Today we’d like to introduce you to Alicia Roskind Dearing.
Hi Alicia, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Oasis sprang from the visionary life of Robert Roskind, an author twelve times over, whose books echo the powerful message of One Love—unconditional love for all. This message is woven through tales from Rasta Elders, Native American Elders, and Mayan Elders. The Roskind family, along with his daughter, Alicia Roskind Dearing, have hosted hundreds of free live music events across the globe, particularly in Jamaica, Guatemala, the serene Havasupai reservation at the foot of the Grand Canyon’s, and even 150 concerts in maximum security prisons in North Carolina aiming to kindle the flames of One Love and peace among both the young and old.
Now, the torch of Roskind’s legacy is carried forward at Oasis, the latest chapter in his journey of spreading love and unity, co-piloted by Alicia Roskind Dearing and her partner, James Dearing. Oasis began in 2013 as a One Love cafe and has now transformed to Oasis Botanical Lounge focusing primarily on plant-based alternatives to pharmaceuticals, drugs, and alcohol offering herbs that help with pain, anxiety, mental clarity and brain fog, energy, sleep and overall health and well-being. Think cozy coffee shop meets well-sourced, local dispensary meets highly curated health and wellness products.
We offer lab-tested, high quality loose leaf and powdered kratom and kava, local THC and CBD tinctures, gummies, vapes, and delicious beverages, functional mushrooms, locally roasted organic coffee, organic loose leaf prepared teas, Everyday Dose Mushroom coffee, organic Mushroom Masala Chai, and wild-foraged, organic mocktails with THC or CBD add-ons! Plus, a whole roster of weekly free or donation-based evening events, and we are always looking for new events to offer for those who may have something to offer to our community!
In 2015, James, was diagnosed with genetic kidney disease. In an attempt to save his own life, he received a kidney transplant along with an allogeneic stem cell transplant so that he may possibly live immunosuppressant free. This was a cutting edge clinical trial, the first of its kind in the US, where they replaced his immune system with his kidney donors to trick his body into thinking the kidney was his own. It worked and he is now completely cured of kidney failure. In 2016, he was diagnosed with pre-papillary thyroid carcinoma which developed from the high doses of chemo and radiation during the trial from wiping out his immune system so he could receive his new immune system. He had thyroid cancer surgery in 2016 and is now cancer free. In 2017 he developed AVN (avascular necrosis) in both hips, also a side effect of medications from the trial, and had to have them both replaced. He now has full mobility and range in both hips.
James is truly is the bionic man. After a long path, he is now healthier than he has ever been. He is off his blood pressure medications thanks to methylated vitamins, his cancer markers have gone down, and he has perfect kidney function due to our daily health routines and shakes. James is a true testament to the bodies innate power to heal. It was the Western medicine that saved him, but it is the Earth-based natural remedies that have brought him to his truest health that he is today as he turns 50. This is why James is so passionate about the products we offer. He knows that there are alternative ways to heal the body than traditional medicine, and he wants to help others find those solutions. We have created a website for others to learn from our path to health with mostly free daily things you can do and a few things that we love for those with a busy life. www.staystrangedesign.com
Alicia comes from a dynamic business background that she has added to the business. In 2012 at the age of 25 she ventured on her own as a sole proprietor and leased a 3,000 sq foot building in the trendy neighborhood of Plaza Midwood in Charlotte, NC and renovated it literally from the ground up. Not one inch of that building was not changed or repainted, including the front facade. With every detail attended to, edible, regenerative food farm in the front and back, she orchestrated the entire renovation and design of the business, Okra: Tea, Coffee, Yoga and Massage, now known as just Okra Charlotte. It operated 12 hours a day with a full tea and coffee lounge, 2 yoga studies with up to 8 classes a day, 3 massage rooms with 8 massage therapists. Okra Yoga won Best of Yoga Studio within the first year of opening in multiple Charlotte publications and pretty much every subsequent year after that and continues to this day to win awards.
In 2015 she expanded the business into an athletic apparel store called Gumbo: The Store. In 2016 after both businesses were thriving, she sold them to Hal Smith, the previous CEO of Bass Pro Shop to continue the legacy. She traveled the world for a few years before landing in Paradise Valley, Montana and eventually in Carrboro, NC at Oasis Botanical Lounge. James and Alicia live part-time in Paradise Valley and have loved digging deeper roots in the Carrboro area. We look forward to growing the business and getting more involved with the local community to provide a true Oasis for all to heal their bodies naturally and just feel at home in their own skin in.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
During Covid Oasis had to transition from offering food to focusing predominantly on herbal botanical offerings out of our backdoor. We feel now we have found our niche and have decided not to add food back in, but we still offer lots of yummy coffee and tea options and there a number of great food and pastry offerings within the Carrmill Mall that you can eat at Oasis while you enjoy your beverage.
James’ story could also be a struggle.
As you know, we’re big fans of Oasis Botanical Lounge . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Our passion is to continually learn, educate and offer the most cutting edge herbal botanicals offering plant based alternatives to drugs, alcohol and pharmaceuticals to support overall wellness. Our mission is to provide high-vibe, premium-grade tools to become your healthiest, happiest, most radiant self – all while staying rooted in the Earth’s wild abundance.
Oasis Botanical Lounge | Carrmill Mall, Carrboro, NC
Open daily. Walk-ins welcome. Vibes guaranteed.
OUR BOTANICAL VAULT
Plant-powered alternatives that feel like upgrades to your body, mind, and mood.
KRATOM – Our Cult Favorite
Hand-selected leaves from the Mitragyna speciosa tree.
• Maeng Da: Pain Reducing & Energy
• Red: Pain Reducing & Relaxation
• Green: Euphoric energy
• White: Full throttle energy
• 4–6 hour experience
KAVA – Liquid Calm in a Cup
A pepper-plant cousin that starts with a playful tingle on your lips and melts into deep, sociable serenity. No hangover, just relaxation and calm.
LEGAL HEMP – Carolina-Grown & Lab-Pure
THC, CBD, rare cannabinoids—all nurtured and created in NC (some just minutes away in Pittsboro—shoutout Rocky River Hemp). From micro dose chill to full-spectrum glow.
FUNCTIONAL MUSHROOMS – Nature’s Nootropics
Lion’s Mane • Cordyceps • Reishi • Chaga • Maitake • Shiitake • Turkey Tail • Tremella
Unlock:
• Laser-sharp focus
• Unshakeable immunity
• Youthful radiance
• Boundless stamina
HERBAL ELIXIRS – Adaptogenic Potions
Nootropics, stress-tamers, and earth-born remedies blended for radiant, resilient living.
COFFEE & TEA – Brewed Like Ritual
Every sip starts with reverse-osmosis water—taste the difference.
Pure Intentions Coffee – Organic, French-press fresh from Charlotte.
Rishi Tea – Loose-leaf, hand-blended organic
Everyday Dose Mushroom Coffee – Tastes like your favorite roast, minus the crash. Collagen, L-theanine, Lion’s Mane, Chaga + 18 amino acids = smooth, sustained brilliance.
Valli Collective Mushroom Masala Chai – Zero caffeine, all the warm yumminess of chai. Lion’s Mane, Cordyceps, and Chaga ignite clarity and warmth in every spicy sip.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Look to those that inspire you and are doing something that you strive to be doing. Reach out to them and ask if they have space for mentorship or just a conversation to hear about what they are doing right and the struggles they have met along the way and how they overcame those struggles.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.oasisbotanicallounge.com
- Instagram: oasisbotanicallounge
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OasisAtCarrMill
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/raroskind
