Mind State Podcast

In this episode, I'm joined by Gary Sellergren, mindset coach, consultant, and creator of the "Champion Mindset" framework. Gary shares the story of how personal crises, health scares, and the search for true happiness led him to uncover a simple but powerful path to transformation. We dig into the balance of mind, body, and soul, what it takes to shift from external validation to internal sovereignty, and why unconditional self-love is the foundation for lasting change. Gary also explains his three-phase coaching approach that helps people release old fears, shame, and limiting beliefs in a surprisingly quick and almost pain-free way. If you've ever felt stuck, weighed down by old patterns, or unsure of your purpose, this conversation will challenge your perspective and inspire you to discover the resilient, authentic version of yourself.   

In this episode, I'm joined by Jeff Hyles—educator, entrepreneur, founder of JCs: The Power of Mindset, father, and husband. Jeff has lived and taught in top schools all over the world, from Toronto to Turkey, with chapters in Panama and Colombia, and unforgettable years in Vietnam,  gathering lessons that shaped his mission to help kids develop confidence, resilience, and a true growth mindset. We dive into the role parents play as the first blueprint in their children's development, why respecting your child's generation is key, and how to balance showing strength with modeling vulnerability. Jeff also shares how environment and friendships shape kids' futures, why schools must shift from system-centered to student-centered models, and how his two-year program builds lifelong skills in mindset, habits, reframing, leadership, and entrepreneurship. If you've ever wondered how to better prepare your kids for both the challenges and opportunities of life, this conversation will leave you inspired and equipped with actionable insights.

In this episode, I'm joined by Eric Farewell—entrepreneur, coach, author, pilot, father, and husband. Eric shares a remarkable journey marked by both triumph and loss: from starting businesses as a teenager and becoming a test pilot, to surviving a life-changing crash and rebuilding after a traumatic brain injury. He opens up about the grief of losing loved ones, the challenges that nearly ended his marriage, and how therapy, meditation, and presence became tools for healing and growth. We also dive into the evolution of Eric's businesses, the importance of mission and values in building companies that endure, and the process of stepping away from work to reclaim balance and purpose. Eric reflects on fatherhood, the lessons of mentorship, and what it means to live without fear while embracing abundance. Along the way, he shares how loss and joy are two sides of the same coin, shaping his perspective on legacy, family, and personal growth. Eric's upcoming book, The Royal Shift, brings together his story and hard-won frameworks to help others step into higher versions of themselves—financially, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Find out more about Eric at https://ericfarewell.com/

In this episode, I'm joined by Sex and Intimacy coach Stephanie Welch. We discuss her framework for the three phases of female arousal which lays the groundwork for an upcoming book. Her work is focused primarily on helping men who want to improve the quality of their marriage in the sexual realm. She emphasizes getting the basics right before attempting to "spice things up". We also spend time in the latter half discussing her personal journey to this work, which is a provocative tale in its own right. Connect with Stephanie Welch: 🔗 Client-facing website: EvolveSessions.com  🔗 Holistic health education platform: RecivilizedWoman.com  📥 Interested in working with her? Fill out her intake form and book a Discovery Call at EvolveSessions.com!

In this episode, I sit down with Elissa Gross, a licensed professional counselor and graduate of the Integrative Psychiatry Institute, to delve into the world of psychedelic-assisted therapy. Elissa shares the beginnings of her career in counseling and her transformative journey into the use of psychedelics for therapeutic purposes. Throughout our discussion, we explore the critical role of vulnerability in therapy, alongside the emerging potential of psychedelics in treating chronic pain and suicidality. With a blend of professional insights and personal experiences, Elissa provides a deep dive into the mechanisms and outcomes of psychedelic therapy. This episode is a must-listen for healthcare professionals exploring alternative therapies, individuals seeking novel paths to healing, and anyone fascinated by the intersection of psychology and psychedelics.

Abraham La Montagne joins the podcast to share his perspective built from a diverse background in biochemistry research, military service, Latin dancing, and of course jiu-jitsu. Abe has carved out a notable niche as a rapidly progressing Jiu-Jitsu athlete under the guidance of John Danaher. Through our discussion, Abe shares insights into his accelerated learning approach in Jiu-Jitsu, grappling's yin and yang, and the mindset behind his success. His unique views on the dance-like push and pull of jiu-jitsu and its mental challenges shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of the sport - mental health. The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we dive into the realm of philosophy, consciousness, and the use of psychedelics. From their potential in combating addiction to catalyzing personal transformation, Abe reveals his experiences and insights. Join us as we explore the intersection of martial arts, mental health, and psychedelics, and delve into the primal, tribal activities that keep us grounded yet propel us towards uncharted territories of the mind.

Matt Mormello joins the show to share his own path with the medicine and practice of Ayahuasca. We start out with Matt sharing his chance encounter with the power of plant medicines after watching a documentary about them. In that moment he knew with clarity that he had to pursue deeper investigation. Part of Matt's personal story is one of overcoming an extremely rare cancer at an young age of 19 years old followed by years of opiate addiction.  Early in his plant medecine journey he met a kindred spirit in his now wife, Jeanae, who is an integral component of what they have built with New Life Ayahuasca. He shares the astonishing serendipity of how things fell into place and have led to the retreat offerings they make available today.  Finally, we spend some time talking about what newcomers to ayahuasca can expect as they embark on their own healing journey with Ayahuasca including how they can prepare to get the most from their experience and take it back home into their lives post-retreat.  This particular episode is special in that we recorded it down here in Costa Rica at the end of a retreat I myself was in attendance at. I'm forever grateful for the work and guidance that Matt, Jeanae, Craig and Lina offered all of us. 

Caitlin joins the podcast in this episode to share her extensive experience with plant medicine including over 50 ayahuasca ceremonies and seven iboga experiences. She first turned to psychedelic medicine seeking relief from chronic undiagnosed illness. It's not the typical story of one and done, transcendence and healing all in a single session. It's been a long road and hard work. That's not to say progress has not been made though. Armed with deep insight and intermittent physical relief, Caitlin forges onward and shares her story.  These days her focus remains strongly tied to the psychedelic community. We discuss the Psychedelic Society of Texas which she co-directs as well as the work being done by Decrim ATX which is focused on the deprioritization of sacred plant medicines by law enforcement. 

Derek DuChesne (dew-shane) is the co-founder of Better U Care, a psychedelic-assisted therapy company currently specializing in ketamine treatment with both at-home and in-clinic models.  We start out with Derek sharing his own story of encountering ketamine after a bout of depression and suicidal ideation. Experiencing the transformation firsthand led to a deepening interest in the power of these medicines. This experience unfolded into an eventual collaboration with clinicians from Stanford's Psychedelic Science Center and Depression Research Clinic to explore ways to increase accessibility to psychedelic medicine. Join us for this episode to learn more about how you can find healing and inspiration in your own life.

Massy comes to the show to share her personal experience with Ayahuasca. She talks about how she and her husband serendipitously discovered the medicine in the aftermath of a hurricane and the profound effects it has had on her life. She provides a beautiful narration of her first encounter as well as her life afterwards. We wrap up by spending some time talking about her latest venture, Incubate.X, which is a women led and mission driven NFT launchpad. Their first project, Onanya, is focused on building an Ayahuasca center in Peru that will incorporate the shamans that led her through her own healing journey.