Lena Franklin - From Loss to Liberation: Grief, Psilocybin, and Spiritual Growth

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with medicine woman and transpersonal psychotherapist Lena Franklin to explore grief as a doorway to the sacred, bridging clinical training with embodied spirituality, and the ethics of honoring indigenous lineages in modern practice.  Find full show notes and links here: http://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-323?ref=278 Lena shares “The Method,” a 90-day psilocybin-supported program (three ceremonies + twelve sessions), and reflects on lessons learned from founding and composting EAST Institute. She also previews a new global initiative for advanced, root-cause healing centers and closes with an embodied playbook for leaders. Lena Franklin is a Medicine Woman, Transpersonal Psychotherapist, and transformational speaker bridging ancient medicine and modern technology for global healing. Raised in a Buddhist/Christian home, she integrates Eastern philosophy with Western neuroscience across meditation, energy medicine, longevity, human optimization, plant medicine, shamanism, and ecosystem consciousness. Formally trained in psychology (B.S.) and clinical social work (M.S.) at the University of Georgia, Lena weaves lineages from Mahayana Buddhism, Mopan Maya Ancient Medicine, Q’ero Peruvian shamanism, and Shipibo wisdom into ceremonial and teaching work worldwide. She founded The QUINTESSENCE Approach for activating Revolutionary Medicine Woman leadership, The BEING Method for mindfulness-based human potential, and The Meditation Membership of audio/video teachings. Her work has been featured in Vogue, The New York Times, Telegraph, and more.  Highlights: Grief as a sacred portal Clinician and mystic, not either/or Lineage stewardship and councils of elders “Harm reduction is bi-directional” Lessons from founding EAST Institute The 90-day, three-ceremony Method From psycho-emotional to psycho-spiritual Why assessment must stay rigorous Vision for root-cause healing centers Daily grounding for embodied leadership Episode Links: Lena’s website Lena on Instagram Episode Sponsor: The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes researcher and entrepreneur Sterling Cooley to explore xenon—the noble gas with surprising psychedelic-like effects. Sterling shares how his own health crisis led him from nitrous oxide to xenon, and why he believes gaseous anesthetics open a unique window into consciousness. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-322/?ref=278 Sterling connects xenon to microtubule research (Orch OR), contrasts it with ketamine and nitrous, and discusses harm-reduction considerations, trip reports, and integration. The discussion bridges Sterling’s personal journey with emerging scientific theories, offering a thoughtful look at xenon’s potential role in consciousness and healing. Guest Bio Sterling Cooley is a researcher and biotech entrepreneur working in ultrasound neuromodulation and noninvasive vagus nerve stimulation. Over the past decade, he has collaborated with Dr. Stuart Hameroff on microtubules, quantum consciousness, and novel anesthetics. Sterling is focused on xenon, a noble gas with both anesthetic and psychedelic-like properties. Through his community at Skool.com/Ultra, he supports safe, informed exploration of xenon’s therapeutic and consciousness-expanding potential. Highlights: What xenon is and why it fascinates researchers Sterling’s personal health journey with gaseous anesthetics Microtubules, Orch OR, and models of consciousness Xenon vs. ketamine vs. nitrous: similarities and differences Harm-reduction guidance for gaseous psychedelics Visionary and higher-self experiences on xenon Potential applications for pain and PTSD Why microtubules may bridge mind, matter, and ideals Episode Links: Ultra Skool Skool.com/Ultra (Sterling’s community and xenon classroom) Sterling on X Purchase Xenon Gas (USA) Episode Sponsors: The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout Disclaimer: Third Wave’s content is for educational and informational purposes only. We do not provide medical or legal advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making decisions about your mental or physical health. Nothing here is intended as encouragement to use any substance, and we do not advocate for illegal activity.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Lana Pribic, ICF Professional Coach, co-founder of Kanna Wellness, and host of the Modern Psychedelics Podcast. Lana shares her deep reverence for African medicines—iboga and kanna—and why she resists quick-fix narratives in psychedelic culture. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-321/?ref=278  She opens up about her ceremonies in Baja, the long arc of iboga integration, and the role of preparation, intention, and patience in this work. The conversation also explores kanna as a gentle daily ally and the cultural roots of both medicines. Lana Pribic, M.Sc., is an ICF Professional Coach, co-founder of Kanna Wellness, and producer & host of the Modern Psychedelics Podcast. With over 230 hours of professional training and four coaching certifications, Lana specializes in psychedelically-informed coaching, guiding individuals through profound inner transformation. Based in Ontario, she merges the power of psychedelics, consciousness, and self-discovery to facilitate deeply impactful experiences. When she's not immersed in her work, you'll likely find her dancing to electronic