Psychedelic Divas

In Episode 18, we break down the various elements that make up a psychedelic container: The overall physical, emotional and energetic structure that holds a psychedelic journey. Starting with safety (because it's always a good idea to start with safety), this episode dissects the aspects that make up a well-held container such as facilitator expertise, intentions, the right setting, sacredness and emotional well-being. We also get practical with insights into preparing one's emotional landscape, selecting a conducive physical setting, and ensuring proper integration post-journey. Finally, I share a personal story about my own experiences in the jungles of Peru, which provided three very different settings with three different outcomes and lots of learning! Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: ·        Website: PsychedelicDivas.com ·        Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com ·        Instagram: @psychedelicdivas ·        YouTube: @carladetchon  ·        Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.  

In this special episode, I'm sharing a conversation that originally aired on Modern Latina in Midlife with Sonia Flores, who invited me on for an open-hearted introduction to psychedelics, plant medicine, and the healing journey. This episode was created with beginners in mind. Those who are curious but maybe don't know where to start. Sonia and I explored the deep, transformational power of psychedelics. It was such a soulful, grounded conversation, and I'm honored to bring it to the Psychedelic Divas community. We talk about what psychedelics are (spoiler: not all are plant-based), how they support emotional and spiritual healing, and how to safely and intentionally approach this work, whether you're microdosing, sitting in ceremony, or simply beginning to explore. If you've been feeling the nudge to learn more, this is a safe and beautiful place to start your journey. In this episode, we talk about: ·      The difference between plant-based and synthetic psychedelics (and why both can be powerful tools) ·       What a healing journey with psychedelics actually looks like ·       Why intention + integration are everything ·       How microdosing works and how it differs from full-dose journeys ·       The importance of preparation, safe containers, and trustworthy facilitators ·       What I've learned from 40+ years in this space, including 22 years with Ralph Metzner ·       The “critical period” that opens after a journey and how to make the most of it ·       How psychedelics reconnect us with our inner knowing, intuition, and truth ·       Practical do's and don'ts for beginners, and how to tell if you're truly ready   Connect with Sonia:                                                      Website : https://www.sonia-flores.com/ Podcast: https://www.sonia-flores.com/podcast Instagram: @modernlatinainmidlife  Email:  sonia@sonia-flores.com Connect with Carla: If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: Website:  https://psychedelicdivas.com/  Carla's Coaching: carladetchon.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In episode 16, we go deep with Coltrane Lord. Coltrane is a psychedelic integration specialist, artist, and healer. We trace Coltrane's personal journey from trauma to transcendence, her transformative experiences with plant medicines, and the founding of the Wonderland Project, a nonprofit organization that connects marginalized women suffering from PTSD due to domestic violence, rape, and sexual exploitation to trauma-informed psychedelic care. We look at the importance of safe and sacred psychedelic practices, honoring indigenous cultures, and the broader implications for women's healing and empowerment through psychedelics. Coltrane also shares the inspiration behind her Eden Experience, an artistic project aimed at empowering women to reclaim their bodies and heal through creative expression.   Learn More About Coltrane Lord: https://www.lordcoltrane.com/ https://www.wonderlandproject.love/   Connect with Carla:If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: Website: https://psychedelicdivas.com/ Carla's Coaching: https://carladetchon.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow.

