Podcasts about psychedelic experiences

While Truth Fairy is away, Dr. T hosts this episode solo, welcoming Scott Hill, author of “Confrontation with the Unconscious: Jungian Depth Psychology and Psychedelic Experience”, who completed his PhD with a dissertation titled ‘Building a Jungian Framework for Understanding Psychedelic Induced Psychotic States' at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Dr. Hill shares his early transformative encounters with LSD in 1967, which, though initially ecstatic, devolved into psychologically traumatic events. These experiences led him on a lifelong journey of self-exploration, academic inquiry, and healing.  Scott shares his journey very openly with Dr. T and they discuss how Scott's return to academia in Cailfornia, studying under Stan Grof and Ralph Metzner, deepened his understanding of his own experiences. They examine how Jung's concepts of the collective unconscious and archetypes reflect in intense psychedelic states. Scott details how key reading, Holotropic Breathwork, a medicine circle. and an MDMA-assisted therapy session at Burning Man, and MDMA-assisted therapy all helped heal his ongoing flashbacks.  Dr. T and Scott Hill share a deep and revelatory conversation, at the end of which Scott expresses gratitude for the path he was forced onto in spite of how painfully it began. He describes writing and academic research as transformative tools and identifies scholarship as a spiritual practice in its own right. “Confrontation with the Unconscious: Jungian Depth Psychology and Psychedelic Experience”, Dr. Hill's book, is now foundational in psychedelic psychotherapy circles, and his insights are key to understanding much about psychedelic psychology. “As I read about the myths of Gilgamesh, Inanna,, Job and Christ, I was struck by the resonance between passages in those myths and my difficult psychedelic experiences. Given the Jungian view that myths are expressions of the archetypal unconscious, and given the resonance I experienced reading those myths, I started to wonder whether my terrifying trips, and perhaps those of others, might be understood, in Jung's words, as experiences of an archetypal nature.” - Scott Hill About Scott Hill:Scott J. Hill, Ph.D., lives in Sweden, where he conducts scholarly research on the intersection between psychedelic studies and Jungian psychology. He holds degrees in psychology from the University of Minnesota and in philosophy and religion from the California Institute of Integral Studies.Book: “Confrontation with the Unconscious: Jungian Depth Psychology and Psychedelic Experience” by Scott J. Hill__Resources discussed in this episode:“Confrontation with the Unconscious: Jungian Depth Psychology and Psychedelic Experience” by Scott J. Hill“Psychedelics and Psychotherapy: The Healing Potential of Expanded States” by Tim Read, Maria Papaspyrou, and others“Ralph Metzner, Explorer of Consciousness: The Life and Legacy of a Psychedelic Pioneer” by Cathy Coleman, PhD (Editor)“Breaking Convention: Psychedelic Pharmacology for the 21st Century” by Ben Sessa (Editor)“Drugs and the Mind” by Robert S De RoppAldous Huxley's BooksJ. Krishnamurti Books“Letters from the Earth” by Mark Twain“Man and His Symbols” by Carl G. Jung“Trials of the Visionary Mind” by John Weir PerryHolotropic BreathworkScott's chapter, Archetypes and the Collective Unconscious: Jungian Insights Into Psychedelic Experience, in “Breaking Convention: Psychedelic Pharmacology” is available on his  Academia.edu page (https://ciis.academia.edu/ScottHill) as is a preview copy of his book that includes the TOC, Preface, Introductory chapter, and Conclusion. There is also a book review of Scott's book by Jungian Analyst Stephen A. Martin.__Contact Punk Therapy:Patreon: Patreon.com/PunkTherapyWebsite: PunkTherapy.comEmail: info@punktherapy.com Contact Truth Fairy: Email: Truth@PunkTherapy.com

Some call it the "psychedelic renaissance." In the last decade or so, interest in psychedelic drugs has surged—and not just among Silicon Valley types and psychiatrists and neuroscientists. It's also surged among a stereotypically soberer crowd: academic philosophers. The reasons are clear. With their varied and sometimes transformative effects, psychedelics raise ethical questions, epistemological questions, metaphysical questions, questions about the nature of experience and the nature of the mind. My guest today is Dr. Chris Letheby. Chris is a philosopher of cognitive science at the University of Western Australia and the author of the 2021 book, Philosophy of Psychedelics. Here, Chris and I talk about the so-called classic psychedelics—LSD, psilocybin, ayahuasca, and others—and how interest in them has gone through three distinct waves. We discuss the effects that these substances seem to have, in particular their capacity to treat certain psychiatric conditions and their tendency to induce "mystical-like" experiences. We consider the idea that psychedelics might serve as agents of moral enhancement. And we dig into the psychological and neural mechanisms by which psychedelics seem to have their diverse—and often salutary—effects. Along the way, we talk about ontological shock, comforting delusions, brain plasticity, unselfing, microdosing, placebo effects and adverse effects, physicalism and idealism, the REBUS model, environmental virtues, plant consciousness, meditation, and much more. Maybe this is obvious but this episode is not just for the seasoned psychonauts out there. Whatever your personal experience with these substances, they offer a distinctive window into the mind—a new way of grappling with big questions. Perhaps this much is also obvious but we're not encouraging or endorsing the use of psychedelics here—just offering a little fuel for your intellectual fires! Alright friends, on to my conversation w/ Dr. Chris Letheby. Enjoy!   A transcript of this episode will be posted soon.   Notes and links 4:00 – For a brief historical overview of research into psychedelics, see this paper. 8:30 – For work by an early trailblazer in the philosophy of psychedelics, see Thomas Metzinger's Being No One. 12:30 – For our earlier episode on the psychology and philosophy of visual illusions, see here.  18:00 – For a history of the concept of “set and setting,” see here. 19:00 – A 2024 review of “adverse events” in classic psychedelics. 26:00 – A blog post on the history of the term “psychedelic.” 27:00 – A recent review and meta-analysis of the use of psychedelic therapy for depressive symptoms. 31:00 – On mystical experience see Walter Stace's classic work, Mysticism and Philosophy. On the measurement of mystical-type experiences, see, e.g., Walter Pahnke's paper here. 36:00 – On the idea of “psychoplastogens,” see here. 39:00 – See our earlier audio essay on placebo effects. 41:00 – For the study using Ritalin as an active placebo, see here.  44:00 – Michael Pollan's book on psychedelics is here. 48:00 – On the idea of “idealism,” see here. 50:30 – For the 2021 study on psychedelics' capacity to alter metaphysical beliefs, see here. 54:00 – For Dr. Letheby and collaborators' paper about the “mysticism wars,” see here. 1:02:00 – For a popular article on the possibility that psychedelics reduce fear of death, see here. 1:03:00 – For Dr. Letheby's paper on psychedelics and the fear of death, see here. 1:11:00 – The phrase “comforting delusion” comes from an article by Michael Pollan. 1:15:00 – For the “REBUS model,” see here. 1:20:00 – On the idea that psychedelics could serve as agents of moral enhancement, see the paper by Brian Earp here. 1:21:00 – For Dr. Letheby's paper on psychedelics and environmental virtues, see here. For his paper on psychedelics and forgiveness, see here. 1:23:00 – On the subfield of “virtue ethics,” see here. On the virtue of “living in place,” see the paper by Nin Kirkham here. 1:28:00 – For the New Yorker article, by Matthew Hutson, on how psychedelics led him to see trees as smart, see here. For the study, led by Sandeep Nayak, on psychedelics leading people to expand their attributions of consciousness, see here. 1:32:00 – For a first paper by Dr. Letheby on the comparison between meditation and psychedelics, see here.   Recommendations Psychedelic Experience, Aidan Lyon Varieties of Psychedelic Experience, Robert Masters & Jean Houston The Antipodes of the Mind, Benny Shanon   Many Minds is a project of the Diverse Intelligences Summer Institute, which is made possible by a generous grant from the John Templeton Foundation to Indiana University. The show is hosted and produced by Kensy Cooperrider, with help from Assistant Producer Urte Laukaityte and with creative support from DISI Directors Erica Cartmill and Jacob Foster. Our artwork is by Ben Oldroyd. Our transcripts are created by Sarah Dopierala.   Subscribe to Many Minds on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Pocket Casts, Google Play, or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also now subscribe to the Many Minds newsletter here! We welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to email us at: manymindspodcast@gmail.com.    For updates about the show, visit our website or follow us on Twitter (@ManyMindsPod) or Bluesky (@manymindspod.bsky.social).

Are you feeling called to psychedelics? This is your official invitation to a psychedelic magic mushroom retreat with me in Mexico from Sep 10-16. Get all the details ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠ and sign up for a free discovery call!My personal experiences with psychedelics have brought me so much healing and expansion! I've reversed my PTSD diagnosis, released shame and my inner critic, ignited my Intuition, and stepped into my power to create a life I LIKE. I share all those details in ep 242.In this episode:- The 4 levels of psychedelic preparation through the lens of the 4 elements (earth, water, fire, and air)- The 4 S's of psychedelic preparation: set (mindset), setting (location/environment), skillset, and support- how to set an Intention for your psychedelic experience- modalities to help with preparation and integration: Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy, somatic work, breathwork, interpersonal work, expressive arts therapy, ritual- how to keep the magic of your psychedelic experience with you through integration into your daily life- how mythology, archetypes, Nature connection, and animism can help us stay connected - reflection questions to help you prepare and integrateEARTH MAGIC WOMEN'S CIRCLEOn Earth Day - Thurs 5/22 at 1 PM EST - we're having an Earth Magic Celebration on Zoom inside the Wild Wellness Women's Circle.We'll be talking about:myths and creation stories about the Earth being personal and relationalpractical and magical ways to be more connected with Nature - to receive physical and mental health benefits and also to receive messages from your Intuitionhow to see Nature as a mirror for what's happening in our inner world through its cycles of growth and restsome plant medicines and herbs that everyone can start working with, and I'll even pull a plant medicine oracle card personally for YOU!When you join the ⁠Wild Wellness Women's Circle⁠…You'll automatically be emailed the Zoom link for this event, plus all upcoming events.You'll also get immediate access to all past live event records, all the self-paced resources, and our daily group chat.If you can't come live, you can watch the replays at YOUR most aligned time, and still make friends and connect in the group chat. Many of us do it this way!Join anytime. Cancel anytime. Name your own price if you need.Free Resources- Feel how you want to feel NOW with my ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Free Desire Map⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- FREE Masterclass: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Discover Your Spiritual Gifts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠- Sign up for a FREE 1:1 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠coaching curiosity call⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Let's Connect on⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Andrés Gomez Emilsson is the director of the San Francisco–based Qualia Research Institute (QRI), a nonprofit developing formal models of consciousness and emotional valence. QRI's research aims to untangle the harmonic, computational, and symmetry-driven mechanisms underlying phenomenological experience. They approach the optimization of subjective experience through two powerful psychotechnologies — psychedelics and meditation — using them to explore the state-space of mind and map the structure of qualia. In this conversation, we discuss the phenomenology of enlightenment, the non-local field effects of consciousness, and one of Andrés' side projects: how perfumes and smells modulate perception and emotional geometry. Check out his work at https://qri.org/ and follow his channel at https://www.youtube.com/@QualiaResearchInstitute.MAKE HISTORY WITH US THIS SUMMER:https://demystifysci.com/demysticon-2025PATREON https://www.patreon.com/c/demystifysciPARADIGM DRIFThttps://demystifysci.com/paradigm-drift-show00:00 Go!00:04:22 Research Phases and Insights00:06:37 Dynamic Systems and Brain Waves00:10:00 Neural Oscillation and Interaction00:15:17 Coupled Oscillators and Consciousness00:21:55 Brain Activity and Anesthesia00:23:35 Understanding Brain Patterns and Psychedelics00:26:03 Consciousness Beyond Molecular Interactions00:28:06 Meditation and Psychedelic Experiences00:30:19 Tracer Effects as Psychedelic Signatures00:34:09 Insights into High-Dose Psychedelic Experiences00:40:05 Safety and Ethics in Psychedelic Use00:44:16 Psychedelics and Meditation's Impact00:51:55 Frames of Perception and Transformation00:56:00 Psychedelic Experiences and Emotional Well-being01:01:13 Harm Reduction and Substance Use01:05:09 Acceptance and Stress Management01:06:30 Meditation Techniques for DMT Experiences01:10:18 Nature's Role in Stress Dissipation01:14:18 Psychedelics in Modern Society01:22:03 Meditation vs. Psychedelics01:26:39 Psychedelic Experiences and Personal Growth01:28:01 Laser Chess as a Metaphor for Brain Function01:32:42 Expectation and Experience01:36:07 Ego and Enlightenment01:41:03 Identifying Enlightenment and Cultural Dynamics01:46:16 Recognizing and Switching Views01:48:24 Understanding Ego and Motivation01:51:00 The Artist's Dilemma01:53:37 Enlightenment and Motivation01:57:07 Paths to Enlightenment02:00:16 Psychedelics and Consciousness02:06:32 Flow States in Art and Life02:09:24 Meditation and Music as Repetitive Practices02:11:57 Awakening and Functionality Post-Transformation02:14:31 The Hive Mind and Inner Harmony02:18:11 The Impact of 5-MeO-DMT on Consciousness02:22:49 Visual Illusions and Perceptions of Reality02:24:49 Neural Annealing Theory02:30:02 Music and Neural Annealing02:34:20 Surprise, Comedy, and Sensory Experience02:37:47 The Art and Science of Perfumery02:44:09 Using Scents to Influence Emotional States02:51:48 Scents Inspired by the Natural World02:55:04 Premium Fragrances for Fundraising02:57:28 Pear and Violet Perfume Exploration03:00:47 Sensory Experiences with Perfumes03:13:32 Understanding Brain Dynamics with Psilocybin03:16:04 Personal Experiences and Differences in Psychedelic Effects #psychedelicscience , #consciousness , #neuroscience, #brainwaves , #psychedelictherapy, #meditationscience , health, #psychedelicexperience, #neuroplasticity #philosophypodcast, #sciencepodcast, #longformpodcast ABOUS US: Anastasia completed her PhD studying bioelectricity at Columbia University. When not talking to brilliant people or making movies, she spends her time painting, reading, and guiding backcountry excursions. Shilo also did his PhD at Columbia studying the elastic properties of molecular water. When he's not in the film studio, he's exploring sound in music. They are both freelance professors at various universities. MUSIC: -Shilo Delay: https://g.co/kgs/oty671

Chapters00:00 Easter Celebrations and Family Time03:08 Shroom Experiences and Altercations05:50 Draft Discussions and Player Insights08:58 Edibles and Their Effects11:56 Psychedelic Experiences and Personal Reflections14:59 Kanye West's Controversial Statements17:56 Age Gaps in Relationships20:54 Cultural Perspectives on Relationships24:08 NFL Draft and Player Predictions26:59 Racism in Sports and Player Evaluations30:02 Shannon Sharpe's Relationship and Public Perception33:01 Warriors and NBA Playoff Predictions41:00 Lakers' Playoff Momentum43:51 Clippers' Potential and Kawhi's Impact44:53 Miami's Upset Potential45:56 Personal Relationships and Closure51:41 Instacart Insights and Business Strategies01:00:03 Energy Drinks and Daily Routines01:10:10 Toaster Strudels vs. Pop Tarts

In this video, I share one of the most intense and unforgettable experiences of my life—the time I met a 4th-dimensional cosmic snake during a DMT trip. This wasn't just some trippy visual… this being knew me. It spoke without words, delivered messages that hit me at the core of my existence and left me with insights that changed the way I live my life forever. Was it just my brain? Another dimension? A messenger from beyond? I don't know, but I'll never forget what it showed me.This is my story of breaking through on DMT, gaining interdimensional wisdom and the snake that somehow knew everything.Not advice. Just the raw truth of what I experienced.Instagram► instagram.com/imtrippin2hardContact me: imtrippin2hard@gmail.comThis video is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Always research, practice harm reduction, and follow your local laws.© TRiPP!NSend me a message! Support the show

One of the main reasons I started this podcast was to showcase the stories, experiences & impact these medicines have made upon people's lives. That being said, I still get goosebumps when I hear those stories as they remind me of the immense power that not only these medicines hold within them, but that we also hold within us. Todays guest on the show is a returning guest, one of my dear brothers in the world & someone who is one of the best story tellers I have ever met & in todays episode, we dive deep into a recent journey he had utilizing the trifecta of MDMA, psilocybin & intramuscular ketamine. As you'll hear, he recently attended a brand new center called the Awaken center that has opened up in Austin that has incredible staff on hand, medical teams, etc. & to say his journey was profound would be an understatement, but I'll save the details as a surprise for you to uncover as you tune in. Purchase Adam's products & receive a 15% discount by using code “SPRAGUE15” at checkout at the link below

We messed up and forgot it was the Passover Parsha this week! Apologies. Instead we are talking about next week's Parsha, Shemini. Did Nadav and Avihu have a psychedelic experience by trying to get too close to Hashem? How do you regulate yourself? What does food and kashrut have to do with it?We hope you enjoy this episode and don't forget to subscribe and review!

