The Dandelion Effect podcast is a space for organic conversation about the magic of living a connected life. Just like the natural world around us, we are all linked through an intricate web, a never-ending ripple that spans across the globe. Here, we explore the ideas that our guests carry through the world, remember who and what inspired them along the way, and uncover the seeds that helped them blossom into their unique version of this human experience.
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Effie Baldwin is a U.S. Army veteran, Positive Discipline Educator, Associate Member of the U.S. Golf Teachers Federation and the founder of Believing in a Better World LLC. She’s a self-proclaimed optimistic realist, a way of viewing the world through practicality and positivity, giving people and situations the benefit of the doubt. Listen Here
Alison Zak is an author, yoga teacher, environmental educator and anthropologist, and in her self-written bio, she also adds, importantly, that she is an animal. Alison has a long history connecting with animals, and when her primate studies took her across the world to Indonesia, she learned firsthand how nuanced the relationship can be between humans and non-human animals. Listen Here
Susan Reynolds has over 20 years of experience in digital wellbeing, youth leadership and mindfulness. In 2019 she co-founded LookUp to discover, empower, and mobilize youth leaders who are taking action to raise awareness and design a healthier, more inclusive, and responsible digital world. Listen Here
Adam Schumaker is co-founder of Gray Bear Lodge, a rustic retreat center in Hohenwald, TN, 80 miles southwest of Nashville, that hosts experiential workshops to promote growth, fulfillment and the joy of learning. He’s a certified Watsu aquatic bodywork practitioner, lifelong yogi and potentially one of the kindest people on the planet. Listen Here
Born in 1950, Dr. Helen Benjamin grew up in Alexandria, Louisiana, in the heart of the segregated south, when African Americans were forbidden by law to attend certain schools, restaurants, churches, shops and other public places. Helen speaks of her upbringing, how she found inspiration, community and love despite the bigotry that surrounded her family and friends. Listen Here
Stefanie Tovar is a healing artist, a singer, a yoga teacher, a racial healing facilitator—and so much more. Stefanie’s life experiences have led her to working in wellness, with a mission to lovingly disrupt the status quo of what it’s “supposed to” look like to be a part of this growing industry. As a Latina, she speaks of the importance of diversity in all healing spaces. Listen Here
Dr. Edie Resto is a distinguished Chiropractor, Naturopathic Doctor and bodyworker. She is well-known and respected by people from all walks of life for her compassionate heart, wisdom and desire to help others heal. In this conversation, we talk about her early life challenges and the angels who swooped in teach her about service and unconditional love. Listen Here
Danielle Antelope is a member of the Blackfeet Nation and Eastern Shoshone (shu-show-nee) Nation. At only 26 years old, she serves as Executive Director of Food Access and Sustainability Team Blackfeet, known as FAST Blackfeet. FAST Blackfeet provides access to healthy and culturally relevant foods, nutrition education, and gardening/wild harvesting opportunities within the Blackfeet Nation. Listen Here
It’s a new era, and today’s guest Don Rheem sees this shift as an opportunity to bring more love and relationality into the workplace, to teach leaders and managers how to provide safe and secure work environments where employees can thrive, and as a result, business can thrive. Don draws on research based in attachment theory to understand human behavior, making the case that humans are biologically hardwired to connect with other humans. Listen Here
Kara Ware has been on a 17-year journey with her son Zachary, who was diagnosed with Autism just before his third birthday. Her family is living proof that there is another way to approach this diagnosis–and that there’s a bigger red flag in our lifestyles and environment that is begging to be noticed. Autism is the canary in the coalmine. Listen Here
Lauren and Andy get very personal, making space for Lauren to tell her story about her 15-year battle with bulimia, an eating disorder characterized by periods of binging and purging. This is the first time she has shared publicly about bulimia and the role it’s played in her life, as well as the first time Andy shares about her relationship to food, body image and a period of undiagnosed anorexia or food controlling. Listen Here
To celebrate midseason, we’re airing the "Best of Season Two” episode, a taster to hear pieces of all 12 episodes from our second podcast season. This year feels like a true reunion of humanity. People are open, vulnerable, eager to learn and willing to lean into friendship and healing. At least that’s what I’ve experienced in speaking with guests. A real presence that leaves me optimistic for our collective futures. Listen Here