Psychedelic Stories

In this episode, Mariano Gru joins us on the podcast for the second time. I first interviewed him in episode 10, where he discussed some of his experiences with Salvia Divinorum. Since we last talked, Mariano started a new venture building sound and lightproof portals that provide a safe, comfortable environment for occupants to meditate or blast into hyperspace and explore different realities. We talk about Mariano’s frustration with float tanks and the evolution of his portal designs up to the present. We also talk about some of Mariano’s recent experiences with smoked Salvia Divinorum which are really interesting. You can head over to InnerPortalDesigns.com to see his portals and contact him if you’re interested in purchasing one.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable for relying on any information contained in the podcast or on our website.

Links from this episode:

Inner Portal Designs

Inner Portal Podcast

Inner Portal GoFundMe

Elle Rochelle was at a low point in life, depressed and drinking heavily, when she attended a stand-up comedy show in Brooklyn and heard a comedian talking about ayahuasca. When she got home she googled ayahuasca. The experience sounded terrifying but also like it might be exactly what she needed. After an initial two ceremonies in upstate New York, Elle found a shaman in Brooklyn she liked and began working with. Elle participated in over 50 ayahuasca ceremonies. She discusses traumas that surfaced during her ceremonies and describes how she worked closely with her therapist to work through and heal from those traumas.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website.

Anthony Hart dropped out of high school and struggled with an addiction for a time as a young adult. Eventually Tony distanced himself from the people he was associating with and found healthier friendships. He describes a number of interesting psychedelic experiences he’s had but one, in particular, stands out. Tony was watching a show on Netflix when he had an out-of-body experience that triggered a spiritual awakening for him. Since his experiences, Tony has found himself reading books and online forums about psychedelics, digging into his family heritage, and researching the history of the area he grew up in.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable or responsible for relying on any information contained on the podcast or on our website.

Mia Chiveron was a medical school student when she had a meaningful LSD experience that helped her see life through a new lens. On LSD, Mia found herself in a timeless state where she could be fully present and live in the moment. She saw the beauty of life and felt love. In the interview, Mia discusses how her LSD experience surfaced her concerns with the current state of the medical industry and eventually led to her realize medical school wasn’t the right career path for her. She ended up dropping out of medical school and has been pursuing a new life path.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable or responsible for relying on any information contained on the podcast or on our website. Let's get into the interview.

Sassi Flowers has been drawn to the mystical and magical aspects of life since she was a child. Through a series of synchronicities, Sassi attended two ayahuasca ceremonies while visiting family in Brazil. Most guests on the podcast use a pseudonym and Sassi chose Flowers for her last name because ayahuasca took her to a realm where she was surrounded by plants radiating with neon green and pink colors. Time dissolved and Sassi transformed into a beautiful flower herself, giving her a greater appreciation for nature. Sassi had a number of other profound experiences as well. She was transported to Egypt where she communicated with a man that had the appearance of an ancient Egyptian Pharoah who had an important message for her. She also rode on a dragon and danced with a divine goddess. After her ayahuasca experience, Sassi recognized this goddess as what many throughout history have depicted in artwork as Shakti, despite never having heard of Shakti before drinking ayahuasca. Sassi's experience renewed her spiritually and allowed her to view others with more grace and empathy. Her perspective on life has changed, and she now sees herself as a co-creator with the divine.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable or responsible for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website. Let's get into the interview.

Alexandra Titova’s first experience with psychedelics came when she tried LSD in her 20’s. She gained insights about the universe but didn’t find those early experiences therapeutic. In 2018, she was introduced to an MDMA guide after she began having some mental health challenges, including her first-ever panic attack. Her MDMA experiences allowed her to work through childhood trauma she experienced growing up in Eastern Europe and allowed her to open up to her spouse about issues in their marriage. In 2020, Alex’s marriage was on the verge of ending when she attended two ayahuasca ceremonies in Europe. She credits these ceremonies with saving her marriage. Alex continues to use psychedelics for therapeutic purposes and recently traveled to Peru to participate in ayahuasca ceremonies. Her experiences were intense but she returned home having again learned important lessons from ayahuasca.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable or responsible for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website. Let's get into the interview.

