The Ananda Podcast

On this episode we chat with Emma Terrell aka The Urban Botanist is a biologist, entrepreneur, and nature educator right here in Ottawa who's spent the last nine years helping people reconnect with the natural world.We get into her story - going from political science to biology, working as a flight attendant while finishing her degree, and building a business that exploded during the pandemic. We talk about what it actually means to run a business that works with nature instead of against it, why most "eco-friendly" branding is surface level, and what real sustainability looks like when you're scaling.We also get into why we're all so disconnected from nature, what it's doing to our health, the case for growing your own food, and how something as simple as one houseplant can start to shift things. Plus Dylan and Emma discover they're both obsessed with salamanders and it kind of derails everything in the best way.Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.comFind Emma at @theurbanbotanist and https://theurbanbotanist.ca/

In this episode, Sammi and Dylan do something a little different, they read real comments, DMs, and reviews left on Ananda Elixirs page, and give their geniune reactions. From misconceptions about psychedelics to questions about stevia, from "it tastes like bar mat" to "are you guys even real?" this episode pulls back the curtain on what it's actually like to build a wellness brand in public.It's silly. It's real. And somewhere in the middle of all the chaos, there's a genuine conversation about why Ananda Elixirs exists, what goes into the product, and why following your bliss sometimes means reading comments you didn't ask for. 😂Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

In this episode of the Ananda Podcast, Sammi sits down with entrepreneur and founder Lauren, the creator of North & Rose a luxury, non-toxic home goods brand.After discovering that mass-produced candles were triggering severe migraines, Lauren began experimenting with creating safer alternatives for her own home. What started as a small personal project quickly evolved into a thriving business known for its beautifully curated candles and vintage home pieces.Sammi and Lauren talk about the real journey behind building a product brand while raising young kids — from pouring candles in her home and selling at markets, to leaving a corporate career and opening her first retail space and café.They also dive into:✨ The truth about toxins in home fragrance✨ Building a brand with intention and strong aesthetics✨ Navigating motherhood while growing a business✨ Learning to trust yourself (even when you feel unprepared)✨ Why community is the heart of great brandsThis episode is an honest conversation about entrepreneurship, creativity, and figuring it out as you go.Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.comFind Lauren and North + Rose at https://www.northandrose.ca/ and @northandroseco

In this episode, Sammi and Dylan sit down for a fun, honest blind reaction to an article on “7 Things You Can Do to Thrive in 2026” by Psychology Today... and they have thoughts.The conversation quickly goes beyond the list itself, turning into a real-talk exploration of what it actually means to thrive in today’s world. They unpack everything from reclaiming your attention in a hyper-digital age, setting boundaries that protect your peace, and navigating the constant pressure to keep up, especially for women.Along the way, they get personal about family dynamics, generational patterns, and the tug-of-war between external validation and genuine human connection. They also dive into why embracing contradictions can actually fuel growth, how technology impacts our ability to stay present, and why reconnecting with nature, purpose, and simple joy matters more than ever.This episode is light, reflective, and full of candid moments for a reminder that thriving isn’t about having everything figured out. It’s about choosing optimism, protecting your energy, and creating small, meaningful moments that make life feel good right now.If you’re heading into a new season of life wondering how to reset, refocus, or just feel a little more grounded, this conversation is for you. ✨Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

Just in time for Valentine’s Day, we dive into one of the most important, and often unspoken, challenges in relationships: staying emotionally connected, especially after becoming parents.Joined by our guest Zara Arshad, MSc, RP, CC-PMH, couples therapist, authour and @the.couples.couch on instagram, we unpack why so many couples struggle with communication, intimacy, and emotional regulation once life gets busier and more demanding. She explains how relationship problems don’t live inside individuals, but within the dynamic between them — and why learning to understand triggers, name emotions, and relate as co-parents is key to long-term connection.Together, the conversation explores practical ways to rebuild closeness, intimacy, and connection from seeking support early to focusing on small, everyday acts of love that strengthen resilience over time. The episode closes with a powerful reminder: the way we care for our relationships doesn’t just shape our partnerships, it models emotional health for our children and helps us find more bliss in the present.Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.comFind Zara at https://myottawatherapist.com/ and at @the.couples.couch

