Recorded live at Stem (806 Monroe Avenue in Rochester NY), this episode of Plants & Beats brings together community voices, plant wisdom, and conversations about connection. Rob Bell sits down with Matthew Smitley and Quajay Donnell to talk about what makes the Rochester community feel rooted, resilient, and alive.

From support systems to creative collaboration, the conversation explores the parallels between caring for plants and caring for people.

Set against another lo-fi mix by Aloefi, this episode is about growth in every sense of the word—personal, communal, and creative.

🪴 Recorded live at Stem on Monroe Avenue

🌱 Conversations on community, care & connection

🤝 Featuring Matthew Smitley & Quajay Donnell

🎧 Hosted by Rob Bell (@byrobbell)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (@al0efi)

🎙 Produced with the Lunchador Podcast Network

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Coffee that lifts everyone. joebeanroasters.com

On this episode of Plants & Beats, we spotlight the Money Tree and sit down with Rochester photographer Narada Riley for an honest conversation about hustle culture, ambition, and the emotional weight tied to chasing success. Together, Rob Bell and Narada unpack the highs and lows of the grind, the pressure to keep moving, and the search for balance in a world that constantly tells us to do more.

Known creatively as NRAD, Narada has photographed for the Buffalo Bills and built a growing creative reputation through work featured in the Capture the Movement exhibition in Brooklyn and In Honor Of Black Lives in the Bronx. Locally, he was a featured artist in the Seasons of Warhol exhibition at the Memorial Art Gallery.

As always, the conversation is backed by a lo-fi mix from Aloefi.

📸 Featuring photographer Narada John Riley (@nrad257)

🏈 Photography work with the Buffalo Bills

💰 Conversations on hustle culture, creativity & purpose

🪴 Plant of the Week: The Money Tree

🎧 Hosted by Rob Bell (@byrobbell)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (@al0efi)

🎙 Produced with the Lunchador Podcast Network (@lunchadorpodcasts)

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Coffee that lifts everyone. joebeanroasters.com

In Episode 17 of Plants & Beats, Rob Bell and Chris Lindstrom talk about something we often forget: you can’t pour from an empty cup. They explore self-care as a responsibility, not just a luxury or trend.

A pothos plant can survive even if you forget about it. It keeps growing and doesn’t need much. People are different.

Featuring a lo-fi mix from Aloefi.

🎧 New episodes every Friday

🎙 Hosted by Rob Bell (@byrobbell) & Chris Lindstrom (@foodabouttown)

🎼 Music produced and mixed by Aloefi (@al0efi)

Mentioned in this episode:

Joe Bean Roasters

Coffee that lifts everyone. joebeanroasters.com

Connections with Evan Dawson

Connections with Evan Dawson - Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts

Connections

In Episode 16 of Plants & Beats, Rob Bell and Chris Lindstrom from the Lunchador Podcast Network sits down with Chris Widmaier, former RCSD science teacher and Executive Director of Rochester Ecology Partners, for a powerful conversation about community, sustainability, and the connection between nature and equity. From classroom to canopy, Chris shares how his journey led to building programs that connect young people to the natural world, and why a resilient city must include green spaces for all. As always, the conversation is grounded in an original lo-fi mix by Aloefi.

🎙 Hosted by Rob Bell (IG: @byrobbell)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (IG: @al0efi, TikTok: @aloefianime)

Lunchador Podcast Network (IG: @lunchadorpodcasts)

This week on Plants & Beats, we bring you “A Lo-fi Christmas” — a special uninterrupted mix of nostalgic, soulful holiday beats by Aloefi, recorded live with analog warmth and a room full of love. Just cozy textures, crackling ambiance, and that deep December stillness meant to elevate your sense of connection and belonging.

🎙 Produced by Rob Bell (IG: @byrobbell)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (IG: @al0efi, Tiktok: @aloefianime)

In this special episode of Plants & Beats, Rob Bell and guest host Chris Lindstrom from the Lunchadoor Podcast Network go live from the re-grand opening of Stem, a gift and plant shop at 806 Monroe Avenue in Rochester NY, to sit down with owner Kerynn Laraby. Together, they explore the power of houseplants to transform space and spirit, Kerynn’s journey as a small business owner, and what it takes to grow roots in a community. Backed by a lo-fi soundtrack from Aloefi, this episode is a celebration of local life and green beginnings.

Interview starts at around 10:00

🪴 Live from Stem’s re-grand opening

💬 Guest: Kerynn Laraby, owner of Stem (IG:@stem_rochester)

🎙 Hosted by Rob Bell (@byrobbell) & Chris Lindstrom (@foodabouttown)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (@al0efi)

In Episode 13 of Plants & Beats, we dig into the wisdom of strawberries—how to know when it’s time to pull, replant, and start fresh. We explore the science behind natural crop defenses and how modern gene editing is helping bring resilience back to the plants we rely on. Paired with another lo-fi mix by Aloefi and reflection from Rob Bell on the importance of changing environments to unlock growth.

🎧 New episodes every Friday

🎙 Produced by Rob Bell (IG: @byrobbell)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (IG: @al0efi, TikTok: @aloefianime)

In Episode 12 of Plants & Beats, we turn our attention to the quiet geometry of desert life. From satellite images of hyperuniform plant patterns to the deep-rooted resilience of Desert Sage, we explore how spacing, stillness, and balance shape survival in harsh environments. Fall may feel like an ending, but it’s also a call to prepare—and to listen. With lo-fi textures from Aloefi and reflections from Rob Bell, this episode is a gentle reminder: needing space isn’t retreat—it’s rhythm.

🎧 New episodes every Friday

🎙 Produced by Rob Bell (IG: @byrobbell)

🎼 Music by Aloefi (IG:@al0efi, Tiktok: @aloefianime)