Hey everybody! Episode 113 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with my friends Brian James and Adam Aronovich. I met both of them when we all worked together at a big plant medicine center in the Peruvian Amazon. I interviewed both of them separately in previous episodes, Brian in episode 30 and Adam in episode 55, so you can check those out for a more in-depth look at them both. I have been impressed with both their abilities to speak out on more mainstream narratives that are happening in the psychedelic and plant-medicine movements. I think there are many narratives that gain traction and are not often questioned, and I respect both Brian and Adam for their ability to look at issues through different lenses to get closer to a wider truth. Two issues that I think that have been arising in this regard are the psychologizing of the plant-medicine world and the world at large. And the second is the over-emphasis on trauma. While both of these topics have validity and importance and a place in this work, they are but a part, and an over-emphasis on both can be an amputation of sorts of the wider use of plant-medicines and create downstream problems that many don’t consider. So it was a real pleasure and a bit of an experiment having this panel. I think it went really well and we went pretty deep on these issues which I think are quite important topics. So I feel confident you all will get a lot out of this episode and the wisdom of Adam and Brian. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!

This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe

"Adam is a doctoral candidate focusing on Medical Anthropology and Cultural Psychiatry. He is an active member of the Medical Anthropology Research Center (MARC) and part of the Ayahuasca Community Committee at the Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines. In the last four years he has conducted extensive fieldwork in the Peruvian Amazon, where he has been doing qualitative research in collaboration with ICEERS, the Beckley Foundation, and, more recently, the Centre for Psychedelic Studies at Imperial College…”

For more info about Adam and his work, visit: https://www.healingfromhealing.com

“Brian James is a transformational coach, yoga teacher, musician and shamanic practitioner currently living Vancouver Island, Canada with his wife Debbie and their dog Kingston.

A lifelong musician, artist, and curious seeker, Brian began exploring yoga and plant medicines over twenty-five years ago. After a crisis in his mid-thirties — burned out from his job in advertising and struggling with stress, anxiety and addiction — he began his own healing journey in earnest. He’s spent the last decade learning from master teachers and exploring in greater depth the medicine paths of yoga, music, shamanism and psychology…“

For more info about Brian and his work, visit: brianjames.ca

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Episode 81: Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival