I Tell Stories
I Tell Stories Podcast covers a wide range of topics discussed by Colt Draine and Owen "The Mic" McMichael. From the scourge on humanity of violent business hippies and Scott Baio to peculiar Serbian Mother's Day traditions,the boys offer their unique perspective. Revolutionary artists,legends of folklore and bizzare following of fast food items are just a few of the subjects touched on. I Tell Stories aims to bring attention to individuals and occerrences that are too interesting to be forgotten. Two long time friends who keep each other laughing give listeners their take on the world. Everyone has a story, these are ours and those of many others.
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I Tell Stories
The Marshmallow Plant: Does it Grow Near the Twinky Shrub
Oh, boy, boy. Hey, what's up bro? How's this lovely day treating you in this springtime? It's Easter-y, you know? Ish, I don't know.
Speaker 2:Easter's on 420 this year, so will zombie Jesus be getting baked I?
Speaker 1:don't know. $5 question it is. It is it's very I don't know. Inquiring minds must know I guess it is. It's very I don't know. Inquiring minds must know, I guess. So peeps are made of marshmallows, right? This is like the marshmallow season, guys. Besides, like cocoa marshmallow time right now. It's insane. And then you step into the summertime, you got your campfires and you got your scouts out there with their handkerchiefs and their roasts and their marshmallows and doing things. I don't know what they do. I don't know what a scout does. Were you a scout, owen? I was not.
Speaker 2:No, I was not, so I'm unaware.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I used to scout for the best prices of weed when I was a kid. That was all I remember. You know who's got the best bag man. You know, throughout all this, I'm just going to drop it. So Nicole likes Peeps so this actually does come from Peeps, by the way. And then she had a bag of marshmallows that were shaped like Easter bunnies and such, and I was like marshmallows. I'm like huh, I wonder what they're actually made from. It's just like sugar and water all fluffed up. Pretty much is what I assumed, and so I looked at it Collagen, yeah, collagen, yeah, exactly. And so when I looked it up, though, holy fuck bro, there's a marshmallow plant.
Speaker 2:Huh, yes, and I had to wonder does that grow by the Twinkie shrub? I was picturing just a plant that you like pluck. You know the small ones, the little marshmallows for your hot cocoa, and then some more as you go to the bigger Right. But no, it turns out, it's actually quite lovely looking.
Speaker 1:Right Plants. Yeah, it's a nice little, a nice plant. Well, it gets kind of tall, right. You know the stats on it.
Speaker 2:I don't have the stats, but this marshmallow plant, sorry, I'm just so excited when he told me to the people used to smoke it or maybe, maybe still do, and actually that's something yeah, you're jumping ahead here, guy.
Speaker 1:The marshmallow plants got a lot of uses people, so nonetheless, what does it look like?
Speaker 2:ow, Owen, I guess when it's, you know, in its marsh is its natural environment. So the best conditions it can grow up to 8 to 10 feet tall and has a velvety sage green. Has velvety sage green stems and leaves. The flowers bloom from June to late autumn and are a lovely looking pink and white.
Speaker 1:I've seen the white ones. Yeah, I didn't know they got pink too. That's really cool. So no marshmallow fruit though.
Speaker 2:No, although it appears that the Egyptians were the first to use it not only for confections you know what we think you know for sweet stuff but they would also fry it with onion and garlic, just eating it as a vegetable Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's pretty crazy. Typically, this is the root that they're using, from what I understand. Yeah, so it's like the sap from the root, and it was mixed with honey and like nuts and created like kind of an early version of a marshmallow candy. Apparently is what those Egyptian fellows and fellowettes did. They're in the 19th century, though. In France of all places. Owen, who would have thunk France, came up with some new food. Confectioners refined the recipe by whipping the mallow root sap with egg whites and sugar, creating a light, fluffy treat known as the pâté de Guamava. I don't know, owen, do you have that down anywhere? I can't pronounce it, guys.
