Mangu.TV Podcast

We are excited to host Daniel Pinchbeck for a third time on the Mangu.tv podcast series. 

Daniel is a globally renowned author, philosopher, journalist, public speaker, and futurist, widely recognized for his thought-provoking insights on global transformation and consciousness evolution. As a cultural critic, Pinchbeck is known for taking an interdisciplinary approach to his work, drawing on diverse fields such as psychedelics research, ecology, sustainability initiatives, and spiritual studies.

Daniel is the author of Breaking Open the Head, The Return of Quetzalcoatl, and Notes from the Edge Times. He is also the founder of the think tank, Center for Planetary Culture, which produced the Regenerative Society Wiki. Pinchbeck's essays and articles have been featured in The New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone and many other publications. He has been interviewed by The Colbert Report, BrandX with Russell Brand, Purple, and many others.

Daniel shares his most recent endeavours, including courses, his substack, and his new publication, ‘The World You See Is the Myth You Are In: Essays on Politics, Consciousness, Technology and the Occult.'

Daniel discusses scientific materialism, its meaning and context, as well as other forms of materialist idealogy, he talks about consciousness, morphogenic fields, and monistic idealism, citing theories from scientists such as Rupert Sheldrake and Bernardo Kastrup. He speaks about evidence of mystical and paranormal experiences shared with him over the years, from Sequoia Shamans to Tibetan Lamas. 

We are delighted to host Erica Mather on the Mangu.tv podcast series. 

Erica Mather, M.A. E-RYT 500, is an author and yoga therapist who helps people feel better in, and about, their bodies. Her book Your Body, Your Best Friend: End the Confidence-Crushing Pursuit of Unrealistic Beauty Standards & Embrace Your True Power (New Harbinger, 2020) has captured the attention of yoga and mental health professionals as a guidebook for overcoming body image dissatisfaction. Her Adore Your Body Transformational Programs provide concierge, results-oriented body image coaching, and, The Yoga Clinic helps students, teachers, and health professionals to learn about empowered self-care for the body. Mather is a Forrest Yoga lineage-holder and has been profiled in the New York Times, NY Weekly, Yoga Journal, and Wisconsin Public Radio. Find her on Instagram @Erica_Mather and www.ericamather.com.

Erica discusses her upbringing in Wisconsin, the loss of her father and her struggle with migraines throughout her youth. Playing music led her to New York to study Ethnomusicology, she shares her academic interests, including activism and gender imbalance in music and her decision to follow the path of yoga, and become a yoga teacher. Erica shares her yoga and self-care practices and her journey supporting people to embrace the body they are born into.

Erica and Giancarlo discuss her book; an accumulation of everything she's learnt and experienced, and a tool to help people understand, overcome and find peace within their bodies.

We are delighted to introduce the first episode of an Astrology Series on the Mangu.tv podcast, with guest Robert Mitchell.

Robert Mitchell is a religious and Jungian scholar, a Western psychedelic lineage holder, an astrologer, a practical mystic, a podcaster, and a writer.  He received an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from Syracuse University and a Masters in Counseling from The California Institute of Integral Studies. For thirty years, he has worked worldwide to strengthen people’s relationships with the transpersonal intelligence that animates their lives. He uses tools of Western esoterica that include astrology, psychedelics, meditation and dreaming.  His specific interest is working with the unique structure of the consciousness of the individual, while demythologizing the psychedelic experience, removing the need to fetishize it or make it something exotic. His motto is: “People don’t need to use more Paychedelics, they need to be more Psychedelic. 

In the first episode of this Astrology series, Robert introduces its origins, his work within Astrology and the people who influenced him. He discusses the significance of each person's birth chart and how one's life is mapped out at birth and is not random. 

Robert and Giancarlo pick two popular figures; Elon Musk and Taylor Swift. Robert discusses each birth chart and looks at how it informs the way that they move through the world. He explains in detail how planetary alignment at birth can create potential challenges and positive attributes in each birth chart.

We are delighted to host John Wolfstone for this episode of the Mangu.tv podcast series.

John is an Initiatory Witch, Emergence Facilitator, Wilderness Guide and Transmedia Bard focused on the work of cultural redemption. Holding space for the great grief of our times, he designs and facilitates rituals and rites of transformation, in service to regulating the personal and collective nervous systems back to belonging with the Earth. In 2021, John co-founded The School of Mythopoetics dedicated to the Initiation of Soul. In 2024, his decade-long award-winning documentary, The Village of Lovers, about the Tamera Peace Village in Portugal premiered globally alongside A Cry From the Future Visionary Gathering he co-produced. 