Ancestral wisdom meets psychedelic healing with this week's guest on Psychedelic Divas.  In episode 15, I interview Tricia Eastman, a medicine woman and pioneer in the psychedelic movement. Tricia shares her rich ancestral background, including her family's traditions of Afro-Mestiza shamanism and wisdom passed down through generations. Together we explore Tricia's personal journey with plant medicines including the transformative impact of Iboga and Ibogaine. This episode delves into the powerful healing potentials of psychedelics, especially for treating substance abuse and deep emotional trauma, while emphasizing the critical role of proper preparation and integration in psychedelic therapy. The conversation also touches on how traditional practices can harmonize with modern therapeutic modalities.   Learn More About the Tricia Eastman • Read Tricia's book: Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom, and Psychedelic Initiation  • https://www.psychedelicjourneys.com/ • ahttps://www.ancestralheart.com/ • https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicjourneys/   Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: • Website and Safety Guide:  https://psychedelicdivas.com/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas  ·   YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon • Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In episode 14 of Psychedelic Divas, my guest is Wendy Tucker, daughter of psychedelic pioneer Ann Shulgin, who was married to ground-breaking psychedelic chemist Sasha Shulgin. Wendy shares her extensive history within the psychedelic community, including hosting the infamous Friday Night Dinners that began as a family gathering and evolved into a critical hub for underground psychedelic culture. Wendy discusses Ann and Sasha's legendary work, including Sasha's resynthesis of MDMA along with 200 novel compounds and Ann's seminal therapeutic contributions within the psychedelic community. Wendy also discusses the creation of the Shulgin Foundation, whose goal is to preserve the historic Shulgin Farm and lab, and the ongoing community efforts to maintain this legacy. The conversation touches on Sasha's meticulous process for testing novel compounds, the importance of safe and informed psychedelic use, and the educational work being continued today through the Foundation and other platforms. This episode offers a deep dive into the historical and personal stories that shaped the psychedelic movement.   Learn More About the Shulgins To find out about events at the Shulgin Farm or to contribute to the foundation, go to: ShulginFoundation.org   To order PIHKAL or TIHKAL or other books, check out TransformPress.com   Rent the movies: Dirty Pictures and Better Living Through Chemistry on streaming platforms or view on YouTube   Find the Shulgin Vault at Erowid.org   Connect with Carla If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: ·        Website: PsychedelicDivas.com ·        Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com ·        Instagram: @psychedelicdivas ·        YouTube: @carladetchon ·        Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In this episode, I interview a dear psychedelic sister, Cathy Coleman, who was married to my teacher, Ralph Metzner for 31 years. Cathy is the author of the recently released book, Ralph Metzner, Explorer of Consciousness—The Life and Legacy of a Psychedelic Pioneer. This book contains over 60 tributes, essays and stories from people who were deeply influenced by Ralph's work (spoiler alert, I'm one of the contributors). In addition to being Ralph's wife, Cathy earned a doctorate in East-West Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies where she also served as Director of Student Services and later Dean of Students when Ralph was Academic Dean and professor. Cathy later worked as Executive Director of EarthRise Retreat Center at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, as President of Kepler College (of Astrological Arts and Sciences) and with CIIS' Center for Psychedelic-Assisted Therapies and Research. She was co-founder, with Ralph, and is a current board member, of the Green Earth Foundation. She is also an extremely talented professional consulting astrologer, who I can personally recommend. Cathy shares personal insights into her life with Ralph, from tripping on ibogaine with Terence McKenna to intimate details surrounding Ralph's death in their home in 2019. We talk about Ralph's relationships with Timothy Leary and Ram Dass and his deep commitment to integrity, forgiveness, and the expansion of consciousness, and we also talk about our personal experiences in a 12-year women's group. Learn more about Cathy's astrology work: cathycolemanastrology.com Learn more about Ralph Metzner's life and work: greenearthfound.org Get the book HERE!!!:  Ralph Metzner: Explorer of Consciousness    Connect with Carla: If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong:  •    Website: PsychedelicDivas.com •    Carla's Coaching: CarlaDetchon.com •    Instagram: @psychadelicdivas •    YouTube: @carladetchon •    Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

In this episode, we dive into the concept of “core wounds”—those deep psychological injuries formed in early childhood that shape our self-beliefs and behaviors. I share my personal psychedelic experiences and coaching insights, while also discussing the significance of identifying and healing these wounds for expanded self-awareness and personal growth. I share my personal core wound story, as well as looking into the protective, defensive mechanisms that our younger selves build as a protection from further harm. I also discuss some ways you can do your own safe exploration and healing around your own core wound, ideally with the help of a therapist, coach, guide or trusted friend. Connect with Carla: If you're inspired by this episode and want to stay connected, follow Carla and Psychedelic Divas on social media or visit the website to get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong: ·        Website: PsychedelicDivas.com ·        Carla's Coaching CarlaDetchon.com ·        Instagram: @psychedelicdivas ·        YouTube: @carladetchon ·        Subscribe & Review: If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Psychedelic Divas. Your support helps amplify these important conversations and grow our community.

