Love, Loss & Hallucinations with Scott Schumaker

Prepare to be moved by Amy Scott Rooker’s extraordinary journey from trauma to healing. Growing up, she had a contentious relationship with her parents, who chose to ignore the intense trauma inflicted on Amy by a sibling. She tried to bury her pain by creating the “perfect” life as a corporate lawyer. Meanwhile, privately, she numbed herself with a few drinks every night and battled an eating disorder. It wasn’t until her mother died that her heart broke open and she knew something had to change. Her journey within involved therapists, books, plant medicine, and more, but it brought her healing, an inspiring spiritual awakening, and a new life grounded in love. It also stirred a latent love of writing, which she turned into her new memoir, My Mother is a Dragonfly.

Her journey from grief to grace will show you that the greatest healing comes when you stop running from yourselves and start loving all parts of your story.

In this episode:

This is a great episode to share with someone going through a hard time, needing inspirations, wanting to connect with something greater, or just someone you love. ❤️

AMY'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Substack | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

So many of us live with the silent, often hollow-feeling struggle of trying to attain wealth and success while wearing societal masks. Yet, deeper within us there is a yearning for connection, purpose, and peace. What if the key to transforming your life is a simple shift in consciousness? Cesar Marin, a former CNN producer turned plant medicine and microdosing advocate, shares his inspiring journey, one where he has found purpose in plant medicine, microdosing, and surrendering to the deep work of healing and self-awareness.

He reveals how microdosing psilocybin transformed his relationship with addiction, helped him face childhood wounds, deepened connections with his family and friends, and propelled him into becoming a proponent for plant medicine. Discover how intentional plant medicine journeys in his 50s reopened his heart, realigned his mission, and sparked a powerful awakening, showing us all that it's never too late to reinvent ourselves.

You'll learn:

👉How microdosing can serve as a tool for clarity, focus, and emotional resilience, especially after 50

If you're tired of surface-level solutions and crave a deeper, richer life, this is your blueprint. Perfect for anyone seeking real change, men ready to lead with love, or explorers curious about how plant medicine can unlock your best self. 

CESAR'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Substack | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

For almost a decade, Robert Gallery slogged through a dark night of the soul. He thought he was going crazy. He wasn’t sure he could go on living. A former offensive guard who played 8 seasons in the NFL, he didn’t know TBI (traumatic brain injury) was profoundly influencing his behavior. But he was suffering, living in a heavy cloud that was also negatively affecting his wife, kids and those close to him. He had never tried or considered the intentional use of plant medicine, but that changed when he heard Navy Seal vet Marcus Capone talking about ibogaine on a podcast. Ibogaine would save his life and inspire him to co-found Athletes for Care.

In this episode Robert shares his profound journey from injury, trauma, and mental darkness to healing and purpose. It is a powerful story of transformation, resilience, and hope, as well as a raw, authentic conversation about mental health, plant medicines, and the courage it takes to rebuild a life.

You'll learn:

ROBERT’S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Substack | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

In this episode, Jackie Harel, a seasoned matchmaker, dives into the raw, unfiltered truths about modern love, the pitfalls of dating apps, and how understanding yourself is the ultimate key to finding lasting connection and genuine love. Jackie’s insights are a wake-up call for anyone tired of superficial swipes and ghosting, eager to do the deep inner work that transforms relationships from fleeting to forever.

In this episode:

Listen now and start rewriting your love story — because the deepest connections come from understanding yourself first.

JACKIE'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

Most of us are blind to the startling truth: 96% of land animal biomass is us and what we eat, while wild creatures make up just 4%. Yet, the fight to restore the wild is a battle for our own future, and it needs to happen now.

John Stewart, driven by simple acts, fierce love and unwavering hope, is someone who heard the call and is leading that battle. Fueled by a moment of anger, he left behind a life in advertising to dedicate himself to saving wildlife, co-founding Wild Tomorrow Fund (WTF). What began with buying a set of tires for wildlife rangers has turned into creating wildlife corridors spanning thousands of acres, rescuing threatened species, reviving habitats and providing sustainable income and education for local communities. 

In this episode, John shares the raw, emotional journey from heartbreak over habitat loss to triumph in land restoration. You'll discover how a small team bought land, knocked down fences, and created corridors for animals to roam free. This is a feel-good conservation story, but it is also a wake-up call. The future depends on what we do today. John reveals how you can start with small, meaningful steps to combat habitat loss caused by our insatiable use of resources.

This episode is perfect for nature lovers, activists, and anyone feeling the weight of ecological grief but yearning for hope and action.