John speaks about his upbringing in rural Colorado, and as a teen, in the ‘culturally insulated’ US during the punk movement, and experimenting with psychedelics, influencing both his anti-authoritarian view and his connection to earth. He shares the synchronicities that led him on a life-changing solo trip to Central America for 4 months of heart-led backpacking and, his current life path.  

Giancarlo and John discuss mythology & eros, they speak about ways of opening up to spirit and cosmic guidance. They discuss relational repair and holding space for our pain, and its potency to open up space for spiritual guidance and the soul journey. They speak about rites of passage and the initiations humans experience in their lives, as well as understanding emotions from a mythical perspective not just a psychoanalytical one. 

We are delighted to host Dimitri Mugianis for this episode on the Mangu.tv podcast series. 

Dimitri, a noted harm reduction advocate, psychedelic practitioner, musician, writer, and community organizer, revolutionized heroin addiction treatment in the U.S. using Ibogaine, despite its legal status. His unique approach combines traditional ibogaine ceremony elements with Western medical safety protocols, highlighted in the documentary "I’m Dangerous With Love." His work has garnered global research interest and acceptance in some medical circles.

Mugianis has conducted over 500 Ibogaine ceremonies and thousands using sound, art, psychedelics like Psilocybin and MDMA, focusing on psychological healing and spiritual awakenings. With 20 years in the psychedelic field, he's recognized for his expertise and contributions to harm reduction. Co-founding a holistic program at New York Harm Reduction Educators (NYHRE), he integrates various therapies for marginalized groups, demonstrating his commitment to innovative and compassionate care.

Dimitri shares his story growing up in Detroit, childhood traumas, as a teen, heavy drug use and life as a punk musician, and later his struggle with Heroin addiction as a young adult in New York. He talks about his transformative experience, healing his addiction with Ibogaine and how it informed his life path helping others to overcome addiction. 

Giancarlo and Dimitri discuss the subjective nature of healing from addiction, and how psychedelics, art, sound and support can help with harm reduction. Dimitri talks about his work in harm reduction and the value of a community space and compassionate team to support those suffering with addiction.

We are excited to host Richard Grossman on this episode of the mangu.tv podcast series.  

In part caused by an early childhood trauma, Dr. Richard Grossman has been dedicated to healing since an early age. His spiritual search also started early. By age 15, he had concluded that his only reason to be alive was to help others out of their suffering. To aid this goal, he became a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in 1983. During this time, he was introduced to the world of plant medicines, especially Ayahuasca. Now, his work is a unique combination of traditional Amazonian shamanism, deep energetic healing, and sound healing. His soon-to-be-published book, The Medicine of Your Life, explores this journey in depth. He is also exploring the healing power of visual images with the use of AI. 

Richard speaks about his upbringing and his fascination with plant medicine. He shares the impact of losing his uncle at a young age, his struggles to comprehend death, and the conclusion to spend his life helping people to heal. He speaks about his first experiences with plant medicines such as mushrooms and peyote, and how plants accelerated his growth and led to his interest and life's work with acupuncture and Ayahuasca. 

Giancarlo and Richard discuss consciousness, the mind, plant medicine, technology and mystical experiences, as well as the power of plant medicine to support communities. Richard shares his intention to continue working with medicine to heal religious and social divides.

We are excited to host Dr. Jack Allocca on this episode of the Mangu.tv podcast series. 

Jack is a research fellow at the University of Melbourne, studying altered states of consciousness using pharmacology, neuroimaging, and computational neuroscience. He founded Somnivore Pty Ltd, an AI data analytics company serving neuroscience laboratories. His research spans neuropharmacology, psychedelic science, sleep science, and consciousness research in wild species like bears, elephants and birds. Allocca has personally tested over 100 psychotropic substances and explored over 80 countries, speaking and consulting on psychedelic science, philosophy of mind, biohacking, AI, and their societal implications. His work has been featured in various media outlets, including print, video, and radio.

Jack discusses his upbringing in Italy and the cathartic moment that led him to a lifetime of inquiry into altered states of consciousness, neuroscience and psychotropic substances. He hares stories of extended travel and research during his studies, and investigation into the human psyche - experimenting with everything from meditation and psychedelics to extreme diets, religion and joining the sex industry  - each becoming integral to his PhD and future career. 

Giancarlo and Jack discuss collective consciousness and whether the world can ever really heal, looking at love, collective development and awareness vs. technology and war. 

Jack shares his intention and life's work, integrating his experiences to shape the future, and systems to help create a better living.

We are excited to host Betony Vernon for this episode on the Mangu.tv podcast series.

Daring, provocative and boundary-defying, Betony Vernon is an American-born designer, sexual anthropologist and author. Her aesthetic is formed by her explorations in spirituality, sex, sensuality and the erotic body realm. The development of her work is multidisciplinary, spanning sessions of practical teaching and curative sharing. The writing of her book The Boudoir Bible is currently translated into nine languages and the design of sublime objects, jewels, sculptures, furniture, objects, as well as happenings. In 2024 Betony will open the doors to a new experiential space in Italy, situated in an ancient building, restoration and preservation have been priorities for the past two years, most importantly, Betony has taken action in saving a piece of land around, which is building a community to preserve the negative impact of ecocide. Betony believes that to restore the soil is to restore the soul.  

Betony discusses her upbringing in the post-punk 1980s, her interest in philosophy and erotic literature and her life between Italy, Paris and London. She speaks about sexual liberation, and her work with jewellery, erotica and bondage, which was not easily accepted by mainstream outlets. 

Giancarlo and Betony discuss the power of play, and radical trust as a way to transcendence. Betony talks about shibari, bondage, the power of sex, and reasons it's so feared, as well as her cover shoots for The New York Times and work with sexual liberation and healing trauma.

We are delighted to host Batuhan Bintas on the Mangu.tv podcast series.

With a passion for educating the upcoming generations, Batuhan has been a technology enthusiast since his first meeting with computers at age three. He is an Animator and a full-stack Extended Reality (XR) developer with a deep understanding of Artificial Intelligence technologies. Batuhan is the founder and CEO of Imaginatrix Studios; a London/Istanbul-based XR studio that designs Augmented, Mixed and Virtual Reality technologies. Batuhan is a keynote speaker and has spoken at renowned events such as Boom Festival, Ozora Festival, Breaking Convention, and Occulture. Also, a psychedelic science enthusiast and a cyberdelics creator; Batuhan’s project Cyber Mushroom is designed to give a psychedelic experience through the power of Extended Reality and Artificial Intelligence. Batuhan believes that we live in a time where science fiction is becoming science fact. He elevates upcoming generations and teaches about the responsible use and innovation of technology; so we collectively write beautiful science fiction where we wish to live.

Batuhan speaks about his upbringing, the influence of his Sufi grandmother and his early understanding of different dimensions. He talks about visa difficulties whilst studying abroad and how this led him to study online. This later led to his current projects, and work with the UN, bringing virtual reality to refugee children, offering insight into life outside of refugee camps.

Batahan and Giancarlo discuss educating future generations about sacred sexuality, psychedelics and AI as a tool to support growth and education.

We are delighted to host Robert Mitchell for episode 53 of the Mangu.tv podcast series. 

Robert is a religious and Jungian scholar, a Western psychedelic lineage holder, an astrologer, a practical mystic, a podcaster, and a writer.  He received an undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from Syracuse University, and a Master in Counseling from The California Institute of Integral Studies. For thirty years, he has worked worldwide to strengthen people’s relationship with the transpersonal intelligence that animates their lives. He uses tools of Western esoterica that include astrology, psychedelics, meditation and dreaming.  His specific interest is working with the unique structure of the consciousness of the individual, while demythologizing the psychedelic experience, removing the need to fetishize it or make it something exotic. His motto is: “People don’t need to use more Paychedelics, they need to be more Psychedelic.”

Robert speaks about his upbringing in Los Angeles, where his parents were part of the bohemian, creative scene, and how the sudden loss of his father, at age 16, impacted him. He talks about his education, with various teachers from Jung to Stan Grof, Agehananda Bharati, Ram Dass and more.

Giancarlo and Robert discuss mystical experiences and the doors one can access with altered states. Robert discusses the overlap in religion and astrology and his work using the intelligence of astrology to understand timings and cosmic consciousness. He shares a few profound case studies and speaks about the occasionally unrecognised value of astrology.