The Psychedelic Podcast

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with David Adam Burns, a transformational coach, artist, and founder of The Mysteries, about what may be missing from today's psychedelic conversation. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-355/?ref=278 David challenges the emphasis on insight in psychedelic work, suggesting that deeper transformation comes through presence, healing, and embodied evolution. He outlines a framework for healing through integration, purification, and emotional "thawing," and explains why presence may be the most important skill for navigating psychedelic experiences. They also explore myth and storytelling as tools for collective growth, including David's work with The Mysteries and Earthsong, a retelling of the Persephone myth, and discuss the role of community, leadership, and stewardship in shaping the future of psychedelics. David Adam Burns is a transformational coach, artist, and facilitator devoted to helping human beings remember who they are. Since 2015, he has guided leaders through deep personal transformation in his one-on-one practice and co-founded The Mysteries, an artists' collective dedicated to expressing the ineffable through myth and performance. Highlights: Why insight is often overvalued Healing as integration, purification, and thawing Presence as the core psychedelic skill Story and myth as collective technologies The role of community in transformation Why leadership determines long-term outcomes Episode Links: David Adam Burns Website The Mysteries / Earthsong David on LinkedIn Episode Sponsors: The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute. The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout Disclaimer: This content is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or encourage the illegal use of any controlled substances. Nothing said here is medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your health. The views expressed herein belong to the speaker alone, and do not reflect the views of any other person, company, or organization. Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Heather Smith, founder of The Moxie School and a certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, about the intersection of parts work and psychedelic healing. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-354/?ref=278 Heather explains how IFS offers a practical framework for working with what arises during psychedelic experiences. She describes IFS as an approach that helps people stay present with different parts of themselves, especially when difficult or unexpected material comes up. The conversation explores how psychedelic experiences can bring awareness to underlying patterns and past experiences, and why that awareness on its own often doesn't lead to lasting change. They also discuss common misconceptions about combining IFS with psychedelics, the role of preparation and integration, and how working directly with parts supports more stable change over time. Highlights: Misconceptions about IFS in psychedelic work IFS as a mindset, not a method How psychedelics reveal internal parts Why insight alone isn't enough The unburdening process in healing Working with fear and difficult experiences Preparation and integration as core skills Practitioner integrity and embodied practice Heather Smith is a visionary in the field of psychedelic healing, blending Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy with expanded states of consciousness to catalyze deep transformation. A Certified IFS therapist, she has completed Levels 1–3 of training and served as a Program Assistant multiple times. She is the founder of The Moxie School®, where she trains psychedelic facilitators in IFS-informed approaches and supports both personal and professional development through immersive training and retreat experiences. Episode Links: The Moxie School How to Journey: An IFS Field Guide to Psychedelic Journeys Episode Sponsors: The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute. The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout Disclaimer: This content is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or encourage the illegal use of any controlled substances. Nothing said here is medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your health. The views expressed herein belong to the speaker alone, and do not reflect the views of any other person, company, or organization. Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Kathryn L. Tucker, J.D., a leading civil rights attorney and advocate for end-of-life autonomy, about the legal effort to expand access to psilocybin-assisted therapy for patients facing serious illness. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-353/?ref=278 Kathryn shares how decades of work in right-to-die litigation led her to recognize a critical gap in palliative care, addressing psychological and existential suffering at the end of life. Drawing from emerging clinical research, she explains why psilocybin may offer meaningful relief for anxiety, depression, and distress in terminal patients. The conversation explores the legal pathways being pursued to make this treatment accessible, including Right to Try laws, federal litigation with the DEA, and efforts to reschedule psilocybin. Kathryn also reflects on the broader cultural and ethical implications of allowing individuals greater choice in how they approach death. Kathryn L. Tucker, JD, is a nationally recognized leader in advancing improved care for seriously ill and dying patients. She has held leadership roles across multiple nonprofit organizations, including the National Psychedelics Association, the End of Life Liberty Project, and Compassion & Choices. Tucker has litigated landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, including Washington v. Glucksberg and Vacco v. Quill, and has played a key role in both end-of-life litigation and psychedelic policy advocacy. Highlights: Right to Try laws explained Psilocybin as investigational medicine DEA barriers to patient access Litigation strategies for psychedelic access Rescheduling psilocybin efforts Palliative care gaps in mental suffering Legal vs underground psychedelic Episode Links: National Psychedelics Association Kathryn's LinkedIn Episode Sponsors: The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute. The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout Disclaimer: This content is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or encourage the illegal use of any controlled substances. Nothing said here is medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your health. The views expressed herein belong to the speaker alone, and do not reflect the views of any other person, company, or organization. Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes.

Laura Dunn, civil rights attorney, survivor advocate, and congressional candidate who founded SurvJustice. She describes how early trauma shaped her work and why legal fixes often fall short. She shares discovering MDMA-assisted therapy and going public to destigmatize healing. She ties inner healing to political integrity, community-based psychedelic support, and a vision for conscious governance.

Justin Smith-Ruiu, professor of history and philosophy of science and author exploring consciousness, challenges Western assumptions about sober, waking cognition. He discusses why dreams and altered states were sidelined, how psychedelics expose limits of rational language and perception, and the tension between therapeutic medicalization and broader communal or existential uses.

Dr. Amy de la Garza, a family and addiction medicine physician blending functional care and ketamine‑assisted approaches. Melissa Bond, a journalist and poet who wrote Blood Orange Night about benzodiazepine dependence. They discuss how benzodiazepines reshape the nervous system, why withdrawal can be prolonged and destabilizing, challenges of long tapers, and the emerging use and cautions of low‑dose ketamine as a supporting tool.

Jeffrey E. Gerst, Ph.D., molecular geneticist at the Weizmann Institute who studies RNA and bioengineering. He discusses rethinking psychedelic sourcing, threats from wild harvesting, bioengineering psychedelics in yeast as a scalable alternative, the ethics of ‘natural’ versus engineered supply, and how RNA biology and AI can enable sustainable production.

Shaahin Cheyene, entrepreneur who created the 1990s supplement Herbal Ecstasy and built multimillion-dollar businesses as a teen. He recounts rave culture origins, inventing a legal MDMA alternative, regulatory backlash, and commercializing plant medicines like salvia. Conversations cover indigenous entheogens, microdosing and integration, ibogaine’s therapeutic promise, and building media and product brands in health and wellness.

Jonathan Dickinson, CEO and co-founder of Ambio Life Sciences and longtime ibogaine clinician, shares his work bridging Bwiti tradition and clinical safety. He discusses ibogaine’s use for traumatic brain injury, veterans’ recovery, Parkinson’s and MS cases. Conversation covers scaling treatment, dosing strategies, neural markers, and why preparation, integration, and regulatory pathways matter.

Christopher Solomon, somatic Salvia guide and founder of Salvia Healings, blends somatic psychotherapy with harm-reduction and ceremonial care. He discusses Salvia’s unique pharmacology, somatic and meditation-based preparation, low-dose therapeutic approaches, setting and safety practices, and the plant’s cultural history and clinical potential.