Ayahuasca Podcast with Sam Believ

Dennis McKenna - Ayahuasca, mushrooms, human symbiosis with Nature.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dennis McKenna, PhD—renowned ethnopharmacologist, author, co-founder of the McKenna Academy, and pioneer in psychedelic research for over 40 years. A central figure in the psychedelic renaissance, Dennis has explored the intersection of plant medicine, indigenous wisdom, and science since the 1970s.
We touch upon topics of:
Dennis’ early trips to Colombia and the origins of the “La Chorrera” experiment (05:10)
The unexpected role of mushrooms in his spiritual awakening (11:50)
DMT and the search for orally active psychedelics (15:30)
Shifts in his scientific path after the La Chorrera experience (22:20)
Conducting biomedical studies with the UDV in Brazil (31:45)
Differences between psilocybin and ayahuasca (45:15)
The ethics and cultural impact of ayahuasca tourism (49:00)
Sustainable ayahuasca cultivation and community economics (53:30)
The myth of how indigenous people discovered ayahuasca (59:10)
The importance of preserving tradition in modern psychedelic use (1:06:40)
The vision for global symbiosis between North and South through plant medicine (1:13:20)
Climate change and the message of Gaia through psychedelics (1:17:55)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dennis McKenna at https://mckenna.academy or on Instagram @dennismckenna_

Jason Grechanik - tobacco, cosmovisión, the path of curandero.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Jason Grechanik — a curandero, tabacero, and the host of The Universe Within podcast. Jason spent over a decade living in the Peruvian Amazon training in the Shipibo tradition. His work bridges plant medicine, traditional cosmologies, and deep healing practices through tobacco and Ayahuasca.
We touch upon topics of:
Jason’s path to becoming a curandero and his early interest in spirituality and martial arts (00:27–03:39)
The concept of Ayahuasca "calling" and plant consciousness (04:02–06:36)
Tobacco as a master plant and its traditional uses (07:06–11:57)
The role and practice of a tabacero (12:09–14:34)
Tobacco initiation and altered perception (15:01–20:28)
Intention and the neutrality of plant medicines (21:02–25:44)
Sam’s personal relationship with tobacco and the loss of tradition (26:29–29:20)
Risks of Ayahuasca being misused or misunderstood (29:20–36:40)
Cosmovision and how worldview shapes experience (39:45–47:25)
Definitions of spirit across traditions (47:30–54:35)
Understanding spiritual disease (55:02–60:06)
The emergence of plant medicines into the modern world (62:09–67:32)
Advanced civilizations, pyramids, and Ayahuasca as ancient technology (68:02–82:50)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Jason Grechanik at nicotianarustica.org or on Instagram @jasongrechanik. You can also listen to his podcast The Universe Within on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts.

Ayahuasca, masculinity, volunteering at LaWayra with Rinus Van Offeren

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Rinus van Offeren. Rinus is a former Dutch special forces bodyguard who once protected royalty and politicians, and is now a men’s coach helping others heal through emotional reconnection and plant medicine. His transformation from a high-stress, emotion-suppressing life to spiritual awakening through Ayahuasca is a powerful and moving journey.
We touch upon topics of:
3:01 — Midlife crisis, depression, and loss of purpose
4:30 — Stress, hypertension, and hospitalization
5:50 — Breakup and emotional collapse
7:59 — Suicidal ideation and sitting on the rock in Ibiza
9:45 — First Ayahuasca ceremony in the jungle of Mexico
11:34 — Belief in God and spiritual awakening
13:38 — Feeling connected to everything (God as unity)
15:10 — The soul’s journey and view on death
16:46 — What to do if you’re feeling suicidal
18:00 — Plant medicine vs psychiatry
21:07 — “What if Ayahuasca saved Chester Bennington or Kurt Cobain?”
22:16 — Letting go of control and facing inner darkness
23:09 — The difficulty and reward of healing
24:41 — Emotional repression, stress, and physical symptoms
25:35 — Rinus’s past as a teenage drug dealer
27:30 — Transition to government work and emotional detachment
29:12 — Reconnecting with emotions and becoming human again
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Rinus van Offeren on Instagram or linked in @rinusvanofferen to learn more about his coaching work with men.
 

