Dr. David Rabin, MD, PhD, a board-certified psychiatrist and neuroscientist, is the co-founder & Chief Medical Officer at Apollo Neuroscience, the first scientifically-validated wearable system to improve heart rate variability, focus, relaxation, and access to meditative states by delivering gentle layered vibrations to the skin. In addition to his clinical psychiatry practice, Dr. Rabin is also the Executive Director of The Board of Medicine, and a psychedelic clinical researcher currently evaluating the mechanism of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy in treatment-resistant mental illnesses.

Episode Highlights

• Exploring the concept of a collective nervous system in heightened stress
• Understanding different types of stress: eustress vs. distress
• The critical role of perspective in interpreting stressful events and outcomes
• Understanding the body's inability to differentiate between physical and mental stress
• The influence of epigenetics and trauma on inherited stress responses
• Research insights into how trauma alters epigenetic codes related to stress
• The therapeutic potential of psychedelics in rewiring stress responses and facilitating emotional healing
• The necessity of relearning safety for effective psychedelic therapy and healing outcomes
• Utilizing breath and touch as foundational practices for calming the nervous system
• Preparing individuals for post-therapy challenges after psychedelic experiences
• Comparing MDMA therapy to cleaning emotional wounds in a safe environment
• The importance of integration and ongoing support for lasting benefits of psychedelic therapy
• Development of the Apollo Neuro wearable to enhance feelings of safety and support during stress
• How the wearable utilizes vibrations to mimic the calming effects of touch
• Previewing a discussion of the connections between safety, intimacy, and relationships in a future episode

Dr. David Rabin’s Links 

• Website: www.drdave.io
• Website: www.apolloneuro.com
• Website: www.boardofmedicine.org
• Instagram: @drdavidrabin
• Facebook: Dave Rabin
• LinkedIn: David Rabin MD, PhD

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Wearable Technology for Well-being: Apollo Nuero
• Research: The Molecular Biology of Memory Storage: A Dialogue Between Genes and Synapses by Eric R. Kandel
• Study: MDMA-Assisted Therapy for Treatment of PTSD

Dr. David Rabin’s Special Offer to You

• A discount on Apollo Neuro wearable. If you are interested, please reach out at: [email protected]

Nick Murray is a researcher and advocate at the intersection of psychedelics, artificial intelligence, and mental health innovation. With a deep curiosity for understanding human consciousness and leveraging cutting-edge technology, Nick is dedicated to expanding access to revolutionary therapeutic models. His work focuses on integrating AI and research into the development of novel treatments and enhancing the field of psychedelic therapy. Driven by a passion for human advancement, Nick seeks to create pathways for new approaches to mental health and well-being, offering hope and healing for those in need.

Episode Highlights

• The unique combination of a psychedelic medical clinic and retreat center for holistic healing
• Exploring hormone regulation in traumatic brain injury and its impact on mental health
• Data collection methods before and during retreats, including EEG and blood tests
• Nick's personal journey into psychedelics and holistic health
• Leveraging neuroplasticity and neurogenesis following psilocybin treatment
• The effects of binaural beats on brainwave states 
• Personalized audio playlists to enhance the psychedelic experience
• A veteran's remarkable recovery through psilocybin therapy
• Addressing the risks of psychedelic experiences and the importance of set and setting
• Advocating for research-driven approaches to psychedelics
• The complexities of drug legalization and its implications for mental health
• Decriminalization models and their societal impacts
• A call for open-mindedness and further research into psychedelics' therapeutic potential

Nick Murray’s Links 

• Website: www.wake.net
• Instagram: @wake.well

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Documentary: Peace of Mind
• Meditation Technology: Holosync
• Clinical Trial: Music as an Intervention to Improve the Hemodynamic Response of Ketamine in Depression by Dr. Kyle Greenway
• Free Resource for Biomedical and Life Sciences Literature: PubMed

Nick Murray’s Gift to You

• 35% OFF for listeners using ‘DELICMOM’ code

Katherine MacLean, PhD is a writer, research scientist, mother and adventure-seeker. She has spent the past two decades studying the effects of mindfulness meditation and psychedelics, surviving motherhood, and learning a lot about death and grief. Her debut book covering all of this terrain, Midnight Water: A Psychedelic Memoir is available in print and audio formats.

