Explore every episode of the podcast The Dancing Willow
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Magic of Herbal Constituents: Plant Chemistry with Lisa Ganora | 24 Jun 2025 | 01:35:14 | |
Phytochemistry isn’t just science—it’s the language plants use to connect, communicate, and heal. In this conversation, Elliott sits down with beloved teacher and plant chemistry wizard Lisa Ganora to explore the fascinating world of herbal constituents, not as dry academic material, but as the living language of the plants. Lisa helps us reframe chemistry as a tool for deepening relationship—showing how phytochemicals carry signals, stories, and life force, and how we as herbalists can learn to listen. Together, they dive into:
Whether you geek out on plant chemistry or tend to glaze over at the word “constituents,” this episode will leave you with a renewed sense of wonder and practical insight for your own herbal journey. Resources Mentioned:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Herbal Allies for Summer Wellness: Cooling Tonics, Hydrating Herbs & Sun Care Tips | 10 Jun 2025 | 00:44:27 | |
As the days grow longer and the sun shines stronger, our bodies crave balance, hydration and calm. In this episode, clinical herbalist, Elliott Brinkley explores the vibrant world of summertime herbs—highlighting cooling, moistening, and antioxidant-rich plants that can help you thrive in the heat. You’ll learn how to make herbal sun teas, herb infused green juices, and cooling tonics using refrigerant herbs like hibiscus, elderflower, lemon balm, peppermint, chickweed and rose, as well as demulcents like marshmallow root, rose hips, licorice and chia. Elliott also shares practical tips for holistic sun care, including foods and herbs that can support your skin’s resilience from the inside out. 🌞 In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
🌿 Products from the Apothecary:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Breathing with the Earth: Botanical Breathwork with Eliza Rose Kane | 11 Mar 2025 | 01:14:13 | |
In this episode, I’m joined by the incredible Eliza Rose Kane, breathwork facilitator, writer and healer, as we dive into the magic of Botanical Breathwork. We explore how breath and plants work together to deepen our connection to the earth, our bodies, and our creative power. Eliza shares her insights on the synergy between breath and plant consciousness, the wisdom of the womb space, and how we can reclaim our life force in a world that often depletes it. We also reflect on our journey—from hosting virtual breathwork sessions to facilitating in-person retreats across the world. Join us for an inspiring conversation on healing, creativity, and the unseen forces that guide us. 🌿 In This Episode, We Discuss:
🔗 Links & Resources:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Lavender & Legacy: Crafting Hydrosols, Cultivating Land & Finding Purpose with Mesa Verde Lavender | 04 Mar 2025 | 01:21:20 | |
What does it mean to truly cultivate something—from the soil beneath us to the friendships that sustain us? In this episode, host Elliott Brinkley sits down with Katie of Mesa Verde Lavender Farm to explore the deep connections between plants, healing, and personal transformation. They share the story of their friendship, the unexpected path that led Katie from music education to lavender farming, and the wisdom she’s gained from working so closely with this resilient plant. Tune in to learn about the magic of lavender, the challenges of farming in the Southwest, and the parallels between soil health, personal growth, and our own microbiomes. Plus, Katie shares her passion for tea ceremony and the profound ways it has deepened her connection to plants, spirituality, and presence. 🌿 In This Episode, We Discuss:
🔗 Links & Resources:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Rooted in Herbal Wisdom: The Journey to Dancing Willow | 24 Feb 2025 | 01:00:03 | |
In this first episode of The Dancing Willow Podcast, host Elliott Brinkley shares her journey into herbalism, holistic healing, and the path that led her to own the beloved Dancing Willow Herbs apothecary. From a childhood immersed in alternative healing to her deep connection with nature and clinical herbalism, Elliott weaves a heartfelt and inspiring story of trust, alignment, and transformation. She also reflects on the challenges and joys of launching this podcast, the importance of slowing down, and the collective energy of 2024. Get to know Elliott on a deeper level and learn what’s in store for future episodes—featuring herbal wisdom, medicine-making, breathwork, and conversations with inspiring healers. 🌿 In This Episode, We Discuss: ✨ Join us as we cultivate wisdom, connection, and healing through the power of plants! ✨ 🔗 Links & Resources: Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Plant Led Formulation: The Spirit Behind Leaf People Skincare | 27 May 2025 | 01:11:34 | |
