On The Same Paige with Paige Leacey

Why do we fall in love, experience jealousy, and form long-term relationships? And how much of our romantic behaviour is driven by biology?Professor Lars Penke returns to join Paige for part TWO of their conversation, exploring the evolutionary psychology of love, relationships and the hormones that shape our emotions and behaviour.They unpack why humans evolved to form romantic bonds, whether monogamy is natural or a cultural invention, and the surprising evolutionary purpose of jealousy. They also explore how hormones like cortisol, testosterone and oxytocin influence everything from stress and attraction to sexual desire, competition and emotional connection.From the chemistry of falling in love to the ways our hormones can alter our states of consciousness, this conversation challenges some common assumptions about why we feel, think and behave the way we do.🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__On The Same Paige is a podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to deep conversations about how the mind works - consciousness, psychology, neuroscience, and the edges of human experience.

Why is it so hard to rest without feeling guilty? And why do so many of us feel like we're constantly running out of time?In this more personal, unfiltered solo episode, Paige shares a few recent experiments in navigating life, including a well-intentioned decision that backfired (involving a social media community close to home), an attempt to embrace doing absolutely nothing, and the surprising difference that two days of genuine rest made to her wellbeing.She also explores something she's been thinking deeply about lately: our relationship with time. From the pressure to always be productive to turning 35 and confronting questions about motherhood, ageing and whether life is unfolding on the timeline we imagined.It's an intimate conversation about trial and error, learning to sit with uncertainty, and questioning the stories we tell ourselves about where we should be in life.☕ Support the podcast:https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__On The Same Paige is a podcast dedicated to deep conversations about how the mind works — consciousness, psychology, neuroscience, and the edges of human experience.

How much of your personality is written into your DNA, and how much can you actually change?Professor Lars Penke joins Paige for part ONE of a conversation that explores what makes us who we are, why we’re all so different, and how our personalities evolve throughout our lives.They unpack the relationship between genetics, childhood experiences and environment, including why we're not simply products of our upbringing. They also explore neuroticism and stress sensitivity, whether there are really good and bad personality traits, and what evolutionary psychology can tell us about human behaviour.From the personalities of animals to our capacity to change as adults, this conversation challenges some common assumptions about what makes us, us. Part TWO out next week!☕ Support conversations like this:[https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey](https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey)🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: [https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeacey](https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeacey)Spotify: [https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4U](https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4U)Apple Podcasts: [https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370](https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370)Newsletter: [https://paigeleacey.substack.com](https://paigeleacey.substack.com)Instagram: @samepaige\_\_TikTok: @samepaige\_\_🔗 Connect with Prof. Lars Penke:Website: [https://www.larspenke.eu](https://www.larspenke.eu)Google Scholar: [https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Eyw5x3QAAAAJ&hl=en](https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=Eyw5x3QAAAAJ\&hl=en)X, Bluesky and LinkedIn — searchable by his nameOn The Same Paige is a podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to deep conversations about how the mind works — consciousness, psychology, neuroscience, and the edges of human experience.

In this episode of, Paige sits down with medium and grief recovery coach Julie Cluff to explore mediumship, spirit communication and the experiences that changed her understanding of life after death.Julie shares how losing two of her children in a car accident led to profound experiences she describes as contact with the other side. She reflects on the grief, guilt and spiritual questions that followed, and how her developing mediumship eventually challenged the religious beliefs she had held for decades.During the conversation, Julie begins sharing messages she associates with Paige’s spirit guides and late grandmother. What follows opens up a personal discussion about strength, intuition and the direction of Paige’s own life.Together, they explore how we interpret experiences that feel deeply meaningful—and whether they emerge from the mind, something beyond it, or something we don’t yet understand.In this conversation:💕 Julie’s childhood experiences of sensing a presence around her💕 The accident that claimed the lives of two of her children💕 The experience of encountering Jesus while in hospital💕 Grief, guilt and learning to live after devastating loss💕 How Julie’s experiences challenged her Mormon beliefs💕 Whether spirit communication could be a coping mechanism💕 How Julie describes receiving messages from loved ones and spirit guides💕 The reading involving Paige’s late grandmother💕 Intuition, meditation and becoming more receptive to inner experience💕 Why boundaries matter when exploring mediumship💕 Balancing spiritual experiences with everyday life💕 What Julie believes happens after death—and what she admits she doesn’t knowHave you ever experienced something that made you question what happens after we die? Share your perspective in the comments.☕ Support conversations like this:https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__On The Same Paige explores psychedelics, consciousness, psychology, neuroscience and the edges of human experience through honest stories and deep conversations with people willing to question what we think we know about the mind.

