By your mid-20s or 30s, it can feel like there’s an invisible checklist you’re supposed to be following: the career, the relationship, the house, the kids, the success, all by a certain age. And if you’re not “there” yet, it’s easy to assume you’re behind.

In this episode, Sammi and Dylan unpack where these timelines actually come from: family expectations, cultural conditioning, capitalism, and the constant comparison machine of social media, and how they quietly shape the way we make decisions about our lives.

They get personal about the moments they felt behind, the timelines they thought they'd follow that completely fell apart, and how perfectionism and high-achiever energy can turn timeline pressure into anxiety, self-doubt, or rushed choices. We talk honestly about an unexpected pregnancy, business failures, childhood pressure, moving countries, and the moments that blew up their original plans — and why those moments weren’t failures, but redirections.

This conversation is about redefining success in your 20s and 30s, letting go of what you’re no longer chasing, and learning how to trust the pace of your own life, even when it doesn’t look like anyone else’s. Because growth isn’t linear, alignment can’t be rushed, and your life isn’t late just because it looks different than you imagined.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I behind?”, this episode is for you.

Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨

Follow along on socials @anandaelixirs

Discover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

Gentle parenting gets talked about a lot online… but what does it actually look like in real life?

In this episode, Sammi and Dylan share their honest take on gentle parenting and how they’re raising their kids right now — without pretending to have it all figured out. They talk about what parts of gentle parenting resonate with them, what feels challenging on hard days, and how they’re finding a balance between freedom and clear boundaries.

They dive into how today’s world, media, and constant stimulation impact kids, why regulation before correction is easier said than done, and how much of parenting work actually starts with the parent. They also reflect on breaking cycles without shaming their own parents, navigating patience (and losing it), and what they hope their kids remember feeling as they grow up.

This is a real conversation about parenting while raising kids in uncertain times, running a business, and doing your best with the tools you have — not parenting perfection, just presence and intention.

If you’re a parent trying to figure out what feels right for your family, this episode is for you.

Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨

Follow along on socials @anandaelixirs

Discover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com

In this episode of The Ananda Podcast, Sammi and Dylan sit down with Genna Woolston, Co-Founder of Silver Swallow, to talk about what it really looks like to rethink our relationship with alcohol without pressure, labels, or extremes.

Genna shares how cutting back on alcohol to support her mental health eventually led her (and her partner Andrew) to create Silver Swallow: beautifully crafted, non-alcoholic wine alternatives made with real ingredients. What started as a personal choice turned into a business rooted in intention, quality, and presence.

Together, Sammi, Dylan, and Genna talk about:

• Redefining celebration without alcohol
• Setting boundaries that actually support your mental health
• The rise of sober curiosity and why more people are drinking less
• Building a business from values, not trends
• Truths about building a consumer good business in Canada
• Resilience, parenting, and navigating growth without burning out

This conversation goes beyond Dry January. It’s about choosing balance, understanding the patterns we inherit, and creating space for options that help us feel more like ourselves.

If you’ve ever felt curious about drinking less, building something meaningful, or setting boundaries that stick, this one’s for you.

Join us on the journey to finding your bliss. ✨

Follow along on socials @anandaelixirs

Discover Shroom Soda® at anandaelixirs.com