Distilling Passion: From Bourbon Barrels to Body Butter

What do bourbon barrels, twin toddlers, and a luxury wellness spa have in common? Panacea's Director of Spa Operations, Jennifer York.In this episode, Krista sits down with Jenn— one of her closest confidants—to share the story behind the woman quietly keeping the entire operation running. From overseeing tourism at a major bourbon distillery in Kentucky to managing 50+ associates at a luxury spa in Ohio, Jenn’s path into wellness leadership is anything but ordinary.You’ll hear how she followed a wild intuitive nudge into massage school in the middle of COVID, navigated a surprise twin pregnancy, and ultimately made the leap from staying at home with her girls to taking on a demanding leadership role at Panacea. Along the way, Jenn opens up about the realities of:Going from bourbon barrels to body butters, and why hospitality is the bridge between both worldsThe mindset shift from “this is too hard” to “do it scared and do it anyway”What running high-volume bourbon tours taught her about timing, operations, and client expectationsThe personality differences between bourbon world and spa world—and why that matters for culture and hiringHow books, curiosity, and self-education shaped her leadership styleBalancing motherhood, marriage, and a very big job without losing herself in the chaosIf you’ve ever wondered what it really takes to keep a luxury spa running behind the scenes—or what it looks like to bet on yourself in the middle of a messy, imperfect season—this episode will speak to you.🎧 Listen now and, if it resonates, follow the show, leave a review, or share this episode with someone who needs a reminder that it’s okay to do the big thing scared.