The Dancing Willow

In this heartfelt solo episode, Elliott Brinkley—owner of Dancing Willow Herbs—invites you behind the curtain for an intimate look at what’s unfolded in the four years since she took the reins of the beloved Durango apothecary. From major business overhauls like updating the POS system and shifting to sustainable packaging, to deeply intentional product reformulations and expansions, Elliott shares the lessons, challenges, and proudest moments of her journey.

You’ll hear about:

• The transition from herbalist to business owner
• How Elliott rebuilt core operations while staying true to the spirit of the shop
• The stories behind some of her most meaningful product creations like Rooted Heart Elixir and Inflammation Moderation
• The transformation of the bath & body line with deeper plant energetics and herbal infusions
• Sustainable practices now baked into every aspect of the business
• Her passion for community education, botanical breathwork, and teaching
• What’s coming next—from new products to the upcoming Blooming Rooted Retreat

If you’re curious about the magic that happens behind the scenes of a thriving apothecary—or simply seeking inspiration for your own path—this episode is full of grounded wisdom, vulnerability, and plant-centered purpose.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Elliott’s First Episode (Her Story)
• Deb Swanson’s Episode (Founder Story)
• Blooming Rooted Autumn Equinox Retreat – Sept 19–22
• Planting Seeds in Grief: Herbs for a Rooted Heart (podcast episode mentioned in the episode) 
• Rooted Heart Elixir
• Inflammation Moderation
• Mindful Mushroom Mix
• The Healer Massage Oil
• Bath & Body Line
• Online Herbal Classes

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

Ever wondered how a single vision can spark decades of community healing? Step into the story of our apothecary rooted in wild plants, womanhood, and the quiet magic that grows when we trust the seasons of our lives.

In this heartfelt episode, Elliott Brinkley, current owner of Dancing Willow Herbs, sits down with Deb Swanson, founder of Dancing Willow Herbs, to explore the apothecary’s origins, the wisdom of plant medicine, and the unseen threads connecting womanhood, astrology, and healing.

They share stories of Deb’s childhood love of wild plants, her studies with Michael Moore, and the mystical vision behind the name Dancing Willow Herbs. From growing a community hub to learning to let go, this is a reflection on legacy, transformation, and honoring every season of life.

Highlights:

• The vision that inspired Dancing Willow Herbs
• The origins and history of our apothecary
• Herbalism as a path to wholeness
• Learning to set boundaries in healing work
• Integrating astrology and herbalism
• Passing the torch and embracing freedom after 30 years in business
  
  
  

Whether you have been a part of our Dancing Willow Herbs community from the beginning or you are new to our offerings, this podcast will connect you to the spirit of what we do & how it all began. 

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

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:

• The bridge between science and spirit in herbalism
• How phytochemicals act as energetic signals within the body
• Lisa’s unforgettable first plant meditation experience with Catnip
• The importance of organoleptics (taste, smell, feel) in herbal understanding
• Why bitters are so much more than digestive support
• The herbal wonder that is Angelica root
• Astringents, demulcents, and the sensory language of herbal energetics
• Solubility, extraction, and how to make vibrant herbal medicine

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:

• Lisa’s online courses and membership at herbalconstituents.com
• Herbal Constituents: Foundations of Phytochemistry by Lisa Ganora
• The Physio-Medical Dispensatory by Dr. William Cook (1869)
• Lisa's herb farm in Paonia, Elderberry's Herbal Education & Retreat Center
• @Lisaganora on 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

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:

• How to work with herbs seasonally and energetically
• Top cooling “refrigerant” herbs and how to prepare them
• The power of mucilaginous herbs (demulcents) for internal hydration
• Recipes for summer tonics, green juices, and herbal mocktails
• Nutritional strategies to naturally protect your skin from sun damage
• Herbal allies for sunburn, bug bites, and outdoor wellness

🌿 Products from the Apothecary:

• Hot Mama Tea – cooling support for hot flashes & summer heat
• Bug Be Gone – natural bug spray featuring catnip extract
• Sunburn Spray – cooling mist with aloe, lavender, and peppermint
• Bug Bite Salve – itch relief with chickweed, plantain, and comfrey
• High C Tea – iced vitamin C-rich infusion with hibiscus and elderberries

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 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:

• How Leaf People was born from plant visions in the Amazon
• What it means to be in true service to the plants
• Wildcrafting with intention & plant communication
• Julie’s multi-phase extraction process, including oil infusions, tinctures, and vibrational medicine
• The role of Buddhist talismans, monk blessings, and energetic imprinting in her lab
• How ingredients like plant-based hyaluronic acid, peptides, and stem cells can be used to enhance botanicals in skincare
• A guide to choosing from Leaf People’s four lines: Transform, Nourishing, Balancing, and Clinical
• Julie’s own skincare routine, and why “radiance” starts in the heart

Special Listener Offer:
Get 20% off your Leaf People order with code DANCINGWILLOW at checkout online at leafpeople.com or locals come stock up at the apothecary, sale applies at Dancing Willow Herbs for all Leaf People products until June 3rd! 

Shop all Leaf People goodies: leafpeople.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

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:

• What “acne-safe” really means—and why most skincare isn’t
• The top pore-clogging culprits hiding in everyday habits (think fabric softeners, haircare, and common supplements)
• Satara’s gentle but results-driven approach to facials, exfoliation, and extractions
• How to think about retinol, AHAs, and red light therapy depending on your skin type
• Why internal factors—like hormones, gut health, and stress—can show up on your face
• How acne impacts self-worth, and why healing goes beyond the surface

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
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 if learning about plants was also a path to becoming more fully yourself?
In this bonus solo episode, Elliott opens a heartfelt window into the Blooming Rooted Retreat—an immersive, soul-nourishing experience rooted in community, plant connection, and embodied herbalism.

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.
🌿 Learn more + sign up here: https://dancingwillowherbs.com/pages/blooming-rooted-herbalism-retreat

In this episode, you'll learn:

• How plant wisdom becomes embodied through experience, not just knowledge
• Why community is essential to deep healing
• What to expect at the next Blooming Rooted Retreat
• The energetic themes of the Autumn Equinox and herbs we’ll explore (think roots, berries, and mushrooms)
• How intuition, sacred timing, and trust shape the creative process

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
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 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