Purpose, PTSD & Plant Medicine | Navy Veteran David Hamrick

This week on The Price for Paradise Podcast, I sat down with David Hamrick, a Navy veteran, mountaineer, endurance athlete, and someone who’s taken a very unconventional path through life. Our conversation touches on a wide range of experiences that have shaped David’s perspective: time spent in the Navy, including two attempts at SEAL BUD/S where he reached Hell Week both times; working in the entertainment industry in Los Angeles; extensive mountaineering across multiple countries; and recently completing the Marine Corps Marathon. We also dive into a deeper discussion around healing and mental health. David shares detailed insight into a recent ayahuasca journey, walking through the process, the experience itself, and what it brought up for him. He speaks candidly about PTSD, the therapies he’s tried, and why he believes plant medicine may have a place in helping veterans when approached responsibly and intentionally. This episode isn’t about a single identity or outcome — it’s about resilience, exploration, and continuing to search for meaning, growth, and healing through different chapters of life.