The Psychedelic Wayfinder

In this episode, Joi is joined by a very special co-host and dear friend: Kristen, the quiet visionary and spark behind the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective (WPC). If Episode 1 was our seedling story, today’s conversation is about how that seed took root and became something real. This is Origin Story: Part II — a tale of alignment, courage, and finding each other through the medicine.

Kristen shares how burnout from corporate life opened the door to coaching, eventually leading her to Martha Beck’s program thanks to a book recommendation (Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle). There, she met Anahí, and together they began a trauma-healing journey that led them to psychedelics—despite having no prior experience and a shared dislike of “losing control.”

We talk about:

• The power of trust and intention: How they chose to pursue a legal retreat and realized what mattered most was who would hold space.
• The spark of resonance: Kristen’s search for “Wayfinder + psychedelics” led her to Joi’s podcast... and an instant connection was made.
• Our journeys across Ohio, Florida, Mexico, North Carolina, and soon Costa Rica.
• The way this work keeps drawing soul-aligned people together, including the magical moment Joi introduced Kristen to Sam, which helped complete the trio that is now at the heart of WPC.

Kristen reflects on how Joi’s grounded presence during her early journeys gave her the safety and support she needed to fully surrender. She shares how it felt to co-facilitate with Joi, and how these shared experiences deepened both her healing and sense of purpose.

We also chat about:

• Kristen’s current training in somatic coaching and how it weaves beautifully into psychedelic support work
• Her vision for the podcast, including playful ideas like the Magic Corner, Connection Corner, and a Psychedelic Book Club (yes, we brainstorm on-air!)

Whether you’re just discovering WPC or have been along for the ride since day one, this episode is an invitation into the soul of our origin: three women who followed the threads of curiosity, healing, and friendship—into something much bigger than themselves.

In this second episode, we dive into the heart of psychedelic support: integration coaching. What is it? Who does it? And where do we draw the line between a coach and a therapist?

Joi shares how witnessing people return from ketamine clinics or ayahuasca journeys without support was the spark that birthed the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective. From teenagers still making sense of early psychedelic experiences to adults carrying unprocessed insight for years, we explore why integration isn't optional—it’s essential.

We talk about how the Wayfinder model provides a grounded, intuitive foundation for integration coaching, one that honors the wisdom within rather than prescribing steps from outside. Sam reflects on how integration isn't about forcing meaning, but about trusting the slow unfurling of insight—like throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what actually sticks.

We also unpack:

• The growing interest in trauma-informed coaching, and when it’s time to refer to a therapist
• The challenge of working with clients who are disillusioned by traditional therapy
• The differences and overlaps between coach, facilitator, and therapist
• How to recognize when someone’s not ready to do the deep work (and why that’s OK)
• Why “integration” is more than a checklist—it’s a way of being with what’s been revealed

We share integration frameworks like the ACER model and IFS (Internal Family Systems), and offer guidance on how coaches and facilitators can create safe, meaningful practices for clients to carry forward. We also touch on the evolving legal landscape and which certification programs are out there—for those who want to deepen their training with discernment.

To close, we invite listeners to reflect: Is there a journey—psychedelic or otherwise—that still lives in you? Is something from a year ago (or more) quietly asking to be integrated?

This first episode is close to our hearts. We’re pulling back the curtain on how the Psychedelic Wayfinder Collective came to be — a seed planted in the most unexpected way: through a Google search for “Wayfinder” and “psychedelics.” Kristen, we love you — your curiosity created a ripple that became this podcast and this growing community.

In this conversation, we share our origin story — how Sam and I (Joi) found each other, what called us forward, and why we felt the urgent need to create a space where women, especially coaches, space-holders, and healers, could bring their whole selves into psychedelic work.

In this episode:

• Joi’s early relationship with psychedelics and the shadow of shame cast by the War on Drugs
• How training with Martha Beck (WLCT & MCT) helped transmute that shame into sacred purpose
• Sharing about psychedelic coaching for the first time — and watching the room not flinch
• Sam’s search for the right training and how she and Joi connected over a shared initiation
• The very first Wayfinder Psychedelic Circle — a gathering of six curious women
• Our collective vision for a model of psychedelic facilitation grounded in Wayfinding
• What we’ll be exploring in future episodes (spoiler: it’s more than just microdosing)

This is the beginning of a journey. A conversation between initiates, explorers, and healers. And an invitation to you — to walk this path with us.