What if your skincare routine was more than just topical? What if it was a sacred exchange—between you, the plants, and the Earth? In this soul-stirring episode, Elliott sits down with Julie Williams, founder and formulator behind Leaf People Skincare. Julie shares the remarkable story of how she studied plant medicine around the globe—from the Amazon to the Australian outback—and how those teachings laid the foundation for one of the most energetically aligned skincare lines in existence. We explore:
Special Listener Offer: Shop all Leaf People goodies: leafpeople.com Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Skincare Truths, Acne Myths & Radical Skin Acceptance with Satara of Clear Esthetics | 13 May 2025 | 01:17:51 | |
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by skincare advice or frustrated that your “clean” routine still isn’t working for acne—this episode is for you. Elliott talks with Satara Arthaud, esthetician and founder of Clear Esthetics, about how to truly support acne-prone skin with both compassion and strategy. Together, they go deep into the misconceptions around acne and the often overlooked lifestyle and product factors that can make or break your skin’s health. You’ll learn:
Plus, Satara shares her personal journey with acne and the turning points that transformed her skin—and her work. This is a compassionate, myth-busting episode for anyone who wants to care for their skin with more intention, clarity, and self-acceptance. Links: Satara’s business & online shop: https://www.clearestheticssb.com/ Satara’s Instagram: @clear_esthetics Acne Safe App (for checking ingredients): https://acnesafe.co LightStim (her favorite red light device): https://www.lightstim.com Blooming Rooted Retreat: September 2025, Mancos CO, Herbalism Retreat, join us! Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Blooming Rooted: A Retreat for Herbal Healing & Embodied Transformation | 06 May 2025 | 00:33:41 | |
What if learning about plants was also a path to becoming more fully yourself? You’ll hear the story of how this sacred gathering came to be, from its dream-seed origins on winter solstice to the deeply transformative summer solstice retreat that unfolded on sacred land in Mancos, Colorado. Elliott shares the magic of last year’s gathering: the healing power of group breathwork, daily plant meditations, tea ceremonies, medicine making, and the way each herb—especially those with an affinity for the lungs—showed up as allies for grief and transformation. This episode is both an invitation and a remembrance: a call to those ready to reconnect with the Earth, with others, and with themselves. 🌿 Early bird pricing for Autumn Equinox Blooming Rooted Retreat ends Friday, May 9. In this episode, you'll learn:
Whether you’re curious about joining or simply seeking inspiration for your own path, this episode will meet you with warmth, reflection, and the gentle nudge of the plant world. Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Beyond the Green Pill: Practicing Vitalist Herbalism with Mike Masek | 29 Apr 2025 | 01:03:59 | |
In today's episode, I’m joined by Mike Masek, director of The Forager’s Path School of Botanical Studies in Flagstaff, Arizona. With over 30 years of experience and training in Herbal Medicine, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Mike has devoted his life to helping students move beyond textbook knowledge — into real, embodied herbal wisdom rooted in nature and daily life. In this episode we dive into: 🌿 How vitalist herbalism differs from “green pill” thinking We also explore why true herbalism is about practicing — not just studying — and how slowing down, observing, and building relationship with plants transforms not only your herbal skills, but your entire life. Whether you're just starting out or deepening your herbal path, Mike's grounded wisdom will leave you inspired to reconnect with the plants, the land, and yourself. Links & Resources:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Herbalism for the People: Golden Poppy Apothecary | 15 Apr 2025 | 00:54:48 | |