Episode Highlights

• Katherine reflects on her journey through motherhood and encounters with death
• A childhood fascination with graveyards and their connection to history
• Transformative psilocybin experiences that opened new dimensions of reality
• Exploring the intersection of spirituality and psychedelics in various traditions
• The role of meditation in navigating consciousness and personal growth
• The impact of her sister's death on Katherine’s exploration of grief and psychedelics
• Insights from Johns Hopkins research on consciousness and spiritual experiences
• Cultural narratives around psychedelics and their potential for healing
• The intertwining of motherhood and psychedelic experiences in Katherine’s life
• Addressing personal trauma as a crucial step before engaging with psychedelics
• Reframing death as a transformative experience akin to psychedelic journeys
• Societal perceptions of death and the need for open dialogues about mortality
• Embracing life’s complexities and authenticity in motherhood and mortality
• Personal agency in death care and the importance of meaningful rituals
• The impact of psychedelics on relationships and deeper connections with others
• Katherine’s writing journey and the importance of sharing her memoir
• Future implications of psychedelic research for mental health and spirituality
• Embracing complexity and ongoing self-discovery

Katherine MacLean’s Links 

• Website: www.katherinemaclean.org
• Instagram: @katherine.maclean.phd

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Book: Midnight Water: A Psychedelic Memoir by Katherine MacLean
• Advocate for Funeral Industry Reform: Caitlin Doughty
• Study of the Effect of Meditation Practice: The Shamatha Project
• Green Funeral Home Specialized in Human Composting: Recompose
• The Crestone End of Life Project: Open Air Cremation Site

Katherine MacLean’s Special Offer

• For only $5, you will be able to view and download two high-quality videos of Katherine’s 16-minute guided meditations

Dr. Dan Engle is a psychiatrist with a clinical practice that combines aspects of regenerative medicine, psychedelic research, integrative spirituality, and peak performance.

His medical degree is from the University of Texas in San Antonio. His psychiatry residency degree is from the University of Colorado in Denver, and his child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship degree is from Oregon Health & Science University.

Dr. Engle is an international consultant to several global healing centers facilitating the use of long-standing indigenous plant medicines for healing and awakening. He is the founder of Full Spectrum Medicine, a psychedelic integration and educational platform; and Thank You Life, a non-profit funding stream supporting access to psychedelic therapies.

Dr. Engle is the author of The Concussion Repair Manual: A Practical Guide to Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injuries, as well as his new book, A Dose of Hope: A Story of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy.

Episode Highlights

• Dr. Dan’s shift from conventional psychiatry to psychedelic medicine
• Healing generational trauma in service to future generations
• A broken neck and a life-changing realization about authenticity and purpose
• Dr. Dan’s first ayahuasca experience and its profound impact on his life
• Lessons from the jungle: learning to listen deeply through plant medicine
• Preparing for transformation: tools to regulate the mind and body during healing
• How ayahuasca’s teachings align with modern scientific discoveries
• Finding your dharma: aligning with your unique purpose in life
• Personal loss as a catalyst for expanding the psychedelic healing mission
• The web of life and our shared responsibility to embrace interconnection
• Infusing life with meaning through daily practices
• Navigating identity shifts on the spiritual path and redefining relationships
• Building compassion by understanding others' lived experiences and struggles

Dr. Dan’s Links

• Website: www.drdanengle.com
• Website: www.thankyoulife.org
• Website: www.fullspectrummedicine.com

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
• Book: The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma by Bessel van der Kolk
• Book: The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling by Stephen Cope
• Book: The Biology of Transcendence: A Blueprint of the Human Spirit by Joseph Chilton Pearce
• Book: Dark Night of the Soul by John of the Cross
• Film: Neurons to Nirvana (2013)
• Spiritual Writer: Thomas Moore

Steve Rolles is the Senior Policy Analyst for the Transform Drug Policy Foundation, where he has worked for over 20 years on drug policy and law reform analysis and advocacy, promoting more just and effective drug policies that center public health, human rights and sustainable development. This work includes lead authorship on numerous reports, academic papers, and books, including How to Regulate psychedelics: A Practical Guide. He has served as an adviser and lead drafter for the Global Commission on Drugs, and is acting as a consultant on drug policy and regulation for several European Governments and UN agencies.

