Imagine a world where every single moment pulses with life, where the mundane becomes magical, and where you’re intimately connected to the heartbeat of the universe. Now, what if I told you this world isn’t a clichéd fantasy, but the reality we’re already living in? What if you could access this “psychedelic” state of being without ingesting a single substance?

Today, I’m joined by someone who doesn’t just understand this reality—she lives it. Rosa Lewis, a mystic and meditation teacher from the UK, is pioneering a radical approach to heartfulness that combines Tantric Buddhism, Jungian depth psychology, shadow work, and mysticism.

In this episode, Rosa and I embark on what she describes as a “shared imaginal journey.” This conversation is far different—more exploratory, vivid, and contemplative—than my previous pod episodes. I encourage you to approach it not just as a listener, but as a participant in a receptive state.

You can expect to learn:

* How to perceive the psychedelic nature of reality without any substances

* The art of making the energetics and emotions of the moment as vital as anything in the external world

* How heart states like gratitude, forgiveness, and joy can deepen your connection to life’s inherent magic

* The power of imaginal practices in accessing deeper levels of consciousness

* Techniques for developing a secure attachment to the universe itself

* The difference between surface-level roles and deep archetypes, and how to connect with your core essence

* Understanding soulfulness and embracing your unique character in spiritual practice

And I highly recommend exploring Rosa’s work:

* Her website, practice guides, and especially her soul-awakening framework

* Her description navigating psychosis, 100 Ways It Is Like To Be Me, and 50 Things I Mean by a Buddha (which has the prompt we used for our exploration)

* Also her YouTube, including how to access jhana through sexuality

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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Serendipity in the digital age brought about this episode. It was a true highlight when Daniel Pinchbeck, a writer whose work has profoundly influenced my thinking, responded to one of my essays proposing we have a dialogue. After a brief email exchange, we decided to just hit record on our initial conversation, which I’m delighted to share with you today.

Daniel Pinchbeck is a NYT Bestselling author whose books include Breaking Open the Head, 2012: The Return of Quetzalcoatl, How Soon is Now, and When Plants Dream. He is the founder of the Liminal Institute, and he co-founded Reality Sandwich and the Evolver network, fostering conversations on transformative culture. 

He’s also the author of one of my favorite Substack newsletters. His work delves into ecology, politics, indigenous wisdom, mysticism, psychedelics, and social change.

In this episode expect to learn more about:

* Indigenous prophecies that forecast a collective descent into insanity followed by a state of enlightenment or awakening, and their relevance to the current global crises

* Why Daniel identifies as a ‘monistic idealist’, believing that the universe is primarily comprised of consciousness, rather than matter

* Concerns about the impact of technology on cognitive capacity and the need for a deeper level of crisis to catalyze collective action

* How the digital age has accelerated the breakdown of sensemaking and led to a bifurcation of communities

* Daniel’s criticisms of the RFK Jr. Presidential campaign

* A nuanced exploration of the war in the Middle East

* Why young people are depressed and sometimes have little hope for the future, and whether that’s a self-fulfilling prophecy

* The importance of holding both the pain and the bliss of our current reality, and the outsized potential for a shift in collective consciousness

* Daniel’s personal journey towards a state of “joyful surrender” and Jnana yoga amid our existential threats

Learn more about Daniel on his website. And I highly recommend subscribing to his Substack, Liminal News.

Hosted by Alex

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In this seventh episode, I’m stoked to welcome Valerie Mason-John, aka Vimalasara, as my guest.

Vimalasara is a renowned dharma teacher, author, and international public speaker with expertise in conflict resolution. They have worked extensively with gangs, the incarcerated, and individuals struggling with intense and challenging behaviors.

Throughout our conversation, we delve into how Buddhist teachings can be practically applied to overcome addictions and change harmful habits, both big and small. Though it may not be widely recognized, addressing subtle addictive patterns has always been a core aspect of Buddhism.

This conversation was an absolute delight for me. Vimalasara’s work in the recovery space has been life-changing for many seeking a dharmic alternative to traditional avenues. Before our recording, I was also fortunate to read an advanced copy of their new book, which is out now, and Dr. Gabor Mate has described it as a work that “distills eons of wisdom.”

In the episode, you can expect to learn more about:

* Vimalasara’s path to becoming a Dharma teacher and how early nightclub experiences provided initials glimpses into no-self and ego-less states

* The implicit nature of Buddhist teachings on addiction and the rise today of explicit Buddhist-based recovery teachings

* Whether you can be addicted to “thinking”

* How understanding vedanā (feeling tone) as pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral can help you prevent getting caught in addictive storylines and reactivity

* Using the breath, body, and dance as medicine, and taking refuge in the Three Jewels of the Dharma

* Honestly examining what you think about the most on a daily basis

* How labels like “sober” can be limiting, and true recovery is about cultivating sobriety of mind, not just abstinence from substances

* The promise and nuance of using psychedelics in recovery

* Whether the goal of the path should be enlightenment or the end of suffering

I hope that anyone interested in incorporating Buddhist insights into their daily life will find this conversation an essential resource.

