The Dancing Willow

Recent episodes

1. Creating a Kitchen Apothecary with Sarah Kate Benjamin

   Aug 4, 2026

   Herbalism becomes far more sustainable when it is woven into the meals, rhythms, and rituals that already shape our days. In this episode, Elliott is joined by Sarah Kate Benjamin, herbalist, private chef, author, and creator of The Kosmic Kitchen. Sarah Kate shares how chronic fatigue and depletion first led her to bring herbalism out of the tincture bottle and into her everyday food. What began with adaptogens, nourishing meals, fresh herbs from the garden, and a jar of tea waiting in the refrigerator eventually grew into The Kosmic Kitchen- a beautiful and practical approach to making food and herbal medicine part of the same conversation. In this episode, we explore: Sarah Kate’s experience with chronic fatigue and how food and herbs became part of her healing Using herbal oils, vinegars, pestos, dips, dressings, teas, and other kitchen staples as everyday medicine An approachable introduction to Ayurveda, the five elements, and the vata, pitta, and kapha doshas Foods, herbs, spices, and lifestyle practices that can support each dosha The best herbs for cooling summer infusions, including tulsi, lemon balm, nettle, chamomile, marshmallow root, and cinnamon Seasonal self-care practices such as herbal body oiling, foot baths, salt scrubs, and movement How motherhood has simplified Sarah Kate’s herbal practice while making it even more essential Preparing deeply nourishing foods for pregnancy and postpartum recovery The importance of mothering and feeding the mother while she cares for a new baby Building confidence and creativity in the kitchen through flexible foundational recipes Connect with Sarah Kate Benjamin: The Kosmic Kitchen Join the Kosmic Cooking Club on Substack Explore Sarah Kate’s herbal recipes Follow The Kosmic Kitchen on Instagram The Kosmic Kitchen Cookbook: Everyday Herbalism and Recipes for Radical Wellness Resources mentioned in this episode: The dhyana Center of Health Sciences — founded by Sarah Kate’s Ayurvedic teacher, DeAnna Batdorff Sage Mountain Botanical Sanctuary Florida School of Holistic Living The Yoga of Herbs by Dr. David Frawley and Dr. Vasant Lad Dancing Willow Herbs products for an herbal kitchen: Fire Cider- use in salad dressings, sauces, hot toddies Adaptogenic Honey Paste - add to recipes, toast, or tea Damiana Love Cordials- pour over ice cream, add to mocktails Delicious cold infusion teas: Flowers She Spoke, Tension Tonic 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

2. The Language of Plants: Herbal Constituents with Lisa Ganora

   Jul 21, 2026

   Herbalist and phytochemist Lisa Ganora returns to the podcast for a lively exploration of herbal constituents and the ways plants communicate with the body. We talk about the tingling alkylamides found in echinacea and spilanthes, immunomodulating polysaccharides, carotenoids, mucilage, and how different medicine-making methods extract different aspects of a plant. Lisa also shares stories about brittlebush, nettles, calendula, dandelions, and the importance of combining scientific research with traditional knowledge and direct sensory experience. In this episode, we explore: Why herbal constituents are more than isolated chemicals What echinacea’s tingling sensation can teach us Alcohol versus water extraction for extracting alkamines and immunomodulating polysaccharides How immunomodulating polysaccharides work in plants like echinacea or brittlebrush as well as medicinal mushrooms The relationship between the immune and lymphatic systems Carotenoids in calendula, dandelions, leafy greens and fall colors Learning about plants through taste, texture, color, and sensation Why phytochemistry can deepen our respect and relationship with plants Links, resources & herbal products: Listen to our first conversation with Lisa Ganora: The Magic of Herbal Constituents: Plant Chemistry with Lisa Ganora Lisa's website: herbalconstituents.com Explore Lisa’s two-semester Herbal Constituents Course, which connects phytochemistry with clinical herbalism, energetics, and medicine making Dancing Willow Herbs products mentioned in the episode: Ultra Echinacea (double extracted Echinacea) Immense Defense Lymph Tonic Red Root Tincture Tummy Tea Reishi Tincture (double extracted) Mindful Mushroom Mix (double extracted) 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