With a Vital Point that "You Are The Medicine", microdosing and integration coach Adrian Lozano joins host Jonathan Schecter to discuss the importance of practicing consistent self-improvement techniques, the essence of proper facilitation, and the wide range of methods available for personal growth. Adrian shares insights into the challenges and profound transformations experienced through the use of sacred mushrooms and emphasizes the necessity of integrating those experiences into everyday life. The conversation also explores the unique healing dynamics of the rave culture, highlighting the balance between recreational and therapeutic uses of psychedelics.Connect with Adrian at https://www.lozanoflows.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/lozano.flows/Join Blue Magic Alchemy at https://www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy00:00 Introduction to the Vital Point Podcast05:15 The Importance of Vetting Facilitators08:06 Personal Experiences with Psychedelics12:39 Living in the Mountains: A Journey of Healing19:12 Facilitating Psychedelic Experiences25:36 Building a Relationship with the Medicine32:43 Understanding the Amplifying Effects of Mushrooms37:54 Navigating the Challenges and Benefits of Raving41:17 The Importance of Integration in Psychedelic Work52:24 Personal Growth and Professional Work01:00:00 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts

As a subscriber, enjoy ad free and intro free episodes, early access to new episodes + a monthly "secret podcast" where you can ask me anything! Support the show and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠become a subscriber⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for just $4.99/mo!Thinking about joining my 6 month private coaching program? ⁠⁠Apply now⁠⁠ to lock in current rates before my 2025 rate increase.In this episode, I walk you through a step-by-step guide on how to prepare for an Iboga ceremony (or any big psychedelic experience). Drawing from my own experience and preparation for my second Iboga journey, I share how to navigate the process leading up to your ceremony, including setting intentions, writing questions for Iboga, and connecting your healing work with the Seven Chakras. I also talk about the importance of the energetic preparation and how to integrate emotional and psychological content as you get ready for this transformative experience. Whether you're new to psychedelics or preparing for another journey, this episode provides valuable insights to ensure you approach your ceremony with clarity and focus.Key Topics:Step 1: Answering the call: The moment you commit to your Iboga journey and what starts shifting energetically.Step 2: Awareness of thoughts, emotions, and suppressed memories: How to notice triggers, unresolved relationships, and new desires as they surface in preparation.Step 3: Setting energetic hygiene ground rules: How to ensure you're physically and mentally strong going into the ceremony.Step 4: Identifying themes and narrowing focus: How to review your notes and identify major themes you're working on.Step 5: Connecting themes to the Seven Chakras: A unique approach to aligning your work with the body's power centers for deeper healing.Step 6: Creating your list of questions and intentions for Iboga: How to craft open-ended questions that will guide you to the answers you seek during ceremony.Show Links:⁠FREE Iboga Prep Guide⁠Core Energy Coaching – ⁠⁠My Coaching Program⁠⁠Becoming an Empowered Empath⁠ by Wendy De Rosa [book]Episode 118 on Psychedelic Pre-Work (⁠Apple⁠ | ⁠Spotify⁠ | ⁠YouTube⁠)Stay Connected to Modern Psychedelics:Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@modernpsychedelics⁠⁠⁠YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠Modern Psychedelics YouTube⁠⁠⁠Website: ⁠⁠⁠www.modernpsychedelics.net⁠⁠⁠Explore Coaching with Lana: Ready to transform and integrate higher consciousness into your life? ⁠⁠⁠Explore 1:1 Coaching with Lana⁠⁠⁠FREE Resources:⁠⁠⁠Intention Setting Journal for Psychedelic Experiences⁠⁠⁠⁠Integration Journal to Help Make Sense of Your Journey⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ceremony Checklist for Safe Plant Medicine Journeys⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Psychedelic Journey & Psychedelic Integration Playlist⁠⁠⁠DISCLAIMER: Modern Psychedelics does not endorse or support the illegal consumption of any substances. This show is meant for entertainment purposes only. Modern Psychedelics does not sell or promote the sale of any illegal substances. The thoughts, views, and opinions on this show should not be taken as life advice, medicinal advice, or therapeutic guidance.

One of the main reasons I love podcasting so much is, yep, you guessed it, I adore speaking, however, speaking to myself alone in a room is a little weird & definitely not the same experience as when I get to speak to others who stimulate my curiosity, peak my inspiration & remind me of how epic & infinite life can be. As such, this show has become a zone of excitement & growth for me of sorts, consistently allowing me to open myself up to the unknown, to others subjective viewpoints of the world & to find more meaning in the game of life we are all playing a part in & todays episode is spot on to what I just described. Todays guest & I met some years back & immediately connected over the fact that we both not only spent time in the Cannabis industry, but were both passionate around the truth of Cannabis being a psychedelic medicine, among other things such as our love & affinity for psychedelics, spirituality & entrepreneurship, to name but a few. As such, we talked the last few years about doing a show & the divine timing finally aligned for this week on the show! From a deep dive into his journey, to sharing philosophical thoughts & more, this episode is a window into our personal relationship &, In my opinion, a perfect reminder of why connecting with aligned human beings is so important for each of us during our lives. So, please help me in welcoming my man Seibo Shen to the show!Guest Links: Website - Instagram - YouTube - TikTokThis Podcast was produced by Mazel Tov Media.https://www.highlyoptimized.com @therealryansprague

Episode Highlights▶ What Grandma's Witchy Toolkit is and what participants of the program will learn about herbal medicine and psilocybin energetics▶ The spaceholders, guides, and enthusiasts this program is designed for▶ Why understanding the energetics of the human body is crucial in psychedelic practices▶ Things facilitators must be aware of ▶ How ancient wisdom can provide valuable insights for modern practices▶ What the toolkit includes▶ How the program aims to prevent emergencies during psychedelic sessions▶ The importance of integrity in the psychedelic community~ ~ ~ ~ ~Beth Weinstein's Links & Resources▶ The Energetics of Psilocybin & Herbal Medicine:  Remembering & Restoring the Missing Piece in Contemporary Psychedelic Practice: https://bethaweinstein.com/energetics-of-psilocybin/▶ Free Training: “How to Bring Psychedelics Into a Business”: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business/▶ Beth's other Business Coaching Programs: https://bethaweinstein.com/services▶ Beth's Instagram: http://instagram.com/bethaweinstein▶ Beth's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethw.nyc & https://www.facebook.com/BethWeinsteinbiz▶ Join Beth's free Psychedelics Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PsychedelicsandSacredMedicines▶ Various Psychedelic Training Programs and Resources: https://bethaweinstein.com/resources Download Beth's free trainings here: Clarity to Clients: Start & Grow a Transformational Coaching, Healing, Spiritual, or Psychedelic Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/grow-your-spiritual-businessIntegrating Psychedelics & Sacred Medicines Into Business: https://bethaweinstein.com/psychedelics-in-business▶ Beth's Coaching & Guidance: https://bethaweinstein.com/coaching ▶ Beth's Offerings & Courses: https://bethaweinstein.com/services▶ Instagram: @bethaweinstein ▶ FB: / bethw.nyc + bethweinsteinbiz ▶ Join the free Psychedelics & Purpose Community: / psychedelicsandsacredmedicines

In this powerful episode of the HEAL with Kelly Podcast, I reconnect with the Mind Architect and my brother from another Mother Peter Crone, whose profound work in human potential and freedom has helped thousands worldwide. Together, we shine a light on the illusions that keep us stuck — from subconscious limiting beliefs to societal conditioning — and how we can truly break free in order to ignite our full potential. Peter shares profound insights on the power of perspective and identity, explaining how our conditioned narratives shape our reality and why shifting them is the key to transformation. He likens personal growth to alchemy — where the old self must transform — like fire refining metal, creating something precious and infinitely more valuable.   We also dive into fear, resistance, and disease, examining how unprocessed emotions manifest in the body and why true healing begins with awareness. A core theme of our conversation is the death of the ego — how letting go of outdated identities and stories leads to huge growth and transformation. We also explore the masculine and the feminine, highlighting the dysfunctional cycles that keep us disconnected, and how stepping into authentic masculine leadership and feminine empowerment can restore balance both individually, and for society as a whole. I also open up about my recent BUFO experience, which facilitated a deep remembering of who we really are and what life is all about. If you're ready to shift your perspective, heal deeply, step into true liberation, and find out if Peter is single or not, this conversation is one you don't want to miss. SHOW LINKS: Peter Crone Website: https://www.petercrone.com/ Peter Crone on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/petercrone/ SPONSORS: BRANCH BASICS: Go to https://www.branchbasics.com/  and use code HEAL to get 15% off the Premium Starter Kit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to The Trip Report Podcast, a production of Beckley Waves.Today, we're speaking with Josh White, the founder and executive director of Fireside Project, an innovative nonprofit that offers psychedelic coaching and real-time peer support for people navigating psychedelic experiences.After a career as a lawyer representing the city and county of San Francisco, he shifted his focus to the mental health space and ultimately combined his two passions—psychedelics and crisis support—into Fireside Project.Fireside Project is best known for its free, confidential psychedelic support line, offering assistance to people during and after their experiences. Since launching in 2021, the hotline has facilitated over 30,000 conversations, helping individuals process everything from mystical awakenings to difficult trips. Now, Josh and his team are expanding their work through Fireside Certified Psychedelic Coaching, a service designed to provide long-term, nonclinical support to those integrating profound psychedelic insights into their daily lives.In this conversation, we discuss:* The origins of Fireside Project and its mission* How the support line works and the types of calls they receive* The launch of Fireside's coaching program and the growing need for structured psychedelic guidance* The difference between harm reduction and transformational support* How psychedelic support fits into the future of mental health care* And much more.And now, I bring you my conversation with Josh White.Listen to the episode on Substack, Spotify, Google or Apple.Credits:* Hosted by Zach Haigney* Produced by Zach Haigney, Erin Greenhouse, and Katelin Jabbari* Find us at thetripreport.com* Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTubeTheme music by MANCHO Sounds, Mixed and Mastered by Rollin Weary This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thetripreport.com

Offering optimal support for your loved one involves open communication, research, and respecting autonomy while offering non-judgemental support. By educating yourself and fostering transparent dialogues, you can effectively aid them without imposing personal biases or expectations.Embarking on a psychedelic journey can be a profound and transformative experience, and supporting a loved one through it requires sensitivity, empathy, and preparation. This detailed guide addresses how to effectively provide support at every stage of the process, from initial discussions to post-ceremony integration.The journey begins with self-reflection, where you should begin to examine your own beliefs and intentions regarding psychedelics. Jimmy highlights the importance of establishing open, transparent dialogues that respect and acknowledge differing views, fostering mutual understanding without turning conversations into debates.On the day of the ceremony, maintaining a positive mindset and reducing the journeyer's external responsibilities can create an optimal set up for their experience. Jimmy discusses the significance of understanding the "mirror effect," where shared emotions can impact both the journeyer and supporter.Overall, this episode serves as your compassionate roadmap to supporting a loved one through a psychedelic journey, emphasizing presence, patience, and respect for the personal growth process.No mushroom source? No problem. Download our Free Psilocybin Sourcing Guide.More Psychedelic Passage:Official WebsiteBook a ConsultationBlog PageYoutubeInstagram: @psychedelicpassage  Reddit: u/psychedelicpassageHave a burning topic in mind? Share your thoughts: Feedback & Topic Suggestions BoxAbout Us:Psychedelic Passage is the first psychedelic concierge service in the U.S., connecting clients with a vetted network of local, independent facilitators. As an independent body, we ensure no conflict of interest, advocating solely for you. Our rigorous vetting guarantees facilitators who uphold integrity, inspiring trust, confidence, and lasting change. With hundreds of transformational journeys facilitated nationwide, book a Pathfinding Call to get personalized guidance and have all your questions answered.Like, share, and follow to stay connected with our growing community of psychedelic-curious folks! Want to become a microdosing expert? Join Jimmy in Mindful Mushroom Microdosing, a 2-hour live digital workshop and Q&A with all the tools you need. Learn how to set smart goals, select the right protocol for you, track progress, and gain advanced techniques that professional facilitators use with their clients. Tickets are only $39, so secure yours now. We hope to see you there!

This episode marks the first in a three part series in honor of our upcoming Ex-JW Ayahuasca retreat in March (DrRyanLee.com/retreat for more info). In today's episode we talk a little about the upcoming retreat, some best practices for working with psychedelics, and then we take you on a little adventure through my first ever LSD experience. Episode 2 will cover my worst experience (lots to learn from my mistakes) Episode 3 will cover my best experience (lots to learn if you're considering working with Ayahuasca)

#336 In this episode, Guy interviewed Dr. James Cooke, a neuroscientist who has experienced a profound spiritual awakening. They delved into Dr. Cooke's journey that reshaped his understanding of the mind, body, and reality. The conversation explored mental health, trauma, and healing, challenging conventional ideas. Dr. Cooke shared insights on the nature of consciousness, ancestral trauma, and the embodied experience of healing, while also discussing the importance of surrender, community, and the future of humanity. The episode finished with Dr. Cooke introducing his upcoming book 'The Dawn of Mind,' and the launch of his retreat center and other projects. About James: James Cooke PhD trained as a neuroscientist after an awakening as a teenager that showed him the reality of spiritual states of consciousness. He holds three degrees from Oxford University (a PhD and Masters in Neuroscience & a BA in Experimental Psychology). He has conducted scientific research for over a decade at institutions such as Oxford University, University of California, Berkeley, University College London, Trinity College Dublin, and Riken Brain Sciences Institute in Tokyo. James is the author of The Dawn of Mind: How Matter Became Conscious and Alive (coming December 2024), which synthesizes science and spiritual insight to offer a radical solution to the Hard Problem of Consciousness. Key Points Discussed:  (00:00) - TOP Neuroscientist REDEFINES the Future of Humanity Through Consciousness (01:04) - Meet Dr. James Cooke: Neuroscientist and Spiritual Seeker (01:14) - The Intersection of Science and Spirituality (04:46) - Understanding Neuroscience and Consciousness (07:52) - The Impact of Trauma on Body and Mind (16:27) - Exploring Ancestral Trauma (20:21) - A Personal Awakening at 13 (30:36) - The Illusion of Hard Stops in Reality (33:38) - The Healing Power of Surrender (34:17) - The Role of Trauma in Spirituality (36:03) - Collective Healing and Social Change (36:44) - Personal Journey and Writing Process (39:14) - Facing Reality and Building Community (49:37) - Living a Life of Surrender (53:57) - Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts How to Contact Dr. James Cooke:www.drjamescooke.com www.innerspaceinstitute.org   About me:My Instagram: www.instagram.com/guyhlawrence/?hl=en Guy's websites:www.guylawrence.com.au www.liveinflow.co

Dr. T and Truth Fairy welcome guest JF to the podcast to talk about sexual health, relational difficulties, and the integration of psychedelic experiences in therapy. JF is a psychotherapist with a double PhD, one in EI and one in clinical psychology, and he approaches therapy from a holistic perspective, integrating mind, body and heart in the healing process. Dr. T and Truth Fairy delve into how JF's psychological insight shapes his approach to helping individuals and couples navigate life challenges.  JF describes part of his conventional clinical specialties as focussing on human sexual health and relationships, and he works with patients who struggle with sexual issues. That part of his work is often conventional. But he also works in psychosomatic therapy with breathwork, movement, visualizations, and more. Dr. T and Truth Fairy explore exactly what sexual issues a person or couple could experience, how those may relate to being queer or having kinks, and how sexuality changes with age as well. JF talks about common themes in his conventional and psychosomatic work and discusses his approach to the client's troubles.  The body speaks more slowly than the mind, according to JF, and as such he discusses the innate differences between processes in conventional and psychosomatic therapies. Dr. T, Truth Fairy, and JF all relate personal stories about psychosomatic treatments and experiences within their bodies. The conversation opens wider to include the roles of psychedelics in healing and which ones help in which ways. JF recounts his training in Gestalt, what he explores through cannabis work, and how he fundamentally approaches trauma work. The conversation is an elegant deep dive into sexual health and healing.“There's something fundamental in contact improv. It's contact. And I'm convinced the more I work that we are contact starved. And of course, our basics are contact through touch. It's not the only way we connect. We contact through emotional synchrony. We contact through speaking. But we are, I believe, contact starved.” - JF__Contact Punk Therapy:Patreon: Patreon.com/PunkTherapyWebsite: PunkTherapy.comEmail: info@punktherapy.com

Psychedelic scholar and Word Up favorite, Robert Forte, returned to the podcast to talk about the early days of microdosing and how “the secret that everybody knew” became a tech bro fad/multi-illion dollar psyop.Part 2:danikatz.locals.comwww.patreon.com/danikatzAll things Dani, including books, courses, webinars and coaching:www.danikatz.comShow notes:Micro-dosing: "the secret everybody knew"“Acid Hype: American News Media and the Psychedelic Experience” by Steven Siff'Father of Microdosing'- James Fadiman & LSDInsertion of micro-dosing into social arena via mediaPlacebo to clinical effectsCIA & the Psychedelic Renaissance1960's Anti-war movement- Weathermen Underground Psychedelic psy-op as gov't mind control‘Severity of initiation' studiesMysticism and formation of cultsPodcasters- agents for control or seekers of truthCurrent micro-dosing trend- helpful or harmful?Zuckerberg- modelling “only happy/no shadow-work"Psychedelics aren't for everybody- “the rich get richer"The Upanishads- micro-dosing is a personal exploration Ayahuasca- perversion of a sacred shamanistic practiceImpermanence of life“Christianization” of psychedelics

In this episode of the Psychedelic Medicine Podcast, Keith Kurlander, MA, LPC, joins to discuss the important topic of integration practices for challenging psychedelic experiences. Keith is the Co-Founder of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, the largest professional education company specializing in integrative mental health and psychedelic therapy. In this conversation, Keith begins by exploring the different types of challenging psychedelic experiences and various lingering effects one may experience following a difficult psychedelic journey. He discusses these from a trauma-informed perspective, explaining how a traumatized nervous system can lead to dissociation on the other side of an intense ego-disrupting experience. Keith also shares practices and insights from internal family systems (IFS) for integrating challenging psychedelic experiences. In closing, he emphasizes that psychedelics are not lazer-targeted therapies, so they do carry inherent risks, but through effective integration practices, patients can make healthy meaning out of even negative experiences.    In this episode you'll hear: Lingering issues with ego fragmentation and connections to the dissociative disorder spectrum Persisting psychotic disorders following psychedelic experiences The difference between CPTSD and PTSD Uncovering repressed traumatic memories during psychedelic journeys Trauma stemming from difficult psychedelic experiences  Challenging spiritual experiences   Quotes: “The concept of pendulation [is] that we can be more flexible to ease our way into these overwhelming states. So once we are totally overwhelmed, we have to work our way back out gracefully, but as we are doing that, you get a gem as you are coming back… you learn something as you are coming out of that state.” [18:02] “If people have a psychotic disorder that emerged after their psychedelic use, you need a psychiatrist at that point… If it's really a psychotic emergence, whether a previous psychotic disorder got triggered or whatever, you need a psychiatrist to work with you on that.” [20:07] “I believe all these mental health conditions have a trauma process underneath them. I don't know how you isolate a trauma process from a mental health condition” [25:30] “It's about working with a person's meaning-making structure: is the meaning they're making creating more psychological flexibility or less psychological flexibility? That's a really important question to hold as a therapist because people will make all kinds of meaning up from these experiences but if they're creating meaning that's creating more rigid structures of how they see the world, then they get disappointed more often.” [34:21]   Links: Psychiatry Institute website Keith's website Keith on Instagram Higher Practice podcast  Previous episode: The Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project with Jules Evans Psychedelic Medicine Association Porangui  

Giddy up for a fun episode that touches all the right topics to get your noddle going. How can we manage a fast-paced world that seems to increasingly change from what we've become used to? What changes when someone has immense wealth, or when someone is homeless? Both living completely different lives outside of the norm of anyone listening to this. We explore the ethical dilemmas in our current global world, and perhaps have a way of being considerate without being a luddite. Humans have changed constantly, and this conversation is all about how two dudes think about changing with it. Complete with a moody rendition of Smash Mouth's epic hit, “Hey now you're an all star” at the end. With me in this conversation is David Benjamin, otherwise known as Dudetunes. A Recording Artist - Songwriter - Performer, and co-owner of Black Sheep Makery, a bomb drink purveyor of all things coffee, tea and lemonades with infused flavorings. Find him everywhere @dudeisdead. Check out David's latest music video for a catchy track. Chapters (00:00) - How to think in the long ~ Intro Essay (06:33) - The Power of Connection (07:04) - Artistic Pursuits and Personal Joy (09:43) - The Depth of Human Connection (12:58) - The Impact of Homelessness on Society (16:22) - Navigating Urban Challenges (20:50) - The Complexity of Human Experience (23:11) - Exploring Spirituality and Reality (27:18) - The Role of Psychedelics in Understanding (35:53) - The Resurgence of Psychedelics in Pop Culture (39:34) - The Dual Nature of Psychedelic Experiences (42:06) - Philosophical Reflections on Wealth and Control (51:39) - The Role of Culture in Governance (01:00:12) - Navigating Technology and Its Impact on Life (01:12:24) - Frankenstein and the Absurdity of Existence (01:15:21) - Personal Responsibility and Community (01:18:12) - The Role of Technology in Human Connection (01:23:36) - Navigating Individualism and Community (01:32:03) - The Paradox of Individualism and Community (01:39:27) - The Importance of Connection and Expression

Jimmy explores the logistical and subjective factors to consider before embarking on a psychedelic experience, emphasizing that psychedelics are not a quick fix but rather a tool that complements personal effort in healing and self-growth.Logistical readiness involves having a stable foundation in life, including housing, food, and emotional security. Jimmy stresses the importance of a solid support system, which may include friends, family, or professional guidance. Without these essentials, the benefits of a psychedelic experience could be challenging to sustain.On the subjective side, individuals should assess their motivations. True readiness may feel like a calling, a deep and persistent need to explore, rather than just a desire for novelty. Psychedelics should be viewed as catalysts for growth, not as replacements for one's personal healing work. Those who feel "stuck" and seek genuine change may benefit most, but only if they approach psychedelics with respect, intention, and awareness of the integration process.No mushroom source? No problem. Download our Free Psilocybin Sourcing Guide.More Psychedelic Passage:Official WebsiteBook a ConsultationBlog PageYoutubeInstagram: @psychedelicpassage  Reddit: u/psychedelicpassageHave a burning topic in mind? Share your thoughts: Feedback & Topic Suggestions BoxAbout Us:Psychedelic Passage is the first psychedelic concierge service in the U.S., connecting clients with a vetted network of local, independent facilitators. As an independent body, we ensure no conflict of interest, advocating solely for you. Our rigorous vetting guarantees facilitators who uphold integrity, inspiring trust, confidence, and lasting change. With hundreds of transformational journeys facilitated nationwide, book a Pathfinding Call to get personalized guidance and have all your questions answered.Like, share, and follow to stay connected with our growing community of psychedelic-curious folks!

Fast Freddie is back with another edition of the "Fast Freddie Rocks Youngstown" podcast! On this episode, studies on pooping in public, how to behave at the strip club and much more!  Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtube.com/live/1TN-XmtxQ80

Send us a textWe've spent a lot of time on this show talking about the potential mental health risks and benefits of experiences occasioned by psychedelic medicines. But how do scientists and clinicians know if and to what extent a psychedelic experience is helpful or harmful? Well, we measure it. In today's episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers podcast, we discuss the various ways that scientists and clinicians measure the psychedelic experience and the mental health outcomes of such an experience. We review a few popular questionnaires, discuss brain imaging studies, explore the limitations of these measurement tools, and much more. For those of you who are new to the show, welcome! Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers is brought to you by Numinus and is hosted by Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison.Learn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinus.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinus.com/clinical-trials Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

In this solo episode of The New Age Sage, I dive into the mind-bending concept of living in a simulation. What does it really mean when people say we live in "the matrix"? I share my personal experience of glimpsing beyond the illusion and explore how our reality may be more of a construct than we realize. Together, we'll break down what “the simulation” truly is, how it shapes our lives, and, most importantly, practical steps you can take to escape the limiting beliefs and structures that keep you trapped. If you've ever felt like there's more to reality than meets the eye, this episode is for you. Tune in to awaken your understanding of the matrix and learn how to reclaim your power in a world that isn't quite what it seems ——————— [00:00] Introduction: Perception and Reality in the Matrix [00:22] Personal Journey with the Simulation Theory [01:11] Psychedelic Experiences and Meeting My Mother's Spirit [02:16] The Circular Program Disk and Life Timelines [03:26] Philosophical Insight: Destiny and Desire [05:03] Binary Code in Perception: Seeing Reality as Digital Information [07:40] The Education System: Foundation of the Matrix [10:57] Brainwashing and Authority Figures [13:22] Family Trauma as a Matrix Layer [15:02] The Matrix in Higher Education and Authority Obedience [18:10] Media and Pharmaceutical Manipulation [21:01] Questioning Reality and Self-Awareness [25:17] Matrix Agents and Social Conditioning [32:09] Emotional Triggers and Ideological Entrapment [35:08] The Scientific Establishment and Fear Conditioning [40:49] Breaking Free: Lessons from The Matrix [43:01] The Chosen Path: Questioning Your Perceptions [48:11] The Quantum View: Reality as Observed Phenomenon [52:11] Reincarnation and Life Programming [57:41] Embracing Life as a Low-Stakes Game [1:00:14] Conclusion: Awakening to Perception Control and Reality Creation ——————— Please like, comment, and subscribe if this episode resonates with you. I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!

If there's one thing I've learned in the realm of psychedelic medicines, it's that it REALLY helps to have a solid foundation of spiritual practice before connecting with these medicines. The truth is that much of what we face in these experiences is going to be challenging & by allowing yourself to tap into modalities such as breathwork & fasting, for instance, beforehand, you prime yourself with the necessary experience to handle these challenges & come out seeing them happen for you, rather than to you. Todays guest on the show is a man who along with having an incredible spiritual foundation from which he teaches & trains from, is no stranger to challenging experiences within the realm of psychedelic medicines & in this episode, we dive right into some of these experiences, what he's learned as a result of them, how breathwork & fasting has supported him in these experiences & much, much more.  https://www.highlyoptimized.me

Part 2 of 2:  At The Nexus of Psychedelics, Humor, and AI with Sarah Rose Siskind . Link to part 1: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-dov-baron-show-pka-leadership-and-loyalty/id272512829?i=1000674605622 Exploring the captivating fusion of Psychedelics, Humor, and AI with Sarah Rose Siskind. In a profound conversation, Sarah, founder of HelloSci.com, delves into incorporating humor to bridge AI, robotics, and science communication. She shares insights as a psychedelic comedian, highlighting the therapeutic applications and societal perceptions of psychedelics, along with her impactful contributions to Psychology Today and StarTalk. . Furthermore, Sarah and Professor Dov Baron explore the ethical dimensions of AI and transhumanism, underscoring emotional intelligence in AI advancement. The discussion navigates the regulatory challenges and therapeutic promise of psychedelics, drawing parallels between altered consciousness and AI. It culminates in a reflective exchange on leveraging psychedelics for creativity and self-reflection in tech, offering valuable insights for further exploration. . This enriching dialogue with Sarah Rose Siskind illuminates the dynamic interplay of psychedelics, humor, and AI, presenting a unique perspective on their interconnected realms. . Website https://www.hellosci.com/ sarahrosesiskind.com  . Social Media https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahrosesiskind/ https://twitter.com/srsiskind https://www.instagram.com/sarahrosesiskind/ . 00:00 Introduction to Part 2 . 00:56 Writing for the White House Press Correspondents Dinner . 02:01 The Courage of Comedians . 03:24 Psychedelic Comedy and Personal Experiences . 04:50 The Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelics . 05:37 Pharmaceutical Influence and Psychedelics . 06:10 Performing Psychedelic Comedy . 08:43 Historical Perspectives on Drug Use . 11:12 Context and Safety in Psychedelic Experiences . 14:23 The Importance of Psychological Safety . 15:26 Unasked Questions . 15:45 Exploring Consciousness: Psychedelics and AI . 16:36 Legislation and Regulation of Mind-Altering Substances . 16:56 AI as an Altered Form of Consciousness . 18:26 Human Augmentation and AI Evolution . 20:44 Emotional Intelligence in AI . 23:16 The Future of AI and Human Rights . 25:29 Psychedelics in the Tech World . 26:30 The Depth of Psychedelic Experiences . 28:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts . Dov Baron's brand new course has just been released on coursifyx.com/belonging ------------- Titled: "CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING." The course is divided into eight sections, each of which will guide you through exactly how to create a culture of belonging. . Because: CREATING A CULTURE OF BELONGING MAXIMIZES PERSONAL AND CORPORATE SUCCESS. Get Ready to strap on the tanks and Dive Deep into, What it Takes to Create a Culture of Belonging in your organization! Curious to know more? coursifyx.com/belonging .  "Those Who Control Meaning for The Tribe, Also Control The Movement of That Tribe" #leadership #leadershipdevelopment #emotionsourcecode #neuroscience #emotional #meaning #emotional #logic #culture #curiosity #humanbehavior

