January 18, 2025 • 52 mins
What if a life-altering diagnosis could be the catalyst for a profound personal transformation? Our guest, Mandy Church, takes us on a heartfelt journey from her childhood in Alabama, deeply rooted in her grandparents' natural lifestyle, to the founding of Great Faith Organics. Mandy's story began with a lupus diagnosis in 2008, which pushed her to seek alternative healing methods inspired by her family's generational wisdom. She shares how embracing local resources and reconnecting with the earth led her to a path of wellness, ultimately changing her life and the lives of many others.
As we trace Mandy's entrepreneurial journey, we witness how faith and gratitude became instrumental in her success. From her modest beginnings on Etsy to opening a physical location in Pell City, Alabama, her resilience and dedication shine through. Mandy's education in herbalism, Ayurveda, and Reiki not only enriched her business offerings but also fueled her personal growth. Her story is a testament to the power of community and the importance of aligning one's work with personal values, a journey that has seen her thrive with the support of her family and friends.
The conversation also takes a thoughtful turn as we explore the significance of self-care, mindfulness, and the art of setting boundaries. Mandy opens up about her own near-burnout and the transformative power of taking an annual hibernation break to maintain a sustainable work-life balance. Together, we reflect on the therapeutic benefits of herbal teas, conscious consumerism, and the growing trend of valuing authenticity and local support. With a shared commitment to personal well-being, we eagerly anticipate future updates from Mandy and other inspiring guests, ensuring a series of conversations that continue to uplift and inspire.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Hi, this is Demetra Clark, the director of Heart of
Herbs Herbal School, and this isthe Heart of Herbs Herbal
School podcast.
Today we are with Mandy Church,who runs Great Faith Organics,
and we're so excited to betalking to her today because not
only are you going to find herinspiring, but I think you're
going to connect with so muchthat she's going to share,
(00:35):
because she's just a reallyinspiring student and herbalist
and a community.
I really feel like someonewho's bringing something into
her community that is so specialand so unique.
I've been Googling and doing mylittle research this morning
and I cannot even tell you likehow impressed I am.
(00:56):
So, mandy, thank you so muchfor being here today.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Wow, thank you so much, what an introduction.
It really took my breath awaytoday.
Wow, thank you so much, what anintroduction it really took my
breath away.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Oh, that's sweet.
Thank you for having me.
You've been doing the work forso long I have.
Yeah, you're right.
So how did your herbal journeybegin?
What was the thing that madeyou say, hmm, maybe herbs and I
are good friends.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So my journey really started kind of at a young age.
My grandparents were kind ofalways into this kind of life,
the natural alternative, mainlyjust because there was a poverty
.
You know, we grew up kind of ina poverty issue, but so it
(01:42):
really set the stage for where Iam in my journey now.
But what that looked like was,you know, if we didn't grow it
or we didn't, you know theydidn't raise it, we didn't have
it.
So it really was aboutnecessity.
But in 2008, you know, I kindof modern life gets us away from
(02:03):
that.
But in 2008, I was diagnosedwith lupus and for me it was a
devastating blow because it isgenerational in my family and
that, honestly, that is thething that really, really,
really got me here.
Mm hmm, in 2009.
So I had a two year old at thetime and I worked a really high
(02:26):
pay for a high, high pacedaccounting firm.
So it's very high stress and ifyou know anything about lupus,
it is really driven by stress.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
It's driven by stress , right?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yes, it's an immune disorder.
Yes, but stress is really thething that kicks it off, kicks
(03:00):
off that flare every single time.
At least it did for me, and in2009, I was on 13 prescriptions
and I was had been on prednisonefor 15 years and I agree that
there is a time and a place forall Western medicine.
It's helpful when it is helpful.
But, at the point of 13prescriptions and an injection
and in the prednisone.
So I really watched mygrandmother's quality of life
(03:22):
deteriorate because she was onit for such an extended period
of time.
So that was kind of the strawthat broke the camel's back for
me to where I said you know,either the lupus is going to
take my quality of life or allof this medication is going to
take my quality of life.
So that is the moment where Ijust went there's got to be a
(03:42):
better way.
And that's how I got here, longstory short.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
So for you, it was like part of your blood, part of
your family heritage theconnection to the earth.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Where are you located ?
I'm in Alabama.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Oh my gosh, that's right.
I lived in Alabama as a child,so I didn't know that.
Okay, yeah, I lived inSomerville, alabama, which is
north of Hartsell and Decatur.
Yeah, so I love Alabama.
I'm like I keep hearingsomething in her voice that's
telling me I need to know whereshe's from, and I've very much
(04:23):
south.
Yes, Alabama is wonderful andAlabama is one of those places
where really people are still soconnected yeah to the earth,
and so we are so privileged inthat way?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
yeah, absolutely, and so you decided.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So did you decide, then, to do like a formal
education and like this is I'mgoing to start my herbal journey
, or was it like?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I'm going to take a step back and buy with my notice
.
You know, absolutely not.
A big part of my personality isreally finding what works best
for me and going from there.
But I did.
You know, it was really justall kind of trial and error to
start with, and once I startedmy formal education with Heart
(05:09):
of Herbs, it just reinforcedkind of what my intuition had
led me to.
And that is, really take what'sfor you.
You know, look in your area,look in your community, what's
growing, what's, you know what'savailable to you.
And that kind of always ledback to the way that I was
raised what is available, Takewhat's available and go from
(05:30):
there.
So, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That's awesome.
That's so awesome that you coulduse the lessons of generational
family to reinforce what youwere feeling inside about how
you're going to make yourselfbetter and how you're going to
work in a way that worked foryou.
I just think that's brilliant.
I I really wish that people inour country realize that all of
(05:53):
us have such a deep and abidingconnection to the earth, no
matter where we're from.
There's always some connectionin that, and I'm just glad that
listening to you today, like Iyou know, sometimes like even
someone who this is their job,full time, or sometimes you need
(06:14):
to be reminded that thatconnection is so strong all over
the place.
So thank you so much for that,Just for that reminder.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, I think just the hustle and bustle of
everyday life just really cutsoff that connection to a slower
way of living.
And that's one thing here inAlabama that you know we still
there's still a very much strongtie to just kind of slower
living.
Oh well, I mean let's.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I mean there's definitely that.
I know for me, like whenever Ithink of Alabama, I think of red
clay and the greenest greenever.
You know, like when the grassgets green, there it puts every
other state to shame.
I remember telling my husbandmy grandfather worked at
(07:02):
Redstone and for the nasa stuffright yeah, so we were driving
down the visit and there was abunch of us in a van and I was
like long story, a bunch of usin a van, but anyways, I was
like.
I was like you guys will never,ever.
I mean, they're like, they'refrom the midwest, they think
everyone and there's nothinggood in al.
You know, they're just like,you know, they know the world
(07:25):
right.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
That's the unfortunate story.
Yeah, yeah right.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
You will never see a green like this before, You'll
never see smiles as big and youwill never see red clay like
this anywhere else on the planet.
Right, and they were laughing,but we hit that border and it
was like boom.
They were like whoa.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yes, it's one of those perfect Alabama days.
You definitely know you're here.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
They're like, oh my gosh, Like you weren't kidding.
I'm like, no, this is beautiful, Like it is so gorgeous here
and it's just so funny thatpeople we miss out on so much
because we don't travel around.
But so you run a company.
So what?
(08:08):
Okay, so like, let's backtrack.
So you decide to get a formaleducation and start a business
Am.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I right?
Or did you do the education andthen said maybe I'll start a
business Backtracking a littlebit as well?
So when I was diagnosed in 2008, and I was on all those
prescriptions in 2009.
I started, really started thejourney in 2009 of not just
herbal discovery but really selfdiscovery and what healing
(08:33):
looks like for me.
I know it's different foreverybody, but the herbs nature
has really, really been a part,a huge part, of my healing
journey.
But in 2011, with all of thechanges that I made, with all of
the things that I did formyself and for my family, in
2011, I was diagnosed withremission.
(08:55):
So I have been in remissionsince 2011.
And that diagnosis, or thatrelease of remission, really got
me to thinking hey, you knowthis works for me, you know it
could possibly work for otherpeople too.
And that is what started mybusiness.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Wow, like just I mean , I can't even imagine, imagine
I mean, how many people who aredealing with lupus like spend
every day hoping for those words.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
you're in remission, right?
I really remember I've neverallowed myself to get too far
away from being sick that Iforget what it was like to feel
that sense of hopelessness,because I really felt hopeless
with the diagnosis.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yeah, yeah, no, I mean, that is definitely
something that you hear fromindividuals who are experiencing
something like that.
That's a long-term, potentiallylifetime issue, that it's just
like hitting a brick wall overand over again and just looking
for the door.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Right and that's so cool.
So what did?
What were the?
And then obviously that's ahuge discussion like protocols
and stuff like that, but whatwere like a few things that just
helped you.
Was it managing the stress?
Was it taking time for yourself?
Was it getting to know yourself?
Was it you know what?
Was it that really?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
really helped you.
Yes, yes, yes and yes.
All of the above, so it was afull circle.
You know if I'm going to do it.
I am really an all or nothing,girl, I'm just going to do it
all.
So you know, I really got awayfrom my rheumatologist fired me
because I wouldn't followexactly what he had recommended.
(10:48):
And I did for years and it justdidn't work for me.
So it started with self-healingand what that looks like for me
.
So I had childhood trauma and Ireally started sitting with
that trauma and realizing, youknow, to heal it you really got
(11:11):
to feel your way through it.
You can't just get busy withlife because it manifests for me
it manifests with disease, whenI really didn't listen to my
body, I really wasn't payingattention to my emotional needs.
That manifested physically forme, like it does for most people
.
Needs that manifestedphysically for me, like it does
for most people, yeah, yeah.
But I started de-stressing,learned ways to do that, and my
biggest way of doing that was Ileft my job at the accounting
(11:35):
firm.
It was very, you know, the paywas nice, but the stress really
outweighed the benefit of themoney, of the income.
So I left that high stress jobfor a job much closer to home.
I was already driving an hourthere and an hour back, so I cut
out the traffic.
Yeah, it was big city drive forAlabama, but I cut out the
(11:56):
traffic.
So that was a de-stressor.
I really again started to figureout ways that I could heal
myself.
