The Psychedelic Podcast

Luke Storey is a writer, meditation and metaphysics teacher, and lifestyle design expert who shares transformative principles of health, addiction recovery, and spirituality. His teachings combine primal health, and ancient spiritual practices with the most cutting-edge natural healing, and consciousness-expanding technologies. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Luke talks with Paul F. Austin about sobriety and the ceremonial use of psychedelics for healing.

John Lamb Lash is a comparative mythologist known for his ground-breaking work on Gnosticism, the Pagan Mysteries, and shamanism. He is a leading exponent of the power of myth to direct individual experience and drive historical events over the long term. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, John talks with Paul F. Austin about Telestic shamanism, a practice of Gnostic investigation with psilocybin mushrooms and other entheogenic medicines.

Ehren Cruz is a master ceremonialist who has mindfully studied the use of sacramental entheogenic substances as a cornerstone of self-actualization, spiritual growth, and leadership for 13 years. This path of inner discovery has evolved through a life devoted to the wisdom of ceremonial practice, high-performance training, radical creativity, and developing an unshakable trust in the gift and importance of a connection that transcends the mind. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Ehren talks with Paul F. Austin about his life-altering psychedelic experiences, how he created transcendent spaces through event production, and his transition to the heart-centered work of leading ceremonial experiences.

Ben Malcolm, PharmD, MPH, BCPP envisions a society in which access to psychedelic drugs in a variety of safe and supported settings is available for those seeking psycho-spiritual well-being, personal development, ceremonial sacraments, and treatment of mental illness. To serve this vision, he began a psychopharmacology consulting practice and educational website, spiritpharmacist.com to help people understand the interactions between traditional psychiatric medications and alternative psychedelic medicines. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Ben talks with Paul F. Austin about the history of psychotropic medications and how these pharmeceuticals might interact with a variety of psychedelic medicines.

Marcus and Amber Capone are the founders of the US-based non-profit organization, VETS. After 13 years and numerous combat deployments as a Navy Seal, Marcus's post-military transition challenges became seemingly insurmountable when all other treatment options failed. As a result, the couple pursued ibogaine therapy as a last-ditch effort and found it incredibly successful. They've now helped more than 400 veterans to date by providing resources, research, and advocacy for veterans seeking psychedelic-assisted therapy with a special emphasis on ibogaine. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Marcus and Amber talk with Paul F. Austin about Marcus's experience in the military, the difficulties he faced in civilian life, the role of psychedelic-assisted therapy in his healing, and how Marcus and Aubrey are helping veterans pursue similar treatment today.

Dr. Andrew Gallimore is a Japan-based computational neurobiologist, pharmacologist, chemist, and author whose research focuses on DMT's effects on the brain and consciousness. Dr. Gallimore's current work explores how DMT might help us access extradimensional realities, and his recent book Alien Information Theory explains how DMT provides the secret to the very structure of our reality. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Dr. Gallimore talks with Paul F. Austin about alien intelligence and DMT's role as a gateway, influential authors, and thoughts on the metaverse and posthumanism.

Sylvia Benito is a portfolio manager with 20 years of experience in managing family office investments. She connects consciousness to capital by bridging the traditional world of investing to her proprietary innovations in quantifying the alignment awareness and transformative purpose of any company. Sylvia works with families, founders, and boards to adjust alignment to their highest and truest purpose. She is also a trained shaman and actively investigates the utilization of entheogens in investing. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Sylvia talks with Paul F. Austin about her path weaving together entrepreneurship, investing, and awakening through meditation and psychedelics.

Alyson Charles is an internationally renowned shaman, bestselling author, and host of the Ceremony Circle podcast. Alyson went from being a national champion athlete and top-rated radio host to aligning with her calling as a shaman. After a traumatic moment provided her awakening, she devoted her life to living by the calls and directors of Source, spiritual immersions and expansions, and preserving ancient wisdom practices and traditions. At the same time, Alyson cares deeply about situating her earth mission in these modern times. Most recently, Alyson published Animal Power, which is a bestselling book about the role of animal spirits and energies. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Alyson talks with Paul F. Austin about her divine awakening, walking the spiritual path of a shaman, and her relationships with plant medicines and animal spirits.

East Forest is a multi-disciplinary artist, producer, and international leader in underground sound meditation. His work explores living authentically within a modern context through an introspective methodology that weaves together elements of electro-acoustic live music, nature, technology, brain science, and guided meditation. His ceremony concerts utilize a skilled instrumental repertoire to create space for an emotive inner journey. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, East Forest talks with Paul F. Austin about the origins and evolution of his music, the role of music in psychedelic journeys and inner exploration, his work with Ram Dass, and thoughts on the future of the psychedelic space.

