In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Mark “The Shark” Irwin — former bare-knuckle boxing world champion turned psychedelic mental health advocate. Known for fighting on heroic doses of psilocybin, Mark now leads a nonprofit supporting athletes recovering from traumatic brain injuries through psychedelic therapy.

We touch upon topics of:

• Mark’s story and fighting career journey (00:03:00)
• Microdosing and traumatic brain injury recovery (00:04:00)
• Fighting competitively on psilocybin (00:05:00)
• Flow state and performance enhancement through psychedelics (00:07:00)
• Legality and controversy around psychedelics in sports (00:09:00)
• Intentions and different uses of plant medicine (00:10:00)
• Psilocybin tolerance and intentional usage (00:11:00)
• Boxing, childhood trauma, and emotional release (00:13:00)
• The therapeutic use of psychedelics for brain healing (00:15:00)
• Mental health, masculinity, and emotional expression (00:20:00)
• Psychedelics and ego dissolution (00:29:00)
• Suicidal ideation, healing, and hope (00:33:00)
• Recovery protocols: red light, HBOT, integration (00:38:00)
• Future vision: healing others post-fighting (00:40:00)
• Movement, fitness, and somatic integration (00:42:00)
• Athletes Journey Home nonprofit & fundraising (00:44:00)

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

Find more about Mark Irwin at www.athletesjourneyhome.com or on Instagram @markthesharkirwin

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Daniel Shankin, a mindfulness coach and psychedelic integration specialist. Daniel is the founder of TAM Integration, which provides support, education, and integration circles for those working with psychedelics. He also leads the Mountain TAM Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program, training emerging facilitators in integration practices.

Topics Covered:

• (00:34 – 02:21) Daniel’s early psychedelic experiences and how they shaped his path
• (02:23 – 03:49) The evolution of integration and its growing importance in psychedelic use
• (04:11 – 07:39) What psychedelic integration actually means and how it works in practice
• (08:28 – 10:52) Defining enlightenment: is it real, and what does it look like?
• (12:20 – 17:43) Relationships, marriage, and how psychedelics impact personal growth
• (18:24 – 19:55) Couples using psychedelics together—how should they integrate their experiences?
• (20:52 – 26:44) Working with difficult psychedelic experiences—when to seek clinical support
• (27:10 – 29:08) PTSD, CPTSD, and the potential of psychedelics in healing trauma
• (30:19 – 34:29) The importance of a supportive environment post-ceremony
• (35:09 – 38:54) The thin line between spiritual experiences and psychological projections
• (41:15 – 43:07) Shadow work—what it truly means and how to approach it
• (43:12 – 46:48) Mindfulness and integration: how self-awareness helps psychedelic experiences land
• (47:00 – 50:32) The ego and the default mode network—understanding the role of self-identity in psychedelic work
• (52:19 – 55:32) The Mountain TAM Psychedelic Integration Coaching Program and how it trains integration coaches

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

Find out more about Daniel Shankin and his work at www.tamintegration.com or follow him on Instagram at @tamintegration.

Podcast Bio – Ayahuasca Podcast: Sam Believ with Lex Pelger

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Lex Pelger.

Lex Pelger is a science communicator, writer, and educator specializing in psychedelics, cannabis, and human consciousness. With a background in biochemistry and molecular biology, he bridges complex scientific research with the public. Lex has authored graphic novels about cannabis, led storytelling events on psychedelics, and currently publishes Cannabinoids and the People, a newsletter covering the latest cannabinoid science.

