Finding Home Inside Myself: The Story of the Elder Flower Podcast

Do you ever find yourself longing for a sense of homecoming, for a place where stories of healing and laughter flow as freely as the tea being shared? That's exactly where we venture in the first (little) episode of the Elderflower Podcast. I'm Jennifer and I start with a poem I wrote, then take you through a transformative process of building community and finding healing in the everyday acts of sharing space, practicing yoga, and engaging authentically with those around me. This episode isn't just about the physical journey from the hustle of city life to the serenity of the mountains; it's about the emotional trek towards a life of deep connection, unmarred by addiction and the echoes of a frenetic past. 

From my home studio turned sanctuary nestled in nature, you can expect conversations that bloom with the insights of an eclectic variety of seekers and teachers. These guests bring their unique hues to the canvas of our discussions, painting a vivid picture of what it means to co-create a spiritual and meaningful existence.  Along with these long-form discussions, I  will share daily practices  like yoga, meditations, and even a few that might surprise you,  adding underpinning  to whatever you decide your recovery looks like. You do not have to call yourself an addict or alcoholic to be here,  I don't.  You do not have to renounce anything in your life, though I have.  I hope you feel empowered to try practices on for size, deciding which serve your growth and wellness. Tune in, and let your heart be touched by the stories, laughter, and perhaps even find the pearl of wisdom you've been searching for amidst this shared journey of recovery and discovery.

Episode Transcript

Jennifer Lebedoff (00:01):
A dozen travellers might walk through my
precious door, tracking stepsthrough paddocks, forests and
roads, and should I welcome ascuff on my solid floor, I will
remember it has a story to telland I shall notice it and be
warmed by its character.
Verses rememberings and tearswash her concrete, sage and

(00:26):
beeswax send her timbers and sheis strong enough to support us,
warm enough to invite ease.
A brow and furrows.
A heart softens.
We are home.
A dozen travellers might walkthrough my precious door,
tracking steps through hospitals, car crashes and undigested

(00:49):
experiences, and should a bruisebe left on my hopeful spirit, I
will remember it has a story totell and I shall notice it
without regret.
Harmony, poetry and validationswash my cheeks.
Sage and beeswax scent my skinand I am open enough to stand by

(01:11):
them.
Familiar enough to invite ease.
My brow and furrows.
My heart softens.
I am home.
I share yoga as a path torecovery.
People think it must be anaivete that has me invite
strangers into my home toexperience connection and

(01:31):
community.
In our individualistic society,we've forgotten practices like
sharing.
What if I'm offering my handbecause it feels comforting to
be touched in return?
Each of our stories sharessomething and I find home in
that.
This week a yogi walked insaying she had been shovelling

(01:52):
literal shit all day.
Others came from their children, their gardens, a psych ward,
and we sang and moved and sharedtea.
I felt more connected than Ihad in a hundred Zoom meetings
and transactional exchanges.
I was paid in merri golds andgarlic and laughter and
listening.
Yes, my heart might break doingthis, but what if it heals?

(02:18):
Welcome to the ElderflowerPodcast.
I'm your host, J enniferLebedoff.
In 2016, I set off on a path tocreate a beautiful life, one
that I didn't have to useover-functioning, and other
harmful behaviours to manage.
Along the way, I've hit thejackpot creating depth of

(02:39):
relationship, enjoying times ofsweet solitude rather than
running from them, feelingconnection and, yes, sometimes
struggling as I bump up againstanother life challenge or part
of me that needs care.
I made the big leap, leavingthe city and corporate office
and buying a house deep in themountains with a yoga studio
downstairs where I teach yoga toa community healing from

(03:01):
substance use, disordered eating, depression, poverty, anxiety,
grief, ADHD and a whole host ofthings it all sounds rather
serious.
Yes, we sometimes weep, but wealso move sing, paint, hike,
cross country, ski, meditate inold-growth forests forests and

(03:21):
laugh a lot, spending timecultivating connection and
co-creating a beautiful lifewhere we remind each other of
the wonder available to us inthis world.
I've spent this time exploringmy own patchwork of recovery and
in this podcast I'll share someof it with you.
So many people have walkedthrough the door of the

Elderflower (03:41):
meditators, functional medicine
practitioners, ayurvedicteachers, farmers, artists and
herbalists.
I've learned so much from eachof them, often saying: "we
should have recorded thisconversation.
Our focus here is on exploringour inner wilderness, soothing

(04:01):
the underlying causes of ourmaladaptive behaviors and
finding gentle ways in which tocreate an authentic, spiritual,
fulfilling and meaningfulexistence free from the
suffering of addiction.
I'll be recording yogapractices and meditations and
sharing conversations andstories.
I hope not to give prescriptiveadvice Enjoy what your sweet

(04:24):
soul enjoys and ditch the rest,and if you get any pearls here,
it would mean the world if youclicked the follow button and
shared this with a friend whomight join us in this
exploration.