What is trauma actually – the event itself, the way we respond to it, or the meaning it takes on in our lives?In this episode of On The Same Paige, Paige speaks with trauma researcher Dr. Rachel Yehuda about how trauma shapes the brain, body, memory and identity.Rachel explains why the word trauma is often used in different ways, how stress and trauma overlap, why people can respond so differently to the same event, and what complex trauma reveals about relationships, childhood and safety.Together, Paige and Rachel explore the biology of fear, the brain-body feedback loop, epigenetics, psychedelic therapy, MDMA-assisted therapy, ayahuasca experiences and why healing may depend on more than simply “fixing” the brain.They also discuss why trauma is not always something to erase, how difficult experiences can become part of a person’s autobiography, and why community, safety and relationship may be central to recovery.In this conversation:💕 What trauma actually means from a clinical perspective💕 Why “little T” and “big T” trauma can be difficult to define💕 Why people respond differently to the same traumatic event💕 Complex trauma, childhood experiences and relational wounds💕 The relationship between the brain, body and fear response💕 Why it can be hard to feel safe after trauma💕 Paige’s ayahuasca experience and the idea of a “watershed” moment💕 MDMA-assisted therapy, PTSD and eating disorder research💕 Genetics, epigenetics and how environment shapes vulnerability💕 How community, safety and relationships affect recovery💕 Why psychedelics may bring up unexpected material during therapyChapters:0:00 - What actually counts as trauma?1:38 - Why the word trauma has changed4:25 - Why people respond differently to the same event5:55 - Complex trauma and relational wounds7:32 - The brain-body feedback loop11:11 - Psychedelics and profound change22:28 - Why healing is relationalDr. Rachel Yehuda is the Chemers Neustein Family Professor of Trauma and Resilience. Her research explores PTSD, stress, epigenetics, intergenerational trauma and psychedelic-assisted therapy. 🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__On The Same Paige explores psychedelics, consciousness, psychology, neuroscience and the edges of human experience through honest stories and deep conversations with people willing to question what we think we know about the mind.This conversation is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice.

What if women naturally move through altered states – not only through psychedelics, but through movement, the menstrual cycle and childbirth?In this episode of On The Same Paige, Paige sits down with birth worker and women’s health educator Karissa Bollinger to explore the altered states that can emerge across the female experience.Karissa shares how severe PMDD symptoms, burnout and a frightening LSD experience led her to study hormones, psilocybin microdosing and the relationship between consciousness and the body. She explains why the luteal phase can sometimes feel like an altered state of its own – and how this work eventually changed the way she understood birth.Together, Paige and Karissa explore childbirth as a profound threshold experience involving identity, fear, surrender, embodiment and dramatically altered consciousness.☕ Support conversations like this:https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleaceyIn this conversation:💕 How running, dancing and repetitive movement can alter consciousness💕 Karissa’s difficult LSD experience and what it taught her about set and setting💕 PMDD, intense luteal-phase emotions and feeling as though you are seeing an uncomfortable truth💕 Karissa’s personal experience of using psilocybin microdosing while addressing her hormonal health💕 Why the luteal phase can resemble a “good trip” or a “bad trip”💕 The relationship between emotions, body awareness and the menstrual cycle💕 Why childbirth can produce a profoundly altered state of consciousness💕 Preparing the nervous system for the intensity and uncertainty of birth💕 Using breath, pelvic-floor awareness and physical simulations to prepare for labour💕 Sovereignty, fear and decision-making during birth💕 Why rest and recovery matter both during labour and postpartum💕 Birth, identity dissolution and the transition into motherhood💕 Why attempting to eliminate fear may be less useful than learning how to experience it💕 Reports of visions, ancestors and other unusual experiences during childbirth💕 Surrendering the need to appear composed, polite or in control during birthThis conversation explores Karissa’s personal experiences and professional framework. Research into psychedelics, female hormones and altered states during birth remains limited. This episode is not medical advice or a recommendation to use psilocybin.If you experience severe premenstrual symptoms, suicidal thoughts, depression during pregnancy or postpartum depression, please seek support from a qualified healthcare professional or an emergency service in your country.🔗 Connect with Karissa:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wavework.birthing/🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__