Ep. 152 (Part 2 of 2) | Life coach, recovery coach, and plant medicine ceremonialist Ron Interpreter has created a multidimensional, whole person healing modality that integrates Navajo spiritual teachings and traditions with Ken Wilber's Integral Model and Integral spirituality. Humanity is shifting, Ron explains, and is now looking to the teachings of the ancestors and Indigenous practices that can bring a sense of authenticity, purpose, and meaning to our lives. Native spirituality teaches us how we can relate to the elements of earth, fire, water and air in terms of remedies and medicines, and also in terms of beliefs and emotional connections. Plant medicine and other mind-altering ceremonies provide us with the means to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves, attain higher states of consciousness, and receive answers to our deepest questions.With a calm, articulate fervency, Ron shares the ancestral wisdom he teaches to people in recovery or who are suffering from trauma, including special ops forces and veterans: the Native concepts of taking responsibility, being accountable, forging a relationship with God or Spirit, and living from a profound understanding of what it means to be a human being. “We are in the creation of self—how do we practice our selves?” Ron asks. The Indigenous teachings that Ron brings forward provide a deep sense of grounding in Nature and Spirit, as we come to a better understanding of our place in the universe and the practices that can open us up to living in a sacred way, in connection with divine being. Recorded August 1, 2024.“We have to see ourselves as human beings first.”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 2Stopping the blame game—blaming colonialism—and healing intergenerational trauma (01:28)How do we practice our selves? Get back to our ancestral ways, see ourselves as human beings first (05:06)The future of recovery depends on the expansion of the practitioner's approach and getting back to the elementals (11:00)What are the most valuable Native practices for healing and recovery? (18:10)Psychedelic medicines are tools to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves (23:52)Ceremony is vitally important to give context and reverence to a plant medicine experience (25:04)Building character in young people (26:11)In order for you to receive the medicine, you need to have a spiritual practice (28:29)At Ron's church, a long period of practicing breathwork and other modalities will often precede the use of psychedelic tools (32:15)Facilitating plant medicine ceremonies for special ops forces and veterans (34:55)Native traditions are now accessible to help people understand what it means to be human (40:02)The future of addiction, especially with addictive potentials increasing exponentially (42:49) We have to stop looking at addiction as your experience, my experience (48:49)Resources & References – Part 2Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

This week's show is with Paul F. Austin. Paul is a prominent figure in psychedelics and has guided millions to safe and meaningful psychedelic experiences through his work as the founder of Third Wave. Featured in Forbes, Rolling Stone, and the BBC's Worklife, he pioneers the convergence of psychedelics, personal transformation, and professional success. Paul empowers leaders, creatives, and pioneers to leverage psychedelics for profound personal and professional growth. Paul's expertise also extends to microdosing, a trend gaining momentum. He authored "Mastering Microdosing," a comprehensive guide that seamlessly blends research and anecdotes. It's a transformative resource for leaders, creatives, and healers. He views psychedelics as refined skills cultivated through mentorship, exploration, and purposeful use—critical for humanity's ongoing evolution. As the longest-standing and youngest entrepreneur in this field, Paul's focus on merging psychedelics with professional development is evident in his transformative training program Psychedelic Coaching Institute The program caters to individuals who seek to integrate their psychedelic experiences into their business practices, all under the guidance of one of the industry's most trusted leaders. In this show, Paul and Lian explore the complex landscape of psychedelics, discussing personal journeys, the challenges of censorship, and the spiritual awakening that can accompany the use of these substances. They delve into the historical context of psychedelics, the importance of reclaiming ancient practices, and the future prospects for legalisation and acceptance in society. They reflect on the need for a balanced approach to psychedelics, advocating for microdosing as a means to navigate the current challenges while seeding a deeper understanding of the spiritual potential of these substances. We'd love to know what YOU think about this week's show. Let's carry on the conversation… please leave a comment wherever you are listening or in any of our other spaces to engage. What you'll learn from this episode: Many people are feeling a deep calling towards psychedelics, and at the same time, censorship and legal challenges are increasing in the psychedelic space, and are part of the landscape to navigate. The journey of psychedelics is intertwined with personal and collective evolution - as ever, what's most personal is most universal. As much as there is a trend to medicalise and psychologise psychedelics, it's important to remember that at their heart - they open us to the spiritual. Resources and stuff spoken about: Paul's Websites: http://paulaustin.co https://thethirdwave.co/ https://psychedeliccoaching.institute/ Paul's Social Media: Instagram X Linkedin Third Wave's Social Media: YouTube Facebook X Instagram Linkedin Join UNIO, the Academy of Sacred Union. This is for the old souls in this new world… Discover your kin & unite with your soul's calling to truly live your myth. Be Mythical Join our mailing list for soul stirring goodness: https://www.bemythical.com/moonly UNIO: The Academy of Sacred Union: https://www.bemythical.com/unio Go Deeper: https://www.bemythical.com/godeeper Follow us: Facebook Instagram TikTok YouTube Thank you for listening! There's a fresh episode released each week here and on most podcast platforms - and video too on YouTube - if you subscribe then you'll get each new episode delivered to your device every week automagically (that way you'll never miss an episode).  

In this episode we are joined by Adam McCaughey narrates his path from a difficult childhood to entrepreneurial success. The discussion reveals key themes of resilience, personal growth, and spiritual development. Adam recounts impactful experiences and mentors who helped shift his perspective towards self-improvement, and details the significance of events like Tony Robbins' seminars in shaping his mindset. He shares his battle with childhood poverty, school expulsion, and living out of his car, alongside overcoming trauma and anger from an abusive background. Adam highlights the role of faith and inner work in achieving personal freedom, forgiveness, and communicating effectively. He also explores how psychedelics and spirituality led to profound lessons about life's interconnectedness. Concluding with insights on vulnerability, healing, and authenticity in relationships, Adam emphasizes the intertwining journey of business, spirituality, and continuous self-discovery.00:00 Introduction and Setting the Stage00:12 Early Life and Family Struggles01:35 Expulsion and Teenage Challenges02:41 Inner Work and Personal Development04:58 Mentorship and Personal Growth06:14 Defining Success and Overcoming Adversity09:21 Living in the Car and Turning Point12:39 Rebuilding and Achieving Success17:42 Balancing Life and Business32:19 Health, Stress, and Well-being38:19 The Burden of Anxiety39:14 Reframing Anxiety as Excitement42:28 The Art of Sales50:48 Networking and Building Relationships54:40 The Power of Faith and Spirituality01:01:48 Psychedelic Experiences and Life Lessons01:13:00 The Importance of Vulnerability01:15:42 Final Thoughts and ReflectionsFollow Adam : Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adam_mccaughey/FOLLOW ► Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/thebetarproject/Sponsors: Betar Media:  https://www.instagram.com/betarmedia/Support the showConnect with Nick:Instagram TikTok YouTube

Ep. 151 (Part 1 of 2) | Life coach, recovery coach, and plant medicine ceremonialist Ron Interpreter has created a multidimensional, whole person healing modality that integrates Navajo spiritual teachings and traditions with Ken Wilber's Integral Model and Integral spirituality. Humanity is shifting, Ron explains, and is now looking to the teachings of the ancestors and Indigenous practices that can bring a sense of authenticity, purpose, and meaning to our lives. Native spirituality teaches us how we can relate to the elements of earth, fire, water and air in terms of remedies and medicines, and also in terms of beliefs and emotional connections. Plant medicine and other mind-altering ceremonies provide us with the means to get beyond the psychological limitations we put on ourselves, attain higher states of consciousness, and receive answers to our deepest questions.With a calm, articulate fervency, Ron shares the ancestral wisdom he teaches to people in recovery or who are suffering from trauma, including special ops forces and veterans: the Native concepts of taking responsibility, being accountable, forging a relationship with God or Spirit, and living from a profound understanding of what it means to be a human being. “We are in the creation of self—how do we practice ourselves?” Ron asks. The Indigenous teachings that Ron brings forward provide a deep sense of grounding in Nature and Spirit, as we come to a better understanding of our place in the universe and the practices that can open us up to living in a sacred way, in connection with divine being. Recorded August 1, 2024.“What life am I practicing? Am I understanding who I am?”(For Apple Podcast users, click here to view the complete show notes on the episode page.)Topics & Time Stamps – Part 1Introducing business consultant, integral life coach, recovery coach, and co-founder of the Sanctuary of Consciousness, Ron Interpreter of the Navajo tribe (00:59)How Ron came to work in recovery as well as teach wellness, yoga & personal development (02:59)Growing up on the Navajo Nation learning about our spiritual relationship with the universe, how to cultivate meaning & purpose, and using peyote medicine as a sacrament (08:11)On to architecture, consulting, wellness, and life coaching (10:01)Enter Integral Theory, which covered all the fundamental bases of Native traditions and philosophies (11:46)From integral coaching to recovery coaching, discovering John's book Integral Recovery & Ken Wilber's Integral Spirituality (13:38)In the ancestral teachings of the Navajo Way, the peyote way, and the Presbyterian Church, the voice of God is all the same (18:21)How humanity is starting to look to Indigenous people to understand relating to elementals, cultivating community & authenticity, and finding the meaning of life in psychedelic experiences (20:10)John's experience of Native American spirituality, the mystical spirituality of AA, awakening to Integral, and writing Integral Recovery (23:08)Everything in life is really up to you (28:23)Ancestral 4-quadrant teachings: the mystical & spiritual; the human experience; what are the practices; where is community in this? (29:31)Integral medicine—the whole person approach (31:22)Integral's

In this episode, Susannah Stokes shares about her journey with psychedelics & how she's helping other people have transformative experiences with these sacred medicines.About Susannah:After serving in two combat tours in Afghanistan as a Marine Corps Officer, Susannah experienced a spiritual awakening that changed her life forever. Since then, she's dedicated her life as an Energy Priestess and Embodied Consciousness Guide. She's served dozens of people in 1:1 and group ceremonies, guiding them in their own spiritual awakening process. She co-founded House of Embodied Metamorphosis, a 508c1a Faith-Based Organization that utilizes The Metamorphosis Method and our community-cultivated strain of psilocybin, known as Trinity, to facilitate powerful personal transformations through retreats and coaching programs.Check out Susannah's work HEREWant to activate your healing journey? Follow these 5 steps:1. Get on my email list for the latest details on new free masterclasses, upcoming offerings and in-person retreats! PLUS all the unfiltered & uncensored 4-1-1 that 's not safe for socials. SIGN ME UP!2. Follow my socials @lesliedraffin OR @thelightwithinpodcast3. Join my online community The Sanctuary. This is for you if you want to awaken your power & purpose through connecting with pleasure, healing your womb, embodying your divine feminine & expanding consciousness through mindful microdosing. JOIN HERE & GET ONE MONTH FREE WITH CODE: THELIGHTWITHIN4. Book a free 1:1 discovery call with me if you're ready to dive deeper BOOK A FREE 1-ON-1 CALL WITH LESLIE NOW 5. Download my free microdosing guide CLICK HERE( Includes: eBook & guided meditation. )

In this special episode, I sit down with Dr. Julien Tempone-Wiltshire to explore the profound philosophical implications of psychedelic experiences. We dive deep into how these altered states of consciousness can reshape our understanding of reality, identity, and existential meaning. Dr. Tempone-Wiltshire brings his expertise in the intersection of philosophy and psychology to discuss the transformative power of psychedelics in self-discovery, spiritual exploration, and mental health. Whether you're curious about the potential of psychedelics for personal growth or fascinated by their impact on human consciousness, this episode offers an enlightening perspective on the subject. ***Welcome to The Mind Mate Podcast, your compass for navigating life's biggest questions. Hosted by Tom, a psychotherapist and writer, this podcast dives deep into the heart of existentialism, philosophy, and mental health. Join us as we explore how meaning is shaped across different cultures and belief systems—from East to West, religious to secular. We bridge the worlds of science, art, and therapy, blending philosophical insights with practical tools for living a fulfilled life. Expect thought-provoking conversations with philosophers, therapists, artists, spiritual seekers, teachers and academics who are pushing the boundaries of what it means to be human. Whether you're seeking personal growth, deeper self-awareness, or just curious about the human condition, this podcast will help you navigate your path. Find out more here: https://ahern.blog/

In this engaging conversation, we discuss the mysteries of consciousness with guest David J. Brown, author of many books including 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and 'The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities'. We talk about topics like lucid dreaming, psychedelics, and the intersection of neuroscience and mysticism. David shares his journey into lucid dreaming, his collaboration with noted figures like Stephen LaBerge, Stanley Krippner, and explores intriguing phenomena such as shared dreaming and DMT experiences.  David's Books  Dreaming Wide Awake https://www.amazon.com/Dreaming-Wide-Awake-Shamanic-Psychedelics/dp/1620554895  The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities  https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Illustrated-Field-Guide-to-DMT-Entities/David-Jay-Brown/9781644119198.Send us a textSupport the showFollow The Dream World PodcastVisit Our WebsiteInstagram @TheDreamWorldPodcastTik Tok @aminasdreamworldSpotifyFacebookLucid Dreaming Online Course

