Side Note...

About Side Note...

After growing up on cattle ranches in Wyoming and Colorado, Melissa Broughton spent much of her adult life in Santa Barbara, California, before eventually settling in the Texas Hill Country. Today she runs a lavender business that still takes her back to California each summer for harvest, while spending the rest of the year writing, creating, and collecting stories. This podcast is a place for those stories. From lavender farming and writing to family, dating, getting older, career changes, and the unexpected turns that shape a life, Melissa shares the experiences, questions, and lessons she's gathered along the way. Part storytelling, part conversation, and occasionally a bit like therapy, these episodes explore the people, places, and moments that shape us. Melissa has been known to begin a thought with "generally speaking," interrupt herself with a "side note," follow an interesting tangent, and somehow circle back to the original point. Along the way, listeners may find themselves laughing, reflecting, and seeing their own stories—and the possibilities ahead—a little differently. Melissa Broughton is an author, entrepreneur, lavender farmer, and screenwriter. She holds a Master's degree in Higher Education and Counseling from Azusa Pacific University and has worked in education, mental health, mediation, skincare, and small business ownership. Over the years, she has been a licensed esthetician, ESL teacher, mediator, counselor, college instructor, and business owner. Melissa splits her time between Texas and California, where she returns each summer to harvest the lavender used in her June Bloom Lavender products. Her work and storytelling draw from a lifetime of diverse experiences, career reinventions, and a deep curiosity about people and the paths they take through life. Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender:  A lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. More than a gift shop, June Bloom is built around the belief that self-care, storytelling, and mental health matter. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

Publisher

Melissa Broughton

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

16 Jun 2026

Latest episode

23 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

13 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Sept 2026

   Why Coincidences Aren't Random in This Wyoming Story

   A lost cat in a Wyoming blizzard. A devastating cancer diagnosis. A father she hadn’t fully reconnected with. Melissa’s final Season 1 story ties these moments together in a way that may change how you think about coincidence, faith, and the hidden meaning in your own timeline.When Dink, her mom’s orange cat, vanished after being dumped 60 miles into the mountains, everyone assumed the story was over. But months later, on a dark road near Yellowstone, Melissa and her mom see something impossible and what happens next becomes the kind of moment you don’t forget. As the episode unfolds, that single miracle starts to echo through everything else happening in Melissa’s life, from her best friend Kylie’s breast cancer diagnosis to the painful reconnection with her father. This heartfelt story explores grief, resilience, faith, and the possibility that even life’s strangest coincidences may be connected. Notes and Resources: Chicken Soup for the Soul (https://www.chickensoup.com/) Al-Anon Family Groups (https://al-anon.org/) Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) Buy Cowboy Dad: June Bloom Lavender's Store (https://app.barn2door.com/junebloomlavender/all) Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton (https://www.audible.com/pd/Cowboy-Dad-Audiobook/B07V9VKPK8?srsltid=AfmBOopTF30dHT7aHe_Y05_MwjfBRE_8v8geh0L8sf_CbEi77y1ayG2u) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country featuring English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, and skincare products developed by Melissa, a licensed esthetician. The shop is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa’s memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the resident therapy cat and local celebrity. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

2. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Writing and Self-Publishing Cowboy Dad

   Melissa answers your questions about how she wrote and self-published her memoir, Cowboy Dad. She shares how she found her editor, why she avoided vanity publishing, and how a chance meeting with Guy Kawasaki led her to publish through Amazon KDP, plus a surprise announcement about what’s next for Cowboy Dad. Resources mentioned: Narrative Therapy, Affect & the Body – Re-Authoring Teaching (https://reauthoringteaching.com/narrative-training/ce-courses/new-horizons-nt-affect-body/) Division of Narrative Medicine | Department of Medical Humanities and Ethics (https://www.mhe.cuimc.columbia.edu/division-narrative-medicine) Writing Life Stories by Bill Roorbach: 9781582975276 | (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/631049/writing-life-stories-by-bill-roorbach/)PenguinRandomHouse.com (http://PenguinRandomHouse.com): Books (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/631049/writing-life-stories-by-bill-roorbach/) Bio | Bill Roorbach (https://billroorbach.com/bio/) Fiesta Stock Horse Show & Rodeo (https://sbfiestarodeo.org/) Guy Kawasaki - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Kawasaki) Guy Kawasaki (https://guykawasaki.com/) APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur - Guy Kawasaki (https://guykawasaki.com/books/ape-author-publisher-entrepreneur/) Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Self-publish your book to Amazon's Kindle Store (https://kdp.amazon.com/en_US/bookshelf) Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Academy_Award_for_Best_Adapted_Screenplay) Considering the Oscar Best Screenplay and Best Adapted Screenplay Categories - Filmmaker MagazineFilmmaker Magazine (https://filmmakermagazine.com/127713-analysis-oscar-2024-best-screenplay-adapted-categories/) Al-Anon Family Groups (https://al-anon.org/) Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) Buy Cowboy Dad: June Bloom Lavender's Store (https://app.barn2door.com/junebloomlavender/all) Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton (https://www.audible.com/pd/Cowboy-Dad-Audiobook/B07V9VKPK8?srsltid=AfmBOopTF30dHT7aHe_Y05_MwjfBRE_8v8geh0L8sf_CbEi77y1ayG2u) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender (https://junebloomlavender.com/), a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country featuring English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, and skincare products developed by Melissa, a licensed esthetician. The shop is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa’s memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the resident therapy cat and local celebrity. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

3. 

   27 Aug 2026

   This Is Not Right: Learning to Advocate for Yourself

   In episode 10 of Side Note, Melissa explores self-advocacy; why it’s so hard for most people (especially women) and how she developed it through her upbringing as a child of an alcoholic, her natural intuition, and formal mediation and negotiation training at Pepperdine Law School. She shares how those skills culminated in an eight-year class action lawsuit against Pepperdine University after being let go from her MBA recruiter position, a case she ultimately won. She closes by warning that staying silent leads to illness and unaccountability, and challenges listeners to reflect on whether they’ve ever stood up for themselves or had anyone truly stand up for them. Resources mentioned: Pepperdine University | Christian University in California (https://www.pepperdine.edu/) MBA Programs - Pepperdine Graziadio Business School (https://bschool.pepperdine.edu/mba-programs/) Pepperdine Caruso School of Law: Your World of Opportunities (https://law.pepperdine.edu/) Women’s Negotiation Academy | Pepperdine Caruso School of Law (https://law.pepperdine.edu/straus/training-and-conferences/womens-negotiation-academy/) Legal Professional Training and Conferences | Pepperdine Caruso School of Law (https://law.pepperdine.edu/straus/training-and-conferences/) Westmont Goes Downtown | Westmont College (https://www.westmont.edu/magazine/summer-2015/westmont-goes-downtown) Al-Anon Family Groups (https://al-anon.org/) Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton (https://www.audible.com/pd/Cowboy-Dad-Audiobook/B07V9VKPK8?srsltid=AfmBOopTF30dHT7aHe_Y05_MwjfBRE_8v8geh0L8sf_CbEi77y1ayG2u) Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

4. 

   18 Aug 2026

   The Porch Swing Test: 3 Jobs, 100 Rejections, and Getting Sober Before 40

   Almost 40, working three jobs, and 100 rejection letters deep, Melissa shares how the fear of regret pushed her to self-publish Cowboy Dad, reinvent her career, and finally face her drinking. Plus: The porch swing test, a packed book signing at Chaucer's, and the glass of wine that changed everything. Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile. Resources Mentioned: TESOL | Department of Linguistics (https://www.linguistics.ucsb.edu/undergraduate/tesol) Welcome to Addictive Disorders Counseling - Santa Barbara City College (https://www.sbcc.edu/adc/) Secretary Kennedy Announces Over $700 Million in New Funding to Address Mental Illness, Addiction, Homelessness | (https://www.hhs.gov/press-room/secretary-kennedy-announces-new-funding-mental-illness-addiction-homelessness.html)HHS.gov (http://HHS.gov) Five stages of grief - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_stages_of_grief) Al-Anon Family Groups (https://al-anon.org/) Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton (https://www.audible.com/pd/Cowboy-Dad-Audiobook/B07V9VKPK8?srsltid=AfmBOopTF30dHT7aHe_Y05_MwjfBRE_8v8geh0L8sf_CbEi77y1ayG2u) Memoir Remembers “Cowboy Dad” - The Santa Barbara Independent (https://www.independent.com/2015/06/16/memoir-remembers-cowboy-dad/) June Bloom Lavender's Store (https://app.barn2door.com/junebloomlavender/all/5mDA1?selectedFulfillmentType=shipping&selectedFulfillmentId=1386&isPreferredOption=true) home - enjoy cupcakes (http://enjoycupcakes.com/) Santa Barbara Public Market | Food Hall, Cooney’s Bar & Events (https://www.sbpublicmarket.com/) ELC English Language Center Santa Barbara - Learn English in Santa Barbara (https://elc.edu/locations/santa-barbara/) Saudi Arabia to End Ban on Women Drivers (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/saudi-arabia-end-ban-women-drivers-n804921)

5. 