Psychedelic educator, James W. Jesso, joins the show again to discuss the profound nature of a DMT experience and what it reveals about our reality.Paige and James revisit their shared interest in the edges of human experience, specifically focusing on the intersection of consciousness and plant medicine. They unpack the complexities of navigating these intense altered states, reflecting on how such encounters challenge our traditional understanding of the mind and the nature of existence.This conversation moves beyond the spectacle of the experience itself, looking at the role of psychedelic research and the importance of integrating these moments into daily life. Whether you are curious about the mechanics of the mind or interested in the philosophical implications of these substances, this discussion offers a grounded perspective on an often misunderstood topic.Subscribe for more conversations on consciousness and the mind, and let us know your thoughts on the nature of reality in the comments.🔗 James W. Jesso:    / @adventuresthroughthemind  James' Books: https://www.jameswjesso.com/category/...More Links: https://linktr.ee/jameswjesso🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__On The Same Paige is a podcast and YouTube channel dedicated to deep conversations about how the mind works - consciousness, psychology, neuroscience, and the edges of human experience.

Can one psychedelic experience change a pattern you’ve lived with for a decade – without magically fixing everything else?In this solo episode of On The Same Paige, I share one of the most personal parts of my story: my ten-year struggle with bulimia, the ayahuasca ceremony that unexpectedly became a turning point, and why the difficult work of integration still mattered afterwards.This isn’t a claim that ayahuasca is a cure for eating disorders, or that one experience will affect everyone in the same way. It’s an honest account of what happened to me — including the confronting first night, the blissful second ceremony, the strange entities and imagery I encountered, and what changed when I returned home.I also explore my complicated relationship with manifestation. Can you remain sceptical, care about evidence and still consciously choose beliefs that make your life better?In this episode:💕 Why altered states and consciousness became so personal to me💕 My experience of living with bulimia for ten years💕 The two radically different nights of my ayahuasca ceremony💕 Machine elves, womb imagery and the difficulty of describing psychedelic experiences💕 What unexpectedly changed after I returned home💕 Why healing did not mean that life suddenly became easy💕 The importance — and difficulty — of psychedelic integration💕 How gratitude began changing the way I experienced ordinary life💕 Manifestation through the eyes of a sceptic💕 Belief, the subconscious mind and the stories we repeatedly tell ourselves💕 The affirmation recording and binaural-beat practice I’m currently experimenting with📚 Mentioned in this episode:The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace D. Wattles:https://www.amazon.com.au/Science-Getting-Rich-Proven-Program/dp/1585426016My conversation with Alexander Beiner about the extended-state DMT trial:https://youtu.be/zDgwTIteHMoMy Substack:https://paigeleacey.substack.com/☕️ To support conversations like this, shout Paige a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.com/Instagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__Content note: This episode discusses bulimia and eating-disorder behaviours. It reflects my personal experience and is not medical advice or a recommendation to use ayahuasca or other psychedelics. If you’re struggling with an eating disorder or your mental health, please seek support from a qualified professional.