Speaker 2:No, I think you got pate right, but I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, de guamava, I don't know. However, though, people out there, it was kind of a pain in the butt to get the sap out of these roots, because I actually watched a video on it and they're really like squeezing the sap out of out of these roots and such, and it doesn't seem like a very it's not a quick process. So the French chefs apparently they tried to figure out a better way to do it so they could mass produce it, because marshmallows were hit people. They were big in France, el Francais uh-huh ellen.
Speaker 1:Isn't that what it's like over there?
Speaker 2:I don't know, yeah I'm not sure, I've never been but neither have I.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so you know they came up with a better way, and gelatin was a relatively uh, new invention at the time. I think is what I read summer no notes. People don't totally hold me to that one, but it's pretty new in the time and they they used that instead of the malo root and our marshmallow of today was born For all you peep lovers and cocoa lovers and campfire schmor people schmor-ing it up. Do you want some schmor, owen? No, thank you. Oh, what about more details about the mallow plant?
Speaker 2:Yes, it's also a relative of the hibiscus hollyhocks and okra.
Speaker 1:That's crazy. You know what I think cannabis is. Actually, wasn't it related to hibiscus and the eucalyptus as well? So it's kind of crazy that hibiscus gets around which?
Speaker 2:also makes delicious jamaica. No one's ever tried a wonderful Mexican beverage.
Speaker 1:Jamaica. Is that with hibiscus? Is that what you're saying?
Speaker 2:Jamaica's the drink, and it's made from the hibiscus plant.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's crazy, because I just immediately thought of fromica, which you use to put on counters, and I was like what the fuck? Hibiscus, yeah, I know, thought of from mica, which you use to put on counters, and I was like what the fuck is this? So, anyway, the mallow, the marshmallow plant, it, uh, one of its medicinal uses. It soothes the mucus membranes. So all you people out there taking all these these weird syrups of today, just go find you a marshmallow plant.
Speaker 1:You know the root is rich in mucilage, gel-like substance. It coats the throat, stomach and intestines. It helps relieve sore throatops, bronchitis and even stomach ulcers. That's crazy. So it has an inflammation reducer too. These, uh, this source is golden poppy herbscom. So just everybody out there knows, okay, yeah, also it's good for, like, skin and wound healing. When it's applied it uh, reduces inflammation is what I keep reading. And it also can contain rashes and insect bites, which I'm assuming would have to do with the inflammation. Let's see if there's anything else. Natural pain relief for teething and dental health that's crazy, jeez, you put it on your gums like Coke, apparently, people. So that's For all you who grew up in the 80s. If you were alive in the 80s, you know what I'm talking about. So regulates blood sugar levels, owen.
Speaker 2:I was 10 when the 80s ended. I wasn't putting coke in my gum.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but we came from that era. Okay, there was coke residue all over the 90s in the form of crack, cocaine and such things, and then we got it. All the math got all crazy back then. That's, that's the thing. But you know what? This one kind of trips me out because it regulates blood sugar levels, apparently, and it's just funny to me because it's a marshmallow plant and it helps with your lower your blood sugar. God, I can't talk again.
Speaker 2:The Latin name. I don't speak, I'm not being able to speak. I believe Alcea Aficinalis Means heal or cure.
Speaker 1:Oh wow, yeah, a lot of anti-inflammatory stuff which you know Is kind of most of our aches and pains. Out there, people Out there in podcast land. I feel good about this marshmallow episode. Owen, I'm just up there, I don't know, maybe it's the Durban poison. I'm unsure you there. I don't know, maybe it's the Durban poison, I'm unsure you haven't been smoking marshmallow root. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Is that what they smoke?
Speaker 1:the root. I don't know, that's a thing I'm unsure about that here.
Speaker 2:Oh, smoking I tried to look it up and it said that there was limited research on smoking of the marshmallow plant.
Speaker 1:Sorry, it's okay. So from Sentient Metaphysics that's my source here Smoking, it's a smoking alternative. The dried leaves of the marshmallow plant marshmallow plant people have been used as a base for herbal smoking blends. You know those weird fucking cigar cigarette things that I don't know. Cloves I think they put them in cloves man. I think that's like something they use when they blend those cloves cigarettes. Also, I did read that and it's not in these notes I have in front of me, but I read multiple times that it does kind of have like a euphoric slash buzzy feeling, like an upper sort of. So if you smoke the pure stuff, guys, you know not this other stuff Getting marshmallow rooted, yeah, oh, yeah, oh okay. Here's some other things that I found out about this.
