In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Bia Labate, a Brazilian anthropologist, activist, and one of the most influential voices in the global psychedelic movement. She is the executive director of the Chacruna Institute, editor of 28 books, and a champion of Indigenous rights, equity, and cultural integrity in plant medicine spaces.

We touch upon topics of:

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

Find more about Bia Labate at www.bialabate.net or on Instagram @labatebia. Learn more about her organization at www.chacruna.net.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Waifung Tsang. Waifung is a clinical psychologist, researcher and co-founder of Onaya Sciences, bridging Western psychology with indigenous Amazonian plant medicine, Chinese medicine and sound-based therapies. He also advises Heroic Hearts UK and is a TEDx speaker exploring the intersection of trauma, psychedelics and traditional wisdom.

We touch upon topics of:

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

Find more about Dr. Waifung Tsang and Onaya Sciences at www.onaya.io, www.onaya.science and on Instagram @onaya.io

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Ido Cohen, a clinical psychologist specializing in Jungian and relational depth psychology. He is the founder of The Integration Circle, focusing on psychedelic integration, shadow work, and turning peak experiences into lasting transformation.

• 00:56 Early experiences in India and discovery of integration

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

Find more about Dr. Ido Cohen at theintegrationcircle.com or on Instagram at @theintegrationcircle

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Joe Moore, co-founder/CEO of Psychedelics Today. Joe is a longtime voice in psychedelic education and media (700+ interviews), a holotropic breathwork facilitator, and the creator of the Vital year-long training program focused on psychedelic-informed practice and harm reduction.

• Origin story: books, Grof, breathwork, first aya, launching Psychedelics Today (01:13–04:17)

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

Find more about Joe Moore at psychedelicstoday.com and on Instagram: @jomo137.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Danielle Herrera, a California-based licensed psychotherapist and psychedelic-assisted therapy specialist. Danielle blends somatic and Jungian work with harm reduction, draws on Indigenous lineage and Sufi mysticism, and trains new facilitators with Beckley Academy. We explore how love, right-relationship, and spiritual technologies help people heal trauma and integrate psychedelic experiences into daily life.

00:01–01:22 — Intro and Danielle’s background

01:22–08:14 — Origin story: chaotic childhood, harm reduction path, ketamine/MDMA training, founding Tender Heart Healing Arts

08:41–12:48 — “Loving people for a living”: centering love in psychotherapy; Indigenous and Sufi lineages

13:14–17:11 — Trauma as absence of holding; parenting parallels; harm-reduction lens

17:12–22:03 — Why some grow from pain: “jet fuel,” ayahuasca discomfort, meaning-making

22:32–25:10 — Transmutation of pain; rites of passage and village containers

26:01–29:46 — Shamanism vs “psychosis”: the role of container (Crazywise reference)

29:46–36:30 — Sufism 101: Rumi, polishing the heart, spiritual technologies; resonance with ayahuasca/Icaros

37:32–42:43 — Mystical experiences in therapy; clinician competence and frameworks

42:43–47:02 — Spiritual emergence: signs, tenderness, intuition, “magic is real”

47:02–51:40 — Addiction: “don’t ask why the addiction—ask why the pain”; right-relationship with medicines

51:40–54:19 — Real integration: becoming better to those you’re responsible to love

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

Find more about Danielle Herrera at tenderheart.us (yourtherapistlovesyou.com) and Instagram: @yourtherapistlovesyou

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Simon Tennant—a New Zealand psychotherapist, integration coach, and longtime friend of LaWayra. Simon supports guests through complex processes (including repressed trauma), drawing on meditation, IFS lenses, somatic work, and a growing interest in philosophy and Christian mysticism alongside Buddhism. He’s served on LaWayra’s facilitation team and consults post-retreat, emphasizing patience, embodiment, and community as pillars of lasting change.

• 00:00–00:03 — Reunion, Simon’s role with LaWayra and integration work

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

Find more about Simon Tennant at csimon.nz (C-Simon, spelled c-s-i-m-o-n.nz).

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Simon Ruffell — psychiatrist, researcher, and co-founder of Onaya Sciences. Simon is known for bridging Western psychiatry and traditional Amazonian plant medicine, completing a PhD on the therapeutic effects of ayahuasca and training in Shipibo curanderismo in Peru.

We touch upon topics of:

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

Find more about Dr. Simon Ruffell and Onaya Sciences at www.onaya.science and on Instagram @drsimonruffell.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Norman Ohler, investigative author and storyteller known for his bestselling books Blitzed and Tripped. Norman’s work explores the hidden influence of drugs in history — from methamphetamine use in Nazi Germany to the political suppression of psychedelics — and challenges how we think about drugs and society.

We touch upon topics of:

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

Find more about Norman Ohler at substack

https://stonedsapiens.substack.com/

And check out his books Blitzed and Tripped.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Richard Grossman, PhD. Richard is a healer, author, and visionary blending Eastern medicine, Amazonian shamanism, and sound healing. With over 30 years of experience, he has guided thousands through transformational plant medicine journeys, focusing on forgiveness, integration, and heart-centered living. He is the author of Trust and Forgive: The Medicine of Your Life and founder of Heart Feather, a space for healing and awakening.

We touch upon topics of:

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

Find more about Dr. Richard Grossman at heartfeather.com or his book Trust and Forgive: The Medicine of Your Life available on Amazon.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Clara —German medical doctor and LaWayra’s Head of Facilitation for the past 10 months. Former hospital physician turned plant-medicine facilitator, Clara arrived as a guest, stayed as a volunteer, and now leads ceremony care and integration. She shares data from 689 patients and ~3,400 cups, lessons from bridging Western and ancestral medicine, and her own deep healing journey.

• [00:00] Role at LaWayra, patient stats, path from guest → facilitator

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