How does one navigate the complex intersection of identity, facilitation, and healing within the psychedelic experience? In this episode Michaela Carlin and Tony Pham (Butterfly), a facilitator deeply rooted in Buddhism and queer and BIPOC identities, dive into the complexities of psychedelic training programs, the art of facilitation, and the importance of self-care and integration on the path of psychedelic service.

With insights into the challenges of navigating facilitation within diverse communities and the responsibility towards ethical practices, this conversation shines a light on the layered experiences of connecting with ancestral wisdom and bridging traditional healing practices with modern needs.

How do we find true fulfillment? Tune in to The Psychedelic Mom for a conversation with Dr. Meghan Roekle about the relationship between one's true nature, the body's wisdom, and the mind-body connection. Michaela and Meghan explore the limitations of traditional therapy, pointing to non-duality and embodiment as portals through which we can move more deeply into genuine healing and fulfillment.

They discuss practical approaches to tapping into the body's wisdom, the power of presence and awareness, and how these principles can be integrated to support navigating life's challenges. Their dialogue offers listeners a deeper understanding of fulfillment by bridging spiritual concepts with everyday experiences and outlines practices to help orient towards living a more connected and fulfilling life.

Exploring the deeply transformative nature of psychedelics on parenthood, personal growth, and the understanding of generational trauma, Seth Lorinczi, a writer and parent, shares his journey with psychedelics and how it has influenced his life, relationships and perspective on his family lineage.

Michaela's conversation with Seth puts a significant focus on the critical juncture at which Seth was reintroduced to psychedelics in his forties during a crisis in his marriage, leading to profound changes in his relationship and his ability to show up more fully for his own life.

Seth shares about his process of excavating his family’s Holocaust survival story, in part through a psychospiritual quest to Hungary and how he then documented this experience and the revelations it inspired in his book, 'Death Trip: A Post-Holocaust Psychedelic Memoir’.

Beyond personal transformation, Seth touches on the broader societal and cultural dimensions of psychedelic use, including its impact on parenting, the dangers associated with young people's cannabis use, and the societal implications of mainstreaming psychedelic therapy. The interview illuminates the intricate ways in which psychedelics can act as both a mirror and a catalyst for deeper self-exploration and healing, and how they can also help individuals gain more clarity about collective and generational wounds.

This episode of the Psychedelic Mom Podcast is the second part of a dialogue between Michaela Carlin and her friend and colleague, Stefanie Cohen. Themes of ego dissolution, recognizing and sitting with our shadow, confronting deep-rooted shame and the challenges of integration post-psychedelic experiences weave throughout this fun and candid conversation.

Both women also offer reflections on their quest to embody their true nature through the lens of psychedelic experiences and non-dual philosophy, sharing insights into how these paradigms intersect within their broader processes of healing, self-discovery and awakening to the true nature of reality.

In this conversation, friends and colleagues Michaela Carlin and Stefanie Cohen pull back the curtain on their long, strange trips of psychedelic transformation. Michaela and Stefanie open up about their personal journeys, sharing about the profound shifts in identity they’ve both experienced on the medicine path, the intensity and importance of their shadow work, and the concept of spiritual healing.

Stefanie describes her past struggles with depression and SSRIs, culminating in her first experience with Ayahuasca in 2015, which set her on a path of self-discovery and healing. Michaela did not begin her psychedelic explorations from a place of suffering, but rather was led onto the path by a lifelong curiosity about consciousness. She shares about encounters with shadow selves, generational trauma and deep self-love in her very first psychedelic journey and how they changed her life forever.

The conversation further explores reasons why certain people are drawn to the path of psychedelics, pondering how past lives, embedded traumas, or profound questions about the nature of existence may factor in.

This week on The Psychedelic Mom Michaela Carlin welcomes Frank Yang for an upbeat conversation about Frank’s remarkable journey out of suffering from bipolar disorder and sex addiction to achieving liberation through a shift into the ‘natural state’ of non-duality through psychedelics, meditation, and existential inquiry.

Michaela and Frank dive deep into topics such as the paradox of “seeking” enlightenment, the nature of suffering, how conditioning can dissolve through working with psychedelics, and the emergence of a 'spiritual ego'. They also highlight the limitations of language in conveying non-dual concepts, the physicality of awakening, and shifts in relationships and perceptions post-enlightenment.

For anyone seeking to understand the role psychedelics might play in the awakening process, this episode provides a nuanced view on ways in which they can be powerful tools for transformation and transcendence.

In this episode of the Psychedelic Mom Podcast, Michaela Carlin interviews Maria Camille, a nomad entrepreneur and former wife of a mafia gangster. Maria shares her challenging life journey, from tumultuous times as a mob wife to the death of her young son to becoming a self-made businesswoman and a world champion in extreme sports.

Maria further describes her healing process post-divorce and the transformative role psilocybin mushrooms played in her recovery, leading her to host psilocybin retreats for middle-aged people looking to alter their life's direction and find new purpose and meaning. Maria discusses the crucial role of integration in post-psychedelic therapy and reveals her plans for an upcoming documentary exploring the concept of 'what's next' for people in their middle to elder years.

In this episode, Kevin Cannella, a psychotherapist and passionate psychonaut, discusses his personal journey into the psychedelic space and his role as the co-founder and executive director of Thank You Life. a nonprofit organization that aims to expand the accessibility of psychedelic therapy by eliminating financial barriers for those seeking treatment. Thank You Life targets communities like the BIPOC, LGBTQ, and Veteran population, providing cost-effective group healing sessions.

Kevin shares details about the experience of working with these communities and the positive impact psychedelics have had on their mental wellbeing. Kevin and Michaela discuss the legalization, effectiveness, safety, and nuances of psychedelic medicines, particularly ketamine. Kevin also highlights the importance of guided psychedelic experiences, emphasizing the value of safe, professional containers, and speaks about eventual longitudinal studies and potential partnerships to expand Thank You Life’s service to a broader audience.

Listen in as Michaela Carlin welcomes Jemma Gawned, a medicine woman initiated into the sacred ancestral healing path of the Andes, as she shares about the transformational power of shamanic medicines such as ayahuasca, huachuma, and cacao, emphasizing the critical role of a mindful, heart-centered approach in ceremonial facilitation. Jemma also delves into the process of soul retrieval, where fragments of one's soul, displaced due to trauma, are called back, and how this healing process can lead to an affirmation of identity and increased vitality.

Jemma's commitment to awakening individual truths and her unique perspective on connecting with nature and ancient cultures underline the importance as well as implications of increasing accessibility to shamanic healing practices. Be sure to listen to the whole episode so that you don’t miss Jemma guiding listeners to cleanse energy, heal ancestral imprints, acknowledge their inner child's needs, and recall soul fragments as part of a liberating and healing mini-session.

Join host Michaela Carlin and co-host Stefanie Cohen as they speak with Dr. Ben Sessa. As a medical doctor who has specialized in psychiatry for over 25 years, Dr. Sessa shares his insights on the role psychedelic and cannabis research is playing in transforming traditional psychiatric practices in the UK.

One key area of discussion is how MDMA can aid in psychotherapy, especially for individuals with addiction or experiences of trauma. A recurring theme is the need to treat mental health holistically, focusing on both the biological and psychological aspects, and that the current psychiatric model of merely managing symptoms is ineffective.

Instead, therapeutic options such as psychedelics can facilitate real change, helping patients address the root causes of dysfunctional narratives formed from their past traumas. Dr. Sessa also advocates for mental healthcare to be accessible to all and emphasizes the importance of effective early child care in preventing mental health issues later in life.

Join host Michaela Carlin for a deep dive into MDMA - also known as molly and ecstasy - for treating a variety of mental health disorders. She answers questions about its safety, usage, and effects on the body and shares about her own personal experiences and observations.

Michaela also looks into the current state of MDMA in terms of legality, scientific studies and clinical trials, its growing popularity in the psychotherapy world, and the fascinating history of the drug’s origins.

The effects of MDMA vary greatly from person to person and include many anecdotal reports of empathy, deep self-love, compassion and forgiveness. However, Michaela cautions listeners to exercise care about legality, dosage, set and setting, and purity while considering MDMA.

Today we meet Tommy Rosen, an internationally renowned yoga teacher, meditation instructor, and addiction recovery expert with over 30 years of continuous recovery from addiction. Rosen shares his perspectives on addiction by highlighting the importance of addressing it as a ‘frequency’ that affects mind, body and spirit. He elaborates on the therapeutic potential of yoga and his personally developed program, Recovery 2.0, that merges a modified 12-step approach with an expansive yogic system of evolutionary growth. Rosen urges people to move beyond their trauma instead of staying stuck and identifies true recovery as a holistic journey towards wellbeing and awakening. The podcast also discusses the impact and usage of psychedelics, distinguishing between their potentially beneficial or harmful effects, especially for people recovering from addiction.

In this warm and inspired conversation, host Michaela Carlin speaks with Elizabeth Bast, co-founder of Soul Centro, an iboga retreat center located in Costa Rica. Elizabeth shares about her deep immersion with iboga within the context of the Bwiti tradition in Gabon, reflecting on how it has transformed her life and brought profound healing to both her and her husband, co-facilitator, Chor Boogie.

The dialogue covers a wide range of topics, including generational trauma, the significance of regenerative neurology in addiction treatment, respecting the sacred use of iboga, and what it means to live a life serving medicine in steadfast dedication to individual and collective healing. Elizabeth also underlines the intersection of her roles as a mother and a medicine woman and the significance of ancestral wisdom, sovereignty, and soul connection in parenthood and guiding others.

This week Michaela Carlin is joined by Robert Forte for a deep dive into the history of the psychedelic movement, the controversial nature of conspiracy theories, and the escalating conflicts in global politics. Forte, a pioneer in the psychedelic movement, shares insights on the historic and modern uses of psychedelics, stories about key figures like Timothy Leary, Aldous Huxley, and "Sasha" Shulgin, and expresses concerns about corporate interests encroaching on the 'psychedelic renaissance.'

A key point raised is the power of psychedelics in fostering individual discernment and the potential dangers during their post-intake suggestibility period. With respect to current world events, the conversation highlights the increasing commercialization of psychedelics and their possible role in empowering a societal transformation amidst the mounting global tensions and ongoing political crisis.

Join Michaela Carlin and Stefanie Cohen for a fascinating conversation with neuroscientist, Dr. Dölen as she discusses her research, including her pioneering work with MDMA on octopuses, which has unveiled the possibility of using psychedelics to increase sociability in support of trauma healing, as well as her exploration of how psychedelics can help open “critical periods” of learning. She shares in great depth about the potential of applying such treatments for PTSD, addiction, and even post-stroke motor function recovery.

The discussion also ventures into the possible use of psychedelics in treating genetic autism through reinitiating the social reward learning period. However, a note of caution is emphasized: consistent evidence is needed to prevent possible harm, especially with conditions like schizophrenia and autism. Future studies will concentrate on determining how the duration and intensity of psychedelic effects relate to the longevity of these reopened 'critical periods'.

This week Michaela is joined by Scott Berman, founder of Sky Cave Retreats. Scott discusses how his early experiences with meditation, solitude, nature connection and psilocybin influenced his spiritual journey and led him to develop his first darkness retreat in 2012. He speaks on the transformative power of spending extended periods in complete darkness and the opportunity it offers to reconnect with one's essential nature and let go of societal, cultural, and spiritual conditionings. He recounts the profound yet varied experiences of retreat participants and explores the idea that being in total darkness can facilitate feelings of safety, stillness, and deep self-exploration. He further discusses how the unique darkness retreats at Sky Cave Retreats are carried out and their potential impact on individuals seeking spiritual, personal, or emotional growth.

Today Michaela Carlin welcomes Snow Raven, a musician and shaman from the Republic of Sakha, Siberia. Much of the conversation centers around Snow Raven's unique form of music that integrates sounds of nature and her indigenous shamanistic practices.

Snow Raven shares her experience growing up in one of the coldest, most remote areas on earth. She discusses the concept of shamanic journeys, adjusting to life in the United States, and her role as a bridge between the indigenous and modern world.

Michaela and Snow Raven critique the Western approach to life for its disconnect from nature's rhythms and ancestral wisdom. Ultimately, they stress the importance of indigenous voices in reconnecting us to lost wisdom and integrating this into earth medicine and psychedelic spaces.

Join Michaela Carlin with Tricia Eastman, medicine woman and founder of the non-profit Ancestral Heart, as they explore the healing power of iboga and ibogaine, Tricia’s personal journey, and the impact of intersecting cultural influences on the psychedelic movement today.

Tricia shares about the challenges and spiritual practices that have shaped her life and career, perspectives on the future of psychedelic medicine in the West, and the importance of respecting indigenous cultures not only in word, but in deed.

Tricia and Michaela also discuss Tricia’s upcoming project, the Hu Azores Wellness Retreat Center and possible timelines for humanity moving forward as we collectively face these wild and uncertain times.