Wandering Willow Speaks

ADHD & the Wild Mind: Finding Focus Through Nature

In this live conversation, Sam and Christie explore the relationship between nature and ADHD—through lived experience, not just theory. Sam shares how forest therapy became a turning point during burnout and panic attacks, describing it as a heart-based, relational practice where “the forest is the therapist” and the guide simply opens the doors through the senses. Christie reflects on being diagnosed with ADHD in childhood, then again at 31, and how getting outside was one of the few things that consistently helped—long before she understood why. Together, they move through a live Pleasures of Presence invitation—bringing awareness to touch, sound, smell, taste, and the heart—then unpack what it’s actually like to try and be in your body when your brain won’t slow down. Some threads that unfold: * What it feels like when being present is uncomfortable or even inaccessible * The tension between restlessness and stillness in ADHD * Why movement can be a form of meditation * How nature supports regulation—even when you don’t feel it right away * The role of novelty, structure, and “both/and” thinking * Why “just getting out the door” can be the real win * The subtle ways nature affects attention, mood, and focus They also touch on: * Dopamine, cortisol, and sensory input in nature * The difference between indoor vs. outdoor environments (for both adults and kids) * How repetition + variation can support an ADHD brain * The challenge (and reality) of figuring out what works for you There’s no single method offered here—just honest exploration, experimentation, and noticing. You’ll probably recognize yourself somewhere in it. As you listen, notice what you notice.🌱 Thank you to Sheri Handel [https://substack.com/profile/16069317-sheri-handel], and everyone who tuned into our live video! Join us for the next one. If this resonated and you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee here: If you’d like to support my work and be part of this space more deeply, you can become a paid subscriber. You’ll get access to perks like the monthly live gathering Show & Tell for Grown-Ups [https://wanderingwillow.substack.com/p/show-and-tell-for-grown-ups], along with paid subscriber-only posts. Wandering onward,Sam 🌿 If you enjoyed this, a like, comment, and restack really helps support this work and this space. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe [https://wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Are You Feeling Unseen? Make a Video.

Sometimes the thing we’re craving most isn’t more attention… it’s actually seeing ourselves. In this episode of Wandering Willow Speaks, I follow a thread that started with a simple question: “Today is, are you feeling unseen? Make a video.” And it goes somewhere deeper than just “go make content.” I talk about how making a video might not actually be about other people seeing you at all. “The point of making the video is for you.” There’s a piece in here about what it feels like to not belong, and how that shows up in different ways—astrology, childhood stuff, personality patterns, all of it kind of layered together. And also this moment where I realize… 91 people watched my last video. And how that actually is something. Like a room full of people. Like a wedding. I wander into this idea of reciprocity too—how when you see something, it might also be seeing you. “You know, like nature does witness you.” That turns into talking about trees, birds, my cat hanging out on the desk… and this feeling that maybe being seen isn’t as limited as we think it is. It’s very stream of consciousness. No editing, no polishing. “I can’t pause these videos. And I don’t want to edit.” “I laugh at my own jokes too. And you know what? I highly encourage it.” There are tangents. I lose my train of thought at least once. I follow threads and see where they go. At the core of it, though, there’s a really simple invitation: “If you just make a video for yourself, talking to yourself, that’s enough.” You don’t have to post it. You don’t have to go viral. You don’t have to do anything with it. Just… what happens if you let yourself be seen by you? This was recorded on March 27th, 2026 when there was a lot of Aries energy moving through, and you can kind of feel that in the background: “…there’s so many planets in Aries now. Does this serve me first? yes or no?” There’s something in here about choosing yourself, even when it feels a little edgy. If you’ve been feeling unseen, or disconnected, or like you don’t quite belong… this one is for you. You’re not alone. Wandering onward,Sam 🌿 If this resonated and you’d like to support my work, you can buy me a coffee here: If you’d like to support my work and be part of this space more deeply, you can become a paid subscriber. You’ll get access to things like my monthly live gathering, Show & Tell for Grown-Ups, along with subscriber-only posts and the full archive. If you enjoyed this, a like and restack really helps support this work and this space. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe [https://wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Joy is a currency

Joy is a Currency (video at the top) This started with a question I asked this morning: If I’m in the right place, following the nudges…why isn’t the money showing up? What came through wasn’t an answer I could logically work with. It was this: joy is a currency. I don’t fully understand what that means in a tangible, pay-your-bills kind of way. But I do feel that it matters. That giving and receiving joy is an exchange.That it counts for something. Some threads we moved through: * following intuition without knowing where it leads * living beyond pure logic (even when that’s what we were trained into) * the quiet ways intuition actually comes through * nature as an access point * grounding back into the body (even something as simple as feeling your feet) This isn’t wrapped up neatly. It’s something I’m still in, still questioning, still practicing. But it feels important to name: joy isn’t pointless.it isn’t extra.it moves. If you want the full, unfiltered conversation—how this came through, what it felt like, and everything in between—it’s all in the video above. Introducing Wandering Willow Speaks: The Podcast! And I’m really excited to say this is now also a podcast-Wandering Willow Speaks-and it’s living in more places, so you can listen or watch however you like: Spotify, Apple, or YouTube. If you missed it, Pizza is a Spiritual Practice [https://open.substack.com/pub/wanderingwillow/p/pizza-is-a-spiritual-practice?r=gn8rr&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web×tamp=2.0] is linked below at Spotify, Apple, and YouTube. Spotify: Apple Podcasts: YouTube: If you liked this, let me know in the comments. I love chatting, obviously. Coffee is another form of joy, and if you’d like to buy me some joy you can by clicking the button below. I appreciate every cup of joy. Wandering onward,Sam 🌿 This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe [https://wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Pizza is a Spiritual Practice

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe [https://wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Following the Nudge: A Live Conversation on Intuition with Diane Pienta

I had the pleasure of hosting a live video with the magical Diane Pienta. She, like me, is a Certified Forest Therapy Guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy. She is also the author of Be The Magic: Bite-Sized Nuggets of Wisdom to Feed your Joy, Nourish your Soul and Open you Heart and writes at Be the Magic [https://open.substack.com/pub/dianepienta] on Substack. We talked about intuition and did some short practices to get more in touch with our inner knowing. This video is a wealth of knowledge and a practice you can return to daily if you feel called. I’d love to hear what comes up for you as you tune into your intuition. Let me know in the comments!If you’d like to go deeper with this intuitive practice, Diane is hosting a 6-week live Intuition Course. There is something magical that happens when two or more gather in a live container to meditate and focus on our third eye. I’ve seen it first hand. I’ve also been in Diane’s Create in Community, which has had a profound impact on my work here on Substack. I’d love to see you join us in this exciting, new series. Click below to join us on this intuitive adventure.https://www.dianepienta.com/intuition-alignment-practice-course [https://www.dianepienta.com/intuition-alignment-practice-course] Remember to drink your water, and listen to your gut. Wandering onward, Sam This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe [https://wanderingwillow.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]