In this episode:

👉How a childhood memory sparked a lifelong love for animals 🐱

👉The pivotal moment that inspired a career change from ads to conservation 💡

👉Building Wild Tomorrow Fund from a dream into protecting over 5,000 acres 🌍

👉The power of community, partnerships, and innovative land restoration 🤝

👉Tackling habitat loss by altering our eating habits 🍽️

👉The hallucination we live in—believing humans are separate from nature 🌱

👉Practical steps anyone can take to heal the earth and reconnect with nature 🌿

JOHN'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

Get ready to dive deep into a journey of love, deep grief, cancer, creativity and a life-altering experience involving cookies with music icon, Melissa Etheridge. If you’ve ever wondered how grief transforms into hope and a deeper love or how her music is created that touches the soul, this episode reveals it all.

You’ll discover how Melissa’s accidental hero’s dose of cannabis sparked a spiritual awakening, revealing, in part, that peace isn’t the absence of chaos but embracing life’s contrast. She shares raw stories behind her latest album RISE, a powerful reflection of loss hope, and love, including her son Beckett’s tragic death from fentanyl. Her candid insights on love, healing, and the current research into using plant medicine to overcome addiction will challenge what you thought you knew about consciousness and the mind. She also dives deep into her groundbreaking work with The Etheridge Foundation, which funds various psychedelic research, from ibogaine to psilocybin, with the goal of defeating opioid addiction.

In this episode:

MELISSA'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

Many people don’t realize how much pain, joy, and transformation is locked inside their bodies. Imagine gently connecting with a deep, inner wound, healing it, and finding more peace without ever leaving your home or using plant medicine! This episode reveals the power of somatic-based therapy in crafting a life of resilience, wholeness, and love. Sit in as Marisa Radha Weppner takes the host, Scott Schumaker, somewhere completely unexpected, but wholly worth the journey.

Marisa is a seasoned somatic and psychedelic therapist, guiding her clients through the unseen layers of trauma and self-discovery. In this episode, she also shares her own quest for a deeper understanding of consciousness and self, which started with an LSD trip at 15, and how that lead to her groundbreaking work with ketamine therapy and body-centric healing methods. As Radha states (and Scott experiences), this work will help you heal and integrate forgotten parts of yourself you, parts you forgot were hurt.

MARISA'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

How did a driven, world-record holding, 30-something overachiever who has swum the English Channel learn to embrace vulnerability, hire a matchmaker and find her soul mate? In this episode, Melissa Blaustein—the youngest mayor in Sausalito’s history, a global policy advocate, and open water swimmer— shares her deeply personal journey of “breaking open,” and how that helped her find true, authentic love. She opens up about confronting childhood wounds and imposter syndrome, hallucinating Olympic athletes during long swims, and discovering the power of community in both the water and politics. Melissa breaks down the importance of honest communication, spiritual growth, and embracing discomfort as the pathway to fulfillment. This episode is about the profound transformation that happens when you let go of perfection, shed the need to constantly achieve, and lean into the vulnerability that makes us human. 

Whether you’re battling self-doubt, seeking courage to love again, or craving real community, Melissa’s truth will stir your soul and challenge your perspective. 

MELISSA'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

Prepare to have your thinking around drugs and drug policy challenged! Uncover the radical truth about drugs, harm reduction, and the power of compassion in this electrifying conversation with drug policy pioneer Ethan Nadelmann, whom Rolling Stone magazine once dubbed “the real drug czar.” Forget the fear-mongering and outdated myths, Ethan shares what you really need to know about how science, empathy, and smart policies can transform society. He boldly reveals how decades of prohibition, racism and xenophobia, and ill-guided policies have fueled harm and been an economic drain on society. In addition, he recounts compelling stories of hope that will shift your perspective about “the war on drugs”. This episode will give you plenty of food for thought!

You'll discover:

Perfect for activists, policymakers, or anyone yearning for a more compassionate, effective approach to drugs and human connection. Ready to rethink your stance? Hit play.

ETHAN'S LINKS:

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)” 

Feel stuck? Lost in the chaos of modern life? Want to witness Scott receiving a round of hapé up his nose? Nicho Nutu, a Shipibo healer and musician, reveals the profound lessons plants and sacred ceremonies have gifted him — lessons that can transform your relationships, your clarity, and your soul. 

From the depths of the Amazon to Northern California’s forests, Nicho shares how ayahuasca, specific plant diets (psychedelic and non-psychedelic), and the power of sound revealed to him to a love so wide that it heals old wounds and connects us all to the divine. You'll discover how these medicines teach forgiveness, compassion, and humility — and how you, too, can tap into this limitless source of love without ever leaving home or taking a psychedelic. 

In this episode:

NICHO'S LINKS:

Website 

SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter | Website | Instagram | Facebook | TikTok 

MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano)”