LONGEVITY with Nathalie Niddam #384: Trading Ego For EMBODIMENT: Unlocking Deep Healing with Psilocybin & Ayahuasca | From Startup Hustle to Spiritual Awakening (with Austin Mao)
10 snips
Nov 4, 2025 Austin Mao, a serial entrepreneur and founder of Ceremonia, shares his transformative journey from the startup hustle to the world of psychedelics. He recounts how his first psilocybin ceremony revealed deep-seated ego and emotional healing, leading to personal growth and inner fulfillment. The discussion delves into the differences between psilocybin and ayahuasca, the importance of facilitator training, and the crucial role of post-ceremony integration for lasting change. Austin also highlights psychedelics' potential in mental health and offers insights into safe and effective practice.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ceremony Revealed Repressed Childhood Memory
- Austin described his first intentional ceremony where he felt held by his mother and reconnected with a deceased father.
- The retreat later revealed repressed childhood sexual trauma and flooded him with vivid memories that provided context for lifelong patterns.
Presence Is The Core Of Deep Healing
- Austin concluded deep healing comes from presence and integrating every life moment into who you are now.
- He emphasized that noticing feelings in the present unlocks energy previously used for external seeking.
Went For Networking, Found Humility
- Austin admitted he attended a ceremony expecting networking and believed he was the smartest in the room.
- The medicine humbled him by revealing pride as a cover for shame and showed unexpected personal truths.
