The Universe Within Podcast

Hey everybody! Episode 138 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Scott Stanley. Scott is the founder of the ayahuasca church, Arizona Yage Assembly (AYA) as well as the North American Association of Visionary Churches (NAAVC). I was interested to bring Scott on to speak about the legal status of plant sacraments in the US. I think Scott is a really good representative in that he has been involved in a legal battle with the US government over religious freedom and actually is suing the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) and seems to be in a good position. We spoke about his background, ayahuasca, the history of churches and religious freedom in the States, principles and morality, and why he’s involved in doing this work. I think its a very relevant conversation in regard to plant medicines and I hope you all find it insightful. 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“Scott Stanley has spent some 15 years working with ayahuasca and Amazonian master plants.  He has led over 500 ayahuasca ceremonies across the US, since founding the ayahuasca church, Arizona Yage Assembly (AYA) in 2015.  He also founded the North American Association of Visionary Churches (NAAVC). Both organizations have sued the Drug Enforcement Agency to ensure free and legal access to the visionary practice of religion.  His organizations have worked to bring combat vets into ayahuasca ceremonies through support of the veteran led AYA Mission.  AYA has also started a nature conservancy for preserving the virgin rainforest of the upper amazon.AYA currently conducts bi-weekly ceremonies in their ceremonial maloca in Tucson, AZ.”To learn more about or contact Scott, visit his website at: www.ayaguide.orgTo view the recent documentary about us, Sacred Tobacco, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 137 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Marta Fabregat. Marta was recommended to me by a mutual friend, Cathy Coyle. Marta is one of Cathy’s teachers and I trust Cathy’s recommendations so I was sure Marta would have a lot to share, and she did. We spoke about Marta’s background, her working in Ecuador with Huachuma, her past with activism, how that lead her to Ireland, and how she now bridges multiple approaches including somatics into plant medicine work. We spoke about her work with trees and learning directly from them via the dieta, and this was very fascinating to me as its very similar work to what I do. I was really impressed by Marta’s knowledge and presence and I think you all will gain a lot out of 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. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe“I hold trainings in-person and online in Ireland. Spain and Turkey, teaching Focusing and Nonviolent Communication, Meditation and Nature Connection.My approach is rooted in somatic body-oriented work ( Focusing ), nature connection and humanistic approaches, meaning that: I focus on the experiences that are most relevant for you at this point in your life, in a respectful, non-judgemental and nourising space, with active support to your experience in the present moment.During our time together my core principle is to create a space that is safe and welcoming and that our relationship is at the core of our work together. I aim to offer the person a space where they can experience their authenticity and diversity and support them to discover their unique solutions and ways to find them. Improving their relationship with themselves & people around them.My interest in emotional well-being, health and compassionate relating keeps informing me of my next steps in training and personal development. I have learned over the years from Marshall Rosenberg’s work (NVC and Conflict), Eugene Gendlin (The philosophy of the implicit and focusing-related research), Daniel Siegel (neuroscience), Claudio Naranjo (The eneagram and introductory training in SAT program), Peter Levine (trauma and somatic accompaniment), Thomas Hubl (Collective Trauma), Stephen Porgues (Polyvagal Theory), Bert Hellinger (systemic family system).”To learn more about or contact Marta, visit her website at: https://martafabregat.com/To view the recent documentary about us, Sacred Tobacco, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgIntegration/Consultation call: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comPatreon: https://patreon.com/UniverseWithinYouTube join & perks: https://bit.ly/YTPerksPayPal, donate: https://paypal.me/jasongrechanikWebsite: https://UniverseWithinPodcast.comInstagram: https://instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcastFacebook: 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

Episode 136 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Max Monge Quineche. I met Max a couple of years ago in a shared temazcal in the Sacred Valley of Peru. I was impressed by his presence in the space and out and got to know him a bit and learn of his work with ayahuasca and the Shipibo. So it was a pleasure to finally sit down and speak with him on the podcast after a few years time. We spoke about his background and coming to plant medicines at an early age, his challenges, the plant dieta, knowledge and wisdom, Western and indigenous cosmovisions, family constellation, and much more. I was really impressed by his wisdom and I think his work with plants really shows in how and what he expresses. For those interested in ayahuasca and plant medicine work, I think this is one of the more informative talks you’ll find. 