Speaker 1:In some spiritual rituals, marshmallows often burned as incense or added to cleansing baths to purify spaces. It's something that people use to purify, I guess, I don't know. Anyway, and then also on this list of things that it's so good for, that's kind of out there, like the odd things that it's involved in, sort of it's supposed to enhance psychic abilities and divination people. Yeah, if you want to be divine, apparently you need to go get you a marshmallow plant, and you know, what's weird is like it's a mallow plant right and it grows in a marsh, I don't know. It's funny to me that it's like kind of spelled Like when you think marshmallow, to me it's like one word, but in a lot of these instances it's like a marsh mallow.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying. What a day, lovely day. So apparently it's using a lot of love and fertility spells too. Owen, yeah, so if you got you a lady friend or a guy friend or whatever you're up to, whatever you got going on in your life, get you a marshmallow plant yeah, supposed to help with your seed, yeah. Anyway, I don't know man, I'm just going what else do you got on this marshmallow thing we got going on here, owen?
Speaker 2:One of my earliest memories of marshmallows, throwing one in the fire by the cabin in Idaho that's one of the like long gone hillbilly neighbors that I was playing with their kids. And the guy said, you know, keep in mind, it's like 1986, let's say, and I threw a marshmallow in the fire and he was like well, we don't have the money, we're not from California, just throw marshmallows in the fire. And you and just throw marshmallows in the fire. And you know, I kept quiet but I thought to myself, like sir, can you break a penny? Because that marshmallow costs fucking like less than nothing, practically Like let me go to my piggy bank and get the.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:So it's a different country out there, but I was like okay, like yeah, I've never felt so affluent throwing a marshmallow in the fire at seven years old.
Speaker 1:Yeah, well, that's the thing you know. When stupid people try to teach you life lessons, owen, you know they don't come out with the best results.
Speaker 1:They get made fun of 30-some 40-odd years later Pushing 40.
Speaker 1:Yeah, there you are. Yeah, I don't know. Think about all the shit that we use marshmallows for though it's mellow, I'm gonna try to start saying that different Marshmallow, it's not marshmallow. You know that's how everybody in the US pronounces it. All you European and whatnot folks out there, african and such, and South American, mexico, canada you know all those countries. Listen to us. Owen, shout out to Germany. That's our number two behind the US people, those Germans out there, you know so much respect.
Speaker 1:You can visit us at pitlocksupplycom as well and pick up some I Tell Stories shirts. On Spotify you can comment on the show and drop us a line. That way there's. We have an Instagram and stuff I tell stories podcast. But yeah, on the website we have shirts and such and some music and some other things and you know, also like support the show on links below Whatever you listen on, I checked so it's their people. It's right in front of your face. You have no excuses anymore to support these stories about marshmallows getting you high and stuff and, you know, helping with your fertile natures. Yeah, so I mean, besides, like all the love and fertility spells, you know, the promotion of contraception. Maybe that's. That's not what marshmallows do, conception apparently. Sorry. And the source? If I didn't already say it is Magical Spot, that is the website, anyway nonetheless, that sounds like it could lead you to a different book.
Speaker 2:Never mind, I don't know, I don't know, I don't know.
Speaker 1:Magical Spot yeah it seemed like a hippie website.
Speaker 2:I'm unsure, I don't know.
Speaker 1:I don't know.
Speaker 1:I don't know, magic move box. Yeah, it seemed like a hippie website. I'm unsure, I don't know. It's anyway nonetheless, oh gosh, this marshmallow talk. So anyway, another thing is safe return home and protection for travelers. So it's like the St Christopher of confections, I guess, or the plant is.
