Ayahuasca Podcast

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté. Gabor is a renowned physician, speaker, and author best known for his groundbreaking work on trauma, addiction, child development, and the mind-body connection. His books include In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and The Myth of Normal. We touch upon topics of: Gabor’s personal healing journey (2:00) His first Ayahuasca ceremony (5:10) The importance of community in healing (7:06) How trauma causes the heart to close (9:00) The wisdom of trauma and adaptations (12:23) Modern society as a root of disconnection (15:00) Accumulated trauma and “death by a thousand cuts” (20:31) How Ayahuasca helps addiction by addressing pain (23:59) The risk of Ayahuasca evangelism (27:11) Psychedelics and facing death (28:09) Parenting and emotional availability (32:10) The role of play in healing (37:15) Dealing with criticism and healing from not being seen (40:42) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com Find more about Gabor Maté at www.drgabormate.com

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Robin Kurland. Robin is a licensed marriage and family therapist and psychedelic integration specialist with nearly 20 years of experience. Based in Sacramento, she works with trauma, addiction, sexual abuse survivors, and veterans, blending expressive arts, embodiment, and Internal Family Systems therapy into her healing approach. We touch upon topics of: Robin’s journey from dancer to therapist (00:44) Her first spiritual experience with death (01:20) The meaning of integration (05:02) Using art and journaling after ceremonies (06:27) Integration of difficult psychedelic experiences (07:11) Long-term integration and internal protectors (08:39) How expressive arts help with trauma (10:03) Drawing as psychedelic integration (12:00) Somatic and visual techniques for post-ceremony art (14:00) How to use dance after a ceremony (16:15) Dancing during ceremonies and movement as integration (18:12) Interpretation vs expression in integration art (21:16) Psychedelics and addiction recovery (31:41) The link between 12-step programs and psychedelics (34:44) Shadow work and Internal Family Systems (41:02) Supporting someone with limited access to integration (26:46) What is pre-integration and why it matters (49:40) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com Find more about Robin at robinkurland.com or on Instagram at @psychedelicrecovery_

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Brigitte Kolibab. Brigitte is a yoga teacher, ceremony facilitator, and long-time student of both Eastern spiritual practices and Amazonian plant medicine. Her work focuses on bridging the gap between the yogic path and the Ayahuasca experience, offering integration tools through body-based practices. She co-leads the Yoga & Integration retreats at LaWayra. We touch upon topics of: The impact of psychedelics on someone with an existing spiritual practice (00:03:40) How Ayahuasca can enhance your yoga and meditation, and vice versa (00:06:10) Using yoga as a tool for integration (00:10:45) The Yoga & Integration retreats at LaWayra (00:13:25) Psychedelic states that can be achieved through yoga alone (00:17:00) The role of synchronicity and how Ayahuasca amplifies it (00:20:30) How Ayahuasca influences manifestation (00:23:40) Reflections on our first and most recent yoga retreats (00:28:15) Why we’re planning more Yoga & Integration retreats (00:31:00) How LaWayra has changed in the last two years (00:35:20) Her favorite moments from the retreats (00:39:00) Parallels between the yogic system and the Ayahuasca path (00:42:10) Crossovers between Ayahuasca and other modalities like breathwork and meditation (00:47:30) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com Find more about Brigitte Kolibab on Instagram at @b.khonest

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Jeronimo Mazarrasa. Jeronimo is a community activist and the Director of Social Innovation at ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research and Service). With over 20 years of experience in the psychedelic field, he has dedicated his life to studying how traditional plant medicine practices, especially Ayahuasca, can be integrated safely and respectfully into the modern world. We touch upon topics of: Jeronimo’s background in film and Ayahuasca activism (00:53) The globalization of Ayahuasca and his role at ICEERS (03:41) Maximizing the benefits of plant medicine (07:16) Why prohibition and secrecy hinder collective learning (09:20) Minimizing harm: physical, psychological, and legal risks (11:50) Discernment and interpreting Ayahuasca messages (14:51) Tools to avoid impulsive decisions after ceremony (22:11) Cultural appropriation vs. inspiration in Ayahuasca (30:24) How to care for others in ceremony without physical contact (40:12) Indigenous wisdom and what the Western psychedelic field can learn (45:00) Ayahuasca for prevention, not just treatment (54:05) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com Find more about Jeronimo Mazarrasa at www.ICEERS.org and www.ICEERS.academy

