Cultivating Connections

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Cultivating Connections is created by two brothers who have come to learn that at the root of our problems is our inability or unwillingness to connect. Our tendency to disconnect from everything has led us into hopelessness and despair, into drug addiction and depression. We realized in order to promote our mental health we needed to explore ways to cultivate connection in our lives. This podcast is one of our attempts to do just that. In this podcast, we will talk about mental illness, psychedelic experiences, and altered states of consciousness, among other things. Thanks for listening.

Ryan Van Tuinen


    • Sep 20, 2022 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 39 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Cultivating Connections

    9/8/22 - Ritual Week 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2022 25:31


    We recap week 3 This week a notable change in Rory's behavior was seen when he reached out to Ryan as soon as the craving to to use drugs first emerged. This is a major difference in Rory's behavior from his past. Rory has never previously attempted to get ahold of me for potential intervention in his process of acquiring his drug of choice.

    SPECIAL: Dr. Rick Strassman Interview 9/5/2022

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2022 64:08


    This was our second interview with Dr. Rick Strassman Author of DMT; The Spirit Molecule and The Psychedelic Handbook. We interviewed DR. Rick Strassman again following his recent appearance on the Joe Rogan Podcast and his release of his new book 'The Psychedelic Handbook' Check out our YouTube page for video clips from this interview! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZvApgMamf1wtfZo4Wmxmxw/videos

    9/1/22 - Ritual Week 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 22:15


    In this episode Rory and I talk about our second Ritual, and how the week has went since then.

    8/24/22 - Ritual Week 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2022 19:13


    Rory and I talk about the second week of our new ritual

    8/17/22 - Starting at Square One

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 15:06


    August 17, 2022 Update - Starting at Square One Earlier this year we finished up filming for a documentary which is set to be released later in the year. In this episode we talk about how our sacred ritual practice and other therapeutic connection outlets we had fell apart and ultimately led to Rory's relapse into old patterns and behaviors. We are in a much different place now than we were when we last uploaded a podcast and we aim to keep our audience up to date and release more frequent episodes regularly. Although we feel we are starting from square one we feel we are in a unique position to capitalize on our own journey's in ways we weren't able to in the past. Rory in his recovery from opiates and Ryan in his own life's fulfilment. We aim to upload video logs to our YouTube page and more podcasts detailing how we plan to overcome these hurdles and whether we succeed or not, it is the journey and effort that makes it count for us.

    2 Years After Plant Medicine - Trying to Help Another Human (Psychedelic Therapy Documentary)

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2022 39:03


    In this episode we discuss our experience trying to use our ritualized setting and psychedelic therapy to help another human overcome addiction. Our experience was documented on film, which will be released on ReasonTV's YouTube channel in the near future.

    2 Years after Plant Medicine (YouTube Short Film/Documentary) - Part 3 of 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 36:54


    Part 3 of 3 We talk about this last summers experience recording a short documentary after a woman reached out to us with the hopes of having a plant medicine ritual that could help change her life. Much like Rory, she was also on a methadone and in active addiction when she reached out to us. The film documents the events from meeting her up until a few weeks after the plant medicine experience. The short film/documentary will be released within a few weeks on YouTube. Thanks for listening!

    2 Years after Plant Medicine (A new Ritual is Born) - Part 2 of 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 8:44


    Part 2 of 3 We talk about the de evolution of our current Ritual and what we will do to revitalize it and how we have started a new Ritual without any exogenous substances.

    2 Years after Plant Medicine (Value of feeling Death) - Part 1 of 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2022 12:18


    Part 1 of 3. In this episode we recap the past two years. What catalyzed our transformation then, what we've been through since, and where we see ourselves going forward. We also pick up where we left off from the last episode when Rory returned from California, and what life was like recovering from the traumatic experience he had there. We've also been part of a documentary film which should be airing by the end of February, we talk about that process as well.

    Cultivating Connections # 27 - A Traumatic Experience (RE-UPLOAD)

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2021 28:50


    In this episode we talk about my trip to California and how it landed me in a psychiatric hospital for three days. Ever since then I have struggled. I have been actively trying to repress that experience and I have been using drugs to do that. I'm trying to find the courage to face it, and accept it. Expressing myself on this podcast is one of the tools that has helped me in the past. I hope it can help me now. - Rory This is a reuploaded episode recorded on 12/1/2021

    Cultivating Connections # 27 - A Traumatic Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2021 28:50


    A few months ago I took a trip to California and ended up in a hospital with paranoid psychosis. For three days I worried that someone was going to kill me, I didn't sleep, I was so scared that if I did I would not wake up. After 72 hours and a few doses of antipsychotic medication I managed to calm down enough to get myself out of the hospital. I was scared that they would not let me leave, I was still very paranoid and didn't know what was real or not. As I tried to get home to Vermont I felt that I was being followed and watched. I changed my flights multiple times because I thought someone was going to get me. Eventually I made it home. But since that experience I have never fully dealt with it. I have been avoiding and repressing it. I have been using opiates to facilitate that repression. I know I have to face the fear of that experience. That is what I am trying to do now. In this podcast my brother and I talk about how this process is going. - Rory

    Cultivating Connections # 26 - Starting Over

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2021 44:53


    There is value in vulnerability. That is what I have learned since beginning this podcast. Still, I doubt it. I doubt if people will understand, if they will accept me and the things I've done. But so far they have. People have embraced it, and showed understanding and compassion. I'm tremendously grateful for the love and compassion I've received. "I rather live telling the truth and be judged for my mistakes, than falsely held up..."

