Ayahuasca Podcast with Sam Believ

Western medicine vs amazonian medicine. Lessons after 3400 cups served with Dr. Clara

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Clara —German medical doctor and LaWayra’s Head of Facilitation for the past 10 months. Former hospital physician turned plant-medicine facilitator, Clara arrived as a guest, stayed as a volunteer, and now leads ceremony care and integration. She shares data from 689 patients and ~3,400 cups, lessons from bridging Western and ancestral medicine, and her own deep healing journey.
• [00:00] Role at LaWayra, patient stats, path from guest → facilitator• [00:02] First psilocybin, travels, finding “Ayahuasca in Colombia,” joining LaWayra• [00:04] “Das Vira”: German order vs. psychedelic flow; surrender & patience• [00:07] Western vs. Amazonian medicine—where each excels; building a bridge• [00:12] Mind–body link, prevention, and healthcare cost realities• [00:16] Origins of disease: emotions, tools the medicine teaches• [00:17] Clara’s healing: self-love, depression, reconnection• [00:19–00:22] Uncovering childhood sexual abuse; facing big traumas safely• [00:24] Intergenerational trauma and family ripple effects• [00:26] Psyche in ceremony: “feline/tiger” processes; jaguar lore• [00:28] Transformations: addictions, lifestyle changes post-ceremony• [00:29–00:31] Common challenge: “not connecting” vs subtle connection• [00:32–00:33] Spiritual openings; choosing healer path vs. shaman role• [00:34–00:36] What a Head of Facilitation actually does (safety, team, container)• [00:37–00:41] Integration philosophy: community, practice, therapy, percentages• [00:43–00:45] Self-care routines for facilitators (yoga, meditation, breathwork, journaling)• [00:47–00:50] National trauma, peace, and why Germany needs Aya; presidents drink free
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to  www.lawayra.com
 

Psychedelics and astrology, archetypes, karma and shadow work with Jessica DiRuzza

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Jessica DiRuzza, a depth psychotherapist, astrologer, and educator. Jessica is the co-founder of Trust Psyche, where she integrates depth psychology and archetypal astrology to guide transformation. With 15+ years of experience, she teaches internationally, hosts the Trust Psyche podcast, and mentors students blending soul-centered insight with practical healing.
We touch upon topics of:
Jessica’s journey from psychedelics to astrology (00:55)
Archetypal astrology vs. mainstream astrology (05:25)
Jessica reads Sam’s chart live (06:33)
Fate vs free will in astrology (19:22)
Astrology as a tool for psychedelic integration (24:03)
World transits and the psychedelic renaissance (27:34)
Shadow work and astrology (31:04)
Astrology, trauma, and karma (32:18)
Using astrology as a diagnostic tool (35:14)
Relationships, compatibility, and spiritual bypassing (37:10)
Neurodivergence and astrology (41:39)
Astrology, mysticism, and ancient knowledge (45:07)
Sam’s nodal return and soul’s evolutionary path (47:44)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Jessica at trustpsyche.com, on YouTube at Trust Psyche, and on Instagram at @trust.psyche

Placebo, open science and microdosing with Rotem Petranker

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Rotem Petranker, Associate Director of the Psychedelic Studies Research Program at the University of Toronto, co-founder of the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science, and a postdoctoral fellow at McMaster University. His work focuses on microdosing, attention, emotional regulation, and open science.
We touch upon topics of:
[00:01:00] Rotem’s background and early path into psychedelic research
[00:02:00] Why microdosing research began and early challenges
[00:03:00] Perspectives on drug policy, legalization, and mental health
[00:05:00] Design of Rotem’s psilocybin microdosing clinical trial
[00:07:00] Study outcomes, placebo response, and limitations of once-a-week dosing
[00:11:00] Diversity of participants and feasibility for future research
[00:12:00] The role of set, setting, and the “social matrix” in healing
[00:14:00] Group dynamics, contact high, and integration at retreats
[00:16:00] The challenge of reductionist science versus indigenous traditions
[00:21:00] Replication crisis in psychology and the need for open science
[00:23:00] Pre-registration, open data, and transparency in psychedelic research
[00:35:00] Different epistemologies: indigenous wisdom vs. neuroscience
[00:37:00] Comparing LSD and psilocybin microdosing (duration, variability, safety)
[00:39:00] Benefits and drawbacks of microdosing—mood, anxiety, sleep
[00:42:00] Microdosing vs. antidepressants and side effect profiles
[00:45:00] Bro-science explanation of SSRIs vs. psilocybin and how little we know
[00:47:00] Why open science matters and how to evaluate credible research
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dr. Rotem Petranker at @rpetranker and through the Canadian Centre for Psychedelic Science.