Tero Isokauppila is the founder of Four Sigmatic, a functional foods company that brings healthy upgrades into America's daily routines through coffee, plant protein, and other superfood products. From growing up foraging natural foods on his family's farm in Finland to earning a degree and certificate from Cornell, since 2012 Tero has been on a mission to bring Everyday Magic to the world. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Tero talks with Paul F. Austin about the origins of Four Sigmatic and their three most powerful mushrooms, his experience with psychedelics including the legendary Amanita muscaria, plus his thoughts on microdosing and future "waves" for the psychedelic industry.

Chess Edwards has spent his life in devotion to exploring and awakening the full potential of the human spirit as an adventure travel guide, storyteller, executive coach, corporate trainer, meditation teacher, and self-realization guide. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Chess talks with Paul F. Austin about finding awareness, practicing breathwork, transitioning from a space of healing to growth, the impact of spiritual teachers and books, plus his experience with Third Wave's Coaching Certification Program.

Adam Gazzaley is a neuroscientist, neurologist, inventor, author, photographer, entrepreneur, and investor. Most notably, he's the founder and executive director of Neuroscape as well as the David Dolby Distinguished Professor of Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Adam talks with Paul F. Austin about the new Neuroscape psychedelics division at UCSF, how studying individual biomarkers can give us novel insights into personalized psychedelic experiences, how different psychedelic dosages can work synchronistically with sensory stimuli, and how Neuroscape is using videogames to train attention.

Ethan Nadelmann is a legend of drug policy reform. From his time as a professor at Princeton to his founding and seventeen years of leadership at the Drug Policy Alliance, Ethan has spearheaded the critique against the War on Drugs. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Ethan talks with Paul F. Austin about the role psychedelics played in shaping his personal values and drug policy vision, how our culture's perspective on drugs has shifted over the last 30 years, and how psychedelics fit into larger drug policy reform.

Katie Wells, proud mother of six, has been a leader in the health and wellness industry for the past fifteen years as the founder of Wellness Mama and her latest company Wellnesse. Katie has been on a relentless quest to solve her own health problems and heal trauma, so she can be the best person and mom she can be. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Katie talks with Paul F. Austin about her journey into the wellness space and how psychedelics recently played an important role in her healing journey. They also discuss how psychedelics might help mothers deal with little-t-trauma, and the future intersection of the wellness industry and psychedelics.

After pursuing his dream of performing as a jazz musician, M.J. Jiaras found his way into a doctoral program for psychology at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago. Ultimately, Dr. Jiaras entered the executive coaching space, where he has thrived as president and founder of Integrated Coaching Solutions for over twenty years as a consultant to Fortune 50 companies. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Dr. Jiaras talks with Paul F. Austin about his introduction to psychedelics and early career as a musician, his evolving methodology as an executive coach, different approaches to leadership, and the future of psychedelics in tandem with the executive coaching space.

After studying with Humphry Osmond when he was 20 years old, Jeremy Narby became intrigued by the intersection of psychedelics, mental health, and philosophy. As a graduate student in anthropology at Stanford, he lived with the Ashaninka people of the Peruvian Amazon, which set him on an early path researching ayahuasca. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Jeremy talks with Paul F. Austin about the importance of language, how we can shift our worldviews, and powerful lessons from plant teachers.

As a teenager experimenting with psychedelics, Ed Prideaux had no inkling that his trips would stay with him for the rest of his life. But days after his final LSD trip, when he was still experiencing melting walls and tunnel vision, he knew something wasn't right. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Ed talks with Paul F. Austin about Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), what life is like for those who have this condition, and what factors may contribute to the risk of developing it.

When Mark J. Plotkin, Ph.D. first stepped into a night class with Harvard ethnobotanist Richard Evans Schultes, the path of his life was instantly set. Almost 40 years later, Mark has participated in close to 100 ayahuasca ceremonies with Amazonian shamans, sampled numerous psychedelic plants from the rainforest, and partnered with multiple indigenous tribes to protect their lands and ecosystem. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Mark and Paul discuss Mark's storied career, the importance of indigenous reciprocity and conservation, current and potential surprising uses for psilocybin, the crucial element of context when working with psychedelics, and more.