Was that slowing down every day, you know, having a cup of tea,
really just doing one thingthat made me happy, really
(12:17):
trying to find joy in myeveryday life and it?
You know, there were momentsevery day where you can and this
is still to this day every daywe can look at the journey of
the day and say, you know, thisreally didn't work out for me it
was kind of a crappy day, butwhat is something that really
(12:38):
worked out and what is somethingthat I'm really grateful for
and what can maybe I do bettertomorrow?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Oh I love that.
I love that I always talk toclients like look, I'm like it's
.
Or in students, like if you canjust do one thing for yourself,
it doesn't have to be a bigthing you don't have to like run
a marathon every day, but yes,yes, yes, take a shower by
yourself.
If you have toddlers likeabsolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
I mean, I know that seems seems small, but that is
where I started.
This is my, so I started mybusiness in 2015, officially
launched my business, so I'mgoing on.
2025 is going to be a decadefor me yeah, congratulations
thanks, thank you.
So I you know, but I got mystart really slow and this is
what I like you, this is what Itell my clients slow and steady
(13:30):
still wins the race.
You know one we weunderestimate how one small
change can have such a rippleeffect and such a huge impact.
So that you know, that's whereI started.
That's what it looks like forme.
I started detox my home.
I started looking at endocrinedisruptors.
I changed my diet because,first and foremost, food is our
(13:51):
medicine and that is somethingyeah, that's something that my
grandparents were really bigbelievers of.
That food was our first line ofmedicine.
All of those small changes hadan enormous impact.
I mean to the point of whatlaundry detergent I was using.
Yeah, because I was reallysensitive.
You know, I was also diagnosedwith upper respiratory disease,
(14:14):
so scents were something thatreally had a huge impact on me
as well.
So I mean just really smallchanges all culminated into one
big shift for me.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Oh wow, so it sounds like you were definitely like
determined to find an answer foryou.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
It's funny because we often, I feel like, don't give
ourselves permission to do that.
I know so many people that I'veworked with over the years.
They're like I don't know if Ican do that.
It's like you can totallychange your laundry detergent.
Well, who cares?
If your family don't like it,they'll get used to it.
They're not going to care,they're not going to even notice
.
It's like we come up with allthese like things like it's like
(14:56):
they can do something differentyeah.
Yeah, you know, or just like, orjust like.
Yeah, you know, most householdcleaners are just as dangerous
as smoking in the house orabsolutely things like that and
you would absolutely wanted tolight up in your living room.
You would be like outsideabsolutely not, yeah yeah, but
someone sprayed some whateverand what a difference it made.
(15:18):
You know.
Nobody thinks twice about that.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Right and right and I think it's so true I.
I love that you said that We'vejust really conditioned
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yeah, absolutely Like .
So it sounds like you reallysaid okay, I'm going to start
rebuilding the blocks around me.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
I'm going to start with my food, my home, the
things where you're supposed tofeel safe.
Right, You're supposed to feelsafe eating a meal and you're
supposed to feel safe in yourhome, right, and we just I think
you know, with the lupus itreally all of the foundation
that I had built, the lupusreally came all I mean it all
(15:55):
came crashing down.
Yeah, so that was you know, asyou know, let's see, let me see.
Give me just a second to let mesee how.
I want to say this asdevastating as the diagnosis was
, I think back on it.
I look back on it with suchgratitude and it really took me
(16:17):
a long time to get to the placethat I am now with feeling
grateful.
You know, I'm not grateful.
I was sick.
I'm not grateful.
I spent so much time in thehospital that I was away from my
husband, my daughter you know,she was two at the time of my
diagnosis but I am so gratefulthat it led all of us not just
me.
You know, my family followedsuit.
(16:37):
They didn't really have achoice, but they, they happily
followed suit how all of thatkind of devastation led us to
such a grateful place.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Oh well, and is that where the name of your business
came from?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Your place of gratitude.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So tell us a little bit about the name of your
business and how long you'vebeen in business and how you
work with.
You know, do you work with justclients?
You just just products?
Like, fill us in on everythingyou do, and then we also want to
know how to find you.
Okay, so, more than once, letus know.
But, yeah, share that with us.
Like, how did that come to beOkay?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
So in 2015, you know, from the remission up until
from 2011, up until 2015,.
I was doing things in mycommunity, was doing things for
my family, you know, for myextended family, and I finally
just said you know what, if it'sworking for us, it's going to
work for other people, so let'sdo that.
(17:40):
So I started building abusiness product based business
let's do that.
So I started building abusiness product based business
and in 2015, you know, I reallyspent a lot of time Trying to
figure out a name, because, youknow, our name Really just kind
(18:01):
of sets the stage, it sets thetone for everything about our
business.
I feel like so great faith camefrom really just who I am as a
person.
Despite the devastation,despite all of the trauma that
I've had to overcome, my faithhas always been audacious and
(18:24):
somewhat unshakable.
So and anytime I mean, thatdoesn't mean that I don't get
shaken- yeah yeah, there areplenty of times that I've been
shaken and throughout thisdecade that I'm coming on, I've
said you know, I just can't dothis.
It's just, it's too hard, it'stoo much.
But there's always been thecrumbling and then the
(18:45):
rebuilding.
So for me, that is where thename Great Faith came from, and
the organics was just reallyabout educating people in the
ways that I had been educated.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah.
So in 2015, I started Iactually started, got my start
on Etsy and as my business grew,I shifted over to my own domain
and it's greatfaithorganicscom.
You can find all of my productsthere.
So I did product-based from2015 all the way up until I
(19:22):
opened my practice here in PellCity, alabama, in 2023.
During that time, I found youand I thought you know, if I'm
going to make a lifestyle out ofthis, I probably really need to
get some formal education.
So in 2018, I got mycertification with the Heart of
(19:47):
Herbs and then, when I went toopen my practice in 2023, I went
back and got my clinicalcertification with heart of
herbs.
I it was such a great fit forme in 2018 that I just there was
no question about where I wasgoing to go back.
So, um, when I opened mypractice in 2023, I also did um
(20:11):
the Ayurvedic course and I alsostarted Reiki, which is
something that I had actuallydiscussed with you, and you
encouraged me, you know, toreally look into that type of
healing.
That it paired.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Oh, yeah, you're a natural.
Yeah, you could just.
I could just tell you had likethe right vibe.
Vibe, because when people workwith energy, if their energy
isn't good, you know that canaffect your client and I just
knew you would be like so goodfor people that way.
Has that been successful foryou?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yes, it has been.
And I mean it's been good for myclients, but I think it's been
equally as good for me as well.
So you know, it's really anever expanding journey for me.
I started out in 2023 with mypractice and it was literally
the size of a closet and I wasso grateful for that space.
(21:10):
I was, and still, so gratefulfor that space.
I was, and I'm still sograteful for that space.
But by September of 2023, wewere able to expand the space
and make a larger space and then, in September of 2024, we took
on a second space and we'redoing lymphatic treatments in
the second space.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, so you can go.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I have worked really hard and my family has rallied
around me and worked equally ashard, so I have a really great
support system.
But starting small doesn't keep.
It doesn't mean you're going tostay small forever.
When the time is right andyou're right energetically,
(21:55):
you're.
I was in a good placeenergetically and I was in a
good place in my healing journey.
The growth really just wasexponential quickly.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Well, I've never, ever thought that there was any
scenario in which you would havestarted small and stayed small,
I mean just based on the workthat you did and watching the
different things that you'reyou're doing.
You know, I don't often get tosee what people are up to on
Facebook.
So sometimes, you know, whenyou know I'm scrolling and I see
, oh my God, look at that, youknow.
(22:25):
And then, because I've always,I'm always on working, I never
get to do any of the fun stuffon Facebook.
Yeah, what are people up to?
But I mean, like, whenever yourstuff has come up, I'm like, oh
, not surprised, that's.
You know, I'm never.
I'm never like oh, oh wow.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
That was a shocker, you know, or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I'm like dang, that's right.
Keep it going.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
But it's really honestly, it's all of the hard
work that you poured into yourbusiness.
You really set the model up forkind of spilling over into the
community.
What does that look like?
Helping other people?
So all of your hard work youmissing out on all the fun stuff
.
I hope you get to enjoy it soon, but all of your hard work has
(23:08):
really poured so much into mybusiness and so many other
businesses that I know of.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Oh, that's really that's really sweet and cool to
hear, but the reality is is youguys do the work we do?
Speaker 2 (23:22):
You know, like you guys.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
I make you guys do a lot of work.
We do the work and you can tellsometimes, like I could tell
very early on with the way thatyou were turning in work.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I was like gotta keep an eye on this one and then I
was like I saw something youposted the other day and I'm
like I need her on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
That's right, that's who I've been thinking of, you
know.
So I'm so glad that yeah, I hadthe really.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I had the really great opportunity to be
interviewed by one of our local.
It was a larger city, theirlocal paper, and it was just
like a full circle moment for me, oh nice.
But one of the tips, one of thethings that I wanted to share
in terms of inspiring otherpeople, just a snippet of advice
(24:10):
that I can give.
All of my pictures, all of myprofessional photo work that you
see on my greatfaithorganicscomwebsite, on my TikTok, which is
also Great Faith OrganicsClinical Herbalist, my Instagram
, my Facebook all of those areGreat Faith Organics Clinical
Herbalist.
All of the photographs therewere professionally done, and I
(24:32):
managed to get that by tradingservices.
Oh nice, with the photographer.
Yes, so, and you can see she istop notch.
The photography work was topnotch, so good.
But a lot of times, you know,we think maybe we can't do this
because it's not in our budget,but the only thing you can hear
(24:57):
is no, I can't trade serviceswith you.
The best case scenario is, yes,let's do that, because a lot of
people wanting to work with anherbalist.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Yeah, yeah, well, yeah, I mean it's so.
It's always so surprising.
You know, I sometimes feel likeyou have to turn people down
because you don't want to tellpeople when you're out in the
wild what you do.
Because you're like oh, I'mnever going to swim out of this.
You, I'm like when.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I'm out with you guys .
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I'm your mom Like you know, yes, you know, we were
even in Ireland once and someguys like oh my gosh, my wife
loves your book.
And I was just like huh, Likeit didn't even occur to me he
was talking to me, I'm like waitwhat he's like oh, you're the
(25:46):
same one, right?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
How funny.
Yeah, so you really you touchedon something really strong
boundaries as well.
You know, I didn't have thoseboundaries in the beginning just
because I didn't have theexperience and setting those
boundaries and saying, okay, sothis is my family time, this is
my home time, this is not mywork time, because with the way
(26:10):
that social media is, it is justalmost soul sucking.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
It's a lot of work staying on top of it and not
going bananas, right.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yes, absolutely, and I haven't found that magic mojo
yet, and that's okay with me,because you know, having that
this is, this is work time, thisis home time is is really I
think it's really important tostay.
I mean, you have to staybalanced.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Oh yeah, definitely.
Well, I think you were one ofthe people that that I put out a
lecture a few years ago thatwas talking about like the only
way you're going to besuccessful is if you can hear no
and you can say no, and I thinkyou were one of the people who
were like I needed to hear thator something.
(27:00):
And it may not have been you,but I just remember like you
really have to be able to hearthe word no, like someone needs
to be able to say no to you andyou can't throw a fit, you know,
because you're in businessright.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
And you also need to be able to be like no.
Absolutely not.
Yes, absolutely.
And so before I started mypractice in 2023, so I opened my
practice in March of 2023.
And just to show you, or justto kind of paint a picture for
(27:29):
other people who might bestruggling or might feel
challenged in this kind of workmight be struggling or might
feel challenged in this kind ofwork In December of 2022, I was
ready to close my business downaltogether.
Oh wow, because I had not setthose strong boundaries of no,
this is my time, no, this istime for me to fill my cup, fill
my family's cup.
(27:50):
Because of that, I just got.
I got so overworked and itreally I just kind of lost my
spark.
Sounds like you're ready toburn out.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, I really was.
I really honestly.
That's exactly how I describeit.
Well, I'm glad you didn't Metoo, I'm glad that you said I'm
going to enforce some boundarieshere, people.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
It was actually my husband.
It was my husband'sencouragement, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Oh good, isn't it funny Like we know inside
sometimes what the answer is,but sometimes other people in
our life have to be like, hey,slow down speed racer or
whatever.
And then we're like oh, okay,yeah, like I can actually do
that.
Someone else gave me advice orpermission or a suggestion,
(28:38):
whatever word you want to use,you know to to take the time to
say no, this is, you know, um,I'm not answering your email at
two o'clock in the morning, youknow.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Someone else said it was okay and you're like, even
though you knew right, but yeah,I mean, I think sometimes we
just need that littleconfirmation, that little nudge,
because we are helper.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
But did you find that you were more sorry?
I?
Speaker 2 (29:06):
didn't mean to feel like we're constantly you know.
No, it's okay.
I think we're having a littlebit of a connection, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Did you find that when you cause?
I find when I reinforceboundaries there's always a few
people that get PO'd.
We won't swear too much andthere.
But overall most people I findare more receptive and I am able
to make more money and bebetter off with my time.
And I'm always like why didn'tI do that sooner?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yes, absolutely there .
You know when I first startedsetting those boundaries.
So I closed my entire businessdown a couple of weeks before
Christmas and then I open up thefirst.
I open back up the first weekof January, so it's three weeks,
which in the big scheme ofthings is not that long, and I
(30:00):
call it hibernation.
But I didn't start that untilabout four years into my
business.
So you know, by year nineeverybody knows I'm going into
hibernation.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Yeah, if you want something for Christmas, you
order in October you did aheadof.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yes, let's do it ahead of time and I try to be
really accommodating to people.
Just, I mean, my community isso great but when I first
started that, you know, therethere were some people who were,
like you said, po'd.
They were not really happyabout it.
But you know, I had that justbecause I'm a caretaker and I
also was a super people pleaserback in those days.
(30:37):
I would, you know, kind of bendthose boundaries until someone,
like you said someone gave mepermission to say no, you know
there were, there was plenty oftime.
You know there was plenty ofopportunity.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
I did not do anything to stop you from ordering early
.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Correct.
I made myself very availableand now it's really okay for me
to say I am so sorry, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah, I'm sorry.
This is something we do everyyear.
This is how we recharge, youknow, yes, and I think people
are starting to respect thatkind of stuff more yeah, I agree
every year it gives me it givesme life every year.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah, right, and it's .
Speaker 1 (31:24):
It's just three weeks so yeah, no, but I mean, like
you know, um, so a lot of myrelatives were like factory
workers and worked in sawmillsand stuff like that and they
would, they would close for afew weeks in the winter time or
they would, you know, have thesetimes where they were closed
and and I always used to thinkwhen I was younger like what an
(31:47):
antiquated model or whatever youknow and now, is it now that
I'm older?
I'm like wow that's really kindof a cool idea, like everybody
knows, that we're going to havethe month of September together
or whatever, or the month ofDecember or you know like.
And I do think that sometimesthis, this ability to connect,
(32:08):
especially when you're in asmall business, you can connect
really easily with yourcustomers and people who are
coming in and people you're incontact with.
But because you can at times beworking so much, you really
have to work and make sureyou're connected to the people
that you're doing this all forright.
Like you know, if I didn't havechildren and a husband, I don't
(32:28):
know if I'd work so hard.
I mean, I'll be honest, right,I'm doing this to create the
next generation.
Yeah, like I want to make surethat my kids have got something,
maybe one day, right yeah, so Ithink it's cool that your
community also gave youpermission and the people who
cared about you.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
So I really, in 2024, I can say that I've really
always had a good community, butin 2024, I can say that I have
the best community, that I'veever had a good community.
But in 2024, I can say that Ihave the best community that
I've ever had, like they.
They pour into me as much as Ipour into them and that's just
because I've established arelationship of trust.
(33:08):
That's so important.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
I mean, I just I love that for you and I love that
you're able to.
So so many businesses areseparate in a community and then
there's there's those thatbecome part of the fabric of the
community and it sounds likeyou're working on being woven
into the fabric of yourcommunity.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I love that and I've really tried to work with other
small businesses in my areabecause in 2015, when I started,
my husband was a small businessowner.
So, I kind of already had theidea of what it was like to be a
small business owner.
But when we started, he startedhis business in 2014.
I started mine in 2015.
(33:52):
He was really the inspirationand the catalyst for that for me
going oh you know what, maybe Ican do it too.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Yeah, I can work as hard as he can.
Maybe I can do that.
Yeah, I have no sanity left.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
I'm starting a business, I mean, why not Right
All or nothing?
Speaker 1 (34:11):
That's wonderful.
So you guys were really I mean,you two had to believe in and
support each other.
Epic proportions epic is theword and I love that, like I
(34:38):
love the fact that I never hadto compete with my husband.
I never, had to prove myself tohim absolutely, you know it was
like we were on our in our ownjourney with work and yes, and I
, you know, would sometimes hearfrom students oh, my husband
doesn't think I can do this ordo that, or my partner, my
(35:01):
children and I'm like you arethe one who has to determine if
this is going to work, becauseit takes epic determination,
like it really does.
You have to believe in yourselfto a point of like almost
insanity.
Yes, you know, I can do this.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
But I remember what it was like, you know, being one
of the few small businesses inmy community in 2015 for both of
us and I meant that if I evergot any platform, even if it was
a small platform, that I wasreally going to pour into other
small businesses in my communityto give them a space that I
(35:41):
didn't have.
So that has really if you wantto talk about weaving in the
threads of the community thathas really established my
community in a beautiful way.
Oh, I love that, no wonder theyfeel so connected to you.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
You're part of them.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Absolutely Well.
Yeah, I mean we just we vibetogether.
So it's when you stop lookingat everyone else as competition
and say you know, I have a giftthat's very unique to me, and
although someone else also has agift, it's also very unique to
them.
So you learn how to make yourgifts work together.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Yeah, my success isn't determined on your ability
.
I can be successful withouttaking from your success.
I think that's a thing that wewe're just so used to, all the
gobbledygook of modern society.
You know, I remember talking toa student once and she said,
but I think there's anotherherbalist in the county.
(36:43):
And I was like uh-huh.
And she's like but, but I can'thave a business if there's
already one who has a business.
I said, well, go to a gasstation, go tell that to the
pizza.
How many pizza places you gotin your county?
How many gas stations?
And she's like oh yeah, it'slike their success has nothing
to do with you, because who goesto you is going to go to you
(37:04):
and who finds you is going tofind you.
They're going to connect withyou in this kind of work.
I'm not the right cup of teafor everyone like some people
want to be more like walking oncloud nine.
And here I am, like this day,let's be practical.
We got a plan, you know, andother people you know want to,
like you know, float in the youknow ether with their clients
(37:26):
and and and every, every way isgood and valid and lovely, but
I'm not always like someone'scup of tea and that's totally
cool, you know and that'stotally fine.
So I love that you are bringingnot only your skills to your
(37:47):
community but your passion forsmall business and connection
and role modeling that to otherbusiness owners.
That's a big deal.
Hope you're patting yourself onthe back.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Thanks.
I am now Thank you.
I mean, it just seems like thething to do.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yeah, well, we're all in this together, right?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
It's like we're all in this together and no one gets
out of this alive that iscorrect.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
How are you going to do this Right?
Speaker 1 (38:15):
So we might as well have fun while we're doing it,
yes, yeah, and make some friendsalong the way play some good
music you know, toast the moonwhatever you do.
Yeah, absolutely.
So I have a question what aresome of your favorite products
to offer clients in yourcommunity?
Are there things that you justfeel like you do a great job
(38:35):
with and that you want people toknow about?
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Um, so some of my favorite products that I craft.
My favorite thing is craftingtea, so I do herbal tinctures,
extracts.
I make elderberry syrup.
I love elderberry syrup becausethat is really where that is
the product where I really gotmy start.
That is the one that has helpedme the most, so that's always
(39:02):
going to be one of my favorites.
But my favorite thing is reallyputting herbal teas together,
formulating herbal teas.
I love that I have a blendcalled Rest and Digest, and it's
really about taking a moment.
It's not just about having acup of tea, this is what I tell
(39:23):
everyone.
It's about taking a moment andsaying, okay, I am doing
something for me in this moment,and it's really about coming
out of fight or flight andreally shifting into the resting
and the digesting system in ourbody.
So that's probably my favorite.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
Who doesn't need?
