Brainforest Café – Details, episodes & analysis

Mike (Schwann Cybershaman) Kawitzky was born in a post-war Apartheid South Africa and (purportedly) survived being indoctrinated by state, culture and corporate influences to emerge, years later, as a social commentator, columnist, author, (a gonzo autobiography titled: "Journey to Everywhere"), and independent filmmaker, Cognition Factor [2009], and The Terence Mckenna OmniBus 2012. Mike has been a commentator on the ascent of consciousness, via social networking, from a unique South African viewpoint since the net became available in South Africa, back in 1990. Mike's first column, The Schwann Column', was published by Intelligence Magazine (Hardcopy) in 1995.

Mike has contributed media to several international conferences, plus a live performance at the LSD Symposium in Basel in 2006 on the occasion of Dr. Albert Hofmann's 100th birthday, where "True Hallucinations", a prequel of Cognition Factor was shown.

In Mike's post-corporate existence he lectured college students, filmed rocket launches and observed solar eclipses for South African Astronomical Observatories, for whom he also produced educational programs. Mike was responsible for the first official international press release for South African Large Telescope's (SALT) 'first-light' images and directed and produced videography for the International Astronautical Congress in Cape Town in 2011 while also making a presentation called; "A Zeitgeist Accelerator - The Cyberspace Evolution of the Psychoactive mind", at the Khanyisa Psychedelic Plant Symposium at the University of Johannesburg with Kilindi Iyi and Graham Hancock.

For the last few years Mike has been working on a six part afro-futuristic TV series called; "Xelexnia", a unique tale of the past, present and future of South Africa, somewhere he calls home, in a leafy suburb of Cape Town in an old Victorian house. Mike has a lovely wife, four children and two grandchildren and a dog called Remy. He enjoys riding his 1300cc V2 motorbike whenever he can and doesn't like aeroplanes. You can sometimes find him inside a space game called Elite Dangerous.

Daniel Cleland is CEO of Soltara Healing Center, which has gained worldwide recognition in 2019 as THE preeminent Shipibo healing center and is now regularly visited by the most prominent influencers, celebrities, and public figures. Cleland holds a Masters of Intercultural and International Communication, but he learned his hard-knock style of scaling from years of traveling, living, and hustling in the merciless Amazon jungles of South America. to. In addition to supporting the field of ayahuasca healing through Soltara, Cleland has also ventured into the music industry with his heavy metal band Savage Existence, having toured USA, Latin America and Europe with such acts as Cradle of Filth, DevilDriver, Sepultura and Cavalera brothers. In 2021, Cleland published his second book “12 Laws of the Jungle: How to Become a Lethal Entrepreneur” as a follow up to his first book “Pulse of the Jungle: Ayahuasca, Adventures and Social Enterprise in the Amazon.” Cleland resided in Costa Rica with his two beloved husky dogs, but is currently in Peru hosting an ayahuasca retreat for wellness and spirituality influencer, Aubrey Marcus.

Dr. Bruce Damer is a scientist working in the field of Astrobiology with his passion being working on the mystery of the origin of life and where life might arise in the universe. Back at our ESPD conference in 2022 he 'came out of the psychedelic scientist closet' in his talk 'Its High Time for Science'. This talk, at which I was sitting in the front row, sparked a movement that has today led to a new organization: the Center for MINDS (Multidisciplinary Investigation into Novel Discoveries and Solutions). MINDS is modeled on MAPS and seeks to go beyond psychedelics in therapeutics and bring online practices and tools to use them to catalyze creativity, in science, tech, design and even leadership.

McKenna Academy was there at the very beginning of MINDS and I am sure we will hear about where it is today, and a bit about its deep history back to the 1950s and 60s.

Deborah has published over 40 books through her publishing house Synergetic Press, Ltd. in global ecology, regenerative agriculture, ethnobotany, psychedelics, and social justice, since establishing it in 1984. In 1986, she was on the team that designed and built a large-scale closed ecological system, Biosphere 2, developing the publications and educational programs for the complex. In 1990, she started The Biosphere Press, an imprint of the Biosphere 2 project, producing a dozen books and a classroom curriculum for children on biospheres and biomes.

While at Biosphere 2, Deborah met Richard Evans Schultes, the grandfather of contemporary ethnobotany. She went on to publish his two books of photographs he made documenting people’s use of plant medicine in the NW Colombian Amazonia. Deborah is a director and VP of the U.S. non-profit, the Institute of Ecotechnics, based in Santa Fe, New Mexico at Synergia Ranch. The Institute owns the RV Heraclitus, an 84-foot ferrocement Chinese Junk design that sailed 270,000 miles around Planet Ocean, with two years up the Amazon on an ethnobotanical expedition inspired by Schultes (1980-1982). Deborah currently lives at Synergia Ranch organic farm and retreat center where she lives, contributes to the farm operations when she can, and continues publishing books.

