Ayahuasca Podcast with Sam Believ

In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ speaks with Bruce Eckfeldt—a seasoned entrepreneur, systems thinker, certified exit planning advisor, former CEO of an Inc. 500 tech firm, and host of the Psychedelics Invest podcast.

00:00 - 01:00: Introduction of guest Bruce Eckfeldt, highlighting his background as an architect, tech founder, exit planning advisor, and host of Psychedelics Invest.

01:01 - 04:04: Bruce shares his personal journey from architecture to interactive tech, selling his company in 2013, recovering from a broken back using cannabis, and transitioning into the cannabis and psychedelic podcast space.

04:05 - 05:15: Sam and Bruce discuss using podcasting as an effective tool for learning and connecting with people.

05:16 - 09:30: Bruce details his first personal psychedelic experience—a weekend retreat involving psilocybin and San Pedro in the California Redwoods—and the deep sense of internal trust and connectedness it provided.

09:31 - 14:00: A discussion on executive and founder burnout, where Bruce redefines burnout not as overexertion, but as an integrity issue stemming from putting energy into work that lacks alignment with personal values.

14:01 - 18:30: Sam and Bruce discuss founder dynamics, the natural life cycle of business stages, energy allocation, and the typical 5- to 7-year life shift cycle.

18:31 - 21:00: Addressing the rumor/fear in Silicon Valley of founders drinking Ayahuasca and quitting their companies or drastically altering their lives.

21:01 - 24:00: Bruce explains his intensive retreat format for executive teams, using natural settings, discomfort, and strategic reflection to drive organizational change.

24:01 - 28:50: Exploring the potential of combining plant medicine with business retreats to treat burnout, alongside the importance of doing internal work before making radical external life changes.

28:51 - 32:25: Unpacking why entrepreneurs build businesses—balancing purpose versus proving oneself—and using the analogy of picking a mountain to climb.

32:26 - 34:25: Why successful people struggle to enjoy their achievements, shifting the focus from fleeting happiness to deep engagement and purpose.

34:26 - 39:30: Bruce introduces his book, Springboard, which guides founders on post-exit planning, scaling, and reverse-engineering their business exit strategies.

39:31 - 44:50: Examining "conscious capitalism" and the intersection/tension between business investors, clinical researchers, and traditional ceremonial plant medicine practices.

44:51 - 49:25: How leaders should integrate psychedelic insights without impulsively disrupting their organizations or teams.

49:26 - 52:25: Recurring visual realms, geometry, and neural patterns experienced during psychedelic journeys.

52:26 - 53:25: Closing remarks and where to find Bruce Eckfeldt's work (on his LinkedIn, and his book Springboard).

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) speaks with Una Meistare. Una is a prominent Latvian cultural journalist, art critic, and co-founder/editor-in-chief of Artterritory and Spirit Territory. Having spent over two decades exploring fashion and design, she now researches alternative states of consciousness, ethnobotanical healing, and the therapeutic potential of psychedelics.

00:00 - 02:00: Overview of Latvia's mental health statistics, high suicide rates, and Una's background in art journalism

02:01 - 04:30: Una's initial introduction to Ayahuasca through an interview with Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto

04:31 - 07:15: First secret ceremonies with the Huni Kuin tribe and attending the World Ayahuasca Conference in Girona

07:16 - 10:15: High rates of treatment-resistant depression in Latvia, suicide statistics, and organizing therapeutic psychedelic conferences

10:16 - 13:30: Traditional plant harvesting protocols, asking permission from nature, and overcoming cultural stigma

13:31 - 16:30: Integration challenges, psilocybin's potential in Latvia, and local mushroom-foraging culture

16:31 - 22:30: Deep dive into the traditional Latvian pirts (sauna) ceremony as an ancient method for altered states of consciousness

22:31 - 26:30: The energetic qualities of trees (oak and linden) and cross-cultural parallels in heat-based healing

26:31 - 32:00: Seasonal dynamics in Latvia, extreme light/dark cycles, and reconnecting with nature

32:01 - 36:15: Sauna rituals as a healthy alternative to heavy alcohol consumption

36:16 - 41:10: The surge of Ayahuasca tourism in Latvia, interpreting symbolic messages, and Rick Strassman’s perspectives on ego amplification

41:11 - 46:40: The intersection of psychedelics, art, emotional intelligence, and Una's exhibition on six universal emotions

46:41 - 50:10: Final thoughts on inner healing, self-reflection, and where to find Una's work

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com.