3. The Healing Path of Lei: Hawaiian Herbalism, Beauty & Belonging with Keya Guimaraes

   Jul 7, 2026

   Most of us know lei as something beautiful- flowers placed around the neck in welcome or celebration- but in this conversation, herbalist Keya Guimaraes invites us into lei as formula, prayer, ritual, and medicine. Together, Elliott & Keya explore Hawaiian herbalism, lei making as medicine, and what it means to become naturalized to the land beneath your feet. This conversation moves through beauty, ancestry, reverence, daily practice, bees, plant communication, and the ways we can return to the earth through devotion and presence. Keya speaks to the sacredness of weaving plants, the importance of place-based relationship, and how even simple daily rituals can become an umbilical cord back to the living world. In this episode: How to become naturalized to the land you live on What lei making teaches us about plants, prayer, and impermanence The difference between beauty as surface and beauty as a feeling How plant rituals support rites of passage, grief, birth, death, and transformation Why daily practice matters in rebuilding relationship with the earth The meaning of reverence and why it goes deeper than gratitude How bees, flowers, and animals can help us remember how to belong Keya’s work with Hawaiian plants, hydrosols, lei, herbal consultations, and place-based healing Links & Resources: Ecotone Kauaʻi: ecotonekauai.com Ecotone Essex: ecotoneessex.com Keya's Instagram: @ecotonekauai and @keyaflowerandfern 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

4. Letting the Light In: Summer Solstice Herbalism

   Jun 23, 2026

   What if the summer solstice is not just about celebrating the light, but learning how to truly receive it? This solo episode, Elliott Brinkley explores herbs for the summer solstice, including St. John’s Wort, Mugwort, Lavender, Rose, Elderflower, and the sun-faced plants of the Asteraceae family. Through seasonal herbalism, plant folklore, and practical medicine, this episode looks at how midsummer herbs help us connect with solar energy, protection, pleasure, boundaries, intuition, and the slow return toward darkness. This is an invitation to gather the medicine of the season and ask: what light do you want to carry forward? In this episode: The meaning of the summer solstice as a celebration of light and a turning point in the year Why St. John’s Wort is one of the great herbs of midsummer How St. John’s Wort teaches us about hope, protection, sunlight, mood, and letting the light in The folklore and meaning behind Hypericum perforatum Why St. John’s wort is best used fresh, and what to know about medication interactions How sunflowers, calendula, chamomile, yarrow, dandelion, and other Asteraceae plants reflect community, radiance, and shared abundance Lavender, Rose and Elderflower and their connection to summer solstice Mugwort as an herb for balancing summer solstice by honoring the darkness within the light Simple ways to work with summer solstice herbs through oils, teas, flower essences, sun teas, rose water, smoke bundles, and seasonal ritual A reflection on what light you are ready to gather, embody, and carry into the darker half of the year Links & Resources: Herbal Allies for Summer Wellness (free e-book) when you sign up for our newsletter here: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/ Summertime Herbal Collection of Dancing Willow Herbs products Herbal Allies for Summer Wellness Podcast Episode from last year! Fresh Plant St. John's Wort Tincture St. John's Wort Plus Tincture Fresh Plant St. John's Wort Oil Fresh Plant St. John's Wort Liniment Rooted Heart Elixir Mesa Verde Lavender Our episode with Katie of Mesa Verde Lavender 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

5. Honey, Venom & the Sacred Medicine of Bees with Courtney Cosgriff

   Jun 9, 2026

   Honey is more than a sweetener- it is a spiritual substance born from land, flower, bee, and devotion. This conversation with Courtney Cosgriff of Honeybee Herbals is a journey into the mystery, medicine, and ancient wisdom of bees. More than a discussion about honey or pollination, this episode invites us into the hive as a living temple- a place of devotion, protection, nourishment, transformation, sweetness, and sting. Courtney’s perspective moves us beyond extraction and into reverence, reminding us that bees are not simply here to serve us, but to teach us about right relationship with the land, the flowers, the medicines of the hive, and the wider web of life. This episode is a beautiful listen for herbalists, plant lovers, tenders of the earth, and anyone longing to remember a more reciprocal way of being with nature and the sacred buzz of a bee. In this episode, we explore: How Courtney’s path with the bees began through near-death experiences, dreams, and synchronicity The ancient connection between bees, priestesses, temples, and the feminine mysteries The Melissae, or “bee women,” and the lineage of women who served the Mother Goddess through the wisdom of the hive Why the hive can be understood as a womb, a temple, and a mirror of the earth herself The deeper medicine of beeswax, venom, propolis, pollen, royal jelly, and honey How venom teaches boundaries, protection, humility, and the sacredness of sting Why honey is not just a sweetener, but a reflection of land, flower, bee, devotion, and immense labor The ethics of harvesting hive medicines and the importance of moving from extraction into relationship Why “saving the bees” begins with growing flowers, restoring habitat, and supporting all pollinators How to begin connecting with bees even if you are not called to become a beekeeper Links & Resources: Courtney’s website: honeybeeherbals.co Instagram: @honeybeeherbal 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

