Episodes
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Steve Rolles is the Senior Policy Analyst for the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, where he has worked for over 20 years on drug policy and law reform analysis and advocacy, promoting more just and effective drug policies that center public health, human rights and sustainable development. This work includes lead authorship on numerous reports, academic papers, and books, including How to Regulate psychedelics: A Practical Guide. He has served as an adviser and lead drafter for the Global Commission on Drugs, and is acting as a consultant on drug policy and regulation for several European Governments and UN agencies.
Episode Highlights
The importance of understanding the diverse motivations behind psychedelic useThe need for inclusive drug policy that addresses all forms of psychedelic useSteve's extensive background in drug policy reform and shifts in public perceptionThe resistance from drug enforcement professionals against policy changePolitical ramifications of drug narratives and fear-based rhetoricThe recent FDA rejection of MDMA for PTSD and its implicationsThe media’s focus on clinical research rather than recreational psychedelic useThe need for a balanced approach to drug policy that recognizes both therapeutic and recreational useA four-tiered model for regulating psychedelics, emphasizing decriminalizationThe importance of harm reduction strategies for safe psychedelic use in social settingsA comparison between the successful decriminalization of drugs in Portugal with the challenges of decriminalization efforts in OregonAdvocating for a public health oriented approach to drug policy and the failures of punitive measuresThe relative safety of psychedelics compared to more dangerous substances like opioids and stimulantsA call for the psychedelic community to engage in broader drug law reform effortsSteve Rolles’ Links
Website: www.transformdrugs.orgInstagram: @transformdrugsFacebook: TransformX: @stevetransformResources Mentioned in this Episode
Book: NoNonsense Legalizing Drugs: How to End The War by Steve RollesBook: How to Regulate Stimulants by Transform Drug Policy FoundationSteve Rolles’ Gift to You
Get Steve’s book for FREE: How to Regulate Psychedelics: A Practical Guide -
Anne Kiehl Friedman is an award-winning author, founder, and communications expert based in Washington, DC. She recently published Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing, which debuted as a #1 New Release on Amazon in Medicine & Psychology. Called “a memoir that’ll have you traveling, tripping, and seeing yourself in the passenger seat of a meaningful story of discovery,” by the Independent Book Review, it is changing the conversation on women and psychedelics.
Anne began her career in communications as a speechwriter/ghostwriter for prominent names in politics and Hollywood before starting Bold Ink, a strategic communications consultancy for non-profits. She graduated from Stanford University with honors and obtained her MBA from ESADE University in Spain. Anne is a passionate advocate for holistic well-being and spiritual growth and was ordained as an Interfaith Minister and Reverend after attending seminary at the Berkeley Chaplaincy Institute.
In 2023, identifying an unfilled need for better mainstream understanding of psychedelics and their healing potential, Anne co-founded The Psychedelic Communications Hub, a non-profit public engagement organization focused on public education and advocacy.
Episode Highlights
Life’s “blender moments”: how illness and breakups forced deep self-reflection and transformationVulnerability in writing: Anne reflects on societal expectations and internalized self-worth strugglesIdentifying healthy love versus control How maternal messages about self-image are passed down across generationsChoosing self-love and autonomy rather than relying on romantic validationReconnecting with the body and releasing stored trauma Living “in the middle”: balancing intellect with openness to the body’s wisdomAdvocating for psychedelics to address mental health and systemic issues of loneliness and disconnectionHow Anne’s first psychedelic experience with her Dad brought moments of unfiltered joy and healingEmbracing laughter as healing—why joy is inherently therapeuticUnderstanding shame’s place in relationshipRecognizing signs of relational safety and respect through emotional responses and repairThe Psychedelic Communications Hub’s mission to support safe, responsible psychedelic practicesEgo dissolution and identity challenges in psychedelic experiencesWestern framing of psychedelics as solely medical, and the risk of joyless healingAnne Kiehl Friedman’s Links
Website: www.annekiehlfriedman.comInstagram: @annekiehlLinkedIn: Anne FriedmanResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing by Anne Kiehl Friedman Book: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle Book: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle Book: Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by Jon Kabat-Zinn Book: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth GilbertAnne Kiehl Friedman’s Gift to You
40% OFF for her book: Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing -
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Dr. Glauber Loures de Assis is a researcher of sacred plants and their traditions and a psychedelic dad. He has a Ph.D in sociology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters and the co-editor of the book ‘Women and Psychedelics: Uncovering Invisible Voices’. Glauber is the founder and president of Céu da Divina Estrela, a legal and tax-exempt Santo Daime ayahuasca church in Brazil.
He has 15 years of experience with ayahuasca and other sacred plants and has led more than 500 ceremonies in Brazil, Europe and the United States, and has built this practice in dialogue with his local Brazilian ayahuasca community and with the blessings of Indigenous elders and activists in Brazil. He is also the co-founder of Jornadas de Kura, a plant medicine center in Brazil that promotes an alliance between the ceremonial use of sacred plants, public education on plant medicine and psychedelic science.