Find more about Una Meistare at www.artterritory.com and www.spiritterritory.com.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Kat Courtney. Kat is a traditionally trained ayahuasquera, huachumera, pioneering integration coach, and dedicated death doula. After completing a decade-long apprenticeship in the Amazon within the Shipibo-Conibo lineage, she founded Plant Medicine People to help seekers safely navigate the world of psychedelics.

00:00 - 02:00: Kat’s background, healing journey with Ayahuasca, and the natural multidimensional state of consciousness

02:01 - 05:15: Transitioning from corporate game production at Disney to traditional shamanic plant medicine

05:16 - 07:40: Overcoming bipolar diagnosis, bulimia, alcoholism, and finding hope through Ayahuasca

07:41 - 11:05: Navigating grief and the transition of loved ones through death doula perspectives and the Ho'oponopono prayer

11:06 - 14:48: Exploring Ayahuasca as the "vine of the dead," ego deaths, and psychedelic birth/grief portals

14:49 - 18:20: Addressing abuse in the plant medicine space, teacher falls from grace, and accountability for the ego

18:21 - 20:00: Shadow work, Carl Jung, and discovering the "golden shadow" and hidden superpowers

20:01 - 22:15: Ayahuasca's impact on dysregulated nervous systems and the importance of gentle titration

22:16 - 25:00: The reality of sitting in over 1,000 ceremonies as an apprentice and facilitator

25:01 - 29:00: Kat's legal battles with Homeland Security, federal charges, and navigating systemic hypocrisy around DMT

29:01 - 34:40: The dangers of fast-tracked facilitators, energetic safety, and physical/emotional risks

34:41 - 37:00: How Ayahuasca learns and evolves alongside human consciousness

37:01 - 40:25: Handling projections, pedestals, and participant trauma as a facilitator

40:26 - 44:50: Practical integration, avoiding the "ceremony slump," and connecting with nature

44:51 - 49:10: Daily self-check-ins, holding hope for collective consciousness, and closing thoughts

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com.

Find more about Kat Courtney at www.plantmedicinepeople.com.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Shane Mauss. Shane is an award-winning stand-up comedian, science communicator, and host of the long-running podcast Here We Are. Known for blending evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and comedy, he is also the creator of the documentary Psychonautics and the immersive two-part comedy special Trips, filmed at Meow Wolf.

0:00 - 02:40: Shane’s background, rebel youth, and blending science, comedy, and psychedelics

02:41 - 08:52: The origin of Trips and creating immersive visual comedy experiences

08:53 - 11:45: Conventional education vs. self-directed learning and humor as an educational tool

11:46 - 24:32: The famous "Purple Lady" DMT entity story and shared trip experiences

24:33 - 36:58: Exploring the reality of trip visions, brain architecture, and Jungian archetypes

36:59 - 42:33: Navigating dogmatic spiritual views, ego-centrism, and mania in psychedelic spaces

42:34 - 55:46: Shane’s dark side of psychedelics: Reckless use, manic psychosis, and Psychonautics

55:47 - 58:20: Grounding fail-safes in traditional Ayahuasca use vs. unguided tripping

58:21 - 1:03:52: Performing stand-up comedy while under the influence of LSD and mushrooms

1:03:53 - 1:05:48: The challenges of accidental microdosing and trying to function in normal life

1:05:49 - 1:09:00: Details on Shane's Trips special, Meow Wolf, and future projects

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com.

Find more about Shane Mauss at www.shanemauss.com.

In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ speaks with Dr. Richard Louis Miller, a clinical psychologist with over 60 years of experience in humanistic psychology and addiction recovery. Dr. Miller is a former faculty member at Stanford University and the University of Michigan, an advisor to the President's Commission on Mental Health, founder of the Wilbur Hot Springs Health Sanctuary and the Cokenders program, and author of Psychedelic Medicine.

Dr. Miller shares his journey through the early psychedelic movement, the historical and political factors behind drug prohibition, and his personal protocols for longevity and health.

