When Bellamy, a retiree and devoted family man, joined Eleusinia Retreat with his wife and daughter, his main goal was simple: support his daughter through the heartbreak of a traumatic breakup. What he didn’t expect was the profound transformation awaiting him.
Struggling with chronic pain for years, Bellamy discovered a healing path that not only brought relief to his body but also shifted his understanding of what true strength really means. In this heartfelt episode, Bellamy shares how the retreat became more than a family experience, it became a turning point in his own journey toward resilience, connection, and strength.
If you’ve ever wondered how psychedelics can impact not just individuals but entire families, this episode will inspire you with its message of healing, connection, and the courage to redefine strength.
In this powerful episode, Jerry, an African American Air Force veteran, opens up about his transformative experience at Eleusinia alongside his daughter—also an Air Force veteran—and his wife. Together, they confronted the weight of PTSD and embarked on a family journey of healing.
Jerry shares how he moved from a lifetime of hypervigilance to a place of peace, acceptance, and spiritual reconnection. Through the retreat experience, he not only deepened his relationship with his wife and daughter but also embraced a new sense of wholeness and purpose.
This story is more than one man’s healing—it’s a family affair that highlights the strength of love, vulnerability, and shared transformation.
Tune in to hear Jerry’s courageous path toward inner peace, family connection, and a renewed sense of life after service.
In this compelling episode, we sit down with Taylor, a practicing psychiatric nurse practitioner, who attended Eleusinia retreat alongside her husband. She shares her transformative experience through both a clinical and deeply personal lens, exploring how psychedelics have not only impacted her own wellbeing but also enhanced her approach to patient care.
Taylor speaks candidly about the power of integration, the heart-opening and humbling nature of this work, and how it has reshaped her understanding of healing. This episode is especially meaningful for couples curious about embarking on a psychedelic journey together, offering a glimpse into the beautifully designed couples package at Eleusinia.
From her reflections on DMT to the deeply ceremonial Temazcal experience, Taylor explains why both are not to be missed.
In this powerful episode, Jacob opens up about the profound loneliness of growing up in a small Amish community and the moment he finally recognized the depth of his trauma. He shares his raw and personal story of beginning to question not only his rigid belief system, but his very identity—an unraveling that no amount of intellectual understanding could resolve.
As Jacob deconstructed the grip of purity culture and religious conditioning, he came face-to-face with the truth that healing cannot be thought through—it must be felt. His search for meaning and a will to live led him somewhere unimaginable: Eleusinia’s 8-day psychedelic retreat.
Follow along as Jacob recounts what happened when he took the leap—from surviving to feeling, from knowing to becoming—and the transformational experience that unfolded.
In this transformative episode, Henry takes us deep into his personal hero’s journey through the world of psychedelics and self-discovery at the Eleusinia Retreat. Over the course of eight powerful days, he navigates the highs, the challenges, and the unexpected lessons that shaped his inner evolution.
Henry opens up about finding his voice, embracing joy, and ultimately slaying the inner dragons that once held him back. This episode isn’t just about a retreat—it’s about the real work of growth, healing, and discovering that self-discovery is often far more complex (and beautiful) than it appears on the surface.
We break down the retreat’s structure, what sets Eleusinia apart, and how these experiences can lead to lasting personal transformation.
In this heartfelt Thanksgiving special, Howard opens up about his profound experience at Eleusinia retreat. He reflects on the powerful contrast between the 8-day and 5-day retreats, and how both played pivotal roles in his personal metamorphosis over the past year. Through this vulnerable and inspiring conversation, Howard explores the deep pull many of us feel—whether it’s struggling with mental health, chronic pain, or simply grappling with the existential question, “Is this all there is?”
For Howard, Eleusinia was the key to unlocking that itch, revealing a new world of self-confidence, clarity, and a shift in perspective that completely transformed his life. He shares the courage he found to realize that nothing can hold you back from living a beautiful life—except yourself.
Join us for this special episode, as Howard shows us how facing the unknown with openness and trust can lead to the most powerful kind of freedom: the freedom to truly be yourself.