Vitamins V.S. Antidepressants. Nutritional psychiatry

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) speaks with Taron Fletcher, a biochemist and research specialist at Hardy Nutritionals, known for science-led mental health supplements. We explore:
[00:01:00] Taron’s journey into nutritional research and the origins of Hardy Nutritionals
[00:05:00] Lessons from animal nutrition applied to human mental health
[00:07:00] Key factors in creating effective supplements: completeness, balance, ratios, chelation, and research-backed efficacy
[00:12:00] How supplements can support safe tapering from SSRIs and other psychiatric medications
[00:20:00] Typical taper timelines and indicators for dose reduction
[00:24:00] Specific nutrients and adjuncts for mood, anxiety, and withdrawal symptoms
[00:42:00] Challenges of tapering from different drug classes, including SNRIs and benzodiazepines
[00:50:00] Understanding RDA, upper limits, and why higher balanced doses can be beneficial
[00:53:00] Nutritional deficiencies and the impact of processed diets on mental health
[01:00:00] Cost, support, and process for starting Hardy Nutritionals’ program
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Taron Fletcher at www.hardynutritionals.com

Healing relationships with Psychedelics with Chandra Khalifian. Intimacy, trust, attachment and forgiveness.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Dr. Chandra Khalifian, a clinical psychologist, researcher, and educator based in San Diego. Chandra is a pioneer in psychedelic-assisted couple therapy and co-founder of ENA, a clinic and research center focused on healing relationships through ketamine and MDMA-assisted therapy.
We touch upon topics of:
Ketamine-assisted couple therapy and its origins [00:02:00]
Intimacy development and trust violations in relationships [00:06:00]
PTSD in couples and how MDMA therapy helps [00:10:00]
Why "it’s never about the dishes" – deeper relational wounds [00:14:00]
How psychedelics like Ayahuasca can shift ego and improve relationships [00:16:00]
The challenge of integrating solo psychedelic work in a couple dynamic [00:18:00]
The idea of conscious uncoupling with psychedelics [00:20:00]
Ketamine’s safety, addictive potential, and dosing differences [00:25:00]
The published framework for ketamine-assisted couple therapy [00:28:00]
Attachment styles, co-dependency, and emotional regulation in couples [00:31:00]
Teaching couples to validate each other’s emotional experiences [00:34:00]
Integration tools and the need for more research on psychedelic couple therapy [00:38:00]
A powerful story of forgiveness during a ketamine-assisted session [00:42:00]
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Dr. Chandra Khalifian at www.enamarie.org or contact her directly at chandra@enamarie.org.

Ashley Glowiak – Psychedelic Parenting, Rewiring Family Systems with Psychedelics

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Ashley Glowiak, a licensed marriage and family therapist, PhD candidate in transformative studies, birth and postpartum doula, yoga teacher, and MDMA-assisted psychotherapy trainee with MAPS. Ashley specializes in psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy for families, with a deep focus on maternal health and intergenerational trauma.
We touch upon topics of:
Ashley’s healing journey and entry into psychedelics and family systems therapy (00:02:00)
Parenting with consciousness and the concept of “family ecology” (00:06:00)
Intergenerational trauma and Family Constellation work (00:08:00)
Spiritual and epigenetic layers of ancestral healing (00:12:00)
Using Ayahuasca and psilocybin to address family trauma (00:14:00)
A practical framework for healing cycles and trauma with plant medicine (00:17:00)
Somatic integration and neurogenesis post-ceremony (00:20:00)
Breaking relationship and behavior cycles consciously (00:23:00)
How to identify what is truly your authentic self (00:26:00)
Postpartum depression and the healing role of microdosing (00:33:00)
The importance of natural birth, rite of passage, and community support (00:41:00)
The “village mindset” and raising children in community (00:50:00)
Birth as a psychedelic experience and the hormonal reality of labor (00:47:00)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Ashley Glowiak at www.ashleyglowiak.com and follow her private membership community for support on microdosing, family-centered retreats, and integration work.

Brain mapping Ayahuasca experiences, Neuroplasticity, healing and measuring PTSD with Luke Jensen

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Luke Jensen, a former US Marine and National Guard veteran turned psychedelic researcher and neurofeedback practitioner. After his own healing journey with PTSD, Luke now leads veteran-focused retreats in Peru and pioneers research on brain mapping with Ayahuasca and Wachuma.
We touch upon topics of:
Luke’s military background and PTSD healing journey (00:49–02:02)
His first powerful Ayahuasca experience in the jungle (02:06–04:03)
What to do when Ayahuasca “doesn’t work” right away (05:38–08:15)
Unconscious healing and the idea for brain scans during ceremony (08:15–10:19)
What is QEEG brain mapping and why Luke uses it (10:34–12:52)
Neurofeedback as a healing and spiritual optimization tool (12:52–16:06)
Importance of brain health in mental health recovery (16:31–18:35)
Working with UFC fighters and brain injury recovery (19:03–21:30)
First-ever brain imaging study on Wachuma (21:50–23:39)
Differences between Ayahuasca and Wachuma (24:10–25:47)
Science, skepticism, and cultural projections onto indigenous shamans (33:20–36:41)
The role of science in legitimizing traditional medicine (36:41–41:11)
How Luke became a self-taught neuroscientist outside academia (44:11–45:46)
Brainwaves 101: delta, theta, alpha, beta, gamma explained (48:24–50:09)
Ego and the Default Mode Network (51:46–52:29)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Luke Jensen at neuroenlightenment.com

Winning a championship on megadose of mushrooms with Mark Irwin

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Mark “The Shark” Irwin — former bare-knuckle boxing world champion turned psychedelic mental health advocate. Known for fighting on heroic doses of psilocybin, Mark now leads a nonprofit supporting athletes recovering from traumatic brain injuries through psychedelic therapy.
We touch upon topics of:
Mark’s story and fighting career journey (00:03:00)
Microdosing and traumatic brain injury recovery (00:04:00)
Fighting competitively on psilocybin (00:05:00)
Flow state and performance enhancement through psychedelics (00:07:00)
Legality and controversy around psychedelics in sports (00:09:00)
Intentions and different uses of plant medicine (00:10:00)
Psilocybin tolerance and intentional usage (00:11:00)
Boxing, childhood trauma, and emotional release (00:13:00)
The therapeutic use of psychedelics for brain healing (00:15:00)
Mental health, masculinity, and emotional expression (00:20:00)
Psychedelics and ego dissolution (00:29:00)
Suicidal ideation, healing, and hope (00:33:00)
Recovery protocols: red light, HBOT, integration (00:38:00)
Future vision: healing others post-fighting (00:40:00)
Movement, fitness, and somatic integration (00:42:00)
Athletes Journey Home nonprofit & fundraising (00:44:00)
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Mark Irwin at www.athletesjourneyhome.com or on Instagram @markthesharkirwin

Elizabeth Ramirez - conscious entrepreneurship, awakening, bridging business and ancestral wisdom.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Elizabeth Ramírez, a Colombian mentor, speaker, and former corporate strategist who left behind a high-powered consulting career in Switzerland to follow her heart into the world of ancestral medicine, spiritual coaching, and conscious leadership. Elizabeth now helps guide others in their own healing and awakening journeys through a blend of plant medicine work, meditation, and transformational teaching.
We touch upon topics of:
[00:02:00] Leaving the corporate world and returning to Colombia for healing
[00:04:00] First Ayahuasca experience and its subtle long-term impact
[00:07:00] What “receiving medicine” really means vs. what people expect
[00:08:00] Cultural conditioning, gender roles, and the pressure to be a “good girl”
[00:13:00] Spiritual transformation after moving back from Switzerland
[00:16:00] Rebranding Colombia away from drugs and toward nature and medicine
[00:23:00] Meditation as a path to awakening and connection
[00:29:00] Dangers of rushing Ayahuasca breakthroughs and the value of patience
[00:31:00] Ego, integration, and learning the real lessons from the ceremony
[00:38:00] Her mission to unite leaders through heart-centered, spiritual entrepreneurship
[00:43:00] The role of mushrooms and their connection to creativity and integration
[00:49:00] Life as ceremony and creating sacredness in the everyday
[00:54:00] Manifestation, physics, and aligning with desired realities
If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com
Find more about Elizabeth Ramírez at @elramirezdu on Instagram.

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_