The Psychedelic Wayfinder

In this conversation, Joi, Samantha, and Brooke open up about the evolving landscape of informed recreational psychedelic use—where play and intention meet. The group reflects on their own journeys with mushrooms, from first beach trips and bonfire epiphanies to the deeper awareness that comes with age and wisdom. They explore what it means to approach psychedelics with curiosity and care—discussing set and setting, intention, dosage, and safety - while honoring mushrooms as living teachers rather than substances to consume.The dialogue also expands into the growing conversation around legalization and corporate influence, asking: how do we preserve the sacred while making these tools accessible? As they prepare for their next retreat and community discussions inside Mighty Networks, the trio invites listeners to reflect on the balance between freedom, mindfulness, and reverence in their own experiences.

Ever wondered what integration coaching looks like in real time? In this powerful episode, two certified Wayfinder Instructors, Joi Whitmore and Brooke Heller, demonstrate how Wayfinder tools and coaching principles can illuminate even the most challenging psychedelic experiences.Brooke revisits a pivotal journey from her twenties—an experience she once labeled a “bad trip.” Together, we explore what really happens when meaning feels lost, and how curiosity, presence, and symbolic interpretation can bring healing.Using a Jungian-inspired dream-analysis approach referenced in Martha Beck’s work, we look at how to decode the imagery and emotions that surface during or after ceremony. Brooke shares what she learned, why she thought she was finished with medicine work, and how the call to return arrived just a few years later.

In this very special episode, we follow the golden threads of connection that led to the creation of the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective — a story woven across friendship, intuition, and a shared call to bring the feminine back into psychedelic spaces.We begin with Brooke Heller, who shares how the seeds were first planted during Wayfinder Life Coach Training and Master Coach Training, where she met Joi. From early microdosing experiments to witnessing a vision take form, Brooke reflects on the awe of watching something that began as a whisper grow into a movement.The journey deepens with Kristen Shirkey, who reveals why she felt called to name this work Psychedelic Wayfinder. She’s joined by her soul-sister Anahi Abe-Brower, whose embodied wisdom and curiosity helped point them both toward the path we’re now walking together. Their stories remind us how the body often knows before the mind catches up.From there, Joi opens up about the courage it took to stop hiding and claim her niche out loud — right as Samantha McLenachen was feeling her own call into this work. That synchronicity wasn’t just timing, it was part of the web: proof that when we follow the whispers, allies appear.It’s impossible to capture the whole magic of this conversation in words. This episode is living proof of what happens when women follow their intuition, trust connection, and honor the mycelial pathways between us.You’ll have to listen to feel it.

In this episode, Joi welcomes psycho-spiritual therapist Jen Myers, LMFT, to the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective. Their conversation traces Jen’s personal and professional evolution—from early experiences in traditional talk therapy to her integrative approach that weaves together Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatics, plant medicine, and ancestral healing.Joi shares her own therapeutic journey with Jen, highlighting how their two-year relationship supported her through life transitions and processing challenging psychedelic experiences. Jen reflects on her path from pharmacy student to therapist, her discovery of parts work, and the profound influence of spiritual practices and ceremonies. Together, they explore themes of death, ancestral connection, and the necessity of practitioners doing their own inner work to stay aligned with clients.Listeners will hear how Jen blends practical tools with spiritual insights—using breathwork, tapping, visualization, and even intentional cannabis work—to help clients quiet the logical mind and connect with deeper truths. She emphasizes that those guiding psychedelic integration must have personal experience with plant medicine, saying, “You don’t learn how to swim by reading about the water.”The episode concludes with an invitation to join Jen’s upcoming workshops in the community space, where she’ll offer parts work sessions to help participants connect with self-energy, dialogue with parts, and foster harmony within.You can find Jen at: http://www.jenmyerslmft.com/">jenmyerslmft.comOn TikTok: @theconsciousnesscoachInstagram: @itsjenmyers

