The Psychedelic Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes David Jay Brown, accomplished author and researcher in consciousness studies.

https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-290-david-jay-brown/?ref=278

David shares insights from his extensive work exploring the intersections of psychedelics, lucid dreaming, and technological evolution. From his early days writing for MAPS to his current work documenting DMT entities, David offers fascinating perspectives on how these altered states of consciousness might help humanity navigate the approaching technological singularity.

David Jay Brown is an accomplished author with expertise spanning psychedelics, consciousness studies, and futurism. He holds a master's degree in psychobiology from NYU and has written extensively about the intersection of psychedelics, consciousness, and technology. As the author of groundbreaking works including The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities and Psychedelics and the Coming Singularity, Brown brings decades of experience interviewing leading figures in psychedelic research and consciousness exploration. His work has appeared in Scientific American, Wired, and Discover, and he served as Senior Editor for MAPS Bulletin from 2007-2012.

Highlights:

• Early work with MAPS and witnessing the psychedelic renaissance
• The technological singularity and its relationship to psychedelics
• Connections between psychedelic states and lucid dreaming
• Practical techniques for inducing lucid dreams
• The role of intention in both dreaming and psychedelic experiences
• Indigenous perspectives on dreaming and plant medicine
• DMT entities and alien contact experiences
• The mystery of consciousness and interdimensional experience

Episode Links:

• David’s website
• The Illustrated Field Guide to DMT Entities

Episode Sponsor:

• The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

In this special bonus episode, we share highlights from a recent January webinar featuring Paul F. Austin in conversation with Chris Villar, a successful executive coach and graduate of the Psychedelic Coaching Institute. 

Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-289b/?ref=278

Chris shares his transition from Goldman Sachs and founding a $125 million company to becoming an executive coach incorporating psychedelics into his practice. Together, Paul and Chris explore the business aspects of psychedelic coaching, ethical considerations, and practical strategies for building a successful practice.

For more of Chris's personal and professional journey, check out his interview in Episode 268 of The Psychedelic Podcast.

Chris Villar studied finance & accounting at Georgetown University and began his career at Goldman Sachs, where he led a $500 million investment portfolio in the home security industry. In 2007, he left Goldman and founded Frontpoint Security, an early disruptor for self-installed alarm systems and smart home technology. 

Chris served as CEO from inception to over $125-million in revenue as the company grew to nearly 800 employees and received frequent recognition for both customer and employee satisfaction. After selling the company in 2020, Chris founded VILLAR Coaching, a boutique coaching practice focused on helping founders (and other high achievers) scale their companies while cultivating skills in peak performance and fundamental wellbeing. 

Chris has done extensive work to overcome a lifetime of stress, anxiety, and burnout and to detach from the lifelong grip of achievement; and now enjoys helping others do the same. He lives in Washington, DC with his husband and their 10-year old beagle and enjoys the outdoors, hiking, and traveling.

Highlights:

• Chris's background: From Goldman Sachs to founding a $125M company
• The journey to becoming a psychedelic integration coach 
• Key skills Chris learned through professional training 
• Structuring client engagements and coaching containers Incorporating ketamine therapy through legal providers 
• Revenue generation and pricing strategies in psychedelic coaching 
• Group retreats and scaling a coaching practice
• Essential advice for aspiring coaches

Episode Links:

• Chris’s website
•  The Psychedelic Coaching Institute’s Practitioner Training Program

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Wendy Tucker, board chair of Shulgin Farm and owner of Transform Press.

Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-282-wendy-tucker/?ref=278

Wendy shares intimate stories about her stepfather Alexander "Sasha" Shulgin and mother Ann, including their remarkable love story and groundbreaking work in psychedelic research. She discusses the historic significance of the Shulgin Farm, where Sasha's famous lab produced over 200 novel compounds, and details current efforts to preserve this important piece of psychedelic history. The conversation explores the Shulgins' legacy of open science, collaborative research, and their impact on the current psychedelic renaissance.

Highlights:

• History of Shulgin Farm and its significance since 1935 
• The love story of Sasha and Ann Shulgin
• MDMA, 2-CB, and a litmus test of lovemaking
• The Shulgins’ legacy of bold research and open science
• The longterm vision of the Farm and Shulgin Foundation
• Wendy's initial impressions of Sasha
• Sasha's methodical approach to creating and testing new compounds
• The 1994 DEA raid and its impact
• Transform Press and the story of PiHKAL & TiHKAL
• Current preservation efforts and fundraising goals

Links:

• Shulgin Farm
• Transform Press
• Instagram: @shulginfoundation

Episode Sponsor:

• The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

Paul F. Austin is joined by writer/historian/philosopher Jules Evans to explore the need for ecstatic literacy in the third wave of psychedelics.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

Through sharing research, philosophy, and his own work, Jules invites a thoughtful examination of both sides of psychedelics—the light and the shadow. He points to the need for more awareness and research of challenging psychedelic experiences and offers a roadmap to improved ecstatic literacy in today’s culture.

Jules Evans is the director of the Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project, the author of three books (Philosophy for Life and Other Dangerous Situations; The Art of Losing Control; Holiday from the Self) and the co-editor of Breaking Open: Finding a Way Through Spiritual Emergency. He is an honorary research fellow at the Centre for the History of the Emotions at Queen Mary, University of London.

Highlights:

• The need for a balance between stoicism and ecstatic experience.
• Inspirations from Aldous Huxley & other literary heroes.
• Integrating psychedelics into an “ecstatically naive” Western culture.
• Jules’s research on challenging psychedelic experiences.
• The dark side of ketamine: risks of dependency and harm in a booming industry.
• How culture can improve its ecstatic literacy.

Key Links:

• The Challenging Psychedelic Experiences Project
• Jules’s Substack, Ecstatic Integration
• Jules’s book, The Art of Losing Control

These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

Episode Sponsors:

• Psyched Wellness - use THIRDWAVE23 to get 15% off.
• Numinus

Jonathan Lu & Shauheen Etminan, founders of Magi Ancestral Supplements, join Paul F. Austin to discuss the rich world of beta-Carbolines.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

Jonathan & Shauheen are the co-founders of VCENNA, a drug discovery company that creates mental wellness solutions from psychoactive plants used ceremonially in Ancestral Eastern traditions. In this enchanting conversation, they share about their research and experimentation into Syrian rue and other near-forgotten plants, unpacking their rich historical and anthropological contexts. They explain the unique neurobiological and subjective effects of beta-Carbolines, including when combined with tryptamine-containing substances such as in an Ayahuasca brew. Paul F. Austin shares his own experiences with their formulation, Stard Deep Meditation Supplement.

Visit ancestralmagi.com to learn more, and use code PAUL10 at checkout for 10% off their unique products.

Highlights:

• Jonathan & Shauheen’s ventures, VCENNA and Ancestral Magi.
• Exploring forgotten divine potions, haoma, and soma, and the ancient and modern uses of Espand (Syrian rue).
• Psychedelics, Buddhism, and meditation.
• Exploring the physiological effects of beta-Carbolines.
• Shauheen and Jonathan’s personal experiences with beta-Carbolines and psychedelics.

Key Links:

• Ancestral Magi - use code PAUL10 at checkout for 10% off
• VCENNA
• Third Wave's Magi Review: Rediscovering a 4000 Year Old Spiritual Elixir

These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

Episode Sponsors:

• This podcast is brought to you by Third Wave's Mushroom Grow Kit. Get the tools you need to grow mushrooms along with an in-depth guide to finding spores.

Paul F. Austin sits down with Dr. Alexander Shester to discuss his new book, Visionary Healing: Psychedelic Medicine & Shamanism.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

In this intimate, in-person conversation, Alex humbly shares his wisdom and perspective from decades of experience as a psychiatrist and visionary psychedelic explorer. He sheds light on the intersection of shamanism, psychedelics, and mental health, and recalls captivating stories from his time being mentored by the late psychologist and psychedelic researcher Ralph Metzner.

Alexander Shester, M.D. is a medical doctor, board-certified psychiatrist, and Jungian Analyst. He has over thirty years of experience studying and participating in guided Vision Quests using shamanic principles in nature settings. His recently-published book, Visionary Healing: Psychedelic Medicine and Shamanism, is his personal first-hand memoir of using entheogens including ayahuasca, jurema, psilocybin, San Pedro cactus, peyote, iboga, toad, and more, for deep spiritual exploration and his own healing journey.

Highlights:

• On visionary art and the power of psychedelic plant medicines.
• Ayahuasca and the transpersonal journey into the collective unconscious.
• Alex recalls his primary mentor, Ralph Metzner: his visionary circles and contributions to the
• psychedelic renaissance.
• The value of community in Alexander’s healing.
• Alex’s paths to psychiatry and psychedelics.
• How Alex’s psychedelic experiences informed his psychiatry practice.
• What can shamanism offer to the field of psychiatry?
• Remembering our nature-relatedness with the aid of plant medicines.
• Endarkenment: facing the shadow.
• Alex’s sage advice for those seeking psychedelic experiences.

