Ayahuasca Podcast with Sam Believ

Metta Beshay, citizen science in Amazon, Gringo experiences, Icaros and Ayahuasca tourism.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Metta Beshay, a filmmaker, musician, and creator known for his citizen-scientist approach to ethnobotany and plant traditions. Metta explores misunderstood substances, Indigenous cultures, and the realities behind modern plant-medicine tourism with humor, skepticism, and deep curiosity.
We touch upon topics of:
Metta’s path from viral videos to ethnobotany storytelling (03:30–05:00)
The realities of the Amazon jungle vs romanticized ideas (34:00–36:30)
Indigenous cultures, tribal politics, and modern monetization (07:30–09:30)
Comparing Aya experiences with other altered states (26:00–28:00)
Music, icaros, and sound as a healing tool (19:00–24:00)
Spirituality vs skepticism and cultural context (38:00–41:30)
Ethics of retreat culture and shaman training (43:30–45:30)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Metta Beshay on YouTube and Instagram at @MettaBeshay

Ceremonial Cacao, Connection & Integration with Danielle de Kisere

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , founder of . Based in Colombia, Danielle has spent over a decade working closely with Indigenous communities to produce ethically sourced, high-quality ceremonial cacao. Her work bridges traditional knowledge, sustainability, and modern processing while supporting local farmers and regenerative practices.
We touch upon topics of:
Danielle’s first Aya experiences and how they led her to cacao (02:00–05:30)
Building Origin Cacao with Indigenous communities in Colombia (06:00–11:00)
Cacao as a daily connection practice vs ceremonial use (13:00–20:30)
Cacao as an integration tool after Aya ceremonies (21:00–26:30)
Ethics, sourcing, and avoiding exploitative cacao industries (29:00–32:30)
Fermentation, roasting, and why “raw cacao” is a myth (55:00–58:30)
Replacing coca crops with cacao and Colombia’s agricultural future (38:30–44:30)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Danielle de Kisere and her work at origencacao.com and on Instagram @origencacao.

Laughing at the Psychedelic Space Without Losing the Message

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , also known as Mycopreneur. Dennis is the creator of Mycopreneur, often called the “Onion of the psychedelic space,” a leading media platform exploring the business, culture, and future of mushrooms through sharp satire, journalism, and long-form interviews with founders, scientists, and visionaries.
We touch upon topics of:
Dennis’ early fascination with mushrooms and altered states (01:30–04:30)
Humor and satire as tools for integration and cultural critique (05:00–10:00)
Trustafarians, influencer culture, and spiritual ego (07:20–12:00)
Ethical concerns, wild-west dynamics, and retreat culture (12:20–16:30)
Visionary exploration vs healing journeys over time (16:30–20:30)
The role of the jester archetype in psychedelic culture (22:00–24:30)
Meme culture, media, and modern communication (51:00–55:30)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dennis Walker at mycopreneur.com, on Instagram @mycopreneur, and through the Mycopreneur newsletter and podcast.

Psychedelics, Addiction, and Recovery with Rick Barnett

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , a clinical psychologist, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and co-founder of the Psychedelic Society of Vermont. With decades of experience in addiction, anxiety, and depression treatment, Rick bridges traditional recovery models with modern psychedelic-assisted therapy, drawing from both personal recovery and clinical practice.
We touch upon topics of:
Rick’s early addiction and path into recovery (00:50–05:30)
Addiction, youth, and the challenge of getting sober early (03:50–06:00)
Replacing addiction with meaning, purpose, and spirituality (07:48–11:00)
Psychedelics, sobriety, and common fears around relapse (12:14–16:05)
Therapy vs retreat models and why multiple paths can work (17:02–19:30)
Integration, spiritual bypassing, and real long-term change (21:08–26:00)
AA, community, and where recovery models succeed or fail (33:05–36:40)
How psychedelics disrupt addictive patterns and cravings (37:46–40:37)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Rick Barnett at vermontpsychedelic.org, on LinkedIn and Instagram at @DrRickBarnett, and through the Solquinox conference in Vermont.

Adeptus Psychonautica: The Dark & Light Side of Ayahuasca Retreats

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , the creator of the Adeptus Psychonautica YouTube channel. Rob is known for his grounded, humorous, and skeptical approach to altered states, sharing honest self-experiments, retreat reviews, and long-form reflections as “an ordinary person having extraordinary experiences.”
We touch upon topics of:
How an Aya retreat led Rob to start his YouTube channel (02:55–04:45)
Good retreats vs badly run retreats and red flags to watch for (05:10–11:40)
Spiritual ego, cult dynamics, and predatory facilitators (08:40–12:30)
Separating the medicine experience from the retreat organization (10:00–11:50)
Exploring different Aya traditions beyond Peru (13:10–15:20)
What it means to be a psychonaut and inner exploration (16:00–19:40)
Creativity, storytelling, and integration after difficult life periods (21:00–23:30)
Healing family relationships through shared ceremonies (23:30–25:30)
Consciousness exploration and daily practice vs ceremony work (26:00–29:20)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Rob and his work on YouTube at Adeptus Psychonautica.

Medicine Song: Dr. Joe Tafur on Mysticism, Healing & the Future of Psychedelics

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , a Colombian-American family physician, curandero, and author who bridges Western medicine with Amazonian spiritual healing. Trained at UCLA and UCSD, Joe spent six years in the Peruvian Amazon studying Shipibo curanderismo and is the author of .
We touch upon topics of:
Joe’s journey as a doctor and curandero (01:16–02:22)
Why he wrote Medicine Song and what it adds beyond his first book (03:39–05:14)
Mystical experiences as a core part of healing (05:14–06:40)
The Eagle and the Condor prophecy: science and spirit uniting (06:40–08:32)
Measuring spiritual wellbeing and connectedness in research (09:03–11:42)
Nature connection as a foundation for healing (13:54–17:56)
The state of the psychedelic renaissance today (21:14–25:31)
Traditional plant medicine and modern clinical therapies learning from each other (26:27–30:35)
The limits of scaling retreats and ethical growth (31:20–44:25)
Building a spiritual community and legal recognition in the U.S. (45:08–51:49)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Joe Tafur at www.drjoetafur.com and his work at www.modernspirit.org.

Why integration matters more than the ceremony with Marc Aixala

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Marc Aixalà, a Barcelona-based psychologist, psychotherapist, and former engineer who has become a leading figure in psychedelic integration. Marc is trained in integrative and strategic therapy, is a certified holotropic breathwork facilitator, has worked on MDMA and psilocybin clinical trials, collaborates with ICEERS, and authored Psychedelic Integration (Synergetic Press).
We touch upon topics of:
Marc’s path from engineer to psychologist (01:01–02:57)
How he defines integration & why definitions fall short (03:25–05:40)
Marc’s metaphors for integration (puzzle pieces, astronaut, developing photos) (05:40–08:40)
Sam’s grocery-shopping metaphor & Marc’s response (08:45–10:49)
Two types of integration: crisis vs. growth (10:49–13:55)
Seven categories of difficult experiences (13:55–17:10)
Preventing harm through preparation & facilitation quality (17:10–18:46)
Dose management and psycholytic vs. high-dose models (21:26–26:23)
Self-inflicted overdosing & patient expectations (26:23–27:51)
Positive/growth integration & the importance of immediate rest (27:51–30:33)
Long-term integration: outer behavior vs. inner insight (30:33–32:13)
Seven dimensions of integration (spiritual, cognitive, emotional, physical, behavioral, social, time) (32:13–35:33)
Avoiding extremes: materialism vs. magical thinking (35:33–36:52)
Why people resist integration & who should be concerned (36:52–39:53)
Overuse of psychedelics and the risks of “more is better” (45:01–48:33)
Spiritual bypassing & misunderstanding ‘light only’ approaches (48:33–52:10)
Indigenous approaches vs. Western integration culture (53:08–56:25)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Marc Aixalà at:Instagram: @marcaixalaICEERS Training & Integration Programs: https://www.iceers.orgBook: Psychedelic Integration (Synergetic Press)