In this episode, we’re diving into one of our favorite frameworks for psychedelic prep, journeying, and integration: Internal Family Systems (IFS).We start with a brief introduction to IFS and its creator, Dr. Richard Schwartz, who developed this compassionate, non-pathologizing approach to healing by recognizing that we all have many “parts” inside—each with its own role, history, and need for care. Whether you’re brand new to IFS or you’ve used it in your own work, this episode offers a fresh look at how this model aligns beautifully with expanded states of consciousness.Sam brings the laughs and insight with a story about watching Tales from the Trip on Comedy Central, and offers a powerful reminder that “parts work” is nothing new—it’s something shamans and early healers have been doing in their own way for centuries.We also explore:How Joi used IFS during a personal psychedelic journeyWhat IFS-informed preparation can look like before a journeyHow to recognize and work with parts that arise during the journey itselfAnd what makes IFS such a grounded and effective tool for integration afterwardPlus, we share the story of our WPC “Parts Party”—a creative gathering where members of our community showed up as an inner part they wanted to introduce to the group. It was playful, vulnerable, and wildly illuminating.If you’ve ever wondered how to deepen your relationship with your inner world or help your clients navigate theirs, this one’s for you.

In this episode, we dive into an intimate and expansive conversation exploring the vibrant intersections of music, psychedelics, and ancestral healing.From the opening moments, we delve into the potent role of music as a guide in psychedelic journeys, integration practices, and even microdosing. For us, music is far more than background—it’s a co-pilot that shapes the emotional and psychological landscape of transformative experiences. We share personal stories illustrating how certain songs have unlocked memories, triggered cathartic releases, and even allowed different parts of ourselves to speak and be heard.Kristen shares how her relationship with music has evolved over time, moving from classical pieces—which sometimes kept her in her head—to the visceral magic of tribal and rhythmic playlists. She describes how music bridges conscious and unconscious realms, especially when paired with somatic practices like singing or body scans. For Kristen, lyrics have become a kind of map, helping her uncover emotional truths beneath the songs that have always brought her to tears—a practice she’s now integrating into her therapy work.Joi reflects on musical milestones in her own journeys, from a transformative teenage acid trip scored by Led Zeppelin to recent experiences where music engaged all five senses. She shares how poetry and music have intertwined during journeys, revealing how artistic expression often flows organically from psychedelic states and can become a powerful tool for integration.Sam speaks about how different musical “flavors”—from the structured energy of classical music to the primal power of shamanic chanting—shape the tone and depth of a session. She describes how certain shamanic songs feel as though they “know her” and continue to serve as portals back into mystical terrain, whether she’s microdosing or simply listening in everyday life.We also dive into scientific insights that fascinate us, including studies showing how psilocybin enhances emotional responses to music, while SSRIs tend to blunt them across the board. A particularly intriguing 2020 study found that overtone-based music, rather than traditional classical compositions, is more likely to evoke mystical experiences—a finding that has us rethinking the music we choose for future journeys.Yet music’s power isn’t absolute. We explore the healing role of noble silence, reflecting on how intentional quiet can become a profound container for inner work during psychedelic sessions.“Notes from the Other Side” offers a rich tapestry of personal stories, scientific curiosity, and soulful inquiry. We invite you to join us as we explore how music—and sometimes silence—can open portals to the deepest parts of ourselves, guiding us through the unknown and helping us bring wisdom back into everyday life.

In this deeply personal episode, Joi and Sam explore the intersection of ancestral wisdom, psychedelics, and healing. This one goes deep.Joi shares her powerful experience visiting The Sacred Circle in Washington—a space held and facilitated by Sam—where she felt fully supported to reconnect with her roots and spirit.Together, they unpack a vision Martha Beck shared on a podcast, about “Ancient Technologies of Magic” and the calling to train those aligned with the healer archetype. This opens the door to a conversation about remembering what’s been buried, reclaiming what’s been lost, and healing both personal and collective wounds—not by pushing forward, but by going back.Sam also shares some mystical insights from the 7 Fires Prophecy, the Grandmother Song, and how the Sabian Symbols in her natal chart have guided her path.They reflect on the power of radical honesty and storytelling—why showing up raw and vulnerable isn’t just brave, but necessary.