In this intimate conversation, Stephen Chamberlain, a former U.S. Coast Guard officer, small business owner, and writer, candidly discusses his personal struggles and victories. From navigating anxiety disorders to his cathartic discovery of writing and poetry, Steve opens up about his life journey. He delves into the complexities of moral injury, the therapeutic potential of psychedelics, his 40-year relationship with disordered eating and anxiety, and his pursuit of contentment through nomadic living and creative expression.Steve's raw honesty provides a unique lens into the challenges of coping with men's mental health issues while striving for fulfillment. His writing not only serves as a personal outlet but also connects him to a broader community of writers and readers interested healing and self-reflection.Timeline:* 01:28 Background and Early Life* 03:04 Struggles with Disordered Eating, Anxiety, and Joining the Coast Guard* 04:22 Life in the Coast Guard and Personal Challenges* 05:47 Post-Retirement Life and Discovering a Nomadic Writing Journey* 07:35 Exploring New Ventures and Digital Nomadism* 09:50 Writing as a Cathartic Experience* 12:41 Peer Support and Mental Health Advocacy* 17:56 Moral Injury in the Coast Guard* 38:56 Struggles with Weight and Anxiety* 40:00 Understanding Male Anorexia and Its Impact* 40:47 The Battle Between Rational and Irrational Voices* 42:38 Poetry as a Means of Control* 45:14 Exploring Psychedelics for Treatment* 47:28 The Transformative Impact of Psychedelic Experiences* 58:13 Embracing Mortality and Planning Ahead* 01:03:28 Future Plans and Other Pursuits* 01:07:13 Connecting with the AudienceConnect with Steve and his writing @ Steve's Substack Steve's Collections of Poetry: My Raven and My BlackbirdAI Machine Transcription - Enjoy the Glitches!Steve: Right off the bat, anyone who tries to write understands that writing is very difficult, but what I could do is write about my experiences. The things that I find easiest to write about are things I'm most familiar with, and the thing I'm most familiar with is what I'm feeling and thinking inside. This sounds clichéd, but it's true, cathartic and I found that relatability they feel less alone and that just encouraged me to write more. And quite frankly, if I have one person tell me that, "hey, that thing you wrote really resonated with me or helped me," I'm like a score! if I can help somebody, then it was worth putting out there.Even if nobody reads them, it felt good to get them out. And it did feel cathartic to get it out. ​I've come to the conclusion that, what I want to get out of life in my remaining years is as many moments of contentment and fulfillment as I can.[Music] Leafbox: Good afternoon, Steve. Before we start, I wanted to thank you. Even though you're a smaller publisher and you're just starting off on your journey of writing.One of the things that really stood out to me about your writing is that it feels like it's coming from a very authentic place. And, my own writing and my own efforts across life. That's one of the hardest things to find and be true to so thank you for at least expressing in a way that feels genuine and true and in today's world I think that's a harder thing to do.Before we start, why don't you just tell us, Steve, a little bit about who you are, maybe what you're writing about why you came to writing.Steve: Yeah, yeah, absolutely. I'm 57 years old, so I've been around for a little bit and my background is pretty varied.I grew up in a suburb of Boston. Irish Catholic family, first generation to move into the suburbs from South Boston and second generation of my family to actually go to college. I went to a public school, and it, it was a pretty benign suburban existence.I would say right up through my university years, I went to a commuter school, UMass University of Massachusetts in Lowell, Mass, and something I could afford in that day and age by working part time and lived at home and really had no, what I would call significant life experience. Until I left home and went to the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School after college.But I think it is noteworthy to say that like a lot of typical families of that era, I had, it was dysfunctional, but most people have some sort of dysfunction in their family. Alcoholic dad, very much a perfectionist. Everyone in the family seemed to be driven by anxiety created by their predecessors and I picked that up as well.And it's notable to say that I developed an eating disorder in my high school years, which is a male in the 1980s I think was very eating disorders are stigmatized. Among all genders, even today, but being a guy in the 80s when there was really no infrastructure set up to, to diagnose, recognize, or treat it made it particularly challenging.And I really got into triathlons and long distance running and marathons. Got to a really unhealthy weight. And, my mom did her best to get me in with psychologists and psychiatrists, but none of them really had a handle on how to deal with somebody like me. And it, it caused quite a bit of isolation for me in high school.College was a little bit better simply because it was a commuter school and I would go do my work and come home. So I became quite a loner, but, for reasons that I can't describe other than just being impulsive in my early years, I applied after college to the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School and somehow got in and spent about four months down in Virginia in basic training and then the next 25 years in the Coast Guard and the eating disorder I somehow managed.Gained some weight was always a little odd with my eating habits, but and very excessive with my exercise habits and very rigid as I am to this day. But those 25 years in the Coast Guard were both fulfilling and beset by a little bit of inertia. I think it's a challenging job, but and as you get more.Responsibility more senior becomes more challenging and more all encompassing, but by the same token, it's a secure job where even though you move every couple of years, the culture remains the same. So for a guy with anxiety and quite frankly, anorexia nervosa is an anxiety disorder when you get right down to it.The Coast Guard was a relatively comfortable place for me. In 2015 I was serving in Alameda and living in San Francisco, which is where you and I met. And I also retired from the Coast Guard that year. At the time I was married, but my anxiety, which demonstrated itself in those days, I think is more of a extreme dedication to work kind of a workaholism, if you would call it that really, destroyed my marriage. And by 2017, 2018, we were divorced, which was really, for me, the point in time in which I think I gained a level of self awareness that A lot of my peers do not seem to have, and I'm not trying to be, I'm not trying to brag or anything like that because I tend to surround myself with friends like you who are self aware and do look inward and do understand they have egos and those egos are rather hard to control.And but having that self awareness. This is really a great way to determine when your ego is getting the better of you. And it was the divorce that kind of opened my eyes to the fact that I had not been a good husband. That my dedication to work was one of these fleeting needs for professional affirmation that came at the expense of any sort of long term personal contentment.And it was that self awareness obtained relatively late in life, my late forties, early fifties, that led me to writing and led me to trying several other Endeavors. I worked a little bit in the wine industry for three years and learned what I could at a small five person wine startup.I impulsively bought Airstream trailer and spent about a year and a half, 2020 at the Covid years. As a matter of fact I launched my digital nomadism, as I called it in March of 2020. No, great plan to do that, but at the same time, the whole country. Pretty much shut down and spent a little over a year place really enjoying that kind of existence.And fortunately with a military pension and a small business running some companies, alcohol compliance operations, I was able to support myself. And not like minutes overhead on the Airstream trailer I had I decided to stop and go back to Massachusetts for a couple of years, rented a small house.And my mom and dad are there. They're older now. They're still in the same town I grew up in. My sisters are there. But I found after about three years there, my eating disorder had I guess I'd say I relapsed a little bit, not full scale after decades of it being more or less managed, but not certainly cured.Realized that I was going to be stuck with that for the rest of my life, but also thinking my time in Massachusetts was a good time to really become introspective, maybe more present, practice meditation investigate psychedelics which you helped me with Three years later, to be honest I didn't do it while I was there, just thought about it a lot and and really work on myself.And quite frankly, after those three years had passed I felt that I honestly, I've been inside my own head so much time that I was feeling worse, not better. And I was also feeling restless, which I did not expect to feel after decades of moving every couple of years. I thought I'd be quite ready to settle and I wasn't.So I very impulsively decided that rather than using a trailer, I'd try and see if I could do the same Nomadic existence with Airbnbs, if I could find Airbnb hosts who would rent long term to me. And right off the bat, I found somebody who gave me a two year lease on a place in Florida.But the writing really started I'd say around the time I launched in the Airstream 2020, where I started a blog about, my trip. And right off the bat, anyone who tries to write understands that writing is very difficult. In all people who write fiction I cannot write dialogue.I it's way too challenging for me. But what I could do is write about my experiences. And I think what you were getting at the beginning of this conversation was that, the things that I find easiest to write about are things I'm most familiar with and the thing I'm most familiar with is what I'm feeling and thinking inside again, something I never could have done before my divorce.But it helped me get to a place where I felt it was almost, and this sounds clichéd but it's true, cathartic to write about things that I was feeling, I was thinking and then publishing them in different venues like Substack and where I am now and Medium where I was before and getting not a lot of feedback, some feedback.And I found that relatability was on one hand, a really good hook for a personal essay because people enjoy reading things that are relatable to them. They feel less alone. I enjoy getting that feedback for obvious reasons. Somebody liked what I wrote, but also because I feel less alone while somebody else feels this way too.And that just encouraged me to write more. And I, I am not particularly skilled at poetry, and I'm really honest, I don't love reading poetry, but I decided I like the structure of poems. And I Picked up a pen and tried to write a few poems. I don't think my poetry is particularly good or particularly musical or the right words, but I do the challenge of trying to find the right words to condense into a particular structure to convey a certain idea.And that idea really shot back to relatability and I started writing some short haiku, some tankas and a couple of other poem forms about my anxiety, about not so much the eating disorder, although I have written a couple of essays about the eating disorder, but just the way I was feeling in the world.And even if nobody reads them, it felt good to get them out. And it did feel cathartic to get it out. And I haven't written poetry in a little while, but for a couple of years it was really an obsession of mine and I did get some good feedback and there were people who could relate to some of the things that I wrote and some of the metaphors that I used for my anxiety.And for, since that. Point in time, I have started a peer support company with a couple of Coast Guard veterans. Even though I've given up on myself in terms of therapy helping, I do feel better just not by not struggling so much to try and get better. That probably made me feel 10 percent better overall, but I do realize there's a need forMore health care, mental health care workers and as a component to any sort of a treatment plan peer support really resonated with me because there's evidence that shows that it works. Look at any. Substance abuse group. That's the strength in it is sitting around with people with shared experience, but it gets back to my writing too, which is relatability.If you don't feel like you're the only one feeling that way, or you're the only one with a, an addiction, or the only one who's experienced sexual trauma, and you can't tell anyone about it, but then you're in a room with people who have stories that are remarkably like yours, who feel remarkably like you do.Who who went through the same journey that you're going through. That in and of itself has a healing aspect. When I had the opportunity to start this company called Mindstrong Guardians earmarked towards the Coast Guard and Coast Guard people fall in the cracks between Department of Defense and first responders.So many folks are traumatized and don't get help. We. We felt we'd found a niche, and that leads me to today. Leafbox: Steve, could I just interrupt you? I want to talk about your poetic forms and your kind of nomadic lifestyle. But I want to go back to when you were after college, why did you just impulsively join the Coast Guard?Was that an escape for you? Or what were you looking for? Were you looking for? I'm just curious. Steve: I think I had romanticized the Coast Guard, Robert. I grew up outside of Austin. The Coast Guard Academy was in Connecticut. And There was nothing complex about it. I got my hands on a Coast Guard Academy bulletin, the front of the bulletin being the kind of booklet that describes the Coast Guard Academy to potential applicants.And the front cover was the Coast Guards has America's tall ship the Coast Guard Cutter Eagle, which is a three masted barb. And it's a sailing vessel. Very old school and it looked really cool to me. And I had spent my summers working. near my hometown in Concord, Massachusetts at a place called Minuteman National Historical Park, the old North Bridge, but they also had the homes of Emerson and Hawthorne and places where Melville had written.And I really got, and Thoreau and I really got into their writings and the idea of this. The ship that looked like it came right out of, to me at that stage, Moby Dick really appealed to me. And that's as deep as it got. I thought to myself, I'm going to go here. This is a cool school.I'm going to have this maritime life by I grew up really enjoying our, the family's annual trip from the suburb to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the seashore. And part of the reason for that is the two weeks a year, my family was on Cape Cod and we were rigid and religious about going there, nothing bad ever happened.My, my aunt and uncle were there. My cousins were there. My dad didn't drink. He hung out with us people didn't fight. They loved it. And I just associated. Even though I wasn't an ocean going guy and didn't have that background, I associated those two, two weeks a year on the beach with a calm serenity that I didn't have the 50 other weeks of the year, the 50 other weeks of the year.I was anxious about, what's my dad going to be like tonight. I don't want to go to school tomorrow. It's one thing or another. And then I'd have this two week long exhale. And for some reason, I taught that to the Coast Guard Academy. So I applied for the Academy and I didn't get in, which was no shocker.I didn't have great grades. But I kept that idea in my head and after graduating from UMass, I thought there must be another way in and there was so I drove myself to a recruiter in Boston and submitted an application and, Lo and behold, they accepted me and the acceptance wasn't a deeply thought out thing.It was just, I'll have a job and I won't have to live at home. And that's that it'll buy me a few years time because there was a three year active duty commitment after you got out. And I thought this is what I need. Otherwise, what am I going to do? Just, live in Boston all my life, or I had no plans, no aspirations, no nothing.So this was something. Yeah. I'm glad I took it, but that's as deep as it went. Leafbox: Steve, one of the essays that I really enjoyed was, maybe I have a bias too, I, I've interviewed another author who was a Coast Guard vet, and they're the forgotten branch, like you said, of the military, but one of the things you wrote about was your concept of moral injury in the Coast Guard and across I guess government employees and all branches of, employees across all groups and organizations. Could you expand on what you mean by moral injury and maybe some of the personal experiences you had during the Coast Guard? Steve: Absolutely. I'm glad you brought up moral injury because.Moral injury in general is not something that most people think about when they think about trauma. And when they do think about it, they think about the most obvious examples of moral injury. Moral injury is basically having to do something that is counter to your personal values. And having to do it, when I say that, as A matter of carrying out your responsibilities, which in public service can happen quite often.So the first place you go with that is you teach people. And I think people inherently know that killing other people or hurting other people is wrong. And suddenly you train somebody, whether they're in the army or the Marine Corps. Maybe whatever to kill other people and you put them in a position where they are, that's their job to kill other people and they end up killing other people.They have done something essentially at cross purposes with their internal values and that creates a conflict which in and of itself can develop into trauma. There are other ways that moral injury can occur, and the one I've seen most often with Coast Guard veterans is search and rescue, and my role was not being out on a boat, pulling people out of the water.My role was basically planning searches, approving search areas, figuring out What resources to send, but most of all figuring out when you had to suspend or end a search, not having found the person you're looking for and to tell the family that you're suspending the search which I've had to do three times in my career.And I've, plenty of people who have done it much more frequently than that, but you remember every time. And that there's a huge vulnerability to moral injury in. In that sort of work, because you feel like I am in a life saving organization, I joined the organization because I want to save lives, at least that's part of what the Coast Guard does.And here I am telling somebody that not only have I not saved their loved one's life, but I'm giving up.People obviously don't react well to that. That really, Increases that feeling that I have fundamentally failed at my job. I have fundamentally violated one of my core values. I would not want somebody to give up looking for my best friend, my brother, my sister, my parent, and this guy here is telling me he's given up.Now, when we suspend a search, we don't do it lightly. We keep them informed throughout the search process and prepare them for the possibility. But, we look at how long can somebody survive in water at that temperature? What are the odds of finding them? This search area expands every hour and on.So you reach a point where continued searching really isn't going to yield results. You are damn near confident that you're not going to find that person. My essay was a little bit different and surprised me because it was nothing like that and just to touch on the area that really saying it scarred me or it definitely created moral injury for me, but it was such a relatively benign event that two decades later, I still scratch my head and say, why did, why does this to this day?still make me feel emotional. And essentially, I was the, working in the U. S. Embassy in the Bahamas, which I was the Coast Guard's liaison officer there. So my job was to interact with Bahamian officials when we had essentially cross border operations going on or interdictions of smugglers and that sort of thing.And in one particular case a U. S. Coast Guard vessel intercepted a raft of Cuban refugees in Bahamian territorial seas, so we returned those people to the Bahamas. And my job was to meet the Coast Guard ship at the pier in the Bahamas to make sure there was an orderly transfer of the Cuban refugees from the U.S. Coast Guard to the Bahamian immigration officials. Thank you very much. This particular group of refugees came in on a Christmas morning. So I was in my uniform on the pier waiting for the Coast Guard ship. Coast Guard ship comes in Coast Guard. Immigration authorities are there with their vans.And I knew they would take these people to a detention center in the center of new Providence Island, where Nassau Bahamas is located. And eventually transport them back to Cuba. I'd done this before and it was routine, but there were, I remember there were 26 people and I, they came off the gangway of Coast Guard ship to the pier and there was a little girl, maybe five or six who had a doll and.I was on the gangway, and she was struggling to get up on the gangway, so she just looked at me and handed me the doll, and then I helped her up, and then walked her over the gangway and got her to the pier, and she looked at me and put her arms out again for the doll, and I gave her the doll back, and then she and the rest of the people got in the van and went to the detention center, and I never saw them again.I went home that day after that, and 20 years later, that still makes me feel sad, and I still wonder about that girl, and I feel like this isn't what I signed up to do. I didn't sign up to take this person whose family had placed her on this unsafe raft, pushed her into the water, to head to the U.S. with an unknown outcome. And suddenly she's in the Bahamas, not even her family's intended location for her and going to a detention center at age of five or six. And it wasn't a brutal detention center, but it wasn't pleasant. I had been there several times. It was barracks, basically, in the middle of the island with razor wire around it.And then back to Cuba, where she may or may not be. Reintroduced to whatever family she had, and it just felt so out of line with any reason I had to have joined the Coast Guard or any personal value. I felt at the time and throughout my 25 years, I compartmentalize things and. desensitize myself to things like this, but that one I was never able to do it.And like I said, I've done Mexican notifications that haven't bothered me that much. Yeah I wrote my essay on that, but I think the Coast Guard really does, as you said, is the forgotten service because people assume that, hey, if you're not being shot at, what do you have to complain about?And I see Coast Guard veterans all the time with untreated PTSD from doing the things that Coast Guard people do which are very similar to things first responders do. And often they're 18, 19 year old people out there in the front lines, and they're either, shooting an engine out of a smuggling vessel to stop it, or they're trying to find somebody that they don't end up finding, or they find somebody after they passed away, or they find somebody after a horrible boating accident and, all of these things are traumatic in their own right, but when When you say that, Hey, I didn't sign up to come out and shoot people.I signed up to save people and I didn't save this person. I guess that's where my story comes home to roost is I didn't save this person. I just made life a lot worse for this person and it doesn't feel good. I just didn't expect it to not feel good. 20 years later. Leafbox: Does the Coast Guard now have the same culture? You wrote another essay about I think it's called mental personal protective equipment, the mPPE. What's the current state of like when you talk to vets at your officer level, are you finding the same kind of Moral injury and trauma that's manifesting. How are they expressing it? Or are they, alcoholism? What are the issues that other vets are really facing now? Steve: Yeah, that's a great question. Because I think culturally there have been incremental changes, but the Coast Guard, like the other services is very much suck it up type environment always has been. It's a little less. So now the Coast Guard has created a cadre of mental health providers that are accessible.Mental health is a little less stigmatized, but it's far from where it needs to be. And I think it's worth noting that particularly an officer in the military, and that includes the Coast Guard, we all know and refer to our careers as zero defect environments. And I knew that, and that just stokes up anxiety that you're going to make a mistake.And a mistake is, hey, my search pattern was wrong and somebody drowned. You start to become more worried about your career than somebody drowning. The slightest mistake can end your career. And it really is your defect. So when it comes to the stigmatization of mental illness, no officer wants to acknowledge it.And what the Coast Guard has done is created a little more access. to mental health support, but has done nothing substantial about changing the culture. So if I were in the Coast Guard right now I would never acknowledge having a high level of anxiety, never acknowledge having an eating disorder.I never acknowledge any sort of mental illness as an officer in the military, because that is a career ender in most cases. Less so now, but still culturally, there is a fear. I'm going to lose my security clearance if I go to see, seek help. If I go to a therapist, I know a lot of what they do now, Robert and have done for years is go out privately and pay out of pocket.And yeah, I have a good friend who is an excellent Coast Guard lawyer, but he suffers from severe depression. And the Coast Guard doesn't know this. He is on SSRIs, and the Coast Guard doesn't know this. And he has, in his particular case, SSRIs, antidepressant drugs, pharmaceuticals, and therapy.He views them as having been life saving. For him knowledge to the Coast Guard that he is receiving therapy or using this medication because real or not, he is fearful that it would end his career and so that's one way of coping with it. And that's probably the healthiest way of coping with it. Outside of the Coast Guard, I've met veterans who are alcoholics or use alcohol as a crutch.And simply don't seek help because we fall into that trap too, where we feel like we're sucking resources away from some young combat vet in the army. If I see a therapist at the veterans administration, and I may be entitled to do that, I am. Because I'm one of the five, six armed services now, but most Coast Guard people I've talked to when we were developing our company, our peer support company felt like I don't want to steal resources from, from the army, from the Marines, from these people who really deserve it when I don't deserve it.And that's, and as a result, they're untreated. And when you're untreated and you've suffered trauma, you live a life of suffering. That is in many cases, unnecessary if you the right treatment. So I think in the Coast Guard, this is particularly acute, but I think across all the services, when you look at the suicide rate of military veterans in general there's no argument that something isn't happening here and it's not just.I was in a combat area and I saw really bad things. It's that you have to move every couple of years that families are always under strain. That, it's hard enough to maintain a marriage when you're in a more stable environment. It's really challenging when one person's At home and unable to start a career because you're moving every couple of years for your career and deployments are extremely stressful where you don't see your family for, 12, 15 months at a pop.It's a stressful existence in general. It's worthwhile and fulfilling in many ways, but from a personal standpoint it's, it can be. That's the best answer I can give. And then Steve, you didn't do any writing when you were in service, right? So this became a post divorce liberation escape?Steve: Yeah. It, I couldn't have done it, Robert. I utterly lacked the introspection that I needed to do. I, that I needed to sustain my marriage. I didn't, I realized that my being a workaholic was not good for my marriage, but it was a blind spot for me. I thought in the future.And I, I don't think I would have it's funny because had we stayed married, I'd still be rather obtuse when it came to introspection. I probably never would have started writing. So it's the divorce spurred the self awareness and the self awareness spurred the writing. Leafbox: And then what's the response? You're writing a Medium and Substack. Have you shared essays and poems and other writing with vets or how are they responding to writing as a release? Steve: There are some vets who see my writing and it's funny because on Substack they usually come to me via email directly if they like something or something resonated with them rather than say anything on Substack directly.But it hasn't really resonated in particular with veterans. Some of the things I write about, anxiety is universal in, in our culture anyway. It, I would say extreme anxiety, anxiety over things that you look at and you're like, why am I anxious over this, that I had to do this today when this is relatively easy to get time.But I've also found that, if you eliminate and avoid the big things, then the anxiety is just as intense with the little things. So that's some of the stuff that I write about. But I will say I really hesitated to put anything out there about the eating disorder because of the stigma associated with men.And eating disorders. I only recently put something out on Substack because I just got to a point where I'm like, you know what, if it helps somebody, great. If a few folks didn't know about it haven't come across it, then they can ask me questions about it. But I do feel awkward. I feel embarrassed.I'm a guy, I'm not supposed to have an eating disorder. I even feel that way. And I've had it for 40 years. But I also realized that, you know what, if I live another 20, 30 years I'm going to have it. It's not going away. So I think I just have to come to some sort of accommodation. An acceptance of that. I'm not saying it's untreatable. It is treatable. It's tough to treat anorexia, but I've just decided that, therapies I've tried for anxiety haven't been particularly effective for me. So that's just a personal choice I've made. Leafbox: I think, all the writers I gravitate towards and I interviewed, I think one of the main things I appreciate is when they're truly honest.And even though you have these issues of shame and anxiety, I think it resonates that it's coming from a place that feels very genuine. So thank you. For listeners, can you give us, I don't know much about male anorexia. What does that manifest as? Is that kind of like an Adonis complex similar to bodybuilders or what does this mean? . Steve: Yeah, that, that was spot on. There is. Another disorder, and I don't know the name of it, for young male adolescents who want to get big, so to speak. They're obsessed with getting large. For me, it was more insidious than that. And in my teens, I saw my dad as an alcoholic.Now I look back at my dad and I'm like, wow, we're exactly the same. He was a highly anxious perfectionist like me. And like most anxious people, he didn't like uncertainty and like it's full of uncertainties and he would self medicate with alcohol. And I thought, I don't want to be anything like that.I want to be the opposite. Right at the beginning of the running craze in the U S I decided I don't know. I was maybe 15, 16 I was gonna start running. And I started running and the reason was, so I, cause I didn't want to be like my dad. I wanted to be healthy. And then that kind of transitioned into, I'm going to eat healthier too.And I'm going to make my own food. And then I got very strict about what I ate, not with an intent to lose weight just to with, I'm not going to eat junk anymore. In the 70s and the 80s, that was particularly tough. Everything was processed and prepackaged. But I found so I became very choosy.And because of the running and the desire to eat healthy, which were honest and good and benign at first. I lost weight for some reason. As I lost weight, Robert, I found it anathema to, I just didn't want to gain it again. I didn't even think of it as a disorder. It was like, no, if I'm losing weight and I'm out participating in triathlons, which were evolving in the eighties as a thing.And, I was doing five or six triathlons a summer up in Massachusetts and I was 19 by the time I really hit my peak triathlon years. And I ran Boston marathon in 1990 in two hours and 40 something minutes. And that was walking a lot the last six miles. And I thought I could really do something here.And the weight loss, while I don't think contributing to it, probably undermining my performance. I looked at that as. Helping me excel. I'm like if I'm losing weight and I'm running sub two Boston marathons, what could I do if I lost more weight and trained more? So that is how it came on. I didn't even really think of it as an eating disorder, and it wasn't really discussed in those days.But when I look at some of the I've destroyed every photograph I could find of myself in those days because I looked emaciated. I saw my high school yearbook picture and Honestly, Robert, I was, I'm six foot tall. I think I had gotten down to about 128, 127 pounds. I was obviously malnourished, but I didn't think of it that way.I thought this is the path to better performance, more exercise. More strictness with my food. And of course all my triathlon heroes were eating this way. And I thought this is the way I got to go. The Coast Guard interrupted that. And somehow I got up to by my thirties, about 170 pounds.I was happy with that. I was okay with it. I even wanted to gain more, I felt healthy. I felt good. And then. As I gained more responsibility in the Coast Guard I my anxiety drove me less or drove me away from strength training, which was the only thing really maintaining my, my, my physique to just endurance training, which eased my anxiety.And, my weight dipped a little bit, but it was okay when I left the Coast Guard. And then, COVID comes along and I'm in the airstream and starting to feel really weak and never weighing myself because I had anxiety about getting on scale. It was either too heavy or too light, one or the other.But I sat for a year in the airstream when I went to see the doctor about why I felt so exhausted all the time that I dropped I don't know, 12, 13 pounds from the time I started the airstream and that just re sparked the whole thing in my head. So the thing that I thought I was at least managing, I wasn't managing, but anorexia to answer your question, because I straight away from that is it's the same.It's, bulimia is where you purge anorexia is got its purge element, but the purges exercise and calorie control. And I it's the same in men as it is in women. It's a control thing. It's an anxiety disorder. It is the, I've got no control over what's happening in the world. I can't control what's happening in my body, but it's not articulated that way.And I think the best way to articulate it every man or woman I've talked to with anxiety with anorexia. Has, and I've written about this. I don't know if I've published the most recent one yet as two voices in their head, and I call it a rational voice, which knows what I should be doing to live a healthy life.And the fact that I am undernourished even to this day and the irrational voice, which is. Hey you're doing fine. You're surviving like this. Why would you want to gain any more weight? It's irrational, but it wins every time. It, my metaphor is the irrational voice always ends up with it.It's booed on the neck of the rational voice. And I, I don't know how to overcome that, but I have found that to be universal with anorexia sufferers, and they have the two voices in their head, and the irrational voice always seems to win and people who don't have it, they don't win.Can't understand how I can look in the mirror or anyone who's under nurse can look in the mirror and feel that they are overweight. Even when your rational voice is there, you screaming at you that you are fine. In fact, you need to gain a few pounds that living a life where you're under 6 percent body fat every day.Maybe that's why you're cold all the time. Steve, is not a healthy way to live. I have osteoporosis now. If I had been a smoker or had been somebody who ate bad foods and had a heart disease, I'd do something. But with the osteoporosis, the irrational voice just argues it away. And I'm like, no, but that came because I've been undernourished and over exercising.And that's going to be a problem as I age. It's an irrational disease that's born of anxiety and control. And unless you're there, you can't really get it, but I will say it. It's got the highest mortality rate of any mental illness, I think even more so than depression. Leafbox: Steve going back to your poetry, I just, do you see a parallel?I was surprised by all the poems have very structured, you have haikus, tankas, minkas, something called the cinquain , which I've never heard of before. But all these very structured. So is that a release? How does it interact with your control issues? Steve: It's, it's a manifestation of control issues.It's; I'm glad you brought that up. You're the first person to actually see that. As I said earlier, I'm not a poet. I don't, I'm not particularly creative from my perspective. What attracted me to poetry and in particular to very structured poems, haiku is simple, but I'm like, wow, you have to say as much as you can say using that 5, 7, 5 syllable structure.I like that. It's, it feeds that desire to be in control. It's a challenge and it is spot on. A manifestation and one could say you're not doing anything to, do some free verse. And it's now I don't want to do free first. I, that scratches my itch to do a haiku or a tanka and yeah, you're spot on.It's. You call it OCD, call it anxiety, call it what you will. That's what it is. But I, I honestly don't, I've accepted it. I'm like, fine. It gives me a moment of fulfillment to get that out there. It gives me, however long it takes me to generate the poem a period of contentment. And I've come to the conclusion that, what I want to get out of life in my remaining years is as many moments of contentment and fulfillment as I can.Because what else is there, and I, struggling to fix myself wasn't working. So writing a haiku and spending a couple of hours on it or whatever it takes does that for me. And I'm like, fine, I'll take it. If my OCD, pursuing my OCD and straightening up the picture on the wall gives me a feeling of contentment, I'll take it.Because. Time is finite, and you really begin to realize that when I think for me, when you get close to 60, you're like, wow, there, there's a window of time here, just be as content as possible for as often as possible and accept the