He is an Indigenous rights activist and the Director of the Psychedelic Parenthood Community. He is father to 3 children and lives with his wife Jacqueline Rodrigues in Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Episode Highlights
Glauber’s journey from conservative upbringing to psychedelic explorationAyahuasca, family, and community in Brazil’s Santo Daime traditionDiscussing psychedelic parenting and family integration in ceremoniesThe role of set and setting in psychedelic experiences and indigenous perspectivesThe diversity of ayahuasca traditions and the feminine energy in its mythologyCoexistence among indigenous traditions and the collective element of healingServing ayahuasca in ceremonies and the inclusion of children and pregnant womenAyahuasca ceremonies during childbirth and the sacred role of midwives in Santo DaimeThe amazing story of Glauber’s daughter birth Psychedelics as a tool for cultural healing and the importance of commitmentBreaking down patriarchal norms through fatherhood and psychedelic integrationMen’s role in caregiving and the healing power of vulnerabilitySanto Daime churches in the U.S. and the legal landscape for ayahuascaGrowth of ayahuasca practices in Hawaii and issues of cultural appropriationHow to find safe and ethical ayahuasca ceremonies in the WestThe importance of community and lineage in choosing facilitatorsCo-editing ‘Women and Psychedelics’ to uncover invisible voices in the spaceAddressing climate change and systemic issues through psychedelic wisdomThe importance of joy and resilience in psychedelic workGlauber Assis’ Links
Website: www.psychedelicparenthood.orgInstagram: @glauberlouresInstagram: @jornadas.de.kuraResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Women and Psychedelics: Uncovering Invisible Voices (Chacruna Anthologies) by Erika Dyck Psychedelic Network for Parents: Psychedelic Parenthood Community Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines: Chacruna Institute Indigenous Leader and Philosopher: Ailton Krenak -
Ali Stoddard is a mom, functional medicine health coach and online entrepreneur. She is changing the practice of medicine from managing disease to improving wellness by calming the nervous system supporting the immune system and rewiring our health. Her background is 25 years in the operating room, focusing on orthopedics, spine surgery, and oncology and her main focus today is nutrition and reversing disease.
Episode Highlights
Ali’s transition from practicing traditional medicine to holistic health coachingThe role of superfoods and adaptogens in enhancing well-beingContrasting symptom-focused Western medicine with root-cause approachesThe healing potential of natural remedies like CBD and dandelionHistorical shifts from plant-based to chemically dominated societiesClarifying the differences between hemp and marijuanaUnderstanding how THC and CBD affect the body differentlyThe impact of stress on marijuana use among younger generationsPractical applications of CBD for managing migraines and nerve functionThe endocannabinoid system as an internal pharmacy for healingSystemic benefits of CBD in reducing inflammation and anxietyHistorical suppression of natural healing practices by Western medicinePersonal stories showcasing CBD’s versatility across various ailmentsThe importance of personalized nutritionNavigating the unregulated CBD market and sourcing quality productsResetting the nervous system through nutrition and mindfulness practicesReconnecting future generations with nature through plant medicineAli Stoddard’s Links
Website: www.greenalleywellness.comInstagram: @greenalley_cbdFacebook: Ali Pappe StoddardLinkedIn: Ali StoddardAli Stoddard’s Gift to You
A FREE 30-minute Health Consultation to ascertain if it’s possible to co-create a customized health plan or see if CBD hemp is right for youAli’s templates on why and how CBD works to support several health issues: Inflammation 101, Mental Health Template, Women’s Health Template, Cancer Protocols, Chronic Pain and more. If you’re interested in learning, reach out to her at (925) 899-4539 -
Emerson expresses directness, naturalness, and the end of seeking. He simply points out to the freedom from all ideas of freedom and the ineffable. A former meditation junkie and an ex-spiritual teacher, he does weekly Zoom meetings and offers one on ones.
Episode Highlights
Defining non-duality as an undefinable, a natural experience beyond conceptsExploring suffering and seeking in relation to non-dualityAwakening as ordinary, with fireworks being part of a narrativeEmerson’s early rave experiences and his first sense of awakeningRealizing there is no self, but also no "no-self"Words as barriers to direct experience — the concept of "dreamlish"Interconnectedness and illusion: the paradox of no true process or causeMoving through the "dark night of the soul" and the illusion of sufferingRecognizing no hierarchy in non-duality — we're all already homeLetting go of delusions deepens clarity and removes psychological sufferingDifferent paths of seeking: trauma work, shadow work and direct experienceFreedom from belief systems and the liberation of no longer defending positionsLosing the sense of self and realizing there's nothing left to teachHow Emerson felt disconnected from language after a profound shift, akin to a strokeLetting go of self-identity and witnessing everything unfold perfectlyExperiencing bottomless peace after a month of silenceHow authenticity and honesty enable true connection in relationshipsEmerson Nonduality’s Links
Website: www.emersonnonduality.comInstagram: @emerson.nondualityJoin Emerson’s Weekly Zooms, online events or in-person meetingResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age by Norman OhlerBook: Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman OhlerBooks: Choose Your Own AdventureNon-duality Teacher: Tony Parsons -
Ash Ritter is an ethnobotanist, multi-disciplinary animist, herbalist, writer and an educator with over 20 years of study in clinical, traditional, academic and directly relational terrains. She is a devotee of curiosity and especially savors the study of history through the woven threads of fungi, people and plants.
Episode Highlights
Co-evolution with fungi and the symbiotic relationship between humans and natureAsh’s apprenticeships in Druid herbalism and Mexican curanderismoExploring ancestry and the significance of traditional plants from Eastern EuropeThe fluidity of lineage and how borders have shaped historyAshley’s early psychedelic experiences and curiosity about life’s mysteriesExploring the wide variety of psychoactive mushrooms and their unique effectsAmanita muscaria: Its myth, lore, and complex chemistrySafe preparation methods for Amanita muscaria to avoid toxicityHow Amanita muscaria affects the brain by modulating GABA and reducing overstimulationThe unpredictable, wild nature of Amanita muscaria and its healing potentialThe importance of foraging and living in a reciprocal relationship with the landAmanita muscaria vs. psilocybin mushrooms: Key differences in chemistry and experienceAmanita’s potential for alleviating chronic pain and enhancing nerve healthAmanita’s role in dream enhancement and psychological explorationThe commercialization of cannabis and the spiritual essence being lost in greedPlants as living intelligences and the importance of mutual respect in this relationshipReverence and humility as key practices in engaging with plant medicinesUnlocking the full potential of fungi through multi-level extractionsExploring the heart-centered chemistry of cacti and their medicinal propertiesGnosis through working with plants and fungiThe sacredness of menstruation and the practice of returning blood to the earthEngaging the shadow with courage and tenderness through plant medicinesExploring feminine wisdom, menstruation, and cultural reconnection to the bodyHow art and ancient motifs capture the human story across time and spaceAsh Ritter’s Links
Website: www.blacksagebotanicals.bigcartel.comInstagram: @black.sage.botanicalsPatreon: Ash Ritter - Black Sage BotanicalsResources Mentioned in This Episode
Ash’s Class Cloud9-Hour Course: Merry Mushroom: Amanita Muscaria Ethnomycology, The Updated 2024 SeriesClass Recording: Balms & Broomsticks: The Taboo History & Modern Adaptations of Flying OintmentsClass Recording: The Forbidden Fruits: Ethnobotany of Enchanted FoodsWomb Wellness Educator: Mikaela de la MycoMovie: Like Water for Chocolate (1992)Ash Ritter’s Gift to You
10% OFF of all digital coursework in the Black Sage Botanicals Class Cloud with code THANKYOUMAMA -
Bayo Akomolafe (Ph.D.), rooted with the Yoruba people in a more-than-human world, is the father to Alethea and Kyah, the grateful life-partner to Ije, son and brother. A widely celebrated international speaker, posthumanist thinker, poet, teacher, public intellectual, essayist, and author of two books, ‘These Wilds Beyond our Fences: Letters to My Daughter on Humanity's Search for Home’ (North Atlantic Books) and ‘We Will Tell our Own Story: The Lions of Africa Speak’, Bayo Akomolafe is the Visionary Founder of The Emergence Network and host of the online postactivist course, ‘We Will dance with Mountains’.
Episode Highlights
Exploring the concept of the "more than human world" and our place within it Bayo reflects on his upbringing in a dualistic world and the journey towards non-dual thinking The urgency of our times and how our responses can perpetuate deeper crises The importance of rethinking our relationships with each other and the world amidst modern challenges Sneaking through the “cracks” as a metaphor for exploring new perceptions and experiences Cracks as opportunities for transformation rather than mere solutions to problems The tension between solutions and cracks, emphasizing the need for experimental approaches The modern Western extraction and commercialization of indigenous plant medicines Bayo shares thoughts on cultural appropriation versus genuine engagement with earth medicines The haunting presence of stolen artifacts in museums and their restless energy as a decolonization narrative Understanding how we are shaped by the tools we useThe interplay between free will and determinism, questioning our agency in a complex world The idea of co-emergence as a bridge between free will and determinism in understanding creativity Rewilding as an invitation to challenge domesticated perceptions and reconnect with the world “Staying with trouble” as an essential practice in embracing chaos and uncertainty Failure as a socially constructed concept influenced by cultural narratives Embracing creativity through playfulness, allowing art to emerge without rigid expectations Parenting a neurodivergent child as a profound learning experience in embracing chaos Bayo reflects on his son's unique perspective, encouraging a politics of the seemingly useless Closing thoughts on the beauty of embracing uncertaintyBayo Akomolafe’s Links
Website: www.bayoakomolafe.netWebsite: www.emergencenetwork.orgWebsite: www.dancingwithmountains.comFacebook: Bayo AkomolafeResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Migritude by Shailja Patel Article: Are ghosts haunting the British Museum? -
Mario Alonso Cordero a.k.a “Oneiros Speculum” (The Dream Mirror), was born and raised in Mexico. He is a writer, therapist and an expert in Dreams and Visions, with abundant experience in supporting sacred plant ceremonies and guiding psychedelic integration. He has a master's degree in The Philosophy of Religion and complementary training in Transpersonal Psychology.
Mario has collaborated in different educational and research projects on Psychedelics and Expanded States of Consciousness such as MINDSURF (Psychonautic Education) and is the founder of VIA SYNAPSIS (Academic Congresses) and NIDO (Psychedelic Care in Festivals) and researcher at NIERIKA (Entheogenic Research and Intercultural Therapy).
He has done fieldwork with the Mazatec people of Oaxaca, Mexico, and research on traditional mushroom ceremonies and indigenous perspectives on healing and entheogenic cosmology.
Episode Highlights
Mario’s journey as an author and his exploration of dreams and psychedelicsMario’s first LSD experience at age 16 that reshaped his life pathIndigenous symbolism and wisdom in Mario’s early psychedelic experiencesThe cultural suppression of sacred plant medicines in Mexico and their revival through the work of Maria SabinaThe connection between modern psychedelic science and indigenous traditionsDifferences in healing perspectives: Western individualism vs. Indigenous collective approachesIndigenous symbolic geographies and how they guide collective consciousness in ceremoniesWestern linear thinking contrasted with indigenous holistic and interconnected worldviewsLucid dreaming as a spiritual practice and its relation to waking lifePsychedelics as opening the doors of perception, expanding beyond ego consciousnessTerence McKenna’s idea of sacred plants as ambassadors of Gaia, connecting us to plant consciousnessThe risks of spiritual emergencies during psychedelic journeys and the critical role of integrationExploring dreams as a language of symbols and their role in integrating psychedelic experiencesDream work as a tool to uncover hidden potentials within the psyche for personal growthMario’s online Dream CircleMario "Oneiros" Alonso’s Links
Website: www.onirocosmos.comWebsite: www.refugionido.comInstagram: @oneiros_speculumFacebook: Autor - Oneiros SpeculumResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: Onirocosmos: Manual para trabajar y explorar el universo de los sueños by Mario Alonso Martínez CorderoBook: Navegar el infinito mar del pensamiento: Una introducción a la filosofía by Mario Alonso Martínez CorderoPsychedelic Care in Mexico: NIDO - www.refugionido.comMario "Oneiros" Alonso’s Gift to You
The first 3 people to reach out to Mario at his Instagram’s DM @oneiros_speculum, saying “I’ve heard about you on the Psychedelic Mom Podcast and I want to subscribe to the Dream Circle” will get FREE access to his Dreamastery Dream Circle -
Dr. Manesh Girn is a postdoctoral neuroscientist at UCSF and a dynamic educator in psychedelic science. Known for his brain imaging research on the psychedelic experience, he has been lead or co-author on over 20 scientific publications related to psychedelics, brain networks, and abstract cognitive processes. As the driving force behind ‘The Psychedelic Scientist’ on Instagram and YouTube, Manesh brings cutting-edge psychedelic research to the public in an engaging and accessible manner, distilling complex science in a digestible way.
Episode Highlights
Brain imaging studies on the effects of psilocybin, LSD, and DMTKey brain regions impacted by psychedelics, including the transmodal association cortexHow psychedelics affect the brain’s models of self and worldManesh’s first psychedelic experience at 17 years oldNeuroplasticity and how psychedelics promote new neural connectionsThe profound spiritual and physical effects of 5-MeO-DMTDifferences between the brain effects of 5-MeO-DMT and psilocybinThe microdosing debate: placebo effects vs. psychedelic-assisted changePotential anti-inflammatory and neuroplastic effects of microdosingHow ketamine affects the brain differently from classic psychedelicsThe importance of lifestyle changes in supporting neuroplasticity after psychedelic journeysHow psychedelics help reset the nervous system and process traumaCombining Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatic therapy, and psychedelics for deep healingPsychedelics’ potential for enhancing creativity and human flourishingConcerns about the misuse and integration of psychedelics in Western systemsPsychedelics as potential tools for healing systemic and societal traumaHow changing cultural attitudes towards psychedelics are being driven by younger generationsMeditation, mindfulness, and psychedelics in personal growthDr. Manesh Girn’s Links
Website: www.maneshgirn.comInstagram: @thepsychedelicscientistResources Mentioned in This Episode
Episode 88 with Zeus TipadoEpisode 59 with Gul Dölen & Stefanie CohenNetflix Docuseries: (UN)WELL Research Report: Mindfulness Meditation Enhances Positive Effects of Psilocybin Non-profit Psychedelic Research Organization: Center for MindsDr. Manesh Girn’s Gift to You
Dr. Manesh’s FREE Psychedelics and Neuroplasticity PDF Cheat Sheet, describing 5 steps to rewire your brain with psychedelics -
Episode Highlights
Why psychedelics are considered essential in both ancient and modern medicine bagsAncient cultures’ use of medicine bags for spiritual and physical healingPsilocybin’s benefits for neuroplasticity and relational healingKetamine’s potential to break cycles of depression and griefSan Pedro’s lessons on reciprocity and harmony with natureIboga’s deep connection to ancestral healing The transformative experience of 5-MeO-DMT and the dissolution of egoMDMA as a tool for healing conflict and fostering compassionThe mood-lifting and brain-boosting effects of subtle medicines like saffron and blue lotusThe importance of ritual and asking the land’s permission for psychedelic ceremoniesIntegrating deep healing through intentional creativity Meditation and breathwork as essential practices for self-awarenessReflecting on the role of art and ancient symbols in teaching future generations about healingThe importance of love, compassion, and non-judgment in the medicine bagMichaela’s Links
Website: www.thepsychedelicmom.comInstagram: @thepsychedelicmomBook an Introductory Consult: www.calendly.com/psychedelicmom -
Jasper Degenaars is a mycologist, educator and the Hyphae Headmaster of Fungi Academy. With more than twelve years of mushroom cultivation experience and over 3000 students taught since 2019, he illuminates the intricate world of fungi with passion and expertise.