In this episode, Joi is joined by a very special co-host and dear friend: Kristen, the quiet visionary and spark behind the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective (WPC). If Episode 1 was our seedling story, today’s conversation is about how that seed took root and became something real. This is Origin Story: Part II — a tale of alignment, courage, and finding each other through the medicine.Kristen shares how burnout from corporate life opened the door to coaching, eventually leading her to Martha Beck’s program thanks to a book recommendation (Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle). There, she met Anahí, and together they began a trauma-healing journey that led them to psychedelics—despite having no prior experience and a shared dislike of “losing control.”We talk about:The power of trust and intention: How they chose to pursue a legal retreat and realized what mattered most was who would hold space.The spark of resonance: Kristen’s search for “Wayfinder + psychedelics” led her to Joi’s podcast... and an instant connection was made.Our journeys across Ohio, Florida, Mexico, North Carolina, and soon Costa Rica.The way this work keeps drawing soul-aligned people together, including the magical moment Joi introduced Kristen to Sam, which helped complete the trio that is now at the heart of WPC.Kristen reflects on how Joi’s grounded presence during her early journeys gave her the safety and support she needed to fully surrender. She shares how it felt to co-facilitate with Joi, and how these shared experiences deepened both her healing and sense of purpose.We also chat about:Kristen’s current training in somatic coaching and how it weaves beautifully into psychedelic support workHer vision for the podcast, including playful ideas like the Magic Corner, Connection Corner, and a Psychedelic Book Club (yes, we brainstorm on-air!)Whether you’re just discovering WPC or have been along for the ride since day one, this episode is an invitation into the soul of our origin: three women who followed the threads of curiosity, healing, and friendship—into something much bigger than themselves.

In this second episode, we dive into the heart of psychedelic support: integration coaching. What is it? Who does it? And where do we draw the line between a coach and a therapist?Joi shares how witnessing people return from ketamine clinics or ayahuasca journeys without support was the spark that birthed the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective. From teenagers still making sense of early psychedelic experiences to adults carrying unprocessed insight for years, we explore why integration isn't optional—it’s essential.We talk about how the Wayfinder model provides a grounded, intuitive foundation for integration coaching, one that honors the wisdom within rather than prescribing steps from outside. Sam reflects on how integration isn't about forcing meaning, but about trusting the slow unfurling of insight—like throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing what actually sticks.We also unpack:The growing interest in trauma-informed coaching, and when it’s time to refer to a therapistThe challenge of working with clients who are disillusioned by traditional therapyThe differences and overlaps between coach, facilitator, and therapistHow to recognize when someone’s not ready to do the deep work (and why that’s OK)Why “integration” is more than a checklist—it’s a way of being with what’s been revealedWe share integration frameworks like the ACER model and IFS (Internal Family Systems), and offer guidance on how coaches and facilitators can create safe, meaningful practices for clients to carry forward. We also touch on the evolving legal landscape and which certification programs are out there—for those who want to deepen their training with discernment.To close, we invite listeners to reflect: Is there a journey—psychedelic or otherwise—that still lives in you? Is something from a year ago (or more) quietly asking to be integrated?

This first episode is close to our hearts. We’re pulling back the curtain on how the Psychedelic Wayfinder Collective came to be — a seed planted in the most unexpected way: through a Google search for “Wayfinder” and “psychedelics.” Kristen, we love you — your curiosity created a ripple that became this podcast and this growing community.In this conversation, we share our origin story — how Sam and I (Joi) found each other, what called us forward, and why we felt the urgent need to create a space where women, especially coaches, space-holders, and healers, could bring their whole selves into psychedelic work.In this episode:Joi’s early relationship with psychedelics and the shadow of shame cast by the War on DrugsHow training with Martha Beck (WLCT & MCT) helped transmute that shame into sacred purposeSharing about psychedelic coaching for the first time — and watching the room not flinchSam’s search for the right training and how she and Joi connected over a shared initiationThe very first Wayfinder Psychedelic Circle — a gathering of six curious womenOur collective vision for a model of psychedelic facilitation grounded in WayfindingWhat we’ll be exploring in future episodes (spoiler: it’s more than just microdosing)This is the beginning of a journey. A conversation between initiates, explorers, and healers. And an invitation to you — to walk this path with us.