discontent is just a contrast. So you appreciate the contented periods, Leafbox: Steve, maybe we could talk about, I wanted to see how you would. Free flow for prose, but maybe we can talk about your experience with psychedelics and how that maybe was the opposite of control. Steve: Yeah, absolutely. I became interested in psychedelics during my period in Massachusetts that affixed me period as a potential cure for anxiety, OCD, is like many people you're watching documentaries about the effectiveness of psychedelics for certain mental health conditions.But when I got to that point where I'm like, you know what, I'm just going to accept myself as I am, I still was interested in psychedelics as an experience, but I didn't want to hang my head on the idea that I'd come out of a, a trip and be suddenly cured of anxiety. That to me would have just led to disappointment.It's unrealistic. And I actually talked to you and my big concern was trying to sort a good guide. Who would provide me with good support. I didn't want a therapist at this period of time with, because the psychedelic trip to me was about preparation. It's about set and setting.It's about being self aware. It's about being a lot of things and not just taking some mushrooms and, wherever you happen to be and saying, wow, that was a great trip. Like you would drink a beer or something. So I found you helped me find a location in Oregon. And I hired a good guide and we did a lot of preparation and a lot of attention setting, and because I was flying from Florida to Portland, I decided to have two trips during a 10 day period.And I self prepared, the location, the setting was incredible. And that, that was huge. I couldn't have done this in an improper location. It was quiet, it was peaceful. It was a port Portland craftsman house and the room was comfortable and safe. And my guide was with me the whole time.And the first.I, and it became this battle with me. It was a moderate dose of psilocybin. It was it was for, therapeutic dose, but not extreme. And I just, For some reason went into it, not really having expectations, but thinking as soon as it hit me, I'm like, I'm, it was Steven anxious, Steve, they're saying, I'm not going to let something control.I'm not going to let it control me. I flexing and unflexing my muscles the whole time. And while I felt it was a significant event, I certainly didn't get the most out of it. So three days later, I go back. We agree on a much larger dose and I had really focused on not fighting it. The most significant experience I ever had in my life, Robert, why I couldn't articulate it to you.It's like I was saying about anorexia. If you haven't been there, you don't get it. People who have experienced psychedelics will get it. It wasn't easy for it, but it was definitely ecstatic. It was unifying, but not in a blissful way. It was, if I had to describe it physically, it was a series of fever dreams that would start and stop with the guide's soundtrack, every new track would end one fever dream and start another, I don't even remember a lot of what was going on, but I do remember feeling so gratified that I hadn't tried to fight it, that I did feel this unification, this oneness that I.I had what you call an afterglow for several days. On my flight home, I was talking to people at the airport bar while waiting for my flight. I don't do that. I was had striking up conversations with people. I'm a good flyer, but I don't like turbulence. When the plane hits turbulence, I get anxious about it.Plane hit a lot of turbulence in the way home. It didn't. latest, it was just this acceptance. What happens for the next week. I would say I was more clearly not just, I think I'm more empathetic. It was, I was more empathetic and a nicer person. Did it wear off? Yeah. But, Oh my God. The fact that a week after this experience.I still feel this glow is just incredible. And I would say coming out of the trip that afternoon I felt exhausted and it's like finishing a marathon, if you ask me as I'm just ending the run, if I'm going to do it again, I'm going to tell you, no, never, that's, it was horrible.Never. But if you ask me two hours later, I'm going to be like, yeah, absolutely. Yeah. That this is the most significant experience of my life. I could go into detail about what I experienced, but there's nothing really to tell that would knock anybody's socks off. I think it's just, if you've done it you get what I'm saying.And if you haven't done it I look around at people, my peers, ex military guys who I know will never try it. I feel bad for them. I'm like you're never going to get to, wow. And I want to do this. It's something I don't want to do frequently, but I want to do it regularly. And did it cure my anxiety?No, but I wasn't trying to cure my anxiety. It was to this day, I will be, I am grateful that I did it. And I'm interested in trying, ketamine or, Nor am I a PTSD sufferer who might benefit from MDMA, which I think shows great promise, but psilocybin and hallucinogenics strike me as just very cliché and mind opening and they are.Leafbox: Steve, when you came back from your trip, how has it affected your creativity in writing? You keep saying that you're not creative, but you're sharing and producing. So did you feel more free? Steve: Yeah, I think I've always felt free and open with my writing. And I think I was self aware enough that some folks said did you have any revelations when you were dripping?And I thought, no, not really. I, I kind of have explored all that stuff, but I wasn't expecting that. Yeah, there was this I did, I wrote a poem or two about the experience. I was exuberant and excited about the world of psychedelics. I think I even talked to you about what more can I do in this field?It, my, my writing has always been open, but I think done it, and then I wrote an essay about it on Substack Ever. I don't think, for example, I would have published. A piece on my eating disorder. Had I not just gone through that and thought, why not? Again if the idea is somebody may benefit from it.And a few people may think less of me because of it, then it's worth putting it out there. And I don't think I would have done that had I not had the psychedelic experience. I think there is an element of a psychedelic trip that kind of, I don't want to say green lights you to be more expressive and more open, but reveals to you the fact that there's minimal downside and a lot of upside to being more open and honest.And quite frankly, if I have one person tell me that, hey, that thing you wrote really Resonated with me or helped me. I'm like, if there were 10 haters out there, I've written some things on white privilege, and there are a lot of haters who have gotten back to me on that. But 10 haters to one person saying that you helped me.I'm like a score, if I can help somebody, then it was worth putting out there. So I think it just pushed me over the edge, Robert, where I felt comfortable on that. In writing about the eating disorders and putting it out there. Leafbox: Do you also, I think, some of your writing I'm curious about, you have a lot of animals in your poetry.Do you ever think about that? Or, there's a psychedelic parallel. Some of the the tropes of psychedelics, the coyote. So I'm curious if there's any, what's the use of animals in your poetry and writing? Steve: The animals and the most frequent one I use are actually just literary metaphors that resonate with me. That that no one would be surprised that, a coyote, even if it's a relatively benign animal. It's it's, it implies a threat. For me, the raven and the blackbird are the animals I go to the most in part, because I do the of Edgar Allen Poe. And of course, he's, most famous for the raven, but the raven struck me as the perfect metaphor for anxiety, a raven circling over your head and digging its talents into you the blackbird.Struck me as a perfect metaphor for depression. I can't tell you why, not really, the origins of these metaphors are not in, in psychedelics as much as they are in just starting out with a literary interest that I fancy in terms of being great ways in my head to articulate an abstract idea. And I don't know if everybody gets it, the Raven being a metaphor for anxiety is a way to make anxiety physical and real.And they'reobviously a good way to to express anxiety. But the raven, I think works and it works for me. And I've often wondered, Robert, I'm like, I wonder if anybody even understands what I'm putting out, not because it's particularly complex, but just because it's particularly personal and people may not, I think the poem you referred to with the coyote was serenity, where I was describing a benign, serene walk or something like that.And then the coyote appears. I'm like it's, That's the uncertainty of anxiety, even butting into that moment and always around the bend, like what's going to happen now, Leafbox: What's paradoxical is all of those animals are also quite free, right? And then going back to what you said about joining the Coast Guard, there's an element of that freedom in the ocean, the sailing, the kind of, And I think you have another poem that I enjoy called Quietus this about good sailing.Yeah. Yeah. And it seems like there's a, you're always, I don't want to personalize it or psycho Freudian read it, but there seems to be an element of desire for freedom and exploration. And the coyote itself is an animal that's quite stoic and free from exploring the West, and the Raven as well.Steve: They are. And you're, Your insightfulness is pretty remarkable because throughout my period of time working with a therapist several years ago, I kept telling the therapist, I'm like, the guy I want to be is the guy who just, I want to put on some weight. I want to relax a little bit.I want to smoke an occasional cigar, a little vice that I like. I don't want to worry about everything. I ride a motorcycle now. Why? Because I feel a sense of freedom on that motorcycle, a sense of happiness and contentment on that motorcycle that I don't get any other time of the day. While I say I've accepted my anxiety, I have because I'm tired of struggling against it.You're spot on and I hadn't really thought of the freedom of the animals that way, but the guy I want to be is, I, you look at motorcycle culture and yeah, there's the outlaw motorcycle culture, but there's also this, Motorcycle clubs originated not to break the law, but just this people who just didn't want to be tethered.The way I live now, I can pack all my belongings in a Subaru hatchback. I don't own stuff and that's by choice. But there's an element of, I'm struggling to be this guy who is that freak coyote, but also burdened with this anxiety that, that lashes me to a routine that is predictable and secure.Leafbox: You know what? It's a contradiction. Yeah. One of the freeing things that interests listeners is that you told me the story about grave buying and how that might be an act of freedom. Steve: Yeah. Yeah. This is something that most people don't understand. I referring back to earlier in our conversation when I say Cape Cod was our vacation place where nothing bad ever happened.There is that town on the Cape that we. We always visited Brewster, Massachusetts. I got it in my head that, I want a green burial. I articulate this to family and friends who I brought into the conversation as I just don't want to be a burden. I'm a single guy with no kids.And if something happens to me, I don't want it to be a pain in the neck for anybody to have to deal with it. So that's why I'm doing this. But the real reason I'm doing it is because I'm picking my place. And I bought a, the only real estate I own is a 10 by 10 plot in an old sea captain's cemetery in Brewster, Massachusetts on Cape Cod.And it gave me such a feeling of happiness to do it and they're like what that's, we don't talk about that in, in our society. But for me, it's no I went out this summer, I was up visiting and I went to see it. And it made me happy to know I had it. And the gentleman who I who's on the cemetery commission said, if there's a stone cutter in town, this is Cape Cod's old school stone cutter who can, do a tombstone for you if you want it.And I'm like sure. I, why not design my own tombstone? And I hate to admit, I paid a lot of money, like 10, 000 bucks for an old colonial slate tombstone. And I am in a joking way, using an image from Poe's poem the Raven on that tombstone. And a Raven. And the word nevermore, which anyone who's read the poem will understand.And, then my information and this stonecutter is going to put it up for me. I've told very limited people that because people really think it's over the top. But again, my, my family members who would be left handling it. I'm like this way, exactly where it is and you can, it just makes it easier for you.But you, I am serious in that. I'm going to have a small celebration of life party, for myself at that location next year with that tombstone up. It might be just me and my sisters or my niece, or, the folks who gather down there every year.But I thought what's the point of not being there for that? It, there is it's a place to rest and I don't mean this. And I tell people this, I look at death as a. When I'm feeling particularly anxious as there'll be an end to it, just like I opened my eyes during the psychedelic experience when I was getting fatigued.I'm ready for it. And then I saw my guide there. And I'm like, we talked about this. It does end. Don't panic. It will end. And right now you want it to end because you've been at it for six hours or so. And I look at death the same way. There's an end. I don't look at it. It's not a suicidal ideation.And that's, if I tell anybody that, Robert, that's straight, that's the place to go. Is or you're gonna hurt yourself. I'm like, no, I'm not gonna hurt myself. It just calms me down to know that there's an end. You And I don't want to struggle like this forever. So yeah I'm a member of a Swiss organization called Dignitas, which performs assisted suicide.My fear is Alzheimer's, like if that hits me and I'm still cognizant, but diagnosed that to me is a relief. I'm like, okay, I feel better. And I am, as I said earlier, trying to find ways to feel more contented. And I'm like, I've taken care of these things. Part of it is I'm on planner.That's what anxiety does. But there is an element of fulfillment in doing these things that is indescribable. And I it's just so out of bounds for what we can talk about in our culture that it's hard to really describe that to people without them thinking, Oh, you bought a grave and a tombstone and you signed up for this Dignitas company and assisted suicide and people just assume the worst.And it's no, this is the best. This is the best. I hope I live another 30 years if I'm not lucky. That's my plan. But if something intervenes, I'm okay with this. I guess the way I put it is I'm terrified of dying, but I have no fear of death. If that makes sense. The moment itself is.Creates some anxiety as it should. But the after part of it, I'm like, no, it's, call it what you want, call it a Buddhist Nirvana. But yeah, that's I've done that. And I'm just waiting to see what the stone cutter comes up with. Leafbox: Steve, you said for positive reformation that you want to live in another 30 years, what do you imagine filling the next 30 years with? You have your peer support group you've started and what other projects do you want to focus your attention on more writing, less writing, more trips. So what do you imagine for the next 30 years? Steve: And I'm just putting that out. So I know one thing I learned when I left the coast guard, which might be a surprise is I will never see that my schedule was very structured there, and I think that was helpful.To me in anybody's schedule at work, you've got to be a place from this hour to that hour. And then if you lose that structure, a lot of people are lost. I thought I'd be one of them, but I'm really, I'm not I will not cede my schedule to anybody else, but what. And, but I think I did struggle a little bit with when I left the winery, which was a full time job I was in the airstream.So that occupied a lot of my time, but there was this notion of, what are you going to do for the rest of your life? But I've resolved that. And I think I'll write about the same. I'll be at that same level of productivity that I am right now, but I dabble in a variety. You and I've talked about this small businesses that I think matter.I've done some venture capital in areas that are meaningful to me. Climate and healthcare. I am always looking for opportunities to do work. That's interesting to me. I'm helping a buddy in town with a brewery startup, a distillery. Didn't have to do that. I just find these opportunities to occupy myself and I don't get so hung up on having to leave some sort of a legacy.It's just what I pursue, the things that make me curious right now. And the things that make me curious right now may or may not make me curious in a couple of years. I've got motorcycle trips planned. I might go back to the Airstream thing when I can't ride motorcycling. I've got these things laid out that will occupy me, but none of them are of the traditional.I gotta go back and get a job, so I'm not bored all the time. I seem to find an endless number of things that are of interest to me. And I'm not really thinking out that I glance at it every now and again, 20 to 25 years, but my days seem pretty full and I just don't worry about it. I think I'll be in this house in St.Augustine for the next two years. Where am I going to go after that? What's the next Airbnb going to be? And. And that's, in fact, I was out in Portland for the psychedelic experience and I thought how it is freeing knowing I could come up with Portland. I want to. Nothing's binding me to any particular place.And these it's future thinking. Yes. But not 20 to 25 year future thinking. I don't have a 20 to 25 year plan. And that to me is way less overwhelming. It's just a loose structure for the next couple of years. And I think the thing I just occurred to me as I was saying that is there are elements in my life that are so controlled that it's, calcified my daily routine.And then there are areas of my life that are so impulsive that it's it's 180 degrees from my calcified day. And I'd be at a loss to explain why except one is a reaction to the other. Leafbox: It's just coming back to the animals. I just keep thinking of the coyote. Steve, how can people find you? What's the best way for them to read your essays and connect with you? Steve: I would love more free subscribers on Substack. I have no intention of making any money on Substack. And I think you just have to type in my name which, Is Steven with a P H and Chamberlain C H A M B E R L I N. And do a search for a guy with a beard was my photo.And I would also love anyone who subscribes to be open and free about commenting or criticizing or starting a conversation I'd like. Some more engagement on some stack for no other reason than I like to engage with people that way. And I'd like to know I'm helping people or what I could do better.So sub stack is really the predominant location for me. And the easiest way to find me and DM me if you're a bit interested in that. Leafbox: Great. And Steve, anything else you want to share? Steve: Gratitude that you asked me to do this, Robert, I've always looked up to you and considered you a role model and a mentor and so appreciate.And I'm honored that you felt it was something worth taking your time today to talk to me. Leafbox: No, no, I really appreciate the like raw and honest writing that you're doing. And everyone's on a journey, so I appreciate your struggle. Get full access to Leafbox at leafbox.substack.com/subscribe