Episode Highlights
How a legal loophole kept psilocybin truffles available in the NetherlandsJasper’s first transformative experiences with psilocybin trufflesThe evolution of Jasper’s relationship with mushrooms as spiritual teachersUnderstanding the intelligence of fungi and their role in ecosystemsFungi’s significance in human evolutionEvidence of mushroom use in ancient cultures and their methods of consumptionDifferences in mushroom use across various cultures and spiritual practicesPotential connections between psychedelics and the roots of religious traditionsMushrooms revealing challenging aspects of self and inspiring personal growthThe importance of intention and guidance in psychedelic experiencesExploring different methods of ingesting mushrooms and their unique effectsThe symbiotic relationship between humans and fungi in cultivationApplying fungi-inspired principles to human relationships and communicationCultivating medicinal and gourmet mushrooms for health and well-beingFungi’s potential in biodegrading plastics and environmental applicationsJasper’s upcoming cultivation courses and the community they fosterJasper Degenaars’ Links
Website: www.fungiacademy.comInstagram: @fungiacademyFacebook: Fungi AcademyResources Mentioned in This Episode
Fungi Academy’s 7-Week Online Container: Psychedelic Journeywork CohortFungi Academy’s Online Sacred Mushroom Cultivation CourseFungi Academy’s Lemon TEK GuideBook: The Sacred Mushroom and The Cross: A study of the nature and origins of Christianity within the fertility cults of the ancient Near East by John M. AllegroEsoteric Culture Author: Julian VayneThe Five Practices of Authentic RelatingStudy: Comparative Acute Effects of Mescaline, Lysergic Acid Diethylamide, and Psilocybin in a Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Cross-over Study in Healthy ParticipantsJasper Degenaars’ Gift To You
Access to Fungi Academy’s FREE online courses -
My deepest thanks to all the underground medicine people who are dedicating their lives to the service of humanity through the sacred work with psychedelics and earth medicines. Your wisdom, courage, and commitment to healing, growth, and connection are a gift to us all. You carry forward ancient traditions and pioneer new paths, reminding us of the deep, transformative power of these sacred plants and substances. We honor your service, your sacrifices, and your profound impact on our collective journey toward wholeness.
Episode Highlights
The critical role of surrender in 5-MeO-DMT experiencesHow 5-MeO-DMT became a pivotal force in Rudra’s life, leading to profound changes in his relationship to his queer and South Asian identities Exploring the intensity of 5-MeO-DMT and its power to create a direct experience of onenessIncorporating Vedic deities into the ceremonial container The potential risks and rewards of using psychedelics as spiritual toolsThe different stages of spiritual realizationThe loss of the Divine Feminine in modern societyThe benefits of combining psilocybin with low-dose 5-MeO-DMT Reframing duality and nonduality as divine play rather than a paradoxThe crucial integration of Shakti and Shiva energies in 5-MeO-DMT ceremonies Tapping into the 5-MeO-DMT state through meditation and breathworkThe historical use of 5-MeO-DMT in Buddhist traditions Advocating for the reclassification of psychedelics as sacred medicinesThe benefits of combining multiple medicines in ceremonial settingsThe power of 5-MeO-DMT in bringing about self-love and clarity5-MeO-DMT’s ability to provide profound insights and guide life decisionsIntegrating 5-MeO-DMT’s lessons into daily lifeEmbracing both duality and nondualityResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression: A New Approach for the Whole Person by Bill Brennan and Alex Belser -
My deepest thanks to all the underground medicine people who are dedicating their lives to the service of humanity through the sacred work with psychedelics and earth medicines. Your wisdom, courage, and commitment to healing, growth, and connection are a gift to us all. You carry forward ancient traditions and pioneer new paths, reminding us of the deep, transformative power of these sacred plants and substances. We honor your service, your sacrifices, and your profound impact on our collective journey toward wholeness.
