Life is a Festival

What does it feel like to climb every mountain and arrive at the top feeling... nothing? Chris Stakich knows.Chris is the new CEO of Summit, the 18-year-old community behind Summit at Sea. On today's show we talk about following the script until it breaks, the specific loneliness of high performers, what really happened with Powder Mountain, and what Chris is promising the community now that Summit has been acquired by events.com. This is a conversation about building a life around connection rather than achievement.Chris Stakich is a Harvard graduate who spent two decades building Rustic Pathways, a global student travel company, into one of the largest of its kind before serving as Chief Experience Officer at YPO. He is now CEO of Summit, the community and events organization behind Summit at Sea, returning April 23-26, 2026 aboard Virgin Voyages.Links:Summit SeriesSummit (@summit) • Instagram photos and [email protected]

Today on Life is a Festival, Ian MacKenzie and I unpack “Inside the Manosphere:” the performance, the status games, the Lamborghinis that need to be witnessed to exist. We trace it back to father absence, the failure of the nuclear family, and generations of uninitiated men. We explore the distinction between grief and grievance, asking why male pain so readily converts into domination rather than surrender. MacKenzie shares his own four-year cycle of wilderness vigils, sits of four days without food or water, as a counter-image to the Manosphere's hollow heroism, describing initiation not as a heroic feat but as a devastating encounter with one's own smallness. The conversation moves through the crisis of young male loneliness, the complicity of wellness culture in creating the pipeline, and lands on eros and queerness as unexpected antidotes, arguing that the manosphere's deepest poverty is its total absence of genuine intimacy, play, and erotic aliveness.Ian MacKenzie is a filmmaker, writer, and host of the Mythic Masculine Podcast, which explores modern masculinity through the lens of myth, ritual, and culture-making. He is the co-director of The Village of Lovers, a documentary about the intentional community of Tamera in Portugal, and writes on Substack under The Deep Masculine. He is co-facilitating the inaugural Cascadia Men's Conference later this year near Vancouver, Canada, inspired by the 40-year-old Minnesota Men's Conference founded by Robert Bly.Links:Ian MacKenzie WebsiteThe Mythic Masculine PodcastThe Mythic Masculine | Ian MacKenzie | SubstackThe Village of LoversTimestamps:(05:19) Why Myth Matters(12:22) The Manosphere as Hyperobject(22:17) Nuclear Family vs the Village(28:24) Women as Status Props(35:34) Status Scarcity Hierarchy(37:38) Tamara Village (46:11)  Crisis of Uninitiated Boys(51:02) Ian’s Wilderness Vigil Initiation(01:02:12) Eros Queerness Integration

After seven years and more than 180 episodes, this is the final episode of Life Is a Festival in its current form.It felt right to close this chapter with a conversation with my friend Jenna Ansell, cofounder of Medicine Festival about what festivals have promised, what they’ve delivered, and what still matters.In this conversation, we explore why the utopian promise of festival culture feels strained in 2025, whether large gatherings can still act as engines of cultural change, and the difference between individual transformation and collective healing. We talk about ancient ritual technologies, the role of land and lineage, the limits of peak experience, and why play, myth, and the trickster still matter in dark times. Jenna Ansell is the co-founder and managing director of Medicine Festival in the United Kingdom. With a background in social anthropology from Cambridge and international relations from Johns Hopkins, she has worked across political, cultural, and conscious events for over twenty years. Through Medicine Festival, Jenna has helped create a large-scale ceremonial gathering centered on indigenous wisdom, community healing, and relationship to land, and is emerging as a key bridge-builder between festival culture, academia, and spiritual traditions.Timestamps(08:45) – The missing tipping point: why festival utopia never arrived(10:15) – Festivals as liminal spaces and temporary autonomous zones(14:00) – Status-quo festivals vs revolutionary festivals(17:00) – Land, ritual, and why Burning Man falls short(21:00) – What makes Medicine Festival fundamentally different(27:30) – Peak experiences, healing culture, and getting stuck in the underworld(29:45) – Collective healing, ancient traditions, and remembering community(38:00) – Rites of passage, myth, and why festivals still matter(44:00) – Advice to young festival builders in 2025(47:00) – Utopia, striving together, and redefining successLinks:Medicine Festival: HomeMEDICINE (@medicinefestival)rogueriding - 𝐉𝐄𝐍𝐍𝐀 𝐀𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐋How Festivals Build Real Communities from Utopian Visions TEDBRC 2015

At Burning Man 2025 inside the Playa Alchemist Pyramid, I sat down with legendary mycologist Paul Stamets to explore mushrooms, mycelium, and the cosmos. Through scratchy playa dust voices, we connected fungal intelligence with Burning Man culture, random acts of kindness, and the future of psychedelic medicine.Our conversation ranged from Stamets’ new book Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats,, to reflections on mycelium as a cosmic organizing principle and the healing power of biodiversity. We discussed the dangers of misidentification, the promise of clinical trials, and how Burning Man functions as a living ritual for transformation.Paul Stamets is a pioneering mycologist, author of eight books, and an Invention Ambassador for the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has discovered new species of mushrooms (including Psilocybe stametsii), collaborated on breakthrough fungal research, and is known widely as the guide of Fantastic Fungi. His work bridges ecology, medicine, and culture with a vision of mushrooms as allies in human and planetary evolution.Timestamps(04:00) – Stamets introduces his new book Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural Habitats(06:00) – Trickster mushrooms: dangers of misidentification(10:00) – Random acts of kindness vs. AI’s transactional mindset(17:00) – Psychedelics as a creative leap (20:00) – Mycelium as metaphor and cosmic network(25:00) – Burning Man as default-mode reset and the importance of biodiversity and discomfort.(29:00) – Lightning, vibration, and music: how mycelium “listens” to thunder and drums.(34:00) – Clinical trials: comparing pure psilocybin vs. whole mushrooms, healing and neuroplasticity.(46:00) – Mushrooms vs. other psychedelics, democratization of psilocybin, and accessibility.(49:00) – Bees, immunity, and mycelium as planetary medicine: discoveries with pollinators and viral resistance.LinksPaul Stamets - MycologistPaul Stamets (@paulstamets)Psilocybin Mushrooms in Their Natural HabitatsFungi PerfectiGive Bees a ChancePlayAlchemistRoots to Thrive: Community-Based Psychedelic-Assisted TherapyClinicalTrials.gov

There’s no greater mythic mind in modern podcasting than Josh Schrei, the voice and vision behind The Emerald. If you, like me, are already a fan of his deeply poetic and perspective-shifting show, then you’ll understand why I’ve wanted to have him on Life is a Festival since the moment I heard his episode on festivals. In this conversation, Josh and I explore the revival of myth in our modern moment. We talk about the ancient power of festivals, structure and fluidity of gender, the soul’s longing for meaning, and the complex challenges facing young men. We also touch on the pitfalls of self-importance and how myth can humble and reorient us. Finally, we explore the necessity of daily ritual, and how embodiment through practice keeps the sacred alive.Josh Schrei is a mythteller, teacher, podcaster, and founder of The Emerald, a beloved show that brings together sweeping narratives, cinematic sound design, and interviews with renowned thinkers to reawaken the mythic imagination. A lifelong student of mythologies—particularly from the Indian subcontinent — Josh brings decades of study in yoga, meditation, wilderness rites, music, and the arts into his teaching. He also leads The Mythic Body, an immersive course designed to re-enliven the soul through story and practice.Timestamps(05:03 The Power of Myth in Modern Times(23:44) The Role of Festivals in Human Culture(39:18) The Mythic Relationship to Gender(42:34) The Need for Young Men's Rituals(57:33) The Healing Journey and Plant Medicine(01:05:36) Daily Practices for Healing and Connection(01:10:23) The Importance of Relational CoherenceLinksJoshua Michael Schrei | Creating The EmeraldThe Mythic Body: HomeThe Emerald | Podcast on SpotifyJosh Schrei (@the_emerald_podcast)Festivals! Initiation and the Brilliance of Eternity

I recently revisited Iboga — the psychedelic root bark from Equatorial West Africa — six years after first experiencing it in a traditional Bwiti ceremony in Gabon. This time, I received Ibogaine treatment at Beond in Cancún. (Full disclosure: I produce their podcast, Ibogaine Uncovered.) To my surprise, my mentor Benjamin also spends time at Beond, quietly supporting others through their Ibogaine journeys. After my own treatment—complete with a flood dose and a booster dose—the best way to share my experience felt like a conversation with Benjamin himself. I also interviewed Tom, Beond’s CEO, for The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast — check that out for more details on the clinic and Ibogaine. As always, you’ll find links in the show notes. Now, please join me for my chat with my mentor, spiritual guide, and extraordinary role model, Benjamin. Links Ibogaine Treatment Center in Cancun, Mexico | Beond The Yang Container | Benjamin To Escape the Tyranny of the Self | Benjamin The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast Ibogaine Uncovered | Podcast on Spotify Timestamps 05:10 The Ibogaine Process and Its Benefits 09:18 Ibogaine and Traumatic Brain Injury 20:22 Reflections on Healing and Growth 29:57 The Beond Experience 30:43 My Ibogaine Journey 32:32 Post-Treatment Reflections 35:59 Connecting with Others 37:38 Understanding Addiction

In the aftermath of the 2024 election, as half the country celebrates and the other half mourns, Alex Ebert and I find ourselves doing what grown men often do to process complex emotions—we make a podcast about it. It's our fourth time using this particular hack for male friendship, but something feels different, more urgent this time. The exit polls reveal young men swinging dramatically rightward, and I can't help but see this through the lens of masculinity—specifically, the left's failure to provide an aspirational vision of what it means to be a man in these complicated times. On today's show, we dive deep into why progressive spaces have become increasingly inhospitable to young men, who are drifting toward figures like Andrew Tate and Jordan Peterson while the left seems to have lost its grip on the masculine imagination. Alex shares his personal journey of integrating the feminine through meditation and inner work, while we examine everything from RFK Jr.'s campaign to Bernie's legacy to the archetypal pull of Elon Musk. We're using this modern ritual—two microphones and a quiet room—to explore the very crisis of connection that makes such spaces necessary in the first place. Alexander Ebert makes his fourth appearance on Life is a Festival, bringing his unique perspective as an award-winning artist, composer, and philosophical troubadour. Known for fronting both Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and Ima Robot, Ebert has evolved into a penetrating cultural critic through his Bad Guru Substack. Having explored spiritual narcissism and psychedelic culture with us before, he's the perfect companion for examining these thorny questions of masculinity, power, and the possibility of healing our collective wounds. Timestamps (09:00) — Toxic vs. aspirational masculinity (18:30) — Why the object-acquiring man lacks an integrated feminine (28:30) — Are Bowie and Prince integrated? (33:00) — The unhelpful narrative of “Boohoo white man” (44:00) — RFK and Bernie Bros (54:00) — Barack Obama and cool security (59:00) — The power of myth (1:10:00) — The allure of the unconflicted man Links Bad Guru | Alex Ebert | Substack Bad Guru (@alex_ebert) • Instagram Life is a Festival: Dunking on the New Age is Boring Now Life is a Festival: A Love Letter to Earnestness Life is a Festival: Healing New Age Narcissism

