The Universe Within Podcast

Hey everybody! Episode 12 of the show is out. In this show, I spoke with my friend Tsu-Yin Chang. Tsu-Yin is a Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapist who I met working at the Amazonian plant-medicine center The Temple of the Way of Light, where she came as a guest. I found her story fascinating as she has spent a number of years studying meditation in a monastic setting. She combines her mindfulness-based training in her work as a psychotherapist. Spawned by her own experience and interest, she recently began the process of training in psychedelic-assisted therapy through the well-known organization MAPS. I always find people interesting who bring various backgrounds together to better understand the mind and to assist people in their journeys with that. I really enjoyed talking to her and I think you will enjoy listening. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. “Tsu-Yin Chang is a Mindfulness-Based Psychotherapist who integrates empirically-based Western psychological modalities with the knowledge & wisdom she’s gained through dedicated practice with mindfulness teachers in Asia, Australia and the US.Since 2000, she has been fortunate to be immersed in the study of therapeutic & contemplative approaches to personal & interpersonal growth, psychological healing & transformation, alongside some of the world’s most respected psychologists, therapists, and teachers.After completing a couple years of intensive Buddhist monastic training in Asia, the integration of spirituality into therapy became one of her passions, as well as helping others realize that the fulfillment they might be looking for on the outside can instead be found deep within.She has a private practice in Boston, Massachusetts, and supports clients all across the country in mindfulness meditation online. She can be found at: https://www.mindful-living-center.org/ “Share the show, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 11 of the show is out. In this show, I spoke with Mark Flaherty. Mark Flaherty is a consultant astrologer with clients in over 60 countries. He has studied with Dr. Geoffrey Cornelius, former President of the Astrological Lodge of London, and Bob Mulligan of the Astrology Company, Florida. He is adept at translating the astrological symbols into simple English so that everybody can use this information to better understand themselves and live happier, more fulfilling lives. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy! I’m really interested in the stars, cosmology, ancient civilizations, numerology, and esoterica, so it was interesting for me to hear his knowledge about astrology. I enjoyed this conversation and I hope you will too. Cheers!To learn more about Mark’s work visit his website at: https://mark-flaherty.com(This is a footnote and follow-up from Mark on the significance of the number 12: "Astrology is essential about the union between the masculine/feminine, yin/yang - the Sun and the Moon. 12 comes from the relationship between the Sun and the Moon. The Sun symbolically speaking is the 1 (one year is one orbit of the Earth around the Sun) and the duality/dividing of the One into the many is made by the Moon. There are roughly 12 lunar cycles (29.5 days from New Moon to New Moon) in the year. So the Sun is 1 and Moon 2 (duality), which also come together as 12. So the full circle of astrology is divided into 12 parts - the One into the many. So 12 essentially represents the Sacred symbolic marriage of the Sun and Moon. I got it from an astrologer friend, Acyuta-bhava Dasa.")Share the show, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.comThis will help me with ideas for future shows.Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 10 of the show is out. In this show, I spoke with my friend Claude. Claude is a Peruvian anthropologist and ‘‘bridgekeeper,” an apt title for what he has become. I met Claude working at the Peruvian Amazonian plant medicine center, The Temple of the Way of Light. I find Claude to be a truly great bridge between many of the indigenous cultures he has studied and worked alongside with, and the outside world. He holds a depth of wisdom and an ability to communicate complex and different ideas in a very human and simple way. I could speak to Claude for hours, as we ended up doing in this show. Its three hours long but I think you will find Claude’s insights invaluable and very enlightening. This was one of my favorite conversations. I always enjoy talking to him and I think you will too. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy! “With experience living and studying in the West, and apprenticing with Peruvian and Ecuadorian curanderos, Claude calls his mission at the Temple “bridge keeping”: the art of establishing and facilitating smooth communications and understanding between different worlds.Claude was born and raised in Lima, geographically close but very far away from the medicine traditions of the Peruvian jungle. While living in Europe he learned about Peruvian shamanism, and the idea of teacher plants such as San Pedro and ayahuasca fascinated him enough to return to Peru. But Claude’s first experience with San Pedro sent him directly back to Europe to study anthropology before he traveled to Iquitos for his first experience with ayahuasca in 2003.Here, he found the perfect setting for his research fieldwork as he became deeply engaged in how local ayahuasquero traditions were being understood by Westerners and how traditional medicine practitioners were interacting and understanding their foreign guests. Right before graduating with an Anthropology License, Claude met an Ecuadorian mestizo curandero who traveled often to Europe and chose him as a helper and apprentice. After five years working with this man and his beautiful medicine in Europe and Ecuador, Claude again decided to return to the roots of the medicine in Peru. He has been working and learning from Maestra Ynes Sanchez and her family since early 2013 and collaborating with the Temple of the Way of Light since June 2015.”These are the links Claude mentioned: https://www.facebook.com/bridgekeepers and https://chaikuni.orgShare the show, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 9 of the show is out. In this show, I spoke with my friend Michael Kokal. Michael is the host of the End of the Road Podcast, a lawyer, and a former engineer. In this episode, we spoke a bit about the history of medicines and drugs in the United States and court cases that have set precedence to their illegality. We also spoke of recent court cases pertaining to the religious use of certain plants as a sacrament. And we discussed the changing climate in the US in regards to the medicinal value of some of these plants and how there may be an opening to them as legalized medicine in the near future. I enjoyed speaking with Michael and I think you’ll find this episode informative and engaging. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy! His podcast can be found at:https://endoftheroad.libsyn.com/ or on Apple at: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/end-of-the-road/id1269885389Share the show, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    Support this podcast on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  Donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  Links:Hooked: Illegal Drugs and How They Got That Way (Full)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90bpUyAHNdIThe Roots of Drug Prohibition in Americahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brAsC_MEAxY&t=1383sJohann Hari: Origins of the War on Drugs - An Interviewhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90bpUyAHNdITHE HIGH AND THE MIGHTY: The War on Drugshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIznGX7sCqQFour of the Major Fear Campaigns That Helped Create America’s Insane War on Drugshttps://www.alternet.org/2015/02/four-moral-panics-drug-policy/Chasing the Scream by Johann HariWork of Dr. Gabor MatéPortugal’s Drug Decriminalization Success:https://time.com/longform/portugal-drug-use-decriminalization/https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/dec/05/portugals-radical-drugs-policy-is-working-why-hasnt-the-world-copied-ithttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast*Disclaimer: Information in this podcast is not legal advice and should not be interpreted as such.*

Hey everybody! Episode 8 of the show is out. In this show, I sit down with Bernhard Karshagen. Bernhard works with the plant medicine Huachuma or San Pedro, a cactus indigenous to the Andean regions of South America. I’ve known about Bernhard for a long time through mutual friends and colleagues, so it was a pleasure to sit down and have a talk with him. I haven’t worked with Huachuma so it was interesting to hear his perspective on it. I find Bernhard a humble and wise man and he seems like a really good guide who has delved deeply into this plant and holds a really beautiful space. I think you’ll gain a lot by listening to him. I hope you enjoy it. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. “Bernhard facilitates the San Pedro ceremonies and has a broad understanding of thought processes and patterns. He is highly intuitive with the ability to help people look at situations from a different perspective, helping them see through the layers of their thought structures, and guiding them to connect with their own truth.Bernhard engages with people in a direct, yet gentle manner, guiding them to identify and let go of limiting beliefs, to step into their own being and empower them to return to their hearts.Bernhard has a deep understanding of trauma and depression, having suffered from this illness for over 10 years as a result of medical trauma. He shares the wisdom and teachings that he has learned from his own healing experiences and uses this as the foundation for his work.”For more information about working with Bernhard, visit his site at: https://www.ubuntuayni.com/ Share the show, Subscribe or Follow, leave comments, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 7 of the show is out. In this show, I sit down with my friend and colleague Sean Chiddy. Sean and I have worked together for a number of years and I have a lot of respect for his work. Sean is a psychologist who works with CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy), leads plant medicine retreats, and works with integrating people’s experiences after workshops. He has a lot of knowledge and I think is a really good ambassador at bridging psychotherapy with plant medicine work. I think you’ll gain a lot by listening to him. I hope you enjoy it. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. “Sean Chiddy is a psychotherapist providing integration support to guests in preparation for their retreats and when they return home. He has also facilitated retreats at Soltara and specializes in combining applied mindful and other psychological approaches to help people confidently navigate the medicine space and get the most from their experiences.With a longstanding interest in healing and wellbeing, Sean trained and registered as a Psychologist in Australia and later as a Cognitive Behavioral Psychotherapist in the UK, supporting people working with various common mental health conditions including depression, trauma (PTSD) and various other mood and anxiety problems. He was rated a top-performing therapist at one of the largest providers of treatment in the UK health system. He is known for his compassionate and down to earth manner.After beginning his work with ayahuasca and other plant medicines in 2011 he moved to Peru in 2015 working in the integration team at one of the most respected ayahuasca centers there along with facilitating a successful workshop series called Mindfulness and the Medicine. Whilst in Peru, he began dieting with Shipibo maestros and continues to be amazed by the depth and potential of this plant medicine tradition. He joined Soltara in 2019, inspired by the opportunity to work with the world-class team being assembled.”For more information about working with Sean, visit his site at: https://www.seanchiddy.com/ and https://soltara.co/ Share the show, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Music courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.comThis will help me with ideas for future shows.Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Una nota: para ver las  notas del episodio en español,  visite mi sitio web a:  https://www.universewithinpodcast.com/podcast/lila-lopez-sanchezWelcome! In this show, I sit down with my friend and colleague Lila Lopez-Sanchez. Lila is a Shipibo curandera or doctor who specializes in the plant medicine ayahuasca. I've worked with Lila for the past seven years and for me, she really embodies the role of a doctor and healer. She brings a joy, knowledge, care, and precision to her work. It was a pleasure to talk to her. As much of the audience is English speaking, I enlisted the help of my friend Carolina (who I interviewed in episode 5) to do live translation. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy! "Maestra Lila Lopez-Sanchez’s shipibo name is Caná Jisbe - 'A Flash of Lighting.’ She is the youngest daughter of Maestra Ynes, and Maestro David.“Maestra Lila grew up with her grandparents and highly-respected Onaya healers. At the age of 13, Lila was the victim of a strong energetic attack. She then moved to live with her mother, Maestra Ynes and dieted a mighty tree named Catawba. The diet succeeded in curing that evil harm and served as the gateway of Lila’s path as a healer. Being the rebel that she is, Lila resisted the way, sometimes in favor of leading a ‘normal’ life, but after the birth of her two children, the plants persisted in calling her to work with them. Since then, she has worked with her mother and other highly respected teachers throughout Peru and is also a specialist ikaros Warme. She works with an incredible amount of love and compassion and is an absolute joy to have her in the team."For more information about working with Lila, visit: https://templeofthewayoflight.org/ http://niweraoxobo.com/ https://www.circleofliferetreats.com/ Share the show, Subscribe or Follow, leave comments, 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at:https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Welcome! In this show, I sat down with my friend Carolina. Carolina and I worked together for a number of years at the Amazonian plant healing center the Temple of the Way of Light. Carolina has been immersed in this work for more than a decade and brings a joy, knowledge, and charisma to this work that few possess. It was a pleasure to reconnect with her and I hope you enjoy the show. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. "Carolina "Caro Luna" Pilara has accumulated over a decade of experience working with indigenous cultures and plant medicines in Latin America. For the past eight years, she has held leadership positions in ceremonial settings and retreats in Peru, Colombia, Costa Rica, and the UK. She has guided over a thousand first-time and experienced participants in medicinal work with ayahuasca, peyote, and cacao as ceremonial practices, as well as facilitated Elemental Shamanic breath-work workshops and seminars. As a Latin American with a Western upbringing, she sees both her identity and work as a bridge between cultures and approaches, but also as a platform from which to create new spaces of dialog in the spirit of radical transparency, authenticity, and growth." For more information about retreats that she runs, visit https://www.circleofliferetreats.com/ If 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.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PSMusic courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.comThis will help me with ideas for future shows.Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Welcome! In this show, I talk about tobacco. For those who are new to this work, it may seem strange that tobacco is being spoken of as a medicine plant. And not only is it medicinal, but it is also considered a Master Plant, a plant that has the ability to both heal and teach. For those of you who are familiar with tobacco, I hope this sheds some deeper light onto this plant and for those who are not familiar, hopefully, this offers some insight and sparks curiosity. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy! If 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.  If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.org    And finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain.  If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated.  For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithin  To donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanik Another way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PSMusic courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/  And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.comThis will help me with ideas for future shows.Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcast https://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Welcome! In this show, I talk a bit about the world of dieting plants. I go into what this is, why one would do it, what it can teach us, and how is the process. I hope you enjoy it. As always, to support this podcast, get early access to shows, bonus material, and Q&As, check out my Patreon page below. Enjoy! If 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. If you’re watching on YouTube if you could take a second and Subscribe to the channel and if you’re listening on Apple Podcasts to 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!If you would like more information on plant medicine and the work I do, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgAnd finally, with the pandemic, most people doing this work have been without access to work since March and the future is uncertain. If you are able to and would like to donate to the show to help out with new content that would be deeply appreciated. For just a few dollars a month you can subscribe through Patreon and it gives you some really nice added benefits like early access to shows, bonus episodes, and a chance to ask personalized questions.To support this podcast on Patreon, visit: https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinTo donate directly with PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikAnother way you can support the show is if you are ordering anything from Amazon.com, and you use this link, the show will get a small commission with no additional cost to you: https://amzn.to/2Gw51PSMusic courtesy of Nuno Moreno. See his work at: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/And please leave any questions or comments in the comment section or email at:https://www.UniverseWithinPodcast.comThis will help me with ideas for future shows.Thanks and until the next episode!https://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast