Ayahuasca has become one of the most talked-about plant medicines in the world, yet many people remain unsure about what an ayahuasca retreat is actually like. Stories range from profound healing and personal transformation to challenging emotional experiences and encounters that seem impossible to explain. In a conversation on the Meta Mystics podcast, ayahuasca retreat […]
For many people, ayahuasca enters their lives through curiosity. For Sam Believ, founder of LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia and host of the Ayahuasca Podcast, it arrived during a period of deep uncertainty. At the time, he was an engineer with no spiritual background, no interest in religion, and a highly skeptical mindset. Yet a […]
In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ connects with combat sports legend Cain Velasquez. Cain is a two-time NCAA All-American, a two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion, and the first Mexican-American heavyweight champion in UFC history. Known throughout his career for an unstoppable, relentless pace that broke the toughest fighters on earth, Cain has […]
In this episode of the Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ sits down with Jonathan Robinson, a psychotherapist, New York Times bestselling author of over 10 books, and a frequent guest on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Jonathan has spent decades exploring human connection, interviewing foundational spiritual figures like Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, and Ram Dass. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
For many first-time visitors, ayahuasca arrives surrounded by uncertainty. People hear dramatic stories, see intense reactions, and wonder whether the medicine is truly healing or simply overwhelming. According to Sam Believ, founder of LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia, the answer depends entirely on how the medicine is approached. In the right setting, with the right […]
As interest in psychedelic healing continues to grow worldwide, ayahuasca retreats are becoming increasingly visible — but not all retreats are built the same way. For Sam Believ, founder of LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia, the goal has never been simply to create another retreat center. His larger vision is to make deep healing more […]
Ayahuasca and DMT are often mentioned in the same conversation, but according to Sam Believ, founder of LaWayra Ayahuasca Retreat in Colombia, they should not be treated as interchangeable experiences. Although DMT is one of the active compounds found in ayahuasca, he argues that reducing ayahuasca to DMT alone misses almost everything that makes the […]