Mareesa Stertz, visionary filmmaker, storyteller, and co-founder of Lucid News and the Global Psychedelic Society, shares her transformative journey with psychedelics, which began at a young age in Las Vegas with many challenging, yet enlightening, experiences. Mareesa discusses the pivotal role psychedelics have played in healing her trauma, the importance of community and storytelling in fostering collective healing, and her upcoming projects, including a comprehensive online storytelling workshop and a large-scale art installation at Burning Man. Mareesa emphasizes the significance of realistic expectations for those seeking psychedelic-assisted healing and provides practical advice for individuals with trauma looking to explore these powerful substances. Finally, Mareesa shares insights into her deeply personal film project “Confessions of a Psychonaut” and the cultural importance of Lucid News.   You can learn more about Mareesa's projects at... YourStoryisEverything.com - Learn about Mareesa's storytelling programs TheSphinxGate.com - Immersive Art ConfessionsofaPsychonaut.com - Documentary Project TheSeeingMachine.com - Film work GlobalPsychedelic.org - Community Building/Psychedelics   Watch this episode on YouTube   Get your free Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do If Things Go Wrong here: PsychedelicDivas.com 

My dear friend, Alan Levin, interviewed me for his podcast Crossing the Boundary. I first met Alan in a Ralph Metzner circle, and we have been dear friends for decades now, sharing many, deep transformational moments together both on and off the mat. It was an honor to be featured on his podcast and to share tales of our time together with Ralph. Alan's connection with Ralph predates mine by many years, and it was fun to journey back in time together to reminisce about one of our most important teachers.   Here's what Alan wrote in the email he sent out promoting this podcast: Carla and I were in ceremonial spaces together many times with the masterful guide, Ralph Metzner. Metzner's approach to psychedelic ceremonies included what he called “divinations,” purposeful inner journeys for opening to divine guidance and healing. He would take us through mythic realms and lead us through spiritual practices, some of which aimed to heal wounded parts of ourselves and explore our relationship to the physical, psychological and spiritual aspects of male and female consciousness.   Through her work as an integration coach and through her podcast series, Psychedelic Divas, Carla supports people in the preparation and integration of psychedelic journeys. She is passing along the legacy of Metzner's wisdom teachings. Her emphasis, as the podcast name makes clear, is on the feminine. While ultimately, we all need to balance the male/female within, the long suppression of the feminine in humanity calls for us to highlight that aspect of our nature. We need an affirmative action focus of our attention on HER for our personal benefit, and for the much-needed transformation of the collective human consciousness.   Learn more about Alan's work here: www.CrossingTheBoundary.org   Watch more episodes of Alan's YouTube series   Listen to more episodes of Alan's podcast   Check out Alan's useful handbook: Preparation for a Sacred Psychedelic Journey    Watch this episode on the Psychedelic Divas YouTube Channel    Get your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong    Follow Psychedelic Divas on Instagram  

In this episode, Danielle Nova, co-founder of Flow State and the Microdosing Facilitator Training, shares her personal story of overcoming a 15-year addiction with the help of psychedelics. She offers her thoughtful insights into addiction recovery as the founder of Psychedelic Recovery, the critical role microdosing can play in healing addictive patterns, and her deeply personal familial healing journey. We also discuss the Microdosing Facilitator Training, co-created by Danielle, which Carla joined as a participant. Our conversation touches on the broader implications and applications of microdosing, its potential for personal transformation, and the hurdles faced in promoting such educational content on social media platforms, which often ban discussions of psychedelics, even for harm reduction and educational purposes. Join us for an inspiring conversation on the future of addiction recovery and the power of microdosing. Interested in the Microdosing Facilitator Training?  Get $250 off by using the code DIVAMICRO at checkout!If you use this code to make your discounted purchase, we may earn an affiliate commission, for which we will be grateful! Watch Danielle's Addiction Recovery Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRv19w7XU3o&t=332s James Fadiman's Book: Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance https://www.microdosingbook.com Learn more about Danielle https://flowstatenow.com https://www.instagram.com/connectwithd/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/connectwithd/ https://psychedelicsocietysf.org https://psychedelicrecovery.org https://www.facebook.com/connectwithd Watch us on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@carladetchon Connect with Psychedelic Divas Pick up your Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong https://psychedelicdivas.com/ Follow us on Instagram  https://instagram.com/psychedelicdivas