Can music and ritual trigger an out-of-body experience without psychedelics? Anthropologist Dr Tamara D. Turner has spent years studying trance, consciousness and healing rituals in North Africa – and eventually experienced trance herself.In this conversation, Tamara takes us inside all-night rituals among Black communities in Algeria whose traditions developed over centuries following the trans-Saharan slave trade.Through music, movement, repetition and community, participants can enter profound altered states of consciousness. Some describe leaving their bodies. Others report feeling inhabited by jinn or other entities. And unlike a recreational psychedelic experience, these rituals are often about confronting suffering rather than escaping it.We explore:💕 What trance actually feels like as it begins💕 Why Western medicine may describe some of these states as dissociation💕 How music and repetition can induce altered states without drugs💕 What participants mean when they say someone has “gone away” or left their body💕 Jinn, spirits and the cultural meaning of “inhabitation trance”💕 Why some people appear unable to feel pain during deeper trance states💕 How time changes inside an all-night ritual💕 Why community and co-regulation may be central to the healing process💕 The relationship between trauma, ritual, music and mental health💕 What Tamara experienced when she entered trance herself💕 Whether consciousness is generated by the brain – or whether the brain could act more like a receiver or projector💕 What psychedelic medicine might lose when altered states are separated from ritual, relationship and communityDr Tamara D. Turner is an anthropologist whose research explores music, trance, suffering, consciousness and healing practices in North Africa.📚 Tamara's work:Dancing at the Thresholds:https://iupress.org/9780253075888/dancing-at-the-thresholds/Google Scholar:https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=XWvvxusAAAAJ&hl=enLinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamaraturner/Her research includes Music and Trance as Methods for Engaging with Suffering, published in Ethos: Journal of the Society for Psychological Anthropology.☕ Support conversations like this:https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__

Can psilocybin microdosing actually treat depression – or are expectation and the placebo effect doing far more of the work than we realise?Dr. Rotem Petranker is a clinician, researcher and therapist who has spent years studying psychedelic microdosing. In one of the most rigorous clinical trials of microdosing for depression to date, his team gave people diagnosed with major depressive disorder either 2mg of psilocybin or placebo and tracked what happened.The surprising result?People in both groups got dramatically better – but on most measures of depression, there was almost no difference between microdosing and placebo.In this conversation, Paige and Rotem explore what that finding actually means, why psychedelic research may be far less certain than popular headlines suggest, and how expectation, media hype and scientific bias can shape what we think psychedelics are capable of.We explore:💕 What actually counts as a microdose – and why scientists still don't know the ideal dose or frequency💕 What happened in Rotem's clinical trial of psilocybin microdosing for depression💕 Why both the placebo and psilocybin groups experienced major improvements💕 The enormous role expectation may play in psychedelic research💕 Whether microdosing improves focus, cognition or connectedness💕 Why set and setting are so difficult to study scientifically💕 The replication crisis and why some psychedelic research may be less reliable than it appears💕 Why pre-registration matters – and how researchers can accidentally “draw the bullseye after firing the shot”💕 How media coverage may be exaggerating what psychedelics can currently treat💕 Psychedelic-assisted therapy, SSRIs and what the evidence actually tells us💕 The meaning crisis, certainty and why humans find not knowing so uncomfortable💕 Consciousness, physicalism, panpsychism and whether psychedelic entities should be taken literallyThis isn't an argument for or against psychedelics. It's a conversation about something much more interesting: what the science actually shows when we remove what we want to be true.☕️ To support conversations like this, shout Paige a coffee:https://buymeacoffee.com/paigeleacey🔗 Connect with Dr. Rotem Petranker:Website: https://petranker.com/🔗 Connect with Paige:YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PaigeLeaceySpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4sVFkvFcj3DW1wuVZuGd4UApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/on-the-same-paige-with-paige-leacey/id1573526370Newsletter: https://paigeleacey.substack.comInstagram: @samepaige__TikTok: @samepaige__