6. Building an Herbal Garden from Scratch: Growing Food, Medicine and Beauty

   May 26, 2026

   Are you dreaming of building an herbal garden, or just curious what it actually looks like to begin? In this cozy solo episode, clinical herbalist, Elliott Brinkley shares the story of building a brand-new herbal garden on raw land- starting with compact clay soil, active deer, harsh sun, and a big dream. After years of focusing on building their home, Elliott and Aaron are finally in the process of creating a garden ecosystem filled with medicinal plants, food crops, flowers, and a future gathering space. This episode is part practical garden journal, part love letter to the plants. Elliott walks through the full process: observing the land, choosing the garden site, building raised beds, improving soil drainage, starting seeds indoors, setting up drip irrigation, planting food and medicinal herbs, and learning through plenty of trial and error along the way. In this episode: Building raised beds and garden infrastructure from scratch on raw land Working with compact clay soil, drainage issues, deer pressure, and dry climate gardening Starting seeds indoors with wooden seed boxes, sheep’s wool, grow lights, and lots of patience spritzing Growing both food and medicine, including squash, potatoes, greens, culinary herbs, calendula, nettle, valerian, elder, comfrey, violet, elecampane, echinacea, and milky oats Why fresh milky oats are such powerful nervous system medicine, and why dried milky oats are not the same The beauty of creating a garden as a place for nourishment, plant relationship, community gatherings, and future classes Links & Resources: Medicinal Plant Sale at Dancing Willow Herbs June 5th, 6th, and 7th from 11am–4pm with Crystal from Growing Creations Herb Farm. Come early Friday for the best selection of medicinal plant starts. Spring Garden Party Recipe Ebook A seasonal recipe collection inspired by the Dancing Willow Herbs team garden dinner, with recipes like beet-pickled deviled eggs, spring salad, lemon balm cucumber lemonade, marinated olives, and lemon posset. Milky Oats Tincture One of our favorite fresh plant nervines for replenishing the nervous system, especially during seasons of depletion, stress, and feeling stretched thin. Summer Seasonal Herbal Collection A collection of herbal allies for summer travels, outdoor adventures, sun-soaked days, bug bites, gardening, and seasonal wellness. Crystal’s Previous Podcast Episode Listen to Elliott’s conversation with Crystal of Growing Creations Herb Farm for more inspiration on growing medicinal plants and tending relationship with the herbs. Listen in for an honest, earthy, and inspiring look at what it really takes to build an herbal garden from the ground up- and why the process is just as nourishing as the harvest. 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

7. When Life Unfolds For Us: Cosmic Herbalism with Emma Prescher

   May 12, 2026

   How do we find our way back into the body after trauma, pain, and the complete unraveling of the life we thought we were living? In this powerful episode of The Dancing Willow , Elliott Brinkley sits down with herbalist Emma Prescher to explore a healing journey that defies convention. After a near-fatal cycling accident left her with devastating injuries and an uncertain future, Emma turned not to rigid protocols but to intuition, plant medicine, and deep presence. Drawing from her background as a critical care nurse, Emma bridges the worlds of Western medicine, herbalism, and astrology. She shares how plants like nettle, kava, and calendula supported her recovery, how a near-death experience reshaped her understanding of life and death, and why curiosity may be one of the most powerful tools we have for healing. This conversation is a reminder that healing isn’t linear and that the body, the plants, and the cosmos are always in conversation. In This Episode: Emma’s transition from ICU nurse to herbalist Surviving and healing after a life-altering accident A profound near-death experience and its message Plant allies that supported her recovery Intuitive and embodied approaches to healing The connection between herbalism and astrology Astrological connections to plants like Lemon Balm, Tulsi and Yarrow Links & Resources: Emma’s website, The Golden Fermata- https://www.thegoldenfermata.com/ 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

8. An Herbalist’s Journey Rafting 280 Miles Through the Grand Canyon

   Apr 28, 2026

   This one is part adventure story, part herbal deep dive, and part reflection on what it means to come back to your most natural, human state. In this solo episode, clinical herbalist Elliott Brinkley returns from a once-in-a-lifetime rafting journey through the Grand Canyon- 280 miles of raw beauty, challenge, connection, medicinal plants and profound transformation. From navigating powerful rapids to sleeping under endless stars, Elliott shares what it really looks like to live on the river for three weeks and how that immersion in nature became one of the most healing and perspective-shifting experiences of her life. In This Episode, You’ll Hear: What a 22-day rafting trip through the Grand Canyon actually looks like day-to-day The magic (and logistics) of living fully off-grid with a group in the wilderness Lessons in surrender, simplicity, and letting go of control How nature immersion can reset your nervous system and circadian rhythm The powerful group dynamics that form when distractions disappear Beauty as a nervous system state and the process of receiving Desert herbal medicine allies, such as medicinal & energetic qualities of Ocotillo & Chaparral Herbal formulas that were the most supportive on the long journey Links & Resources: Michael Moore’s Medicinal Plants of the Desert and Canyon West Kristin Huisinga’s River and Desert Plants of the Grand Canyon Ocotillo Products: Fresh Plant Ocotillo Tincture , PMS Tincture Chaparral Products: Antifungal Salve , Antifungal Nail Oil , Herbal Aid Salve Elliott’s Grand Canyon Favorites: Healing Soothing Salve, Rooted Heart Elixir, Simple Bitters, Neutralizing Cordial & Tummy Calm This episode is an invitation to step outside, to slow down, and to reconnect with the natural world in whatever way is accessible to you. Wh 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

9. The Foundations of Vitalist Herbalism: Sleep, Stress & Gut Health with Heather Luna

   Apr 14, 2026

   What if better sleep, balanced energy, and a calmer nervous system all started with one simple shift, how you begin your day? In this episode of The Dancing Willow , Elliott Brinkley sits down with clinical herbalist and Acorn Herb School founder Heather Luna to explore the real roots of chronic imbalance and the everyday practices that truly support healing. From gut health and sleep to nervous system regulation, Heather shares what she’s seen work time and time again in the clinic. They dive into why a high-protein breakfast can transform your sleep, how stress builds from both internal and external sources, and why herbs are most effective when paired with foundational lifestyle habits. The conversation also unpacks misunderstood herbal topics like black cohosh as a powerful nervine (not just a hormone herb) and the potential downsides of overusing adaptogens, while highlighting the importance of nourishing, moistening herbs for burnout and depletion. In This Episode: Why digestion is the foundation of overall health The link between protein at breakfast and better sleep How blood sugar and stress impact energy + mood Simple ways to support deep, restorative sleep The role of movement, sunlight, and daily rhythm How gut inflammation contributes to stress Why adaptogens aren’t always the answer A new perspective on black cohosh The power of nourishing, moistening herbs for the nervous system Links & Resources: Join Acorn School of Herbal Medicine: https://www.acornherbschool.com/ Follow Heather on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/acornherbschool/ Dancing Willow Herbs Digestive Formulas: Tummy Tea & Digestive Repair Powder Dancing Willow Herbs Sleep & Nervous System Formulas: Sleep Deep & Peaceful Heart Dancing Willow Herbs percolated Black Cohosh Tincture A grounded, practical conversation that brings healing back to the basics, real food, daily rhythm, and herbal support that meets you where you are. 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

10. Why Seasonal Allergies Happen: Histamine & Herbal Support

    Mar 31, 2026

    Struggling with seasonal allergies, histamine intolerance, or chronic spring congestion? In this solo episode, clinical herbalist, Elliott Brinkley explores the root causes of spring allergies through a holistic and herbal lens. Rather than focusing only on pollen or quick-fix antihistamines, she breaks down the deeper terrain that shapes histamine overload- including mast cell activation, liver detoxification, gut health, food sensitivities, hormone balance, and nervous system regulation. You’ll learn why histamine isn’t inherently “bad,” what drives allergic inflammation in the body, and how to approach natural allergy relief in a more sustainable way using herbs and lifestyle support. If you’re looking for a root-cause approach to seasonal allergies so you can actually enjoy the spring season, this episode offers both education and practical tools. In This Episode • Histamine intolerance + mast cell activation explained • Why seasonal allergies flare in spring • The “histamine bucket” overload concept • Liver detoxification & histamine clearance • Estrogen–histamine connection • Gut health, dysbiosis & food sensitivities • Herbal strategies for natural allergy relief Links & Resources Mentioned Herbal Allies for Spring Allergies (free ebook) when you sign up for our newsletter here: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/ • Herbs for Springtime Online Class: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/classes/products/herbs-for-springtime-in-person • Elliott’s episode with Paul Bergner (food allergies & vitalist herbalism): https://open.spotify.com/episode/35evpNunqMVCdQ8Z0Bd4TT?si=fe8fea0dd4c446e8 • Springtime Herbal Formula Collection at Dancing Willow Herbs: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/seasonal-springtime-herbs • Herbal consultations with Elliott: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/herbal-consultations/products/complete-herbal-consultation?variant=50483045335329 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