Joshua Bloom was born and raised in Hackney, London, to a Filipino mother and Jewish father. He grew up in a culturally rich area, sandwiched between Hackney's infamous ‘Murder Mile’ and Stamford Hill, home to Europe's largest ultra-Orthodox Jewish community with over 100,000 residents. Much of his early years were spent exploring the local parks and Hackney Marshes nature reserve, where he developed a deep fascination for the flora and fauna, particularly birds. This love for nature naturally led him to pursue studies in Microbiology and Genetics, driven by a desire to comprehend the inner workings of organisms at a fundamental level. Following his university education and a stint in a genetics lab, Joshua embarked on a significant chapter in his life. For two years, he dedicated himself to working at a drug and alcohol rehab clinic in Camden, an area known for its struggles with substance abuse. Reflecting on this period, he often describes it as a "PhD in real life." The experience exposed him to individuals born into tragic circumstances, with little hope for a way out. It also shed light on the shortcomings of mainstream medical approaches to helping the less fortunate, sparking his interest in the potential of psychedelics for treating addiction and PTSD. In the subsequent years, Joshua explored the world extensively, immersing himself in different cultures. He transitioned into freelance photography, focusing mainly on capturing the beauty of nature and landscapes. It was during this time that his curiosity about consciousness deepened, fueled by a couple of near-death experiences and altered states of mind. This journey culminated in the completion of a master's degree in neuroscience and psychology, although he firmly believes that firsthand experience surpasses all. Twelve years ago, Joshua made a significant life change by moving to Switzerland to pursue a career in IT. Although this choice was made for practical reasons, to pursue a career in IT. He also collaborated with charities and NGOs that share a vision for a better future in harmony with nature. Today, he is the creator of "Reality in Bloom," a website and podcast that explores topics ranging from nature and consciousness to reality and psychedelics. In recent years, Joshua has taken up marathon running for its health benefits and stress management. This newfound passion (or mid life crisis as his wife would call it!!) has now brought him to the starting line of one of the "Toughest footrace on earth": The Marathon Des Sables, a grueling 250km race through the Sahara Desert. He eagerly anticipates this mammoth challenge as he prepares to embark on this extraordinary journey later this week.

Michael Coe, PhD, is an applied ecologist and ethnobiology research fellow at the French National Institute for Research and Development (IRD) and Mediterranean Institute of Biodiversity and Ecology (IMBE) in Marseille, France.  Michael is working to help promote the revitalization of ethnobiology at academic institutions in the United States, to help provide a global synthesis on the sustainability and   of non-timber forest products, and to help Indigenous-led efforts aiming to facilitate sustainable ayahuasca management in the Peruvian Amazon.

Erik F. Storlie, PhD, entered graduate school at Berkeley in 1962 intending to become a medievalist. Experience with cannabis, peyote, mushrooms, and LSD prompted an interest in Zen and the synergies between meditation and psychedelic medicine. He is retired from teaching meditation and mindfulness at The University of Minnesota and has published two memoirs that speak to sixty years of meditation and psychedelic exploration: Nothing on my Mind: Berkeley, LSD, Two Zen Masters; and Go Deep and Take Plenty of Root.

Tom (Tomás) Pinkson has been walking the Warrior Wisdom path far longer than most of the readers of this book have been walking. In it, he shares the wisdom distilled from a lifetime of seeking to understand himself and his place in the realm of shamanic and indigenous practices. In the course of his long life, he has learned from the great medicine teachers, including LSD, ayahuasca, peyote and magic mushrooms, and those who have been the keepers and stewards of this psychedelic gnosis, ranging from indigenous elders to spiritual leaders in Eastern and Western spiritual traditions, psychotherapists, and fellow seekers such as Ralph Metzner, Huston Smith, Ram Dass and others. Tomás has been a beacon of hope and a compassionate guide for others seeking to follow the path of Warrior Wisdom, helping them to find their own way in their personal quests. While he has pointed the way for many to find their way, he shows up always as a humble learner; not a leader, but a fellow traveler, ever open to the marvelous mystery of being.
Brother Tomás has traveled far on the road to Warrior Wisdom. Here, he shares the experiences gleaned from that long journey. He has much to teach us, and we all have much to learn.

Dr. David E.Nichols is one of the world’s foremost authorities on the chemistry and pharmacology of psychedelic substances.

In 1993, with the collaboration of colleagues, Dr. Nichols founded the Heffter Research Institute, realizing his vision of a privately funded Institute as the most effective mechanism for bringing research on psychedelic agents into the modern era of neuroscience. Since its founding it has emerged as a leading force advancing psychedelic research in numerous institutions.

Don Lattin is an American journalist who has been exploring the interface between psychedelics and religion in America since the end of the 90s. His books include "Shopping for Faith: American Religions in the new Millenium" (co-authored with Richard Cimino & Jose Basse, 1998); "Following our Bliss: How the Spiritual Ideals of the Sixities Influence Our Lives Today" (2003); "Jesus Freaks: A True Story of Murder and Madness on the Evangelical Edge" (2007); and "The Harvard Psychedelic Club: How Timogthy Leary, Ram Dass, Huston Smith, and Andy Weil Killed the 60s and Ushered in a New Age for America" (2010); "Changing our Minds: Psychedelic Sacraments and the New Psychotherapy" (2017). His most recent book is "God on Psychedelics: Tripping Across the Rubble of Old Time Religion" (2023) which explores the emerging integration of psychedelic mystical experiences into mainstream religious practices. He has been an adjunct faculty member in the Graduate School of Journalism at the University of California, Berkeley, and for two decades was a staff writer covering religion, spirituality and psychology at the San Francisco Chronicle. In addition to his published books, his work has been widely published in many US magazines and newspapers. Don kindly took time from his busy schedule at the MAPS Psychedelic Science Conference in Denver last June 2023 to record this Interview for the Brainforest Café.