   11 Aug 2026

   Cowboy Dad and the Decade of Grief

   Grief can break you open, or it can become your fiercest teacher. Melissa shares the decade that changed everything, tracing how loss, trauma, addiction, and recovery collided in her 30s and forced her to confront what she could no longer outrun. Resources mentioned: Five stages of grief - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Five_stages_of_grief) Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Assessing the Evidence - PMC (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4396183/) PTSD | Adult Children of Alcoholics & Dysfunctional Families (https://adultchildren.org/resources/ptsd/) Al-Anon Family Groups (https://al-anon.org/) Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) Cowboy Dad Audiobook by Melissa Broughton (https://www.audible.com/pd/Cowboy-Dad-Audiobook/B07V9VKPK8?srsltid=AfmBOopTF30dHT7aHe_Y05_MwjfBRE_8v8geh0L8sf_CbEi77y1ayG2u) Memoir Remembers “Cowboy Dad” - The Santa Barbara Independent (https://www.independent.com/2015/06/16/memoir-remembers-cowboy-dad/) June Bloom Lavender's Store (https://app.barn2door.com/junebloomlavender/all/5mDA1?selectedFulfillmentType=shipping&selectedFulfillmentId=1386&isPreferredOption=true) Triple-negative Breast Cancer | American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/types-of-breast-cancer/triple-negative.html) Counseling & Bereavement Services | Support Healing - Get Started Now — Hospice of Santa Barbara (https://hospice-of-sb-setup.squarespace.com/about-counseling-bereavement) Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

6. 

   6 Aug 2026

   Firsts, Failures and First Starts

   After losing her job post 9/11, Melissa takes another leap, grad school,. From founding a Women's Resource Center to bankruptcy, a repossessed car, and a serendipitous Miata, this episode is about firsts, fresh starts, and reframing weaknesses into strengths. Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) Resources Mentioned: Azusa Pacific University | #1 Christian University in California (https://www.apu.edu/) (1) What Happened to Jennifer Lopez Restaurant Madre’s ??? #jenniferlopez #madres #losangeles #celebrity - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/shorts/6KarzsDJcN8) Students Are the Answer - PeerForward (https://www.peerforward.org/students-are-the-answer/) (previously College Summit) By the Company It Keeps: J.B. Schramm (https://fordhaminstitute.org/national/commentary/company-it-keeps-jb-schramm) Janet Reno - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janet_Reno) Will Farrell on SNL impersonating Janet Reno (https://youtu.be/PbHLsshXv2E?si=ti9L4q-Sic_TYXdh) Will Ferrell Regrets 'SNL' Drag Sketches Like Janet Reno (https://variety.com/2024/tv/news/will-ferrell-regrets-snl-drag-sketches-janet-reno-1236139470/) Women, Sex, and Addiction: A Search for Love and Power: Kasl, Charlotte Davis: 9780060973216: (https://www.amazon.com/Women-Sex-Addiction-Search-Power/dp/0060973218)Amazon.com (http://Amazon.com): Books (https://www.amazon.com/Women-Sex-Addiction-Search-Power/dp/0060973218) A Tribute to a Strengths Legend: Chip Anderson - Leadership Vision (https://www.leadershipvisionconsulting.com/a-tribute-to-a-strengths-legend-chip-anderson/) Strengths Quest: Discover and Develop Your Strengths in Academics, Career, and Beyond: Donald O. Clifton, Edward Chip Anderson, Laurie A. Schreiner: 9781595620118: (https://www.amazon.com/Strengths-Quest-Discover-Develop-Academics/dp/1595620117)Amazon.com (http://Amazon.com): Books (https://www.amazon.com/Strengths-Quest-Discover-Develop-Academics/dp/1595620117) Brooks Institute - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Institute) After 70 years, Brooks Institute of Photography has closed. As a testament to its legacy I wanted to share this EPK video from one of my best friends graduation piece, one of the final projects from that school. : r/photography (https://www.reddit.com/r/photography/comments/4y7fm2/after_70_years_brooks_institute_of_photography/) Ernest Brooks Foundation | history (https://www.ernestbrooksfoundation.org/history.html) Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education - BPPE (https://www.bppe.ca.gov/)

7. 