11. Growing Medicinal Plants: Biodynamics & Living Soil with Crystal Chamberlain

    Mar 17, 2026

    Thinking about starting a medicinal herb garden but not sure where to begin? In this episode of The Dancing Willow , Elliott sits down with Crystal of Growing Creations Herb Farm for a rich, grounded conversation about biodynamic growing, medicinal herb farming in the high desert, and what it really looks like to build relationship with plants from seed to medicine. Crystal shares her journey into herbalism and farming after a life-changing pivot in 2020, and how biodynamics, permaculture, and deep listening to the land now guide everything she grows. From cow horn preparations and planting by the lunar calendar to worms appearing once the soil is loved back to life, this episode is a dose of inspiration before the growing season begins. Together, Elliott and Crystal explore: What biodynamic farming really is, and how it differs from organic gardening How Crystal transformed clay-heavy, dry land into vibrant, living soil Choosing plants that call to you , and letting some plants choose you Favorite medicinal herbs to grow (and which ones were surprisingly challenging) Creating balanced ecosystems where insects, birds, and predators work together Inside Crystal’s wallopini (pit greenhouse) and how it extends the growing season Drying, harvesting, and working with herbs to preserve their vitality Turning plants into salves, teas, tinctures, and everyday medicine Why seeing plants growing in the earth changes how we understand herbalism This episode is perfect for gardeners, herbalists, and anyone curious about growing their own medicine, whether you’re dreaming of a full herb farm or just a few pots on a patio. ✨ Plus, Crystal shares details about an upcoming June plant sale at Dancing Willow Herbs, where locals in Durango, CO can purchase medicinal herb starts grown with care and intention! Save the dates June 5th, 6th and 7th from 11-3 PM at Dancing Willow Herbs, 1018 Main Ave in Durango! Links & Resources: Website: growingcreationfarm.us Instagram & Facebook: Growing Creations Herb Farm Shop Dancing Willow Herb Fresh Plant Tincture Collection sourced from local farms like Crystal’s: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/fresh-plant-tinctures Let this conversation inspire you to slow down, get your hands in the soil, and see what begins to grow. 🌱 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

12. Herbalism 101: Steps for the Beginner Herbalist

    Mar 3, 2026

    If you feel called to herbalism but don’t know where to begin, this episode is your starting point. In this solo episode with clinical herbalist, Elliott Brinkley, we return to the foundations- creating a soft landing place for beginner and budding herbalists alike. Elliott shares her early entry into working with plants, from the overwhelm of sitting with herbal books that felt like another language, to the shift that happened when she began tasting herbs, making medicine, and building direct relationship with the plants themselves. This conversation reframes herbalism as something lived and embodied, not just studied. You’ll walk away with a clearer sense of where to start, how to work with herbs safely and relationally, and practices that help move you from curiosity into confidence. We explore the role of vitalist herbalism, the difference between knowledge and wisdom, and why beginning simply, often with just one plant, can be the most impactful way to root into this path. In this episode, we explore: • Why herbalism can feel overwhelming at first • Elliott's personal story of finding the plants • Knowledge vs. embodied wisdom • Vitalist herbalism + working with the body’s intelligence • Relationship as the foundation of plant medicine • How to choose your first plant allies • Herb-of-the-week / month practices • Ways to sit with, taste, and learn directly from herbs • The individuality of plant experiences Links & Resources Introduction to Herbalism online class: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/classes/products/introduction-to-herbalism-class-january-19th-in-person-virtual?variant=44172610371873 Some good herb books for absolute beginners: Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide , Rosemary Gladstar Body into Balance, Maria Noel Groves The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook, James Green Wild Remedies, Rosalee de la Floret & Emily Han 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

13. Being Shaped by the Earth: Psychedelics, Ancestry & Culture with Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue

    Feb 17, 2026

    Are you being unconsciously shaped by culture and being dreamed into a reality you didn’t intentionally choose? This episode is one for the feelers, the sensitives, and those who like to go deep. Elliott sits down with herbalist, writer, and teacher Seán Pádraig O’Donoghue to explore what it means to live, teach, and heal from the heart. Woven with poetry, ancestry, plant wisdom, and lived experience, this conversation is an invitation to soften out of the intellect and return to relationship, with the Earth, with our bodies, and with the unseen threads that shape us. Together, they explore how, in this time of cultural hypnosis and psychedelic revolution, it is more important than ever to question who, or what, we are consenting to be “dreamed by.” This episode is for anyone feeling the tension between modern life and ancestral memory, for those drawn to plants, poetry, and presence, and for anyone longing to return to a more meaningful, earth-rooted way of knowing. In this episode, we explore: Sensitivity as strength, and teaching from this place of presence instead of performance A simple heart-centered practice for coming back into the body Seán’s recent heart surgery and how healing bone opened inquiry into being reshaped by land and lived experience Ancestry as lived relationship rather than fixed identity Language, poetry, and grammar as ways consciousness is shaped Psychedelics as elders of the Earth, not tools for optimization Integration vs. transformation in psychedelic experiences The importance of ritual, boundaries, and discernment with the use of Cannabis Microdosing, neuroplasticity, and how context shapes consciousness Cultural hypnosis, media saturation, and unconscious consent Herbs for connecting with our hearts, beauty and the Earth Connect with Seán: Website & classes: otherworldwell.com Books: The Silver Branch and the Otherworld | Courting the Wild Queen 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