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Bill Richards. Bill Richards, PhD, is a pioneering clinical psychologist and researcher in the field of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Known for his work with psilocybin and LSD since the 1960s, he contributed to groundbreaking studies at Johns Hopkins University and authored the influential book Sacred Knowledge: Psychedelics and Religious Experiences. We touch upon topics of: How Bill began psychedelic research in Germany in the 1960s (01:18–03:39) The psychedelic research scene in the U.S. from the 60s to 70s and its shutdown (04:31–07:52) The revival of psychedelic research at Johns Hopkins (08:13–08:32) The potential of psychedelics to evolve human consciousness (09:30–11:25) The role of mystical experiences in healing and behavioral change (13:02–16:43) Spiritual language and intuitive knowledge (17:37–20:56) Psychedelics and reducing fear of death (22:26–27:18) Personal beliefs on life after death and consciousness (27:54–30:56) Future of psychedelics in medicine, religion, and education (34:31–36:28) Educational value of mystical experiences (39:42–44:41) Psychedelics as catalysts and keys, not the source of the experience (46:21–48:36) Best non-psychedelic practices for accessing transcendence (50:21–54:44) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com Find more about Bill Richards by reading his book Sacred Knowledge, available in 10 languages including Conocimiento Sagrado in Spanish.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Julian Vayne. Julian is a British occultist, psychonaut, and author known for his work in chaos magic, entheogenic spirituality, and modern paganism. He’s the author of several books including Getting Higher: The Manual of Psychedelic Ceremony, and is co-organizer of the Breaking Convention conference in the UK. We touch upon topics of: Julian’s background and path to psychedelics and magic (00:50) Magic as “the technology of the imagination” (05:06) Aleister Crowley’s psychedelic rituals and Julian’s first LSD experience (05:59–09:48) Navigating psychedelics using magical frameworks like Hermetic Kabbalah (07:27) Language around drugs, medicines, and entheogens (08:23–09:19) Placebo effect, imagination, and healing (29:57–30:27) The Western magical tradition and its roots in Egypt (20:06–22:06) Hermes Trismegistus and the Hermetic tradition (22:26–24:40) Magic vs. religion and the self-experimentation of spiritual practice (24:40–25:39) Using ayahuasca for spiritual gifts and personal transformation (26:45–29:27) Spirit animals, ego inflation, and spiritual humility (33:43–34:29) Do people have specific spiritual gifts or all of them? (35:27–38:17) Spirits and animism explained through real-world analogies (39:36–44:22) What shamans do and how they interact with spirits (44:22–47:42) Lost European shamanic traditions and their traces today (47:42–52:38) Saunas, altered states, and ancient European heat rituals (53:06–57:46) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com Find more about Julian Vayne at www.julianvayne.com or on social media @julianvayne. Also check out the Breaking Convention conference and their YouTube channel for more of his work.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Matt Zemon. Matt is an educator, author, and leader in psychedelic wellness, specializing in the impact of psychedelics on mental health. Holding a master's degree in psychology and neuroscience, he has authored several bestselling books, including Psychedelics for Everyone and The Veterans Guide to Psychedelics. His latest book, The Beginner’s Guide to Psychedelics, explores how to safely navigate the world of plant medicines. We touch upon topics of: Matt’s first psychedelic experience and its impact (00:57) His journey exploring different psychedelics worldwide (01:22) The role of Ayahuasca in veterans’ healing (03:01) Why veterans respond well to Ayahuasca therapy (04:30) The importance of multi-night Ayahuasca retreats (06:19) Launching a nonprofit for veteran-only Ayahuasca retreats (08:17) Potential challenges of veteran-exclusive Ayahuasca groups (09:14) The idea of UFC athlete Ayahuasca retreats (11:28) The connection between psychedelics, PTSD, and trauma healing (13:35) Psychedelics as catalysts, not cures (18:11) Integration: What to do after an Ayahuasca experience (19:14) The power of community in sustaining psychedelic healing (20:35) Bringing psychedelics into family settings (25:09) The role of psychedelics in modern rites of passage (28:38) Spirituality’s role in psychedelic healing (46:03) The future of psychedelics and concerns about commercialization (49:14) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com. Find more about Matt Zemon at www.mattzemon.com or follow him on LinkedIn and Instagram. His new book The Beginner’s Guide to Psychedelics is available on Amazon.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Daniel Shankin, a mindfulness coach and psychedelic integration specialist. Daniel is the founder of TAM Integration, which provides support, education, and integration circles for those working with psychedelics. He also leads the Mountain TAM Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program, training emerging facilitators in integration practices. Topics Covered: (00:34 - 02:21) Daniel’s early psychedelic experiences and how they shaped his path (02:23 - 03:49) The evolution of integration and its growing importance in psychedelic use (04:11 - 07:39) What psychedelic integration actually means and how it works in practice (08:28 - 10:52) Defining enlightenment: is it real, and what does it look like? (12:20 - 17:43) Relationships, marriage, and how psychedelics impact personal growth (18:24 - 19:55) Couples using psychedelics together—how should they integrate their experiences? (20:52 - 26:44) Working with difficult psychedelic experiences—when to seek clinical support (27:10 - 29:08) PTSD, CPTSD, and the potential of psychedelics in healing trauma (30:19 - 34:29) The importance of a supportive environment post-ceremony (35:09 - 38:54) The thin line between spiritual experiences and psychological projections (41:15 - 43:07) Shadow work—what it truly means and how to approach it (43:12 - 46:48) Mindfulness and integration: how self-awareness helps psychedelic experiences land (47:00 - 50:32) The ego and the default mode network—understanding the role of self-identity in psychedelic work (52:19 - 55:32) The Mountain TAM Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program and how it trains integration coaches If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com. Find out more about Daniel Shankin and his work at www.tamintegration.com or follow him on Instagram at @tamintegration.