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“Psicólogo. Logoterapeuta y Analista existencial. Psicoterapeuta Zen. Constelador Familiar. Psicoterapeuta Iniciático. Practicante del Chamanismo Shipibo, con más de 15 años de experiencia en el camino de las Plantas Maestras. Director de Casa Doctor Centro de Sanación Integral.”To learn more about or contact Max, visit his Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/casa_doctor/To view the recent documentary about us, Sacred Tobacco, visit: https://youtu.be/KB0JEQALI_wIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 135 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Tony Moss. I had known about Tony for a while and, as we spoke about in the show, he came to this plant medicine work over 35 years ago. We sat down and spoke about his life, his career in music, his work with ayahuasca and how that shaped his music into medicine music, his learning with different indigenous traditions, his path in bridging these traditions with Western traditions, and the role of elders. I was really happy to have Tony on to share in his wisdom and I think you all will get a lot out of 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. As listeners, visit their website to enjoy a discount of 25% off your first order: https://www.realmushrooms.com/universe“As a recording artist, producer, and creative director at I.AM.LIFE MUSIC, my focus is music as medicine.Born from a musical family of R&B/Gospel singers, raised & immersed in California's psychedelic/spiritual cultures, and inspired by over 25 years experience working with plant medicines, I combine elements of science & shamanism with multiple music genres to create music that's been dubbed, "soulful-ceremonial" - that's close enough.At this point in my life, everything I create and offer is motivated by a commitment to the elevation and expansion of human consciousness... or something like that.”To learn more about or contact Tony, visit his website at: https://www.tonymoss.me/If you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 134 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Shonagh Home. I found out that Shonagh is a mutual friend of mine, Cathy Coyle, who I also had on the podcast and have a lot of respect for. So having Shonagh on was a real pleasure. Shonagh recently published a really good book called Poetic Whispers. We spoke about her book as well as her background, her initiation into mushrooms, plant medicines, her study of the Celts, her transmission of poetry, natural law and logic, as well as many other topics. It was a really beautiful and deep conversation and I’m sure you all will gain a lot from her wisdom. 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“I am an independent thinker and ever curious about the deeper layers of reality. I dig beneath the surface story in an effort to see the bigger picture and gain a greater understanding while utilizing my intuition and insight. I find the psyche endlessly fascinating and I am in awe of its great depth and mystery. I love to learn and have been an autodidact for the greater part of my life. My favorite saying goes, “Every man has two educations. The first he is given. The second, more important, he gives to himself.” I thoroughly enjoy showering clients and loved ones with helpful wisdom, compassion, humor and nurturing. I am a mother of two amazing daughters and a lifelong, passionate student of the mystery.In my work, I am a teacher, counselor, author and poet. Of Celtic heritage, I follow the wisdom of the ancients, inspired by the Ban Draoi (dree) and fili, (Gaelic for a Celtic medicine woman/seer/poet). As a modern medicine woman I bring my connection to nature and the spirit worlds into my flourishing practice where I host individual retreats and do online counseling/mentoring with clients from all over the world. This is deep, psycho-spiritual work where we delve into the rich territory of the psyche. I cherish the mystical and the practical and I weave my knowledge of Natural Law, the Logical Fallacies, and traditional food wisdom into my work.I have studied with master teachers and for the last 12 years, I have apprenticed myself to the mushroom teachers, who have led me into profound connection with the spirits of nature and my ancestral roots.”To learn more about or contact Shonagh, including her book, visit her website at: https://shonaghhome.comIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 133 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Greg Wrenn. Greg reached out to me as he’s just published his book, Mothership. It was a pleasure to have Greg on and share about his book, his background, his working with and overcoming PTSD, how he found healing with ayahuasca, and his connection to nature, especially the coral reefs. Greg has a beautiful story and we had a really good conversation about these topics. I trust you all will gain a lot 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!“A former Stegner Fellow and Jones Lecturer at Stanford University, Greg Wrenn is the author of the forthcoming Mothership: A Memoir of Wonder and Crisis (Regalo Press 2024), an evidence-based account of his turning to coral reefs and ayahuasca to heal from childhood trauma, and Centaur (U of Wisconsin Press 2013), which National Book Award-winning poet Terrance Hayes awarded the Brittingham Prize. ​Greg's work has appeared or is forthcoming in HuffPost, The New Republic, Al Jazeera, The Rumpus, LitHub, Writer's Digest, Kenyon Review, New England Review, The Iowa Review, and elsewhere. He has received awards and fellowships from the James Merrill House, the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference, the Vermont Studio Center, the Poetry Society of America, the Hermitage Artist Retreat, the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts, and the Spiro Arts Center.​As an associate English professor at James Madison University, he teaches creative nonfiction, poetry, and environmental literature. He also teaches in the low-residency MFA Program at Bennington Writing Seminars and in the Memoir Certificate Program at Stanford Continuing Studies. He was educated at Harvard University and Washington University in St. Louis.Greg is currently sending out Homesick, his second poetry collection. A student of ayahuasca since 2019, he is a trained yoga teacher and a PADI Advanced Open Water diver, having explored coral reefs around the world for over 25 years. He and his husband live in the mountains of Virginia, the ancestral land of the Manahoac and Monacan people.”To learn more about or contact Greg, including his book, visit his website at: https://www.gregwrenn.comIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Janeth Jaramillo, a Medicine Woman, discusses ayahuasca, huachuma, and Buddhist teachings. Topics include plant medicine's intersection with Buddhism, personal healing journeys, permaculture practices, societal structures, and spiritual embodiment. Insightful comparisons between Buddhist meditation and plant medicines, emphasizing responsible usage. Janeth explores the healing properties of Wachuma and non-clinging teachings in ceremonies.