Episode Links:

• Alex’s book, Visionary Healing: Psychedelic Medicine and Shamanism

These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

Episode sponsors:

This episode is brought you by Psyched Wellness, creators of Calm, an over-the-counter Amanita muscaria extract that may help to reduce stress, ease muscular tension and promote restorative sleep. Go to shop.psyched-wellness.com and use code THIRDWAVE23 to get 15% off.

This episode is sponsored by Beckley Retreats, a leading holistic wellbeing company that offers transformative self-development programs by leveraging the science-backed power of psychedelics in concert with supportive therapeutic modalities. As a trusted partner of Third Wave, we strongly recommend the upcoming retreats for Beckley in Jamaica, as well as many other locations. Head to go.beckleyretreats.com/thirdwave to book your transformational psilocybin program today.

This podcast is brought to you by Third Wave's Mushroom Grow Kit. Get the tools you need to grow mushrooms along with an in-depth guide to finding spores.

Anna Yusim, M.D., author of Fulfilled, joins Paul F. Austin for a conversation on the intersection of science, spirituality, and psychedelics.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

Dr. Anna Yusim is a Board-Certified, Stanford- and Yale-educated Psychiatrist & Executive Coach with a private practice in New York City and Connecticut.  She is the best-selling author of Fulfilled: How the Science of Spirituality Can Help You Live a Happier, More Meaningful Life.  On the clinical faculty at Yale Medical School, Dr. Yusim is presently creating a Spirituality & Mental Health Center there.  With clients including Forbes 500 CEOs, Olympic athletes, A-list actors and actresses, and the Chairs of academic departments at top universities, Dr. Anna Yusim has helped over 2,000 people in 60 countries achieve greater impact, purpose, and joy in their life and work.

As a highly sought-after speaker, Dr. Yusim gives keynotes for physicians and professionals worldwide on topics related to mental health and spirituality, thriving post-COVID, preventing burnout, meaning-making, and resilience.  For healthcare professionals, corporate leaders, and community members, she also conducts workshops to empower individuals to sharpen their intuition, cultivate authenticity, awaken self-compassion, enhance their capacity for empathy, and improve their ability to connect with others.

Connect with Dr. Yusim at www.annayusim.com or at @annayusim on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Highlights:

• Dr. Yusim’s research on stress with Dr. Robert Sapolsky at Stanford.
• How Dr. Yusim’s relationship to stress has shifted throughout her life and career.
• Dr. Yusim’s path to founding the Spirituality & Mental Health Center at Yale.
• Does psychedelic therapy always need to have a spiritual component?
• Dr. Yusim explains her book, Fulfilled.
• Psychic vs. psychotic: schizophrenia, channeling, and shamanism.
• Dr. Yusim’s forthcoming book on the science of miracles.
• Making your unconscious conscious to find freedom, choice, and healing.
• Dr. Yusim’s executive coaching work.

Episode Links:

• Dr. Yusim’s website
• Dr. Yusim’s book, Fulfilled
• Dr. Yusim’s article on sleep in MindBodyGreen

These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

This episode is sponsored by:

Beckley Retreats, a leading holistic wellbeing company that offers transformative self-development programs by leveraging the science-backed power of psychedelics in concert with supportive therapeutic modalities. As a trusted partner of Third Wave, we strongly recommend the upcoming retreats for Beckley in Jamaica, as well as many other locations. Head to go.beckleyretreats.com/thirdwave to book your transformational psilocybin program today.

Third Wave's Mushroom Grow Kit. Get the tools you need to grow mushrooms along with an in-depth guide to finding spores.

Paul F. Austin is joined by Alex Atwood, Founder & CEO of GravyWork to talk plant medicine, transformational coaching, & more.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

Alex Atwood is a multifaceted, purpose-driven leader with more than 20 years of experience as a serial entrepreneur who helmed four startups in the hospitality and staffing space. He’s also a coach in the emerging psychedelics field, with a focus on optimizing human potential. Alex is a podcaster, public speaker, angel investor in firms that help build a better world, and philanthropist with a soft spot for owners and operators of family businesses.

Alex is working towards an ICF certification in organizational well-being. He has been a coach for Landmark Worldwide, a personal and professional development company, and elevation leader for 1heart. He has led workshops on integrity and self-actualization with the goal of helping attendees realize their own potential and find greater self-esteem, fulfillment, creativity, and productivity.

Highlights:

• Alex’s transformational ayahuasca experience at 1heart.
• How Landmark impacted Alex’s trajectory.
• The ineffable wisdom of plant medicine.
• Alex’s experience in Third Wave’s Coaching Certification Program.
• Integrating insights from psychedelics into business and daily life.
• Alex’s exciting projects on the horizon.