Podcast Bio – Ayahuasca Podcast: Sam Believ with Lex Pelger In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Lex Pelger. Lex Pelger is a science communicator, writer, and educator specializing in psychedelics, cannabis, and human consciousness. With a background in biochemistry and molecular biology, he bridges complex scientific research with the public. Lex has authored graphic novels about cannabis, led storytelling events on psychedelics, and currently publishes Cannabinoids and the People, a newsletter covering the latest cannabinoid science. We touch upon topics of: (00:48 - 02:42) Lex’s journey into psychedelics and plant medicine (02:56 - 04:50) Science, mysticism, and the study of the "supernormal" (05:28 - 07:13) What it means to be a "drug writer" and bridging the knowledge gap (07:44 - 10:08) Cannabis and grandmothers: why older adults should consider cannabinoids (10:51 - 12:46) Social and cultural impact of cannabis in families (13:52 - 18:55) The power of storytelling vs. clinical studies in changing perceptions (19:30 - 20:55) Psychedelics as a cultural tool: structured rites of passage in society (21:12 - 23:36) Challenges in visually depicting psychedelic experiences in media (24:49 - 27:41) Lex’s personal Ayahuasca experience in New York (28:43 - 29:54) Traditional vs. modern Ayahuasca ceremonies (30:45 - 33:37) "We are drugs" – the role of endogenous psychedelics in human experience (34:30 - 38:48) Understanding the Endocannabinoid System and its role in homeostasis (38:53 - 44:24) Lex’s favorite cannabinoids and their unique properties (44:53 - 50:39) The benefits and science of CBD: anxiety, pain, neuroprotection & sleep (50:48 - 53:40) Cannabis, autism, and groundbreaking cases of psychedelic therapy (53:51 - 55:39) Lex’s work, books, and research contributions If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com. Find more about Lex Pelger at www.lexpelger.com and his Substack newsletter, Cannabinoids and the People. You can also follow his cannabinoid science updates at CVResearch.info.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Austin West. Austin West is a certified psychedelic medicine practitioner, microdosing philosopher, and founder of Entheo Holistics. He specializes in helping men forge a life of purpose, power, and authenticity through psychedelic healing and intentional microdosing. We touch upon topics such as: Austin’s story of addiction and transformation (01:06 - 05:48) The impact of microdosing on his healing journey (04:55 - 05:48) How trauma, especially father wounds, can lead to addiction (10:18 - 13:41) Porn addiction, erectile dysfunction, and healing from it (14:47 - 22:42) Synchronicities and the ‘creator mindset’ (26:07 - 31:57) Ayahuasca revealing his suppressed grief and a life-changing message (36:56 - 42:38) The fear of change and trusting the medicine process (42:38 - 47:22) His microdosing company and its impact on mental health (47:32 - 52:22) If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com. Find more about Austin West and his work at IamAustinWest.com.