First Psychedelic Experiences & The 1960s Renaissance (01:36 - 08:31) Dr. Miller recounts his first experiences with DMT, Sandoz LSD at the Esalen Institute in 1967, and ingesting Morning Glory seeds after reading Timothy Leary and Richard Alpert's work. He discusses how the subsequent 50-year government shutdown affected early research.

Pioneering Holistic Addiction Treatment (04:38 - 06:19) Establishing the Wilbur Hot Springs sanctuary and the first holistic health chemical dependence program, integrating meditation, exercise, nutrition, and acupuncture to safely detox over 1,500 individuals.

Societal Structures, Politics, and Psychedelics (12:53 - 25:11) Dr. Miller and Sam explore how psychedelics dissolve boundaries and foster a sense of planetary unity. They discuss why governments have historically restricted these substances, the pitfalls of societal division, and alternative models of social care and taxation.

Longevity Protocols at 87 (32:25 - 41:42) Dr. Miller shares his personal maintenance routine for longevity: weightlifting, daily aerobic conditioning, strict nutrition, drinking half his body weight in ounces of water daily, and maintaining active social connections in line with Blue Zone principles.

Overcoming Terminal Health Diagnoses & Microdosing (43:15 - 47:58) How Dr. Miller reversed terminal heart failure and survived nodular melanoma, highlighting the role of double aerobic exercise, a strong immune system, and disciplined LSD microdosing in his recovery.

LSD, Creativity, and Innovation (47:58 - 52:16) The historical impact of LSD on scientific discoveries and technology (such as DNA sequencing and Silicon Valley innovation), and the lost potential caused by ongoing restrictions.

Psychedelic Medicine

Master Your Mind

The Adverse Effects and Therapeutic Benefits of Psychedelic Medicine (Upcoming)

Ayahuasca Retreats: Visit www.lawayra.com

Dr. Richard Louis Miller: Learn more at wilburhotsprings.com or find his books and content on Amazon and social media platforms.

In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of Lawayra) sits down with Beth Weinstein—a spiritual business coach, entrepreneur, and pioneer in the psychedelic integration space. Beth is the host of the Medicine for These Times Podcast and creator of the annual Psychedelics, Sacred Medicines, Purpose, and Business Summit.

Blending her background in NYC fashion startups, neuro-linguistic programming (NLP), and extensive plant medicine work, Beth shares insights on bridging the gap between deep mystical experiences and practical, soul-aligned business success.

Childhood Activations & Early Experiences (01:02 - 03:09) Beth reflects on early childhood experiences in California contemplating existence, mortality, and her first unexpected acid trip at age 14 that opened her eyes to the vast potential of the human mind.

Discovering Ayahuasca & Transitioning from Corporate Life (03:09 - 09:09) How major life changes and a strong spiritual foundation led her to sit with an Ayahuasca master from Peru. She discusses leaving behind the corporate/tech-startup world to answer the call of entrepreneurship.

Ego, Illusions, and Discerning True Visions (09:09 - 15:29) Beth and Sam dive into how plant medicine illuminates your true self, but warn against the trap of ego inflation—such as quitting your job on a whim to become a facilitator after a single retreat. She shares methods for integrating visions thoughtfully over time.

Avoiding the "Starving Healer" Archetype (15:29 - 21:16) Practical advice for transitioning out of standard careers into the psychedelic or coaching space without operating from financial desperation or chasing social media illusions.

The Reality of Running Retreat Centers & Sacred Reciprocity (21:16 - 31:20) Sam and Beth pull back the curtain on the massive, hidden operational costs and physical labor required to sustainably source plants, run retreats, and support teams. They unpack the misconceptions around pricing, undercharging, and sacred reciprocity.

Stepping Out of the "Psychedelic Closet" (42:43 - 51:34) Addressing the stigma surrounding psychedelic use in professional environments, the importance of non-judgmental integration support, and why normalizing these experiences is crucial for societal growth.

Aligning with Your Soul's Purpose (51:57 - 57:40) Reframing "soul purpose" not as a rigid career endpoint, but as making space for what makes you feel alive—whether that's art, music, or business—and combating midlife burnout.

