Minds on Mushrooms

We spend so much of our lives building an identity around who we think we are supposed to be.

Our careers. Our relationships. Our roles. Our successes. Our failures. The expectations of others.

Eventually, it can become difficult to distinguish who we actually are from who life has conditioned us to be.

But life is a continual process of death and rebirth.

Chapters close. Relationships change. Careers end. Children grow up. Plans fall apart. The identities we once relied upon stop fitting.

And in those moments, we have a choice.

We can stay caught in worry, regret and fear of what comes next, or we can embrace the unknown and become curious about what life is asking us to discover.

In this episode of North Node™ LIVE, Maggie Kirkwood sits down with Cesar Marin, founder of Cultivating Wisdom, to explore The Art of Reinvention.

Not as an effort to become someone new, but as a process of remembering who we are beneath everything we’ve accumulated along the way.

Cesar shares simple, accessible practices for becoming more present, examining our patterns, reconnecting with the people we love and creating space to hear ourselves again.

Perhaps reinvention isn’t about having all the answers.

It’s about having the courage to release what has ended, step into the unknown and trust that there is more of ourselves still waiting to be discovered.

Explore Within. Expand Beyond.

Cultivating Wisdom

Instagram | @cultivating.wisdom

Microdosing Over 50

North Node™

Education + Resources

LinkedIn

Explore Within. Expand Beyond.

The ceremony isn't the destination—it's the beginning.

Join Maggie Kirkwood and Angie Dahlof for an educational conversation exploring the complete arc of working with psilocybin, from intentional preparation through breakthrough experiences and into the often-overlooked critical learning period where lasting transformation begins.

We'll explore:

Whether you're simply curious or seeking a deeper understanding of these experiences, this conversation offers an evidence-informed look at how preparation, integration, and intentional practice can help translate profound moments into lasting growth.

This episode of North Node LIVE is brought to you by Wild Rise: Rituals of Renewal.

Learn more at jenveralle.com/retreats or follow @jenveralle on Instagram.

North Node™ is a private educational association dedicated to evidence-informed psychedelic education, preparation, integration, and community. We advocate for thoughtful collaboration between emerging psychedelic practices and traditional healthcare while empowering individuals to explore expanded states of awareness with intention and responsibility.

Rethinking Your Drinking: An Honest Conversation About Changing Your Relationship with Alcohol...and Yourself

For years, I thought alcohol was the problem.

It turned out it was the symptom.

In this special North Node Live conversation, I share my personal story of questioning my relationship with alcohol and the unexpected path that led me toward healing, self-discovery, and freedom.

This isn't a conversation about shame, labels, or telling anyone they need to quit drinking. It's an invitation to become curious.

Together, we explore the role alcohol can play in our lives, why so many people feel stuck in patterns they never intended to create, and how changing our relationship with alcohol often begins by changing our relationship with ourselves.

We also discuss the emerging science surrounding psychedelic-assisted healing, the importance of education, preparation, and integration, and why there may be more paths to healing than many of us have been led to believe.

Whether you're sober, sober-curious, supporting someone you love, or simply wondering if life could feel different, this conversation is for you.

You are not alone.

There is hope.

And you don't have to have it all figured out today. Sometimes the most profound transformation begins with a single question:

What if there's another way?

If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love to continue it.

Visit ExploreNorthNode.com/rethinking-your-drinking to learn more and schedule a complimentary Rethinking Your Drinking Conversation. Together, we'll explore your current relationship with alcohol, what's keeping you stuck, and what possibilities might exist for moving forward.

It's a judgment-free, educational conversation designed to help you gain clarity, wherever you are on your journey.

This is a special episode, filmed on Earth Day, and it marks a turning point.

Exploring ibogaine for opioid addiction, psilocybin for healing, and a new model for education, integration, and community.

I’m joined by my partner Angela Dahlof, who has spent over a decade cultivating psilocybin and working as a facilitator. She shares part of her personal healing journey and what led her to this work. You can learn more about Angela here:

We also talk about a major moment unfolding right now, with President Trump signing an executive order to accelerate research into psychedelic plant medicines. There is growing attention on ibogaine, especially for its potential in supporting people living with PTSD and opioid addiction. This comes in the context of a 30-plus-year opioid epidemic in America that has impacted millions of lives and families. Early outcomes have been deeply promising, especially for veterans who have been searching for real relief.

This episode is also an announcement.

For the first time, we introduce North Node, a private educational association with a mission to expand access to education, integration, and community. We share how we came together with a simple vision to create intentional and responsible spaces where these medicines can be explored with care and support.

Learn more about North Node here:

We also talk about what is ahead, including the upcoming event The Rewired Mind with Coalition9 at Forgotten Star Brewing in Fridley, Minnesota on May 13, 2026. This event is open to the public. You can register here:

We also introduce a new outdoor series called HikroDose, a community experience centered around plant medicine, nature, and the arts.

Something is shifting.

If you’re ready to explore what this could look like for you, book an alignment call:

In this episode of Minds on Mushrooms, I sit down with psychotherapist and relationship expert Jonathan Robinson, who has explored MDMA both personally and professionally for more than 50 years.

Together we explore how MDMA works in the brain and body, why it’s often described as a heart-opening medicine, and how thoughtful set, setting, and emotional safety can create powerful opportunities for connection and healing between partners.

We talk about the science, the emotional openness this medicine can create, and the relational possibilities that emerge when defenses lower and compassion rises.

In this conversation, we explore:

If you're curious about MDMA-assisted therapy, psychedelic science, or new approaches to relationship healing, this conversation offers a thoughtful and grounded perspective.

