKER_03 37:46

I I have mud mugwort burning as incense in here all the time.

SPEAKER_01 37:49

Yeah, yeah. Which also like tracks explains a lot.

SPEAKER_03 37:52

Yeah. Explains a lot. I will say, this is why I really do need to keep a dream journal, and we've talked about this. Yes. Because I do find on days where I have burned my mugwort, I do for sure have dreams. Yeah. I just don't remember them. So I need to write them down right away.

SPEAKER_01 38:08

Yeah, for sure.

SPEAKER_03 38:08

But it it works. Even when I buy it from the witch store I go to, um, she's always like, you know, this like, you know, can cause some like woo-woo stuff going on. I was like, that's why I'm buying it. Thanks though. Yay. Um, if you flip a mugwort leaf over, you'll see a gorgeous, distinct silvery white underside that catches the moonlight.

SPEAKER_00 38:31

Beautiful. Isn't that beautiful? Oh my god.

SPEAKER_03 38:33

There's so much to it to love. Like its sibling wormwood, it contains mild amounts of the thujon uh and aromatic essential oils like cineole and thujon.

SPEAKER_01 38:45

We're nailing these. We're nailing. Yeah, really good.

SPEAKER_03 38:48

Uh these physically promote relaxation, ease digestion, and actively stimulate blood flow, which is exactly why it helps ease mind and body into deep active sleep states.

SPEAKER_01 38:59

Makes total sense. Is that cool? Very cool. I love it. Do everything. And you got me some for my birthday. Sure did. Thank you. Thank you.

SPEAKER_03 39:07

You're welcome.

SPEAKER_01 39:08

Let's move to Blackthorne. Blackthorn. Very cool name. AKA The Dark Crone of the Woods. Even cooler name.

SPEAKER_03 39:14

Great name.

SPEAKER_01 39:16

The uh ancient gossip on Blackthorn is uh it's a twisted, aggressively thorny shrub in the Rose family that Celtic folklore absolutely feared. It was said that unfriendly dark fairies, oh, those fairies, oh those fairies, um, guarded the thickets and would burn your house down if you dared cut a branch.

SPEAKER_02 39:38

Well shit.

SPEAKER_01 39:40

Those fairies are they're battling, yeah, they're flitting, they're setting fires.

SPEAKER_03 39:45

Those fairy battles.

SPEAKER_01 39:47

Still unclear as to what they are. Naturally, rumors spread that witches carved their cursing wands from it. Setting ironclad protection boundaries, hexing, and navigating dark night of the soul magic is kind of how it's used in magical settings.

SPEAKER_03 40:04

Yes, in the craft.

SPEAKER_01 40:06

Um Its sinister rep mostly comes from its vibe. It looks like a skeletal gothic masterpiece in the winter. It does. In reality, though, it is a vital, life-saving sanctuary and a habitat habitat for local birds and pollinators. Love it. So cool. I want to get some.

SPEAKER_03 40:24

Right? I know, me too.

SPEAKER_01 40:25

I definitely don't want any of the poisonous, no-touchy ones, though.

SPEAKER_03 40:28

I do.

SPEAKER_01 40:29

Shock and awe.

SPEAKER_03 40:32

And that, my beautiful weirdos, brings us to the ultimate truth of the green world. The line between folklore, medicine, and poison is razor thin.

unknown 40:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 40:42

They're cool, man.

SPEAKER_01 40:43

They're very cool, but it's a dangerous game to play.

SPEAKER_03 40:46

Dangerous game.

SPEAKER_01 40:46

Like if I can't keep my, I don't know, what's a plant that I have, spider plant alive and well, then I shouldn't be messing with poisonous ones.

SPEAKER_03 40:56

I mean, fair.

SPEAKER_01 40:57

Just shouldn't be. You go for it. Yay, thanks. Um, so these spooky witchy plants didn't get their magical reputations out of nowhere. They earned them because they're literal chemical power hoses. Plants like henbane, datura, and artemisia. What? Sure. Artemisia? Legitimately.

SPEAKER_03 41:16

I think that was the um the Greek one. The Latin name for wormwood and mugwart.

SPEAKER_01 41:22

So those two legitimately alter human consciousness, giving our ancestors the physical sensation of flying or walking through visions. Meanwhile, toxic heavy hitters like the wolf bane and blackthorn become symbols of curses and psychic defense simply because their physical traits are so intensely formidable.

SPEAKER_03 41:44

Right? At the end of the day, the history of the green world shows us one beautiful thing. Yesterday's witchcraft is so often just today's botany and pharmacology.

SPEAKER_01 41:56

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 41:56

It's a thing.

SPEAKER_01 41:57

Walk through the woods to heal yourself.

SPEAKER_03 41:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 41:59

Right?

SPEAKER_03 42:00

Science is just uh what what's the what's the thing? Um magic is just science we haven't discovered yet.

SPEAKER_01 42:07

Yes, exactly. Yeah, for sure. Also, um, I do believe in doctors and western science.

SPEAKER_03 42:12

A thousand percent. A thousand percent.

SPEAKER_01 42:14

But um, really cool. Nature is amazing, nature is weird. It really is, nature is whimsical. Um I I can absolutely understand why you are a green witch and how like trust me, I love forests. Yeah, I love being in them, I love being among trees and plants. I just can't tend to them.

SPEAKER_03 42:31

Fair. Not not everyone can.

SPEAKER_01 42:33

You know?

SPEAKER_03 42:33

Yeah. But it is But it is just being in a forest.

SPEAKER_01 42:36

Oh, forest bathing, of course, forest bathing.