My guest for this episode of Psychedelic Divas is Valeria McCarroll, PhD, LMFT, a psychedelic educator, writer, and speaker who teaches courses on psychedelic humanities at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Having been in the field of psychedelics for over a decade, Valeria has developed and taught curriculum for the training of psychedelic guides as well as serving as a consultant in the synthesis of ethical codes and navigating rupture and repair processes.   Valeria and I first met at an underground psychedelic gathering in 2015, and that fortuitous meeting has grown into a long-term friendship involving many collaborative adventures. In this conversation, Valeria elaborates on her extensive background in psychedelic work, highlighting her experience in non-dual wisdom traditions, somatics, psychedelics, and social justice. We chat about the significance of intuition, the integration of spiritual practices with psychedelics, and the role of the divine feminine in modern psychedelic practices. We also touch on the obstacles faced by the psychedelic community, like the FDA's decision on MDMA and the challenges of harmonizing underground and above-ground practices. It includes insights on creating effective psychedelic containers and the importance of rebalancing masculine and feminine energies in healing practices.   You can learn more about Valeria and her work at ValeriaMcCarroll.com You can also follow her on Instagram.   Learn more about Ralph Metzner's work at https://www.greenearthfound.org   Download our Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong at PsychedelicDivas.com   Did you know you could watch this episode on our YouTube Channel?

What's it like to trip in a MRI? That question would send most people running for the emergency exits, but not this week's guest Executive Coach, Author and Speaker, Amy Wong. Amy shares her experience as a participant in a cutting-edge psilocybin study led by renowned researcher Robin Carhart-Harris at UCSF's Neuroscape Neuroscience center.   Combining images and information from the MRI machine, an EEG cap, simultaneous feedback via a handheld device while in the MRI and detailed interview notes, the study aimed to capture real-time brain signatures alongside subjective experiences during psilocybin trips.   Follow along as Amy details each of her four distinct psylocibin journeys as the very first participant in this cutting-edge study. Her story is a testament to the potential of psychedelics in personal transformation and scientific exploration.   You can find more about Amy and her book at her website: AlwaysOnPurpose.com   Don't forget to download my Psychedelic Safety Guide Including What to Do When Things Go Wrong on our beautiful website: PsychedelicDivas.com Follow Us on Instagram Watch Us on YouTube

I'm your host, Carla Detchon, and this episode is a little different in that it's a live talk I gave at Psychedelic First Friday, a monthly event hosted by the Santa Cruz Psychedelic Society, which is held at Green Magic Yoga. In this episode, I'm the one being interviewed by the lovely Dr. Jen Christian, who I originally met on the Clubhouse App.   Over the hour, Jen and I covered a lot of territory, and I shared some (hopefully) entertaining stories. We chatted about:   ·       My historical psychedelic perspective (historical as in dating back to the 80s LOL). ·       My experiences with Ralph Metzner and his amazing, guided group experiences. ·       All things Divine Feminine and why it's important to honor that energy. ·       What worries me about the future of psychedelic medicine. ·       How Jen and I both hold integration as the most important part of the journey, because it's the only way to make change real. ·       My favorite medicine and so much more.     ·       Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/psychedelicdivas/ ·       Website: https://psychedelicdivas.com/ ·       Be sure to check out and support our hosts for this event: https://www.greenmagicyoga.com/

Advisory: There is a brief, non-graphic mention of sexual harm/assault contained in this podcast.    We are exploring the depths in this episode. You know, those parts that we're not supposed to talk about in polite society: sex, drugs, consciousness. Today's guest embodies them all. This episode features Britta Love, an advocate for sex workers' rights and the decriminalization of drugs and sex work. We begin our discussion with a deep dive into the divine feminine, reclaiming feminine power and breaking binaries.   The conversation delves into trauma, femininity, balancing masculine and feminine energies as well as a life-changing experience with Iboga. We also discuss the integration of conscious sexuality with psychedelic rituals, social justice and embodied consent. As a certified somatic sex educator through the Institute for the Study of Somatic Sex Education, Britta has trained with the Betty Martin School of Consent and is a Certified Circlekeeper with the Planning Change Restorative Justice Certification Program.   Links PsychedelicDivas.com www.brittaloved.com   Power and Embodied Consent for Psychedelic Practitioners training and retreat October 2024 in NY   The Iboga Experience anthology where Britta shared their story

In this episode of Psychedelic Divas, the multi-talented Dream Mullick shares her diverse experiences and insights spanning writing, teaching, producing, and death coaching. Dream shares her journey from co-producing the Psychedelic Integration Conference at Esalen to her upcoming documentary on Rick Doblin's mission to legalize MDMA. Our conversation touches on psychedelic experiences, their impact on trauma, the significance of sacred ceremonies, and Dream's personal encounters with death, grief and near-death experiences. Dream offers practical advice on integrating ceremony into everyday life and underscores the importance of safely navigating psychedelic journeys.   https://www.dreammullick.com/ https://entheowheel.com https://whatatrip.film   RECEIVE YOUR FREE GUIDE: “PSYCHEDELIC SAFETY TIPS INCLUDING WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG:  https://psychedelicdivas.com/