beats, creating art in the kitchen, practicing patience with her cat, curating her dream wardrobe, or diving into a book. Highlights: How iboga differs from classic psychedelics Preparation as the overlooked key to safe journeys How to craft meaningful questions for iboga Rejecting the quick-fix narrative in psychedelic work Facing shadow material in ceremony The long arc of iboga integration Kanna as a subtle, supportive ally Safety concerns around microdosing iboga The cultural inseparability of iboga and Bwiti Balancing medicalization with ancestral reverence Episode Links: Modern Psychedelics Podcast  Kanna Wellness – Use code THIRDWAVE for 10% off Episode Sponsors: Psychedelic Coacing Institute's Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Jonny Miller, founder of Nervous System Mastery and host of the Curious Humans podcast. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-320/?ref=278  Jonny shares how the loss of his fiancée led him into grief work, psychedelics, and the study of stress physiology. Their conversation explores the three pillars of nervous system mastery—interoception, capacity, and emotional fluidity—and how these skills can prepare and support deeper psychedelic experiences. Jonny also reflects on the risks of hypoarousal and dissociation in psychedelic and breathwork practices, the role of relational health in nervous system regulation, and how high performers can shift from burnout-driven “dirty fuel” toward cleaner sources of creativity and joy. Jonny Miller is the founder of Nervous System Mastery, a five-week experiential training that helps high performers cultivate calm, resilience, and embodied aliveness. His approach blends evidence-based protocols with practices drawn from breathwork, meditation, and stress physiology. Jonny also co-created the Stateshift App and designed the Calm Cards Deck, practical tools for daily nervous system regulation. Jonny hosts the Curious Humans podcast, where he explores themes of resilience, embodiment, and curiosity with leading thinkers. His work centers on making nervous system literacy accessible for both personal growth and psychedelic preparation. Highlights: • How grief and loss opened Jonny to psychedelics • The three pillars of nervous system mastery • Safety as the foundation for psychedelic depth • Breath as a brake or accelerator in journeys • Why he separates psychedelics from intense breathwork • Mapping different medicines to nervous system skills • The risks of shutdown and dissociation in high doses • Re-regulating after destabilizing psychedelic experiences • Relational health as nervous system nourishment • Shifting from burnout to clean energy in leadership Episode Sponsors: Psychedelic Coacing Institute's Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Brian Tierney, a licensed somatic psychologist and professor of neuroscience.  Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-319/?ref=278 Dr. Tierney unpacks the emerging paradigm of network neuroscience and how our brain’s default mode, salience, and task networks interact with trauma, attention, and healing. Dr. Tierney is a somatic psychologist, neuroscience and psychopharmacology professor, and psychotherapist with a passion for integrative healing. Specializing in trauma resolution, couples therapy, and somatic experiencing, he blends cutting-edge science with ancient practices to create transformative healing experiences. He is the host of the Boundless Body podcast and the author of the upcoming book Visionary Somatics. Highlights: What is network neuroscience? How trauma disrupts brain network coordination Understanding the salience, default mode, and task networks Why somatic healing involves connective tissue, not just cognition The dangers of spiritual bypassing through “idealized embodiment” “Character armoring” and body-held trauma patterns How imagination serves as a ground for healing The death–rebirth archetype in psychedelic experiences Transcendence vs. transformation in modern healing culture Why safety and grounding are non-negotiable for deep work Episode Sponsors: Psychedelic Coacing Institute's Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin is joined by James Fadiman, PhD, and Jordan Gruber, JD, co-authors of the new book Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-318/?ref=278 Widely recognized as the father of modern microdosing, Jim returns alongside Jordan to challenge outdated pharmaceutical paradigms and share what a decade of real-world microdosing reports reveals about physical health, emotional wellbeing, and performance enhancement. James Fadiman, PhD, is a leading voice in psychedelic research, widely known as the “father of microdosing.” With a career spanning over 60 years, Jim has explored psychedelics’ effects on creativity, mental health, and human potential. His landmark book, The Psychedelic Explorer’s Guide, remains a foundational text in the field. In recent years, he’s spearheaded citizen science efforts on microdosing, gathering thousands of real-world reports to better understand its therapeutic and performance-enhancing effects. Jordan Gruber, JD, MA, is a writer, editor, and former attorney whose work bridges psychology, spirituality, and personal development. Founder of Enlightenment.Com, Jordan has collaborated on books covering everything from finance to forensic audio to transformational healing. He co-authored Your Symphony of Selves with Fadiman in 2020 and now returns as co-author of their latest work. Together, their partnership