Conscious Physician: Medicine & Psychedelics

After nearly two decades in educational leadership—serving as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator—Megan Butler now brings her gifts to the world of mental health as a child and adolescent therapist. Named the 2015 Austin ISD School Counselor of the Year, Megan has always championed mindfulness, innovation, and compassionate care—values that shine through in her current work as Clinical Research Lead at Lucero, a playful self-care app designed to support the emotional well-being of kids and their communities.In this episode, we explore the heart behind Lucero: how it fosters connection, reflection, and fun for children and families navigating the complexities of life today. Megan shares insights on community healing, the wisdom of youth, and what it means to design mental health tools that meet children where they are.📲 Download the Lucero app:Lucero on the App Store📧 Contact Megan: [email protected]🔗 Connect with Megan: Megan Butler on LinkedIn

Rev. Lynda Elaine Carré is a certified interfaith chaplain and end-of-life educator whose work lives at the threshold between spirit and science. In this conversation, we explore the distinction between religion and spirituality—especially in palliative care settings, where the veil is thin and meaning-making becomes sacred.Rev. Carré shares how a personal vision quest led her to seminary and into the clinical world of hospice and hospital-based chaplaincy. We speak about the beauty of the human in transition, and the often-overlooked creativity and mysticism that can arise when we are asked to feel our impermanence.She speaks to the education of dying as a process, the wisdom of the body at the end of life, and how to support a loved one in transition through grounded spiritual presence—not bypass. “You’ve got this. You’re okay to leave. I’ll love you forever. You’re safe to go.”As Rev. Carré reminds us, spiritual liberation is not a solitary path, and we don’t have to navigate it alone.🌿 Connect with Rev. Carré:[email protected]/advocacy

What happens when we let the soul take the lead?In this episode, transformational teacher, poet, and “soul doctor” Diana Esther joins us for a powerful conversation on healing, consciousness, and living a life of purpose. Raised in the Soviet Union, Diana shares the pivotal moments that brought her into deep relationship with her soul—especially in the face of challenges logic couldn’t solve.We explore the wisdom that illness often carries, the suffering that emerges when passion is repressed, and Diana’s unique understanding of consciousness as a living, embodied state. With poetic clarity, Diana reminds us that returning to wholeness begins with listening to the voice within.✨ Learn more about Diana's work: The Diamond Within📘 Explore her book: The Diamond Within – Book💎 Transformational Programs: Online Offerings

This week on Conscious Physician Medicine + Psychedelics, we’re joined by writer, podcaster, and psychedelic guide Zach Leary—a seeker, teacher, and bridge between eras of psychedelic exploration.For over three decades, Zach has been immersed in the evolving story of psychedelics, bearing witness to both the historic countercultural wave and today’s psychedelic renaissance. With roots in digital innovation and a soul shaped by Ram Dass and Bhakti Yoga, Zach brings a rare blend of ancient wisdom, personal devotion, and practical guidance to the modern psychedelic space.As an integration coach, session facilitator, and educator, Zach has supported hundreds on their journeys of healing, transformation, and spiritual inquiry. His approach weaves together harm reduction, historical insight, internal family systems, and contemplative practice—offering both safety and depth to the psychedelic experience.In this conversation, we explore:The legacy of Ram Dass and the continuing ripple of his teachingsWhat it means to facilitate with integrity and reverenceThe role of psychedelics in modern healing, mysticism, and awakeningZach’s personal path—from marketing exec to kirtan-singing Deadhead to soon-to-be authorZach's upcoming Psychedelics Studies Intensive launches July 2, 2025. Learn more and enroll at: zachleary.net📚 Your Extraordinary Mind: Psychedelics in the 21st Century and How to Use Them was published with SoundsTrue in early 2025.Connect with Zach on Instagram: @zachlearydrome

Welcome to a gorgeous episode featuring the radiant Julian Bermudez—a guide, facilitator, and trained therapist whose practice is devoted to helping individuals reconnect with their deepest selves—their psyche, emotions, and innate wisdom—often through trauma-informed coaching, and occasionally through the careful inclusion of psychedelics. His work is grounded in the belief that healing is not only possible, but inherent in all of us.In this episode, we explore:The psychedelic experience as a gateway to deep self-connectionTrauma not as what happened to us, but how we responded to itThe power of inquiry: What are our patterns? Where did they come from? What purpose do they serve?The crucial difference between influence and interference in psychedelic facilitationHow radical self-trust, not blind trust in a facilitator, is the foundation of true healingThe importance of aligning our lives with our core valuesJulian shares what it means to hold space with integrity and clarity, taking full responsibility for the energy he brings into the room while guiding others to reclaim their inner authority.We also reflect on the story of Dr. Lida Fatemi, who grew up in war-torn Iran, and how love, care, and radical self-awareness transformed what could have been an overwhelming trauma into a regulated and joyful way of being.This conversation inspires bravery, self-trust, and respect for the human condition. Connect with Julian Bermudez:🌐 Website: https://www.psychedelic-integration.net/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-bermudez-ma-ccmp

