The Wisdom of the Hive with Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine

The Wisdom of the Hive with Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine

Author: Mind Body Spirit.fm April 13, 2026 Duration: 1:02:47
What if bees weren't just pollinators — but teachers, mystics, and guides? In this week's episode of the Animal Communication Podcast, Julie, Karen, and Meredith sit down with Michelle Cassandra Johnson and Amy Burtaine, co-authors of The Wisdom of the Hive: What Honeybees Can Teach Us About Collective Wellbeing, for a conversation that is equal parts mystical, practical, and soul-stirring. Together, they explore bees as psychopomps traveling between realms, the sacred geometry encoded in honeycomb, the profound lessons of darkness and stillness, and what it might mean for humanity to live more like a superorganism — building together, tending together, and healing together. If you've ever paused to watch a bee move through a garden and felt something stir in you, this episode will put words to that feeling — and then take you somewhere much, much deeper. RESOURCES: “The Wisdom of the Hive” - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-wisdom-of-the-hive-what-honeybees-can-teach-us-about-collective-wellbeing-amy-burtaine/a71b71aa339d7b83?ean=9781649633811&next=t&next=t&affiliate=100934 Michelle’s Website - https://www.michellecjohnson.com Amy's Website - https://www.amyburtaine.com Do YOU want to be an animal communicator or learn more about Soul Level Intuitive Coaching®? Check out the new classes and Be Open Community offered by our teacher, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Danielle MacKinnon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. It’s a great place to learn Energy Management, trusting yourself and even finding a great, supportive community.   YOUR HOSTS Julie is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Heart Animal Soul Professional Communicator, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Spirit Animal Sacred Alchemy Practitioner and Certified Trauma-Informed Grief Coach. She writes the column ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠“Trust the Animals”⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Substack and is a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. Find out more about her and her monthly Pet Loss Grief Circles at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.juliehirt-intuitive.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Karen is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Pangu Shengong (qigong) Instructor and Energy Healer. She is an End-of-life Companion Animal Doula through the UVM certificate program and a teaching assistant for the Danielle MacKinnon School. She is also on the board of NicaLove Animal Rescue and the Founder and a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.karendendysmith.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Meredith is a Soul Level Animal Communicator®, Soul Level Intuitive Coach®, Let Animals Lead® Animal Reiki Practitioner, and certified dog trainer with a focus on behavior modification and positive reinforcement. She is also a Director of The Animal Communication Collective®. Find out more about her at her website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.meredithtollison.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ You can find all of our episodes at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MindBodySpirit.fm⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Reach out to us with questions or comments via the Contact Us form on our website (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.theanimalcommunicationpodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about the fundraising work Karen, Meredith and Julie do with The Animal Communication Collective at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.animalcommunicationcollective.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered what your pet is really thinking, or why a bird outside your window seems to pause just for you? The Animal Communication Podcast offers a rare window into those questions, guided by three experienced practitioners: Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith, and Meredith Tollison. This isn't about training tips, but about connection. Each episode is built on their work as Soul Level Animal Communicators®, where they share candid stories and conversations that bridge our human world with the inner lives of animals. You'll hear them explore everyday mysteries-from puzzling behaviors and health concerns to the pure joy of play-as recounted by the animals themselves, both those sharing our homes and those in spirit. It’s a gentle, often surprising journey that redefines our relationship with all creatures, making it a unique listen for families, pet lovers, and anyone curious about the spiritual bonds we share. Presented by Mind Body Spirit.fm, this podcast invites you to slow down and listen in a whole new way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Animal Communication Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Beginnings for 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:57
It’s our season 3 premiere! Julie Hirt, Karen Dendy Smith, and Meredith Tollison reunite after a holiday pause to reflect on grief, embodiment, boundaries, and the deep wisdom of lived experience. Julie shares openly abo…
Listener Questions Season Finale [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:08
It’s our season 2 finale, and we’re celebrating with a full listener Q&A episode! Over the past few months, so many of you have written with thoughtful, heartfelt, and incredibly important questions. Some came through em…
Reflections on Our Year of the Snake [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:50
Back in February, we did an episode where we discussed the Chinese New Year moving us from Year of the Dragon into the Year of the Snake (episode can be found here. Now that we’re mostly through 2025, we’re realizing it…
Dr. Barrie Sands - Co-Creating Health [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:42
Dr. Barrie Sands is a veterinarian, healer, scientist, author, artist, and an international educator and speaker. Within a diversity of passions, she values seeking truth as it pertains to our humanity and the relationsh…
When Readings Don't Go As Planned [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:26
Julie, Karen and Meredith reflect on readings that haven’t gone exactly as they had hoped or planned. Not that they can ever be planned but well, you know, it’s a good reminder none of us are in control - the animals are…
Animal Reincarnation with Nancy Windheart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:41
Nancy Windheart is an internationally recognized animal communicator and interspecies communication teacher. She teaches courses and training programs in interspecies communication for both lay people and those who wish…
Behavioral Euthanasia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:53
A lot of previous episodes have talked about difficult topics from love and loss, euthanasia and grief. And in this poignant and vulnerable conversation, Meredith talks with Karen and Julie about behavioral euthanasia. L…
Interspecies Voices with Christine Noble Seller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:23
Christine Noble Seller, founder of Interspecies Voices and a founding member of Nature’s Council. Christine is an intuitive interspecies communicator and activist who works to amplify the voices of animals, wildlife, and…
Deep Root Connections with Kara Daniels [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:37
Kara Daniels is the founder of Deep Root Connections—an earth‑centered initiative focused on animal and nature communication, energy healing, and spiritual land connection. As a master gardener and hobby‑farm caretaker,…
The Story of NicaLove [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:55
Meet Julie Burke! She is the human heart behind the amazing animal welfare organization, NicaLove, a non-profit animal welfare organization dedicated to advocating for and protecting domestic and working animals in Nicar…