What does it look like to build a thriving herbal business rooted in community, care, and ancestral wisdom? This week Elliott sits down with Sarah Josey, clinical herbalist and founder of Golden Poppy Apothecary in Fort Collins, Colorado, to explore how herbalism can be made accessible, practical, and deeply human. From her start in biochemistry to becoming a community herbalist and business owner, Sarah shares the winding journey of following her calling—and how she’s built a 14-woman team that operates like a modern-day village. They talk about motherhood in the workplace, crafting herbal remedies for everyday people, honoring diverse herbal traditions, and the sacredness woven into fertility and postpartum care. It’s a beautiful reminder that herbalism doesn’t have to be complicated and when it is cultivated within community, it helps everyone grow. In This Episode We Cover:
Links & Resources:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Planting Seeds in Grief: Herbs for a Rooted Heart | 01 Apr 2025 | 00:56:22 | |
This week we have a very personal, solo episode. I’m dropping in with you one-on-one—no guests, just a real-time reflection from my heart to yours. It’s been just over a month since launching the podcast, and while it's been a whirlwind of incredible conversations, I wanted to pause, connect, and share what’s been moving through me. This episode is about grief, growth, and the gentle reminder to slow down. I open up about the recent loss of our beloved dog Bleau and how that grief is shaping my perspective and shifting the pace of this podcast—and life in general. I talk about the arc of his life and how the seasons mirror our own inner transitions. We explore:
I also dive into the powerful herbal allies that are helping me stay grounded and open-hearted right now, including hawthorn, rose, and reishi, the key herbs in my Rooted Heart Elixir. We talk about Shen tonics in Traditional Chinese Medicine and how they support both grief and voice—two themes that feel intertwined in this moment. ✨ Herbal Allies Discussed:
🌱 Whether you're navigating your own grief, creative burnout, or just craving a deeper sense of presence and alignment this spring, this episode is for you. It's a vulnerable one—but also a hopeful one. We're moving through the sacred dark together. Links + Resources:
I'd love to hear from you. How are you moving through this season? What’s been resonating? Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| My Body is a Miracle: Fertility & Self Love with Jenna Reiss | 25 Mar 2025 | 01:29:48 | |
In this deeply heartfelt and healing episode, Elliott is joined by the radiant Jenna Reiss—breathwork facilitator, healer, teacher, and new mother—for a soul-stirring conversation on the path of self-love, spiritual integration, and honoring the full spectrum of the human experience. From the transformative power of retreats and group healing to the tender, often hidden realities of fertility challenges and early motherhood, Jenna shares her wisdom with grace, vulnerability, and warmth. Jenna opens up about her personal journey through IVF, miscarriage, and ultimately motherhood, weaving in how her spiritual tools like breathwork, meditation, and self-compassion supported her through each stage. She and Elliott explore the power of embracing the “shadow self,” letting go of perfectionism in wellness spaces, and reimagining what it means to be a “spiritual mother.” Whether you’re navigating your own healing journey, holding space for others, or simply seeking a loving reminder of your own wholeness, this episode will meet you where you are. Topics Covered:
Resources & Offerings Mentioned:
Connect with Jenna Reiss:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||
| Weaving Collaborative Herbalism: Building a Seasonal Herbal Magazine with Harmonie O'Loughlin | 18 Mar 2025 | 01:13:23 | |
Herbalism is something that is meant to exist in the village. In this episode, I sit down with Harmonie O'Loughlin, founder of Botanical Anthology and Plant Wonder Collective, to explore how collaboration within her community, shapes her experience as an herbalist and creator. We dive into her journey from home herbalist to magazine editor, the plants that shaped her path—like Violets, St. John’s Wort, and Rose—and how foraging and gardening deepened her relationship with the land. Harmonie shares insights into seasonal herbalism, explaining why plants emerge at specific times and how they offer exactly what we need. Plus, we get a sneak peek into the Spring Edition of Botanical Anthology, featuring herbal recipes, folklore, crafts, divination, and a special focus on violets and other ephemeral spring plants. Whether you’re an herbalist, gardener, or simply drawn to plant wisdom, this episode will inspire you to slow down, connect, embrace the magic of the seasons & find your herbal community! 🌿 In This Episode, We Discuss:
🔗 Links & Resources:
Stay Connected Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs! Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com | |||