In this episode, we sit down with James Walker, founder of Cloud Walker Farms, one of Dr. Fatemi's most respected cannabis companies, known for its integrity, purity, and deeply intentional cultivation practices. After years in a high-stress, fast-paced career—and a dependency on sleeping aids and Xanax—James was introduced to a homemade cannabis edible that offered him the deepest sense of relaxation and restoration he'd felt in years. That moment sparked a personal and professional transformation.We explore his journey from burnout to botanical healing, his groundbreaking work with Parkinson’s patients, and his mission to grow and process cannabis without growth regulators, hormones, or pesticides—ever. James breaks down the often-overlooked (and often harmful) methods of mainstream cannabis extraction (cough cough butane), and shares how Cloud Walker Farms has carved a new standard rooted in health, sustainability, and reverence for the plant.Plus, we dive into the fascinating, still largely understudied world of cannabinoids—over 130 and counting—and what we’re just beginning to understand about their medicinal potential.Whether you’re canna-curious, a seasoned user, or a skeptic, this conversation opens the door to seeing cannabis as both recreational and remedy.

In this moving conversation, Lida sits down with her client Sarah Sanchez, a 25-year-old woman who has spent her life learning how to live in—and with—her body. Born with hip dysplasia and chronic pain, Sarah underwent eight reconstructive surgeries just to walk. A traumatic brain injury from a car accident later triggered non-epileptic seizures, further complicating her path.And yet, through it all, Sarah held her pain close, keeping it quiet so as not to disturb her family’s peace.Now, at 25, she is beginning to emerge—to integrate, to make meaning, and to speak her truth. This episode is a meditation on gratitude for the cards we are dealt, even when they seem impossibly heavy. Together, Sarah and Lida explore the unexpected beauty born from hardship: the wisdom pain can bring, the accessibility of joy, and the perspective found in life’s crunchiest moments.

In this episode, we sit down with Myles Katz, a seasoned psychedelic facilitator whose journey began with Synthesis—a scientifically informed psilocybin retreat in Amsterdam that raised over $10 million in capital. His path has since led him to Oregon, where he now works within the United States’ first legal and regulated psilocybin access model.Myles walks us through the intricacies of Oregon’s groundbreaking system, from the rigorous facilitator licensing process to the four-fold structure that ensures safe and ethical use: licensed growers, independent labs verifying potency and purity, designated service centers for consumption, and trained facilitators guiding the experience. With over 12,000 doses administered and only a handful of emergency interventions, the model offers a compelling case for structured, above-ground psychedelic healing.Together, we explore both the inspiring potential and growing pains of this new framework: the realities of practicing in office-building settings, questions around socioeconomic accessibility, and the spiritual responsibility that comes with working with sacred medicine in a legal context.This is a rich and honest analysis of what happens when mushrooms meet modern infrastructure—and what’s possible when intention meets regulation.Connect with Myles and learn more:https://www.confluenceretreats.org/

Born into the infamous Children of God cult, Olivia MacDonell’s story is one of resilience, paradox, and profound transformation. In this episode, she shares her journey of growing up within a global missionary movement that preached love while simultaneously inflicting deep harm. Olivia reflects on the complexities of holding two opposing truths and how this shaped her path toward healing.Her experiences ultimately led her to found The Activation Project, a company dedicated to helping others integrate powerful, life-changing experiences—particularly in the realm of psychedelic therapy. She opens up about the inspiration behind the project, the lessons she learned from both the cult and her own healing process, and the challenges of reconnecting with family after facing the past head-on.Join us for an intimate and eye-opening conversation about survival, transformation, and the importance of integration after deep psychological shifts.Connect With Olivia:https://www.tapintegration.com/

🎙 Buckle up for a powerful episode, folks! Today, we're diving deep into the profound influence of psychedelic therapy on the veteran population with none other than Matt Zemon.Matt’s story is remarkable—he was a successful businessman when a single mushroom trip changed his entire world. That experience led him to pursue a master’s degree in psychology and neuroscience, and he’s currently in a Doctor of Ministry program, exploring the spiritual dimensions of healing.As a key advocate for psychedelic-assisted healing, Matt works with Heroic Hearts Project—a nonprofit that helps veterans access transformative psychedelic experiences in Central and South America and Portland. He’s also the author of The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics and Psychedelics for Everyone, offering practical insights on safe, intentional, and transformative journeys.In this episode, we talk source, set, and setting—where your medicine comes from, how it's cultivated, your intention, your physical and mental readiness, and who you trust to steward your experience. We also honor the shadow side of harm in psychedelic pursuit and discuss what research really says about adverse experiences—are they truly negative, or can they be some of the most profound and meaningful moments of our lives?🌿 CONNECT WITH MATT:🔗 Heroic Hearts Project: heroicheartsproject.org🔗 LinkedIn: Matt Zemon📖 The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics: Get the Book📖 Psychedelics for Everyone: Get the Book🎧 Tune in now and let’s explore the frontier of healing together.