Bia Labate - the global spread of Ayahuasca, women and plants

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Bia Labate, a Brazilian anthropologist, activist, and one of the most influential voices in the global psychedelic movement. She is the executive director of the Chacruna Institute, editor of 28 books, and a champion of Indigenous rights, equity, and cultural integrity in plant medicine spaces.
We touch upon topics of:
Bia’s early psychedelic explorations and road trip across the Americas (01:02)
Her first Ayahuasca experiences and academic journey (02:41)
Pre-Google era of plant medicine research and early stigma in Brazil (03:23)
Ayahuasca’s paradoxical rise in the digital age (07:54)
Loneliness, vulnerable connection, and the appeal of Ayahuasca (09:51)
The evolution of Ayahuasca use in Brazil and globally (11:42)
Comparing Ayahuasca traditions: Santo Daime, UDV, Shipibo, Huni Kuin (16:32)
The limitations of comparing traditions and the food-culture metaphor (19:28)
Why Bia has published 28 books and her methodology (21:49)
Creating legitimacy for Ayahuasca as a field of study (24:38)
The tension between spiritual practice and entrepreneurship (30:51)
Ethical complexities of running an Ayahuasca retreat (32:16)
Integration circles and her mixed feelings toward them (35:39)
The founding, mission, and programs of Chacruna Institute (42:16)
Indigenous Reciprocity and Psychedelic Justice initiatives (44:37)
Chacruna’s conferences, education, and publications (47:01)
Women and psychedelics, invisible labor, and cultural dynamics (50:58)
Menstruation taboos in ceremony and cultural relativism (55:44)
Ayahuasca’s origins and Colombia’s historical role (59:21)
Ayahuasca's global spread to places like Hawaii and Australia (01:03:08)
The cultural mission of Chacruna and decolonizing psychedelic narratives (01:09:02)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Bia Labate at www.bialabate.net or on Instagram @labatebia. Learn more about her organization at www.chacruna.net.

Psychedelics in China, Chinese medicine, ayahuasca's effect on genes with Waifung Tsang

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Waifung Tsang. Waifung is a clinical psychologist, researcher and co-founder of Onaya Sciences, bridging Western psychology with indigenous Amazonian plant medicine, Chinese medicine and sound-based therapies. He also advises Heroic Hearts UK and is a TEDx speaker exploring the intersection of trauma, psychedelics and traditional wisdom.
We touch upon topics of:
(00:55–04:38) Waifung’s journey from music and disillusionment in clinical psychology to ayahuasca research in Peru and co-founding Onaya Sciences
(06:34–11:38) Why ayahuasca is almost invisible in China: censorship, historical suppression of spirituality and underground ceremonies
(11:38–13:58) Dragons, the Monkey King and how Chinese mythology, Taoism and Buddhism resonate with psychedelic experiences
(13:58–19:22) Tai Chi, qigong and Chinese medicine as tools for working with plant diets, chi and ceremony
(19:22–24:19) Parallels between Chinese medicine and Latin American folk wisdom: hot/cold foods, grandmothers’ knowledge and collectivist spirituality
(24:19–29:20) Emerging ayahuasca circles in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan — encrypted forums, harsh penalties and why many seekers are business people
(29:23–34:57) From NHS burnout to the jungle: what Waifung learned from indigenous doctors who treat “whoever comes” with plants, ritual and Icaros
(35:13–39:19) Onaya’s research with Heroic Hearts: veterans, PTSD, traumatic brain injury and early multi-modal findings
(39:19–43:18) Multi-site collaborations with retreat centers, indigenous advisory boards and studying Icaros, dreams and plant spirits
(45:04–47:28) Epigenetics 101: how ayahuasca may influence gene expression and “straighten ancestral lines” — and why much larger samples are needed
(52:50–59:29) Medicine music, energy in ceremony, “bad DJs” vs surgical Icaros, and a new EEG study recording shamans’ songs and brain activity
(01:01:18–01:04:18) How ayahuasca heals on bio-psycho-social-spiritual levels and why community and integration matter as much as the visions
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dr. Waifung Tsang and Onaya Sciences at www.onaya.io, www.onaya.science and on Instagram @onaya.io

Dr. Ido Cohen on integration, shadow work and Jungian archetypes

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Ido Cohen, a clinical psychologist specializing in Jungian and relational depth psychology. He is the founder of The Integration Circle, focusing on psychedelic integration, shadow work, and turning peak experiences into lasting transformation.
• 00:56 Early experiences in India and discovery of integration• 03:08 Why integration is hard & cultural context• 09:00 The illusion of quick transformation• 12:18 Balancing work, business, and integration• 14:40 Integration for busy modern lives• 19:35 Why self-care feels like work• 22:12 Ceremony continues after the ceremony• 25:07 Archetypal & transpersonal dimensions• 29:42 Common archetypes and possessions• 34:52 Soul, religion & invisible forces• 48:02 What is the shadow and shadow work• 52:20 Shadow encounter vs. shadow work• 56:32 Turning darkness into growth
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dr. Ido Cohen at theintegrationcircle.com or on Instagram at @theintegrationcircle