Hey everybody! Episode 131 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Steve Farrell. Steve is an interesting guy who was drawn to his path after a spiritual awakening of sorts. He has had a long collaboration with Neale Donald Walsch who wrote a very popular book called Conversations with God. Steve started a really good online streaming service called Humanity Steam focusing on transformational education collaborating with many luminaries. We sat down and spoke about his past, consciousness, his new book, his education passion, and concepts of spirituality in general. I hope you all gain something 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!“From the pinnacle of Silicon Valley success as co-founder of two high-tech firms, Steve Farrell pivoted to lead Humanity’s Team, a global nonprofit helping people everywhere awaken to our interconnectedness. After contributing to the Gold Nautilus Award-winning book "Our Moment of Choice — Evolutionary Visions and Hope for the Future," Steve details his journey from the American Dream to conscious leadership in his new book, "A New Universal Dream." Steve and Humanity’s Team offer educational programs in business, science, spirituality, creativity, relationships, healing, and conscious living through multiple platforms including their Humanity Stream+ streaming service. ”To learn more about or contact Steve, visit his websites at: https://www.stevefarrell.org and https://www.humanitysteam.orgIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 130 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Bronislav Vinogrodsky. Bronislav is a rally fascinating guy who was introduced to me by mutual family and friends. Bronislav has translated many of the classic Chinese spiritual classics into Russian, including the Tao Te Ching, Yellow Emperor’s Treatise on Medicine, the I-Ching, and many more, and has a real grasp of their deep content and meaning. We spoke about a lot of really interesting topics including these books and their meanings, spirituality, Chinese and plant medicines, tea, mushrooms, and Taoism as a practice. Bronislav has a lot to share and it was really a pleasure and honor to have him share. I trust you all will get a lot out of his wisdom. 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“Engaged in the study of the ways of formation of concepts, meanings and the structure of consciousness based on the texts of the Book of Changes. Developer of scientific programs to change the cognitive paradigm of mankind.Born in 1957 in the Far East. Graduated from the Oriental Faculty of the Far Eastern State University in 1979. Since 1985, he has been living and working in Moscow. Speaks 9 languages, including Ancient Chinese.Translated more than forty ancient Chinese texts, such as the Book of Changes in various commentaries (more than 10 texts), «Daodejing», «Chuang Tzu», Confucius «Lun Yu», «The Yellow Emperor's Treatise on the Inner», as well as texts on forecasting, the Chinese calendar, Feng Shui, military art, the art of management, Taoist healing techniques, etc.”To learn more about or contact Bronislav, visit his website at: live.bronislav.ru/bbv and on Instagram at: instagram.com/bvinogrodskiyIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast

Hey everybody! Episode 129 of the show is out. In this episode, I spoke with Dr. Ron Stotts. Ron has dedicated much of his life to studying the breath and it's effects on health and consciousness. He also has studied neurology as well as having spent many years learning different forms of spiritual practices. Ron has led a really interesting life and it was a pleasure to have him on to share. We spoke about his background, his spiritual practices, breath-work, neurology, plant medicines, gardening, martial arts, and some other topics as well. I think you all will find Ron has a lot to share and I hope you 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!“Ron has spent the last fifty years exploring the deepest caves and soaring heights of our personal and spiritual journey. He is intimate with all aspects of the territory. As a guide, he has supported thousands of others on their journey as they've moved through their most difficult challenges and developed their greatest potential. He was trained by and worked with the best of the best, with early mentors like Joseph Campbell, Buckminster Fuller, and other leaders in the spiritual and personal growth fields.Rounding out his whole body, mind, and spirit, integrated approach, Ron has earned a Masters in English, a Ph.D. in Transformational Therapy, and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Yet Ron feels that his most important credentials have come from the challenges he has overcome on his own journey, and the incredible learning opportunities that life and working with others has offered him.His service has evolved into working with those committed to their path and the influential leaders who guide them. While there are many who can help you treat the symptoms arising from your challenges, Ron's unique work takes you into and through the deepest source. This empowering approach allows you to make lasting life improvements while transforming those challenges into the greatest opportunities of your life. ”To learn more about or contact Ron, visit his website at: https://ronstotts.comIf you enjoy the show, it’s a big help if you can share it 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. This is super helpful with the algorithms and getting this show out to more people. Thank you in advance!For more information about me and my upcoming plant medicine retreats with my colleague Merav Artzi, visit my site at: https://www.NicotianaRustica.orgTo book an integration call with me, visit: https://jasongrechanik.setmore.comSupport this podcast on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/UniverseWithinDonate directly with PayPal:https://www.paypal.me/jasongrechanikMusic courtesy of: Nuno Moreno (end song). Visit: https://m.soundcloud.com/groove_a_zen_sound and https://nahira-ziwa.bandcamp.com/ And Stefan Kasapovski’s Santero Project (intro song). Visit: https://spoti.fi/3y5Rd4Hhttps://www.facebook.com/UniverseWithinPodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/UniverseWithinPodcast