Ayahuasca Retreats: Visit www.lawayra.com

Beth Weinstein: Learn more at bethweinstein.com, listen to the Medicine for These Times Podcast, or follow her on Instagram @bethweinstein.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Jesse Gould. Jesse is a former US Army Ranger and the founder of the Heroic Hearts Project, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping military veterans overcome PTSD and trauma through psychedelic-assisted therapies.

We touch upon topics of:

Jesse's military background and his personal struggle with PTSD and alcohol (02:50 - 05:00)

Seeking help through the VA and avoiding lifelong pharmaceutical reliance (04:38 - 06:20)

Discovering Ayahuasca and traveling to Peru for his first ceremony (06:20 - 09:59)

Navigating challenging Ayahuasca ceremonies, physical purging, and healing MTBI (12:35 - 18:30)

Parallel between military bonding and group dynamics in psychedelic retreats (22:00 - 25:15)

Founding the Heroic Hearts Project to support veterans and their families (28:00 - 33:00)

Standard and ethical considerations when choosing retreat centers for veterans (33:50 - 37:10)

Research findings on brainwaves, PTSD reduction, and integration (38:30 - 42:30)

Addressing common stigmas and skepticism among military veterans (52:00 - 56:20)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Jesse Gould at heroicheartsproject.org or on Instagram @heroicheartsproject.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Rick Strassman, the landmark psychiatrist and researcher who single-handedly broke the decades-long freeze on human psychedelic research. As a clinical associate professor at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Strassman conducted the pioneering 1990s clinical trials into DMT and authored the bestselling book DMT: The Spirit Molecule. He is a leading pioneer exploring the profound intersection between psychopharmacology, biology, human consciousness, and mystical experiences.

We touch upon topics of:

His background in chemistry, meditation, and early interest in Eastern religions (01:13 - 03:09)

Lessons from Zen monks and the connection between LSD and Western Buddhism (03:09 - 05:31)

Personal meditation experiences and processing repressed trauma (05:31 - 11:00)

Endogenous DMT production in the pineal gland, cortex, and near-death experiences (11:00 - 14:14)

The DMT neurotransmitter system hypothesis and reality modulation (16:57 - 19:32)

Stress, childbirth, and naturally occurring DMT (19:32 - 22:43)

Dr. Strassman's early personal psychedelic experiences and meeting Terence McKenna (23:16 - 26:16)

Navigating regulations and launching the landmark 1990s DMT study (26:16 - 34:30)

Clinical trial settings versus traditional spiritual and shamanic frameworks (34:30 - 42:06)

Endogenous DMT, Biblical prophecy, and Hebrew scripture (42:06 - 47:09)

Critiquing the Mystical Experience Questionnaire and life integration (48:27 - 52:06)

Comparing smoked DMT, Ayahuasca, and LSD (58:27 - 01:00:37)

The nature of psychedelic entities, simulation theory, and shared visions (01:00:37 - 01:08:26)

Key books and practical safety advice for psychedelic explorers (01:08:50 - 01:12:15)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Dr. Rick Strassman at rickstrassman.com or on Substack at Rick Strassman.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Manesh Girn, a neuroscientist, psychedelic researcher, and co-founder and CEO of Five Discovery, a psychedelic biotechnology company developing therapeutics for neurodegenerative disorders. Previously, Dr. Girn completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco working with Dr. Robin Carhart-Harris to investigate the neural mechanisms underlying psychedelic experiences. He has authored over two dozen peer-reviewed publications on brain networks, psychedelics, and cognition.

We touch upon topics of:

His personal introduction and background in Eastern spirituality (03:00 - 04:00)

Parallels between meditation and psychedelic altered states (04:00 - 05:10)

The scientific concepts of ego dissolution and ego inflation (05:10 - 10:00)

How psychedelics work in the brain and neuroplasticity (10:00 - 13:00)

The brain as an interconnected ecosystem (13:00 - 15:10)

Why disruption and temporary chaos lead to healing and recalibration (15:10 - 17:00)

Coherence, transient states, and capturing brain dynamics (17:00 - 19:10)

Myths and realities of the Default Mode Network (DMN) (19:10 - 21:40)

Other brain networks affected by psychedelics and their therapeutic roles (21:40 - 24:00)

