The Eleusinia Podcast

What does it truly mean to walk the path of plant medicine? And what happens when the work of healing becomes a return to the wisdom, traditions, and roots that came before us?

In this deeply honest and expansive conversation, we sit down with Josefina, Eleusinia's own Curandera to explore her ancestral relationship with plant medicines, her spiritual evolution, and how her life's purpose ultimately became a journey of returning to her roots.

Growing up surrounded by plant medicines, Josefina shares how her early experiences shaped the woman and practitioner she is today. She takes us through the evolution of her spiritual path and the unfolding of Eleusinia Retreat, offering an intimate look into the philosophy, intention, and responsibility behind the work.

Josefina does not hold back as she takes us behind the scenes of what it means to welcome guests upon arrival and then into their first macro-dose experience. She shares her approach to preparing individuals for these profound experiences in ceremony, the importance of cultivating a relationship with the medicine, and why the experience itself is only one part of a much deeper journey.

We also explore the differences between DMT and psilocybin, how our relationships with these medicines can evolve, and what it means to approach them with reverence, intention, and respect.

Drawing from the experiences of more than 1,500 guests, we reflect on the transformations we've witnessed, the patterns that emerge over time, and the distinctions between genuine inner work and the often glamorized or misrepresented narratives circulating throughout online psychedelic culture.

This is a conversation about ancestral wisdom, spiritual responsibility, the evolution of healing, and what it really means to do the work.

What happens when a mental health professional who has spent decades helping others reaches a point where the tools she has always relied on are no longer enough?

Missy spent 25 years working in mental health. At the height of her private practice, she was seeing roughly 60 clients a week while navigating her own depression, health challenges, and long-term use of antidepressant and anti-anxiety medications.

Then, after years of caregiving and the loss of both parents, Missy reached what she describes as rock bottom.

Her search for healing eventually led her to ayahuasca, where she began confronting complex PTSD, generational trauma, and grief. Later, she felt called to explore psilocybin, a path that brought her to Eleusinia.

In this candid conversation, Missy shares how her psilocybin experiences differed from ayahuasca, how the experience of receiving care became an unexpectedly profound part of her journey, and what her background as a clinician allowed her to see when it comes to ethics, safety, and support in psychedelic spaces.

She also shares how the experience helped reveal what had been missing from the book she was writing about her journey: what comes next.

This is a deeply personal conversation about finding yourself again amidst caring for others, allowing yourself to be cared for, and finding the courage to begin a new chapter.

What happens when you realize you’ve become disconnected from the life, and the people, you love most?

At 51, David had a family, a corporate career, and a life he had worked hard to build. From the outside, his life looked successful, but underneath it, he felt increasingly anxious, numb, and disconnected from joy.

He kept himself constantly busy. He pushed his feelings down. The more David tried to control his life, the smaller his life became.

Then his son said something that was difficult to hear: even when Dad was home, he wasn't really there.

Hit by the disconnect with his son, and with his marriage approaching a breaking point, David came to Eleusinia.

In this episode, he shares the story of two challenging psilocybin experiences, an unexpected encounter with joy and presence through DMT, and the unexpected happening when a man who had spent much of his life avoiding discomfort finally allowed himself to feel it.

And then he tells us what happened when he returned home.

David describes reconnecting with his wife and children, slowing down, becoming more emotionally available, and beginning to participate in a life he realized had been there all along.

This is a deeply personal conversation about control and surrender, anxiety, emotional avoidance, marriage, and what can happen when we stop hiding from the uncomfortable parts of being human.

What happens when the identity that carried you through your entire life suddenly stops working?

In her mid-40s, Ann had built a life around competence, independence, structure, and taking care of everyone else.

Growing up as the only child of a single mother, she learned early to handle things on her own. As a little girl, she came to believe that her purpose was to care for others. Caring for herself didn’t fit that bill. Over time, that survival strategy became hyper-independence.

Ann became the person who could handle anything. A self-described stoic, structured control freak, she knew how to keep moving, keep functioning, and hold everything together.

Until she couldn't.

A difficult breakup, a toxic work environment, and the devastating loss of her mother pushed her beyond the limits of the coping mechanisms she'd relied on for decades.

Ann describes her emotional life at the time as a Mason jar.

Every feeling she didn't previously have time for: grief, vulnerability, fear, love, need, all got shoved inside to "deal with later." She could crack the lid occasionally in therapy and let a little out, but the jar remained full, held together by metaphorical bungee cords just so she could keep functioning.

Eventually, something had to give.

At Eleusinia, the lid finally came all the way off, and what emerged wasn't only grief.

There was immense love. Joy. Tenderness. Curiosity. Playfulness. And the "bubbly, childlike, gooey bits" of herself that had been buried beneath decades of emotional control. What followed was an invitation to rediscover the realness of being human, the beautiful, complicated, emotional messiness of actually living a full life, and not just controlling one.

Ann began to see that emotions aren't obstacles we need to overcome before we can move forward. They are the journey.

In this episode, we explore what happens when we stop storing our feelings for later, loosen the identities and stories we've built around ourselves, and become quiet enough to hear ourselves again.