Episode Highlights

• The importance of understanding the diverse motivations behind psychedelic use
• The need for inclusive drug policy that addresses all forms of psychedelic use
• Steve's extensive background in drug policy reform and shifts in public perception
• The resistance from drug enforcement professionals against policy change
• Political ramifications of drug narratives and fear-based rhetoric
• The recent FDA rejection of MDMA for PTSD and its implications
• The media’s focus on clinical research rather than recreational psychedelic use
• The need for a balanced approach to drug policy that recognizes both therapeutic and recreational use
• A four-tiered model for regulating psychedelics, emphasizing decriminalization
• The importance of harm reduction strategies for safe psychedelic use in social settings
• A comparison between the successful decriminalization of drugs in Portugal with the challenges of decriminalization efforts in Oregon
• Advocating for a public health oriented approach to drug policy and the failures of punitive measures
• The relative safety of psychedelics compared to more dangerous substances like opioids and stimulants
• A call for the psychedelic community to engage in broader drug law reform efforts

Steve Rolles’ Links 

• Website: www.transformdrugs.org
• Instagram: @transformdrugs
• Facebook: Transform
• X: @stevetransform

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

• Book: NoNonsense Legalizing Drugs: How to End The War by Steve Rolles
• Book: How to Regulate Stimulants by Transform Drug Policy Foundation

Steve Rolles’ Gift to You

• Get Steve’s book for FREE: How to Regulate Psychedelics: A Practical Guide

Anne Kiehl Friedman is an award-winning author, founder, and communications expert based in Washington, DC. She recently published Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing, which debuted as a #1 New Release on Amazon in Medicine & Psychology. Called “a memoir that’ll have you traveling, tripping, and seeing yourself in the passenger seat of a meaningful story of discovery,” by the Independent Book Review, it is changing the conversation on women and psychedelics.

Anne began her career in communications as a speechwriter/ghostwriter for prominent names in politics and Hollywood before starting Bold Ink, a strategic communications consultancy for non-profits. She graduated from Stanford University with honors and obtained her MBA from ESADE University in Spain. Anne is a passionate advocate for holistic well-being and spiritual growth and was ordained as an Interfaith Minister and Reverend after attending seminary at the Berkeley Chaplaincy Institute.

In 2023, identifying an unfilled need for better mainstream understanding of psychedelics and their healing potential, Anne co-founded The Psychedelic Communications Hub, a non-profit public engagement organization focused on public education and advocacy.

Episode Highlights

• Life’s “blender moments”: how illness and breakups forced deep self-reflection and transformation
• Vulnerability in writing: Anne reflects on societal expectations and internalized self-worth struggles
• Identifying healthy love versus control 
• How maternal messages about self-image are passed down across generations
• Choosing self-love and autonomy rather than relying on romantic validation
• Reconnecting with the body and releasing stored trauma 
• Living “in the middle”: balancing intellect with openness to the body’s wisdom
• Advocating for psychedelics to address mental health and systemic issues of loneliness and disconnection
• How Anne’s first psychedelic experience with her Dad brought moments of unfiltered joy and healing
• Embracing laughter as healing—why joy is inherently therapeutic
• Understanding shame’s place in relationship
• Recognizing signs of relational safety and respect through emotional responses and repair
• The Psychedelic Communications Hub’s mission to support safe, responsible psychedelic practices
• Ego dissolution and identity challenges in psychedelic experiences
• Western framing of psychedelics as solely medical, and the risk of joyless healing

Anne Kiehl Friedman’s Links

• Website: www.annekiehlfriedman.com
• Instagram: @annekiehl
• LinkedIn: Anne Friedman 

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing by Anne Kiehl Friedman 
• Book: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle  
• Book: A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's Purpose by Eckhart Tolle 
• Book: Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life by  Jon Kabat-Zinn 
• Book: Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia by Elizabeth Gilbert

Anne Kiehl Friedman’s Gift to You

• 40% OFF for her book: Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing

Dr. Glauber Loures de Assis is a researcher of sacred plants and their traditions and a psychedelic dad. He has a Ph.D in sociology from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG). He is the author of numerous articles and book chapters and the co-editor of the book ‘Women and Psychedelics: Uncovering Invisible Voices’. Glauber is the founder and president of Céu da Divina Estrela, a legal and tax-exempt Santo Daime ayahuasca church in Brazil.