Episode Highlights
Exploring 5-MeO-DMT and its profound effectsRose's first experience receiving 5-MeO-DMTThe potentially transformative effect of 5-MeO-DMT a person’s spiritualityThe diverse range of experiences during 5-MeO-DMT sessionsThe critical importance of preparation when working with 5-MeO-DMTThe role of surrender in the 5-MeO-DMT experienceChallenges faced by facilitators during difficult sessionsThe facilitator's perspective on witnessing intense emotionsStories of working with 5-MeO-DMT when deep grief is presentUsing parts work in conjunction with 5-MeO-DMT therapyThe significance of witnessing and validating client’s emotionsLong-term life changes after 5-MeO-DMTTurning away clients: the importance of having support structuresReactivations and cannabis use post-5-MeO-DMTThe challenges of working underground as a facilitatorFurther reflections on the importance of intention and surrender -
Brittney Hartley has a Masters’ Degree in Theology with a focus in the future of American religion. She is a spiritual director at No Nonsense Spirituality, focusing on nihilism recovery, faith deconstruction and secular spirituality, and is the author of the book, No Nonsense Spirituality: All the Tools No Faith Required.
Episode Highlights
Michaela and Brittney’s shared spiritual deconstruction and reconstruction journeysThe notion of spirituality post-religionDeconstructing Mormonism, Christianity, and religionExperiencing the "void" and finding tools for reconstructionThe concept of "death of God" and deconstructing the selfExploration of atheism and intellectual humilityFeminism and the struggle with male-dominated theology and philosophyFeminine spirituality and the importance of embodied experienceThe impact of earth medicines and psychedelics on spiritual evolutionThe potentially destabilizing effects of ego dissolutionBrittney’s personal experience with psilocybin and its mental health benefitsShifting from chasing the next spiritual high to daily integrationPsychedelics challenging the atheistic perspectiveFinding meaning in the momentHonoring personal desires and needsThe necessity of ego development before transcendenceServing earth medicines and the role of a guideHealing religious trauma through psychedelicsExploring combinations of psychedelics for deeper insightsA continuing fascination with reality and consciousnessBrittney Hartley’s Links
Website: www.nononsensespirituality.comInstagram: @nononsensespiritualityTikTok: @nononsensespiritualityResources Mentioned in This Episode
Podcast Interview: Simply Always Awake - ‘No Script, Britt Hartley Interview’Neuroscientist & Philosopher: Sam HarrisBook: The Myth of Sisyphus by Albert CamusResearch Report: Experiences of ‘Ultimate Reality’ or ‘God’ Confer Lasting Benefits to Mental Health by Johns Hopkins Medicine -
Mee Ok Icaro is a unique and powerful voice in the world of visionary medicine and personal growth. As a writer, book doula, sacred medicine advisor and integration specialist, life purpose coach and guide, Mee Ok is dedicated to helping individuals heal and find their path in life. Skilled in Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry, a method she has personally integrated for over a decade to transform her own life, she integrates many teachings from a variety of traditions, from ancient to modern.
With a passion for writing and a talent for prose, Mee Ok is an award-winning stylist and poet. Her work has appeared in notable publications like the LA Times, Boston Globe Magazine, and Michael Pollan’s ‘Trips Worth Telling’ anthology. She was even featured in Gabor Maté’s New York Times bestseller ‘The Myth of Normal’ and the Netflix docuseries [Un]Well. With over a decade of experience working with ayahuasca and dieting seven master plants, Mee Ok is curing a near-fatal autoimmune disease, scleroderma, and is dedicated to helping others heal and recover their birthright of authenticity and truth.
Mee Ok holds a BA in Philosophy from Boston University and an MFA in Creative Nonfiction, and has studied the history of sexuality and medicine at Harvard. She is currently in the process of being initiated in her own indigenous tradition of Korean shamanism (mudang) and as an ayahuasquera in the Shipibo lineage. With a diverse set of passions, including racial and disability equity, adoptee advocacy, social justice, film, literature, doggies, and drag, Mee Ok is a curious soul with a wealth of knowledge and experience she loves to share.