What do guns, emergency first aid, martial arts, cryptocurrency, personal sovereignty, and web 3.0 have to do with psychedelics? As it turns out, quite a lot. As Daniel DiPiazza and Paul F. Austin discuss, they're all centered around cultivating self-reliance, reclaiming autonomy, and strengthening personal choice. This episode covers the ever-creeping hand of government and how we can keep it at bay, decentralization of finance and personal data, living in an oligarchy, and, yes, doing psychedelics with family.

Already a highly successful entrepreneur in the cannabis industry, Olivia Alexander went unexpectedly viral for an innocuous social media post mentioning microdosing. The resulting inundation of messages and questions from around the world led Olivia to consistently highlight to her followers the importance of education, safety, and responsibility when working with both psychedelics and cannabis. In this wide-ranging and honest discussion, Paul and Olivia chat about approaching psychedelics as a neurodivergent person, intentional and therapeutic use, Olivia's career in cannabis from the infancy of the industry, and her use of cannabis to treat her bipolar disorder and get off her medications.

What do endo-nasal balloons, suppositories, methylene blue, and cerebrospinal fluid have to do with psychedelics? In this fascinating and eye-opening discussion, Paul and Dr. John talk about some surprising tools of the chiropractic neurologist trade, how they can be used in conjunction with ceremony, and what they mean for our stressed-out world.

From an early age, Daniel Cleland knew that the cookie-cutter life was not for him. His desire for travel, entrepreneurship, and non-traditional experiences brought him to the heart of the jungle, where he overcame his fear of ayahuasca and found deep healing. Since then, he's been dedicated to sharing the restorative powers of this medicine with others, and has co-founded Soltara Healing Center to bring this mission to life. In this episode, Daniel and Paul discuss the challenges and rewards of starting an ayahuasca retreat, the importance of tradition, and how he envisions Soltara moving forward.

What is social sculpture, and how can it uplift humanity? How does an entheogen differ from a psychedelic? What is the "universal mind lattice"? Can psychedelics save your life? In this expansive discussion, Paul Austin and legendary visionary artists Allyson and Alex Grey cover all this and much more, including the symbolic communication of the Divine.

As one of the earliest researchers and advocates for ketamine's use in healing pain, depression, and addiction, Jeffrey Becker, M.D., is on the forefront of harnessing ketamine's massive untapped potential. In addition to his personal functional psychiatry practice, Jeff is the co-founder and CSO of Bexson Biomedical, which has created a subcutaneous ketamine infusion pump for safe, at-home pain management. In this episode, Jeff and Paul enjoy a wide-ranging discussion about responsible use of psychedelics, the connections between mysticism and science, and the fragile future of these powerful substances.

In the three years since Paul and Sean last spoke, there has been huge growth in the psychedelic space, from legal retreats and clinics to corporate interest to personal education and use. In this episode, recorded for Sean's podcast and shared here as well, Paul and Sean discuss the revolutionary changes psychedelics are bringing to mental and physical healthcare, as well as exciting upheavals in industrial capitalism, religion, and our concept of a sovereign state.

We're in the early stages of a many-layered worldwide shift: The paternalistic medical model is slowly falling away as we recognize that we're our own best healers. With church affiliation dwindling, more and more of us are turning to different forms of community and spirituality. And as psychedelics continue to grow in mainstream awareness, support of their use in healing and personal growth is gaining unstoppable momentum. In this episode, Michael and Paul discuss some of the exciting possibilities of our psychedelic medical future, and how these substances have the power to heal not just ourselves, but our entire communities.

What do the ancient mysteries of psychedelics have to do with the modern technology of cryptocurrency? There are several surprising similarities, including global interconnectedness, the move toward personal freedom and sovereignty, and long-term sustainability. In this episode, Paul Austin talks with Brandon Quittem, entrepreneur and enthusiastic Bitcoiner, about the curious overlaps between psychedelics, the mycelium network, Bitcoin, the healthcare system, original American values, and the empowerment of the entire world.

Keith Kurlander has practiced integrative psychotherapy and coaching with individuals, couples and groups for over 15 years. After years of treating highly complex patients, as well as a personal journey of overcoming trauma and mental illness, he turned toward integrative psychiatric practices as a key component to achieving mental health and understanding the healing process. In this episode, he and Paul discuss the core areas to focus on when getting well, the role of psychedelics in healing mental illness and trauma, and the importance of a well-trained therapist and guide.

After a successful career in entrepreneurship and cryptocurrency, Ryan Zurrer turned his attention to the burgeoning psychedelic space. As he continued to learn more via research, attending conferences, and speaking with others, he became concerned about what he considers the "dystopian future" of psychedelic therapies - sterile doctors' offices, $8000 treatments, synthetic drugs, no community or connection. Determined to help others harness the powerful benefits of plant medicines in traditional settings, he started Vine Ventures, a VC fund focusing on a future in which everyone who wants to access a psychedelic experience can do so safely, legally, and affordably. In this episode, Ryan and Paul discuss the importance of accessibility, Ryan's criteria for investment, and the differences between a centralized and decentralized approach to therapy and legalization.

When Lynn Marie Morski, M.D., was first introduced to psychedelics at age 35, she had the kind of transformative experience that she knew would greatly help her patients at the VA. But with no legal way to recommend plant medicines, she decided to turn her attention to educating doctors about the benefits of psychedelics. Unsure of where her new venture would take her, Lynn Marie quit her job, started the Plant Medicine podcast, and created the Psychedelic Medicine Association. In this episode, Lynn Marie and Paul discuss bridging the gap between medical practitioners and the advances taking place in the psychedelic research world.

Psychoanalyst, executive coach, author, and Harvard-trained philosopher Peter Carnochan, Ph.D., has spent the last 30 years helping clients unknot problematic feelings, solve challenges, and develop more resilient and expansive modes of living. In this episode, Peter talks with Paul about the many ways philosophy and psychedelic experiences complement each other, the interconnectedness of everything in the universe, the freedom found within boundaries, and the power we have to change our own lives.

When it comes to contemplative practices, concepts of eternity, and mystical experiences, there are many similarities between ancient traditions and contemporary religions. Could psychedelics be one of those connections? In this episode, Paul Austin talks with Brian Muraresku, author of The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name, about tens of thousands of years of mysticism, the evidence for ancient use of psychedelics in religious ceremony, and the democratization of plant medicine.

One of the leading advocates in the kratom industry, Mac Haddow spent years working in US government relations, including acting as Chief of Staff at the US Department of Health and Human Services. Today, he is working tirelessly to protect the rights of kratom users and vendors, traveling throughout the US to promote nationwide adoption of the Kratom Consumer Protection Act. In this episode, Mac and Paul discuss the responsible use of kratom—its benefits, risks, and concerns—and also touch on the topic of corruption within the FDA regulatory and approval process.

There's a growing momentum to legalize therapeutic psychedelics in the United States, with clinics nationwide already offering ketamine therapy, as well as the recent decriminalization of psilocybin in Oregon. What do today's treatment protocols look like, and what will the future bring? In this episode, Yaron Conforti, CEO and Director of Novamind, talks with Paul Austin, founder of Third Wave, about creating individualized treatment plans, the thousands of clinics we can expect in the next ten years, and democratizing access to psychedelic medicine.

After building and selling a successful software startup, Tim Sae Koo had a psychedelic experience and vision that revealed his true life's purpose. Today, he devotes himself to 1heart, a home for change makers, creative innovators, and soul seekers who feel called to co-create a collective future as one tribe. In this episode, Tim and Paul reflect on their friendship, and discuss elevating consciousness, building community, and staying out of the matrix.

James Fadiman Ph.D. almost needs no introduction. An early pioneer of psychedelic research, a lifelong proponent of microdosing, and a prolific writer and educator, Jim played a pivotal role in reigniting the conversation around psychedelics in the US and beyond with the publication of his 2011 book, The Psychedelic Explorer's Guide. In this wide-ranging podcast, Jim chats candidly with Paul Austin about everything from the early years of psychedelic research and the immeasurable benefits of microdosing, to the business of psychedelics, the power of citizen science, and the foundation of our personal identities.

Dr. Katherine Coder was on her way to a career on Wall Street when a psychedelic experience changed the course of her life. Now a counselor and coach, her mission is to help her clients reclaim their birthright and unfold their essential nature into the world. In this episode, Kat and Paul discuss the power of community, connecting to spirit, and pharmaceutical vs. shamanic approaches to healing through plant medicine.

Amanda Eilian has been actively investing in early stage consumer companies for the last decade, drawing on her experience as an institutional investor and entrepreneur. Her focus today is on companies that make the daily lives of consumers healthier, happier, and more meaningful. In this episode, Amanda and Paul discuss narrowing the wellness gap and investing in psychedelics for long-term solutions to mental illness.

A psychotherapist since 1989, Charley Wininger is also a licensed psychoanalyst and a mental health counselor who specializes in relationships and communication skills. His recent book, Listening To Ecstasy, tracks his personal experience with MDMA as a way to enhance his life and strengthen his marriage. In this podcast, he and Paul chat about the power of MDMA to solidify relationships, rediscover joy, and reconnect to ourselves and each other.