He has 15 years of experience with ayahuasca and other sacred plants and has led more than 500 ceremonies in Brazil, Europe and the United States, and has built this practice in dialogue with his local Brazilian ayahuasca community and with the blessings of Indigenous elders and activists in Brazil. He is also the co-founder of Jornadas de Kura, a plant medicine center in Brazil that promotes an alliance between the ceremonial use of sacred plants, public education on plant medicine and psychedelic science.

He is an Indigenous rights activist and the Director of the Psychedelic Parenthood Community. He is father to 3 children and lives with his wife Jacqueline Rodrigues in Santa Luzia, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Episode Highlights

• Glauber’s journey from conservative upbringing to psychedelic exploration
• Ayahuasca, family, and community in Brazil’s Santo Daime tradition
• Discussing psychedelic parenting and family integration in ceremonies
• The role of set and setting in psychedelic experiences and indigenous perspectives
• The diversity of ayahuasca traditions and the feminine energy in its mythology
• Coexistence among indigenous traditions and the collective element of healing
• Serving ayahuasca in ceremonies and the inclusion of children and pregnant women
• Ayahuasca ceremonies during childbirth and the sacred role of midwives in Santo Daime
• The amazing story of Glauber’s daughter birth 
• Psychedelics as a tool for cultural healing and the importance of commitment
• Breaking down patriarchal norms through fatherhood and psychedelic integration
• Men’s role in caregiving and the healing power of vulnerability
• Santo Daime churches in the U.S. and the legal landscape for ayahuasca
• Growth of ayahuasca practices in Hawaii and issues of cultural appropriation
• How to find safe and ethical ayahuasca ceremonies in the West
• The importance of community and lineage in choosing facilitators
• Co-editing ‘Women and Psychedelics’ to uncover invisible voices in the space
• Addressing climate change and systemic issues through psychedelic wisdom
• The importance of joy and resilience in psychedelic work

Glauber Assis’ Links

• Website: www.psychedelicparenthood.org
• Instagram: @glauberloures
• Instagram: @jornadas.de.kura

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: Women and Psychedelics: Uncovering Invisible Voices (Chacruna Anthologies) by Erika Dyck 
• Psychedelic Network for Parents: Psychedelic Parenthood Community 
• Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines: Chacruna Institute  
• Indigenous Leader and Philosopher: Ailton Krenak  

Ali Stoddard is a mom, functional medicine health coach and online entrepreneur. She is changing the practice of medicine from managing disease to improving wellness by calming the nervous system supporting the immune system and rewiring our health. Her background is 25 years in the operating room, focusing on orthopedics, spine surgery, and oncology and her main focus today is nutrition and reversing disease.

Episode Highlights

• Ali’s transition from practicing traditional medicine to holistic health coaching
• The role of superfoods and adaptogens in enhancing well-being
• Contrasting symptom-focused Western medicine with root-cause approaches
• The healing potential of natural remedies like CBD and dandelion
• Historical shifts from plant-based to chemically dominated societies
• Clarifying the differences between hemp and marijuana
• Understanding how THC and CBD affect the body differently
• The impact of stress on marijuana use among younger generations
• Practical applications of CBD for managing migraines and nerve function
• The endocannabinoid system as an internal pharmacy for healing
• Systemic benefits of CBD in reducing inflammation and anxiety
• Historical suppression of natural healing practices by Western medicine
• Personal stories showcasing CBD’s versatility across various ailments
• The importance of personalized nutrition
• Navigating the unregulated CBD market and sourcing quality products
• Resetting the nervous system through nutrition and mindfulness practices
• Reconnecting future generations with nature through plant medicine

Ali Stoddard’s Links

• Website: www.greenalleywellness.com
• Instagram: @greenalley_cbd
• Facebook: Ali Pappe Stoddard
• LinkedIn: Ali Stoddard

Ali Stoddard’s Gift to You

• A FREE 30-minute Health Consultation to ascertain if it’s possible to co-create a customized health plan or see if CBD hemp is right for you
• Ali’s templates on why and how CBD works to support several health issues: Inflammation 101, Mental Health Template, Women’s Health Template, Cancer Protocols, Chronic Pain and more. If you’re interested in learning, reach out to her at (925) 899-4539

Emerson expresses directness, naturalness, and the end of seeking. He simply points out to the freedom from all ideas of freedom and the ineffable. A former meditation junkie and an ex-spiritual teacher, he does weekly Zoom meetings and offers one on ones.

Episode Highlights

• Defining non-duality as an undefinable, a natural experience beyond concepts
• Exploring suffering and seeking in relation to non-duality
• Awakening as ordinary, with fireworks being part of a narrative
• Emerson’s early rave experiences and his first sense of awakening
• Realizing there is no self, but also no "no-self"
• Words as barriers to direct experience — the concept of "dreamlish"
• Interconnectedness and illusion: the paradox of no true process or cause
• Moving through the "dark night of the soul" and the illusion of suffering
• Recognizing no hierarchy in non-duality — we're all already home
• Letting go of delusions deepens clarity and removes psychological suffering
• Different paths of seeking: trauma work, shadow work and direct experience
• Freedom from belief systems and the liberation of no longer defending positions
• Losing the sense of self and realizing there's nothing left to teach
• How Emerson felt disconnected from language after a profound shift, akin to a stroke
• Letting go of self-identity and witnessing everything unfold perfectly
• Experiencing bottomless peace after a month of silence
• How authenticity and honesty enable true connection in relationships

Emerson Nonduality’s Links

• Website: www.emersonnonduality.com
• Instagram: @emerson.nonduality
• Join Emerson’s Weekly Zooms, online events or in-person meeting

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Book: Tripped: Nazi Germany, the CIA, and the Dawn of the Psychedelic Age by Norman Ohler
• Book: Blitzed: Drugs in the Third Reich by Norman Ohler
• Books: Choose Your Own Adventure
• Non-duality Teacher: Tony Parsons

Ash Ritter is an ethnobotanist, multi-disciplinary animist, herbalist, writer and an educator with over 20 years of study in clinical, traditional, academic and directly relational terrains. She is a devotee of curiosity and especially savors the study of history through the woven threads of fungi, people and plants.

Episode Highlights

• Co-evolution with fungi and the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature
• Ash’s apprenticeships in Druid herbalism and Mexican curanderismo
• Exploring ancestry and the significance of traditional plants from Eastern Europe
• The fluidity of lineage and how borders have shaped history
• Ashley’s early psychedelic experiences and curiosity about life’s mysteries
• Exploring the wide variety of psychoactive mushrooms and their unique effects
• Amanita muscaria: Its myth, lore, and complex chemistry
• Safe preparation methods for Amanita muscaria to avoid toxicity
• How Amanita muscaria affects the brain by modulating GABA and reducing overstimulation
• The unpredictable, wild nature of Amanita muscaria and its healing potential
• The importance of foraging and living in a reciprocal relationship with the land
• Amanita muscaria vs. psilocybin mushrooms: Key differences in chemistry and experience
• Amanita’s potential for alleviating chronic pain and enhancing nerve health
• Amanita’s role in dream enhancement and psychological exploration
• The commercialization of cannabis and the spiritual essence being lost in greed
• Plants as living intelligences and the importance of mutual respect in this relationship
• Reverence and humility as key practices in engaging with plant medicines
• Unlocking the full potential of fungi through multi-level extractions
• Exploring the heart-centered chemistry of cacti and their medicinal properties
• Gnosis through working with plants and fungi
• The sacredness of menstruation and the practice of returning blood to the earth
• Engaging the shadow with courage and tenderness through plant medicines
• Exploring feminine wisdom, menstruation, and cultural reconnection to the body
• How art and ancient motifs capture the human story across time and space

Ash Ritter’s Links

• Website: www.blacksagebotanicals.bigcartel.com
• Instagram: @black.sage.botanicals
• Patreon: Ash Ritter - Black Sage Botanicals

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Ash’s Class Cloud
• 9-Hour Course: Merry Mushroom: Amanita Muscaria Ethnomycology, The Updated 2024 Series
• Class Recording: Balms & Broomsticks: The Taboo History & Modern Adaptations of Flying Ointments
• Class Recording: The Forbidden Fruits: Ethnobotany of Enchanted Foods
• Womb Wellness Educator: Mikaela de la Myco
• Movie: Like Water for Chocolate (1992)

Ash Ritter’s Gift to You

• 10% OFF of all digital coursework in the Black Sage Botanicals Class Cloud with code THANKYOUMAMA