Speaker 2 (39:44):
that.
Everyone needs that.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
I'm like thinking about it.
You know, you're like, I'm likethinking, like I'm like
relaxing, like thinking about itright, Like it is coming out of
flight or flight.
You know it's like, oh causewe're all in that mode lately?
Huh.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Yeah, it's like a warm hug.
That's how I describe it topeople.
It's like a cup of warm hug andI formulated out of in 2022,
when I was in my burnout.
I formulated the tea for myself, and that's where most of my
products have been born.
Was they came out of a needthat I had or a need that my
family had?
And that's where all of myproducts really came from.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
I really love that because one you know that it
works.
It isn't just a theoreticalproduct, but you know the, the
you know what you're wanting toachieve in yourself, and that is
sometimes just giving someone a.
You know a place to take a deepbreath is sometimes the most
(40:42):
important, like first step.
Right, okay, calm down, let'stake a deep breath, let's come
back into ourself.
You know it was been a theworld's crappiest day to day or
whatever, and you give yourselfthat permission to really put
the brakes on, and I love I meanjust the rest digest.
You know, you can kind of justlike that you know where this is
(41:05):
going you know like you startoff and then your feet are up,
then you're leaning back, you'reenjoying your comfy chair or
whatever.
Then you're like maybe let'sput on the fire, yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
So that's exactly you .
If I had to describe a cup ofrest and digest, that's exactly
that's the description I wouldgive.
You're really, you're having anexperience and it's just.
You know it's.
It's five minutes, it's 10minutes which we, we can all
commit in a day to just take thetime to go.
Okay, this is just going to beabout me from the smell, the
(41:39):
aroma to the taste, yeah, it'swonderful.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
I love that and I love like.
I also love reminding peoplewhen they're like well, I can't
take 10 minutes.
There's a lot of time I'm like.
I guarantee you you spend morethan 10 minutes today on
Facebook or Instagram or any ofthose platforms.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
And then they'd like kind of turn red and they're
like yeah, I'm like you can, youcan do this.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
You can, you know we can.
You can, you can say I'm worththis time.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Yes, I love that you offer that.
Can you people order thatonline?
Or you can order all of myproducts, from my extracts to my
herbal teas, to a couple ofother supplements that I put
together.
You can order all of that atgreat faith.
Organicscom.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
Oh nice.
And do you ship internationally, or just in the continental, or
just the United States?
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Just in the US.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
Yes, Okay, lovely, oh , that's so awesome.
I think that I think thateveryone listening is probably
going to be like I can use a cupof rest.
Everyone listening is probablygoing to be like I could use a
cup of rest, inductionEspecially after the holidays.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
The holidays.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
The new year and all of that fun stuff.
I mean, I think the reality isis that we need to start tapping
into these things that make usfeel better and share them with
others.
There's so much influencerproducts and this and that and
(43:04):
stuff that's out there that wedon't know where it's coming
from.
We don't know who the money orthe voice behind it is, and I
really know for myself.
I've been just microingeverything down Like I want to
know the dude that's making mypots and pans.
This is like no joke.
I'm just like getting, and Ireally feel like a lot of other
(43:25):
people are being like yeah, I'mnot sure I want to purchase this
tea where I don't know wherethe ingredients are coming from.
I don't know the story behindthe person who crafted it.
Know where the ingredients arecoming from.
I don't know the story behindthe person who crafted it.
I don't know what is in it, andyou know some of this stuff.
It is the wild, wild west outthere, you know you just, oh,
I'll just order it off ofwhatever that large place is,
(43:49):
and it's like you don't knowwho's selling it.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
Yes, I do know where it's from.
I do try and take the time toeducate people about that and
it's not just so that you orderfrom me.
It is so that you order from atrusted source.
So I only work with organicingredients.
Some I grow, some I get from myown trusted sources, some I
wild forage for in a very safearea that's contained and well
(44:14):
kept.
But knowing the source iseverything to me.
I agree, and I've seen thattransition in the time that I've
been, the nine years that I'vebeen doing this, I've seen the
transition from.
You know, nine years ago people, they really were not thinking
about that kind of thing, andnow you know, nine years later,
it is so, it's so important toeveryone.
(44:34):
So I'm loving the kind of shiftin the dynamic here.
Speaker 1 (44:39):
Oh, absolutely.
I mean it's funny because I'mseeing it.
Even like I've always kind ofbeen like weird like this.
Like you know, I didn't, Iwanted my dishes made in America
.
You know, it's just always kindof like I don't know.
It just seemed practical to me.
Money goes back into mycommunity, that kind of stuff,
but I never like really madesuch a huge stink about it.
(45:00):
Um, but I see it like even inmy kids they're like yeah well,
my socks are from Vermont, youknow like they.
Like you know, my blue jeanswere made in North Carolina.
You know like they kind of likethey're starting like this thing
and and I'm just like sittingback and I'm I'm looking and I'm
listening and I'm like you know, but I think they've got it
right, Like we just, we lost somuch connection.
(45:24):
Like you know, like even thecontainers that I'm sure your
products are in, you are vettingthat, you're making sure
they're safe, and I just I lovethat kind of connection to
quality and source so much and Ilove that you're able to give
that to people and to offer thatto people.
Like, organic isn't just a word, it's about being part of the
(45:50):
earth and the process and thecreativity and the craft and we
just think of organic, as theydidn't use any pesticides and
it's so much more than that.
I think it is.
Speaker 2 (46:00):
It's a, it's a mindset for us as herbalists.
I really feel like you know,it's authenticity, like you said
, it's really just getting backto the.
To me it's, it's the heart ofherbalism.
Speaker 1 (46:12):
Yeah, I agree, I love that name too, but I mean, like
you know, it's really, it'sreally um.
I just find it inspiring and Ilove when businesses like yours
are not only like sticking totheir, their commitment for
quality and excellence, butthey're also sharing that with
(46:32):
their community and helpingtheir community look at things
in a different way, because Ithink it just it's.
That's something that lasts alifetime.
Getting some plasticgobbledygook for five cents less
, yeah, doesn't make your lifebetter Absolutely.
But these kind of commitmentsreinforce and help uplift and
(46:54):
structure community, and so Ilove that you do that for your
community and for your clients.
I think that's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
Yeah, thank you.
I was going to mention thatwhen I opened my practice, I
started doing in-personconsultations, so I do offer
herbal consultations and I alsodo bio communication feedback as
part of that process.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
Oh, cool, and so they can.
People can OK.
So in reference to like hey, Ilive in Alabama, I want to come
and see you face to face.
Yes, how do they contact youthrough the website?
Speaker 2 (47:32):
Yes, so you can go to great faith organorganicscom
and look at the advanced herbalconsultation and all of the
information.
I mean it is very detailed.
I've poured so much time andwork into those descriptions so
that people really have a fullunderstanding of what they're
going to get.
I love that you can look there.
(47:53):
All of my information is atgreatfaithorganicscom.
Book an appointment.
Yes, I'm in Alabama and I wouldlove to work with everyone in
the community, so I have anotherquestion Will you work with
people virtually?
Speaker 1 (48:05):
Do you do that yet, like over Zoom or things like
that, or are you only doingface-to-face right now?
Speaker 2 (48:11):
So I have done a few virtual consultations.
I haven't done many, butprobably in the last, let's see.
I've probably done six total.
So it's a very small margin ofmy business, but I think that's
(48:31):
possibly just because you knowit's outside of the community.
Speaker 1 (48:35):
Yeah, yeah, yes, I know there may as well be
someone listening like I'm notin Alabama, but this lady sounds
like exactly who I need.
Yeah, I just figured I wouldask that because I think
sometimes, like I don't know,like sometimes I've like heard
you know someone someplace andI'm like that's the person.
Like I, you know, I just hear alittle bit of there.
I'm like that's the person Ineed to like find like in a room
(48:57):
, you know, or like there's likesomeone here like I'm like this
is the person I need to connectwith for whatever reason.
So I know if someone's sittingthere thinking that they're
going to have that question, soI just figured I would ask it
beforehand.
Speaker 2 (49:10):
Yeah, and thanks for asking.
They can always reach out to meat great faithorganics at
gmailcom and I would love towork, even virtually.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (49:19):
Okay, that's so awesome, so thank you so much
for like giving us thatinformation.
So I should probably let you goso you can get back to your day
and and enjoy.
I think you have a few moredays off before you're opening
back up right A few more daysoff of hibernation.
So I would definitely, you know,suggest you, enjoy those and
(49:41):
have fun and try not to.
I think you guys have someweather coming your way, so we
do, so hopefully it won't be toobad, but you can cozy up in
front of the fire or whatever.
Yeah, absolutely, and hunkerdown and enjoy your hibernation
time a little bit longer.
But I just wanted to say thankyou so much for taking the time
to be with us.
(50:02):
I appreciate it so much.
I'm so glad that I had anopportunity to get to know you
professionally, as you know,seeing you as your business and
more than just as having been astudent.
So I think that our studentsfind students like you so
inspirational.
So thanks for just giving usthis opportunity to connect with
(50:23):
you.
Speaker 2 (50:24):
Thank you so much for having me on.
I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (50:27):
Oh, thank you so much .
You have a great day and I will, hopefully.
I would like to say let's do anupdate and see how things are
going, like you know, later on,and if you would be up for it,
because it's really cool to justsee how people's projects are
going, and I do.
Sometimes I have, even thoughthe podcast is new I've had a
(50:48):
few people say like, hey, thatperson you had on, I want to
know what they're doing, likeare you going to have them on
again and how did it go?
And so I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I can totally do that.
So I've been, I've been tellingpeople I'm going to try to get
you back on and I'm doing it onair, so that way you're trapped.
Speaker 2 (51:09):
I will make myself available, thank you.
Speaker 1 (51:12):
I am so glad you joined us today.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, okay, bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
Hi, this is Demetra Clark, the director of Heart of
Herbs Herbal School, and this isthe Heart of Herbs Herbal
School podcast.
Today we are with Mandy Church,who runs Great Faith Organics,
and we're so excited to betalking to her today because not
only are you going to find herinspiring, but I think you're
going to connect with so muchthat she's going to share,
(00:35):
because she's just a reallyinspiring student and herbalist
and a community.
I really feel like someonewho's bringing something into
her community that is so specialand so unique.
I've been Googling and doing mylittle research this morning
and I cannot even tell you likehow impressed I am.
(00:56):
So, mandy, thank you so muchfor being here today.
Speaker 2 (01:01):
Wow, thank you so much, what an introduction.
It really took my breath awaytoday.
Wow, thank you so much, what anintroduction it really took my
breath away.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
Oh, that's sweet.
Thank you for having me.
You've been doing the work forso long I have.
Yeah, you're right.
So how did your herbal journeybegin?
What was the thing that madeyou say, hmm, maybe herbs and I
are good friends.
Speaker 2 (01:21):
So my journey really started kind of at a young age.
My grandparents were kind ofalways into this kind of life,
the natural alternative, mainlyjust because there was a poverty
.
You know, we grew up kind of ina poverty issue, but so it
(01:42):
really set the stage for where Iam in my journey now.
But what that looked like was,you know, if we didn't grow it
or we didn't, you know theydidn't raise it, we didn't have
it.
So it really was aboutnecessity.
But in 2008, you know, I kindof modern life gets us away from
(02:03):
that.
But in 2008, I was diagnosedwith lupus and for me it was a
devastating blow because it isgenerational in my family and
that, honestly, that is thething that really, really,
really got me here.
Mm hmm, in 2009.
So I had a two year old at thetime and I worked a really high
(02:26):
pay for a high, high pacedaccounting firm.
So it's very high stress and ifyou know anything about lupus,
it is really driven by stress.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
It's driven by stress , right?
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yes, it's an immune disorder.
Yes, but stress is really thething that kicks it off, kicks
(03:00):
off that flare every single time.
At least it did for me, and in2009, I was on 13 prescriptions
and I was had been on prednisonefor 15 years and I agree that
there is a time and a place forall Western medicine.
It's helpful when it is helpful.
But, at the point of 13prescriptions and an injection
and in the prednisone.
So I really watched mygrandmother's quality of life
(03:22):
deteriorate because she was onit for such an extended period
of time.
So that was kind of the strawthat broke the camel's back for
me to where I said you know,either the lupus is going to
take my quality of life or allof this medication is going to
take my quality of life.
So that is the moment where Ijust went there's got to be a
(03:42):
better way.
And that's how I got here, longstory short.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
So for you, it was like part of your blood, part of
your family heritage theconnection to the earth.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Where are you located ?
I'm in Alabama.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Oh my gosh, that's right.
I lived in Alabama as a child,so I didn't know that.
Okay, yeah, I lived inSomerville, alabama, which is
north of Hartsell and Decatur.
Yeah, so I love Alabama.
I'm like I keep hearingsomething in her voice that's
telling me I need to know whereshe's from, and I've very much
(04:23):
south.
Yes, Alabama is wonderful andAlabama is one of those places
where really people are still soconnected yeah to the earth,
and so we are so privileged inthat way?
Speaker 2 (04:35):
yeah, absolutely, and so you decided.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So did you decide, then, to do like a formal
education and like this is I'mgoing to start my herbal journey
, or was it like?
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I'm going to take a step back and buy with my notice
.
You know, absolutely not.
A big part of my personality isreally finding what works best
for me and going from there.
But I did.
You know, it was really justall kind of trial and error to
start with, and once I startedmy formal education with Heart
(05:09):
of Herbs, it just reinforcedkind of what my intuition had
led me to.
And that is, really take what'sfor you.
You know, look in your area,look in your community, what's
growing, what's, you know what'savailable to you.
And that kind of always ledback to the way that I was
raised what is available, Takewhat's available and go from
(05:30):
there.
So, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:33):
That's awesome.
That's so awesome that you coulduse the lessons of generational
family to reinforce what youwere feeling inside about how
you're going to make yourselfbetter and how you're going to
work in a way that worked foryou.
I just think that's brilliant.
I I really wish that people inour country realize that all of
(05:53):
us have such a deep and abidingconnection to the earth, no
matter where we're from.
There's always some connectionin that, and I'm just glad that
listening to you today, like Iyou know, sometimes like even
someone who this is their job,full time, or sometimes you need
(06:14):
to be reminded that thatconnection is so strong all over
the place.
So thank you so much for that,Just for that reminder.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
Yeah, I think just the hustle and bustle of
everyday life just really cutsoff that connection to a slower
way of living.
And that's one thing here inAlabama that you know we still
there's still a very much strongtie to just kind of slower
living.
Oh well, I mean let's.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
I mean there's definitely that.
I know for me, like whenever Ithink of Alabama, I think of red
clay and the greenest greenever.
You know, like when the grassgets green, there it puts every
other state to shame.
I remember telling my husbandmy grandfather worked at
(07:02):
Redstone and for the nasa stuffright yeah, so we were driving
down the visit and there was abunch of us in a van and I was
like long story, a bunch of usin a van, but anyways, I was
like.
I was like you guys will never,ever.
I mean, they're like, they'refrom the midwest, they think
everyone and there's nothinggood in al.
You know, they're just like,you know, they know the world
(07:25):
right.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
That's the unfortunate story.
Yeah, yeah right.
Speaker 1 (07:29):
You will never see a green like this before, You'll
never see smiles as big and youwill never see red clay like
this anywhere else on the planet.
Right, and they were laughing,but we hit that border and it
was like boom.
They were like whoa.
Speaker 2 (07:46):
Yes, it's one of those perfect Alabama days.
You definitely know you're here.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
They're like, oh my gosh, Like you weren't kidding.
I'm like, no, this is beautiful, Like it is so gorgeous here
and it's just so funny thatpeople we miss out on so much
because we don't travel around.
But so you run a company.
So what?
(08:08):
Okay, so like, let's backtrack.
So you decide to get a formaleducation and start a business
Am.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
I right?
Or did you do the education andthen said maybe I'll start a
business Backtracking a littlebit as well?
So when I was diagnosed in 2008, and I was on all those
prescriptions in 2009.
I started, really started thejourney in 2009 of not just
herbal discovery but really selfdiscovery and what healing
(08:33):
looks like for me.
I know it's different foreverybody, but the herbs nature
has really, really been a part,a huge part, of my healing
journey.
But in 2011, with all of thechanges that I made, with all of
the things that I did formyself and for my family, in
2011, I was diagnosed withremission.
(08:55):
So I have been in remissionsince 2011.
And that diagnosis, or thatrelease of remission, really got
me to thinking hey, you knowthis works for me, you know it
could possibly work for otherpeople too.
And that is what started mybusiness.
Speaker 1 (09:16):
Wow, like just I mean , I can't even imagine, imagine
I mean, how many people who aredealing with lupus like spend
every day hoping for those words.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
you're in remission, right?
I really remember I've neverallowed myself to get too far
away from being sick that Iforget what it was like to feel
that sense of hopelessness,because I really felt hopeless
with the diagnosis.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
Yeah, yeah, no, I mean, that is definitely
something that you hear fromindividuals who are experiencing
something like that.
That's a long-term, potentiallylifetime issue, that it's just
like hitting a brick wall overand over again and just looking
for the door.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
You know.
Speaker 1 (10:06):
Right and that's so cool.
So what did?
What were the?
And then obviously that's ahuge discussion like protocols
and stuff like that, but whatwere like a few things that just
helped you.
Was it managing the stress?
Was it taking time for yourself?
Was it getting to know yourself?
Was it you know what?
Was it that really?
Speaker 2 (10:25):
really helped you.
Yes, yes, yes and yes.
All of the above, so it was afull circle.
You know if I'm going to do it.
I am really an all or nothing,girl, I'm just going to do it
all.
So you know, I really got awayfrom my rheumatologist fired me
because I wouldn't followexactly what he had recommended.
(10:48):
And I did for years and it justdidn't work for me.
So it started with self-healingand what that looks like for me
.
So I had childhood trauma and Ireally started sitting with
that trauma and realizing, youknow, to heal it you really got
(11:11):
to feel your way through it.
You can't just get busy withlife because it manifests for me
it manifests with disease, whenI really didn't listen to my
body, I really wasn't payingattention to my emotional needs.
That manifested physically forme, like it does for most people
.
Needs that manifestedphysically for me, like it does
for most people, yeah, yeah.
But I started de-stressing,learned ways to do that, and my
biggest way of doing that was Ileft my job at the accounting
(11:35):
firm.
It was very, you know, the paywas nice, but the stress really
outweighed the benefit of themoney, of the income.
So I left that high stress jobfor a job much closer to home.
I was already driving an hourthere and an hour back, so I cut
out the traffic.
Yeah, it was big city drive forAlabama, but I cut out the
(11:56):
traffic.
So that was a de-stressor.
I really again started to figureout ways that I could heal
myself.
Was that slowing down every day, you know, having a cup of tea,
really just doing one thingthat made me happy, really
(12:17):
trying to find joy in myeveryday life and it?
You know, there were momentsevery day where you can and this
is still to this day every daywe can look at the journey of
the day and say, you know, thisreally didn't work out for me it
was kind of a crappy day, butwhat is something that really
(12:38):
worked out and what is somethingthat I'm really grateful for
and what can maybe I do bettertomorrow?
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Oh I love that.
I love that I always talk toclients like look, I'm like it's
.
Or in students, like if you canjust do one thing for yourself,
it doesn't have to be a bigthing you don't have to like run
a marathon every day, but yes,yes, yes, take a shower by
yourself.
If you have toddlers likeabsolutely.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
I mean, I know that seems seems small, but that is
where I started.
This is my, so I started mybusiness in 2015, officially
launched my business, so I'mgoing on.
2025 is going to be a decadefor me yeah, congratulations
thanks, thank you.
So I you know, but I got mystart really slow and this is
what I like you, this is what Itell my clients slow and steady
(13:30):
still wins the race.
You know one we weunderestimate how one small
change can have such a rippleeffect and such a huge impact.
So that you know, that's whereI started.
That's what it looks like forme.
I started detox my home.
I started looking at endocrinedisruptors.
I changed my diet because,first and foremost, food is our
(13:51):
medicine and that is somethingyeah, that's something that my
grandparents were really bigbelievers of.
That food was our first line ofmedicine.
All of those small changes hadan enormous impact.
I mean to the point of whatlaundry detergent I was using.
Yeah, because I was reallysensitive.
You know, I was also diagnosedwith upper respiratory disease,
(14:14):
so scents were something thatreally had a huge impact on me
as well.
So I mean just really smallchanges all culminated into one
big shift for me.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Oh wow, so it sounds like you were definitely like
determined to find an answer foryou.
Speaker 2 (14:30):
Yes, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (14:32):
It's funny because we often, I feel like, don't give
ourselves permission to do that.
I know so many people that I'veworked with over the years.
They're like I don't know if Ican do that.
It's like you can totallychange your laundry detergent.
Well, who cares?
If your family don't like it,they'll get used to it.
They're not going to care,they're not going to even notice
.
It's like we come up with allthese like things like it's like
(14:56):
they can do something differentyeah.
Yeah, you know, or just like, orjust like.
Yeah, you know, most householdcleaners are just as dangerous
as smoking in the house orabsolutely things like that and
you would absolutely wanted tolight up in your living room.
You would be like outsideabsolutely not, yeah yeah, but
someone sprayed some whateverand what a difference it made.
(15:18):
You know.
Nobody thinks twice about that.
Speaker 2 (15:20):
Right and right and I think it's so true I.
I love that you said that We'vejust really conditioned
ourselves.
Speaker 1 (15:25):
Yeah, absolutely Like .
So it sounds like you reallysaid okay, I'm going to start
rebuilding the blocks around me.
Speaker 2 (15:34):
I'm going to start with my food, my home, the
things where you're supposed tofeel safe.
Right, You're supposed to feelsafe eating a meal and you're
supposed to feel safe in yourhome, right, and we just I think
you know, with the lupus itreally all of the foundation
that I had built, the lupusreally came all I mean it all
(15:55):
came crashing down.
Yeah, so that was you know, asyou know, let's see, let me see.
Give me just a second to let mesee how.
I want to say this asdevastating as the diagnosis was
, I think back on it.
I look back on it with suchgratitude and it really took me
(16:17):
a long time to get to the placethat I am now with feeling
grateful.
You know, I'm not grateful.
I was sick.
I'm not grateful.
I spent so much time in thehospital that I was away from my
husband, my daughter you know,she was two at the time of my
diagnosis but I am so gratefulthat it led all of us not just
me.
You know, my family followedsuit.
(16:37):
They didn't really have achoice, but they, they happily
followed suit how all of thatkind of devastation led us to
such a grateful place.
Speaker 1 (16:48):
Oh well, and is that where the name of your business
came from?
Speaker 2 (16:53):
Your place of gratitude.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
So tell us a little bit about the name of your
business and how long you'vebeen in business and how you
work with.
You know, do you work with justclients?
You just just products?
Like, fill us in on everythingyou do, and then we also want to
know how to find you.
Okay, so, more than once, letus know.
But, yeah, share that with us.
Like, how did that come to beOkay?
Speaker 2 (17:19):
So in 2015, you know, from the remission up until
from 2011, up until 2015,.
I was doing things in mycommunity, was doing things for
my family, you know, for myextended family, and I finally
just said you know what, if it'sworking for us, it's going to
work for other people, so let'sdo that.
(17:40):
So I started building abusiness product based business
let's do that.
So I started building abusiness product based business
and in 2015, you know, I reallyspent a lot of time Trying to
figure out a name, because, youknow, our name Really just kind
(18:01):
of sets the stage, it sets thetone for everything about our
business.
I feel like so great faith camefrom really just who I am as a
person.
Despite the devastation,despite all of the trauma that
I've had to overcome, my faithhas always been audacious and
(18:24):
somewhat unshakable.
So and anytime I mean, thatdoesn't mean that I don't get
shaken- yeah yeah, there areplenty of times that I've been
shaken and throughout thisdecade that I'm coming on, I've
said you know, I just can't dothis.
It's just, it's too hard, it'stoo much.
But there's always been thecrumbling and then the
(18:45):
rebuilding.
So for me, that is where thename Great Faith came from, and
the organics was just reallyabout educating people in the
ways that I had been educated.
Speaker 1 (18:58):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Yeah.
So in 2015, I started Iactually started, got my start
on Etsy and as my business grew,I shifted over to my own domain
and it's greatfaithorganicscom.
You can find all of my productsthere.
So I did product-based from2015 all the way up until I
(19:22):
opened my practice here in PellCity, alabama, in 2023.
During that time, I found youand I thought you know, if I'm
going to make a lifestyle out ofthis, I probably really need to
get some formal education.
So in 2018, I got mycertification with the Heart of
(19:47):
Herbs and then, when I went toopen my practice in 2023, I went
back and got my clinicalcertification with heart of
herbs.
I it was such a great fit forme in 2018 that I just there was
no question about where I wasgoing to go back.
So, um, when I opened mypractice in 2023, I also did um
(20:11):
the Ayurvedic course and I alsostarted Reiki, which is
something that I had actuallydiscussed with you, and you
encouraged me, you know, toreally look into that type of
healing.
That it paired.
Speaker 1 (20:23):
Oh, yeah, you're a natural.
Yeah, you could just.
I could just tell you had likethe right vibe.
Vibe, because when people workwith energy, if their energy
isn't good, you know that canaffect your client and I just
knew you would be like so goodfor people that way.
Has that been successful foryou?
Speaker 2 (20:45):
Yes, it has been.
And I mean it's been good for myclients, but I think it's been
equally as good for me as well.
So you know, it's really anever expanding journey for me.
I started out in 2023 with mypractice and it was literally
the size of a closet and I wasso grateful for that space.
(21:10):
I was, and still, so gratefulfor that space.
I was, and I'm still sograteful for that space.
But by September of 2023, wewere able to expand the space
and make a larger space and then, in September of 2024, we took
on a second space and we'redoing lymphatic treatments in
the second space.
Speaker 1 (21:30):
Yeah, so you can go.
Speaker 2 (21:33):
I have worked really hard and my family has rallied
around me and worked equally ashard, so I have a really great
support system.
But starting small doesn't keep.
It doesn't mean you're going tostay small forever.
When the time is right andyou're right energetically,
(21:55):
you're.
I was in a good placeenergetically and I was in a
good place in my healing journey.
The growth really just wasexponential quickly.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Well, I've never, ever thought that there was any
scenario in which you would havestarted small and stayed small,
I mean just based on the workthat you did and watching the
different things that you'reyou're doing.
You know, I don't often get tosee what people are up to on
Facebook.
So sometimes, you know, whenyou know I'm scrolling and I see
, oh my God, look at that, youknow.
(22:25):
And then, because I've always,I'm always on working, I never
get to do any of the fun stuffon Facebook.
Yeah, what are people up to?
But I mean, like, whenever yourstuff has come up, I'm like, oh
, not surprised, that's.
You know, I'm never.
I'm never like oh, oh wow.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
That was a shocker, you know, or anything like that.
Speaker 1 (22:43):
I'm like dang, that's right.
Keep it going.
Speaker 2 (22:46):
But it's really honestly, it's all of the hard
work that you poured into yourbusiness.
You really set the model up forkind of spilling over into the
community.
What does that look like?
Helping other people?
So all of your hard work youmissing out on all the fun stuff
.
I hope you get to enjoy it soon, but all of your hard work has
(23:08):
really poured so much into mybusiness and so many other
businesses that I know of.
Speaker 1 (23:13):
Oh, that's really that's really sweet and cool to
hear, but the reality is is youguys do the work we do?
Speaker 2 (23:22):
You know, like you guys.
Speaker 1 (23:24):
I make you guys do a lot of work.
We do the work and you can tellsometimes, like I could tell
very early on with the way thatyou were turning in work.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
I was like gotta keep an eye on this one and then I
was like I saw something youposted the other day and I'm
like I need her on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
That's right, that's who I've been thinking of, you
know.
So I'm so glad that yeah, I hadthe really.
Speaker 2 (23:48):
I had the really great opportunity to be
interviewed by one of our local.
It was a larger city, theirlocal paper, and it was just
like a full circle moment for me, oh nice.
But one of the tips, one of thethings that I wanted to share
in terms of inspiring otherpeople, just a snippet of advice
(24:10):
that I can give.
All of my pictures, all of myprofessional photo work that you
see on my greatfaithorganicscomwebsite, on my TikTok, which is
also Great Faith OrganicsClinical Herbalist, my Instagram
, my Facebook all of those areGreat Faith Organics Clinical
Herbalist.
All of the photographs therewere professionally done, and I
(24:32):
managed to get that by tradingservices.
Oh nice, with the photographer.
Yes, so, and you can see she istop notch.
The photography work was topnotch, so good.
But a lot of times, you know,we think maybe we can't do this
because it's not in our budget,but the only thing you can hear
(24:57):
is no, I can't trade serviceswith you.
The best case scenario is, yes,let's do that, because a lot of
people wanting to work with anherbalist.
Speaker 1 (25:05):
Yeah, yeah, well, yeah, I mean it's so.
It's always so surprising.
You know, I sometimes feel likeyou have to turn people down
because you don't want to tellpeople when you're out in the
wild what you do.
Because you're like oh, I'mnever going to swim out of this.
You, I'm like when.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
I'm out with you guys .
Speaker 1 (25:25):
I'm your mom Like you know, yes, you know, we were
even in Ireland once and someguys like oh my gosh, my wife
loves your book.
And I was just like huh, Likeit didn't even occur to me he
was talking to me, I'm like waitwhat he's like oh, you're the
(25:46):
same one, right?
Speaker 2 (25:48):
How funny.
Yeah, so you really you touchedon something really strong
boundaries as well.
You know, I didn't have thoseboundaries in the beginning just
because I didn't have theexperience and setting those
boundaries and saying, okay, sothis is my family time, this is
my home time, this is not mywork time, because with the way
(26:10):
that social media is, it is justalmost soul sucking.
Speaker 1 (26:16):
It's a lot of work staying on top of it and not
going bananas, right.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
Yes, absolutely, and I haven't found that magic mojo
yet, and that's okay with me,because you know, having that
this is, this is work time, thisis home time is is really I
think it's really important tostay.
I mean, you have to staybalanced.
Speaker 1 (26:39):
Oh yeah, definitely.
Well, I think you were one ofthe people that that I put out a
lecture a few years ago thatwas talking about like the only
way you're going to besuccessful is if you can hear no
and you can say no, and I thinkyou were one of the people who
were like I needed to hear thator something.
