It's the Season 2 finale of Plants & Beats, and the timing couldn't be more fitting.

It’s Rob Bell's birthday and National Tequila Day; this special episode brings back friend of the show Chris Lindstrom—food and drink writer, podcast host, and spirits expert—for a conversation centered around one of the world's most fascinating plants: the agave.

Together, Rob and Chris unpack the history and craftsmanship behind tequila, the cultural traditions surrounding birthday celebrations and raising a glass with friends, and the remarkable agave plant itself.

The episode also marks the end of another season, as Rob looks back on 27 episodes of Plants & Beats. From conversations with artists, photographers, advocates, musicians, and entrepreneurs to lessons inspired by the natural world, Season 2 has been a celebration of community, creativity, wellness, and the quiet wisdom plants have to offer.

This week's featured plant is agave. Known for taking years—even decades—to mature before reaching its full potential, agave reminds us that meaningful things can't be rushed. Patience, intention, and time are often the ingredients behind life's greatest rewards.

As always, the conversation is accompanied by a warm, reflective lo-fi soundtrack produced and mixed by Aloefi.

Chris Lindstrom

Food & Drink Writer • Spirits Expert • Podcast Host

Agave (Agave spp.)

Take the Plants & Beats Listener Survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwnaae3QK2xFWy5nS_cYiwrjAjXfGc8GHBp_lr9E-RGuv7xg/viewform?usp=header

Best of Aloefi (Apple Music):

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/best-of-aloefi/pl.u-vxy68aYC8X3dpR

Best of Aloefi (Spotify):

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2IlQUrBY5eqcYkZQzRw7Mo?si=T0v930l5Ts6rSz-OqYnkyg

Plants & Beats is hosted by Rob Bell, produced in partnership with the Lunchador Podcast Network, and features original music produced and mixed by Aloefi.

Thank you for joining us throughout Season 2. Whether you've listened from the very beginning or discovered the show along the way, we appreciate you spending time with us each week. Here's to another season of thoughtful conversations, remarkable plants, and beats that help us slow down and reconnect.

Until next season—peace, blessings, and keep growing.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Coffee that lifts everyone. joebeanroasters.com

This week on Plants & Beats, we're doing something a little different.

Rob (@byrobbell) sits down with German producer and DJ Cuezy. (@cuezy._) to celebrate the release of the six-track EP, Endless Summer by Aloefi (@al0efi) and Cuezy.

More than a collection of beats, Endless Summer is a concept album designed to capture the feeling of a perfect summer day.

Throughout the episode, Rob and Cuezy discuss their individual musical journeys, how a friendship across continents turned into a creative partnership, and insights behind every song on the project. Before each track, they share the inspiration, production process, and memories that shaped the music you'll hear.

This week's featured plant is basil—a fragrant herb that flourishes with regular care and brings people together around the table. Like the collaboration between Aloefi and Cuezy, basil reminds us that the best things in life are cultivated with patience, consistency, and shared intention.

Every song featured in this episode comes directly from Endless Summer, making this a behind-the-scenes listening experience unlike any other episode of Plants & Beats.

Cuezy

Producer • DJ • Collaborator on Endless Summer

Basil (Ocimum basilicum)

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/4xOmatomfD3l3qujnNyxTN?si=7M1t0988QmyHoJQ_8mQemA

Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/endless-summer-ep/6783602514

https://linkly.link/2mLb3

Take the Plants & Beats Listener Survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwnaae3QK2xFWy5nS_cYiwrjAjXfGc8GHBp_lr9E-RGuv7xg/viewform?usp=header

Best of Aloefi (Apple Music):

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/best-of-aloefi/pl.u-vxy68aYC8X3dpR

Best of Aloefi (Spotify):

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2IlQUrBY5eqcYkZQzRw7Mo?si=T0v930l5Ts6rSz-OqYnkyg

Plants & Beats is hosted by Rob Bell, produced in partnership with the Lunchador Podcast Network, and features original music produced and mixed by Aloefi.

Peace and blessings

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Coffee that lifts everyone. joebeanroasters.com

On this episode of Plants & Beats, Rob Bell (@byrobbell) sits down with photographer Nick Koch, better known as @rocstreetphoto.

Nick shares his journey from leaving high school early to building a career in the same industry for decades, where he became a Zamboni expert while continuing to pursue photography as a creative outlet. He also opens up about living with chronic pain caused by a medical condition and how cultivating cannabis became part of his personal healing journey.

This week's featured plant is the Cannabis Sativa. While often surrounded by debate, cannabis has a long history as both a medicinal and agricultural plant. Like growing tomatoes, cultivating healthy cannabis requires attention to light, water, nutrients, and timing.

As always, the conversation is anchored by a lo-fi soundtrack produced and mixed by Aloefi (@al0efi).

Nick Koch

Photographer • Zamboni Expert • Hobbyist Cannabis Grower

Cannabis (Cannabis sativa)

If you’ve been listening to the show and want to go a little deeper, I’d love for you to join the Plants & Beats Patreon.

The plant care guide is free to view, so you can tap in to learn more about the plant of the week and keep growing with us between episodes.

https://linkly.link/2m6L9

There are also other cool features available through different membership tiers, including columns from Rob Bell, unedited interviews, minute meditations, secret mixtapes, DJ sets, access to the Plants & Beats group chat, and more.

Plants & Beats has always been about slowing down, finding peace, and building a community rooted in music, wellness, and growth.

Come join the garden.

Take the Plants & Beats Listener Survey:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScwnaae3QK2xFWy5nS_cYiwrjAjXfGc8GHBp_lr9E-RGuv7xg/viewform?usp=header

Best of Aloefi (Apple Music):

https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/best-of-aloefi/pl.u-vxy68aYC8X3dpR

Best of Aloefi (Spotify):

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2IlQUrBY5eqcYkZQzRw7Mo?si=T0v930l5Ts6rSz-OqYnkyg

Plants & Beats is hosted by Rob Bell, produced in partnership with the Lunchador Podcast Network (@lunchadorpodcasts), and features original music mixed and produced by Aloefi.

No matter how difficult the season, keep growing.

Peace and blessings.

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Coffee that lifts everyone. joebeanroasters.com