   29 Jul 2026

   Headed West

   Leap of faith to California, working with a cult, working for 2 authors, writing and self-publishing my first book, 9/11, Santa Barbara living and rent, Girls Inc The Oprah Winfrey Show - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Oprah_Winfrey_Show) Montecito, California - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montecito,_California) The Daily Grind – Santa Barbara Coffee Shop – Santa Barbara Coffee Shop (https://www.dailygrindsb.com/) Jeannine’s Restaurant and Bakery – Jeannine's Bakery (https://jeannines.com/) Santa Barbara News-Press (https://www.newspress.com/) craigslist: santa barbara jobs, apartments, for sale, services, community, and events (https://www.craigslist.org/area/santabarbara) Amazon.com (http://Amazon.com): The Little College Handbook eBook : Broughton, Melissa:  (https://www.amazon.com/Little-College-Handbook-Melissa-Broughton-ebook/dp/B00HG4TZTA) Education Defined (https://educationdefined.wordpress.com/) Blog and Education Articles by Melissa Broughton Kate Ludeman, PhD - Worth Ethic (https://worthethic.com/kate-ludeman-phd/) Girls Inc. | Inspiring All Girls to be Strong, Smart & Bold (https://www.girlsinc.org/) About Susan Bridges | Tamsen Gallery (https://tamsengallery.com/susan-bridges/) September 11 Attacks: Facts, Background & Impact | HISTORY (https://www.history.com/articles/9-11-attacks) Home - Laguna Blanca School (https://www.lagunablanca.org/) Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

8. 

   22 Jul 2026

   From Cowboy Roots to College Dreams: A First-Gen Journey

   Peeing in a Folgers can. Purple irises outside a trailer home window. Chocolate for dinner. The smell of Apple Jolly Ranchers on the morning commute. And $100,000 in student loan debt. Melissa, lavender farmer, ranch kid, and the first in her family to graduate high school asks whether college was worth it. Raised by a cowboy and a waitress in a one-stoplight Colorado town, she navigates FAFSA with zero help, bombs the interview that changes her life, gets told she’s got “a pretty face, just pick something else,” and survives heartbreak that reawakens a childhood California dream. This is what chasing the college dream looks like when nobody’s shown you the way. Mentioned Resources: All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten by Robert Fulghum (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/56955/all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-in-kindergarten-by-robert-fulghum/) Flying W Ranch (https://flyingw.com/tickets/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23905743075&gbraid=0AAAABAP3LF661JstSZKJtYJE40ms-ne8I&gclid=Cj0KCQjw6_HSBhCpARIsANvVltZ3VnbgTDvSOLyALfcQxNnPDWTWmatTjAJrsC-vUb0FWhhw0UcRU7QaAppWEALw_wcB) Colorado State University (https://www.colostate.edu/) Colorado Mesa University (https://www.coloradomesa.edu/index.html) University of Colorado Boulder (https://www.colorado.edu/) CESDA Diversity Scholarships (https://accessscholarships.com/scholarship/cesda-diversity-scholarships/) FAFSA® Application | Federal Student Aid (https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa) Teen Corner (Alateen) - Al-Anon Family Groups (https://al-anon.org/newcomers/teen-corner-alateen/) Have a problem with alcohol? There is a solution. | Alcoholics Anonymous (https://www.aa.org/) Adult Children of Alcoholics Anonymous (http://www.adultchildren.org/) Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

9. 

