Psychedelic Integration: What Ayahuasca Can't Do for You

In this episode, Mark and Michele kick off the new season with Heather Schwarz, founder of Elevating Perspectives, for a heartfelt conversation about what really happens after a psychedelic journey. After nearly 20 years building a successful career in banking, finance and real estate in Miami, Heather hit an "enough is enough" moment in the middle of a divorce. A friend invited her to her first ayahuasca ceremony, and as she puts it, it was "the switch that flipped everything." More than a decade later, she guides others through preparation and integration, the part of the journey she believes matters most. If you've ever felt called to plant medicine, or you've already journeyed and are wondering what to do with what you saw, this conversation is for you. Heather Schwarz is a psychedelic preparation and integration coach and the founder of Elevating Perspectives. After more than 25 years in entrepreneurship, finance and real estate investing, including roles as a senior private banker at Wells Fargo and at Merrill Lynch, she followed a deeper calling into consciousness work. Drawing on more than 11 years of personal experience with plant medicine and continued learning from leading voices in healing, she helps people navigate their own path to expanded awareness with purpose, safety and clarity. Join us as we explore: Heather's journey from senior private banker to psychedelic integration coach, and the front-porch conversation that led to her first ceremony with ayahuasca, psilocybin and ceremonial cacao. Why the journey itself is only 10 to 20% of the work, and why integration is where real change happens. The ayahuasca ceremony in Panama where Grandmother Ayahuasca showed Heather a vision about one of her daughters, and the changes she made at home and at work the moment she returned. Why integration doesn't have to mean huge life changes, and how small 2% shifts add up over time. Neuroplasticity, and what Heather has seen in herself and others: grief turning into joy, and decades of depression lifting. How Mark and Michele each found their way to plant medicine, and how so many stories in the medicine space begin with a moment of being stuck. The difference between being preached at and feeling a direct connection to God, and how plant medicine deepened Heather's, Mark's and Michele's spirituality. Why fear is the number one thing clients feel before their first journey, and why that fear is often just the ego trying to keep us in the same place. Heather's step-by-step process with clients: understanding their "why," choosing the right medicine and facilitator, setting an intention, preparing mind, body and spirit, and integration calls after the journey. Powerful stories of healing through ketamine, including one that is deeply personal for Mark and Michele. Where psychedelic access stands today, why cost is still a real barrier, and why first-time journeyers shouldn't go it alone. One small step you can take today if plant medicine keeps showing up in your life, starting with trusted sources like MAPS. Whether you're curious about your first journey, preparing for one, or still making sense of an experience you've already had, this conversation is a reminder that the medicine opens the door, but you're the one who walks through it. Share this episode with someone in your life who's been feeling that pull. Connect with Heather Schwarz: Website: www.elevatingperspectives.com Instagram: @theelevatingperspectives Facebook: @theelevatingperspectives YouTube: @elevatingperspectives Join Heather's Mindset Lunch Series, The Shift, in Naples, FL, launching in January and ask about her women's weekend retreat in Naples, limited to 10 women. Learn more here. Connect with Medicine with The Medals: Subscribe on YouTube: @medicinewiththemedals Listen on Spotify Follow us on social media: Instagram, Facebook & LinkedIn. Join our community at Mamadose: community.mamadose.com Keep learning, keep exploring, keep the conversation going