Key Links:

• Alex’s website
• Alex’s podcast, The Alchemist Lounge
• Alex on LinkedIn
• Paul F. Austin’s episode on Alex’s podcast

This episode is sponsored by: 

• Beckley Retreats, a leading holistic wellbeing company that offers transformative self-development programs by leveraging the science-backed power of psychedelics in concert with supportive therapeutic modalities. Head to go.beckleyretreats.com/thirdwave to book your transformational psilocybin program today.
  
  
• Apollo Neuro, the first scientifically validated wearable that actively improves your body’s resilience to stress. Apollo was developed by a friend of Third Wave, Dr. David Rabin M.D Ph.D., a neuroscientist and board-certified psychiatrist who has been studying the impact of chronic stress in humans for nearly 15 years. Third Wave listeners get 15% off—just use this link.
  
  
• Third Wave's Mushroom Grow Kit. Get the tools you need to grow mushrooms along with an in-depth guide to finding spores.

Tracey Tee, founder of Moms on Mushrooms, joins Paul F. Austin to talk about safe, intentional psychedelic use for mothers.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

Tracey Tee has been actively involved in the momosphere for over 10 years, first co-creating and starring in the nationally touring cult-hit comedy show for moms, The Pump and Dump Show. She simultaneously co-produced the Band of Mothers Podcast and served as co-founder and CEO of The Pump and Dump Show’s umbrella brand, Band of Mothers Media. During her own journey with psilocybin amidst the pandemic, Tracey began to feel called to support moms in a deeper and more meaningful way. In 2022, she launched an online microdosing course created exclusively for moms called M.O.M. — “Moms on Mushrooms.”

Tracey’s goal is to bring moms together through the sacred use of plant medicine for a shared journey of personal growth and healing. She is dedicated to crafting a supportive container for mothers that embodies the Sacred Feminine, gives reverence to our elders and original cultures, and acts as an example of a redefined way to engage in a New Earth as a consciously created model of “doing business.”

Highlights:

• Tracey’s healing journey with psilocybin and microdosing that led to Moms on Mushrooms.
• The unique needs and challenges for moms considering psychedelics.
• Tracey on opening up to her about her own psychedelic use.
• Reclaiming rites of passage in healthy, informed ways.
• What Moms on Mushrooms offers its members.
• On microdosing during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Microdosing and postpartum depression: a recipe for success.
• Tracey’s vision for the future: advocacy, education, and healing.
• Connect with Moms on Mushrooms.

Episode Links:

• Moms On Mushrooms
• Book, A Really Good Day by Ayelet Waldman
• Third Wave's Mushroom Grow Kit
• The Pump and Dump Show
• Band of Mothers Podcast

Matt Zemon joins Paul F. Austin for a thoughtful conversation on the inspiration behind his new book, Psychedelics for Everyone.

Find episode links, summary, and transcript here.

Matt Zemon is the author of Psychedelics for Everyone: A Beginner’s Guide to These Powerful Medicines for Anxiety, Depression, Addiction, PTSD, and Expanding Consciousness.

Since 2019, Matt has evolved from someone who had never taken any drugs to doing a deep dive into the study of human consciousness, aided by psilocybin, ayahuasca, ketamine, LSD, MDMA, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and more. Matt is now CEO and Co-Founder of HAPPŸŸ, a mental wellness company specializing in psychedelic-assisted oral ketamine therapy, as well as digital therapeutics that promote transformational outcomes. Previously, Matt was the co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Psychable, an online community connecting people interested in the healing power of psychedelics with a network of practitioners and psychedelic-based treatments. He was also the co-founder of Take2Minutes, a nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals improve their mental health and wellbeing. Matt lives in Chapel Hill, NC.

Highlights:

• How Matt’s psychedelic experiences shifted his life path, values, and relationships.
• The need for thoughtful conversations on psychedelics.
• Embracing the unprecedented accessibility of psychedelics.
• Matt’s entrepreneurship in the psychedelic space.
• Matt and Paul share the inspiration and vision behind their work.
• Matt’s ingredients for an optimal psychedelic experience.

Episode Links:

• Matt’s website
• HAPPŸŸ
• Ep. 117: Tim Sae Koo - The Psychedelic Ecosystem
• Matt’s book, Psychedelics for Everyone

These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

This episode is brought to you by Apollo Neuro, the first scientifically validated wearable that actively improves your body’s resilience to stress. Apollo was developed by a friend of Third Wave, Dr. David Rabin M.D Ph.D., a neuroscientist and board-certified psychiatrist who has been studying the impact of chronic stress in humans for nearly 15 years. Third Wave listeners get 15% off—just use this link.

This podcast is brought to you by Third Wave's Mushroom Grow Kit. Get the tools you need to grow mushrooms along with an in-depth guide to finding spores.