Chris Kilham & Ethnobotany

About this episode

Chris Kilham joins Irreverent Health to discuss the relationship between people, plants, and healing through ethnobotany.

Summary Ethnobotanist and “Medicine Hunter” Chris Kilham joins Irreverent Health to explore the deep relationship between people, plants, culture, and healing. Drawing from decades of travel through the Amazon, South Pacific, China, Africa, and beyond, Chris shares stories of discovering medicinal plants, working with Indigenous communities, and helping introduce herbs like kava and maca to global audiences. The conversation moves far beyond supplements and psychedelics, diving into reciprocity, ethical sourcing, traditional plant medicine, altered states of consciousness, and the hidden human labor behind natural health products. Chris reflects on ayahuasca ceremonies, the importance of set and setting, and how meaningful cultural experiences shape healing in ways modern wellness often overlooks. Matt, Tom, and Chris also discuss sustainability, commercialization, Indigenous knowledge, global trade, and why the simplest solutions—whether chicken wire for drying kava or school supplies for remote villages—can dramatically change lives. At its core, this episode is about curiosity, human connection, and what happens when modern culture reconnects with the wisdom of plants and the…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tom Ingegno, Matt Hampton

Guest: Chris Kilham

Topics covered

• ethnobotany
• medicinal plants
• cultural healing
• sustainability
• Indigenous knowledge
• plant medicine

Keywords

• ethnobotany
• medicinal plants
• kava
• ayahuasca
• Indigenous communities
• plant medicine
• sustainability
• cultural experiences

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Irreverent Health

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