14. Herbal Aphrodisiacs: Awakening Pleasure, Presence and a Love of Life

    Feb 3, 2026

    Aphrodisiacs aren’t just about sex. They can be utilized to help us deepen our love of life, and awaken pleasure with the world around us. In this solo episode of The Dancing Willow Podcast , clinical herbalist, Elliott Brinkley explores herbal aphrodisiacs as allies for embodiment, pleasure, mood, creativity, and heart-centered connection, especially during the quiet, inward season of late winter. Rooted in traditional herbalism, seasonal wisdom, and nervous system awareness, this conversation reframes aphrodisiacs as plants that help us feel : our bodies, our emotions, our relationships, and the world around us. Drawing inspiration from the Celtic cross-quarter day of Imbolc, this episode weaves together herbs, physiology, folklore, and lived experience to explore how pleasure can be a practice of presence, and how certain plants gently guide us back into sensation when life feels dull, In this episode, you’ll learn: Why aphrodisiacs are about far more than libido, and how they support embodiment, mood, and connection How winter stagnation and stress can dampen desire, and how herbs help gently restore flow The three main categories of herbal aphrodisiacs: circulatory, nervine, and heart-centered How stress, depletion, and nervous system overload are some of the biggest blocks to desire How pleasure, creativity, and sensuality are deeply connected Herbs explored in depth include: Damiana – a classic, joyful aphrodisiac for circulation, mood, creativity, and social ease Horny Goat Weed – a traditional Chinese herb that supports vitality and pelvic blood flow Warming spices like ginger, cinnamon, and clove for cold, stagnant conditions Milky Oats – a foundational nervine for burnout, overwhelm, and nervous system nourishment blocking desire Maca & Shatavari – adaptogens that rebuild reserves and restore the conditions for desire over time Rose – a heart-opening plant for emotional safety, vulnerability, and relational intimacy Cacao – a gentle, bonding aphrodisiac that supports circulation, mood, and presence Links & resources: Our Herbal Aphrodisiac Collection Damiana Love Cordials Lover’s Tea Aphrodite’s Delight Tincture Milky Oat Tincture Damiana Tincture Horny Goat Weed Tincture Adaptogenic Honey Paste 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

15. Abdominal Massage & Womb Work with Cara Sheahan

    Jan 20, 2026

    What if gentle, intentional touch could realign your organs, regulate your cycle, ease digestion, and reconnect you to your body’s innate wisdom? In this episode of The Dancing Willow , Elliott sits down with longtime friend, licensed massage therapist, abdominal therapy practitioner, and artist, Cara Sheahan of Gold Pine Wellness for an intimate, wide-ranging conversation on abdominal massage, bodywork as medicine, and the often-overlooked power of pre conception, pregnancy and postpartum care. Cara shares her journey from an early calling toward birth work into massage therapy, where she found a path that allows her to support fertility, pregnancy, postpartum healing, and overall vitality. Together, Elliott and Cara explore what abdominal massage really is (and what it isn’t), its roots and evolution, and why this modality can support everything from painful periods and digestion to fertility, pelvic alignment, and nervous system regulation. They also explore bodywork as a whole, why deep tissue is often misunderstood and how gentle work that is in alignment with the nervous system may be much deeper. They also discuss: Why postpartum bodywork is deeply needed and culturally undervalued How abdominal massage supports menstrual health, fertility, digestion, and pelvic balance The connection between organ placement, circulation, hormones, and pain patterns Common misconceptions around prenatal massage and first-trimester care Gentle versus deep work, fascia, lymph, and nervous system safety Self-massage as ritual, embodiment, and daily medicine Plant allies for bodyworkers and womb health, including tulsi, lemon balm, damiana, and mugwort The conversation closes with reflections on fertility as life force, Cara’s plant relationships, and her hand-drawn Living Tarot deck, alongside practical guidance on who abdominal massage is for, contraindications to be aware of, and how to find a qualified practitioner near you. Whether you’re curious about womb health, pregnancy and postpartum support, digestive wellness, or simply deepening your relationship with your body, this episode offers grounded wisdom, tenderness, and a reminder that healing doesn’t have to be forceful to be profound. ✨ A nourishing listen for anyone interested in embodied healing and gentle, effective care. ✨ Links from the Episode: Gold Pine Wellness (Cara’s practice): https://goldpinewellness.com The Abdominal Therapy Collective Directory: https://abdominaltherapycollective.com Dancing Willow Herbs Inner Warmth Massage Oil: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/new-bath-and-body/products/inner-warmth-massage-oil-1?variant=47550052860193 Living Tarot Deck (available at Dancing Willow Herbs if you call to place an order at 970-247-1654) 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

16. Ceremony as a Living Language with David Elliott

    Jan 6, 2026

    What if your New Year didn’t start with resolutions but with fire, intention, and deep relationship to the Earth? In this expansive and intimate episode of The Dancing Willow , Elliott sits down with her Uncle David Elliott, healer, teacher, and ceremonial leader, for a powerful conversation on ritual, intention-setting, and the living intelligence of the natural world. Recorded just before the New Year, this episode invites listeners to reimagine how we mark transitions, release the old, and step consciously into what’s next. Together, they explore David’s decades-long practice of leading New Year’s fire walks, the potency of choosing a single guiding word rather than a resolution, and why fire, especially at the winter solstice, is such a profound ally for transformation. From chanting under the stars to walking barefoot across hot coals, David shares how ceremony works on both the visible and invisible levels. The conversation widens to include practical ways anyone can create meaningful ritual at home, working with plants, water, minerals, the directions, and the elements you already feel connected to. David also speaks candidly about cultivating reciprocal relationships with the Earth, plants like tobacco and mullein, animal allies, ancestors, and unseen support systems that guide us when we learn how to listen. Woven throughout are personal stories, from family lineage and ancestral farming roots to weddings, dreams, and moments of unmistakable guidance, that ground this episode in lived experience. This is an episode for anyone feeling called to slow down, reconnect, and enter the New Year with reverence, clarity, and trust in the support that surrounds us. In this episode, you’ll hear about: Why fire is a central teacher in winter and New Year ceremonies The power of choosing a single word as a life-long compass How intention & connection to the elements shapes our nervous system and reality Simple ways to create ritual and ceremony at home Building relationships with plants, animals, ancestors, and the elements Earth-based spirituality beyond dogma or tradition How subtle support can be more powerful than force or effort Links & Resources: David’s Website- https://www.davidelliott.com/ Free Breathwork Meditations on Spotify by David: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7lnGKrOWAuKvNoxEleY8Vm?si=FCABvuzQTwi4zWc-h2XP1A Freedom from Anxiety Meditation: https://www.davidelliott.com/freedom-from-anxiety/ Intro to Breathwork Podcast with Eliza Rose Kane: Episode 3, The Dancing Willow, “Breathing with the Earth: Botanical Breathwork with Eliza Rose Kane” https://open.spotify.com/episode/250Gi4fhBSfXB4DeYQ2yEf?si=e3b53135c0af4d02 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

17. The Medicine & Magic of Pine

    Dec 23, 2025

    If you’re craving a grounding, calming episode to carry you through the darkest days of the year, this is the one to press play on. In this winter-solstice-timed conversation, Elliott takes us deep into the green heart of one of her favorite seasonal allies: pine, a plant that offers medicine for the body, steadiness for the spirit, and a gentle reminder that resilience lives in us, even during the winter season. As evergreens fill our homes and line our snowy trails this time of year, Elliott explores why humans have always been drawn to them in winter and how their presence, fresh, fragrant, symbolic, can be powerful medicine in more ways than one. In This Episode, You’ll Learn: Why evergreens became symbols of hope, renewal, and resilience during solstice season Energetic qualities of pine: grounding amidst chaos, softening perfectionism, and cultivating self-acceptance How pine can help us find structure and steadiness after the frenetic holiday pace The role of pine flower essence in easing guilt and supporting gentler self-talk The immune, respiratory, and digestive benefits of pine needles Why pine is a powerful ally for cold & flu season The best ways to work with pine, including medicine making techniques and home rituals! The medicine of pine resin The story behind Dancing Willow’s pine tincture and the deeply intentional process of wildcrafting for the Elder Bear Elixir Reflections on Osha, respectful harvesting, and bioregional responsibility A heartfelt end-of-year moment as Elliott wraps up 2025 with gratitude for the community gathered around these plant teachings Featured Remedies: Pine Tincture , handmade from needles harvested on Elliott’s own land Elder Bear Elixir , a winter ally made with local pine, elderberry, and sacred Osha Perfect For You If… You’re navigating holiday overwhelm, seeking grounding practices, exploring herbal immune support, or simply longing to reconnect with the evergreens in your home this time of the year. 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

18. Tending the Inner Flame: Winter Solstice Wisdom with Marysia Miernowska

    Dec 9, 2025

    If you’ve been craving a deeper way to move through winter, one that honors the mystery, the magic, and your personal inner fire, this conversation will feel like stepping into a portal. The winter solstice brings us into the darkest days of the year — a time when many of us feel pulled between the desire to slow down and the very real demands of December. In this deeply nourishing conversation, I’m joined by herbalist, teacher, and author Marysia Miernowska to explore how we can tend our inner flame, reconnect with the Earth, and find meaning in the fertile darkness of winter. Marysia is the founder of the School of the Sacred Wild, author of The Witch’s Herbal Apothecary , and a beloved voice in the world of earth-based spirituality and traditional plant wisdom. Together, we dive into seasonal rhythms, herbal allies, and the deeper emotional and spiritual threads that winter invites us to explore. In this episode, we explore: The winter solstice as a portal into fertile darkness How to navigate the tension between inner winter and outer world demands Practical ways to stoke the inner flame during the coldest months Warming herbs and lifestyle practices to support circulation, vitality, and mood The role of plant spirit meditations in opening intuition and connection Reclaiming voice and power, healing the witch wound, and trusting ourselves as leaders Why January can be reclaimed as a true month of rest and dreaming The beauty of tending hope, innocence, and inner inspiration through seasonal practice This episode is heartfelt, grounding, and enlivening- a balm for anyone moving through burnout, seeking clarity, or wanting to feel more connected to themselves and the cycles of nature during the winter season. Resources & Links Mentioned: Follow Marysia Miernowska: Instagram: @marysia_miernowska Website: https://www.marysia-miernowska.com School of the Sacred Wild: https://www.schoolofthesacredwild.com Sacred Rituel skincare: Use code sacredwild20 for 20% off The Witches Herbal Apothecary is now on Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Witchs-Herbal-Apothecary-Audiobook/B0G3YP4RRT?source_code=ASSORAP0511160006&share_location=player_overflow The upcoming Honeypath Course: https://www.schoolofthesacredwild.com/walk-the-honeypath Dancing Willow Herbs Holiday Gift Collection Thoughtful, handcrafted herbal offerings for loved ones (and yourself) https://dancingwillowherbs.com/collections/holiday-gifts Dancing Willow Herbs Fire Tea: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/products/fire-elemental-tea?_pos=1&_sid=5f311ba5c&_ss=r&variant=44951396516129 10% off all Dancing Willow Herbs products through December 18th with the code podcastfam at checkout 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

19. Building Connection and Resilience in the Family Unit with Eliza Rose Kane

    Nov 25, 2025

    The holidays are nearly here, and so is the opportunity to transform how we show up with the people we love- with more regulation, presence, and real connection. In today’s conversation, Elliott is joined by Eliza Rose Kane to explore her new offering, Family Breathwork, a program designed to bring families together through nervous system regulation, emotional attunement, and being truly witnessed by the people closest to us. Whether you’re parenting young kids or teens, navigating dynamics with your partner, or wanting to build more connection with your parents, this episode offers meaningful tools to support real transformation within the home. We dive into: What co-regulation and self-regulation look like inside the family unit How breathwork can help us move from chaos to connection Simple practices to root into the physical world while holding expansive creative vision Tools for soothing the nervous system in overstimulated times Breathwork as a pathway to purpose, especially for teens Healing the inner child through parenting and partnership Protecting innocence and strengthening bonds in a tech-driven world Eliza’s passion for supporting families shines so brightly in this conversation, and I know you’ll walk away feeling inspired and empowered to build new rhythms and rituals in your home. Links & Resources: Listeners receive 20% off Eliza’s Family Breathwork course with code THEDANCINGWILLOW20. https://elizarosekane.com/family-breathwork-course Connect with Eliza: Eliza’s Substack can be found here: https://substack.com/@elizarose Instagram: @elizarosekane 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

20. The Pillars of Healing: Food Intolerance & Vitalist Herbalism with Paul Bergner

    Nov 11, 2025

    What if the key to lasting health isn’t the next super herb or supplement but removing what’s quietly draining your vitality? In this illuminating conversation, herbalist and teacher Paul Bergner joins Elliott Brinkley to explore the foundations of true healing through vitalist therapeutics addressing lifestyle, nutrition, and the spiritual dimensions of wellness. With over five decades of clinical experience and a lineage of teaching that has shaped generations of herbalists, Paul shares both timeless wisdom and modern clinical insight into what it really means to heal. Together, Elliott and Paul trace his journey from early work in lifestyle medicine to decades of supervising herbal teaching clinics. They discuss what sets vitalist herbalism apart from symptomatic herbal medicine, why sleep and digestion form the bedrock of health, and how simple herbs can support the body’s innate intelligence when lifestyle patterns are restored. The conversation dives deeply into: Sleep debt as an overlooked epidemic and how restoring circadian rhythm transforms vitality The role of digestion and food intolerance as core obstacles to healing and why even the smallest amount of an offending food can trigger systemic inflammation The importance of observing results over relying on theory or trend Using herbs to support natural processes rather than to fix conditions How emotion, grief, and spiritual stagnation surface during healing, and how Paul integrates flower essences and spiritual heart herbs into that work A powerful story about the golden currant bush that shaped Paul’s understanding of lineage and legacy in herbal medicine By the end, you’ll walk away seeing health through a new lens one rooted in simplicity, observation, and reverence for the body’s wisdom. Links & Resources: Explore Paul’s full curriculum or dive into specific topics with his audio courses and lectures at https://www.naimh.com/ Dancing Willow Herbs formulas for digestive support: Tummy Tea , Digestive Repair Powder , Tummy Calm Tincture Listen now to reconnect with the foundations of healing and remember what medicine has always known: nature, rest, and nourishment are the truest forms of cure. 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