Amalia Bussard on Pruning the Wrong Work and Growing the Right Vision

In this episode of The Art of Becoming, I’m joined by Amalia Bussard — founder of East Pine Plant Shop and a nature artist who has spent the last five years building a sanctuary in Maine.We talk about what it actually looks like to channel a vision into reality, how to know when something in your business needs to be pruned, and why slow living isn’t a vibe — it’s a survival skill for ambitious women.She opens up about leaving the corporate playbook behind, recognizing the projects that look good on the outside but deplete you on the inside, and learning to trust the visions that have been guiding her since childhood. We get into the importance of pockets — small intentional moments of joy, presence, and quiet — and why the people you surround yourself with either help you trust your intuition or quietly erode it.Inside the episode, we discuss:* the visions Amalia has been receiving since she was a kid — and how she’s learning to channel them into reality through East Pine Plant Shop* her plant-as-life metaphor for knowing what to prune and when (and why “let go to let grow” might be the only mantra you need)* what slow living actually looks like in a fast-moving business, and why pockets of joy matter more than perfect days* how to spot the people who push your growth versus the ones projecting their own fear onto you* navigating change like the seasons — and why your nervous system needs the transition, not just the pivot* her advice for trusting your intuition when the world is making you doubt itAmalia’s perspective on building with intention, honoring your pace, and creating a world worth coming home to is the kind of conversation that changes how you see your own work. If you’ve been feeling pulled toward something bigger but haven’t given yourself permission to claim it — this one is for you.Connect with Amalia* Website: eastpineme.com* Instagram: @eastpine.plantshopConnect with Nicole* Website: thenicolehart.com* Substack: Built In Her Name* Instagram: @thenicolehartIf this conversation resonated, subscribe to The Art of Becoming, share it with a friend who needs to hear it, and leave a review to help other ambitious women find the show. Get full access to Built In Her Name at thenicolehart.substack.com/subscribe