Getting Personal with Plant Medicine

Artist and educator Amanda Suttari joins Diana Krach to discuss her 15-year journey with Ayahuasca. The conversation explores the reality of plant medicine beyond the "quick fix" myth, emphasizing the necessity of preparation, strict cleansing protocols, and dedicated integration. Amanda also shares vital insights on how to ethically select retreat centers by evaluating their environmental impact and relationship with indigenous communities.
Links:
-https://www.amandasuutari.com/
- Christopher's Organic Botanicals
Disclaimer
Please be aware that Ayahuasca and many other plant medicines remain illegal in various jurisdictions, including Canada. This episode is for educational purposes only. Listeners should exercise caution, conduct thorough research, and be aware of the legal and health risks associated with these practices.
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In this episode, Diana Krach and Christopher Deaney break down the significant DEA updates from July 1st regarding the scheduling of various substances, including 7-OH, tianeptine, pseudoindoxil, and MGM-15. They discuss the crucial distinction between natural, whole-leaf kratom and synthetic, highly-processed extracts, emphasizing why education remains the most powerful tool for consumers and advocates.
 
Important links: Christopher's Organic Botanicals
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In this episode of Getting Personal with Plant Medicine, host Diana Krach welcomes back Douglas La Rose, President of the Kava Coalition, for a deep dive into the communal and personal aspects of kava and kratom.
Key Discussion Points:
The Kava Experience: Douglas shares how kava serves as a powerful tool for building community, contrasting it with alcohol by emphasizing its ability to foster positive, pro-social connections rather than seclusion or conflict.
 
Debunking Myths:
Reverse Tolerance: Douglas clarifies that the concept of "reverse tolerance" is largely a narrative used to encourage new users, rather than a scientific reality. He suggests it’s more about learning "how to hear" or experience the subtle effects of kava.
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Liver Toxicity: Douglas addresses the persistent, debunked myth regarding kava’s liver toxicity, noting that the Kava Coalition is actively working to correct this damaging misinformation.
 
Kratom Perspectives: Douglas discusses his changing relationship with kratom, noting that it helped him stop drinking alcohol. He emphasizes the importance of transparency in products that blend botanicals, warning against deceptive marketing.
 
Plant Synergy: Both guests agree that while botanicals like kava, kratom, CBD, and others can complement one another, users should be mindful of personal physiology and avoid irresponsible mixing.
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Upcoming Event: Diana announces a live recording event featuring Douglas and the "man behind the brand," Christopher, taking place on the first Sunday of September 2026 at Root City Kava Bar in Baltimore.
 
Douglas also promotes his Kavaseur podcast on Patreon and highlights the resources available at kavacoalition.org for those interested in deeper research and community events.
 
 
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Diana is joined by JR to talk about some plant medicines that can help alleviate the symptoms of the current severe allergy season, which they note is lasting longer and overlapping with multiple allergy types due to climate changes.
They emphasize that this information is not medical advice, but share several plants and natural aids that have been helpful for them and others.
Important links:
Christopher's Organic Botanicals
 
 
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Christopher Deaney of Christopher's Organic Botanicals joins Diana to unpack the complexities of activism. He paints a picture of what it feels like to meet legislators and have them actually listen, and how rewarding it can be to break through the barriers of skepticism. But meeting those legislators can be draining, especially when you have a chronic pain and other disabilities, and Christopher gets honest about the challenges while also reinforcing his commitment to making kratom accessible to everyone. 
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Sabrina Thomas, AKA Mary Jane of Mary Jane N Munchies, joins Diana to talk about how her journey with plant medicine began as a child. Her family has a history of using plants for wellness, but it wasn't until her teen years that a doctor's suggestion resulted in cannabis experimentation. 
Her cohost shares a culinary passion, which is one of the reasons their podcast focuses on the savory and sweet sides of cannabis consumption, focusing on balancing flavors and cannabinoids. Education, paired with advocacy and accessibility, also drives their messaging. Thomas talks about how representation matters for disabled and Black women, and how MJNM tries to be that media illustration. 
She also gives Diana advice on how to make the best infused butter, which is an important tool in the wellness belt for those who can't smoke. 
Check out the MJNM new merch line: www.mjnmstash.store
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Hosts Diana Krach and Christopher Deaney (of Christopher's Organic Botanicals) discuss the complexities of kratom leaf colors, clarifying the effects beyond the simple adage "red for bed, white for flight, green for in between". The conversation explains that red strains are generally more relaxing due to lower mitragynine, while green and white offer more energy, but the final effect is highly dependent on individual physiology and dosage (less for energy, more for relaxation).
They reveal that strain colors are often determined by the drying and curing processes, blending, and supplier naming (e.g., Maeng Da) rather than the original leaf vein color. Christopher Deaney stresses the importance of high-quality, mature, wild-harvested kratom and offers advice for new users, including starting with red, mixing different colors for balance, and rotating strains weekly to prevent dependency. The episode concludes with a call to action for users to speak up and share their stories to fight local kratom bans.
Important links:
Christopher's Organic Botanicals
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This episode of Getting Personal with Plant Medicine features Q (Qudsiyah, a.k.a. Queemie) of the Mary Jane N Munchies podcast. Q discusses her journey with plant medicine, which began after developing Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and photosensitive epilepsy in her late teens, leading to seizures, arthritis, and fibromyalgia. She found that cannabis helped reduce her symptoms by 70-80% and is essential for her functionality as a chef and content creator.
Q integrates wellness through food, incorporating anti-inflammatory herbs like turmeric and rosemary, as well as dandelion and citrus for system support, into her diet. She and her co-host created Mary Jane N Munchies after meeting at a culinary program, combining their passion for cannabis and food, reflecting their shared identities as chronically disabled chefs.
Q also addresses the stereotype of cannabis users as lazy, demonstrating her ability through 15 hour work days, and highlights the challenges Black content creators face in the industry regarding professional support and censorship. She directs listeners to support the self-funded podcast via all streaming platforms, their $1.99 Spotify subscription, and merchandise on their website.
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Mayakia (Maya) Anderson of Rooted Vines joins Diana to talk about tea blends that benefit mental well-being. She also talks about the creation of The Tea House community on the Skool platform.
Important links:
Christopher's Organic Botanicals
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Diana is joined by Tashiana Reaves, clinical herbalist, to discuss the many applications of valerian root. They also talk about the personal side of the plant, as Tashiana goes into her story and how it helped her. The discussion is followed by a Christopher's Corner, where he also highlights the valerian products offered by Christopher's Organic Botanicals. 
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