Learn more about Vimalasara on their website.

You can check out their new book, First Aid Kit for the Mind: Breaking the Cycle of Habitual Behaviors, here.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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As especially relevant to this convo: take my course Life Not Wasted and learn how to free yourself from modern addictions to cultivate a life so joyous, you won’t need an escape or distraction.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Today I’m delighted to bring you a conversation with Manuela Mischke-Reeds, an international teacher of somatic psychology, a trauma expert, a bestselling author, and a co-founder of the Hakomi Institute of California and the non-profit Embodywise.

Manuela is also a Mentor at CIIS’s Psychedelic Research Program and the developer of the ISITTA somatic trauma approach (“From Trauma, to Dharma”). With over 25 years of clinical experience, she has worked with a diverse range of trauma clients, including first responders and victims of political torture. And believe me, this is just a very condensed version of her remarkable bio!

I had the privilege of training under Manuela for two years at the Hakomi Institute, where she was one of the lead trainers. It was a transformative experience for me, particularly being exposed to what I can only describe as the soul wizardry that pours out of her.

The primary motivation behind this conversation is to introduce you to the Hakomi Method of Somatic Psychotherapy.

Hakomi is very well-known in certain psychotherapeutic and psychedelic circles. It was instrumental in the creation of many other somatic and healing modalities, some of which you’ve probably heard of. However, despite its influence, Hakomi is not well-known in the broader public sphere, almost shockingly so. The institute, it seems, has intentionally kept a low profile, and it tends to attract practitioners who are similarly ‘heads down’ doing their work.

But change is on the horizon—the global organization recently revamped its website for the first time in ages, and a new Hakomi for Psychedelic Assisted Therapy training is being launched in the U.S. and Australia, with Manuela playing a key role in its leadership.

It’s my hope that this podcast will be part of this change, helping you to understand what Hakomi is and why it matters. Throughout this dialogue, I strive to approach the subject with a beginner’s mind, resisting the temptation to try and sound smart. This is something I’m working on in general, but especially in podcast interviews like this, where I know many listeners are new to somatic healing.

In this episode, you can expect to learn:

* How Hakomi helps us uncover unconscious “core beliefs” developed at a young age that can shape our entire life experience

* Understanding the role of Hakomi therapists as midwives of unfolding, partnering with clients to facilitate natural growth

* The ability to initiate nervous system state shifts with subtlest of “micro” movements

* Recognizing the inherently somatic nature of awe and wonder, and how Hakomi helps us return to the origin of experience before the meaning-making mind interrupts it

* Tapping into the sacred intelligence held within our bodies

* Reasons for choosing Hakomi and somatic therapy over other modalities

* Embracing life as a continuous healing journey, and considering somatic healing as an ideal remedy for modern challenges

Learn more about Manuela and her initiatives here: her website, The Hakomi Institute, Embodywise, and the Hakomi and Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy training.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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Today I’m excited to share a conversation with Dr. Joe Tafur. Joe is an integrative family physician, curandero, author, and speaker. His acclaimed book, The Fellowship of the River, explores the role of spiritual healing in modern healthcare. And this is the book I recommend most for folks new to ayahuasca.

Joe is a pioneering figure in the psychedelic field, renowned for his efforts to unite the worlds of indigenous shamanism and Western allopathic medicine. His perspective was informative early on my path and ultimately helped inspire me to work in this field. In other words, I’m a total fanboy.

In this conversation you can expect to learn:

* What Joe, who is both a medical doctor and shaman, would tell a rationalist who is curious but skeptical about ayahuasca

* Why indigenous traditions teach us to “not get ahead of the medicine” and avoid the trap of turning life into a game of optimization

* Understanding that the Psychedelic Renaissance, despite its shadow side, is ultimately doing an excellent job of getting people started on a path of spirituality and personal growth

* How Joe came to understand that emotions are always at the root of journeys that truly heal and create lasting change

* Joe’s interpretation of one of my most mind-bending ayahuasca visions

* A definition of “faculties of the soul,” which are universal traits that resist commercial exploitation, such as forgiveness, gratitude, and grace—and how we can attune to these frequencies

* How spirituality should always be rooted in practicality, meaning its success is measured by how individuals contribute to their communities, ecosystems, and society, as well as by the quality of their relationships

* Why plant medicines can be so helpful for people struggling with addiction, offering an alternative treatment model that, counterintuitively, doesn’t require ever-escalating doses of medication (suggested further reading)

And without further ado, I give you Dr. Joe Tafur.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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Do you ever wonder why so many people complain about “late-stage” and “hyper” capitalism? What do we even mean when we use such terms?

Are you interested in having conversations with friends about economic possibilities that don’t result in you being called a “naive socialist” or “blood-hungry capitalist”?

And how are economics linked to the cutting edge of meditation and psychedelics?

In this episode, Oshan Jarow and I explore these questions and more, seeking to understand how we can cultivate the right conditions—both within ourselves and in the world around us—to encourage the flourishing of human consciousness.

