In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ connects with Andrew Gallimore, a computational neurobiologist, pharmacologist, and chemist based in Tokyo. Andrew is a prominent voice in the cutting-edge study of psychedelic neuroscience and the author of Alien Information Theory, Reality Switch Technologies, and his latest work, Death by Astonishment.

Self-described as a “DMT exceptionalist,” Andrew explores how this efficient, reliable molecule acts as the ultimate reality channel switch—obliterating our normal waking model of the world and instantaneously replacing it with a staggeringly complex, alternate reality populated by advanced, intelligent entities.

Key Discussion Points

• 02:30 – From the Occult to the Cortex: Andrew shares his teenage pivot from ghosts and folklore to chemistry and pharmacology, driven by a lifelong obsession to understand how molecules interface with the human brain.

• 06:15 – Brain Mechanics and the Edge of Chaos: How classic psychedelics nudge the brain’s world model away from perfect order and toward a more fluid, entropic, and dynamic state.

• 10:40 – Turning the Radio Dial: The difference between a slightly disordered trip and the total structural collapse into a new frequency that occurs during a breakthrough DMT experience.

• 14:55 – Is the DMT State Being Mapped? Andrew proposes that rather than creating a “hallucination,” DMT may be gating the flow of alternative sensory inputs, letting the brain construct a model informed by an external source.

• 21:20 – The Genesis of DMTX: Retooling target-controlled intravenous infusion technology from anesthesiology to stabilize the notoriously short DMT trip into a controlled, hours-long exploration.

• 27:40 – Deep Sea Diving in Consciousness: Moving away from the disorienting “rollercoaster” of standard DMT hits toward a stable, navigational space where the ecology of the alternate reality can be charted.

• 33:15 – The Secret History of Ayahuasca: A look at the discovery of the brew from Richard Spruce in 1852 to beat writer William Burroughs, highlighting the brilliant example of indigenous pharmacological synergy between the Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaf.

• 39:50 – Indigenous Science vs. Random Chance: Moving past the Western-centric idea that indigenous peoples merely stumbled across the brew, showcasing their deep historical mastery of combining complex plant medicines.

• 45:10 – Endogenous DMT and the Moment of Death: Analyzing why DMT is found naturally in mammals and discussing the physiological hypothesis that it spikes to protect neurons during hypoxic stress or childbirth.

Follow Andrew Gallimore’s Work:

• Website: buildingalienworlds.com

• Latest Book: Death by Astonishment: Science, Endogenous DMT, and the Reality Switch

• DMTX Facility Info: Explore legal extended-state research opportunities at eleusismind.com

Explore the Original Reality Technology: If you want to experience the original, traditional extended DMT technology through safely facilitated plant medicine, visit: ayahuascaincolombia.com

If you found this scientific dive into the alien information theory fascinating, please leave us a 5-star review!

In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ sits down with Jacquie Wortley, a design leader, executive coach, and operations consultant who specializes in the intersection of technology, leadership, and mental health. Jacquie originally came to Lawayra in 2023 for what was supposed to be a simple weekend stay. Instead, she stayed for 10 days, sat with the medicine six times, and completely catalyzed her path away from emotional suppression, toxic relationship cycles, and excessive substance use.

Jacquie returns to share how her integration has evolved over the years, the profound lessons she learned from navigating a romantic relationship post-ceremony in July 2025, and how she is redefining corporate culture by introducing radical authenticity and soft skills to modern business environments.

Key Discussion Points

• 03:15 – The Runaway Nomad: Jacquie shares her journey from Vancouver to Toronto, building a successful tech career while using geographical changes and excessive partying to run from family turbulence and emotional pain.

• 07:45 – Sending a Scout: How testing the waters by sending a close friend to Lawayra first eventually led Jacquie to book her own transformative, 10-day marathon with the medicine.

• 11:20 – Shift in Substances: Outgrowing the “excessive user” label, eliminating stimulant drugs entirely, and shifting her relationship with alcohol away from a coping mechanism.

• 16:40 – Don’t Wake a Sleeping Baby: Jacquie opens up about her past mistake of trying to force psychedelic healing onto her previous partner before he was ready, and what it taught her about patience, humility, and unconditional love.

• 23:15 – The Illusion of Being “Chill”: A deep look into the paradox of control issues, why the people who need to surrender the most fight the medicine the hardest, and Sam’s story of a breakthrough moment over a mattress arrangement.

• 29:10 – The Conscious Operator: Stepping away from the traditional corporate “COO” mask to focus on deep inner self-awareness as the ultimate foundation for managing people and business logistics.