(27:00):
And it may not have been you,but I just remember like you
really have to be able to hearthe word no, like someone needs
to be able to say no to you andyou can't throw a fit, you know,
because you're in businessright.
Speaker 2 (27:06):
And you also need to be able to be like no.
Absolutely not.
Yes, absolutely.
And so before I started mypractice in 2023, so I opened my
practice in March of 2023.
And just to show you, or justto kind of paint a picture for
(27:29):
other people who might bestruggling or might feel
challenged in this kind of workmight be struggling or might
feel challenged in this kind ofwork In December of 2022, I was
ready to close my business downaltogether.
Oh wow, because I had not setthose strong boundaries of no,
this is my time, no, this istime for me to fill my cup, fill
my family's cup.
(27:50):
Because of that, I just got.
I got so overworked and itreally I just kind of lost my
spark.
Sounds like you're ready toburn out.
Speaker 1 (28:04):
Yeah, I really was.
I really honestly.
That's exactly how I describeit.
Well, I'm glad you didn't Metoo, I'm glad that you said I'm
going to enforce some boundarieshere, people.
Speaker 2 (28:12):
It was actually my husband.
It was my husband'sencouragement, yeah.
Speaker 1 (28:16):
Oh good, isn't it funny Like we know inside
sometimes what the answer is,but sometimes other people in
our life have to be like, hey,slow down speed racer or
whatever.
And then we're like oh, okay,yeah, like I can actually do
that.
Someone else gave me advice orpermission or a suggestion,
(28:38):
whatever word you want to use,you know to to take the time to
say no, this is, you know, um,I'm not answering your email at
two o'clock in the morning, youknow.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Someone else said it was okay and you're like, even
though you knew right, but yeah,I mean, I think sometimes we
just need that littleconfirmation, that little nudge,
because we are helper.
Speaker 1 (29:02):
But did you find that you were more sorry?
I?
Speaker 2 (29:06):
didn't mean to feel like we're constantly you know.
No, it's okay.
I think we're having a littlebit of a connection, yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Did you find that when you cause?
I find when I reinforceboundaries there's always a few
people that get PO'd.
We won't swear too much andthere.
But overall most people I findare more receptive and I am able
to make more money and bebetter off with my time.
And I'm always like why didn'tI do that sooner?
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Yes, absolutely there .
You know when I first startedsetting those boundaries.
So I closed my entire businessdown a couple of weeks before
Christmas and then I open up thefirst.
I open back up the first weekof January, so it's three weeks,
which in the big scheme ofthings is not that long, and I
(30:00):
call it hibernation.
But I didn't start that untilabout four years into my
business.
So you know, by year nineeverybody knows I'm going into
hibernation.
Speaker 1 (30:12):
Yeah, if you want something for Christmas, you
order in October you did aheadof.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
Yes, let's do it ahead of time and I try to be
really accommodating to people.
Just, I mean, my community isso great but when I first
started that, you know, therethere were some people who were,
like you said, po'd.
They were not really happyabout it.
But you know, I had that justbecause I'm a caretaker and I
also was a super people pleaserback in those days.
(30:37):
I would, you know, kind of bendthose boundaries until someone,
like you said someone gave mepermission to say no, you know
there were, there was plenty oftime.
You know there was plenty ofopportunity.
Speaker 1 (30:53):
I did not do anything to stop you from ordering early
.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Correct.
I made myself very availableand now it's really okay for me
to say I am so sorry, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Yeah, I'm sorry.
This is something we do everyyear.
This is how we recharge, youknow, yes, and I think people
are starting to respect thatkind of stuff more yeah, I agree
every year it gives me it givesme life every year.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
Yeah, right, and it's .
Speaker 1 (31:24):
It's just three weeks so yeah, no, but I mean, like
you know, um, so a lot of myrelatives were like factory
workers and worked in sawmillsand stuff like that and they
would, they would close for afew weeks in the winter time or
they would, you know, have thesetimes where they were closed
and and I always used to thinkwhen I was younger like what an
(31:47):
antiquated model or whatever youknow and now, is it now that
I'm older?
I'm like wow that's really kindof a cool idea, like everybody
knows, that we're going to havethe month of September together
or whatever, or the month ofDecember or you know like.
And I do think that sometimesthis, this ability to connect,
(32:08):
especially when you're in asmall business, you can connect
really easily with yourcustomers and people who are
coming in and people you're incontact with.
But because you can at times beworking so much, you really
have to work and make sureyou're connected to the people
that you're doing this all forright.
Like you know, if I didn't havechildren and a husband, I don't
(32:28):
know if I'd work so hard.
I mean, I'll be honest, right,I'm doing this to create the
next generation.
Yeah, like I want to make surethat my kids have got something,
maybe one day, right yeah, so Ithink it's cool that your
community also gave youpermission and the people who
cared about you.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
So I really, in 2024, I can say that I've really
always had a good community, butin 2024, I can say that I have
the best community, that I'veever had a good community.
But in 2024, I can say that Ihave the best community that
I've ever had, like they.
They pour into me as much as Ipour into them and that's just
because I've established arelationship of trust.
(33:08):
That's so important.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
I mean, I just I love that for you and I love that
you're able to.
So so many businesses areseparate in a community and then
there's there's those thatbecome part of the fabric of the
community and it sounds likeyou're working on being woven
into the fabric of yourcommunity.
Speaker 2 (33:31):
I love that and I've really tried to work with other
small businesses in my areabecause in 2015, when I started,
my husband was a small businessowner.
So, I kind of already had theidea of what it was like to be a
small business owner.
But when we started, he startedhis business in 2014.
I started mine in 2015.
(33:52):
He was really the inspirationand the catalyst for that for me
going oh you know what, maybe Ican do it too.
Speaker 1 (33:59):
Yeah, I can work as hard as he can.
Maybe I can do that.
Yeah, I have no sanity left.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
I'm starting a business, I mean, why not Right
All or nothing?
Speaker 1 (34:11):
That's wonderful.
So you guys were really I mean,you two had to believe in and
support each other.
Epic proportions epic is theword and I love that, like I
(34:38):
love the fact that I never hadto compete with my husband.
I never, had to prove myself tohim absolutely, you know it was
like we were on our in our ownjourney with work and yes, and I
, you know, would sometimes hearfrom students oh, my husband
doesn't think I can do this ordo that, or my partner, my
(35:01):
children and I'm like you arethe one who has to determine if
this is going to work, becauseit takes epic determination,
like it really does.
You have to believe in yourselfto a point of like almost
insanity.
Yes, you know, I can do this.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
But I remember what it was like, you know, being one
of the few small businesses inmy community in 2015 for both of
us and I meant that if I evergot any platform, even if it was
a small platform, that I wasreally going to pour into other
small businesses in my communityto give them a space that I
(35:41):
didn't have.
So that has really if you wantto talk about weaving in the
threads of the community thathas really established my
community in a beautiful way.
Oh, I love that, no wonder theyfeel so connected to you.
Speaker 1 (35:58):
You're part of them.
Speaker 2 (36:00):
Absolutely Well.
Yeah, I mean we just we vibetogether.
So it's when you stop lookingat everyone else as competition
and say you know, I have a giftthat's very unique to me, and
although someone else also has agift, it's also very unique to
them.
So you learn how to make yourgifts work together.
Speaker 1 (36:21):
Yeah, my success isn't determined on your ability
.
I can be successful withouttaking from your success.
I think that's a thing that wewe're just so used to, all the
gobbledygook of modern society.
You know, I remember talking toa student once and she said,
but I think there's anotherherbalist in the county.
(36:43):
And I was like uh-huh.
And she's like but, but I can'thave a business if there's
already one who has a business.
I said, well, go to a gasstation, go tell that to the
pizza.
How many pizza places you gotin your county?
How many gas stations?
And she's like oh yeah, it'slike their success has nothing
to do with you, because who goesto you is going to go to you
(37:04):
and who finds you is going tofind you.
They're going to connect withyou in this kind of work.
I'm not the right cup of teafor everyone like some people
want to be more like walking oncloud nine.
And here I am, like this day,let's be practical.
We got a plan, you know, andother people you know want to,
like you know, float in the youknow ether with their clients
(37:26):
and and and every, every way isgood and valid and lovely, but
I'm not always like someone'scup of tea and that's totally
cool, you know and that'stotally fine.
So I love that you are bringingnot only your skills to your
(37:47):
community but your passion forsmall business and connection
and role modeling that to otherbusiness owners.
That's a big deal.
Hope you're patting yourself onthe back.
Speaker 2 (37:58):
Thanks.
I am now Thank you.
I mean, it just seems like thething to do.
Speaker 1 (38:05):
Yeah, well, we're all in this together, right?
Speaker 2 (38:07):
Yeah absolutely.
Speaker 1 (38:09):
It's like we're all in this together and no one gets
out of this alive that iscorrect.
Speaker 2 (38:13):
How are you going to do this Right?
Speaker 1 (38:15):
So we might as well have fun while we're doing it,
yes, yeah, and make some friendsalong the way play some good
music you know, toast the moonwhatever you do.
Yeah, absolutely.
So I have a question what aresome of your favorite products
to offer clients in yourcommunity?
Are there things that you justfeel like you do a great job
(38:35):
with and that you want people toknow about?
Speaker 2 (38:38):
Um, so some of my favorite products that I craft.
My favorite thing is craftingtea, so I do herbal tinctures,
extracts.
I make elderberry syrup.
I love elderberry syrup becausethat is really where that is
the product where I really gotmy start.
That is the one that has helpedme the most, so that's always
(39:02):
going to be one of my favorites.
But my favorite thing is reallyputting herbal teas together,
formulating herbal teas.
I love that I have a blendcalled Rest and Digest, and it's
really about taking a moment.
It's not just about having acup of tea, this is what I tell
(39:23):
everyone.
It's about taking a moment andsaying, okay, I am doing
something for me in this moment,and it's really about coming
out of fight or flight andreally shifting into the resting
and the digesting system in ourbody.
So that's probably my favorite.
Speaker 1 (39:43):
Who doesn't need?
Speaker 2 (39:44):
that.
Everyone needs that.
Speaker 1 (39:47):
I'm like thinking about it.