Oshan is a staff writer with Future Perfect at Vox where he writes about consciousness—including cognitive science, meditation, psychedelics, and philosophy of mind—and economics, with a focus on policies that can help build a more convivial future. Oshan is also the co-founder of the Library of Economic Possibility, a platform advancing public knowledge about heterodox economic policies, and host of the Musing Mind podcast.

This is a massive conversation and exchange of ideas! The first half explores economic possibilities and then the second half delves into exciting frontiers at the forefront of neuroscience, meditation, psychedelics, awakening, and policy.

Topics include:

* How Oshan became passionate about the intersection of consciousness and economics, and how he defines “consciousness studies”

* What people are implying when they complain about “hyper-capitalism”

* How to transcend labels like “capitalism” and “socialism” and have a generative conversation with your friends about economic possibilities

* Breaking down the meaning of the “emancipatory social sciences”

* The importance of grasping—and valuing—predictive processing, the leading brain theory that mediation experts, psychedelic researchers, and cognitive scientists are obsessed with

* What the Psychedelic Renaissance might miss if it exclusively focuses on mental illness instead of the full range of phenomenological experience

* The importance of defining the type of consciousness we’d want to construct after going through intense “deconstructive” practices such as psychedelic journeys and meditation

* How you can play a part in influencing economic policy change

When I set out to launch the Deep Fix pod, Oshan was among the first individuals I envisioned dialoguing with. Having followed his work for years, I’ve consistently admired how he blends forward-thinking, intellectual insights with genuine humanity. After this convo, I suspect you might join me in feeling confident that his influence will only become increasingly prominent over time.

Follow Oshan’s work at Vox, and check out his website, podcast, and Substack.

Listen to the episode on Substack, Apple, Spotify, or YouTube.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky.

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Joining me for the third episode is John J. Prendergast, Ph.D. John is a non-dual teacher, author of The Deep Heart and In Touch, a retired Adjunct Professor of Psychology at CIIS, and a retired psychotherapist.

When I first encountered John’s work, I felt an immediate resonance. I could tell he had that special something—call it a gravitas, awakened presence, or just a sense of grace. And meeting him for this conversation certainly did not disappoint. I found him to be incredibly perceptive, as if he could see right to the essence of who you are.

This conversation is experiential, meaning that there are at least two times when John guides me through an embodied exploration non-dual inquiry, which you can follow along for your own benefit. We also discuss:

* How to overcome social anxiety by shifting your identity from a sense of separation to a recognition of interconnectedness

* The spiritual inquiry John has developed around the question: What is my deepest knowing?

* The somatic release that organically happens from seeing things clearly

* How to access true nature by moving beyond constant planning and overthinking, which is often especially crucial for men

* John’s breakthrough awakening when studying with Adyashanti

* How to avoid getting stuck in the “witness trap” as a meditator

* The importance of “waking down” into the immanent, and how this tantric approach to seeing everything saturated in awake awareness is often better for Westerners

* The Direct v. Progressive paths of meditation and spiritual awakening

* A closing meditation exploring the non-dual ground of the Unknown

And now, without further ado, my conversation with John J. Prendergast.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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Joining me for the second episode is Holly Whitaker, a dear friend whose luminous mind lights up our conversation today.

Holly is the NYT bestselling author of Quit Like a Woman, the founder of Tempest Recovery, and the author of the Recovering newsletter. This is a far-reaching conversation that seeks to unravel the complexities of the current era, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of the world we inhabit. Topics include:

* Information overload, collective insanity, and the leading edge of culture

* How easy it is to make snap judgments in our online climate

* How we have reached the limit of critique and tearing things down (postmodern deconstructionism)

* A primer on the philosophy of metamodernism, which seeks to build something innovative and healing

* Finding comfort in uncertainty and holding multiple truths at once

* Humility, redemption, and the living practice of a love ethic

* How everyone can benefit from applying the principles of recovery

* How “sensemaking” demands a feminine touch infused with more heart and love

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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In January of 2022, I visited one of my all-time favorite authors in Jamaica, Gregory David Roberts (“GDR”). You can find the audio file of our interview above, which was recorded while we sat outside his rented tropical home, one stone’s throw from the white-sand beach.

GDR is the internationally bestselling author of Shantaram, an epic 993-page novel about a convicted Australian bank robber and heroin addict who escapes from prison and flees to India. Based on the raw elements of GDR’s own remarkable life, the novel is cherished by many readers worldwide. Under the Apple TV+ banner, Shantaram has been adapted into a major TV series that debuted on October 14th, 2023.

Our conversation includes:

* Reaching a “Turning Point”

* Writing in prison and beyond

* Overcoming addiction

* Meeting a spiritual teacher

* A debate on free will

* How the longing for drugs is spiritual

* Gangster Tantra

* Ethical business practices

You can learn more about GDR on his website, Instagram, Spotify, and YouTube.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky

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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe

Introducing the Deep Fix podcast.

Where the individual, society, and universe meet. In-depth conversations on philosophy, modern addiction, psychedelic science, and spiritual inquiry.

Dialogues in pursuit of social healing.

Hosted by Alex Olshonsky.

Listen to the episode on Substack, Apple, or Spotify.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit deepfix.substack.com/subscribe