My next guest has managed to do the impossible: exited her dream job (and before it became a nightmare) while still managing to steward the dream. Meet clinical herbalist Lauren Haynes, the founder and current Chief Herbal Officer of Wooden Spoon Herbs, a wellness company based in the United States that utilizes heritage techniques and regional herbs to offer enduring remedies for the physiological impacts of modern life. I have watched her brand from afar as it transitioned from cozy kraft paper and farmer’s markets, to the darling of independent trade shows like Shoppe Object—a gateway platform that landed her in some of the country’s most exciting indy boutiques—to covetously designed packaging matched by buzzy and highly effective formulations available at Whole Foods nationwide.In this two part interview, we will uncover Lauren’s origin story, what led her to both herbalism and entrepreneurship, and what the transition from an idyllic workshop in the woods to a supermarket mainstay felt like for the woman at the helm. Lauren also discusses with candor and clarity the kinds of experiences that founders rarely share: how simple miscalculations can lead to five figure losses, and how her dedication to wellness goes beyond tinctures, but to nonnegotiables about her quality of life. This first episode will set the stage for a part two that you will absolutely not want to miss.

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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