On the eve of the U.S. presidential election, we’re exploring the theme of participation, a principle central to both Burning Man culture and our role as citizens. In this episode, I’m joined by Megan Miller, former Director of Communications for Burning Man, to talk about how civic responsibility and active engagement can help us navigate this complex cultural moment. I’ve also included a clip from a recent Substack article by one of my favorite thinkers, Jamie Wheal, to set the stage for our conversation. On the show, Megan and I discuss the importance of civic responsibility and the role of local government, especially in a time of political polarization. We delve into her 2020 article, Reaching Across Party Lines, and examine how festivals like Burning Man can foster unity. We also touch on gender and the dynamics in the 2024 election, as well as the way forward after November. Megan served as Burning Man’s Director of Communications from 2014 to 2021 and is a seasoned political strategist with experience in the U.S. Senate, political campaigns, environmental advocacy, and HIV/AIDS prevention. She brings her expertise in public engagement and strategic communications to today’s discussion, helping us think about participation beyond the election. Timestamps (05:00) “The Curse of the Clever” by Jamie Wheal (15:00) Burning Man and Civic Responsibility (20:00) Megan’s Early Political Career (26:00) Cities and the Importance of Local Government (33:00) Navigating Political Polarization (41:00) The RFK Question in the Burning Man community (48:00) Gender and the 2024 Election (58:00) The Way Forward After the Election Links Megan K. Miller (@millermegank) Megan K. Miller Reaching Across Party Lines with Participation and Civic Responsibility Jamie Wheal | Substack: Homegrown Humans Newsletter The Gender Election - The Daily

Atish last joined us four or five years ago for a powerful conversation about authenticity, anxiety, and life as an artist. Now, as he takes a break from touring to prioritize mental health, I knew it was time to have him back for an inspiring and candid conversation. In this episode, Atish and I discuss the challenges of touring, redefining success as a DJ, and Atish’s unexpected desire for a “day job.” We explore the validation cycle between DJing and social media, the courage in vulnerability, and what it means to connect with the South Asian community as an artist. Together, we even do a little men’s work, unpacking the ideas of service, legacy, and giving back to one’s community. As many of you know, Atish is a celebrated DJ, producer, and mentor—he even composed the opening music for this podcast! His unique blend of vulnerability and presence has always inspired me, and I’m honored to share our conversation with you.  Timeline (04:00) — Touring is stressful (09:00) —  What it means to “make it” as a DJ (16:45) — Atish wants a day Job (22:45) — DJing is immediate validation (32:00) — Setting a vulnerable example on social media (43:30) — What does it mean to be a South Asian artist? (49:00) — Atish and I do mens work  (55:00) — Serving the South Asian community LINKS atish (@atishmusic) • Instagram photos and videos atish: DJ, Producer, Manjumasi, Mentor

How does Burning Man stay relevant for a new generation and beyond the Black Rock Desert? The dust has settled from Burning Man, and the photo dumps have all been dumped but today we're diving into a deeper conversation about the relevance of the event itself. My guest, Will Chase was Burning Man’s Minister of Propaganda until 2016. He’s done more than most to bring the open-hearted play of Burning Man to the default world (ie make life like a festival).  In our conversation, we explore Burning Man as a pilgrimage, the magic of serendipity, and the lasting influence of Larry Harvey. Will shares personal stories and thoughtful insights as we explore the magic of Burning Man and what this community should focus on now. Will Chase was a key figure in Burning Man from 2003 to 2016. He co-founded Fireside Storytelling in San Francisco and is the president of We Are From Dust, which places interactive art globally. He also hosts "Pants Optional" on Shady Pines Radio and co-founded Peak, an immersive experience design company. Timestamps (11:30) Will Chase doesn’t like making things about himself (15:45) Larry Harvey had the right ego to crawl with worms (19:30) Getting to Burning Man is itself a rite of passage (26:30) In Search of Serendipity (30:30) No the magic hasn’t changed… (39:45) … but we are at a cultural inflection point  (47:45) The Minister of Propaganda’s medicine is storytelling (52:30) Bringing Burning Man to the Grand Playa Links: Will Chase Will Chase | Burning Man Journal We Are From Dust About Peak Immersive

Today's podcast is in two parts: First, my reflections (rant) on Burning Man 2024, and second, a repost of my appearance on the Burning Man Live Podcast from a few years ago. During my solocast, I celebrate recent changes in Burning Man, read from a short section of my upcoming book about the concept of cool, and share part of Caveat Magister’s piece about Burning Man passing the torch to the regional network. Finally, I share some changes in the Life is a Festival podcast moving forward. On the Burning Man Live Podcast, I discuss Burning Man’s place in festival culture, the meaning of transformation, exploring masculinity, and what—at the time—I believed lies ahead for the global festival community. LinksLife is a Festival: Voices of the Renegade Burn Has Black Rock City's Torch Passed to the Regionals? Burning Man LIVE Podcast Series Timestamps (02:00) - Burning Man isn’t cool anymore (23:00) - Burning Man Live Podcast (31:15) - Transformational Festivals and the meaning of transformation (36:30) - Masculine archetypes (46:00) - The Psychedelic Therapy Podcast (55:30) - What lies ahead for festival culture and Burning Man in particular

Today’s episode is an encore presentation of a show that aired live on Burning Man Information Radio (BMIR) in 2019 to get you all juiced up for this year’s dirt rave. It features a playful conversation about vulnerability, consent, the trickster, and instant manifestation with Jax, Wolverine, and David Block, the Human Experience. Also, every year, I give a Harm Reduction talk at my camp. For the first fifteen minutes of this episode, I’m offering that information. Please check out more info about fentanyl adulteration, psychedelic peer support, and how to talk to cops at Burning Man in the links below. If you need something to listen to on the ride, you can check out other Burning Man-related content from Life is a Festival here.  Have a great Burn! It’s better with you here! Links Burning Man — Life is a Festival How to deal with cops at Burning Man (2023 update) Zendo Project - Psychedelic Peer Support ⁠New Fentanyl Test Strips⁠ ⁠Learn How To Use NARCAN⁠ A Brief History of Who Ruined Burning Man Timestamps (06:00) Harm Reduction at Burning Man (15:30) Live from BMIR( 23:00) Vulnerable shares (30:50) Masculinity on Playa and performative vulnerability (37:00) Trickster and Play (43:00) Consent at Burning Man (50:50) Instant Manifestation

You know those pithy BuzzFeed listicles about being too old for music festivals? Well, the idea is rather silly. Festivals are multi-generational celebrations where children with glittering faces play alongside elders who share their wisdom. The adventure of a festival is enriched by all ages, much like how our lives are enriched by various stages and transformations. Today's episode is special because we have a returning guest, my longtime friend and mentor, Chip Conley. I used to work with Chip on Fest300, an online guide to the world's best festivals. Chip's latest book, "Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age," is the focus of our conversation. Chip believes midlife is not a crisis but a chrysalis—a time for transformation and growth. In our conversation, we dive deep into the challenges and opportunities of midlife. We discuss the concept of "successism," where societal pressure to achieve can lead to misery, and how to break free from this mindset. Chip shares his insights on embracing imperfection, continuing to love and learn, and viewing midlife as a transformative period akin to the metamorphosis of a butterfly. We also touch on mortality, as Chip reflects on his own journey with cancer and how it has shaped his perspective on aging. Throughout our discussion, Chip reaffirms his love for festivals, emphasizing their importance in our increasingly virtual world.  Chip's illustrious career includes founding the Joie de Vivre hotel chain, contributing to Airbnb's success, and creating the Modern Elder Academy, a wisdom school for midlife. His latest book, "Learning to Love Midlife," offers valuable lessons for anyone navigating this pivotal stage of life. Links: Chip Conley: Home Chip Conley (@chipconley) • Instagram photos and videos Learning to Love Midlife MEA Wisdom Timestamps: (11:00) Breaking the spell of successism  (14:00) Don’t compare yourself to Tim Ferris … or anyone for that matter (23:30) To love being raw and imperfect  (29:30) The transformation of the Phoenix and the Butterfly  (32:45) Life is a festival because it ends (42:30) The more virtual we get, the more ritual we need 

In a world beset by tragedy its important to learn how to grieve. If you don’t feel your feelings you’re going to have problems, but how exactly should we tend to our grief? Today, we are welcoming back Camille Barton to celebrate the publication of their first book, Tending Grief: Embodied Rituals for Holding Our Sorrow and Growing Cultures of Care and Community.  In our conversation today, you'll learn how untended grief can have harmful consequences.  We begin with one of my favorite topics: healing culture and the difference between grief and the ubiquitous concept of trauma. We explore how Camille's journey, from rave culture to recovering from an abortion, led to writing this book. We touch on colonization, the idea that hurt people hurt people, and how, at some point, we were all colonized. We discuss the limits of psychedelic medicine and delve into something Camille calls the Void. Lastly, we cover the Dagara people's grief-tending practices and Camille's grief rituals, including how to make a grief altar.  Camille Sapara Barton is a writer, artist, and embodied social justice facilitator dedicated to creating networks of care and livable futures. As a facilitator, consultant, and curator, their work spans grief, pleasure, and drug policy. Camille is certified in the Resilience Toolkit and developed the GEN Grief Toolkit. Based in Amsterdam, they directed the Ecologies of Transformation master’s program at the Sandberg Institute from 2021 to 2023. Camille’s recently book "Tending Grief," explores collective grief and its impact on communities. Links: Camille Barton Tending Grief Cami | Embodied Ethics, Grief, Dance & Harm Redux Decolonize Your Body — Life is a Festival #85 Timestamps (04:15) - Grief, trauma, and healing culture (15:30) - How Camille came to writing their book from rave culture to recovering from an abortion (23:45) - Colonization: hurt people hurt people (43:45) - Limitations in psychedelic medicine  (50:00) - The Void (1:01:00) - How the Dagara people tend grief (1:09:15) - How to make a grief altar

Tina Nance, yin yoga and embodiment specialist returns to Life is a Festival to share her evolving ideas around gender, trauma healing, and embodiment. In today's episode, we continue our exploration of gender and sexuality. We dive into processing trauma within the nervous system and whether a finite amount of psychological "garbage" needs to be processed for healing. Our conversation spans mythopoetic femininity through the lens of the Egyptian pantheon and masculinity through archetypes. We also discuss the contentious concept of the divine feminine, polarities of masculine and feminine energies,  menstruation from a mythopoetic viewpoint and the Yang of Kuan Yin . Tina Nance brings over 25 years of experience in yoga practice and nearly two decades of teaching globally through classes, workshops, retreats, and teacher trainings. She is the founder of Held: School of Embodied Self Integration, focusing on yoga therapy, yin yoga, restorative yoga, and techniques for nervous system regulation and trauma integration. A prominent figure at The Yoga Barn in Bali, Tina leads extensive training programs and is currently developing the Held Online Yoga and Embodiment School. Tina holds advanced qualifications in yoga therapy, health sciences, and various therapeutic modalities. Links: Tina Nance Tina Nance on Instagram Tina Nance on Yoga Barn ONLINE Life is a Festival: Embodiment Practices for Healing Trauma Timestamps: (06:00) - Processing trauma in the nervous system (19:00) - Embodying the mythopoetic feminine through the Egyptian pantheon (25:00) - What does it mean to be a man? (36:30) - The problem with the divine feminine  (45:30) - Masculine & Feminine or Yin and Yang (52:00) - Mythopoetic menstruation (58:00) - The Yang of Kwan Yin and the trans movement (1:08:00) - HELD: Tina’s newest offering

Today's episode is about love and all its messy colors. Guinevere Rhonwen & Lizz Larouge created the festival Colours of Love on the island d of Koh Phangan as their wedding celebration and continued it even as they were separating.  In this episode, we explore how they embraced love while parting ways at the place of their union. We cover a wide range of topics, including the festival's nature, whether it could be dubbed a "big gay wedding," the influence of female leadership on festival culture, and the concept of celebrating separation. We also touch on cultural sensitivity and the complexities of hosting events in foreign cultures, as seen through Guinevere and Lizz’s experiences in Thailand.  As founders of Colours of Love and the musical duo Wild Sirenda, Lizz and Guinevere share insights into the festival's upcoming iteration and their shared dreams. This episode is a testament to love's complexity. I hope it will help you embrace all the various shades of love in your own life. Links Colours of Love Colours of Love (@wearecoloursoflove) Wild Sirenda (@wildsirenda) Wild Sirenda Timestamps (05:00) - The messy colors of love (16:00) - Was it a Big Gay Wedding (25:30) - A Woman’s Touch (32:00) - Celebration of Separation  (40:00) - How to Choose Love (46:00) - Why Koh Phangan (51:00) - Cultural sensitivity 

I've never had so many requests for guests to return to the show as I have for Sami and Sharon.  As you may recall, a few days after the events of October 7th, I asked Midburn co-founder and artivist Sharon Avraham, and his Palestinian theme camp co-lead, peace activist Sami Awad, to come on the show and share their immediate experience. Much has happened since then, and many of you have wanted an update from these two friends.  You will be happy to know that they are involved in an ambitious peace project called the Lighthouse, which they share on the show today. We start with the role of the spiritual community amidst conflict and the impact of conflict on personal relationships. We talk about the reality of violence and hope for change in the region and the role of the festival community in peace efforts. Then we get into this ambitious Lighthouse Project, which is really a vision for peace in the Middle East taking place outside of the Middle East. It gets a lot of inspiration from other movements, specifically from Tamera, which was showcased on the last episode, a healing biotope in Portugal. We discuss the three pillars of the Lighthouse. They have a very clear map for what they're trying to do there. And we discuss the challenges of building the Lighthouse and how you, dear listener, can get involved.  Sharon Avraham, co-founder of Midburn and the Fugara art collective, uses photography and installations to explore human connections. A passionate artist-activist, he's collaborated with Palestinian Peace Activists, documenting and bridging diverse realities. His works span from intimate portraiture to broader social narratives. Sami Awad is the Executive Director of the Holy Land Trust and is deeply influenced by his family's history in Palestine and teachings of nonviolent resistance. Educated in the U.S., he holds a Master's Degree in International Relations and promotes global peace. Links The Lighthouse Project Timestamps (07:00) The Role of the Spiritual Community Amidst Conflict (10:30) The Impact of Conflict on Personal Relationships (16:30) The Reality of Violence and the Hope for Change (23:00) The Role of the Festival Community in Peace Efforts (32:00) The Lighthouse Project: A Vision for the Future (38:00) Inspiration from Tamera (43:00) The Three Pillars of the Lighthouse (1:00:00) The Challenges of Building the Lighthouse (01:10:30) The Role of the Burning Man Community

Does open relating always lead to polyagony? Or is there a way to heal the wounds of gender and experience love free from fear?    Today we are revisiting an episode originally released in 2019 with Ian McKenzie and Julia Maryanska about the Love School at Tamera. Their documentary "Village of Lovers," will be available at a global streaming premiere on February 7th. We revisit this discussion about love, relationships, and intentional communities today in a new edit.  In this episode, we dissect the complex dynamics of free love, the challenges and solutions prototyped by Tamara, and the personal journeys of those seeking healing within communal witnessing. Julia shares her contrasting experiences between One Taste and Tamara, offering a unique perspective on sexuality-based communal living. We explore the significance of personal healing for collective benefit, especially in romantic relationships, and tackle the myths surrounding the concept of 'The One.' The conversation also navigates through the nuances of jealousy, brotherhood in romantic contexts, and establishing genuine connections beyond superficial narratives. We touch on sensitive topics like women's safety in polyamorous spaces and the political implications of healing gender relationships.  Ian MacKenzie is a filmmaker, writer, activist and host of the Mythic Masculine podcast. His films include Occupy Love, Amplify Her, and the Village of Lovers. Julia is a filmmaker who has worked on numerous award-winning documentaries. Her work re-imagines how we look at women’s bodies,  relationships and our approach to sensuality through video poetry, her other film UNION and her photographic project “Sensual Surrealism.” Along with their co-director John Wolfstone, Julia and Ian are part of the filmmaker collective Re/Culture Films.  Discover the pioneering role of Tamara in addressing the intricate challenges of love and connection in Village of Lovers, available on February 7th. Links The Village of Lovers - What Will It Take To Regenerate Trust? A Cry From the Future - Free Online Summit Feb 10-14 Tamera Peace Research & Education Center in Portugal Julia Maryanska Julia Maryanska (@juliamaryanska) IAN MACKENZIE | New Paradigm Visionary Artist Ian MacKenzie (@ian.mackenz) Timestamps (09:30) - The Origin and Evolution of Tamara (12:00 )- Contrasting the One Taste and Tamara (17:00) - Personal Healing in Witness and Service of the Collective (27:30) - Free Love and the Myth of the One (34:00) - We Can’t All Live in Tamara (41:00) - Eros and Eco Villages (43:00) - Dealing with Jealousy  (48:00) - Making Contact by Dropping Your Story (58:00) - Woman’s Safety in Polyamorous Spaces (1:06:00) - The Personal is Political: Healing Gender Relationships

In Part Two of our Taoist sexuality series, focusing on woman’s body’s and yin principles, I speak with the Senior Woman’s Instructor at Tao Garden, Gillian Reid. Gillian shares her insights on yin and yang energy, self-love, and intimacy. Beginning each day with gratitude and stretching, she highlights the importance of focusing on the heart and finding balance in one's daily activities. She also discusses how to harness one's energy using principles of Taoism, including the microcosmic orbit and the jade egg practice. Reid shares the ways in which Taoism views the use of psychedelics and sexual fantasy, emphasizing the principle of cultivating and conserving one's own energy. Reid imparts valuable wisdom on embracing and working with contrasting energies in relationships and personal experiences. She also announces her upcoming online workshop aimed at women who want to learn more about these practices. Gillian Reid is trained in Tai Chi under Master Franco Mescola, with significant contributions to the Tai Chi Research Centre and Metodo Biospirali. Her journey in internal arts like Qigong, Taijiquan, and various martial forms has been transformative, guiding her to help others achieve health and spiritual growth. Trained by Grandmaster Mantak Chia, she has become a Senior Instructor and Holistic Operator of the Universal Healing Tao System. Gillian also serves as the Italian Coordinator and Organizer for the Tao Garden community. Links:  Gillian Reid’s Website - Biotaolife Gillian Reid instructor profile - Tao Garden Tao Garden Timestamps: (06:58) Understanding the Taoist Approach to Energy (08:28) Exploring Personal Energy and Work-Life Balance (10:28) Journey into Tai Chi and Spiritual Growth (14:28) Influence of Master Franco Mascala and Biospirals (25:42) Understanding Yin and Yang in Modern Context (39:14) Understanding the Microcosmic Orbit (40:02) The Benefits of Jade Egg Practice (42:20) The Impact of Kersai Massage (45:02) Yin and Yang in Relationships (49:27) The Role of Daily Practice and the Taoist Perspective on Psychedelics (55:16) Exploring Sexual Fantasy and BDSM in Taoism (58:39) The Importance of Cultivating Energy and the Future of Taoist Practices

Guys, have you ever wished that instead of ejaculating and falling asleep, you could shoot orgasmic energy up the back of your spine to revitalize your mind and experience rolling orgasms? Well, it turns out there's an ancient Taoist practice that teaches just that, and all it takes is a bit of training. After an erotic detox last year, I embarked on a pilgrimage to the renowned Tao Garden, located just outside of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand, to learn from Master Mantak Chia. Master Chia, a celebrated Taoist teacher, is best known for his book "The Multi-Orgasmic Man" and his expertise in the alchemy of erotic energy.  In our conversation, we start with the basics of Qi and Five Elements Theory, delve into Mantak’s journey from Christianity to Taoism, and discuss how to cycle erotic energy using the microcosmic orbit. We also examine the release of stagnation through the controversial kersai treatment and conclude with the Three Gates technique, a Taoist method for pleasing a woman. The discussion wraps up with a Taoist perspective on psychedelics, sex addiction, and spiritual growth. Mantak Chia is not only a Taoist master but also a globally recognized spiritual teacher. He has authored over sixty books, including the bestseller "The Multi-Orgasmic Man.” He is the founder of both Tao Garden in Thailand and the Universal Healing Taoist System and has shared his knowledge with hundreds of thousands of students worldwide for over fifty years. This episode is the first of a two-part series on Sexual Kung Fu, focusing on yang - the male perspectives and experiences. The subsequent episode will offer a balance with yin, delving into the feminine experience. Remember, this exploration transcends gender binaries and invites all to learn from both perspectives. Links:  Master Mantak Chia Mantak Chia & Universal Healing Tao Tao Garden Grandmaster Mantak Chia (@mantak_chia) The Multi-Orgasmic Man Timestamps: (12:30) - Qi Gong and Five Elements Theory (17:00) - How Mantak Chia’s Christianity influenced his Taoist teaching (23:00) - Yin/Yang, Masculine/Feminine, and genderfluidity (28:30) - The Microcosmic Orbit  (33:30) - Kersai treatment (36:30) - Taoist perspective on sexual addiction (40:00) - The Three Gates for pleasing a woman (44:00) - Do psychedelics have a place in Taoism?

Lately I've noticed a curious trend: many of my female friends, particularly those from the Burning Man community, are exploring a path of sexual healing by becoming Professional Dommes. To shed light on this phenomenon, I spoke to Colette Pervette, a professional dominatrix and the mentor behind MistressClass, an immersive program designed to guide women into the realm of becoming a dominatrix. In this episode, we explore the origins and motivations behind kink and Colette and I role play a man seeking the services of a dominatrix. Our discussion ranges from the potential for burnout, to contrasting male and female doms, and the intricate dynamics of power in BDSM. Colette shares the intersection of kink and Buddhism, the experience of participating in one of her Mistress Classes, and the empowering role of a coven in teaching BDSM. As our conversation progresses, we become aware of a power dynamic unfolding between us, offering valuable insights for us both. Colette, a professional Dominatrix with over 18 years of experience, combines deep practice and theoretical understanding of BDSM into an alchemical, spiritual approach to kink. With a Ph.D. in Education from UC Berkeley, she focuses on dispelling misconceptions about kink and alternative sexuality through her teaching and writing. As an Educatrix, she instructs women and couples in the art of FemDom and BDSM, guiding them to discover and wield their personal power. Her online course, MistressClass, offers an immersive journey into becoming a Dominatrix, helping hundreds of women and femmes step into their full power and authority. Links Colette Pervette Colette Pervette, PhD (@colettepervette) Timestamps (10:30) - Why are all my friends becoming Professional Dommes? (12:00) - The childhood seeds of Colette Pervette (17:45) - Does kink come from the Collective Unconscious (26:45) - What type of person visits a Dominatrix? (32:00 - Do you get burnt out as a Pro Dommes? (36:00) - The difference between a male Pro Dommes and a Dominatrix (41:30) - What is a power dynamic? (46:00) - Kink and Buddhism (51:00) - The Dom is subconscious and the sub is self-conscious (55:30) - The power of a coven for teaching BDSM (1:00:30) - How can men support

Today we're immersing into immersive experience design through one of the world's most iconic theatrical experiences, Sleep No More. Joining the production right out of college, my guest Ilana Gilovich-Wave is now Sleep No More’s Chief Storyteller. In today’s episode, I chat with Ilana about Sleep No More, immersive experience design, and carving out a path as a young artist. We also delve into how Ilana’s career path can inspire those just starting out. We cover advice for young creatives in experience design and explore Punchdrunk's unique approach, which includes utilizing derelict buildings and the anonymity afforded by their signature masks. We discuss the production’s blend of Shakespeare and Hitchcock, and why effective experience design is inherently transformational. We conclude with a deep dive into ephemerality and the impact of impermanent experiences. This episode traverses a range from the erotic to the concept of death, mirroring a Shakespearean journey in its own right.  Sleep No More is a production by the British theater company Punchdrunk, the brainchild of directors Felix Barrett, Maxine Doyle, and the entire Punchdrunk team. It's currently running in New York City until February 25th, 2024. Links Ilana Gilovich-Wave Ilana Gilovich~Wave (@lanzyponz) Sleep No More Timestamps (10:00) - Don’t say Macbeth (13:30) - Advice to young creatives who want to get into experience design (21:15) - Dynamic ingredients from derelict buildings to attendee masks  (30:30) - The marriage of Shakespeare and Hitchcock through movement (40:15) - Why good experience design is transformational  (50:15) - Death and the potency and ephemerality 

Apparently, ancient Ireland was like the Amazon, with impenetrable forests navigable only by rivers, deep mysticism, and its very own indigenous medicine, the psychedelic Liberty Cap mushrooms. Today on the show, recorded in Southern Ireland, I’m speaking with Darragh Stewart. Darragh is not only a molecular biologist and a passionate advocate of Celtic mysticism and Irish culture, but he's also the co-founder and scientific lead facilitator at Inward Bound, one of the world's first psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands. Our conversation is particularly special as it comes after an unforgettable adventure in Ireland. Being of Irish ancestry myself and visiting Ireland for the first time, I was fortunate to have Darragh guide me through sacred sites in the southern part of the country. Join us as we share insights from our travels and how we incorporate the essence of festivals into our lives. During the show, Darragh and I delve into the ancestral pain of the Irish and compare ancient Ireland to the Amazon. We explore the use of Liberty Cap psychedelic mushrooms as indigenous medicine in Ireland, discuss the Irish School of Shamanic Studies, and recount our journey through sacred sites. Lastly, we talk about Darragh’s work with Inward Bound psychedelic retreats. Dr. Darragh Stewart, a Ph.D. molecular biologist, is a passionate advocate of Celtic mysticism and Irish culture. He is the Co-founder and Scientific Lead Facilitator at Inward Bound, one of the world's first legal pioneering psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands, and is deeply involved in men’s work. Links Inwardbound: Irish, Celtic Psychedelic Psilocybin Retreats Dr. Darragh Stewart Phd Timestamps (08:00) - The ancestral pain of the Irish  (15:30) - Ancient Ireland was like the Amazon (19:00) - Liberty Cap Mushrooms are the Indigenous Medicine of Ireland (28:00) - Dunderry, the Irish School of Shamanic Studies (32:00) - Darragh’s, the PhD biologist’s, first Irish mushroom  (44:00) - Our journey through Irish sacred sites (52:00) - Darragh’s Inward Bound psilocybin retreats in the Netherlands

On October 7th, Natalie Sanandaji, a Persian Jew from New York, attended a psytrance festival, to dance and feel the acceptance she only finds among her fellow peace-loving trancers. The events of that day and what has followed are deeply etched in our global consciousness. Today on Life is a Festival, Natalie tells her story. Our conversation today isn’t about sensational details or moral positions. Instead, Natalie and I have deliberately chosen to focus exclusively on the experience of a young person caught in an unbelievable situation. For those seeking an Israeli and Palestinian dialogue, I recommend my previous episode with Midburn co-founder Sharon Avraham and Palestinian peace activist Sami Awad who handle the topic with love and grace. The point of today’s talk is to illustrate how one young woman is transforming terror into service and to recognize the extraordinary courage and care of the good souls of the Tribe of Nova. On the show, Natalie shares the unique magic of psytrance in fostering acceptance and peace and we pay tribute to the souls lost at the Nova festival. Natalie recounts the harrowing experience of making choiceless choices in the face of terror, how she's psychologically processing the attack, and her emergence as a leader and spokesperson, including her involvement in a New York fundraiser for victims where we first met. Natalie, an Iranian Jew born and raised in New York, is a survivor of the Nova Festival Hamas terror attack. She hosts the Person Girl Podcast where she and her cohost Millie Efraim discuss topics deemed taboo in the Persian Community and interview a wide range of guests who offer a new perspective.  Links ńätööšh 🫶🏽 נטלי (@nataliesanandaji) Persian Girl Podcast Persian Girl Podcast (@persiangirlpodcast) Sharon Avraham & Sami Awad: The Prayers of an Israeli and a Palestinian Burner Timestamps (06:30): Natalie’s Persian Girl Podcast (11:00): The special magic of a psytrance festival (17:30): The good souls of the Tribe of Nova (27:30): Natalie’s out of body experience and making choiceless choices  (37:00): What it’s like to run from terror  (44:30): Rescued by a hero in a white pickup truck (51:00): The rise of anti-semitism after the attack (57:30): How’s Natalie doing… really

In light of the recent tragic events in Israel, particularly the horrific attack at Nova festival, I wanted to offer the global festival community a conversation centered on hope. Today's Life is a Festival episode features Sharon Avraham, co-founder of Midburn, and his theme camp co-producer, Palestinian activist Sami Awad, as they extend a call for healing. On the show we discuss Midburn, Israel's Burning Man regional event, and Sami’s dedication to nonviolence. The two talk about their joint camp for Israelis and Palestinians at Midburn, reflect on Supernova's heartbreaking events, and share their hopes for the global community's response. Ultimately, we examine how festivals can present an alternative vision for connection and peace. Midburn, the largest Burning Man regional event in the Middle East, blends the Hebrew term for "desert" with the English "burn.” This year’s event which was set to take place in early November has been cancelled. Sharon Avraham, co-founder of Midburn and Fugara art collective, uses photography and installations to explore human connections. A passionate artist-activist, he's collaborated with Palestinian Peace Activists, documenting and bridging diverse realities. His works span from intimate portraiture to broader social narratives. Sami Awad is the Executive Director of Holy Land Trust and is deeply influenced by his family's history in Palestine and teachings of nonviolent resistance. Educated in the U.S., he holds a Master's Degree in International Relations and promotes global peace.  Links Midburn || מידברן: Home Sharon Avraham Holy Land Trust Timestamps (12:00) - Sharon co-creates Midburn (15:30) - Sami’s nonviolent activism (19:30) - Creating a camp for Israelis and Palestinians at Midburn (23:30) - The horror of attacking a festival  (31:30) - How would Sharon and Sami like the global community respond? (38:00) - Why festivals and burns are the alternative

Today we dive deep into the magical world of shenanigans — or immersive experience design for the uninitiated — with our guest, Tyler Hanson, the brain behind Kulturehaus, a trailblazing agency for festival immersive imagineers. On the show, we explore the crucial role of humor in human survival. We take a historical journey of immersive art from the circus to vaudeville to Dada, to beatniks and hippies, and all the way to the Cacophony Society and Burning Man. Tyler shares how he became a Possibility Artist and the creation of Kulturehaus. We close by dissecting an extraordinary shenanigan, the Chapel of the Golden Promise. Join us for this playful conversation as we uncover the key ingredients and ultimate goals of crafting shenanigans. Tyler Hanson, a renowned cultural engineer and visionary, has dedicated two decades to orchestrating innovative projects worldwide, blending imagination and reality. He has been pivotal in the inception and success of numerous startups, art shows, festivals, and real estate ventures, earning recognition as a producer, creative director, curator, and advocate for transformative change. Tyler founded Kulturehaus, a groundbreaking consulting agency from 2008-2020, creating unparalleled art experiences by connecting pioneering artists and ideas with integrated live events. Links Kulturehaus "Flat Earth" Panel at Symbiosis 2016 Tales of the San Francisco Cacophony Society Timestamps (09:00) - The value of humor for survival (15:00) - What is a shenanigan? (21:00) - From the circus to Vaudeville to DADA to Beatniks (28:00) - The Diggers, the death of the hippie and Emperor Norton (32:00) - Cacophony Society and Burning Man (38:00) - Kulturehaus and becoming a possibility artist (49:00) - The Chapel of the Golden Promise  (59:00) - The ingredients of a good shenanigan  (1:06:00) - The goals of shenanigans

Burning Man 2023 was many things, most of which were not accurately portrayed in the media. We experienced a weather event that united us, tested our resilience, and sparked a renewed sense of purpose while also accelerating a critical examination of where Burning Man stands in the broader context of sustainability. Today on the show, I've asked five different guests to help craft a comprehensive picture of the 2023 event, the state of our culture, and the future of Black Rock City. (01:00) - Eamon's Intro (12:00) - Part 1: Katie Bain (Billboard): "Whimsy Is Reliance" | Katie Bain, Director of Billboard Dance, cuts through the media noise with her balanced and playful perspective on this year's Burning Man. (28:00) - Part 2: Katrina Gordon (Camp KISS): The Grasshopper Prepares | Katrina Gordon, one of the leads of my own Camp KISS, gives the nitty-gritty of camp management and resilience. (51:00) - Part 3: Emily Collins (Seven Circles): Burners of the World Unite! | Emily Collins, an environmental protester, challenges us to consider the ethical implications of such a large-scale event in the face of climate change. (1:14:00) - Part 4: Matthew Sundquist (Fly Ranch): A Slow Burn to Sustainability | Matt Sundquist, director of Fly Ranch, discusses the 2030 Sustainability Roadmap and using a Theory of Change approach to sustainability. (1:41:00) - Part 5: Marian Goodell (Burning Man Project): The Storm is our Portal to the Future | Co-founder and CEO of Burning Man shares her real-time decision-making and unique insights into Burning Man's evolution and its role in the broader climate conversation. Whether you're a seasoned Burner or a curious onlooker, today's episode promises to be a rollercoaster of emotion, insight, and, yes, a bit of whimsy. Because at the end of the day, we're all asking the same questions: In an age of climate uncertainty, should we be gathering for events like Burning Man? Or is it precisely these communal experiences that teach us resilience and keep our spirits high? Links Burning Man Project: 2030 Environmental Sustainability RoadMap Burning Man 2023: Relatively Normal, Honestly Great (Billboard) Thrival Guide RAVE REVOLUTION Fly Ranch - Burning Man Project Burning Man Sustainability Participation Opportunities Climate Change Is an Existential Threat to Black Rock City What is Theory of Change?

Happy procrastination week, my fellow burners! In aid of my own procrastination, I've repurposed an early episode, which is still my favorite on the subject of Burning Man. In this interview, I discuss the philosophy of Black Rock City with Burning Man’s Philosopher Laureate, Caveat Magister (the pen name of Benjamin Wachs). Additionally, I offer a short excerpt from the book I’ve been writing. On the show, we discuss what it means to burn, the power of gifting in building community, and how Burning Man doesn't necessarily need to be a transformative experience. We talk about how it’s okay to be miserable at Burning Man, delve into who “ruined" Burning Man, and discuss whether Burning Man is primarily a "white people thing.” We wrap up with a deep dive into the 10 principles and their shadow opposites. Caveat Magister is the Philosopher Laureate of the Burning Man Project. Before this role, he lived in a Buddhist monastery in India, covered international nightlife for Playboy.com, earned a master's degree in interdisciplinary linguistics, taught autobiographical writing to high school age students in prison, and was a founding member of Burning Man's Philosophical Center. Caveat has authored five books, including "The Scene That Became Cities," which offers a definitive look at Burning Man philosophy, and his most recent, "Turn Your Life into Art: Lessons in Psychomagic from San Francisco's Underground," a manual for creating transformative experiences. For more, visit www.FascinatingStranger.com. Timestamps 04:00 - An excerpt from the book I’ve been working on 19:00 - What does it mean to Burn 23:00 - Giving gifts and building community 27:00 - Burning Man doesn’t have to be transformational 37:00 - It’s okay to be miserable at Burning Man 47:00 - A brief history of who ruined Burning Man 55:00 - Is Burning Man a white people thing? 1:06:00 - The 10 Principles as skills and their shadow opposites Links Caveat Magister FASCINATING STRANGER The Scene That Became Cities by Caveat Magister A Brief History of Who Ruined Burning Man Is Burning Man a “White People Thing?” It's okay to be miserable at Burning Man

My guest today is Max Stossel, an award-winning poet who was named by Forbes as one of the best storytellers of the year. Max and I are talking about one of my all-time favorite subjects: our relationship with the creative muse. You might learn a thing or two about getting unstuck creatively, but at the very least, you are about to hear some exceptional poetry. The show opens with a candid discussion of authentic vulnerability. We discuss the creative process, how to use and break structure, and Max reads a poem about the muse as a lover. He describes the way you are your art's first customer. We explore techniques for getting unstuck creatively, such as parallel creative ventures and accountability. We also discuss artificial intelligence and creativity, and we end with a splendid poem from Max called "The Death of a Former Self." Max is not only an award-winning poet but also a filmmaker and speaker. He serves as the youth and education advisor for the Center for Humane Technology, which is dedicated to realigning technology with humanity's best interests. His one-man show, "Words that Move," is available now. Links: Max Stossel: Words that Move Max Stossel (@maxstossel) • Instagram photos and videos Death Of A Former Self Center for Humane Technology Timestamps: :07 - The challenge of authentic vulnerability :22 - Using and breaking structure  :30 - How to cultivate the muse :38 - A poem for the muse as lover :45 - You are your art’s first customer :56 - Getting unstuck with parallel creative ventures and accountability  1:01 - AI and creation 1:14 - Death of a Former Self 

Today's episode is dedicated to my dear friend, Eviatar Frankel, who died a week ago from complications related to a rare lymphoma. I was privileged to sit with Ev in a men's circle throughout his battle with cancer. Each week, and in countless private conversations, he displayed remarkable grace. This podcast features readings from Eviatar's personal philosophy, deeply rooted in determinism, and includes two interviews. On the show we hear from Erica Dean, a mutual friend pivotal in Ev's care journey and a woman committed to the path of ceremonial medicine. We also welcome back my mentor and spiritual guide, Benjamin, who shared in the men's group experience with Ev. Additionally, we'll share a voice message from Eviatar—humorous, playful, and insightful—that he sent to many friends after a potent experience in the hospital. Rarely do individuals possess the courage, wisdom, or awareness to confront death with genuine presence. Yet, in Eviatar’s worldview, he perceived this opportunity for presence in the face of death as a gift. He approached his journey as a ceremony, and it was an incredible privilege for all of us to participate in that ceremony with him. As the Yawanawa people say, “weak body, strong spirit.” Eviatar, we cherish you. Thank you for gracing us with your wisdom, humor, and boundless joy. Timestamps :08 - Who Eviatar Frankel Was :16 - Eviatar’s Letter  :23 - Ev’s Principles on Waking :36 - The cancer journey as a ceremony :39 - Ev’s voice memo from the hospital :56 - How to be helpful

Psychedelic Science, the largest psychedelic conference in history, put on by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, has come and gone. Today, to recap this event and to emphasize the vital role of the trickster in the psychedelic movement, I'm speaking with Dennis Walker, the Instagram satirist well-known for his roastings of all things psychedelic. In this episode, we explore the role of satire in holding social movements accountable—a necessity in our current times. We discuss the trickster archetype and Dennis, adopting his popular persona, the narcissistic neo-shaman Don Chad, recaps Psychedelic Science. We conclude our discussion with how humor keeps psychedelics entertaining and helps level the playing field. Dennis Walker, our guest today, hosts the Mycopreneur podcast, which showcases and supports fungi entrepreneurs from around the globe. He's a contributing writer at Lucid News, and his popular Instagram channel frequently goes viral due to his candid satirizing of the psychedelic community. Links: Mycopreneur Mycopreneur Podcast (@mycopreneurpodcast) “Psychedelic Fascism: Too Big To Fail?” by Jamie Wheal Timstamps  :12 - Dennis' San Francisco intro to psychedelics  :16 - The role of satire in psychedelics :27 - The trickster archetype :37 - Don Chad’s Psychedelic Science Conference Recap :49 - How humor keeps psychedelics fun and levels the playing field 

Today on the show, I'm speaking with the Godfather of ketamine therapy, author of The Ketamine Papers, and creator of the ketamine lozenge, Dr. Phil Wolfson. This episode marks the first time Phil has shared his insights on this mercurial molecule for those who use it recreationally, or as he prefers to term it, "ground use." As Phil stresses on the show, he doesn't condone any illegal behavior and provides his comments strictly for educational purposes. Our conversation starts with Phil's activist experiences in the sixties and his perspective on non-therapeutic use of psychedelics. He unpacks ketamine's unique signature as a dissociative anesthetic and its therapeutic value, specifically focusing on routes of administration. We navigate the realm of non-clinical, or shall I say, festival ketamine use. I had the chance to pose all my burning questions about Special K to Phil, including some of your questions from Instagram. We discuss whether there's a genuine difference between S and R isomers, if one should "spit the drip" to avoid bladder damage, and if frequent ketamine use leads to memory loss. Most importantly, we address the severity of ketamine dependency.  Dr. Wolfson serves as the President and CEO of the Ketamine Research Foundation and spearheads The Ketamine Training Center. He is the author of 'The Ketamine Papers' and 'Noe – A Father/Son Song of Love, Life, Illness, and Death.’ He served as the Principal Investigator for the MAPS study on MDMA treatment for those with life-threatening illnesses. His substantial work in clinical psychiatry and psychedelic medicine spans decades, with interests reaching into politics, secular Buddhism, consciousness, and activism for social and ecological justice. Links Phil Wolfson, MD | Psychiatry and Psychotherapy Ketamine Research Foundation The Ketamine Training Center  The Ketamine Papers: Science, Therapy, and Transformation Noe: A Father-Son Song of Love, Life, Illness, and Death Ketamine Testing Kit From DanceSafe Timestamps :10 - Phil’s experience in the 60s and the idea of “recreational” substance use  :23 - Ketamine’s unique dissociative signature :29 - S & R isomers and why ketamine experiences are so different and the story of the K-Hole :33 - Therapeutic ketamine use and routes of administration :47 - Equity & Access to psychedelics :58 - Is my party ketamine use therapeutic?  1:10 - Does ketamine cause issues with memory?

Today on the show, I'm in conversation with Sophie Strand, the mistress of mycelial masculinity and author of The Flowering Wand. Healthy masculinity has been a passion of mine for years and it was an honor to learn from this neo-troubadour animist and her poetic insights.  During our discussion, we discuss the androgynous rockstar Dionysus, modern misunderstandings of Odysseus, and the theriomorphic archetype of masculinity. Sophie elucidates why healing is always relational and the role of the festival in helping to "wed our wounds to the earth." Sophie's central thesis is that the trouble with masculinity is that it is like a gut dysbiosis and what we need is to give the masculine a big probiotic hug. Sophie Strand is a Hudson Valley-based writer who explores the intersection of spirituality, storytelling, and ecology. She has authored a collection of essays titled “The Flowering Wand: Lunar Kings, Lichenized Lovers, Transpecies Magicians, and Rhizomatic Harpists Heal the Masculine.” She also wrote “The Madonna Secret,” an eco-feminist historical fiction that reimagines the gospels. Links Sophie Strand Sophie Strand (@cosmogyny) • Instagram The Flowering Wand | Book by Sophie Strand The Madonna Secret | Book by Sophie Strand Timestamps :06 - Androgynous rockstar Dionysus :13 - Modern misunderstandings of Odysseus :21 - Why healing is relational :27 - The role of the festival in healing :34 - How we “wed our wounds to the Earth” :39 - How do we heal masculinity :45 - Theriomorph (half man half human) - rich inheritance of masculinity 1:02 - How to learn like Sophie

Kambo, an Amazonian medicine derived from the secretions of the Phyllomedusa bicolor—also known as the giant monkey tree frog—has been instrumental in maintaining my mental health for the past six years. Today's guest, facilitator Jetta Blaine, helps us understand why, and it boils down to peptides. Our episode begins with essential considerations about vetting practitioners and contraindications for sitting with kambo. We then delve into the basics of the medicine and the origin of kambo as an indigenous practice in the Amazon. Following that, Jetta administers two points of dry kambo to me, allowing me to share the experience in real time. We then immerse ourselves in a detailed exploration of the many peptides involved in this Amazonian cocktail. We conclude our conversation with a discussion on ethical considerations, ranging from concerns about animal cruelty to sustainability practices. Jetta Blaine embodies the wounded healer archetype, having personally battled depression, PTSD, and disordered eating. Before discovering kambo, she lived in ashrams and studied yoga, meditation, and bodywork. Jetta is twice certified with Kambo International, a governing body for Western kambo practitioners, and has been serving for the past two years. She sources her medicine from the Matses tribe through Kambo International. Links moonflowerinsights Kambo International International Association of Kambo Practitioners: IAKP Timestamps :05 - Kambo contraindications  :13 - Trust and vetting practitioners :20 - The origin of kambo :31 - Doing dry kambo :42 - Kambo’s many peptides 1:00 - Ethical considerations

Would you believe that carnivals are a crucial element of social movements? Indeed, today's guest, Professor Nick Powers, suggests that by emphasizing fun, sacrilege, and even the grotesque, we can safeguard social justice against dogmatism and self-righteousness, preventing its co-option. During our conversation, Nick and I reminisce about our early days as passionate, albeit somewhat overzealous, young activists. We share our mutual love of Burning Man, where he co-founded the People of Color Camp. Nick unpacks the concept of the "carnivalesque" and categorizes carnivals into three types: reactionary, status quo, and revolutionary. We propose a path forward, using festivals for social change, specifically for three types of individuals: the fervent young activist, the burnt-out revolutionary, and the complacent progressive. We discuss how diversity finally arrived at Burning Man and, lastly, why the white working class is the "prodigal son" of history. Dr. Nicholas Powers, PhD, is a novelist, poet, journalist, and professor based in New York. As a tenured Associate Professor of Literature at SUNY Old Westbury, his political writing has been featured in Truth Out, The Independent Catalyst, Raw Story, Business Insider, Lucid News, The Village Voice, and Vibe. His books include 'Theater of War,' 'The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man, New Orleans to Haiti, and Occupy Wall Street,' and 'Thirst.' It was an honor to visit Nick in his Brooklyn home for this engaging conversation—the first time on this show that we delve deeply into politics while ensuring that life remains a festival. Links Nicholas Powers The Ground Below Zero: 9/11 to Burning Man Carnivalesque - Wikipedia Burners Without Borders Rabelais and His World MANIFESTO OF SURREALISM Winnicot, Playing and Reality Klaus Theweleit’s Male Fantasies vol 1: Men and Women Asata Shakur For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide / When the Rainbow Is EnufSherman Alexie – Flight (Chapter 1) Timestamps :09 - How Nick and I were both insufferable young activists… and went to Burning Man :27 - Carnivalesque: Reactionary, Status Quo, and Revolutionary Carnivals :44 - The path forward for y the fiery young activist, the burnt out revolutionary, and the complacent progressive :54 - How diversity arrived at the Burn 1:04 - Resources to better understand the Revolutionary Carnival 1:14 - The white working class as the prodigal son of history

Today is National Fentanyl Awareness Day, and I believe this issue to be the most pressing concern facing our community of cognitive liberty. I use drugs and psychedelics to explore my consciousness, and many of the people I love do the same. The issue of fentanyl adulteration and the 100,000 deaths categorized as overdoses in 2020 indicate that this problem affects us all. I personally have friends who have died from fentanyl adulteration. In this episode, I am reposting a conversation I had with Mitchell Gomez, the director of DanceSafe. Our original podcast was longer, covering various topics before concluding with a discussion about fentanyl. I've shortened that episode, focusing entirely on what we can do about fentanyl: understanding why it appears in various drugs, the importance of testing all drugs, how to test them, why we should carry Narcan, and how to use it. Essentially, this is a comprehensive PSA about fentanyl. Mitchell serves as the Executive Director for DanceSafe, a Denver-based 501(c)(3) organization focused on health education and harm reduction. He also works as a Harm Reduction Consultant at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Mitchell has held positions on the CU Denver MURPAA (Master of Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Association) board, the Jefferson County Community Development Advisory Board, and the Denver Drug Strategy Commission Data Subcommittee. If you're someone like me who enjoys using drugs that are unfortunately subject to misguided prohibition, it's crucial for you to know this information. That's why I'm sharing it again today. LINKS Mitchell Gomez: http://www.mitchellgomez.com/ Dancesafe: https://dancesafe.org/ Fentanyl Test Strips – Pack Of 10: https://dancesafe.org/product/fentanyl-test-strips-pack-of-10-free-shipping/ Dancesafe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dancesafe_/ Mitchell Gomez Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MitchellGomezAcamapichtli Prohibition-Driven Misrepresentation and How We Can Fix It Together: https://maps.org/news/bulletin/prohibition-driven-misrepresentation/ Finding Carcan: https://www.narcan.com/ NARCAN training video - Instructions for administration of NARCAN® Nasal Spray 4mg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGdUFMrCRh4 TIMESTAMPS :07 - What is “harm reduction” :11 - An “overdose” is actually a “prohibition created drug adulteration deaths” :16 - Why we’re seeing Fentanyl adulteration in non-opioid markets :30  - Use Fentanyl strips to test your whole bag :44 - How to get and use Narcan

People in conscious communities often pay lip service to shadow work, but what does it truly mean to embrace darkness—both the darkness of the world and within our own hearts? Snow Raven (Haar Suor), a member of the shamanic Sakha people from Arctic Siberia, knows darkness intimately, and it has inspired her transformative music from America's Got Talent to Burning Man. On the show, we discuss the Sakha Republic as one of the darkest places on Earth and explore how mental health challenges can be seen as an initiation into shamanism. We delve into the 12 levels of Arctic Shamanism and how Snow Raven was chosen to carry the sacred drum. We also touch upon the beauty of darkness through Eamon's personal vision of a raven. Snow Raven shares her iconic Reindeer Breath Arctic beatboxing and explains why she considers TikTok to be a platform for small rituals. Born in a small village in Sakha (Arctic Siberia), Snow Raven began learning the language of birds and animals at just three years old. Her voice, deeply rooted in traditional Sakha culture, is truly an instrument. As the originator of "Arctic Beatbox"—the reindeer breath—and the creator of "Neoshamanic Healing" ceremonies, Snow Raven brings a unique perspective to our conversation about meeting all parts of ourselves. Links SUOR - Snow Raven (@snowravenofficial) • Instagram SNOW RAVEN (@snowravenofficial) - TikTok SNOW RAVEN Youtube Article: Gifts of the Ancestors What Siberian Sakha Shamanism Offers to the West Snow Raven - "Web of Life" (OFFICIAL VIDEO) - YouTube Olox.life: Arctic Siberian music Timestamps :07 - The darkest inhabitable place on Earth :16 -  Mental health as initiation to shamanism   :25 - 12 levels of Arctic Shamanism :32 - How the shaman’s blessed Snow Raven’s music :41 - Eamon’s Raven story :45 - The unexpected sweetness of embracing darkness :55 - Reindeer Breath / Arctic Beat boxing 1:04 - TikTok as a platform for creating small rituals 

Victorien is one of the most joyful people I know. The French DJ, flutist, and social impact entrepreneur seems to have a few things figured out. From Vipassana meditation to sobriety, he shares his secrets with us today. On the show, we begin by discussing the nature of joy and despair. Victorien shares his tools for cultivating joy, starting with creativity, and offers advice to young artists who would also love to be big in Pakistan. We discuss the power of nature and delve deep into Vipassana meditation. Victorien and I have both completed two 10-day meditation retreats, each with different results. He shares his journey toward sobriety and how it has also helped him cultivate joy. After the interview, we return to the topic of Vipassana, specifically my beef with honorable S. N. Goenka. Victorien is an internationally renowned DJ and co-founder of the group FDVM. He is an accomplished flutist, with meditations available on Insight Timer. He has a new project called Nākaloka, which is a meditative concert presented by Victorien and his partner, Monica Dogra, featuring flutes, sacred chants, and movements. Victorien is also dedicated to social and environmental causes, co-creating LitterRally, Bali Live, and numerous other initiatives in a humble effort to promote ecological empathy and support those in need. This interview was recorded at Experience House in Morocco, a collaborative mastermind space where the world's leading experience designers and community builders come together. Links: Victorien Joy Victorien (@victorienjoy) • Instagram photos and videos Victorien FDVM Nākaloka Experience House Monica Dogra Vipassana Meditation S. N. Goenka The Mind Illuminated By John Yates  Timestamps :06 - What is Joy? :10 - When Victorien experienced despair :17 - Tools for cultivating joy :23 - Creativity: When Victorien was BIG in Pakistan :30 - Nature: Bathing in the Awe :35 - Meditation: Vipassana, the direct teachings of Buddha :52 - Sobriety: Finding joy without getting high 1:08 - Completion on my feelings about Goenka

Today's conversation is a serious one, yet it is approached with the poetic grace that only Stephen Jenkinson can deliver. Personal growth and healing alone won't shield us from impending catastrophes, but perhaps embracing them might... just maybe. In this episode, we discuss why personal growth for its own sake can resemble a tumor and examine the issues surrounding healing culture. We discuss the concepts of wholeness versus goodness and listen to Stephen's experiences in Cadiz, Plymouth, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We also explore how catastrophe can lead to a period of descent and introspection. Stephen enlightens us on how hope functions like a mortgage, and I have the audacity to ask him what's next. Stephen Jenkinson, a cultural activist, worker, and author, teaches internationally and serves as the creator and principal instructor of the Orphan Wisdom School. Since co-founding the Nights of Grief and Mystery project alongside singer-songwriter Gregory Hoskins in 2015, Stephen has taken this musical, tent show revival, storytelling, and ceremonial performance on tour throughout North America, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. He has authored A Generation's Worth: Spirit Work While the Crisis Reigns (2021), Come of Age: The Case for Elderhood in a Time of Trouble (2018), the award-winning Die Wise: A Manifesto for Sanity and Soul (2015), and other works. Stephen Jenkinson is also the focus of the feature-length documentary film Griefwalker, which provides a glimpse into his work with the dying, and Lost Nation Road, a shorter documentary chronicling the creation of the Nights of Grief and Mystery tours.

