Today we’re doing something a little different. I’m re-releasing an episode from my personal podcast, Life is a Festival, because it remains one of my favorite interviews ever. This conversation, originally recorded a few years ago, is with Tricia Eastman and Joseph Barsuglia, two pioneers in the world of psychedelic medicine. We dive deep into Iboga, the Bwiti people of Gabon, and the powerful pharmacology of this unique plant medicine. I wanted to share it with you as it remains highly relevant and educational.

In this episode, we explore Iboga and its cultural and spiritual significance. We discuss the Bwiti people, their rituals and music, and how these elements interweave with Iboga's healing properties. Tricia and Joseph share their journeys as healers, their work with Iboga, and its connection to other psychedelics like 5-MeO-DMT. We also touch on the subject of microdosing Iboga and its suitability for this practice.

Joseph and Tricia both worked at Crossroads ibogaine treatment center in Mexico. Joseph has co-led psychedelic retreats around the world since 2015 and serves as an advisor to numerous psychedelic medicine companies. Tricia Eastman is a renowned speaker and healer, with her book Seeding Consciousness: Plant Medicine, Ancestral Wisdom, and Psychedelic Initiation launching November 12, 2024. Together, they bring a wealth of wisdom to today’s discussion.

Timestamps:

(08:00) - Who are the Bwiti

(17:00) - The Pharmacology of Iboga

(29:00) - The meaning of Bwiti music and rituals

(38:30) - Tricia and Joseph’s journeys to iboga

(46:30) - 5MeoDmt

(52:00) - Overcoming spiritual ego and supporting conservation

(1:04:30) - Microdosing iboga

Links:

Tricia Eastman & Joseph Barsuglia: Ibogaine is Miracle Grow for the Brain