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In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes anthropologist and author Dr. Manvir Singh to explore the enduring power of shamanism as a psychological and cultural technology.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-311/?ref=278
Singh discusses insights from his fieldwork with the Mentawai people and Amazonian Yopo shamans, explaining how ritual, performance, and belief help people manage uncertainty and catalyze healing. Together with Paul, he examines the contested history of ancient psychedelic use, the risks of neo-shamanic narratives, and the deep psychological roots of sacred ceremony.
Dr. Manvir Singh is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis. He holds a BA from Brown University and a PhD in human evolutionary biology from Harvard. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Wired, The Guardian, and top academic journals. His first book, Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, was published in 2025.
Highlights:
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These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.
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292292 ratings
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes anthropologist and author Dr. Manvir Singh to explore the enduring power of shamanism as a psychological and cultural technology.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-311/?ref=278
Singh discusses insights from his fieldwork with the Mentawai people and Amazonian Yopo shamans, explaining how ritual, performance, and belief help people manage uncertainty and catalyze healing. Together with Paul, he examines the contested history of ancient psychedelic use, the risks of neo-shamanic narratives, and the deep psychological roots of sacred ceremony.
Dr. Manvir Singh is an assistant professor of anthropology at the University of California, Davis. He holds a BA from Brown University and a PhD in human evolutionary biology from Harvard. His writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Wired, The Guardian, and top academic journals. His first book, Shamanism: The Timeless Religion, was published in 2025.
Highlights:
Episode Sponsors:
These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.
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