   14 Jul 2026

   How Losing My Job Led to Skin Cancer and an Unexpected Life Transformation

   Melissa continues her esthetician story: reviewing spas on Italy’s Amalfi Coast, teaching skin physiology in Santa Barbara, and leading spa-writing retreats in Ecuador. Then came bullying, a layoff, and a skin cancer diagnosis and the unexpected gift that followed: writing Cowboy Dad. Don’t kill the messenger. Resources mentioned in this episode: Le Sirenuse - Hotel in Positano - Amalfi Coast, Italy (https://sirenuse.it/en/) J.K. Place Capri - Luxury 5-star hotel in Capri (https://www.jkplaces.com/jkcapri/) Melissa in Tuscany (https://melissaintuscany.blogspot.com/) Welcome to Cosmetology - Santa Barbara City College (https://www.sbcc.edu/cosmetology/) Milady Standard Esthetics: Fundamentals | Milady (https://www.milady.com/catalog/milady-standard-esthetics-fundamentals) Pivot Point International - Your Trusted Education Partner #LearnForward (https://www.pivot-point.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoq9w_yq_1m8ghhdncnCU1wPFow5ynQTKB0FsQvKVQ1WCzR3Z6Zq) Jack O'Connell (American politician) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_O%27Connell_(American_politician)) Jazz Z Beauty and Barber Supply | Los Angeles, California (https://jzbeauty.com/) Start Your Career as a Beauty Professional | Lu Ross Academy (https://www.lurossacademy.com/) DNA Skin Institute™ (https://www.dnaskin.com/) Santa Barbara Aesthetics Academy Opens - The Santa Barbara Independent (https://www.independent.com/2012/02/02/santa-barbara-aesthetics-academy-opens/) mirage-experiences - lamiragehotel (https://mirage.com.ec/) Santa Barbara Skin Institute - SB Skin (https://www.sbskin.com/) Squamous Cell Carcinoma (https://www.skincancer.org/skin-cancer-information/squamous-cell-carcinoma/) Book: Cowboy Dad by Melissa Broughton (https://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-Dad-Love-Alcoholism-Dying/dp/1511901497) Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender: (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

10. 

    8 Jul 2026

    What do you want to be when you grow up? Dreamy Gigs in Dreamy Places: Creating my own dream job

    What if losing your job led to the best decision of your life? Melissa Broughton shares how a spontaneous trip to Italy, a leap into aesthetician training, and a fearless mindset turned an unexpected detour into a global spa career. It’s a story about reinvention, risk, and the surprising power of saying yes to the unknown. Resources mentioned in this episode: Everything Santa Barbara, www.santabarbara.com (http://www.santabarbara.com) Meet The Restaurant Guy - The Santa Barbara Independent (https://www.independent.com/2012/12/09/meet-restaurant-guy/) Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine: A Journey of Inspiration and Love | (https://acupuncturetoday.com/article/31452-santa-barbara-college-of-oriental-medicine-a-journey-of-inspiration-and-love)Acupuncture Today www.spasofamerica.com (http://www.spasofamerica.com) Ojai Valley Inn | Official Site (https://www.ojaivalleyinn.com) Offers - Lake Austin Spa Resort (https://www.lakeaustin.com/resort/offers/?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22130583595&gbraid=0AAAAADzX5LFdQAKcCje5TqgruLy6kP74D&gclid=CjwKCAjwx7LSBhB3EiwAjcodxNXurV2l_uPgN--FlHhFW7fcVS3LexTcWOoxYTBO5KaMnrNCTeHTIhoCazcQAvD_BwE) American Spa Homepage | American Spa (https://www.americanspa.com) Discover Spas Near You with the Spafinder Wellness Gift Card (https://www.spafinder.com) Mii amo | Sedona Arizona Spa Resort | Wellness Journeys (https://miiamo.com) WHO WE ARE - broughtonHOTELS (https://broughtonhotels.com/who-we-are/) Spa Defined Blog (https://spadefined.blogspot.com) Learn Italian in Siena - Saena Iulia School (https://www.saenaiulia.it) Melissa in Tuscany (https://melissaintuscany.blogspot.com) Terme Di Saturnia, Spa E Golf Resort Con Terme In Toscana (https://www.termedisaturnia.it) Santa Monica Resort | Luxury Hotel | Shutters on the Beach (https://www.shuttersonthebeach.com/) Terme di Chianciano Benessere e Spa in Toscana (https://termechianciano.it/) Four Seasons (https://www.fourseasons.com/westlakevillage/spa/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organicsearch&utm_campaign=tor-wes-spa-mid-seo-na&utm_content=na-na&utm_term=na) This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/), a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. More than a gift shop, June Bloom is built around the belief that self-care, storytelling, and mental health matter. Whether you come for the lavender, the stories, or a visit with Rico, June Bloom offers a place to pause, breathe deeply, and stay awhile.

11. 

    1 Jul 2026

    Why I Don't Grow Lavender in Texas...