GET‌ ‌EVERY‌ ‌EPISODE‌ ‌AND‌ ‌BONUS‌ ‌CONTENT‌ ‌AT:‌ ‌‌www.patreon.com/crackpotpodcast‌ Join us on a journey through the mind with a special episode inspired by the groundbreaking book, The Varieties of Psychedelic Experiences by Dr. Robert Masters and Dr. Jean Houston. In this episode, we'll delve into the fascinating world of psychedelics and the diverse range of experiences they can evoke. Our discussion will be guided by the insights from The Varieties of Psychedelic Experiences, a seminal work that provides a comprehensive overview of psychedelic research and personal accounts. We'll discuss the different types of psychedelic substances and explore their unique effects on consciousness.   Notes, blog, merch and more! www.crackpotpodcast.com  

Join us this Sunday at 8:00 PM UK time for an enlightening episode of The Amish Inquisition Podcast! We're thrilled to welcome back RN Vooght, a fantastic author, esoteric researcher and original thinker.

We explore the profound journey of Jonny Miller, whose path to nervous system mastery began with a personal tragedy that reshaped his understanding of grief and resilience. Jonny has dedicated years to exploring the depths of his inner landscape through various modalities, including meditation, breathwork, and neurofeedback.Jonny is a passionate advocate for mental fitness and personal growth, leading a five-week bootcamp called Nervous System Mastery and hosting the popular podcast, Curious Humans. ___How Prepared is Your Team for the Next Big Disruption? Future-proof your team with Malosiminds.com Get your copy of Personal Socrates: Better Questions, Better Life Connect with Marc >>> Website | LinkedIn | Instagram | Twitter Drop a review and let me know what resonates with you about the show!Thanks as always for listening and have the best day yet!*A special thanks to MONOS, our official travel partner for Behind the Human! Use MONOSBTH10 at check-out for savings on your next purchase. ✈️*Special props

Meredith describes her journey as a therapist as parallel to her journey as a client. She completed an intensive year long training in Psychedelic Assisted Therapy last year; adding Ketamine Assisted Therapy and Integration to her repertoire to assist clients with getting unstuck.  She places a heavy emphasis on integration therapy to process and apply insights from psychedelic journeys into one's daily life.

Join the Digital Social Hour with Sean Kelly as we uncover the entrepreneurial secrets of turning passion into profit!

In this episode, we dive deep into the world of psychedelics and their potential to revolutionize mental health with our guest, Cory Firth, a leading advocate and explorer in the psychedelic space. Cory shares his personal journey, including his battle with mental health and how it led him to become a key figure in the movement for psychedelic-assisted therapies. We'll explore his groundbreaking projects, such as Journeyman, which focuses on legacy retreats for fathers, Neuma, centered on psychedelic safety education, and F.I.V.E., which delves into the future of brain health and longevity through 5-MeO-DMT. Cory's advocacy for mental health policy reform and his leadership in organizations like The Psychedelic Association of Canada have positioned him as a pivotal voice in the push to integrate psychedelics into mainstream mental health treatments. We'll also discuss the philosophical aspects of self-exploration through psychedelics and how they can foster personal and collective growth. During the show, Cory will answer pressing questions such as: How do psychedelics differ from traditional mental health treatments? What are the challenges facing the psychedelic industry following the FDA's recent decision to reject MDMA for PTSD treatment? And, how can the psychedelic community address ethical concerns and ensure the highest standards in clinical research? Tune in for an insightful conversation that explores the transformative power of psychedelics and the future of mental health. https://five-meo.education/ https://neumacentre.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/coryfirth/ How to Get Involved: Gary Roberts, founder of the PIR Center of Excellence, has established a state-of-the-art medical center in Costa Rica dedicated to revolutionizing the treatment of mental health, addiction, and neurological disorders through cutting-edge therapies, research, and education. In addition to his work at the PIR Center, Gary founded the nonprofit Promises Recovery, Inc., inspired by his late daughter Lauren, who tragically passed away from an opiate overdose on her 27th birthday. Lauren's vision was to help those suffering from addiction and mental health issues who were trapped in the frustrating cycle of insurance limitations, and Gary continues her mission through this nonprofit. You can learn more about Gary and his journey on LinkedIn and Instagram. Please help us bring innovative therapies to those who need it. Donate today through: Paypal or gofundme -- We bring unbiased content educating you about innovative therapies like plant fungi, alternative plant medicine like hemp and cannabis.

In this conversation, Joe Moore, co-founder and CEO of Psychedelics Today, discusses the evolution and impact of the psychedelics movement from both individual and societal perspectives. Joe shares his background in the field, leading into the broad-reaching work of Psychedelics Today in education, media, and events since its inception in 2016.The discussion explores the importance of creating safe cultural containers for psychedelic experiences and their potential for addressing global crises. The conversation emphasizes the intertwined roles of individual transformation and societal change, advocating for ending the drug war and improving public education to integrate these substances meaningfully and safely into society.Additionally, the conversation touches on the structure and goals of the VITAL training program, aiming to provide a comprehensive and diverse education for those with a professional interest in psychedelics. The overarching message underscores the power of individual actions combined with collective efforts to foster a better world.Topics Covered:The journey of building a world-leading psychedelic education platform since 2016What it means to be “anti-drug war”Creating safe cultural containers for psychedelic usageWhat it will take for society at large to accept psychedelicsHow psychedelics can be used to combat greater social and environmental issuesSeeing through the illusions to heal society at largeThe balance between individual and social healingWhat is really happening in the psychedelic underground?A look into Vital: Psychedelics Today's comprehensive training for psychedelic professionalsShow Links:Apply for 1:1 Coaching with LanaVital Psychedelic TrainingWhere to find Joe:IG: @psychedelicstodayTwitter: @psychedelicstodayFacebook, Youtube, LinkedIn: Psychedelics Today Website: https://psychedelicstoday.com/Vital: https://www.vitalpsychedelictraining.com/ Want more Modern Psychedelics?Instagram | YouTube | Web | Facebook Inspired to transform your life from the inside out, and integrate higher consciousness in your day to day life?Explore 1:1 Coaching with Lana or Apply Now Please support the show: leave a review on Apple or a 5-star rating on Spotify if this episode sparked something within. FREEBIES to support your journey DISCLAIMER: Modern Psychedelics does not endorse or support the illegal consumption of any substances. This show is meant for entertainment purposes only. Modern Psychedelics does not sell or promote the sale of any illegal substances. The thoughts, views and opinions on this show should not be taken as life advice, medicinal advice, or therapeutic guidance.

In this episode, Vital instructor, Diego Pinzon, hosts his first podcast, interviewing Vital graduate and clinically-trained psychologist, “The Kinki Buddhist”: Kate Amy. As Amy's interest in psychedelics grew, she began to see a clear intersection between psychedelic states and the non-ordinary states she'd reached through years of meditation practice, as well as lessons from Buddhism that could help in better understanding psychedelic journeys. She talks about the importance of really understanding what it is one is seeking when looking to have a psychedelic experience, and the significance of integration – no matter how long it takes. While she has tips that have worked for clients, she feels that the psychedelic space has a long way to go in establishing best practices for the most effective integration. She discusses: Why she uses the name, “The Kinki Buddhist” How she frames the psychedelic experience as taking an evolutionary substance (and/or receiving a software upgrade) The necessity of having a positive relationship with the self before a big trip The continuous process of patients and facilitators both engaging in shadow work, and ways of discovering our different hidden parts The rigidity many of us prescribe to certain healing frameworks, and how beneficial it can be to view strict rules as guidelines for exploration instead and of course, her experience with Vital! The deadline for submitting your application is next week, August 23, so make sure to get your application in today. For links, head to the show notes page. 

Rachel shares her meditation practice and how it helps her tap into higher states of consciousness. They also discuss the importance of being able to sit with oneself and the challenges that come with it. The conversation then shifts to Rachel's journey in the fitness industry and how she realized the importance of holistic health. She talks about her struggles with gut health and the connection between emotional stress and physical symptoms. Rachel emphasizes the need to address the root cause of health issues and the importance of functional medicine and comprehensive testing. Functional medicine is becoming more popular as people seek holistic options and question Western medicine. However, there are both positives and negatives to the practice. The positive aspect is that functional medicine allows for a deeper understanding of root causes and encourages dietary and lifestyle changes. Coaches in the functional medicine space can provide personalized care and coaching, which is lacking in traditional medicine. On the negative side, some practitioners focus too much on extensive testing and prescribing supplements without addressing the root causes. It's important for coaches to have done their own inner work and have a deep understanding of the interconnectedness of physical and emotional health. In this final part of the conversation, the hosts and guest discuss their experiences with somatic breathwork and psychedelic journeys. They explore the power of breathwork in resetting the nervous system and allowing suppressed emotions to surface and be released. They also touch on the importance of creating a supportive and safe environment for psychedelic experiences. The conversation ends with a brief breathwork session led by the Rachel. 06:09 The Power of Meditation and Self-Awareness 14:07 From Aesthetics to Holistic Health 24:18 The Rise of Functional Medicine and Holistic Options 33:03 The Mind-Body Connection and the Nervous System 48:02 The Importance of Inner Work and Self-Acceptance 52:26 The Positives and Negatives of Functional Medicine 56:27 Transformative Practices: Meditation, Visualization, Breathwork, and Journaling 58:18 Introduction to Somatic Breathwork and Psychedelic Journeys 01:00:50 Creating a Supportive Environment for Psychedelic Experiences 01:06:31 A Brief Breathwork Session on Air 01:15:25 The Importance of Self-Reflection and Personal Growth Follow Rachel on IG: @rachelscheer   You can find us on Instagram: Aram: @4weeks2thebeach Jim: @jimmynutrition   Grab some Serenity Gummies: CuredNutrition.com Code: OSL for 20% OFF Get some t-shirts/tanks/hoodies at:   https://www.othersidelifestyle.com/shop If you'd like to reach out to Aram, you can find him at:  https://www.4weeks2thebeach.com/work-with-me If you'd like to reach out to Jim, you can find him at:  https://www.othersidelifestyle.com/schedule Go get some supplements: www.legionathletics.com, use code: ARAM

In today's episode of the Psychedelic Therapy Frontiers, the podcast, Dr. Steve Thayer and Dr. Reid Robison focus on preparing for, navigating, and integrating psychedelic experiences. It serves as a comprehensive resource for those seeking healing, transformation, or exploration with psychedelic tools and for facilitators. *This episode originally aired 1/30/24Learn more about our podcast at https://numinus.com/podcast/Learn more about psychedelic therapy training opportunities at https://numinus.com/training/Learn more about our clinical trials at https://www.numinus.com/clinical-trials Learn more about Numinus at https://numinus.com/Email us at ptfpodcast@numinus.com Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstevethayer/https://www.instagram.com/innerspacedoctor/https://www.instagram.com/numinushealth/

Sometimes reality can be stranger than fiction, but not when taking psychedelic drugs. FRC's Jennifer Bauwens explains to host Joseph Backholm, the physical, psychological, and spiritual experience one can have when taking psychedelics. With her background in trauma research, Jennifer has been monitoring the FDA's discussion on whether psychedelic drugs are safe for public use. In a 10 to 1 vote, the FDA board decided that the risk of taking psychedelic drugs FAR outweighed the benefits – but why? Come and take a “trip” with us as we try and unpack a psychedelic experience, the dangers of said drugs, and the current mental and spiritual crisis happening in our society. Read ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Washington Stand⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, featuring news and commentary from a biblical worldview. Published by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Family Research Council⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sometimes reality can be stranger than fiction, but not when taking psychedelic drugs. FRC’s Jennifer Bauwens explains to host Joseph Backholm, the physical, psychological, and spiritual experience one can have when taking psychedelics. With her background in trauma research, Jennifer has been monitoring the FDA’s discussion on whether psychedelic drugs are safe for public use. In a 10 to 1 vote, the FDA board decided that the risk of taking psychedelic drugs FAR outweighed the benefits – but why? Come and take a “trip” with us as we try and unpack a psychedelic experience, the dangers of said drugs, and the current mental and spiritual crisis happening in our society.

Get the Red Flags Workbook HERE and avoid common pitfalls with the right tools and knowledge. That's why we created this comprehensive guidebook, the "Red Flags Workbook." Mastering Safety and Integration in Psychedelic Journeys In this episode of the Psychedelic Coach Podcast, hosts Tah and Kole are emphasizing the critical aspects of safety, preparation, and integration, they guide listeners on essential questions to ask facilitators, including topics like training, set and setting, support, integration processes, and privacy. The episode stresses recognizing personal red, yellow, and green flags for a safe and transformative journey. The episode closes with a reminder about the importance of proper integration. 00:00 Introduction to the Condor Approach 00:26 The Importance of Integration 01:27 Welcome to the Psychedelic Coach Podcast 01:52 Understanding Red Flags in Facilitation 06:47 The Concept of Safety 25:26 Exploring Set and Setting 34:34 Preparing for the Mushroom Journey 34:47 Understanding the Dieta Protocol 35:38 Mindfulness in Consumption 37:27 Setting Intentions for the Ceremony 40:23 The Importance of Integration 48:23 Safety and Support in Psychedelic Experiences 01:05:04 Privacy and Confidentiality 01:08:26 Final Thoughts and Resources

In this episode, Joe interviews Erica Rex, MA: award-winning journalist, past guest, thought leader on psychedelic medicine, and participant in one of the first clinical trials using psilocybin to treat cancer-related depression. She tells the story of her recent harrowing experience, brought on by 6 times the amount of Syrian rue that was recommended: from entities threatening her, to a sense of terror she was going to die, to finding her way out of it with time, and most importantly, context to process and a strong support system. She and Joe emphasize the reality that bad trips can happen at any time, with any dose, for any reason, and that – if you can make your way through the experience without being traumatized – you can learn a lot about yourself during those states. She discusses: Methods to help others having a bad experience Her skepticism about psychedelic therapy being in a medical context at all Her thoughts on the recent ICER recommendation against approving MDMA and the multiple topics not addressed Possible complications from MDMA use nobody talks about, from cytotoxic effects to even sudden-onset psychosis The pathologizing of anything outside the ordinary, to the point that we're trying to suppress natural human emotions and reactions and more!  For links, head to the show notes page.

In this episode, Joe interviews Charles Stang: Professor of Early Christian Thought and the Director of the Center for the Study of World Religions at Harvard Divinity School. The Center was created to gain a better understanding of world religions by bringing scholars from their respective countries to study and live alongside Divinity School students. As students and Stang started to become interested in psychedelics, a zoom series, "Psychedelics and the Future of Religion," began, and the school just hosted their second conference, "Psychedelic Intersections: Cross Cultural Manifestations of the Sacred." Next year's Psychedelics and Spirituality conference will take place February 15, 2025.  He discusses:  Harvard's psychedelic history, and why it's important to not erase the past out of the interest of presumed legitimacy How people are consistently having extraordinary experiences with psychedelics, but not always with religion: Are people becoming less (or more) religious? The Immortality Key, the Eleusinian mysteries, and psychedelic enthusiasts' need to connect Christianity with psychedelics Psychedelics and other mystery religions, like Hermeticism and Mithraism Why religion is important to so many people, and how it helps us understand the "more-than-human"  and much more. For links, head to the show notes page.