Episode Highlights
On ayahuasca and healing illnessMichaela discusses Mee Ok's journey using ayahuasca to heal from an autoimmune disease called sclerodermaMee Ok explains scleroderma in detail and its impact on her lifeMee Ok shares the intense physical effects and visions during her first ayahuasca journeyThe struggles and processes involved in her initial self-administered ayahuasca journeysTransformational aspects of these experiencesMee Ok describes her spiritual experiences and physical healing through ayahuascaThe powerful experiences and healing work done in retreats led by Gabor Maté, highlighting the differences between solitary and guided ayahuasca experiences and the deeper trauma healing during these sessionsTeachings from ayahuasca, spiritual beliefs, and the unique connection Mee Ok shares with plant medicinesMee Ok elaborates on spiritual insights gained, her shift from atheism, and working with various traditions balancing masculine and feminine energiesThe importance of humility and wonder in learning from plant medicinesMee Ok’s reconnection with her roots, upcoming initiations, and the powerful blend of her cultural heritage with her healing practicesLearning from indigenous practices, including the importance of integrating traditional wisdom into modern healing practicesMee Ok shares about the various master plants she has worked with from different traditionsModern culture and identityMoving through significant trauma from sexual abuseHow ayahuasca integrates with other healing practicesHow physical ailments mirror internal trauma and the significance of understanding one's illness in the context of personal historyMisconceptions about health, trauma, and how modern fragmentation affects understanding and treatmentMee Ok’s advocacy for broader awareness and support for those with chronic illness and traumaGender identity, cultural identity and how sacred medicines influenced Mee Ok’s view on gender fluidity and personal identityAddressing pedophilia and child abuseThe historical context of child abuse and the need for legal changes and cultural healingInsights into the systemic issues in modern healthcare and societal views on child rights, linking historical issues with contemporary problemsMee Ok Icaro’s Links
Website: www.holdingcompassionate.spaceInstagram: @dasmeeokFacebook: Mee Ok IcaroResources Mentioned in This Episode
Michael Pollan’s Anthology: Trips Worth TellingNetflix Docuseries: (UN)WELLGabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry’s Professional TrainingBook: History of Childhood: The Untold Story of Child Abuse by Lloyd DemauseMee Ok Icaro’s Gift to You
Special rates on Coaching Packages for all participants of her Gabor Maté-style Guided Ayahuasca Retreat in Costa Rica -
Dr. Jill Corvelli is founder of the ND Partners Institute, which is dedicated to supporting complex couples, many of which are neurodiverse. She developed the ND Compass, which is an approach that helps complex couples navigate the differences that keep triggering and tripping them up.
Within the last year, Dr Corvelli added work in non-ordinary states of consciousness as a tool in support of Differentiation and Autonomic Reset. The ND Partners Institute also offers groups, there is an upcoming group starting in May 2024 for women in Complex-Couple Relationships and a Complex-Couples group in September 2024. In addition to serving clients within the ND Partners Institute, she provides adjunct services for clients already engaged in therapeutic work. She is also a certified facilitator in Oregon, and you can find her offerings within that work at 2 CATHARSIS.
Episode Highlights
Specializing in working with complex, often neurodiverse, couplesThe ND Compass MethodologyA framework for building safety, communication, conflict resolution, and system for lifeUse of ketamine and psilocybin as tools within the ND compassGroup Sessions with KetamineFirst women’s ketamine group experience discussedDual roles as therapist and facilitatorLicensed therapist in some states and certified psilocybin facilitator in OregonHow ketamine and psilocybin help reset the autonomic nervous systemTypes of ketamine dosagesSublingual ketamine dosages discussed and their impacts on therapyMechanisms of ketamine and psilocybinDifferences and benefits of eachClient experiences with psychedelicsExamples and outcomes of using ketamine and psilocybin for therapyOregon’s guidelinesEMBARK protocol and the importance of body awareness, spirituality, and existentialismDiscussin heart-opening effects and support for couplesDifferences in behaviors and intentions between neurodivergent and narcissistic individualsAdvice on dealing with partners who might be neurodivergent or narcissistCuriosity and safe dialogues improving relationship dynamicsA listener's positive experience with the podcast’s advicePreparing couples for psychedelic experiences and integration workDiscussing the concept of having a medicine bag to support family dynamicsPersonal experiences with plant medicines and their impacts on her perspectiveDr. Jill Corvelli’s Links
Website: www.ndpartnersinstitute.comWebsite: www.2catharsis.comWebsite: www.ndpartnerscompass.comResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: EMBARK Psychedelic Therapy for Depression: A New Approach for the Whole Person by Bill Brennan and Alex Belser Book: The Way of the Shaman by Michael Harner Curated Resource Page from Dr. Jill’s WebsiteDr. Jill Corvelli’s Gift to You
A 30 minute consult to explore together if the group, adjunct services or any other offerings are right for you. Email here. -
Charles Eisenstein is a writer, speaker, and the author of several books including The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know is Possible.
Robert Forte has traveled the psychedelic path over the past 45 and has been a student, a researcher, a producer and a distributor of forbidden drugs, taught at university and graduate level. Robert has done field work in South America and had close personal relationships with many of the most significant instigators of the various psychedelic movements of our time.
Episode Highlights
The impact and history of psychedelicsDiscussion on the historical legal status of psychedelics and earth medicinesThe current state and suppression of psychedelicsRobert discusses the FDA rejection of MDMA therapy applicationCriticism of regulatory and legal systems suppressing the therapeutic use of psychedelicsCharles shares a deeply personal transformative experience with LSDCommentary on the revolutionary impact of psychedelics on culturePersonal sovereignty and the right to use psychedelicsThe Controlled Substance Act and its implicationsClassifying psychedelics as sacramentsConstitutional rights and the historical significance of spiritual experiences induced by psychedelicsPractical and ethical considerationsPotential business models for psychedelic centers, including a gift economyRisks and benefits of mass marketing psychedelicsEthical concerns about commercializing sacred experiencesBroader cultural and political implicationsWhether general legalization or specific decriminalization models are preferableThe potential positive and negative impacts of widespread psychedelic useCharles on the current political landscape and policy changeObstacles in changing government policy and translating awareness into practical regulationCharles Eisenstein
Website: www.charleseisenstein.orgRobert Forte’s Links
Website: www.alteredstatesofamerica.netFacebook: Robert ForteResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible by Charles Eisenstein Book: Climate: A New Story by Charles Eisenstein Book: Sacred Economics: Money, Gift, and Society in the Age of Transition by Charles EisensteinProgram: The Sanity Project -
Zeus Tipado is a Neuropsychopharmacology PhD candidate at Maastricht University focusing on researching the brain while under DMT inside virtual/extended reality. He’s using fNIRS (functional near-infrared spectroscopy) to give humanity its first glimpse on brain energy distribution and perceptual alterations in the visual cortex during this unique psychedelic process.
Episode Highlights
The legal psychedelic landscape in HollandThe potential cultural impact of further expanding psychedelic legalizationZeus’ personal DMT experiences and scientific researchUnderstanding psychedelics’ impact on the visual cortexThe science behind visual perceptionVR and DMT: combining technologiesRefining the VR experience in the DMT research studiesSubjective experiences of different altered states of consciousnessA harrowing experience with salvia divinorumThe professional and personal impact of psychedelics on Zeus’ recent lifeThe origins of Zeus’ scientific curiosity and his current research focusZeus Tipado’s Links
Website: www.tipado.comInstagram: @tipadoX: @tipadoTwitch: zeustipadoResources Mentioned in This Episode
Paper: Visual Hallucinations Originating in the Retinofugal Pathway Under Clinical and Psychedelic Conditions by Zeus Tipado -
Tanja Schalling is an Austrian artist, photographer and author. Her multifaceted journey in the arts began with a love for writing and evolved into a diverse practice that includes painting, photography, and poetry. Tanja's unique ability to combine visuals, audio, and poetry has garnered her a significant following on Instagram, where her profound and thought-provoking content resonates deeply with many.
Tanja embraces the use of AI in her art to bring her visions to life. Through her art, Schalling addresses profound existential questions, often channeling her insights into pieces that evoke a strong emotional response. Her journey with psychedelics has also influenced her work, providing her with profound experiences that contribute to the spiritual and philosophical depth of her creations.
Episode Highlights
The debate about art and AIExistential questions and quantum philosophyThe role of psychedelics in artTanja’s personal psychedelic experiencesThe Power of Now and Tanja’s spiritual awakeningUnderstanding pain and sufferingDMT and the nature of realityPsychedelics and personal growthEmpowerment of women's voicesExploring Amanita MuscariaIntuitive microdosingArt and social media impactPerception and realityThe nature of love and fearFinal thoughts on creativityTanja Schalling’s Links
Website: www.tanjaschalling.comInstagram: @vallemarieartResources Mentioned in This Episode
Book: The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart TolleBook: Existential Kink: Unmask Your Shadow and Embrace Your Power by Carolyn ElliottCitizen Science Research Project: Mothers of the Mushroom -
Acacea Lewis is a lecturer and leader in the field of Cultural Anthropology in Psychedelics. She founded Divine Master Alchemy, a school dedicated to providing cultural context in entheogenic exploration. Her mission is to guide both newcomers and experienced individuals deeper into their communion with mushrooms through vibrant, contextually relevant, and meaningful ways.
Acacea's approach integrates cultural, medicinal, expansive, and historical narratives, enriching the exploration of psychedelics. She has spoken at dozens of universities and in a variety of academic, and professional settings, currently she offers several courses that people can purchase and watch live or recorded on Kajabi.
Episode Highlights
01:19 Acacea Lewis: cultural anthropologist and psychedelic expert
04:39 Acacea's unique upbringing and early academic journey
05:42 The impact of Acaea’s early psychedelic experiences
07:32 Making sense of the mystical and scientific aspects of psychedelics
10:17 Cultural and historical contexts of psychedelic use
26:03 The Western approach to psychedelics and its limitations
31:54 Ethical and sustainable practices in psychedelics
49:45 The benefits of eucommia flowers
50:27 Emotional health and chinese medicine
52:04 Microdosing and conscious dosing
54:17 Amanita mushrooms: benefits and misconceptions
55:38 Teaching global plant medicine
57:57 The journey to non-duality through buddhism
01:19:00 Daily practices and nutrition
01:30:43 Grief, healing and spiritual growth
01:39:18 Buddhist practices and mantras
Acacea Lewis’ Links
Website: www.acacealewis.comInstagram: @acacealewisFacebook: Acacea Kailen LewisKajabi: www.acacea.mykajabi.comResources Mentioned in This Episode
Source for Amanita: Black Sage BotanicalsSource for Eucommia: Samsara HerbsMexican Curandera Maria SabinaEthnomycologist Gordon R. Wasson - Show more
