In this episode of the Pip Podcast, author Sarah Napthali joins Pip editor Robyn Rosenfeldt to talk about her latest book My Year of Psychedelics, and why a middle-aged Buddhist mother decided to spend a year experimenting with sacred plant medicines and other consciousness-expanding substances.

Best known for her bestselling series Buddhism for Mothers, Sarah Napthali has long been a steady and grounded voice in the world of mindful parenting and Buddhist-inspired living. But her latest book takes a very different path. In My Year of Psychedelics, she documents a 12-month journey through the world of mushrooms, MDMA, LSD, ayahuasca, ketamine and more – with curiosity, caution and reverence.

She discusses how powerful these substances can be, not only for profound joy – describing her first MDMA experience as ‘the best day of my life’ – but also for processing buried emotional experiences. From navigating heartbreak to revisiting childhood wounds and vicarious trauma from her former social work career, Sarah shares the insights that emerged during and after each session.