    Why I don't grow lavender in Texas:  California (climate and soil) spoiled me, I don't have the skills to farm lavender in Texas, Every good woman has a back-up plan, more lavender is not better,  and Flower and Mexican Food tangents (wait for it...at the end in Q and A) Resources mentioned: The Unlikely Lavender Queen, A memoir written by Jeannie Ralston, the original owner of Hill Country Lavender, founder of the Lavender Festival in Blanco Sequim Lavender — Lavender Capital of North America | Farms, Festival & More (https://lavenderfestival.com/) Leander Lavender (http://www.leanderlavender.com/) Blanco Lavender Festival (https://www.blancolavenderfest.com/) Los Poblanos Inn & Organic Farm | Los Poblanos (https://lospoblanos.com/) Arnosky Family Farms, Texas' Premier Cut Flower Farm and Garden, Texas Hill Country (https://texascolor.com/), Blanco Texas Lavender Farms: Steve (Sunrise Shores), Canyon Lake (https://www.facebook.com/p/Sunrise-Shores-Honey-and-Lavender-LLC-61564017937372/) Luling Lavender Fields | Home | Texas Lavender Farm (https://www.lulinglavenderfields.com/) Cypress Creek Lavender Farm, Wimberely (https://www.cypresscreeklavender.com/) Two Acres, Fischer (https://www.twoacrestx.com/) Lavender Farm | Chappell Hill Lavender Farm | Brenham (https://www.chappellhilllavender.com/) Lavender Ridge Farms (https://www.lavenderridgefarms.com/), Gainsville Doe-Re-Mi Lavender Farm  (https://doeremilavender.com/)Yancey Becker Lavender – Becker Vineyards (https://beckervineyards.com/pages/becker-lavender), Fredericksburg The Farm – Hummingbird Farms Store (https://hummingbird-farms.com/pages/the-farm), Fredericksburg Hill Country Lavender (https://www.hillcountrylavender.com/), Blanco Brought to you by June Bloom Lavender (https://www.junebloomlavender.com/):  This podcast is brought to you by June Bloom Lavender, a lavender speakeasy in the Texas Hill Country. June Bloom specializes in handcrafted lavender gifts and a premium skincare line made with lavender harvested each summer by owner Melissa Broughton in Santa Barbara County, California. The shop features English and French lavender bundles, sachets, candles, eye pillows, greeting cards, and skincare products developed by Melissa, who is also a licensed esthetician. June Bloom is home to the popular Lavender Bunny Fidget Sensory Sachet, Melissa's memoir Cowboy Dad, and Rico, the store's resident therapy cat and local celebrity, known for bringing comfort to visitors.

12. 

    24 Jun 2026

    From CA to TX: Elephant in the Room, Family and God

    Having a love affair with California and breaking up, Secret trips to Texas, Talking like a Californian, Elephants in the room, Hallmark movies, Group therapy in my store, Pondering References mentioned or notable for this episode: Cowboy Dad (https://app.barn2door.com/junebloomlavender/all/5mDA1) The Garden Shoppe in Lompoc (https://thegardenshoppelompoc.com) An Elephant in the Living Room: a book for children and adult children of alcoholics, (https://www.amazon.com/Elephant-Living-Room-Childrens-Book/dp/1568380356) ExploreJCTX (https://explorejctx.com) Lights Spectacular Johnson City, (https://lightsspectacular.com) Wildflower Festival Johnson City

13. 

    16 Jun 2026

    How I "Became" Lavender Farmer

    How I "Became" a Lavender Farmer No, this is not a gardening tutorial. A rambling tale involving unexpected connections, a few wrong turns, chance encounters, unlikely opportunities, and the strange chain of events that led me to a lavender field. Along the way we discuss the migration from "you guys" "ya'll" God, grit, hard work, meth, marijuana, lavender, the difference between luck and providence, and why the people you meet may be shaping your future more than you realize. Resources Mentioned in This Episode: June Bloom Lavender www.junebloomlavender.com (http://www.junebloomlavender.com) United States Lavender Growers Association (USLGA) www.uslavender.org (http://www.uslavender.org) Growing Lavender Certificate Course Michigan State University Extension Growing Lavender (online, self-paced certificate course) www.canr.msu.edu/growinglavender/ (http://www.canr.msu.edu/growinglavender/) Credits & Thanks Moon Lab Studios, Podcast Production June Bloom Lavender Logo Design Erin Pata, Butterbean Studios June Bloom Lavender Labels & Packaging Rodrigo Aguilar, HudioWorks With gratitude to:  Kayla Feder Perez  Jose Banuelos  Martha's Farm Animal Sanctuary

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

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