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Sarah and The Shrub get into natural & artificial flavorings, flavorists, flavor houses, a little bit of science, a little bit of cultural fun facts - it's a classic Shrubbish episode! Also, the challenges of dealing with moderating addictions when abstinence is not possible.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Croix_Sparkling_Water

​​https://nutrisci.wisc.edu/2021/07/26/natural-and-artificial-flavors/

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/truth-about-natural-artificial-flavors

https://freakonomics.com/podcast/natural-and-artificial-flavors/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1-9wlAYZOM

https://blogs.ubc.ca/communicatingchemistry2017w110/2017/09/18/what-exactly-are-natural-flavours/

ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send a text

Sarah and The Shrub discuss the 100% zero proof, 100% refreshing beverage: Hop Water. From the plant-parts behind it all (hops) to it's "f around and find out" origins in the home brewing community, and it's place in the wellness sector today, hop into spring with this one! Also, Sarah reflects on her connection between suburban stress / isolation and drinking.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hop_water#cite_note-Men's_Journal_28_June_2023-2

https://www.americastestkitchen.com/articles/7129-what-is-hop-water

https://www.fooddive.com/news/hop-water-nonalcoholic-beer-segment-wellness-trend/806828/

https://www.mensjournal.com/drink/is-hop-water-your-drink-of-the-future

https://www.bevnet.com/news/2015/hopwater-launches-in-ohio-secures-distribution-through-cavalier-distributing/

https://www.h2ops.com/pages/our-story-mission?srsltid=AfmBOooPKHt1y7wv9xqA40l9T5N4M34RbzakAFTdhWNkG_0vUSCWVC6M

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBQFaHS5teY

https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/1lvddkz/first_time_making_hop_water_and_it_turned_out/

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ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send a text

Sarah and The Shrub investigate Dry Ice - from a little bit of science, history, and common uses for the super cold sublimating product! Including how to safely use dry ice in your favorite mocktail. Also, another nod to community. And the nuances & uniqueness of the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous, and how you do not have to have a higher power to get sober.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_ice

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liquid_carbon_dioxide

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrien-Jean-Pierre_Thilorier#Early_years

https://www.grabbitandrun.com/10-cool-facts-about-dry-ice/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry-ice_blasting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE4Tk9BGFKY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0GYdIB1Z51g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJH-OYYxA3I&t=63s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhInWBtVXxM

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DOEb6H4gX5r/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKZ4GpveNgY

ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send a text

Sarah and The Shrub visit South America, India, Sri Lanka, Europe....not really (you know no one is really traveling on this show, right?) but the history of Tonic Water takes you all over the map! From the Peruvian tree that started it all, to some wacky historical cures for malaria, this episode investigates everything Tonic Water -- including actual mocktail recommendations! Also, what happened at PodFest, and Sober Community.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonic_water

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%81gua_de_Inglaterra

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinchona

https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/just-the-tonic-history

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/food-drink/curious-questions-invented-gin-tonic-206058

https://europeancoffeetrip.com/espressoandtonic-story/

https://www.webmd.com/drugs/quinine-qualaquin

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3121651/

https://www.lib.cam.ac.uk/rcs/projects-exhibitions/products-empire-cinchona-short-history

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoePAOjyv5Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcJkzHfSgpA

ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send us a text

Sarah and The Shrub (a particularly good one!) expand on honey by putting their paws in pots of fermented honey, honeydew, and propolis -- figuratively, of course. Also, how do sober communities respond to or offer invitations for celebration and community without the classic one liner "can I buy you a drink?"

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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s_mk7zGYDA8

https://www.diffordsguide.com/g/1109/honey-and-honey-syrup/fermented-honey

https://www.bonappetit.com/story/hunt-for-fermented-honey?srsltid=AfmBOop1HV9SHQVBqJD0OsOb5fdAsF0vt7Ir_zwyk9pDQKfz9FVn0R4K

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/12/nx-s1-5637405/honey-flavor-reaches-new-depths-with-spotted-lanternfly-droppings

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s43621-024-00375-3

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3872021/#sec3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgkN0YaNXF4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M28XjoeiGXA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propolis

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/propolis

ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send us a text

Sarah and The Shrub start in on a honey-centric two-parter with a little background on bees, honey production, and health benefits, in anticipation of more honey loving to come! Also, a look at that "fresh restart" that comes with the new year, seasonal depression, and the cycle of going on a bender.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey - Base Article

https://www.honey.com/about-honey/how-honey-is-made - 2nd Base Article

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095754825000195#sec5 - Health Claims/Uses

https://www.webmd.com/allergies/features/does-honey-help-prevent-allergies - Allergies Defunct

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bamse - The Bear

https://www.npr.org/2025/12/12/nx-s1-5637405/honey-flavor-reaches-new-depths-with-spotted-lanternfly-droppings - Spotted Lanternyfly

https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/honey-cave-painting - Cave Paintings

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ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send us a text

Sarah and The Shrub(s) go south of the border for this week's ancient fermented beverages, with notes of pineapple, corn, brown sugar, and funk. Also, on that big first step of admitting you have a problem, and asking for help.

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tepache

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tejuino

https://imbibemagazine.com/tepache-traditional-to-mexico-cautiously-finds-its-way-northward/

https://www.foodrepublic.com/1853633/tejuino-vs-tepache-mexican-drinks-explained/

https://punchdrink.com/articles/tepache-ready-to-drink-cans-mexico/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WuVho-yppBc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpM-e1eGiCU

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ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).

Send us a text

Sarah and The Shrub get sour and funky with the discovery of yet ANOTHER ancient fermented beverage, and talk flights - in more ways than one.

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https://www.americastestkitchen.com/recipes/13457-cranberry-shrub-syrup

https://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Article/2024/03/29/expo-west-banana-water-s-clean-label-features-one-ingredient/

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-make-banana-water-for-plants-5218164

https://www.thespruce.com/compost-tea-8661967

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kvass

https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2013/08/14/204859046/america-are-you-tough-enough-to-drink-real-russian-kvas

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OsLi9mHeQs

https://www.gefilteria.com/

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ig: @shrubbish_pod
email: shrubbishpodcast@gmail.com

While I want to bring levity to the table, this podcast does contain descriptions of substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs help, the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) hotline is available 24/7 at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).