Psychedelic Healing Through Art, Story, and Play with Mareesa Stertz

This week, we meet Mareesa Stertz, a filmmaker, storyteller, artist, and community organizer dedicated to fostering collective healing and transformation. As a co-founder of the Global Psychedelic Society (GPS) and Lucid News, Mareesa has been building platforms that destigmatize, educate, and build community around psychedelics. Drawing from her own journey of trauma and transformation, Mareesa is passionate about using storytelling and art to deepen understanding and bring visibility to the process of healing and wholeness of which she has shared some of her experience on international stages, and through teaching workshops and retreats.  She’s done film work producing and hosting documentary series that can be found on Gaia TV and Amazon, and is currently bringing a large-scale immersive art project, The Sphinx Gate, to Burning Man 2025. Settle in as we take a ride with our co-founder, Jimmy Nguyen, to explore Stertz’s unique perspective on healing, art, and psychedelics. Key TakeawaysMareesa’s healing journey with psychedelics was gradual and layered, with small micro-shifts and realizations, highlighting the importance of integration and subtle changes over time.The creation of community and shared resources, exemplified by the Global Psychedelic Society and projects like the Sphinx Gate, are essential for sustainable, collective healing outside clinical settings.Viewing challenges and personal growth through frameworks like the Hero’s Journey and emphasizing play, storytelling, and community can make the process of healing more empowering, joyful, and meaningful.More From Our GuestStorytelling Catharsis Workshop on May 21st - Join Mareesa for her free online workshop, which will give you the opportunity to share, explore, and discover your story in a meaningful way.TheSphinxGate.com - How well do you Know Thyself? Donate to, or find out more about the mission to bring the Sphinx, Stertz’s immersive art, to Burning Man, 2025. Global Psychedelic Society - Meet other like minded individuals by joining or creating a psychedelic community of your own.This podcast is edited by Chad Eschman. Our music is by Mic Coats. Psychedelic Passage is your partner in safe, supported, and effective psychedelic journeys. As the first concierge service in the U.S., we connect you with vetted facilitators who value integrity and expertise.Start your free Match Making Process, join our Online Learning Community, and explore a range of educational articles at psychedelicpassage.com.