Dr. Craig Heacock, psychiatrist and ketamine treatment provider, offers a counterpoint to a previous guest's view on mental illness and psychiatric medications. While his goal is always to have patients on as few medications as possible, Craig stresses the importance of correctly understanding the nuances of mental health and mental health treatments instead of painting with a broad brush. He and Paul also discuss the current state and near-future of psychedelic treatments for mental health, as well as the reception of psychedelics among the psychiatric community.

Dr. Nisha Khanna blends Western medicine with the ancient practice of Ayurveda to create holistic health—emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. Her focus is on getting to the root cause of disease and correcting imbalance, not just covering up the symptoms. In this episode, Nisha and Paul discuss recognizing your higher self, disconnection as disease, and the role of psychedelics in whole-being health.

After several years in high-pressure technology jobs he didn't enjoy, Nik Vassev had his first psychedelic experience and realized he had full power to transform his life. Less than 18 months later, he had expanded his psychedelic use and created Mindleap, the world's first tele-health platform for therapeutic integration. In this episode, Nik and Paul discuss changing your life through psychedelics, the drive to help others, and the full meaning of "integration".

After years spent running an Amsterdam nightclub, Natasja Pelgrom had refined the art of "sex and drugs and rock and roll". At 33, however, she had an epiphany—and spent the next several years releasing her co-dependencies, healing childhood trauma, and rediscovering how to welcome sacredness back into her life. Today, Natasja is a sacred medicine woman, mystic, devotional creative, and visionary who leads spiritual alchemy journeys, providing a compassionate space for healing and remembering. In this episode, Natasja and Third Wave founder Paul Austin delve deep into the importance of healing ourselves, the power of 5-MeO-DMT, and the role of integration.

Timothy Ko came to the psychedelic space as a result of his deeply personal connections with depression, anxiety, and addiction. As the CEO of Entheon Biomedical, an organization working on a legal IV DMT protocol, Timothy is dedicated to providing an effective and scalable therapy that will serve as a vital resource for those afflicted with a substance-use disorder, and who are wanting to reclaim their lives. In this episode, Timothy and Paul discuss their personal experiences with psychedelics, the benefits of DMT in overcoming addiction, and the life-affirming power of a new perspective.

While a PhD researcher at Imperial College London, Mendel Kaelen investigated the brain mechanisms of classic psychedelic drugs and their effects on music-perception and music-evoked emotion. After a year off spent integrating his ayahuasca experiences in the Amazon, Mendel completed his Master's Degree before founding Wavepaths, an algorithmic music system that unifies immersive arts, psychotherapies, and intelligent technologies into new models of care. In this episode, Mendel and Paul explore the beauty of randomness, the healing potential of psychedelics, our debt to primal sound, and the power of music to make meaning.

With a decades-long commitment to psychedelic advocacy and research, a firsthand knowledge of the life-changing benefits of plant medicine, and his role as CEO of Psygen Labs, Danny Motyka brings a unique perspective to the future of psychedelics. In this episode, he and Paul discuss the differences between the cannabis and psychedelic industries, the role of plant medicines as preventative treatments, and what psychedelic therapy might look like in the near future.

Bett Williams is a contemporary psychedelics pioneer, author, and podcast host. In this episode, she talks with Paul Austin about her introduction to mushrooms, her decades-long break from them, her re-entry into the world of psychedelics, and her experience with solo, ritualized journeys.

After facilitating the expansion of Esalen Institute, the Denali Education Center, Chena Hot Springs, the Center for Ecological Living and Learning, and more, Ian-Michael Hébert founded Holos, dedicated to a world where humanity honors the interdependence of all life and actively stewards the health of individuals, society, and our planet's ecosystems. In this episode, Ian-Michael talks with Paul about intentional living, honoring the earth, healing through plant medicine, and giving back to the communities that nurture us.

At the age of 30, with a successful career and a highly active lifestyle, Boomer Anderson was diagnosed with cardiovascular disease. This unpleasant surprise led him on a journey to self-optimization covering everything from sleep to diet to meditation to psychedelics and more, all grounded in data. In this episode, Boomer and Paul discuss their ongoing personal journeys, how to succeed at habit change, and what it means to become superhuman.

Erick Godsey is on the forefront of self-optimization through physical health, reframing our stories, responsible psychedelic use, mastery, and flow. In this episode, he talks with Paul about the psychedelic experience that almost broke his brain, how he defines "mastery", the lies we've been told about psychiatric drugs, and how to truly recover from depression and anxiety.