Today Ian Mackenzie returns to Life is a Festival to discuss mythopoetic masculinity. Ian is a filmmaker, essayist, and host of the Mythic Masculine Podcast and A Gathering of Stories. He is teaching a new online class called Re-storying Masculinity with Advaya which starts on March 14th. Our conversation begins with a history of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement and its splinter, Men’s Rights activism. We talk about how mainstream culture is really an anti culture that eats culture, including mens work. Ian shares the value of myth vs fact in exploring truth and some of the lessons from three years of interviews about masculinity on his podcast. Ian also shares the story of his four year cycle of fasting in the wilderness for a four day “sit.” Ian has written on subjects ranging from Burning Man to Occupy Wall Street and made films on topics like Sacred Economics, and Tamera the Love School in Portugal. He hosts the Mythic Masculine Podcast and A Gathering of Stories and his most recent offering is Re-storying Masculinity. Links IAN MACKENZIE | New Paradigm Visionary Artist re-storying masculinity — Advaya The Mythic Masculine Podcast - hosted by Ian MacKenzie Iron John: A Book about Men - Bly, Robert  King, Warrior, Magician, Lover Timestamps :11 - The history of the mythopoetic vs mens rights movements :20 - Mainstream anti culture eats cultures including mens work :26 - Myth and fact in the pursuit of truth :40 - Ian’s four day fasting sit in the wilderness :51 - The Mythic Masculine Podcast :56 - The masculine longing to be seen 1:05 - Ian’s Re-storying Masculinity Course

Just over a month ago, the beloved Visionary Artist Android Jones lost his life's work and all his tools for creation in a fire on his property in Colorado. Today, Android returns to Life is a Festival to share his experience of loss, the profound opening of asking for help and his thoughts on AI art. On the program Android describes how he designed his studio as a runway to attract the muse. He discusses his experience of losing the barn and how he processed his grief with kickboxing and the support of a trusted therapist. He shares a traumatic experience when he was eleven years old that made it difficult for him to ask for help but how the love of his community after the fire has helped him to open up. We finish our conversation with the sense of loss that artists feel with the advent of AI art and how this new paradigm will raise the bar for authenticity. Andrew "Android" Jones is an American digital and multimedia artist whose work focuses on fantasy and psychedelic art. He is considered one of the leading figures in the visionary arts movement. Timestamps: :07 - Creating a runway for the muse :12 - Describing massive grief :23 - Andrew’s 11 year old trauma and fear of asking for help :35 - Vulnerability and the artist :46- What Android is doing now :58 - The grief of the artist in the face of AI art 1:08 - AI raises the bar for authenticity Links: Android Jones Official Online Store of Android Jones Android Jones (@android_jones) • Instagram Android Jones (@Android_Jones) · Twitter The Great Decoherence of Android Jones - Lucid News

In 2017 I attended Afrikburn, the Burning Man regional event which takes place a few hours north of Cape Town in the Tankwa Karoo. Afterwards, I wrote an article called “Afrikburn: The Unbearable Whiteness of Burning” with the wisdom and support of Co-founder and Creative Director Monique Shiess. Today on the show, I reconnect with Monique to discuss how things have change for Afrikaburn in the last five years. On the show Monique shares her experience growing up in South Africa and producing events with the radical Mother City Queer Project during the fall of Apartheid. We talk about the founding of AfrikaBurn and the ways it diverges from Burning Man in the US. We discuss the challenges to radical inclusivity in a country with a racial history like South Africa and how the organizers reworked that principle to better reflect the need for assertive action in their country. We discuss Afrikaburn’s new permanent location, land rights in Africa, and the event’s relationship to the indigenous San people. Throughout the conversation we explore what it means to party with a purpose, rather than simply throw and empty “jol.” Monique has worn many hats at Afrikaburn including Creative Director and Development Lead. She is currently on a well earned sabbatical. She studied Environmental Science at University of Cape Town, was a Ranger Umlani Bushcamp, and also a Coordinator at Mother City Queer Project before cofounding the South African Regional Burning Man Event in 2007. Afrikaburn is the 2nd largest official Burning Man event in the world. Links Monique Schiess (@moniqueschiess) • Instagram AfrikaBurn | Invent the World Anew AfrikaBurn - Facebook AfrikaBurn (@afrikaburn) • Instagram AfrikaBurn - Twitter AfrikaBurn: The Unbearable Whiteness of Burning Timestamps :09 - The new AfrikaBurn site is more feminine :13 - Mother City Queer Project and celebrating the end of Apartheid :21 - The “Jol” and how Monique started a burn in South Africa :27 - The difference between AfrikaBurn and Burning Man (the Gerlach Regional): San Clan, 11th Principle :40 - The unbearable whiteness of burning in Africa and attempts to change the demographics of AfrikaBurn :48 - Challenges to creating a more inclusive AfrikaBurn :53 - Amending the “Radical inclusivity” Principle for AfrikaBurn 1:02 - Partying with a Purpose 1:09 - Afrikaburn’s new location and land rights issues in South Africa 1:16 - Afrikaburn’s relationship to the San people, the indigenous people of South Africa

Why is a Buddhist meditation teacher trying to heal attachment styles? Aren’t Buddhists supposed to be all about non-attachment? Today's guest, George Haas, has been teaching meditation since 2000, and lately focuses primarily on preparing the path to enlightenment by resolving maladaptive responses to difficult childhood experiences. On the show we talk about different insecure attachment styles, including anxious-preoccupied, avoidant and disorganized. We talk about what an earned secure attachment actually is and how we can get there based on Dan Brown's work with the three pillars: mentalizing, secure attachment modeling, and the ideal parent figure protocol. We explore how to love someone with a challenging attachment style and the different specific tracks for insecure and disorganized attachment styles to earn secure attachment. And finally, we look at why our attachment strategies impact not only our romantic lives, but our entire experience of the world. George began teaching meditation in 2000. He founded Mettagroup in 2003 and became an empowered teacher through Against the Stream Buddhist Meditation Society, where he taught from 2007 to 2016. Along with his daily Morning Meditation and full schedule of one-on-one students, he continues to teach weekly classes and intensives in Los Angeles, and offer day-long, weekend and extended retreats around the country. He is the host of the “I Love You, Keep Going” podcast. Links Mettagroup I Love You, Keep Going podcast Netherlands Retreat Insight Timer Attachment Repair Timestamps :06 - Why does a Buddhist meditation teacher focus on healing attachment styles :10 - Can your attachment style change? :19 - How to tap into compassion for people with different attachment styles from yours :23 - Organized vs Disorganized attachment styles :30 - How avoidant people shut down :36 - What is an earned secure attachment :41 - The ideal parent figure protocol :45 - Mentalizing and self-regulation :53 - How to love someone with a challenging attachment style 1:00 - The tracks for different insecure and disorganized attachments styles to earn a secure attachment 1:08 - Why our attachment strategies impact our entire experience of the world

If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you may know that I have a mentor and spiritual guide named Benjamin, an extraordinarily generous man who seems to have inexhaustible time for me in guiding my path forward. For many years, Benjamin has been working on a process of dissolution of the constructed self. In this conversation, Ben and I talk about the nature of the self, from a neuroscience perspective to a mythopoetic perspective. We explore completing the construction of the ego before dissembling it. We talk about Dark Nights of the Soul and Spiritual Emergence. We discuss how to navigate praise, success, and pleasure when you are working on reducing the self. Ben offers some tangible ways to see through the self: awareness through vipassana meditation, reducing self-absorption through loving kindness and reducing to zero through a gratitude practice. We discuss mental health challenges and the medicine of service, and finally, I ask Ben: “Is your life a festival?” I'm not going to offer a biography of Benjamin because that would be counter to his very project but he is an extraordinarily generous and kind man who has influenced many, many people's lives and especially my own, and I am deeply honored to offer his wisdom for you today. Happy New Year. Links Life is a Festival #100: The Yang Container | Benjamin How Emotions Are Made | Lisa Feldman Barrett Sapiens - Yuval Noah Harari The Hero with a Thousand Faces : Campbell, Joseph Jules Evans – Medium Kegan's Stages of Adult Development The Stormy Search for the Self: A Guide to Personal Growth ... Life is a Festival #92: A Vaccine for Conspirituality | Erik Davis Life is a Festival #73: Trip Sitting America | The TeaFaerie  Timestamps :06 - Meditation as an anchor point to attune to your greater being :14 - What is the Self :17 - Nueroscientific view of the Self :22 - Mythopoetic view of the Self :30 - Completing the construction of the ego before disassembling it :35 - Dark Night of the soul and spiritual emergence :46- How to navigate praise and success and pleasure :56 - Tangible ways to see through the Self: Awareness of Self through vipassana meditation, reducing self-absorption through loving kindness meditation, reducing to zero through gratitude practice 1:00 - Mental health challenges, the Self, and the medicine of service 1:10 - Forcing functions for maintaining commitment to Self-dissolution 1:15 - Is Ben’s Life a Festival

For Part 2 of our exploration of the psychedelic plant iboga, I have the honor of sharing a conversation with Apollon, a Bwiti N'ganga from Gabon. On the show we open with the colonial history of Gabon and the difference between Bwiti Fang in the North and Bwiti Missoko in the South. Apollon describes the meaning of Bwiti and how Westerns can connect with this spiritual practice. He describes how the Bwiti see addiction and why you have to learn to live with the devil inside you. Apollon shares the Bwiti perspective of Western Ibogaine clinics and finally how Westerners can initiate in Gabon. Born in Gabon, Apollon met the Bwiti many years ago after study other spiritual paths, including Buddhism and Christianity. For many years he has been a bridge, supporting people to learn the Bwiti Missoko tradition. He helps people get initiated with trusted and consecrated masters who practice precisely with the traditional protocol. Through this ancient science, Apollon gives tools to change things inside and outside to create deep transformation. If you want to learn more about Apollon or potentially become initiated yourself, check out Bwiti Initiations. Links Bwiti Initiations Bwiti Initiations on Instagram Timestamps :06 - Christianity, colonization and the tradition in Gabon :15 - The difference between Bwiti Fang in the North of Gabon and Bwiti Missoko in the South. :18 - What is the meaning of Bwiti :23 - How can westerners connect with Bwiti? :28 - Bwiti is practice :34 - How Bwiti see addiction :39 - Learning to deal with the devil inside you :51 - The Bwiti perspective of Western Ibogaine clinics :56 - How can westerners initiate with Gabon

