Ayahuasca Podcast
Explore Transformative Experiences

and ancestral Plant Medicine

SPOTIFY
Youtube
Apple

Enjoy Our Features Shows

Features Episodes

Gabor Maté on Trauma, Ayahuasca and the wisdom of pain.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté. Gabor is a renowned physician, speaker, and author best known for his groundbreaking work on trauma, addiction, child development, and the mind-body connection. His books include In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and The Myth of Normal.

We touch upon topics of:

  • Gabor’s personal healing journey (2:00)
  • His first Ayahuasca ceremony (5:10)
  • The importance of community in healing (7:06)
  • How trauma causes the heart to close (9:00)
  • The wisdom of trauma and adaptations (12:23)
  • Modern society as a root of disconnection (15:00)
  • Accumulated trauma and “death by a thousand cuts” (20:31)
  • How Ayahuasca helps addiction by addressing pain (23:59)
  • The risk of Ayahuasca evangelism (27:11)
  • Psychedelics and facing death (28:09)
  • Parenting and emotional availability (32:10)
  • The role of play in healing (37:15)
  • Dealing with criticism and healing from not being seen (40:42)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to http://www.lawayra.com

Find more about Gabor Maté at http://www.drgabormate.com

Troy Casey – certified health nut, from Versace model to jungle medicine, ripped at 60.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Troy Casey, also known as the Certified Health Nut. Troy is a holistic health coach, author of Ripped at 50, and former Versace model who transformed his life through fasting, herbal medicine, breathwork, indigenous healing, and ayahuasca.

We touch upon topics of:

  • Troy’s transformation from fashion model to health advocate (01:17–03:50)
  • His early ayahuasca experiences in the Amazon and three life-changing visions (06:43–12:50)
  • Humanity’s spiritual awakening and vision for a conscious future (16:24–23:20)
  • Environmental destruction, geopolitics, and the rainforest (24:25–29:10)
  • Rockefeller history, pharma, and the Flexner report (29:36–31:02)
  • First principles of health and his 9 Pillars of Wellness (37:02–41:20)
  • Views on purpose, fatherhood, and feminine roles in raising children (38:27–40:50)
  • Urine therapy, Maori healing, and unconventional yet effective practices (42:19–44:26)
  • Ego, balance, emotional processing, and the spiritual journey (45:26–50:14)
  • Troy’s powerful definition of Ayahuasca and its healing potential (54:23–57:50)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to http://www.lawayra.com

Find more about Troy Casey at http://www.certifiedhealthnut.com or follow him on social media @CertifiedHealthNut across platforms.

Dennis McKenna – Ayahuasca, mushrooms, human symbiosis with Nature.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dennis McKenna, PhD—renowned ethnopharmacologist, author, co-founder of the McKenna Academy, and pioneer in psychedelic research for over 40 years. A central figure in the psychedelic renaissance, Dennis has explored the intersection of plant medicine, indigenous wisdom, and science since the 1970s.

We touch upon topics of:

  • Dennis’ early trips to Colombia and the origins of the “La Chorrera” experiment (05:10)
  • The unexpected role of mushrooms in his spiritual awakening (11:50)
  • DMT and the search for orally active psychedelics (15:30)
  • Shifts in his scientific path after the La Chorrera experience (22:20)
  • Conducting biomedical studies with the UDV in Brazil (31:45)
  • Differences between psilocybin and ayahuasca (45:15)
  • The ethics and cultural impact of ayahuasca tourism (49:00)
  • Sustainable ayahuasca cultivation and community economics (53:30)
  • The myth of how indigenous people discovered ayahuasca (59:10)
  • The importance of preserving tradition in modern psychedelic use (1:06:40)
  • The vision for global symbiosis between North and South through plant medicine (1:13:20)
  • Climate change and the message of Gaia through psychedelics (1:17:55)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to http://www.lawayra.com

Find more about Dennis McKenna at https://mckenna.academy or on Instagram @dennismckenna_

WhatsApp-Image-2023-12-10-at-4.00.42 AM

Founder & Host

Sam Believ

Sam had a life-changing experience with Ayahuasca with the medicine taking away his depression and helping him find his purpose. Now Sam is on a mission to spread the word about Ayahuasca with AyahuascaPodcast.com as well as provide affordable and accessible Ayahuasca experience at his retreat – LaWayra.

LaWayra has become the most reviewed Ayahuasca retreat in South America in 3 years of its existence and has changed lives of 1000s of people.

VISIT OUR YOUTUBE

Enjoy New Shows

Latest episodes

Podcast Dr. Ido Cohen on integration, shadow work and Jungian archetypes

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Ido Cohen, a clinical psychologist specializing in Jungian and relational depth psychology. He is the founder of The Integration Circle, focusing on psychedelic integration, shadow work, and turning peak experiences into lasting transformation.

• 00:56 Early experiences in India and discovery of integration
• 03:08 Why integration is hard & cultural context
• 09:00 The illusion of quick transformation
• 12:18 Balancing work, business, and integration
• 14:40 Integration for busy modern lives
• 19:35 Why self-care feels like work
• 22:12 Ceremony continues after the ceremony
• 25:07 Archetypal & transpersonal dimensions
• 29:42 Common archetypes and possessions
• 34:52 Soul, religion & invisible forces
• 48:02 What is the shadow and shadow work
• 52:20 Shadow encounter vs. shadow work
• 56:32 Turning darkness into growth

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to http://www.lawayra.com

Find more about Dr. Ido Cohen at theintegrationcircle.com or on Instagram at @theintegrationcircle

Podcast Joe Moore – Safe Access, breath work and building a psychedelic informed world

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Joe Moore, co-founder/CEO of Psychedelics Today. Joe is a longtime voice in psychedelic education and media (700+ interviews), a holotropic breathwork facilitator, and the creator of the Vital year-long training program focused on psychedelic-informed practice and harm reduction.

• Origin story: books, Grof, breathwork, first aya, launching Psychedelics Today (01:13–04:17)
• 700+ interviews, role split with Kyle (04:17–04:55)
• Burnout/community dynamics during Denver decrim (04:59–06:00)
• Harm reduction, safe supply, and intra-community conflict (05:46–07:27)
• Indigenous exchange, access, climate & conservation takes (09:11–11:18)
• Agroforestry & ayahuasca reforestation co-ops (11:18–11:59)
• Drug war history, othering, and safe supply vs. prohibition (11:59–16:46)
• Rebranding Colombia: coca vs. ayahuasca, fentanyl era (17:43–19:35)
• Why psychedelic education matters; Vital’s inclusive scope (20:52–25:40)
• What success looks like: humility, community, model-agnosticism (27:52–29:33)
• Favorites: Team LSD, mushrooms, 2C-B; psychedelic minimalism (29:33–31:22)
• How psychedelics heal: competing models + Grof’s container (33:17–36:39)
• Breathwork for prep/integration; box breathing & long cycles (36:39–45:33)
• Podcasting as decentralization; universities & free libraries (46:09–50:28)
• Bitcoin/crypto & decentralizing money/power (50:28–52:06)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to http://www.lawayra.com

Find more about Joe Moore at psychedelicstoday.com and on Instagram: @jomo137.

Podcast Love as medicine, mysticism, sufism and psychedelics with Danielle Herrera

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of http://www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Danielle Herrera, a California-based licensed psychotherapist and psychedelic-assisted therapy specialist. Danielle blends somatic and Jungian work with harm reduction, draws on Indigenous lineage and Sufi mysticism, and trains new facilitators with Beckley Academy. We explore how love, right-relationship, and spiritual technologies help people heal trauma and integrate psychedelic experiences into daily life.

  • 00:01–01:22 — Intro and Danielle’s background

  • 01:22–08:14 — Origin story: chaotic childhood, harm reduction path, ketamine/MDMA training, founding Tender Heart Healing Arts

  • 08:41–12:48 — “Loving people for a living”: centering love in psychotherapy; Indigenous and Sufi lineages

  • 13:14–17:11 — Trauma as absence of holding; parenting parallels; harm-reduction lens

  • 17:12–22:03 — Why some grow from pain: “jet fuel,” ayahuasca discomfort, meaning-making

  • 22:32–25:10 — Transmutation of pain; rites of passage and village containers

  • 26:01–29:46 — Shamanism vs “psychosis”: the role of container (Crazywise reference)

  • 29:46–36:30 — Sufism 101: Rumi, polishing the heart, spiritual technologies; resonance with ayahuasca/Icaros

  • 37:32–42:43 — Mystical experiences in therapy; clinician competence and frameworks

  • 42:43–47:02 — Spiritual emergence: signs, tenderness, intuition, “magic is real”

  • 47:02–51:40 — Addiction: “don’t ask why the addiction—ask why the pain”; right-relationship with medicines

  • 51:40–54:19 — Real integration: becoming better to those you’re responsible to love

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to http://www.lawayra.com

Find more about Danielle Herrera at tenderheart.us (yourtherapistlovesyou.com) and Instagram: @yourtherapistlovesyou

Join our

Podcast

Become A Guest

Learn everything about Ayahuasca

In each episode of Ayahuasca podcast we explore the history, cultural meaning, and personal journeys related to this special plant medicine. We talk with shamans, researchers, and people who share their own

Our pick of the best podcasts on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and more covering all trends.
Instagram Spotify Podcast X-twitter Youtube

Explore

Find

Contact

© All Copyright 2025 by ayahuascapodcast.com

Title
.