Victoria spent much of her life searching for relief. Growing up with a complex multicultural identity, she began struggling with depression in her early teens. Over the years, she tried countless therapies, medications, and conventional treatments, hoping something would finally help.

Instead, her symptoms evolved. She developed an overwhelming sense of dread that left her feeling as though she could never catch her breath. Despite extensive testing, pulmonologists found no physical explanation, leaving her feeling trapped in a cycle of anxiety, fear, and hopelessness.

Everything changed when her husband discovered Eleusinia through a podcast. With little left to lose, Victoria decided to attend a psychedelic retreat—a decision that became the turning point in her life.

In this deeply personal conversation, Victoria shares how the experience helped her reconnect with herself, release years of anxiety and shame, and find the breath she thought she had lost. Most importantly, she discovered a renewed sense of purpose, self-compassion, and a reason to keep moving forward.

This episode is a powerful reminder that healing isn't always linear, and that hope can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places.

Maria grew up in a conservative Latin household where spirituality often felt out of reach. Although she longed for the deep sense of faith and resilience she saw in her mother, she struggled to access that same connection for herself.

At 49, Maria had built a successful career as a lawyer, navigating the pressures of a demanding profession while quietly battling depression. Prescription medications became part of her attempt to cope, but over time they left her with debilitating brain fog. After trying countless approaches and finding little relief, she reached a turning point.

Seeking a different path, Maria traveled to Eleusinia, with the hope of cultivating inner strength, improving her quality of life, and exploring whether she could finally open herself to a deeper spiritual connection.

Maria describes herself as "an ordinary person who did an extraordinary thing." In this candid conversation, she shares what led her to take that leap, the challenges she faced along the way, and how embracing possibility transformed the way she sees herself and her life.

Whether you're navigating depression, questioning your own path, or simply curious about the intersection of healing and spirituality, Maria's story is a powerful reminder that meaningful change can begin with a single courageous decision.

After a long and distinguished career in law enforcement, Frank made the decision to attend Eleusinia for two deeply personal reasons, to enrich the quality, depth, and meaning of his own life, and to find hope for his wife, whose debilitating migraines had impacted their lives for years.

What followed was far more profound than he ever expected.

In this powerful conversation, Frank shares his remarkable experience as a 57 year old with no previous psychedelic experience. He reflects on the revelations, personal growth, and overwhelming sense of gratitude that emerged through the Eleusinia program, describing how it reshaped his perspective on life, relationships, and wellbeing.

Equally moving is the story of his wife's transformation and her newfound freedom from chronic migraine pain, an outcome that brought healing not only to her, but to their family as a whole.

Frank also offers an in depth look at the Eleusinia program itself, explaining what participants can expect, why its approach is so impactful, and why he believes it stands apart from other personal growth experiences.

Whether you're curious about psychedelic assisted healing, seeking a deeper sense of purpose, or simply inspired by stories of profound personal transformation, this episode offers an honest, heartfelt, and compelling account of what's possible when you're willing to embrace a new path.

On the surface, Hanaa had it all together. As a 30 something successful corporate professional working in psychology, mental health, and behavioral sciences. Yet despite her education and career, she began questioning her own ability to help others if she could not help herself. Hanaa privately struggled with anxiety, depression, poor self-image, and a profound fear of death.

Although she was highly functioning, Hanaa recognized that beneath her success were deep, unresolved issues she could no longer ignore.

Determined to find lasting healing, she traveled to Eleusinia to do the inner work she had spent years helping others navigate. What she discovered transformed far more than her mental health, it completely changed her relationship with life itself.

In this episode, Hanaa shares how she overcame her fear of death, found freedom from long-held emotional struggles, and uncovered a new way of being rooted in peace, purpose, and authenticity.

If you've ever wondered whether healing is possible, even when you already know all the theory—this conversation offers a powerful reminder that true transformation comes from lived experience.

Pat is a recovering alcoholic who spent many years committed to the AA program, yet continued to struggle with depression and a persistent search for meaning and purpose. In this poignant conversation, he reflects on what long-term sobriety can and cannot provide, despite years of therapy and antidepressant treatment.

Pat shares his deeply personal journey through recovery, mental health challenges, and the unanswered questions that remained after achieving sobriety. Ultimately, he found a new sense of freedom and hope through his discovery of Eleusinia. His story offers a thoughtful exploration of healing, purpose, and the many paths people take in their search for a life worth living.

In this episode, we sit down with Allison, a core member of the medical team at Eleusinia Retreat, to explore her deeply personal and professional journey into psychedelic care.

After spending more than 30 years working as an ER nurse, Allison came to Eleusinia as a guest seeking her own healing experience. What she discovered during that journey profoundly changed her life and revealed a new calling: psychedelic nursing.

Allison shares what it was like to transition from the intensity of emergency medicine into the deeply human work of supporting people in vulnerable, non-ordinary states of consciousness. She reflects on the meaning of joining the Eleusinia team, the importance of compassionate presence, and the privilege of holding space for transformation and healing.

This conversation offers a powerful glimpse into the heart of psychedelic care, the evolution of nursing, and the profound impact of witnessing human transformation up close.