David Londoño - bad trips, safety, healing, integration and Colombian plant medicine.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with David Londoño.
David is a Colombian psychologist and researcher at ICEERS (International Center for Ethnobotanical Education, Research, and Service). With over 20 years of experience, he focuses on the therapeutic use of Ayahuasca, safety protocols, and integration practices. David bridges Western psychology with traditional Amazonian wisdom, helping improve mental health outcomes in modern plant medicine contexts.
We touch upon topics of:
David’s personal journey into Ayahuasca and clinical psychology (01:11)
The therapeutic potential and risks of Ayahuasca (03:02)
The AyaSafety course and best practices (04:28)
How to properly prepare, serve, and integrate Ayahuasca (07:39)
Psychological screening and who should avoid the medicine (11:48)
What integration really means and why it matters (14:17)
Cultural differences: Colombian vs. Western attitudes (19:08)
Magical realism and the spiritual worldview of Colombia (25:18)
What “bad trips” really are and how to understand them (29:05)
Ayahuasca as a tool for depression, trauma, addiction, and grief (34:16)
Reconnecting with self, nature, and spirituality through Ayahuasca (38:07)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about David Londoño by searching “David Londoño psychology” on Google to access his professional profiles and connect with his work.

Troy Casey - certified health nut, from Versace model to jungle medicine, ripped at 60.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Troy Casey, also known as the Certified Health Nut. Troy is a holistic health coach, author of Ripped at 50, and former Versace model who transformed his life through fasting, herbal medicine, breathwork, indigenous healing, and ayahuasca.
We touch upon topics of:
Troy’s transformation from fashion model to health advocate (01:17–03:50)
His early ayahuasca experiences in the Amazon and three life-changing visions (06:43–12:50)
Humanity’s spiritual awakening and vision for a conscious future (16:24–23:20)
Environmental destruction, geopolitics, and the rainforest (24:25–29:10)
Rockefeller history, pharma, and the Flexner report (29:36–31:02)
First principles of health and his 9 Pillars of Wellness (37:02–41:20)
Views on purpose, fatherhood, and feminine roles in raising children (38:27–40:50)
Urine therapy, Maori healing, and unconventional yet effective practices (42:19–44:26)
Ego, balance, emotional processing, and the spiritual journey (45:26–50:14)
Troy’s powerful definition of Ayahuasca and its healing potential (54:23–57:50)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Troy Casey at www.certifiedhealthnut.com or follow him on social media @CertifiedHealthNut across platforms.

David Hodges - god, mushrooms and law.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dave Hodges.
Dave is the founder of the Church of Ambrosia, a psychedelic church in Oakland, California, known for its use of mushrooms as sacraments. With over 125,000 members, Dave is one of the most outspoken advocates for entheogens as religious tools and has pioneered breakthrough dose work for spiritual insight, healing, and consciousness exploration.
We touch upon topics of:
Founding a psychedelic church and early raids (01:24–03:29)
Legal challenges and city pushback (04:01–06:04)
Psychedelics as religious sacraments (06:24–07:34)
Understanding the soul and afterlife (07:38–08:35)
What is a breakthrough dose and how it’s calculated (09:15–12:37)
Dangers of overdose and gradual dosing (12:46–13:52)
Origins of religion through mushrooms (14:36–15:47)
Aliens, dimensions, and God (17:04–20:38)
What it’s like running a psychedelic church (21:04–22:05)
Safe environments and the “God’s Sitters” project (22:12–24:40)
Can the soul get lost? (25:34–26:40)
Church leadership, books, and the Book of Ambrosia (26:46–29:25)
Encounters with dark entities during ceremonies (30:09–32:31)
The war on drugs and financial incentives (33:08–40:16)
Legal battles and how the church fights back (40:29–41:24)
Who comes to the church and why (42:05–43:18)
Business model and sacrament contributions (44:03–44:39)
Dave’s vision for humanity and the soul (45:02–46:01)
Risks and special conditions (48:01–49:27)
Integration practices and audio journaling (49:42–51:59)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dave Hodges at ambrosia.church, zydedoor.com, or follow him on Instagram at @davehemp420.

Micah Stover - healing psychedelics, trauma, integration and the power of the village.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Micah Stover, a certified psychedelic somatic therapist, educator, and author of Healing Psychedelics. Based in Mexico, Micah specializes in trauma healing through plant medicine, blending clinical models with indigenous traditions. Her work is rooted in personal experience with complex trauma, motherhood, and cross-cultural wisdom.
We touch upon topics of:
Micah’s traumatic birth story and healing journey (01:28)
Birth and motherhood as psychedelic experiences (04:31)
Postpartum depression and ancestral trauma (06:11)
The role of MDMA and psilocybin in healing (12:39)
Nature as a co-facilitator in integration (16:28)
Cultural insights from Mexican and Latino worldviews (20:28)
The power of playfulness and reverence for children (25:50)
Travel and relocation as healing catalysts (28:06)
The importance of community and "finding the village" (29:22)
Group vs. one-on-one healing work (32:55)
Lessons from curanderas and traditional medicine perspectives (36:08)
Science vs. spirit in psychedelic healing (40:14)
Understanding and healing complex trauma (42:56)
Accessing preverbal trauma through somatic memory (46:05)
A profound healing story involving mobility restoration (48:35)
Who Micah’s book is for and why she wrote it (50:48)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Micah Stover at www.micahstover.com and on Instagram @micahsugarfoot.

Choosing the right healing path with LanaRose Berger

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Lana Rose Berger, a holistic health advocate and the founder of Conscious Concierge, a wellness service offering personalized guidance for those exploring alternative healing modalities.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
Lana’s journey from a high-pressure career in New York to holistic healing (1:29)
The role of Ayahuasca in her personal transformation (3:49)
Challenges of integrating Ayahuasca experiences in modern life (5:58)
The concept of karmic entanglements and lineage healing (17:54)
Responsible approaches to recommending Ayahuasca (19:58)
Conscious entrepreneurship and integrating spirituality in business (41:29)
The impact of AI on conscious living and future perspectives (46:42)
Common challenges faced by high achievers seeking spiritual growth (33:26)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats, go to www.lawayra.com.
To learn more about Lana Rose Berger, visit www.yourconsciousconcierge.com or follow her on Instagram at @yourconsciousconcierge and TikTok at @consciousconcierge.

Filming the best Ayahuasca Documentary with Sam Lipman-Stern

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Emmy-nominated documentary director Sam Lipman-Stern. Known for HBO’s Telemarketers, Sam opens up about his journey from media burnout and antidepressant use to profound emotional transformation through Ayahuasca, which inspired their upcoming documentary.
We touch upon topics of:
Synchronicity and how they met
Initial skepticism and misconceptions about Ayahuasca
DMT visions and being called to the jungle
Stopping antidepressants and mental health struggles
Burnout and disillusionment with mainstream media
Rebranding Colombia from cocaine to Ayahuasca
The power of storytelling and why this documentary matters
Using humor and depth in the documentary
Ayahuasca showing childhood purpose and healing trauma
Emotional awareness and masculinity
Cultural conditioning, parenting, and emotional repression
Challenges of post-Ayahuasca integration
Sam’s daily integration routine
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Sam Lipman-Stern at @sam_lipmanstern and watch Telemarketers on HBO Max.

Gabor Maté on Trauma, Ayahuasca and the wisdom of pain.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté. Gabor is a renowned physician, speaker, and author best known for his groundbreaking work on trauma, addiction, child development, and the mind-body connection. His books include In the Realm of Hungry Ghosts and The Myth of Normal.
We touch upon topics of:
Gabor’s personal healing journey (2:00)
His first Ayahuasca ceremony (5:10)
The importance of community in healing (7:06)
How trauma causes the heart to close (9:00)
The wisdom of trauma and adaptations (12:23)
Modern society as a root of disconnection (15:00)
Accumulated trauma and “death by a thousand cuts” (20:31)
How Ayahuasca helps addiction by addressing pain (23:59)
The risk of Ayahuasca evangelism (27:11)
Psychedelics and facing death (28:09)
Parenting and emotional availability (32:10)
The role of play in healing (37:15)
Dealing with criticism and healing from not being seen (40:42)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Gabor Maté at www.drgabormate.com