Psychedelics for creativity, professional breakthrough insights, and non-hallucinogenic therapeutics (24:00 - 27:00)

Using complexity science and system-level approaches in mental health (29:45 - 32:45)

Why individuals experience highly variable, context-dependent psychedelic effects (32:45 - 34:50)

Precision psychiatry and personalized dosing (34:50 - 37:10)

Placebo-controlled research on microdosing vs. high-dose applications (37:10 - 41:40)

The difficulty of studying the neuroscience of bad trips (41:40 - 44:00)

The value of first-person psychedelic experience for scientific researchers (44:00 - 46:15)

How the brain is hardwired to experience deep love, gratitude, and connection (46:15 - 49:10)

The challenges of measuring endogenous DMT and theories of post-retreat reactivations (49:10 - 54:30)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Dr. Manesh Girn on Instagram or YouTube @thepsychedelicscientist, his personal website maneshgirn.com, or learn about his biotechnology company at fivediscovery.com.

In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ connects with Mike Jay, a world-renowned cultural historian, author, and curator. Mike is a leading expert on the forbidden history of the human mind, dedicated to uncovering forgotten or hidden narratives regarding the intersection of science, medicine, and human consciousness. Rather than focusing solely on modern spiritual or therapeutic applications, Mike explores the deep historical contexts of mind-altering substances, tracing the lineage of human experimentation from 19th-century self-experimenting scientists to ancient, cross-cultural indigenous practices. He is the author of several acclaimed books, including Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind, Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic, and High Society: Mind-Altering Drugs in History and Culture.

Mike opens up about his own multi-decade personal history with psychedelics, explaining how early encounters simply "blew his mind" before the modern medicalized or spiritual frameworks existed. He breaks down the shifting definitions of "drugs" versus "medicines," the forgotten era of 19th-century intellectual self-experimentation, and how recovering our deep historical perspective is vital to navigating the modern psychedelic renaissance safely and intentionally.

01:09 – The Pre-Spiritual Psychedelic Era: Mike discusses beginning his relationship with psychedelics decades ago, a time before formal therapeutic or spiritual frameworks existed, driven purely by an intellectual and experiential desire to expand and explore the limits of the human mind.

05:26 – Shifting Paradigms of "Drugs" vs. "Medicines": Exploring how the modern Western concept of a "drug" is a relatively recent, heavily politicized invention that artificially separated chemical compounds from the ancient cultural, ritualistic, and intentional settings that defined them for millennia.

09:23 – The 19th-Century Self-Experimenters: A look at the forgotten history of early "psychonauts"—including doctors, philosophers, and scientists like Sigmund Freud—who routinely used themselves as the primary laboratories to map out how various substances altered human consciousness, emotion, and perception.

13:56 – The Rediscovery of Mescaline: Tracing the cross-cultural journey of mescaline from its ancestral indigenous roots in Peyote and San Pedro (Wachuma) ceremonies to its late 19th-century synthesis in Western laboratories, serving as the literal catalyst that birthed modern psychedelic research.

21:34 – Science, Materialism, and the Unseen: Discussing the massive cultural challenge of translating subjective, deeply mystical, or spirit-centric psychedelic experiences into the strictly materialist and quantitative language required by modern clinical science and academia.

31:15 – Global Plant Medicine Traditions: A comparative historical analysis of how different global societies across time constructed sacred, protective boundaries around altered states of consciousness to seamlessly integrate powerful plant teachers without societal destabilization.

45:59 – De-escalating the Drug War Mindset: How recovering a comprehensive, non-prohibitionist historical perspective allows modern society to move past the toxic binaries of the "War on Drugs" and safely embrace the normalization of cognitive liberty.

55:24 – Intentional Spaces and the Future: Mike shares his vision for the future of the psychedelic space, emphasizing the vital importance of prioritizing context, personal intention, and sacred or natural settings over the sterile, substance-only approaches of corporate pharmacology.

Connect with Mike Jay:

Website: mikejay.net

Featured Books: Psychonauts, Mescaline, and High Society (available on Amazon, his website, and major book retailers).

Experience Safe, Guided Consciousness Work: To explore heart-opening, traditional plant medicine retreats in a deeply restorative setting designed for integration and profound clarity, explore our programs at: ayahuascaincolombia.com