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
🌿 The difference between family, community, and clinical herbalists
🌿 How to address stress at the root by healing your sensory input & accessing beauty
🌿 Why learning your local plants is more powerful than memorizing distant materia medica
🌿 Ethical wildcrafting and honoring the seasonal rhythms of nature
🌿 Practical advice for herbal beginners ready to build hands-on experience

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:

• Mike's Website: www.theforagerspath.com
• Mike's Facebook
• The Foragers Path Instagram

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:

• Sarah’s journey from biochemistry to herb school with Paul Bergner
• What it means to practice “herbalism for the people”
• The evolution of Golden Poppy Apothecary and building a 14-woman team
• Supporting motherhood and children in the workplace
• Honoring ancestral and folk herbal traditions around the world
• Sacred fertility work and postpartum rituals
• Herbs for trying to conceive, pregnancy & postpartum
• Creating herbal products based on real community needs
• Running classes and bringing in ancestral craft as part of herbal learning

Links & Resources:

• Golden Poppy Apothecary (Fort Collins, CO)
• Colorado School of Clinical Herbalism
• Golden Poppy Instagram

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:

• The challenge and beauty of being a sensitive person navigating creativity and business
• My transition to releasing bi-monthly episodes to honor sustainability and ease
• The energetic dance between masculine and feminine modes of working
• How grief reorients everything—and how nature, ritual, and plants offer healing

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:

• Hawthorn – for heart support, grief, and liminal times
• Rose – for boundaries, beauty, and authentic expression
• Reishi – for nervous system regulation, grounding, and spiritual connection

🌱 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:

• Rooted Heart Elixir (Hawthorn, Rose, Reishi + Honey)
• Blooming Rooted Retreat, Autumn 2025
• Botanical Breathwork with Dandelion, April 27th

I'd love to hear from you. How are you moving through this season? What’s been resonating?

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:

• How Jenna creates transformative group healing experiences
• The arc of her retreat Expanded Wild Hearts
• Embracing the “shadow self” and releasing shame
• Navigating the emotional landscape of fertility, miscarriage, and IVF
• Redefining self-worth and highest self in motherhood
• Spirituality as micro-moments in everyday life
• Breathwork as a path to self-acceptance and embodied presence

Resources & Offerings Mentioned:

• ✨ Expanded Wild Hearts Retreat – September 2025 in the Southern California mountains
• ✨ Healer Training Level 1 – Summer 2025 in Los Angeles
• ✨ Monthly Beach Breathwork Sessions – In-person in Los Angeles
• ✨ 1:1 Virtual Sessions – Available worldwide for healing, motherhood, and spiritual work

Connect with Jenna Reiss:

• Website: https://jennareiss.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennamreiss/

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:

• Herbal Beginnings – How Harmonie’s journey started with a love of organic foods, an herbal apprenticeship, and a passion for seasonal wisdom
• Foraging & Gardening – The joy of growing herbs, learning patience with plants, and how St. John’s Wort, Violets & Roses have been allies for Harmonie
• Creating Botanical Anthology – How a Herb of the Month study evolved into a thriving seasonal publication
• Seasonal Herbalism – Why certain plants appear when they do, and how to embrace their fleeting gifts
• Motherhood & Herbalism – Raising a child around plant wisdom and allowing them to have their own path
• Medicine-Making Insights – The best ways to create fresh plant oils and preserve herbal potency

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Botanical Anthology Digital Version – Get the new Spring Edition, launching March 17!
• Botanical Anthology Print Version
• Plant Wonder Collective – Join Harmonie's monthly plant studies & creative collaborations
• Harmonie’s Instagram
• Follow The Dancing Willow Podcast for herbal wisdom every Tuesday!

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:

• How Eliza’s journey with breathwork began
• Breathwork as a tool for somatic processing and nervous system regulation
• Introduction to Botanical Breathwork and its origins
• How breath and plants create a synergistic healing experience
• The evolution from online sessions to in-person retreats
• Reflections on the Cornwall retreat and its deep connection to nature
• The beauty of Blooming Rooted retreat and the powerful themes that emerged, like womb healing and fertility
• How creativity and breathwork unlock inner power and transformation
• Eliza’s monthly online breathwork offerings and upcoming retreats

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Join Eliza’s monthly online breathwork sessions
• Sign up for Botanical Breathwork with Dandelion, April 27th in person or virtual
• Blooming Rooted Retreat - September 2024
• Eliza's website
• Eliza's instagram
• David Elliott (Elliott's uncle/Eliza's teacher) website
• Follow The Dancing Willow Podcast for herbal wisdom every Tuesday!

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:

• How a city girl with no farming experience became a lavender farmer
• The challenges and rewards of growing medicinal plants in the Southwest
• Why lavender isn’t just a calming herb—it can be stimulating too!
• The importance of soil health and its parallels with personal healing
• How small-scale, boutique farming creates the most potent and intentional plant medicine
• The science and spirit of hydrosols, essential oils, and their best uses
• The mindful practice of tea ceremony and how it can be a powerful daily ritual
• Katie’s experience as a writer, artist, and farmer—and how she balances creativity with the demands of the land

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Mesa Verde Lavender Farm – Learn more about Katie’s farm and purchase artisanal lavender products
• Mesa Verde Lavender Instagram
• Katie's personal/book Instagram
• Kapri Sits for Tea – Katie’s children's book introducing kids to tea ceremony
• Purchase Katie's other children's books here!
• Blooming Rooted Retreat - September 2024
• Follow The Dancing Willow Podcast for herbal wisdom every Tuesday!

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco

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:
✔️ Elliott’s unique upbringing in holistic health & spirituality
✔️ How she discovered herbalism as her life’s calling
✔️ The journey to owning Dancing Willow Herbs
✔️ Lessons in trust, alignment, and finding ease
✔️ Exciting upcoming episodes & offerings

✨ Join us as we cultivate wisdom, connection, and healing through the power of plants! ✨

🔗 Links & Resources:
👉 Sign up for the newsletter for updates & offerings
👉 Blooming Rooted Retreat - September 2024
👉 Follow The Dancing Willow Podcast for more herbal wisdom!

Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe, leave a review, and share with others who would love it.

Support the podcast by making a purchase with Dancing Willow Herbs!

Website: www.dancingwillowherbs.com
Instagram: @dancingwillowherbsco