In this episode, we interview Rob from the Adeptus Psychonautica YouTube channel. Rob was first introduced to psychedelic substances as a teenager in England. By his late teens, he had tried a number of substances, but it wasn't until his late 20's and early 30's that Rob realized the potential psychedelics had for personal development and spirituality. He began exploring DMT and traveled to South America to participate in San Pedro and traditional Peruvian ayahuasca ceremonies. Ayahuasca took a sledgehammer to the emotional firewalls he had built up over the years, resulting in a flood of emotions related to his mother's suicide as a young boy. With the help of his family and friends, he was able to acknowledge the pain of his mother's death and having to grow up with her maternal influence in his life. Rob's psychedelic experiences led him to start his YouTube channel as a creative hobby. His videos include personal trip reports, retreat center reviews, interviews, and live stream Q&A sessions. He doesn't shy away from controversial topics related to psychedelics and encourages the responsible use of these powerful substances.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website.

Links from this episode:

Adeptus Psychonautica | Rob's Youtube Channel

Steph Knarr had her first experience with LSD around the time she was 19. At the time, she was struggling with identity issues. LSD helped her find her identity and served as a rite of passage into adulthood. Steph’s experiences have blended together over time. LSD has allowed her to interact with a presence she calls God, and it has helped her deal with feelings of self-consciousness and her tendency to be a self-described control freak.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website.

In this episode, Chris Davis describes how his experiences with psychedelics have affected his interpersonal relationships and his everyday life. Chris grew up in an abusive home. As a child, he struggled with depression and often considered ways to escape his abusive parents, including suicide. As an adult, Chris compartmentalized many of his childhood experiences but was still profoundly impacted by the abuse. He was fueled by hate and anger for more than two decades but eventually ran out of steam. At the age of 42, Chris found himself at the bottom of a stairwell writing a good-bye letter to his family with intentions to end his own life. Chris’s son found him moments before he planned to pull the trigger. Chris later began a process of trying to work through the damage caused by the years of childhood abuse. He began a meditation practice and improved his physical health through nutrition and exercise.

He eventually learned about the potential mental health benefits of psilocybin and began researching its use. Chris went on to have a number of profound and life-altering experiences with psilocybin. One experience included Chris traveling to another dimension where he met and comforted his nine year old self. In another experience, Chris discovered the reasons he experienced abuse, leading him to let go of his emotional baggage and finding a deep sense of empathy for his father. He likens his psilocybin experiences to decades in psychotherapy and describes them as ineffably healing. Chris also recounts his first LSD experience at the age of 45, during which he was separated from his wife and son, never to see them again. His LSD experience helped him feel greater appreciation for his family and he considers it the most profound experience of his life.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychoactive substances or trying anything mentioned in this episode. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website.

Links from this episode:

Waking Up | Sam Harris's meditation app

Waking Up: A Guide to Spirituality Without Religion | Sam Harris's book

Chris's Story on Reddit

Jake MacIntyre became interested in different states of consciousness as a young teenager when his older sister introduced him to the topic. He discusses some of his early psychedelic experiences and the increased personal connection he felt while tripping at a concert and at home with his sister. He describes different entities he has encountered on DMT, including one who taught him valuable lessons, only to be forgotten when the DMT wore off. He also talks about a psilocybin experience where he saw his empty room and the pain that would be inflicted on his family if he were to act on suicidal ideations he’d been having at the time. Not all of Jake’s experiences were positive. During one mushroom trip he walked into his friend’s parents bedroom and pulled the blanket off them while they were asleep. Fortunately the parents were kind about the situation.

The purpose of the podcast is for entertainment and harm reduction. Please consult a physician and your local laws before considering the use of psychedelic substances. Please also understand that you may not hold us liable or responsible for relying on any information contained on the podcast or our website.

Links from this episode:

Erowid