In this episode, we explore the role psychedelics, especially ketamine, can play in women's health from menstruation to menopause. Psychotherapist Melissa Whippo shares her history working with women both before and after birth to help them with anxiety, depression and other mood disorders. Melissa was behind the first study to determine whether ketamine was safe for lactating mothers.   We discuss how psychedelics might mitigate hormonal fluctuations during PMS and perimenopause, addressing issues such as feminine rage and how ketamine can often soften challenging mood swings. We take a dive into the more “real” side of motherhood and the difficulties mothers face including bonding difficulties and partner support, while also exploring the profound, often psychedelic, nature of the childbirth experience. Melissa shares personal accounts of ketamine and psychedelics significantly alleviating her depression, which she was shown had actually been her mother's depression that she took on at birth. She also credits psychedelics with fostering a more empathic mothering perspective and describes how she has shared her own medicine use with her teenagers.   We also balance these benefits with cautions about ketamine's potential darker aspects, including side effects and addictive qualities and emphasizing the importance of dosing and choosing a reputable provider and setting for treatment.  

In this episode, I dive into the recent developments in the psychedelic world, exploring the FDA advisory panel's surprising vote against the use of MDMA for treating PTSD. Join us as I unpack the implications of this decision and reflect on what it means for the future of psychedelic therapy. To put it in context, I provide a little historical back story on how MDMA became a Schedule I drug. I then discuss the history of MAPS and their tireless work to bring MDMA back into the therapeutic world as a legal medicine. I talk about the wisdom of the medicine, lessons on integrity, ethical standards, and the importance of accountability in psychedelic therapy. Finally, I explore the difference between intention and expectation in psychedelic experiences and how the medicine can often say no to us when we show up with an expectation instead of an open-minded intention. Until next time, keep exploring and growing together!   RECEIVE YOUR FREE GUIDE: “PSYCHEDELIC SAFETY TIPS INCLUDING WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG:  https://psychedelicdivas.com/

What's a nice girl from the Midwest doing with an underground psychedelic guide? (Thanks for the inspiration, Michael Pollan!) The good, the bad and the transcendent—Sheri discusses her various journeys and the messages she received. Sheri and Carla discuss the various merits of snorting versus smoking 5-meO-DMT The power of integration. Sheri shares how she integrated the messages and visions from her journeys in order to uplevel her vibration—and her life!   Sheri Salata is a world-class producer and transformation guide who leads women around the globe in creating limitless lives. Sheri dove into the deep end of the personal growth pool when she landed a job at 35 with Oprah Winfrey as an entry-level promotions producer and ultimately rose to Executive Producer of The Oprah Winfrey Show and Co-President of Harpo Studios and OWN. Her memoir, The Beautiful No: And Other Tales of Trial, Transcendence and Transformation, is a journey through failure, despair, disappointment and anxiety until she finally arrived at the life of her dreams, which she began to fully manifest at 56. Today, Sheri lives in full service to the divine feminine. She has created two revolutionary membership communities. The first, The Support System, is for women who are passionate about expanding the possibilities for their lives. And to help women succeed in business, she co-created the Prosper Network. As she says on her website, she's here to remind us that life is meant to be dazzling.   Show Notes & Links Thanks for the inspiration, Michael Pollan! Michael Pollan How to Change Your Mind   You can find all things Sheri at her website: sherisalata.com/

In this inaugural episode of Psychedelic Divas, Carla Detchon speaks to the painful two-year process behind the creation of Psychedelic Divas. Follow along as she details her journey from terror to triumph as she perseveres in finally integrating the message the Universe handed her two years ago.    RECEIVE YOUR FREE GUIDE: “PSYCHEDELIC SAFETY TIPS INCLUDING WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS GO WRONG: https://psychedelicdivas.com/

Welcome to Psychedelic Divas where we demystify the world of psychedelics through the wisdom of the divine feminine. In each episode you'll hear from amazing psychedelic filmmakers, doctors, authors, researchers, educators, storytellers, ceremonialists, underground guides, long-term keepers of the psychedelic flame and more. Our intention with this podcast is to provide a safe haven, a sanctuary for open-hearted individuals seeking personal growth, spiritual expansion, and a deeper connection with themselves and the world around them. Thanks for listening--We look forward to growing together.