We touch upon topics of:

• (00:48 – 02:42) Lex’s journey into psychedelics and plant medicine
• (02:56 – 04:50) Science, mysticism, and the study of the “supernormal”
• (05:28 – 07:13) What it means to be a “drug writer” and bridging the knowledge gap
• (07:44 – 10:08) Cannabis and grandmothers: why older adults should consider cannabinoids
• (10:51 – 12:46) Social and cultural impact of cannabis in families
• (13:52 – 18:55) The power of storytelling vs. clinical studies in changing perceptions
• (19:30 – 20:55) Psychedelics as a cultural tool: structured rites of passage in society
• (21:12 – 23:36) Challenges in visually depicting psychedelic experiences in media
• (24:49 – 27:41) Lex’s personal Ayahuasca experience in New York
• (28:43 – 29:54) Traditional vs. modern Ayahuasca ceremonies
• (30:45 – 33:37) “We are drugs” – the role of endogenous psychedelics in human experience
• (34:30 – 38:48) Understanding the Endocannabinoid System and its role in homeostasis
• (38:53 – 44:24) Lex’s favorite cannabinoids and their unique properties
• (44:53 – 50:39) The benefits and science of CBD: anxiety, pain, neuroprotection & sleep
• (50:48 – 53:40) Cannabis, autism, and groundbreaking cases of psychedelic therapy
• (53:51 – 55:39) Lex’s work, books, and research contributions

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

Find more about Lex Pelger at www.lexpelger.com and his Substack newsletter, Cannabinoids and the People. You can also follow his cannabinoid science updates at CVResearch.info.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Austin West.

Austin West is a certified psychedelic medicine practitioner, microdosing philosopher, and founder of Entheo Holistics. He specializes in helping men forge a life of purpose, power, and authenticity through psychedelic healing and intentional microdosing.

We touch upon topics such as:

• Austin’s story of addiction and transformation (01:06 – 05:48)
• The impact of microdosing on his healing journey (04:55 – 05:48)
• How trauma, especially father wounds, can lead to addiction (10:18 – 13:41)
• Porn addiction, erectile dysfunction, and healing from it (14:47 – 22:42)
• Synchronicities and the ‘creator mindset’ (26:07 – 31:57)
• Ayahuasca revealing his suppressed grief and a life-changing message (36:56 – 42:38)
• The fear of change and trusting the medicine process (42:38 – 47:22)
• His microdosing company and its impact on mental health (47:32 – 52:22)

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

Find more about Austin West and his work at IamAustinWest.com.

Very unique format podcast where one of the LaWayra Ayahuasca retreat guests is interviewing a shaman (Taita) Fernando. And one of the facilitators Nico is translating.

This should give you a good insight into the Shamans mind.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Jenny Mertin.

Dr. Jenny Mertin is a researcher and expert in the science of consciousness, biofields, and energy medicine. Her work explores the intersection of physics, ancient wisdom, and modern science, particularly focusing on torsion fields, the pineal gland, and how human consciousness interacts with unseen forces.

We touch upon topics of:

• Torsion fields and their discovery by Russian scientists
• Isaac Newton’s alchemical studies and search for an intelligent force
• Mainstream science’s dismissal of torsion field physics
• How accepting torsion fields would change modern medicine
• The role of the biofield and energy medicine in healing
• Dark matter, dark energy, and the balance of yin and yang
• The CIA’s remote viewing program and its research into consciousness
• Disinformation campaigns in media (e.g., Men Who Stare at Goats)
• Claude Swanson’s work on life force energy and ancient Chinese Chi studies
• Russia’s long-standing scientific research into energy fields
• The pineal gland’s function as a transducer of external signals
• How the pineal gland interacts with life force energy (Chi, Prana, Mana, etc.)
• Ancient indigenous knowledge of the “invisible web” connecting life
• Princeton University’s research on consciousness and global energy fields
• The impact of collective human emotions on the energy field (e.g., 9/11 study)
• How psychedelics like DMT amplify the biofield and alter perception
• The “synchronized universe model” and dimensions existing in parallel
• The pineal gland’s photoreceptors and their role in altered states of consciousness
• How altered brainwave states (e.g., gamma) enable interdimensional perception
• Why mainstream science resists studying the science of consciousness
• The connection between sexual energy, life force energy, and psychedelic experiences

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

Find more about Dr. Jenny Martin at www.drjennymertin.com.