blends rigorous inquiry with lived insight—shaping a new paradigm for how psychedelics can enhance everyday life. Highlights: Why microdosing works for both healing and performance The real-world shift from symptom-treatment to systemic wellbeing How citizen science is driving the microdosing movement Microdosing vs. psycholytic dosing: Key distinctions Why mainstream research may be missing the sweet spot Comparing protocols: Fadiman vs. Stamets vs. intuitive dosing The myth of the serotonin hypothesis and what comes next Heart risk debates and what the data actually says Microdosing for autism, ADHD, and chronic pain What an ideal regulatory future could look like Episode Links: Jim and Jordan's new book, Microdosing for Health, Healing, and Enhanced Performance Episode Sponsors Psychedelic Coacing Institute's Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout These show links contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Mariah Gannessa, founder of Four Visions, a plant medicine platform rooted in sacred reciprocity and indigenous partnership.  Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-317/?ref=278 Mariah shares her decade-long apprenticeship with the Inga people of Colombia and her journey creating Four Visions as a reverent bridge between Amazonian healing traditions and modern seekers. The conversation explores the Four Visions of the Yahé tradition, the nuances of cultural appropriation vs. cultural exchange, and the responsibilities of Western entrepreneurs engaging with indigenous medicines. Mariah also discusses how Four Visions reinvests in indigenous communities and why the concept of sacred reciprocity is central to her mission. Join Paul F. Austin and Mariah Gannessa on August 21st at 10am PT / 1pm ET for Hapé 101 for Practitioners, Coaches & Guides, a free live webinar hosted through the Psychedelic Coaching Institute. Whether you're new to hapé or looking to deepen your practice, you'll gain practical, respectful guidance on working with this sacred Amazonian snuff—personally and professionally. Mariah Gannessa has spent the last decade immersed in the healing cultures of the Amazon and has dedicated her life’s work to the plants and indigenous peoples of the rainforest. Her healing journey during her decade-long apprenticeship in study and service with the Inga tribe of Putumayo was a catalyst for her evolution as an entrepreneur, philanthropist and musician. Mariah acts as a bridge in the sharing of plant medicines with the world in order to support humanity’s healing. She is the founder of Four Visions, a global leader in supporting indigenous communities through direct commerce partnerships, donations, and sponsoring charitable initiatives. In partnership with her teacher, world-renowned healer and Ingano Botanist, Taita Juanito, she founded MAGIC Fund, spearheading projects to preserve the Amazonian peoples, their cultures, and lands. Her work in service is fully inspired by a vision to leave a legacy of a better Earth for future generations. Highlights: How the Four Visions of Yagé shape healing Redefining sacred reciprocity in a globalized world A Western entrepreneur’s path through plant medicine apprenticeship Why cultural exchange is not always appropriation The role of reverence in spiritual entrepreneurship Bridging Amazonian wisdom with Western healing needs Building a mission-driven e-commerce platform Plant allies for the heart, grief, and dreaming Remembering ancestral wisdom in a disoriented world The medicine path as both business and spiritual devotion Episode Links: Four Visions MAGIC Fund Hapé 101 for Practitioners, Coaches & Guides Episode Sponsors: Psychedelic Coacing Institute's Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes cultural historian and acclaimed author Mike Jay. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-316/?ref=278 Together they explore the untold history of nitrous oxide, psychedelic experimentation in the Romantic era, and the deeper cultural and philosophical roots of psychedelic science. Mike shares insights from his latest book, Free Radicals, highlighting how figures like Humphry Davy and William James helped shape psychedelic thought long before the 1960s. The conversation weaves through ancient San Pedro rituals, colonial attempts to suppress peyote use, and the divergent paths of modern psychedelic medicine. From poetic self-experimentation to medicalized models, Mike unpacks the historical tensions between grassroots healing and institutional control—and what this means for the future of psychedelic culture. Mike Jay is a British author and cultural historian who has written widely on the history of drugs, consciousness, and medical science. His books include Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic, Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind, and Free Radicals: How a Group of Romantic Experimenters Gave Birth to Psychedelic Science. Mike contributes regularly to The London Review of Books, The New York Review of Books, and The Wall Street Journal. Highlights: How early scientists used nitrous oxide for inner exploration Romantic poets as the original psychedelic self-experimenters Parallels between Humphry Davy and Alexander Shulgin What William James learned from nitrous, not mescaline Colonial suppression of peyote and indigenous resilience The enduring symbolism of San Pedro in Andean ritual How the counterculture reinterpreted Native practices Why modern psychedelic medicine may be repeating history The role of finance in shaping current therapy models Looking ahead: divergent futures of psychedelic healing Episode links:  Mike’s website Mike’s new book, Free Radicals Mescaline: A Global History of the First Psychedelic Psychonauts: Drugs and the Making of the Modern Mind Manvir Singh’s article in The Guardian “The Peyote Dance” by Antonin Artaud Episode sponsors:  Psychedelic Coacing Institute's Intensive for Psychedelic Professionals in Costa Rica - a transformative retreat for personal and professional growth. Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, host Paul F. Austin welcomes Brian Robertson—creator of Holacracy and founder of Ledgeway Sangha—for a thought-provoking conversation at the intersection of organizational design, spiritual community, and psychedelic practice. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-315/?ref=278 Best known for reimagining how companies structure authority through Holacracy, Brian now brings his systems-level insight into the realm of psychedelic spirituality. He shares the origin and mission of Ledgeway Sangha, a legal psychedelic church rooted in peer-to-peer healing, communal practice, and non-dogmatic love. Together, Paul and Brian explore how this innovative model bypasses conventional hierarchy, integrates softer entheogens like 2C-B and 6-APB, and builds a path toward legal protection for churches operating outside mainstream psychedelic frameworks. Brian Robertson is best known for creating Holacracy, the most comprehensive framework in the world today for running self-managed companies using a decentralized power structure in lieu of a traditional management hierarchy. He’s founded and built many organizations over the past 30 years as an entrepreneur, including HolacracyOne, which helps companies use self-management to unleash creativity and empowered leadership, and the software company GlassFrog, which helps both traditional and self-managed companies drive organizational transparency, agility, and alignment to purpose. To date, tens of thousands of companies in over 50 countries have embraced his pioneering methods and ideas, and his frequent public speaking seamlessly weaves between business, management, consciousness, and love. Brian is currently focused on building Ledgeway Sangha, an entheogenic church and community-building organization that’s harnessing psychedelics to help people release judgments and resistances into loving acceptance of all that is. Highlights: From Holacracy to entheogenic spirituality Why Ledgeway Sangha has no doctrine or belief system Love as the norming force in community 2C-B and 6-APB as self-integrating medicines The case for subtle, sovereign psychedelic journeys A new model of psychedelic integration through consistency Why hierarchy undermines safe psychedelic containers Legal strategies under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act Creating a church for mystics, not priests Poetry, presence, and redefining spiritual transmission Episode links:  Ledgeway Sangha Holacracy Brian’s social media Episode Sponsor: Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave’s Psychedelic Coaching Institute.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Vass Eliopoulos, co-founder of Longevity Health and a pioneer at the intersection of regenerative medicine, longevity science, and psychedelics. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-314/?ref=278 Dr. Vass shares his journey from emergency medicine to a proactive, prevention-based approach to health optimization for high performers. Dr. Vass shares why today’s healthcare system fails to address the root causes of disease, the synergistic potential of psychedelics, stem cells, peptides, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and how chronic stress and inflammation underlie many modern conditions. He also outlines why psychedelics may be essential in reversing chronic inflammation and treating neurodegenerative diseases—and how prevention, not pathology, should guide the future of medicine. Dr. Vassily Eliopoulos (Dr. Vass) is the Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Longevity Health, a cutting-edge regenerative medicine clinic in Boulder, Colorado. A former ER physician and Peace Corps volunteer, Dr. Vass now helps high performers optimize their health through advanced diagnostics, regenerative therapies, and personalized plans. A black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, avid climber, and kayaker, he brings deep experience in resilience and recovery to his clinical work. Highlights: Why Vass left emergency medicine for longevity health COVID as a catalyst for self-directed wellness The failure of “sick care” to promote true health Psychedelics as first-line treatments for mental health Chronic stress, inflammation, and disease progression Synergies between psychedelics, stem cells, and peptides Prevention vs. pathology in modern medicine Neurodegeneration as chronic brain injury Future directions for regenerative and psychedelic therapies Curious about becoming a certified psychedelic coach? Join Paul F. Austin Thursday, July 31 2025, 10:00 AM PT for a free info session exploring the Psychedelic Coaching Institute’s Practitioner Certification Program—an immersive training that blends science, ceremony, and real-world coaching to help you lead others through lasting transformation. Learn More. Episode Links: Longevity Health Clinic Dr. Vassily’s Instagram Episode Sponsor: Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout