The Universe Within Podcast

Jason Grechanik
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Oct 1, 2025 • 2h 17min

Ep. 169 - Adrian Freedman - Music, Plant Medicines, Buddhism, & Shakuhachi

Hey everybody! In this episode, I spoke with Adrian Freedman. Adrian recently came into my radar as he was performing in a festival that I knew about. We delayed our talk unit we could meet in person and I’m glad we did. Adrian has a really deep presence and we spoke about his journey being trained in classical music, his learning the Japanese shakuhachi flute and buddhism, his encounter with Santo Daime and ayahuasca, and what he has learned in many decades walking this path. We went over three hours and I really enjoyed speaking with Adrian and trust you all will get a lot out of the depth, wisdom, and clarity of Adrian. Note I had some difficulties with the audio and needed to use voice enhancement so there is some distortion in our voices from time to time, apologies! 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 (https://realmushrooms.com) As listeners, enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order at checkout using the Discount code: UNIVERSETo learn more about or contact Adrian, visit his website at: https://adrianfreedman.comTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in:November 2025: Sacred Valley of Peru (SOLD OUT)January 2026: our second Remote DietaFebruary 2026: Sacred Valley of PeruJuly 2026: Westport, IrelandNovember 2026: Sacred Valley of PeruIf you would like more information about joining us and the work I do or about future retreats, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Adrian Freedman’s Sweet Avre and A Call to Prayer: https://adrianfreedman.com/shop/
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Sep 17, 2025 • 1h 27min

Ep. 168 - Ian McCall - Psychedelics, MMA, & Athlete's Journey Home

Hey everybody! Episode 168 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Ian McCall. I had known about Ian for many years as a mixed martial artist and recently with his advocacy in psychedelics as medicine. I was really happy to have him on to speak about his background, martial arts, his low points in life and the transformation psychedelics had for him, traumatic brain injury, the the organization he created to bring awareness and help people. Ian is a really fascinating guy with a great life’s story and I’m sure you will get much from this conversation. 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 La Wayra Ayahuasca retreats. Visit https://ayahuascaincolombia.com to book your retreat or learn more and mention UWP and they will gift you a free body-work session during your stay.To learn more about or contact Ian, visit his website & social media at: https://www.instagram.com/ianmccall & https://athletesjourneyhome.comTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2-30. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H
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Sep 10, 2025 • 2h 24min

Ep. 167 - Jason Grechanik - Navigating the Political Landscape & Truth: A Journey of Healing

Hey everybody! Episode 167 of the show is out. This episode is a podcast I was interviewed on called Cosmic Triggers with Sam. Sam has worked with us in the past and is doing really good work on her podcast. It was a pleasure to sit down with her as she was primarily interested in speaking about politics and the world situation. It can always be a challenging topic that can evoke a lot. I was happy to speak with her and admire her courage to go into difficult topics. I think its an important conversation and hope you all gain from the insights and topics we covered. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!*Disclaimer: this channel and its host/guests do not dispute or contradict health authority guidance by denying the addictive or harmful properties of nicotine or tobacco.*This episode is sponsored by Real Mushrooms (https://realmushrooms.com) As listeners, enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order at checkout using the Discount code: UNIVERSETo learn more about or contact Jason, visit his websites at: NicotianaRustica.orgTo learn more about or contact Sam, visit her linktree at: https://linktr.ee/cosmictriggerTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks:https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation:https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4HDisclaimer:We do NOT buy, sell, trade, or distribute:• Tobacco or nicotine products of any kind.• Products that simulate smoking, including all types of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine-free vapes, cigars, herbal cigarettes, e-liquids, or tobacco-related production equipment.We are not a medical facility and no health care is practiced under our direction. We do not offer:• Medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or any form of health-related service, whether paid or unpaid• Tests or information intended to support or substitute for any of the aboveAll content is for educational and informational purposes only, rooted in traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
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Sep 3, 2025 • 2h 7min

Ep. 166 - Sam Believ - Ayahuasca, Yagé, & Colombian Traditions

Hey everybody! In this episode, I spoke with Sam Believ. Sam is an interesting guy. I was recently on his podcast and had him on mine. We spoke about Sam’s past working as an engineer, his depression that eventually led him to ayahuasca or yagé, and how he eventually founded a center in Colombia. We spoke about these things and some of the culture in Colombia around the traditions and uses of yagé. It was a very interesting conversation and I think you all will gain a lot from Sam’s story, his knowledge of yagé and Colombia, and his insights into this medicine. 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 (https://realmushrooms.com) As listeners, enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order at checkout using the Discount code: UNIVERSETo learn more about or contact Sam, visit his websites at: https://lawayra.comTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H
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Aug 20, 2025 • 2h 5min

Ep. 165 - Alisa Reimer - Shamanism, Sound, & the Invisible Worlds

Hey everybody! In this episode, I spoke with Alisa Reimer. Alisa was recommended to me by a listener of the podcast and I knew quickly she would be a great guest. We spoke about her background growing up in East Germany, the influence of her grandmother opening her to the invisible world, her time in Latin America and the influence of learning from indigenous cultures, and her work with sound and being a bridge for different cultures. It was a pleasure to speak with her. I think Alisa has a lot of wisdom to share and trust you all will gain much from this episode. 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 La Wayra Ayahuasca retreats. Visit https://ayahuascaincolombia.com to book your retreat or learn more and mention UWP and they will gift you a free body-work session during your stay.To learn more about or contact Alisa, visit her websites at: https://www.alisareimer.com and https://soneiro.comTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) online beginning August 23 and in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H
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Aug 6, 2025 • 2h 17min