    Cultivating Connections # 25 - Patience

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 20, 2021 44:38


    Hi guys, I'm so grateful for all of our listeners. When my brother and I started this podcast I was still struggling with my mental health, even though I had been clean from opiates for a few months I still had so much of my unconscious mind to uncover. This podcast has been one of the ways for me to do that. Your support means so much to me! We just added a new member to our Sunday ritual/integration practice. Her name is Samantha and we talk about what that experience was like for us, and what it looks like going forward. Make sure to check out our website! https://www.cultivatingconnectionsvt.com/ This was my favorite episode to record thus far. I hope you all enjoy - Rory

    Cultivating Connections # 24 - Heroism

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2021 20:40


    We talk about what a hero means to us, how we see our fellow citizens as more heroic than most celebrities, and how we overcome the hurdles that are placed before us in our own hero's journey.

    Cultivating Connections # 23 - The Stars Have Aligned

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 30, 2020 14:28


    In this episode we talk about what life was like growing up and how we felt ashamed of things we couldn't control, in a sense life was happening to us. As we age and mature, we realize we have more control of how we think and deal with our thoughts than when we were younger. Freeing us from shame of our loved ones. We just uploaded our first Video/ Audio episode of 'Candid Conversations' onto our youtube Cultivating Connections. We hope you get a chance to check it out and let us know what you think of it! Enjoy the episode!

    Cultivating Connections # 22 - Wake up and Smell the Roses

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2020 27:25


    This week is the first week in a long time where we had our Sunday ritual practice without our dad there, we talk among other things, about that and what affect that had on the set and setting. We also talk about this past year, and how far we've each come in just one year. A lot of times it's difficult to see just how much one has accomplished, but we realize, when it comes time to look back on this year, it may be one of the best years of our lives. Thanks for listening, hope you enjoy!

    Cultivating Connections # 21 - Transforming Trauma

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2020 29:27


    In this episode I talk about my best friend Hunter's suicide and the guilt from my inability to act on the warning signs he exhibited before his suicide. I also talk about an experience when/where I overdose and with no one home but my brother, I left my life into his hands to deal with. But after all the shame and guilt I love this community here and I'm so grateful for everything that has transpired in the past to get me here today.

    Cultivating Connections # 20 - Cured of addiction?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2020 20:42


    Ryan asks me if I consider myself cured from addiction, we talk about toxic vs non toxic substances

    Cultivating Connections # 19 - Drug Education Reform

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 26, 2020 28:38


    This episode is really important to us. We discuss drug education reform, alternate perspectives catalyzed by altered states of consciousness, the importance of one's relationship to substances, and holding a reverence for sacred substances.

    Cultivating Connections # 18 - Matt Simpson from Worth the Fight Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2020 30:24


    Today we talk with Matthew Simpson author of the book, Worth The Fight: Acting for a Better World, A Guide to Spirituality, Psychedelic Medicines and Overcoming Trauma, and host of the podcast Worth The Fight. Matthew has done work for Veterans for entheogenic Therapy INC. Matt has been an advocate for proper integration of psychedelic experiences. Some topics we discuss include psychedelic integration, pre frontal cortex, and drug reform. Hope you enjoy!

    # 17 - Cultivating Connections with Tom Morano

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2020 50:42


    In this episode we talk with Tom Morano, he's a very close friend and the third member of our little ritual we do on Sundays, we talk about our experiences with him and his own life experience and his relationship to psychedelics and other substances.

    # 16 - The Hero's Journey with Samantha

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 15, 2020 60:25


    We interview Sam, a very close family friend, about her past drug addiction and her ayahuasca experience that ultimately helped her get clean from opiates and cocaine similar to Rory's story.

    Cultivating Connections # 15 - Gina Dominica's Psychedelic journey

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 8, 2020 58:06


    On this episode we have our good friend Gina join us to tell us about her experiences. We talk about rituals, psychedelics, mental health and more. Many thanks to Gina for being open and sharing with us, it was an absolute pleasure and definitely my favorite episode to record so far. If anyone else listening wants to share their experiences and connect (either on or off camera) with us send us an email. We would love to connect! Thanks for listening.

    Cultivating Connections # 14 - Rory Speaks about his Psychedelic Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2020 16:01


    I've been getting a lot of questions on social media asking me about what the psychedelic experience provided me with, and questions about how it helped changed my behaviors and views on life. So I decided to record a 15 minute episode where I talk about it in depth, and go over what else has helped me get off and stay off illicit drugs. Thank you for listening!

    Cultivating Connections # 13.1 - Ryan's thoughts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 3:21


    I missed the ritual this week and wasn't sure how it would affect me. Honestly, it was a blessing simply for the fact that I learned how much this ritual provides for me. We also want to let people know that if you have a story you'd like to share, a story about mental health, addiction, depression, or psychedelics, that we would love to have you on our podcast to talk about it. Please send us an email at cultivatingconnectionsvt@gmail.com. Thank you for listening!

    Cultivating Connections # 13 - Rite of Passage

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 30, 2020 18:22


    Ryan missed our ritual this Sunday and we talk a bit about how that has affected us, we also talk about how important rite of passage is for the transformation of one's life, especially when confronting adulthood. If we can get our society to understand how important rite of passage is and if we can educate the youth about it, then we believe it could be massively impactful in the way of the world, and for everyone's future.

    Cultivating Connections # 12 - The Human Experience

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2020 22:17


    We talk about the human relationship with altered states of consciousness, wether endogenous or exogenous. This weekend we took part in a cold water immersion, with breathing techniques that gave us introspection to the capabilities we as humans have.

    Cultivating Connections #11 - Rituals

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2020 17:53


    Today we discuss the power of ritual, and we talk about why people in todays society don't incorporate rituals into their lives more often. We also talk about the impact it has had on both our lives and the lives of people connected to us.

    Cultivating Connections #10 - Growth, With Dr. Van Tuinen

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 5, 2020 21:45


    In this episode we get a new addition to the podcast, our dad an M.D. Psychiatrist who will be a consistent member on our podcast in the future. In this episode we get his perspective on how our ritual has affected his life, and talk about an experience in our ritual that was transformative for him and us all, thank you for listening.

    Cultivating Connections #9 - Relapse

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 21, 2020 11:17


    We talk about relapse and the state of mind one can be in before they make the decision to relapse, in this case it is conveyed through Rory's own personal experience.

    Cultivating Connections #8 - Religion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 12:04


    Religion is quite possibly the most powerful tool humans have ever created. It has empowered us to build cities, empires, and modern day as we know it. We all have a choice to use this tool. But should we?

    Cultivating Connections #7 - Acceptance

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2020 31:33


    In Podcast number 7, We talk about accepting our responsibility to heal/change ourselves and how reliying on external sources handicaps our ability to do so

    Cultivating Connections #6 - Death

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2020 17:57


    Check out this recording of Ryan and I talking about death and experiencing the overwhelming fear that literally took over and obliterated our ego, and how we are going to find value in it.

    Cultivating Connections #5 - Grief, Loss and Accepting the Past

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 9, 2020 16:16


    Today, I talk about losing my best friend at age 18 to suicide, my behaviors afterwards which were very hurtful towards others and detrimental to myself, and how they shaped me into who I am today, Im grateful for it all and I hope you can relate to it - Rory

    Cultivating Connections #4 - Fear of Feeling

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 5, 2020 18:31


    I talk about my fear of embracing others pain/emotion for my actions and Ryan sheds some perspective on the situation - Rory

    Cultivating Connections #3 - Gratitude

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2020 12:44


    This episode my brother and I express our gratitude towards each other and relive some powerful memories that shaped our relationship today. We now have our website where we share out group ritual structure. If you're interested check it out at cultivatingconnectionsvt.com Thank you all so much for your support!

    Cultivating Connections #2 - Finding Value in Shame

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2020 11:08


    Today my brother and I get deep when we talk about my past overdoses. We discuss the shame that we felt in the past and how it's shaping our present life in a positive way. Thank you all so much for listening, we appreciate the chance to express ourselves and encourage you to reach out to us if you can relate to what we talk about.

    Cultivating Connections #1 - Connecting vs. Disconnecting

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2020 50:10


    In this episode Rory and I discuss behaviors and how they can serve either to connect us or to disconnect us from each other, ourselves, and the present moment. We use examples from our own lives to highlight the importance of understanding our intentions behind our behaviors. We have been making a conscious effort to cultivate more behaviors that connect us, while reducing our reliance on disconnecting to cope with discomfort. Thanks for tuning in, and enjoy.

    Cultivating Connections Intro

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2020 1:53


    Hello, my name is Ryan. My brother Rory and I decided to create this podcast Cultivating Connections as an attempt to create more connections in our lives. Most of our lives we have been disconnecting from ourselves, and others. This has led us into depression and substance abuse problems. We have realized at the core of our problems is our inability or unwillingness to connect. Most of our behaviors serve to disconnect and distract us from the moment. Our goal through this podcast is to cultivate a deeper connection with our emotions and intuition and at the same time cultivate deeper connections as brothers. We hope we can connect with some listeners out there as well. In this intro, we talk about why we decided to create a podcast and some of the things we will talk about here. Thanks for listening.

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