The Hosts
Kristina Babich
Born in Pennsylvania and now rooted in the quiet countryside of South Carolina, Kristina Babich is an artist, musician, researcher, and co-host of the *Magnolia Street Podcast*. A proud second-generation Croatian American, with French Canadian roots on her mother's side, she draws inspiration from her heritage, folklore, and the stories that connect people across generations. With an Associate of Arts degree in Fine Art, Kristina works across oil, watercolor, and digital media while continually exploring new creative outlets. She is also a guitarist and mandolin player whose love of storytelling extends naturally into music, writing, and podcasting. Away from the easel, Kristina can usually be found tending her garden, reading with a cup of tea in hand, exploring historic architecture, or riding her motorcycle through the Carolina countryside. She has an enduring fascination with botanical lore, tattoos, the beautifully macabre, and the quiet magic hidden within everyday life. An enthusiastic kitchen witch, she finds as much joy crafting herbal recipes and seasonal meals as she does creating art. After discovering *Practical Magic*, Kristina began a dedicated witchcraft practice in 2015 and was ordained as a Priestess in 2017. Following the Wheel of the Year, she embraces an earth-centered path that blends creativity, nature, and seasonal living. As an art, garden, kitchen, and hedge witch, she believes that magic is cultivated through curiosity, intention, and a deep connection to the natural world. Whether researching folklore, creating original music, painting, or producing new episodes of *Magnolia Street*, Kristina is passionate about helping others discover the extraordinary hidden within the ordinary. Her work celebrates nature, history, books, music, and the enduring belief that a little practical magic can be found all around us.
Justina Carubia
Born and raised in New Jersey, Justina Carubia has been a singer-songwriter since 2001, inspired by artists such as Stevie Nicks, Jewel, Michelle Branch, and Sheryl Crow. She began writing original songs at eighteen and spent years performing in bars, cafés, and gritty rock venues across New Jersey and New York City. Over her two-decade “under the radar” music career, she released two independent solo EPs, Break of Day (2005) and Last One Standing (2007), as well as A Dosage From Delusional (2012) with her rock band Stelladeora, formed alongside her husband, Avinash Patel. She has also worked with notable producers including Marc Ciprut (Joss Stone), Jens Gad (Enigma), Hakim Bell (Kool and the Gang), and studied audio production under Grammy Award-winning producer Michael Mangini (Baha Men, the Jonas Brothers). After nearly stepping away from music, Justina found a creative resurgence in 2022 when internet friend and collaborator Kristina Babich invited her to help write songs for a Practical Magic-inspired musical project. Within months, the duo had written more than twenty songs and launched the Magnolia Street Podcast, where they celebrate their love of Practical Magic through music, storytelling, and discussion. As a clairaudient, she often receives melodic and lyrical inspiration in fleeting “downloads” — most notably while inthe shower, where ideas arrive faster than she can record them. She is also a certified Tarot reader who views divination as a tool for self-discovery and reflection. A lifelong fan of the film since her teenage years in the 1990s, Justina has long woven magic and creativity together. In 2007, she launched La Boheme Magique (Bohemian Magic), a blog dedicated to Practical Magic fan fiction, digital art, and virtual blog parties. Through this podcast/music venture, she hopes to bring Practical Magic fans together from all over the world, and satiate her Sagittarian quest for knowledge. No rabbit hole is to vast for her to explore!