Ep. 164 - Udo Erasmus - Health and Inner Knowing

Hey everybody! Episode 164 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Udo Erasmus. Udo is a very fascinating guy. We sat down and spoke of his incredible life, from his childhood fleeing WWII, his journey with psychedelics and religion, his quest into psychology and medicine, his pioneering work with healthy oils, and his journey of inner knowing. We went over 3 hours and I think we easily could do another 3. Udo has a lot of wisdom to share and I trust you all will get much from this episode. 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 (https://realmushrooms.com) As listeners, enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order at checkout using the Discount code: UNIVERSELa Wayra Ayahuasca retreats. Visit https://ayahuascaincolombia.com to book your retreat or learn more and mention UWP and they will gift you a free body-work session during your stay.To learn more about or contact Udo, visit his websites at: https://udoerasmus.comTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) online beginning August 23 and in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H
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Jul 23, 2025 • 2h 4min

Ep. 163 - Marc-John Brown - Earth Based Traditions & Re-Indigenization of the Modern World

Hey everybody! Episode 163 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with my friend Marc-John Brown. I met Marc-John a few years back practicing jiu-jitsu together with my friend and teacher Bruno Momeni (who I also interviewed for this podcast). I was impressed with Marc-John’s skill and we realized we were on similar paths. So it was a pleasure to finally sit down and connect and learn more about Marc-John. He shared and spoke about his journey at a young age through South America learning from indigenous earth-based traditions, his wife and her cacao lineage, and how these practices can help us in our modern world. It was a really enjoyable conversation and I trust you all will find Marc-John’s wisdom useful and insightful. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!To learn more about or contact Marc-John, visit his website at: https://www.nativewisdomhub.com or Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcjohnbrownTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) online beginning August 23, and in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H
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Jul 9, 2025 • 2h 14min

Ep. 162 - Dr. Bryan Ardis - Nicotine as Medicine, COVID, & Big Pharma

Hey everybody! Episode 162 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Dr. Bryan Ardis. Dr. Ardis was recommended to me by a few friends due to his research on the benefits of nicotine. As I work with tobacco as medicine I found his research and ideas to be a great match. I also really respected Dr. Ardis’ stance during COVID, speaking up against tyranny and the lack of science disguised as science. This is a really fascinating conversation about nicotine as medicine which has been much maligned. Nicotine and tobacco are in fact wondrous medicines if used properly and we spoke about a lot of the propaganda behind tobacco, the monopoly of Big Pharma, the COVID pandemic, and his view of the future. This conversation will surely be an eye-opener for many and for others a reminder of a deeper calling. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!*Disclaimer: this channel and its host/guests do not dispute or contradict health authority guidance by denying the addictive or harmful properties of nicotine or tobacco.*To learn more about or contact Dr. Ardis, visit his website at: https://thedrardisshow.comTo learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wI will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in July in Westport, Ireland (SOLD OUT), online beginning August 23, and in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com& Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4HDisclaimer:We do NOT buy, sell, trade, or distribute:• Tobacco or nicotine products of any kind.• Products that simulate smoking, including all types of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) such as e-cigarettes, vapes, nicotine-free vapes, cigars, herbal cigarettes, e-liquids, or tobacco-related production equipment.We are not a medical facility and no health care is practiced under our direction. We do not offer:• Medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, prescription, or any form of health-related service, whether paid or unpaid• Tests or information intended to support or substitute for any of the aboveAll content is for educational and informational purposes only, rooted in traditional knowledge and cultural practices.
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Jun 25, 2025 • 1h 55min

Ep. 161 - Mariana Mae - Plant Medicine Technology, Art, Song, & Faith

Hey everybody! Episode 161 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Mariana Mae. Mariana is an artist, cultural bridge and healing arts practitioner that I met through our mutual friend Jessica Begin. I was really impressed by Mariana’s wisdom. We sat down and spoke about her background, her work as an artist, how pottery brought her to the Amazon to learn from the Shipibo people, and how that opened up a gateway to plants and medicine. She has a really interesting story and she weaves these different paths beautifully together. I trust you all will gain much from this episode. 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 (https://realmushrooms.com) As listeners, enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order at checkout using the Discount code: UNIVERSETo learn more about or contact Mariana, visit her Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/_marianamae/To learn more about our work, visit our website: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in July in Westport, Ireland (SOLD OUT, waitlist), online beginning August 23, and in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgAlso, Mariana will be co-facilitating the Shipibo Master Plant Dieta in Costa Rica, July 12–22, alongside the Maestros. You can learn more on their website: https://www.yacumama.love/master-plant-dieta2025Integration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H
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Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 21min

Ep. 160 - Jason Shurka - Pyramids, Healing, & the Spiritual Battle

Hey everybody! Episode 160 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Jason Shurka. Jason is a really interesting guy. He has a great YouTube channel where he speaks about myriad interesting topics such as the Pyramids of Giza, energy/sound/frequency healing, breaking illusions, and a spiritual battle between light and dark forces. We had a very good conversation about these topics that I’m sure will open some new ideas. It was a pleasure and I hope you enjoy. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy!To learn more about or contact Jason, visit his YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@JasonShurka26To learn more about our work, visit: https://NicotianaRustica.orgTo view the recent documentary, Sacred Tobacco, about my work, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it would be a big help if you could share it with your own audiences via social media or word of mouth. And please Subscribe or Follow and if you can go on Apple Podcasts and leave a starred-rating and a short review. That would be super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!I will be guiding our next plant medicine dietas with my colleague Merav Artzi (who I interviewed in episode 28) in July in Ireland (SOLD OUT), online beginning August 23, and in-person in the Sacred Valley of Peru November 2. If you would like more information about joining us and the work I do, visit my site at: https://NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal donation: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://jasongrechanik.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/JasonGrechanikFacebook: https://facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcastMusic: Nuno Moreno: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound & https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com & Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4H

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