• 35:00 – Radical Responsibility at Work: How leaders can handle difficult interpersonal dynamics with transparency, drop the professional facade, and own their emotional capacity with their teams.

• 41:30 – Brainstorming the Entrepreneur Mastermind: Sam and Jacquie dive into a spontaneous idea to co-create a specialized Lawayra retreat tailored specifically for business owners, founders, and managers to combine ceremony with peer masterminds.

• 46:15 – Unmasking Safely: How to navigate corporate vulnerability, identifying who you can safely open up to at work, and introducing feminine leadership into masculine environments.

The Mechanics of Control and Surrender

A central theme of Jacquie and Sam’s dialogue centers around how trauma survivors often use hyper-vigilance and control as a shield. Ayahuasca systematically deconstructs this defense mechanism, teaching that true surrender is an internal energetic release rather than an intellectual concept. As Jacquie notes, the medicine teaches you in the most frustrating way that head-in-the-bucket submission is often required before you can truly connect.

The Reality of Relational Integration

Jacquie reflects deeply on her experience dating her partner again after his first retreat in July 2025. She points out a crucial lesson for anyone navigating relationships post-ceremony:

“The ceremonies are simply just a vision of what could be. But it’s our integration that makes that vision into reality. Integration happens through conscious choice making and behavioral changes in our day-to-day life.”

Expecting a first-time sitter to integrate at the exact pace of a seasoned practitioner is a form of projection. True unconditional love means releasing control and allowing others to be exactly who they are on their own path.

Connect with Jacquie Wortley:

• LinkedIn: Jacquie Wortley 

• Instagram: @jacquiewortley

Join the Conscious Leader Movement: If the idea of an exclusive mastermind retreat for entrepreneurs, managers, and business operators resonates with you, let us know! Drop a comment on Spotify, YouTube, or reach out directly via Instagram to Sam or Jacquie.

To book a traditional retreat focused on deep inner awareness, visit: ayahuascaincolombia.com

If you appreciated this raw look into integration and leadership, please rate the show 5 stars!

In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ sits down with Rick Doblin, Ph.D., the visionary founder of MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies). Rick has spent over 40 years leading the “Psychedelic Renaissance,” moving MDMA through rigorous FDA clinical trials to treat PTSD and advocating for a post-prohibition world.

Rick shares his profound journey—from a draft resistor in the 70s to a global leader in drug policy—explaining why he believes humanity is currently in a “race between consciousness and catastrophe.”

Key Discussion Points

• 04:15 – The Origins of Passion: Rick describes his upbringing in the shadow of the Holocaust and the Cuban Missile Crisis, which led to a lifelong quest to bridge the gap between human intellectual power and spiritual maturity.

• 09:30 – The Bar Mitzvah That Wasn’t: Why Rick’s first LSD trip at 17 felt like the true “rite of passage” his traditional Bar Mitzvah failed to provide, sparking his interest in ancient transformative rituals.

• 13:45 – The “Hitler Within”: A vulnerable recount of a DMT and Ketamine sequence in 1984 where Rick realized that the capacity for evil exists within everyone, leading to his mission for “mass mental health.”

• 18:20 – The Birth of MAPS (1986): Navigating the DEA crackdowns of the 80s and deciding that medicalization through the FDA was the only viable path forward for psychedelics.

• 24:50 – A Global “Ayahuasca Day”? Sam and Rick discuss the potential of cultural integration—moving psychedelics from the counterculture to the mainstream as a tool for societal sanity.

• 29:10 – The Inflection Point: Rick reflects on the irony of President Trump’s executive order to accelerate psychedelic approvals and what it means for bipartisan support.

• 34:00 – Inner Work as a Global Necessity: Discussing Carl Jung’s warning that “the only real danger now is man himself” and how psychedelics can help us manage our own destructive capacities.

• 39:15 – Post-Apocalyptic Utopia: Exploring the vision of a world where technology handles labor, leaving humanity to focus on poetry, art, music, and consciousness.

The MAPS Strategy: From Criminal to Clinical

Rick explains that the strategy for the last 40 years has been to “go where the suffering is.” By focusing on treatment-resistant PTSD, MAPS has been able to show that these substances are not just “party drugs” but powerful tools for clinical healing.

The Race Between Consciousness and Catastrophe

Rick posits that as our technological capabilities (AI, nuclear energy, etc.) grow, our emotional and spiritual development must keep pace. Without a shift in consciousness, our advancements become tools for destruction.

Learn more about Rick Doblin and MAPS:

• Website: maps.org

• Rick’s TED Talk: The future of psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy

Experience Authentic Healing: Are you seeking your own “inner transformation”? Visit ayahuascaincolombia.com to learn about our retreats in the heart of Colombia.