Confronting the shadow: intense purging and revelations

Five years ago, Dr Catriona Wallace drank ayahuasca for the first time - expecting enlightenment but instead meeting her shadow. What followed was seven hours of confronting ego, identity, and the parts of herself she’d spent years avoiding. 

In this bonus episode, I sit down with Dr Catriona Wallace to explore how her experiences with plant medicine completely reshaped the way she leads, tells the truth, and understands her purpose. 

Catriona shares how facing her darkest parts helped her release control, redefine success, and lead with greater authenticity and courage. 

Just a quick note - nothing you’ll hear in this episode is medical or legal advice, and we’re definitely not suggesting anyone try anything that’s illegal where they live. Think of this as an open conversation, not a recommendation. 

Catriona and I discuss: 

• The unexpected transformation that came from Catriona’s first ayahuasca experience 

• How confronting ego and identity shifted her leadership style 

• Why she believes truth-telling is the foundation of authentic leadership 

• The powerful reframe from “What’s my purpose?” to “What is needed of me?” 

• How plant medicine taught her the importance of surrender, service, and alignment 

KEY QUOTES 

“Seven hours of ayahuasca is like seven years of psychotherapy.”

“Instead of asking, ‘What’s my purpose?’, I now ask, ‘What is needed of me?’” 

Connect with Dr Catriona Wallace on Instagram, LinkedIn, and via her website. 
Check out her book Rapid Transformation for more on how to embrace change through technology and leadership. 

If you haven’t listened to my full conversation with Catriona - where she opens up about leading with authenticity, standing firm in the face of sexism, and the now-famous moment she walked away from a million-dollar investment because she refused to compromise who she is. You can find that here. 

My latest book The Health Habit is out now. You can order a copy here: https://www.amantha.com/the-health-habit/  

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Visit https://www.amantha.com/podcast for full show notes from all episodes.  

Get in touch at amantha@inventium.com.au  

Credits:  

Host: Amantha Imber  

Sound Engineer: The Podcast Butler 

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