You know, you're like, I'm likethinking, like I'm like
relaxing, like thinking about itright, Like it is coming out of
flight or flight.
You know it's like, oh causewe're all in that mode lately?
Huh.
Speaker 2 (39:59):
Yeah, it's like a warm hug.
That's how I describe it topeople.
It's like a cup of warm hug andI formulated out of in 2022,
when I was in my burnout.
I formulated the tea for myself, and that's where most of my
products have been born.
Was they came out of a needthat I had or a need that my
family had?
And that's where all of myproducts really came from.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
I really love that because one you know that it
works.
It isn't just a theoreticalproduct, but you know the, the
you know what you're wanting toachieve in yourself, and that is
sometimes just giving someone a.
You know a place to take a deepbreath is sometimes the most
(40:42):
important, like first step.
Right, okay, calm down, let'stake a deep breath, let's come
back into ourself.
You know it was been a theworld's crappiest day to day or
whatever, and you give yourselfthat permission to really put
the brakes on, and I love I meanjust the rest digest.
You know, you can kind of justlike that you know where this is
(41:05):
going you know like you startoff and then your feet are up,
then you're leaning back, you'reenjoying your comfy chair or
whatever.
Then you're like maybe let'sput on the fire, yeah.
Speaker 2 (41:17):
So that's exactly you .
If I had to describe a cup ofrest and digest, that's exactly
that's the description I wouldgive.
You're really, you're having anexperience and it's just.
You know it's.
It's five minutes, it's 10minutes which we, we can all
commit in a day to just take thetime to go.
Okay, this is just going to beabout me from the smell, the
(41:39):
aroma to the taste, yeah, it'swonderful.
Speaker 1 (41:41):
I love that and I love like.
I also love reminding peoplewhen they're like well, I can't
take 10 minutes.
There's a lot of time I'm like.
I guarantee you you spend morethan 10 minutes today on
Facebook or Instagram or any ofthose platforms.
Speaker 2 (41:54):
And then they'd like kind of turn red and they're
like yeah, I'm like you can, youcan do this.
Speaker 1 (41:59):
You can, you know we can.
You can, you can say I'm worththis time.
Speaker 2 (42:04):
Yes, I love that you offer that.
Can you people order thatonline?
Or you can order all of myproducts, from my extracts to my
herbal teas, to a couple ofother supplements that I put
together.
You can order all of that atgreat faith.
Organicscom.
Speaker 1 (42:21):
Oh nice.
And do you ship internationally, or just in the continental, or
just the United States?
Speaker 2 (42:26):
Just in the US.
Speaker 1 (42:27):
Yes, Okay, lovely, oh , that's so awesome.
I think that I think thateveryone listening is probably
going to be like I can use a cupof rest.
Everyone listening is probablygoing to be like I could use a
cup of rest, inductionEspecially after the holidays.
Speaker 2 (42:40):
The holidays.
Speaker 1 (42:41):
The new year and all of that fun stuff.
I mean, I think the reality isis that we need to start tapping
into these things that make usfeel better and share them with
others.
There's so much influencerproducts and this and that and
(43:04):
stuff that's out there that wedon't know where it's coming
from.
We don't know who the money orthe voice behind it is, and I
really know for myself.
I've been just microingeverything down Like I want to
know the dude that's making mypots and pans.
This is like no joke.
I'm just like getting, and Ireally feel like a lot of other
(43:25):
people are being like yeah, I'mnot sure I want to purchase this
tea where I don't know wherethe ingredients are coming from.
I don't know the story behindthe person who crafted it.
Know where the ingredients arecoming from.
I don't know the story behindthe person who crafted it.
I don't know what is in it, andyou know some of this stuff.
It is the wild, wild west outthere, you know you just, oh,
I'll just order it off ofwhatever that large place is,
(43:49):
and it's like you don't knowwho's selling it.
Speaker 2 (43:51):
Yes, I do know where it's from.
I do try and take the time toeducate people about that and
it's not just so that you orderfrom me.
It is so that you order from atrusted source.
So I only work with organicingredients.
Some I grow, some I get from myown trusted sources, some I
wild forage for in a very safearea that's contained and well
(44:14):
kept.
But knowing the source iseverything to me.
I agree, and I've seen thattransition in the time that I've
been, the nine years that I'vebeen doing this, I've seen the
transition from.
You know, nine years ago people, they really were not thinking
about that kind of thing, andnow you know, nine years later,
it is so, it's so important toeveryone.
(44:34):
So I'm loving the kind of shiftin the dynamic here.
Speaker 1 (44:39):
Oh, absolutely.
I mean it's funny because I'mseeing it.
Even like I've always kind ofbeen like weird like this.
Like you know, I didn't, Iwanted my dishes made in America
.
You know, it's just always kindof like I don't know.
It just seemed practical to me.
Money goes back into mycommunity, that kind of stuff,
but I never like really madesuch a huge stink about it.
(45:00):
Um, but I see it like even inmy kids they're like yeah well,
my socks are from Vermont, youknow like they.
Like you know, my blue jeanswere made in North Carolina.
You know like they kind of likethey're starting like this thing
and and I'm just like sittingback and I'm I'm looking and I'm
listening and I'm like you know, but I think they've got it
right, Like we just, we lost somuch connection.
(45:24):
Like you know, like even thecontainers that I'm sure your
products are in, you are vettingthat, you're making sure
they're safe, and I just I lovethat kind of connection to
quality and source so much and Ilove that you're able to give
that to people and to offer thatto people.
Like, organic isn't just a word, it's about being part of the
(45:50):
earth and the process and thecreativity and the craft and we
just think of organic, as theydidn't use any pesticides and
it's so much more than that.
I think it is.
Speaker 2 (46:00):
It's a, it's a mindset for us as herbalists.
I really feel like you know,it's authenticity, like you said
, it's really just getting backto the.
To me it's, it's the heart ofherbalism.
Speaker 1 (46:12):
Yeah, I agree, I love that name too, but I mean, like
you know, it's really, it'sreally um.
I just find it inspiring and Ilove when businesses like yours
are not only like sticking totheir, their commitment for
quality and excellence, butthey're also sharing that with
(46:32):
their community and helpingtheir community look at things
in a different way, because Ithink it just it's.
That's something that lasts alifetime.
Getting some plasticgobbledygook for five cents less
, yeah, doesn't make your lifebetter Absolutely.
But these kind of commitmentsreinforce and help uplift and
(46:54):
structure community, and so Ilove that you do that for your
community and for your clients.
I think that's beautiful.
Speaker 2 (47:01):
Yeah, thank you.
I was going to mention thatwhen I opened my practice, I
started doing in-personconsultations, so I do offer
herbal consultations and I alsodo bio communication feedback as
part of that process.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
Oh, cool, and so they can.
People can OK.
So in reference to like hey, Ilive in Alabama, I want to come
and see you face to face.
Yes, how do they contact youthrough the website?
Speaker 2 (47:32):
Yes, so you can go to great faith organorganicscom
and look at the advanced herbalconsultation and all of the
information.
I mean it is very detailed.
I've poured so much time andwork into those descriptions so
that people really have a fullunderstanding of what they're
going to get.
I love that you can look there.
(47:53):
All of my information is atgreatfaithorganicscom.
Book an appointment.
Yes, I'm in Alabama and I wouldlove to work with everyone in
the community, so I have anotherquestion Will you work with
people virtually?
Speaker 1 (48:05):
Do you do that yet, like over Zoom or things like
that, or are you only doingface-to-face right now?
Speaker 2 (48:11):
So I have done a few virtual consultations.
I haven't done many, butprobably in the last, let's see.
I've probably done six total.
So it's a very small margin ofmy business, but I think that's
(48:31):
possibly just because you knowit's outside of the community.
Speaker 1 (48:35):
Yeah, yeah, yes, I know there may as well be
someone listening like I'm notin Alabama, but this lady sounds
like exactly who I need.
Yeah, I just figured I wouldask that because I think
sometimes, like I don't know,like sometimes I've like heard
you know someone someplace andI'm like that's the person.
Like I, you know, I just hear alittle bit of there.
I'm like that's the person Ineed to like find like in a room
(48:57):
, you know, or like there's likesomeone here like I'm like this
is the person I need to connectwith for whatever reason.
So I know if someone's sittingthere thinking that they're
going to have that question, soI just figured I would ask it
beforehand.
Speaker 2 (49:10):
Yeah, and thanks for asking.
They can always reach out to meat great faithorganics at
gmailcom and I would love towork, even virtually.
Yes.
Speaker 1 (49:19):
Okay, that's so awesome, so thank you so much
for like giving us thatinformation.
So I should probably let you goso you can get back to your day
and and enjoy.
I think you have a few moredays off before you're opening
back up right A few more daysoff of hibernation.
So I would definitely, you know,suggest you, enjoy those and
(49:41):
have fun and try not to.
I think you guys have someweather coming your way, so we
do, so hopefully it won't be toobad, but you can cozy up in
front of the fire or whatever.
Yeah, absolutely, and hunkerdown and enjoy your hibernation
time a little bit longer.
But I just wanted to say thankyou so much for taking the time
to be with us.
(50:02):
I appreciate it so much.
I'm so glad that I had anopportunity to get to know you
professionally, as you know,seeing you as your business and
more than just as having been astudent.
So I think that our studentsfind students like you so
inspirational.
So thanks for just giving usthis opportunity to connect with
(50:23):
you.
Speaker 2 (50:24):
Thank you so much for having me on.
I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
Speaker 1 (50:27):
Oh, thank you so much .
You have a great day and I will, hopefully.
I would like to say let's do anupdate and see how things are
going, like you know, later on,and if you would be up for it,
because it's really cool to justsee how people's projects are
going, and I do.
Sometimes I have, even thoughthe podcast is new I've had a
(50:48):
few people say like, hey, thatperson you had on, I want to
know what they're doing, likeare you going to have them on
again and how did it go?
And so I'm like, I'm like, yeah, I can totally do that.
So I've been, I've been tellingpeople I'm going to try to get
you back on and I'm doing it onair, so that way you're trapped.
Speaker 2 (51:09):
I will make myself available, thank you.
Speaker 1 (51:12):
I am so glad you joined us today.
Thank you so much.
Thank you, okay, bye-bye.
Bye-bye.
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