Speaker 1:Anyway, the root of a vase of marshmallow flowers placed in a window was believed to guide lost loved ones home safely. This practice was commonly used by families awaiting the return of soldiers or sailors. That was kind of cool. Yet again for a magical spot, you know, I wonder what those soldiers or sailors were going to do when they returned home with that marshmallow root. Anyway, nonetheless, and then honoring the dead and such Apparently a place that some grave sites. It's a symbolism of peace and protection, so that's kind of cool and that comes from sentient metaphysics. That's a lot more of an appropriate name the magical spot.
Speaker 1:So these are all the neat things that I learned about marshmallows and I thought it was kind of funny. Well, here's a quick thought, real quick, before I touch on something else that we spoke about slang for marshmallow. I was like what's like a slang term where you're like you're a marshmallow or something like that. Hey, you know, whatever right. So all that really came up was generally implies that the person who has said marshmallow is soft, weak or easily influenced. So yeah, so if you're a marshmallow, that's not a compliment. Guys out there in podcast 90.
Speaker 2:It's a nicer way of saying you're softer than baby shit.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I guess so. And then to touch on the conversation we had based on this fantastic plant known as the marshmallow, with its white and pink Flowers. What is a marsh, anyway, you know? Is it a swamp? What's the difference between a swamp and a marsh? I don't know, because obviously that's where the name comes from. Yeah, I'm not sure.
Speaker 2:Like in a bog Like are they all related?
Speaker 1:Well, yeah, I guess.
Speaker 2:I don't know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, like what would the Everglades be? Is that a marshland Marsh, I don't know? Like so.
Speaker 2:I think they say swamp, but I don't know this is yet another can of worms that the hard-hitting journalist at I Sell Stories brings to your sense.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we want everybody to look into this.
Speaker 2:What defines a marsh? We don't have the answer.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm sure I can look it up real quick. What is a marsh?
Speaker 2:Probably some other Google that's ever giving yeah.
Speaker 1:A marsh is a type of wetland and area of land where water covers the ground for long periods. That's it.
Speaker 2:Okay, so I think it's a marsh. The flats are grass from the cabin or a wetland, so it's a marsh. The flats are grass from the cabin or wetland, so they're a marsh. But what differentiates a marsh from a bog?
Speaker 1:I don't know, is there a beast there? Okay, hopefully not. I think a bog beast would define it as said bog. Okay, yeah, I thought that checks out Right on. Hey, are there any treats that are made from marshmallow or have marshmallow that you find acceptable in one? Just curious.
Speaker 2:I mean, s'mores are acceptable, but it's like the marshmallows, and don't use barf chocolate, people. I won't I guess I don't know if we're going to get sued if I say but a very famous American company. Europeans often claim that their chocolate tastes like vomit because it in fact does contain a chemical found in that barf. So sorry, yeah.
Speaker 1:Another sunny turn, hershey's milk chocolate bars. Yeah, sorry.
Speaker 2:The milk barf chocolate bars didn't have the same ring.
Speaker 1:So now that everybody's thoroughly Educated on Hershey's chocolate and barf and how they're the same thing, I'm gonna tell you why and I looked it up real quick Because I tell stories Hard hitting journalism All angles, guys but it stems from the presence of butyric acid, a compound also found in rancid butter and vomit. They use this to, uh, they use this to break down the fats in the milk to make vomit chocolate for us fat americans, all right. So now that we all know that, are we smarter for that, owen? I don't know.
Speaker 2:More educated, I would say, and there are actually out in your neck of the woods. Moonstruck Chocolate makes non-barf chocolate. That's from America, portland Oregon. Nice I imagine you can buy that.
Speaker 1:Yeah, boogie's Bodega, first Avenue, North Billings. Montana there we are Good plug my can. Yeah, so there we are. Good plug, my friend. Yeah, they carry Moonstruck chocolate. Non-vomit chocolate is carried at Boogie's Bodega Okay, in Billings Montana. God bless, god bless. And on that note, on this fine spring day, I feel like I hope everybody has a great day, morning, evening, whatever you're doing out there.
Speaker 2:Podcastlandia, and please inform us on your thoughts on bogs, marshes, wetlands and swamps.
Speaker 1:Yes, reach out. Much love everybody.
