You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist

My old friends forage for medicinal mushrooms and mineral resins, and concoct customized herbal tinctures for their clients. Today, I had the delight of interviewing them about their adventures in tonic herbalism. So, what exactly is Tonic Herbalism? Well, according to DJ and Jenny Ankenbrandt, tonic herbalism is so ancient that it precedes Taoism. A select number of time-tested plants and fungi are identified as tonics through thousands of years of safe, beneficial usage. But how effective are these herbs in treating physical and mental health? DJ describes ways that ancient herbal wisdom can contribute to and complement modern healthcare. And how herbs and lifestyle choices can support mental and emotional health.

DJ Ankenbrandt is a Classical Chinese Tonic Herbalist & custom formulator who works with clients and small businesses to create optimal daily wellness protocols for enhanced health and longevity. He is the founder and visionary behind Cintamani Tonics, and has over 15 years of experience sharing the wisdom of earthen essences with the world. DJ custom tailors  unique and potent formulas with ancient tonic extracts to help his clients resolve a myriad of health concerns. DJ runs Cintamani Tonics alongside his amazing wife and business partner, Jenny Ankenbrandt. Jen is a mycologist and self-trained herbalist who manages many aspects of the Cintamani Tonics Apothecary and website. She is also the graphic artist behind all the product designs. Together, they make an incredible team that helps thousands of people worldwide access the wisdom and benefits of plants, and achieve enhanced levels of vitality. You can follow DJ and Jenny’s work on Twitter
@CintamaniTonics

To get 5% off Cintamani Tonics and Wild American Shilajit, go to CintamaniTonics.com and enter the promo code "SOMETHERAPIST" during checkout.

Visit these websites for more information on Tonic Herbalism: Wildamericanshilajit.com and CintamaniTonics.com 

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Show notes & transcript provided with the help of SwellAI.

Special thanks to Joey Pecoraro for our theme song, “Half Awake,” used with gratitude and permission.

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What is You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist?

A podcast at the intersection of psychology and culture that intimately explores the human experience and critiques the counseling profession. Your host, Stephanie Winn, distills wisdom gained from her practice as a family therapist and coach while pivoting towards questions of how to apply a practical understanding of psychology to the novel dilemmas of the 21st century, from political polarization to medical malpractice.

What does ethical mental health care look like in a normless age, as our moral compasses spin in search of true north? How can therapists treat patients under pressure to affirm everything from the notion of "gender identity" to assisted suicide?

Primarily a long-form interview podcast, Stephanie invites unorthodox, free-thinking guests from many walks of life, including counselors, social workers, medical professionals, writers, researchers, and people with unique lived experience, such as detransitioners.

Curious about many things, Stephanie’s interdisciplinary psychological lens investigates challenging social issues and inspires transformation in the self, relationships, and society. She is known for bringing calm warmth to painful subjects, and astute perceptiveness to ethically complex issues. Pick up a torch to illuminate the dark night and join us on this journey through the inner wilderness.

You Must Be Some Kind of Therapist ranks in the top 1% globally according to ListenNotes. New episodes are released every Monday. Three and a half years after the show's inception in May of 2022, Stephanie became a Christian, representing the crystallization of moral, spiritual, and existential views she had been openly grappling with along with her audience and guests. Newer episodes (#188 forward) may sometimes reflect a Christian understanding, interwoven with and applied to the same issues the podcast has always addressed. The podcast remains diverse and continues to feature guests from all viewpoints.