SPEAKER_03 42:39

Did you know uh in is it Japan or somewhere over there? Okay, doctors will actually write prescriptions for forest bathing.

SPEAKER_01 42:52

Yeah, I didn't know.

SPEAKER_03 42:52

Because humans need it.

SPEAKER_01 42:54

We need it.

SPEAKER_03 42:55

And over here, they're like, they don't even give a fuck.

SPEAKER_01 42:57

Yeah, at all. It we need to prioritize our environment. Yes. For many, many reasons, yeah, but because it is literally good for our mental health.

SPEAKER_03 43:05

Truly.

SPEAKER_01 43:06

Right? Like, come on.

SPEAKER_03 43:08

I can't wait. I say it all the time, but I can't wait to live in the forest and become my green hag witch of the woods.

SPEAKER_01 43:14

Completely, completely. What do you think is the next plant that you're gonna buy?

SPEAKER_03 43:18

Ooh.

SPEAKER_01 43:19

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_03 43:20

It's gonna be soon because we just bought a bunch for the backyard. Heads up, Dan. Head, right? Uh oh gosh, I don't even know. Because when I go to the greenhouse, it's I don't really ever go there with a plan in mind. And then I come back speaks to you with a lot. It does I uh truly though. Yeah. I'll walk around and whatever speaks to me. Yeah. I'll buy.

SPEAKER_01 43:39

I get it. I get it. Beautiful. Um, well, is there anything else you wanted to add before we wrap up our 50th episode?

SPEAKER_03 43:47

Right? Five-zero. Um I feel like we say it a lot, but there's just uh this is just uh uh uh the tip of the iceberg when it comes to weird nature, magical plants, and just fun.

SPEAKER_01 44:01

Yeah. We'll bring it up again. It'll probably be a recurring topic.

SPEAKER_03 44:05

I we didn't talk about it here, but I do want to dive in a bit more on moss because it's very cool.

SPEAKER_01 44:09

Right. Moss. Very cool. We love moss.

SPEAKER_03 44:12

Yeah. We love we love moss.

SPEAKER_01 44:14

Um, okay. Well, before we actually do end it, um, we need to let you, weirdos, know that there will not be an episode next week, which is on Wednesday, July 1st.

SPEAKER_02 44:26

July 1st.

SPEAKER_01 44:27

Um, which of course is a Canadian holiday here. It is Canada Day. Go out, spend some time with your friends, family, or by yourself or in a forest.

SPEAKER_03 44:35

In a forest.

SPEAKER_01 44:35

Go enjoy some plants and we're we're taking the week off.

SPEAKER_03 44:38

We're gonna, you know, enjoy some Canada. Summer. Yeah, some summer vacation. I'll actually be at a cottage.

SPEAKER_01 44:48

Amazing. Good for you.

SPEAKER_03 44:49

For that whole week. Oh, enjoy it. Cousins cottage. Can't wait.

SPEAKER_01 44:52

Amazing. I only get that one day off that week, but that's okay because I live in cottage country. You do. So I'll just get to wake up and roll it onto the water. It'll be great. Not that I live on the water, I want to make that clear. I live very close.

SPEAKER_03 45:05

You can see it.

SPEAKER_01 45:06

I can see it. So that's how I'm gonna be spending it. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_03 45:09

Also working that week.

SPEAKER_01 45:11

Same.

SPEAKER_03 45:11

At the cottage. But at the cottage. We're all working remote from the cottage.

SPEAKER_01 45:16

Um, that sucks. You know what though? Better working there than you know, being stuck in your office or something.

SPEAKER_03 45:22

And it's because we had a lot of vacation, like Ireland, Vancouver, like it's it's a thing. So a lot going on. I'd rather work there.

SPEAKER_01 45:28

Yeah, fair enough. Yeah. Um so yes, we will be back uh the following week in July. Is now a good time to talk about August?

unknown 45:37

Sure.

SPEAKER_01 45:38

Why not? Why not? Um, so we are gonna take a break for August. Um July being a break. So there will be no episodes in August. We are that is officially our summer. What am I hearing?

SPEAKER_03 45:50

That was the uh yeah, it's fine.

SPEAKER_01 45:51

Um that is gonna be our summer holiday.

SPEAKER_03 45:54

Um we we need to recharge, recruit, recoup.

SPEAKER_01 45:58

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 45:59

We wanna, yeah, enjoy the summer and be out and have fun. Exactly.

SPEAKER_01 46:02

We have we have a couple more episodes coming in July for I think like three weeks or so. Um, but then August will be um kind of having a break. But then we're gonna come back and hit you with another season of Weird as a Wimsey. So we're not leaving yet. No. Um tune in the week after next for our next episode. Um, thank you again for joining us for our 50th. 50. Which is why we're like so cute in our little outfits.

SPEAKER_04 46:27

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 46:28

Um I'm really excited to go get changed into comfy clothes.

SPEAKER_03 46:30

Oh my god, me too.

SPEAKER_01 46:31

I can't wait. So let's wrap it up, shall we? So thank you so much for listening and watching our 50th episode of Weirdos. I still can't believe it. I can't either. It's wild. We will be back again soon with another episode that guides you through the weird and whimsical journey that is our brains. Be sure to follow us on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube at Weirdos Whimsy Pod. Watch that space for updates, release dates, and other treats and delectable morsels. And until then, say goodbye, Stevie. Bye, everybody. And as always, big gulp, say.

SPEAKER_03 47:02

Well, see you later.

SPEAKER_01 47:05

50 times hang that.

SPEAKER_04 47:06

Woo!