In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Wade Davis. Wade is a world-renowned ethnobotanist, anthropologist, and explorer; former National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence; and author of One River, The Serpent and the Rainbow, The Wayfinders, and Magdalena. Together, they explore Wade’s early journey into Colombia, Richard Evans Schultes, the roots of Yahé/ayahuasca knowledge, ayahuasca tourism, and Wade’s mission to liberate coca from the shadow of cocaine.

We touch upon topics of

• 00:01–00:52 Wade Davis intro and why this conversation matters

• 00:55–09:38 Wade’s first arrival in Colombia, “destiny,” and meeting Schultes (plus Schultes’ advice to try ayahuasca)

• 09:38–22:55 Did Schultes go deep with entheogens? Set & setting, pioneers, and the psychedelic era context

• 22:55–25:28 Yahé vs ayahuasca in Colombia: pharmacology, MAOIs, admixture plants, and early research

• 25:28–36:02 Why Peru became the ayahuasca “center” and how access shaped tourism (and why Colombia being overlooked helped)

• 36:02–41:10 Colombia, violence, and the “peace dividend” of a more intact Amazon

• 41:10–01:01:38 Coca: benefits, racism behind demonization, nutrition, WHO/UN policies, and why it matters for Colombia

• 01:01:38–01:14:23 Wade’s travels, National Geographic mission, and the McKenna brothers story (Dennis vs Terence)

• 01:14:23–01:27:16 Ayahuasca vs other entheogens: frequency, respect, terrifying vs ecstatic experiences, San Pedro comparisons

• 01:27:16–01:33:04 Sam’s “third S” (skill): preparation, dosage, integration, and how modern retreats can work well

• 01:33:04–01:36:31 Wade’s closing lesson: “Take your side and get on with it”

• 01:36:31–01:37:59 Where to start with Wade’s books + invitation to visit LaWayra

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Wade Davis at www.daviswade.com

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , an Australian multi-instrumentalist, ceremonialist, and trauma-informed facilitator best known for his work in Spiritus Breathwork, somatic healing, and sound-based transformation. With over a decade of experience, Tim blends breath, movement, energy work, and music to guide deep healing and integration.

We touch upon topics of:

• Tim’s journey from elite Muay Thai fighter to healer after a life-altering injury (00:41–02:16)
• First Aya experiences, shamanic awakening, and long-term integration (02:16–03:46)
• Apprenticeship in the jungle and the origins of Spiritus Breathwork (04:16–06:41)
• Breathwork vs Aya: similarities, differences, and altered states (11:56–17:59)
• Trauma, nervous system regulation, and somatic healing (16:32–29:56)
• Dangers of spiritual bypassing and over-doing the work (30:05–34:01)
• Breathwork inside ceremony: grounding vs amplifying (34:15–38:47)
• Sound, music, and vibration as healing technologies (58:19–62:33)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Tim Morrison on Instagram at @timmorrison__ or contact him at info@tim-morrison.com.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with Metta Beshay, a filmmaker, musician, and creator known for his citizen-scientist approach to ethnobotany and plant traditions. Metta explores misunderstood substances, Indigenous cultures, and the realities behind modern plant-medicine tourism with humor, skepticism, and deep curiosity.

We touch upon topics of:

• Metta’s path from viral videos to ethnobotany storytelling (03:30–05:00)

• The realities of the Amazon jungle vs romanticized ideas (34:00–36:30)

• Indigenous cultures, tribal politics, and modern monetization (07:30–09:30)

• Comparing Aya experiences with other altered states (26:00–28:00)

• Music, icaros, and sound as a healing tool (19:00–24:00)

• Spirituality vs skepticism and cultural context (38:00–41:30)

• Ethics of retreat culture and shaman training (43:30–45:30)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Metta Beshay on YouTube and Instagram at @MettaBeshay

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , founder of . Based in Colombia, Danielle has spent over a decade working closely with Indigenous communities to produce ethically sourced, high-quality ceremonial cacao. Her work bridges traditional knowledge, sustainability, and modern processing while supporting local farmers and regenerative practices.