In the first of a two part exploration of the psychedelic West African shrub Tabernanthe iboga, this podcast investigates the Western clinical model and the extract ibogaine HLC. I visited Beond Clinic in Cancun to discuss addiction and trauma treatment with Medical Director Dr. Felipe Malacara and Nursing Lead Vianey Ariadna Perez. On the show we learn how patients receive comprehensive treatment at the clinic. We discuss the neuroscience of iboga and why it is so effective in treating addiction. We talk about ibogaine HCL vs the total alkaloid iboga. We discuss medical ibogaine treatments vs traditional Bwiti rituals and we cover the potential psychological difficulties which can arise. Finally Nurse V shares her ibogaine experience and we review specific integration activities. While Life is a Festival is not sponsored by Beond, I am proud to announce that I am now working with the clinic to launch their new podcast which is hosted by bestselling author Amanda Siebert, you can check out the first three episodes of “Root Medicine" wherever you listen to podcasts.  Beond is an ibogaine clinic in Cancun that incorporates advanced medical expertise, ibogaine, and behavioral therapy to immediately relieve suffering, rapidly detoxify, and provide access to clarity, purpose, and a life that extends past shame, grief, addiction, and fear. Dr. Felipe Malacara is the Chief Clinical Operations Director of Beond with over 17 years of direct treatment at Clear Sky Recovery. Vianey Ariadna Perez, worked in the General Hospital of Cancun prior to joining Clear Sky Recovery in 2018, where she cared for and treated over 500+ clients with ibogaine to help interrupt addiction, substance abuse and heal psychological disorders. Links: Beond Website Beond Instagram “Root Medicine” Podcast Timestamps :14 - How Nurse V interacts with patients at Beond :18 - What is iboga and why is it good for addiction :27 - Ibogaine HCL vs ibogaine total alkaloid :33 - Medical ibogaine treatment vs Bwiti iboga rituals :39 - The potential of psychological calamities with ibogaine :50 - What does it feel like to be on ibogaine :59 - What are the tangible integration activities for ibogaine

To celebrate four years of Life is a Festival, today I’m sharing a conversation I had with my friend Ian MacKenzie about how to conduct a good interview. Whether you want to start a podcast or are simply interested in being a better conversationalist, I think you’ll find this helpful. On the show we go over how to research your guest so you can bring more to the party, how to create a roadmap for an engaging, spontaneous conversation, and how to make your guest feel safe to offer their most vulnerable storytelling. Ian and I share some of our favorite pre-recording rituals. We discuss how to offer precise, lean questions and find out what is most important to you. We end with a discussion of the creative spirit and how to cultivate your relationship with the Holy Ghost. Ian is a documentary filmmaker and host of the Mythic Masculine podcast. This conversation came from his Podcast Accelerator which is launching a new cohort in January. You can get sneak peak of Ian’s newest documentary Tamera, The Village of Lovers during their preview weekend: Reimagining Village, Dec 3 & 4, 2022. Links Ian MacKenzie: https://www.ianmack.com/ Ian’s Podcast Accelerator: https://www.ianmack.com/accelerator2022 Mythic Masculine Podcast: https://www.ianmack.com/mythicmasculine Tamera, The Village of Lovers: https://thevillageoflovers.com/ Reimagining Village, Dec 3 & 4: https://thevillageoflovers.com/reimagining-village Neil Pots interview: https://rolfpotts.com/podcast/tim-ferriss/ Tiimestamps :07 - Do good research so you have a lot to bring to the party :14 - Create a roadmap - not a list of questions :18 - Make your guest feel safe to create on their own terms :25 - Use pre-recording rituals :30 - Ask precise, lean questions that are important to you :38 - Practice your technique so you can let the Spirit move you

As Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act goes to voters, it's the perfect time to consider how powerful psychedelic molecules should enter mainstream consciousness. Today on Life is a Festival Ismail Lourido Ali, Director of Policy and Advocacy for the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) explains the various pathways to legalization including the Decriminalization movement, medicalization, religious exception, and legal adult use. The first half of our conversation is dedicated to Ismail himself, whose life journey gives him a unique philosophy on ending prohibition and a toolkit for helping us get there. We open with Ismail’s cultural identity and his spiritual journey from Islam to the rave scene. We discuss Izzy’s exploration of queerness and gender identity and his work from Drug Policy Reform to becoming a lawyer for MAPS. Izzy clearly articulates the key paths to legalization and his philosophy around each. We discuss key pieces of legislation including California’s SB 519, Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act which goes to voters in this month, and Oregon’s Bill 109 which will legalize and regulate adult use of psilocybin in that state. We conclude our conversation with an invitation to psychedelic entrepreneurs and Izzy’s personal perspective on why Life is a Festival. As MAPS’ Director of Policy and Advocacy, Ismail advocates to eliminate barriers to psychedelic therapy and research, develops and implements legal and policy strategy, and supports MAPS’ governance, non-profit, and ethics work. Ismail earned his J.D. at the University of California, Berkeley School of Law in 2016, after receiving his bachelor’s in philosophy from California State University, Fresno. Ismail has previously worked for the ACLU of Northern California’s Criminal Justice & Drug Policy Project, and Berkeley Law’s International Human Rights Law Clinic. Ismail is licensed to practice law in the state of California, and is a founding board member of the Psychedelic Bar Association. He also currently serves on the board of the Sage Institute, contributes to Chacruna Institute’s Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants, and participates on the advisory council for the Ayahuasca Defense Fund. Ismail is passionate about setting sustainable groundwork for a just, equitable, and generative post-prohibition world. Links: Izzy’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sage_izzy/ Izzy Twitter: https://twitter.com/sage_izzy MAPS: https://maps.org/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAPS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mapsnews/ Psychedelic Science 2023: https://psychedelicscience.org/ Psychedelic Bar Association: https://thepsychedelicbar.org/ Chacruna Institute: https://chacruna.net/ Sage Institute: https://sageinst.org/ MAPS analysis regarding Oregon’s Measures 109 and 110 passed in Nov 2020. MAPS analysis regarding Colorado Proposition 122 MAPS analysis regarding our work on SB519 in CA to decriminalize the personal use of all psychedelics. Timestamps :09 - Blending cultural identities from religion to the rave scene :15 - Ismail’s updated view on Islam, the way of peace :22 - Queerness and Izzy’s personal gender conversation :33 - From drug policy reform advocate to lawyer for MAPS :40 - Experimenting with psychedelic legalization in different US States :52 - Paths to above ground use of psychedelics: Decriminalization :56 - Paths to above ground use of psychedelics: Medicalization :59 - Paths to above ground use of psychedelics: Religious Exemption 1:02 - Paths to above ground use of psychedelics: Adult Use 1:06 - California SB 519, Colorado’s Natural Medicine Health Act, and Oregon Bill 109, 1:14 - Izzy’s challenge to entrepreneurs who use psychedelics 1:20 - Life is a Festival

Mayan Warrior is one of the most iconic mutant vehicles at Burning Man and its impact goes far beyond the Playa. This week on Life is a Festival, founder Pablo González Vargas talks about gifting, Mayan culture, and the challenges of bringing an art car 8,000 kilometers to That Thing in the Desert. On the show Pablo shares his initiation into Burning Man culture and the difficulties the car faced in its first years. We talk about the physical, communal, and spiritual value of Burning Man. We explore gifting, Mayan culture, and collaboration. Finally we talk about how Mayan Warrior brings the best of Burning Man back to Mexico. Pablo is the founder and designer of the Mayan Warrior Mutant Vehicle, a collaborative project that has united artists, craftsmen, photographers, designers, technologists, architects and musicians from Mexico City and Northern California. He is the founder of Mexico’s Sr. Pago, one of Latin America’s leading e-payment platforms, Vargas as well as EXA Radio and TV. Director of multiple productions for the Dish/MVS TV network, Vargas remains a passionate supporter of the Visual and Performing Arts. Pablo is also a cofounder of the foundation Planet Buyback who’s mission is to inspire and motivate people around the world to take actions in their own communities that lead to a better quality of life and a healthier planet. You can catch the Mayan Warrior in LA for their Halloween party Sat, Oct 29, in San Francisco Sat, Nov 19, and at this year’s Art Basel in Miami. Links Mayan Warrior Halloween in Los Angeles, October 29: https://dice.fm/event/agog7-mayan-warrior-halloween-full-art-car-29th-oct-location-tba-los-angeles-los-angeles-tickets?lng=en-US Mayan Warrior in San Francisco, November 19th: https://dice.fm/event/bypqk-mayan-warrior-san-francisco-full-art-car-19th-nov-cow-palace-daly-city-tickets?lng=en-US Mayan Warrior: https://mayanwarrior.com/ Mayan Warrior Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mayanwarrior_/?hl=en Pablo on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pablogv/ Planet Buyback: https://www.planetbuyback.com/ Timestamps :04 - Pablo’s early work in sound for parties :07 - The challenges of brining Mayan Warrior to Burning Man :12 - Three values of building at Burning Man - physical therapy, community, and spiritual :20 - Gifting & the cost of Mayan Warrior :31 - Mayan Warrior’s relationship to Mayan culture :41 - The intention of Mayan Warrior and bringing the playa back to Mexico :46 - The inspiration of Mayan Warrior’s collaborators :51 - Pablo taking his father to Burning Man

In the countryside of Ibiza there is a strange and challenging movement practice called Primal Moves. Founder Nick Brewer’s personal history is stranger still. Today on Life is a Festival, Nick shares his incredible life story from South American smuggler to yogi and the daily practice which became his refuge and his dharma. On the show, Nick shares his story from his time as an alpine skier, to smuggling cocaine in South America, to isolation in the bowels of an Argentinian prison. Nick talks about discovering yoga and building a daily practice in prison. He shares his deep insights from breakdown to breakthrough. Finally he describes developing the technique of primal movement and how the practice went global with the help of passionate burners. Nick Brewer is the Founder of the movement space ‘Primal Moves’ in Ibiza which has become home for a community of movers from an array of backgrounds around the world. This community is now spreading across the Americas and Europe. Professional Hand Balancers, performing Artists and Yogis, mums and dads have been enjoying the vast benefits that come from the practice. Links Primal Moves: https://primalmoves.com/ Primal Moves Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/primalmovesibiza/ Bhagavad Gita: https://www.amazon.in/Bhagavad-Gita-Original-English-As/dp/B07MDTX8BR Yoga Sutras of Patanjali: https://archive.org/details/yoga-sutras-of-patanjali Timestamps :06 - Depression leads to selling drugs in France :17 - Smuggling cocaine in South America :28 - The hell hole of an Argentinian prison :39 - Building a daily practice during four years in an isolation cell :55 - Breakdowns, breakthroughs and blueprints 1:13 - Building a yoga teaching practice after prison 1:21 - The methodology of Primal Moves 1:27 - How Primal Moves went global through passionate burners