By your mid-20s or 30s, it can feel like there’s an invisible checklist you’re supposed to be following: the career, the relationship, the house, the kids, the success, all by a certain age. And if you’re not “there” yet, it’s easy to assume you’re behind.In this episode, Sammi and Dylan unpack where these timelines actually come from: family expectations, cultural conditioning, capitalism, and the constant comparison machine of social media, and how they quietly shape the way we make decisions about our lives.They get personal about the moments they felt behind, the timelines they thought they'd follow that completely fell apart, and how perfectionism and high-achiever energy can turn timeline pressure into anxiety, self-doubt, or rushed choices. We talk honestly about an unexpected pregnancy, business failures, childhood pressure, moving countries, and the moments that blew up their original plans — and why those moments weren’t failures, but redirections.This conversation is about redefining success in your 20s and 30s, letting go of what you’re no longer chasing, and learning how to trust the pace of your own life, even when it doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Because growth isn’t linear, alignment can’t be rushed, and your life isn’t late just because it looks different than you imagined.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I behind?”, this episode is for you.Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

In this episode of The Ananda Podcast, Sammi and Dylan sit down with Genna Woolston, Co-Founder of Silver Swallow, to talk about what it really looks like to rethink our relationship with alcohol without pressure, labels, or extremes.Genna shares how cutting back on alcohol to support her mental health eventually led her (and her partner Andrew) to create Silver Swallow: beautifully crafted, non-alcoholic wine alternatives made with real ingredients. What started as a personal choice turned into a business rooted in intention, quality, and presence.Together, Sammi, Dylan, and Genna talk about:Redefining celebration without alcoholSetting boundaries that actually support your mental healthThe rise of sober curiosity and why more people are drinking lessBuilding a business from values, not trendsTruths about building a consumer good business in CanadaResilience, parenting, and navigating growth without burning outThis conversation goes beyond Dry January. It’s about choosing balance, understanding the patterns we inherit, and creating space for options that help us feel more like ourselves.If you’ve ever felt curious about drinking less, building something meaningful, or setting boundaries that stick, this one’s for you.Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

In this holiday episode, Sammi and Dylan explore the stress and challenges associated with the holiday season, focusing on family dynamics, setting boundaries, and managing expectations. They dive into personal growth and navigating relationships during the holidays and topics such as setting boundaries, overcoming people-pleasing tendencies, healing past traumas, and creating positive family dynamics. It also delves into the importance of presence, self-regulation, and celebrating personal growth. One key theme to takeaway: the power of curiosity over judgment.Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨Follow along on socials @anandaelixirsDiscover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

This episode features a heartfelt and insightful conversation between host Samantha Dreiling and guest Samantha Piercynski, a clinical therapist with over 25 years of experience specializing in trauma, grief, and narcissistic abuse recovery. The discussion focuses on understanding the complexities of grief, which can be more than just the loss of a loved one, encompassing life transitions like moving, career changes, or relationship endings. Key Points: Grief isn't limited to death; it includes any significant change, and the healing journey is nonlinear. The five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance—are more like fluctuating emotions rather than a sequence. Healing from grief involves talking openly, finding supportive people, and using practices like movement and somatic therapies to process emotions. Samantha shares insights on dealing with narcissistic relationships, highlighting the patterns of love bombing, devaluation, and hoovering, while emphasizing the importance of self-love and strong boundaries. Links and Contact Information: Samantha Piercynski: Instagram - @sammidawgs | Website - samanthapierce.net Ananda Elixirs: anandaelixirs.com (Use code SHROOM for 20% off)

This episode is filled with so many nuggets that if taken action on and done consistenly, could make a huge difference in your life. Sarah is an awesome Functional Health Practicioner who focuses on helping people slow down, get present and intentional and work through their stuff to get to the root cause of their symptoms. You'll see how connected every aspect of our lives truly are in this inspiring conversation! Connect with Sarah on IG at @the.healthy.gut.goddess Here is the interview mention with owner of Manny's Choice Flour And here is their website! Shop Ananda Elixirs here! Shop I,dea book and use the free meditations at awakendea.com

In this episode we had the pleasure of speaking to Cindy Anderson, founder of Manny's Choice. She shares her incredible story of healing and uncovering the power of real, holistic nutrition. She shares how she uncovered the truth about American gluten and how she found a solution not only for herself, but many people around her - which lead to the creation of her company. Manny's Choice Flour- https://mannyschoiceflour.com Sammi's book - www.awakendea.com

After a really difficult 2 years for everyone in the world, stepping away from extremes, finding balance, and compassion for others is the key to reclaiming your inner peace.