We touch upon topics of:

• Danielle’s first Aya experiences and how they led her to cacao (02:00–05:30)
• Building Origin Cacao with Indigenous communities in Colombia (06:00–11:00)
• Cacao as a daily connection practice vs ceremonial use (13:00–20:30)
• Cacao as an integration tool after Aya ceremonies (21:00–26:30)
• Ethics, sourcing, and avoiding exploitative cacao industries (29:00–32:30)
• Fermentation, roasting, and why “raw cacao” is a myth (55:00–58:30)
• Replacing coca crops with cacao and Colombia’s agricultural future (38:30–44:30)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Danielle de Kisere and her work at origencacao.com and on Instagram @origencacao.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , also known as Mycopreneur. Dennis is the creator of Mycopreneur, often called the “Onion of the psychedelic space,” a leading media platform exploring the business, culture, and future of mushrooms through sharp satire, journalism, and long-form interviews with founders, scientists, and visionaries.

We touch upon topics of:

• Dennis’ early fascination with mushrooms and altered states (01:30–04:30)
• Humor and satire as tools for integration and cultural critique (05:00–10:00)
• Trustafarians, influencer culture, and spiritual ego (07:20–12:00)
• Ethical concerns, wild-west dynamics, and retreat culture (12:20–16:30)
• Visionary exploration vs healing journeys over time (16:30–20:30)
• The role of the jester archetype in psychedelic culture (22:00–24:30)
• Meme culture, media, and modern communication (51:00–55:30)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Dennis Walker at mycopreneur.com, on Instagram @mycopreneur, and through the Mycopreneur newsletter and podcast.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , a clinical psychologist, licensed alcohol and drug counselor, and co-founder of the Psychedelic Society of Vermont. With decades of experience in addiction, anxiety, and depression treatment, Rick bridges traditional recovery models with modern psychedelic-assisted therapy, drawing from both personal recovery and clinical practice.

We touch upon topics of:

• Rick’s early addiction and path into recovery (00:50–05:30)
• Addiction, youth, and the challenge of getting sober early (03:50–06:00)
• Replacing addiction with meaning, purpose, and spirituality (07:48–11:00)
• Psychedelics, sobriety, and common fears around relapse (12:14–16:05)
• Therapy vs retreat models and why multiple paths can work (17:02–19:30)
• Integration, spiritual bypassing, and real long-term change (21:08–26:00)
• AA, community, and where recovery models succeed or fail (33:05–36:40)
• How psychedelics disrupt addictive patterns and cravings (37:46–40:37)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Rick Barnett at vermontpsychedelic.org, on LinkedIn and Instagram at @DrRickBarnett, and through the Solquinox conference in Vermont.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , the creator of the Adeptus Psychonautica YouTube channel. Rob is known for his grounded, humorous, and skeptical approach to altered states, sharing honest self-experiments, retreat reviews, and long-form reflections as “an ordinary person having extraordinary experiences.”

We touch upon topics of:

• How an Aya retreat led Rob to start his YouTube channel (02:55–04:45)
• Good retreats vs badly run retreats and red flags to watch for (05:10–11:40)
• Spiritual ego, cult dynamics, and predatory facilitators (08:40–12:30)
• Separating the medicine experience from the retreat organization (10:00–11:50)
• Exploring different Aya traditions beyond Peru (13:10–15:20)
• What it means to be a psychonaut and inner exploration (16:00–19:40)
• Creativity, storytelling, and integration after difficult life periods (21:00–23:30)
• Healing family relationships through shared ceremonies (23:30–25:30)
• Consciousness exploration and daily practice vs ceremony work (26:00–29:20)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Rob and his work on YouTube at Adeptus Psychonautica.

In this episode of Ayahuasca Podcast, host Sam Believ (founder of www.lawayra.com) has a conversation with , a Colombian-American family physician, curandero, and author who bridges Western medicine with Amazonian spiritual healing. Trained at UCLA and UCSD, Joe spent six years in the Peruvian Amazon studying Shipibo curanderismo and is the author of .

We touch upon topics of:

• Joe’s journey as a doctor and curandero (01:16–02:22)
• Why he wrote Medicine Song and what it adds beyond his first book (03:39–05:14)
• Mystical experiences as a core part of healing (05:14–06:40)
• The Eagle and the Condor prophecy: science and spirit uniting (06:40–08:32)
• Measuring spiritual wellbeing and connectedness in research (09:03–11:42)
• Nature connection as a foundation for healing (13:54–17:56)
• The state of the psychedelic renaissance today (21:14–25:31)
• Traditional plant medicine and modern clinical therapies learning from each other (26:27–30:35)
• The limits of scaling retreats and ethical growth (31:20–44:25)
• Building a spiritual community and legal recognition in the U.S. (45:08–51:49)

If you would like to attend one of our Ayahuasca retreats go to www.lawayra.com

Find more about Joe Tafur at www.drjoetafur.com and his work at www.modernspirit.org.