Resources Mentioned

📖 Jonathan Robinson’s book Ecstasy as Couples Therapy: Using MDMA to Heal Conflict and Deepen Your Relationship

https://www.amazon.com/Ecstasy-Couples-Therapy-Conflict-Relationship-ebook/dp/B0G5HWTSJT

About Jonathan Robinson

• 40+ years of experience with MDMA-assisted therapy

Explore More

🌐 Minds on Mushrooms https://www.mindsonmushrooms.com

🌿 North Node https://www.explorenorthnode.com

📞 Book an Alignment Call https://calendly.com/explorenorthnode/45min

Listen to Minds on Mushrooms Minds on Mushrooms is available on:

The show explores the science, healing, and human stories behind psychedelic medicines and conscious living.

Hosted by Maggie Kirkwood, psychedelic practitioner and integration guide for intentional inner journeys.

⚠️ This episode is shared for educational purposes only and does not constitute medical or legal advice.

In this deeply honest and expansive conversation, I sit down with Jay Fiset, who shares how reaching a breaking point in his marriage became the catalyst for profound personal and relational transformation.

Maggie 

What if you could feel open, connected, and relaxed… without alcohol?

In this episode of Minds on Mushrooms, I sit down with Andrew Weiss, writer of The Psychedelic Blog, to explore kanna: a legal, mood-enhancing plant traditionally used for resilience, connection, and social ease.

Many people describe kanna as heart-opening and gently euphoric, similar to MDMA or a few drinks, but without the hangover or emotional crash.

We talk about what kanna actually feels like, how it works, and the story behind Get Kanna, Andrew’s thoughtfully crafted product designed for intentional, situational experiences like date nights, gatherings, music, or deeper connection.

If you’re rethinking your relationship with alcohol or curious about plant-based alternatives for feeling good in your body, this conversation is for you.

✨ Free shipping with code FRIENDS0FGK2

Get Kanna: https://www.getkanna.com/

IG: @getkanna

To learn more about working with Maggie:

Book an Alignment Call

This episode is for educational purposes only and not medical advice.

Keywords: kanna, kanna plant, alcohol alternative, legal plant medicine, herbal mood enhancer, plant medicine podcast, psychedelic education, microdosing alternatives

In this deeply honest conversation, I sit down with Derek Barlow, professor at Bellum Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in St. Paul, to talk about strength, avoidance, and what happens when the armor we build no longer serves us.

Derek shares how exploring psilocybin on his own brought awareness to long held patterns of avoidance and a core belief of unworthiness, and how realizing he could not navigate those discoveries alone led him to seek intentional, supported care.

We talk about what it means to stop running from yourself, to honor core wounds without judgment, and how choosing support can soften not only the inner world, but relationships as well. Derek opens up about how this work deepened his connection with his wife and reshaped his understanding of strength.

This episode is a grounded, responsible conversation about awareness, readiness, and the courage it takes to meet yourself honestly without having to do it alone.

Learn more about Bellum Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

More information about working together through North Node

In this episode of Minds on Mushrooms, I sit down with Robyn, a writer, yogi, and transformation travel and spirit guide whose life once looked perfect on paper: marriage, career, stability. But inside, she felt numb and disconnected. Everything changed when she discovered her husband’s infidelity, losing both her sense of security and identity.

Rather than crumble, Robyn turned toward the unknown. She embarked on a solo trip to Thailand, a journey originally planned with her spouse, and from there chose not to return to her old life. That decision became the catalyst for a radical inner awakening. Through yoga, meditation, travel, and deep spiritual exploration, she transformed her grief into empowerment and rebuilt a life aligned with her truth.

In this episode, we explore: What it means to feel disconnected even when everything looks fine The impact of betrayal on identity, worth, and trust How travel can become a spiritual crucible for transformation The healing tools Robyn uses to realign and reconnect How she now helps others reclaim their light and begin their own journeys of transformation If you’ve ever felt stuck or like you’re living someone else’s life, this conversation will remind you that endings can become beginnings, and the unknown can hold more possibility than what you left behind.

Learn more about Robyn here:

www.wanderingtowardthelight.com

IG: @wanderingtowardthelight

Explore her offerings here:

Minds on Mushrooms is hosted by Maggie Kirkwood, a certified psychedelic practitioner, integration coach, and founder of North Node — a platform for conscious education, microdosing support, and transformational healing. Through her podcast, courses, and coaching, Maggie helps others reconnect to their inner truth and navigate life’s transitions with clarity, intention, and trust.

Learn more or book an alignment call here: https://www.mindsonmushrooms.com/apply-now-form

✨✨✨ Minds on Mushrooms is available on YouTube, Apple and Spotify!

This one’s for the ladies! On today’s episode of Minds on Mushrooms, I’m joined by Jennifer Chesak, author of The Psilocybin Handbook for Women. Jennifer is a science and medical journalist whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, BBC, and more. She teaches in the journalism and publishing programs at Belmont University and brings a deeply researched perspective to the psychedelic conversation.

Together, we discuss how mushrooms uniquely affect women’s health, covering everything from regulating menstrual cycles and addressing infertility to boosting libido and easing sexual dysfunction. Jennifer shares insights from her book and explores how magic mushrooms, psychedelic therapy, and microdosing can support women’s mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing.

If you’ve ever wondered how natural psychedelics interact with women’s bodies and cycles, or you’re curious about the latest science on mushrooms and women’s health, this conversation is for you.

Resources and Links:

About Minds on Mushrooms:

Minds on Mushrooms is hosted by Maggie Kirkwood, a certified psychedelic practitioner, integration coach, and the founder of North Node. Through storytelling, education, and community, the podcast explores how plant medicines can support healing, creativity, and connection.

✨ Want to work with Maggie? You can apply or book an alignment call here: mindsonmushrooms.com/apply-now-form

Follow along on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/__maggiekirkwood__/