We recently had the chance to connect with Déraj Austin and have shared our conversation below.
Good morning Déraj , it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Being with family helps bring me joy!
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Peace, I’m Déraj Austin — but a lot of folks know me as “The Plant God.” I’m a creative soul from the South who finds balance in nature, sound, and spirit. I’m the founder of “Plant Parenthood Vibes”, where I bring life to spaces through plants, intention, and energy. My journey started with a deep love for plants and how they mirror growth — not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually too.
What makes my work unique is the way I blend my worlds — music, plants, and storytelling. Whether I’m consulting for a business, curating a peaceful vibe for someone’s home, or curating content that reminds people to slow down and breathe, everything I do is rooted in connection. My mission is to help people feel seen, grounded, and inspired to grow — one plant, one sound, one moment at a time.
Right now, I’m building toward a few projects that I won’t reveal just yet. Just know it involves plants for sure. It’s going to be great, because it’s a lifestyle, a movement, and a reflection of who I am becoming.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is neglect — the same way a plant starts to wither when it’s no longer cared for. When we stop watering each other with attention, patience, and understanding, the connection begins to dry out. Sometimes it’s not even intentional — life just gets loud, or should I say “life be life’n,” and we forget to nurture what once grew so naturally.
But what restores those bonds is the same thing that brings any plant back to life — care, consistency, and light. It’s choosing to show up again, even if the soil’s been dry for a while. When you pour love back into something real, it remembers. Energy has memory. Just like plants lean toward the sun, people lean toward warmth, truth, and intentional love. That’s how growth — and healing — returns.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain when I realized it was part of my journey. For a long time, I tried to cover it up — like a leaf trying to hide its wilt — but pain is the compost of growth. It breaks down what no longer serves you and feeds what’s meant to rise. Once I accepted that, I stopped running from it and started planting through it.
Every hardship became nourishment. Every scar turned into a root that grounded me deeper in who I truly am. Growth isn’t always beautiful — sometimes it’s messy, quiet, and uncomfortable — but that’s where the real transformation happens. My pain became my power the moment I stopped treating it like a burden and started honoring it as part of my becoming.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One truth that’s foundational for me — but that I rarely say out loud — is that everything needs time, light, and care to grow, including me. I’ve learned that rushing the process only leads to roots that can’t hold what’s meant for you. Growth takes patience, and patience takes trust.
Another truth is that pruning is necessary. You can’t hold on to every branch and still expect new life to flourish. Whether it’s habits, people, or versions of myself, I’ve had to learn when to release what no longer feeds my spirit.
I don’t always talk about these things because they’re just how I live. Like a plant reaching for light, I’ve come to understand that alignment and peace don’t need to be announced — they’re felt!
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m out in nature — no noise, no rush, just me and the elements. Picture this: a creek running beside me, the sound of water carrying every thought I don’t need to hold onto. A fire pit crackling close by, smoke curling into the night like it’s whispering old stories. I’m in a hammock, swaying slow, surrounded by green — the kind that breathes life back into you without saying a word.
That’s my recharge. Out there, I don’t have to be anything but present. The air feels cleaner, the stars look clearer, and even the silence feels alive. Living in downtown Dallas/Deep Ellum really makes me feel separated from nature. It’s in those moments that I’m reminded how small I am, but how deeply connected I am to everything, when out in nature.
That’s my version of peace — not found, but grown. The kind that comes from stillness, gratitude, and being rooted exactly where I am.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://plantparenthoodvibes.square.site/
- Instagram: @loc_loaded
- Facebook: Déraj Austin
- Other: Tiktok:
@loc_loaded
Image Credits
Photo creds:
@DérajProductions
@ThePlantProject