In this episode, Sergey opens up about his journey of resilience in the face of trauma and how it ultimately led him to Eleusinia retreat. Growing up in Russia during the collapse of the Soviet Union, Sergey struggled to find direction until he discovered his passion for ballroom dancing. His harrowing story takes a dramatic turn when, at just 14, he and his friends traveled to a dance competition and stumbled upon a cliff by the ocean. Ignoring his instincts, Sergey made a fateful dive that resulted in a broken neck, paralysis, and a drowning experience with a miraculous resuscitation. With humility, he reflects on how this tragedy impacted his life, creating barriers that fueled persistent anxiety. Tune in to hear how the Eleusinia retreat helped him transform his perspective, shifting from a life of fear to one filled with mindfulness and heart.
In this powerful episode, Troy opens up about his harrowing journey through active opioid addiction. He candidly shares the vulnerable moments that led him to donate his kidney to save his wife's life. Troy discusses his path to recovery, the challenges of dealing with depression during that process, and how it can complicate sobriety. His arrival at Eleusinia marked a turning point, where he discovered a way to overcome the barriers he faced in recovery and uncover his sense of purpose and connection in life. Inspired by his experiences, Troy is now pursuing a career as a therapist, dedicated to helping others navigate their own struggles. Join us as we explore resilience, hope, and the supportive and transformative power of Eleusinia.
In this episode, we dive into Kali's transformative journey through the world of psychedelics. As an African American single mother in her 40s, she faced significant challenges culturally: limited availability and widespread skepticism about psychedelics for depression and spiritual growth. After hearing about ayahuasca, Kali ventured to Costa Rica, only to be met with disappointment and deeper feelings of despair. However, her path took a turn when she discovered Eleusinia. Kali’s story is one of resilience and determination; she embodies a woman who refuses to accept defeat. Join us as we explore her remarkable journey of rediscovery, highlighting the profound distinction between personal success and living a life of true significance
Join Cris as he recounts his transformative experiences at Eleusinia Retreat, where he immersed himself in not one, but three life-changing retreats. This episode is a treasure trove for anyone wondering, "Should I return?" Cris delves into the profound benefits of returning as a guest and how these retreats have deepened his personal healing journey. Through his candid exploration of neurodivergence and treatment-resistant depression, Cris reveals the insights and breakthroughs he discovered along the way. His story is a powerful testament to self-discovery, hope, and the real process of integrating profound experiences. He details his personalized process of continuing the invaluable practice of what he learned at Eleusinia into everyday life and a home practice. Tune in for an inspiring conversation full of authenticity and hope.
In this episode, Megan opens up about her harrowing journey as a young widow and mother, grappling with the profound loss of her husband to alcoholism. Her story is one of staggering complexity and raw emotion—traversing the tumultuous landscape of trauma, grief, and confusion. For Megan, the path forward seemed shrouded in darkness until a transformative experience at Eleusinia shattered her fear and kindled a powerful, raw progression through anger, sorrow, and ultimately, gratitude.
This episode is a testament to the indomitable spirit of resilience and redemption amidst life's most formidable challenges. Megan's narrative is a poignant reminder that in our darkest moments, we are not alone. It underscores the vital truth that asking for help is not a weakness, but a crucial step towards healing and that receiving support can light the way forward. Join us as we explore Megan's powerful journey from despair to hope, and find solace in knowing that no one has to navigate their struggles alone
In this powerful episode, Renee reveals her transformative decision to come to Eleusinia. A trip that sparked a profound shift in her life. After enduring a relentless series of traumas, loss, and the challenges of raising children with their own real struggles, Renee found herself trapped in unhealthy coping mechanisms and a 40-year smoking habit. Seeking change, she embarked on this retreat with a desperate need for revival. Renee’s story is a beacon for women who have built walls to survive and who have shouldered immense burdens as the "strong one." Through her experience, she not only overcame her addiction but also embraced vulnerability, love, and openness in her relationships. She discovered that the greatest gift she could give herself and her loved ones was self-care and emotional well-being. Tune in to hear how Renee’s journey can inspire your own path to self discovery
Bill initially hesitated to attend Eleusinia retreat due to a past unsettling and scary psilocybin experience. A psychedelic journey that was unsupervised in a public location. Despite his apprehensions, he decided to accompany his wife, who he knew deeply desired, and needed a different professional experience herself. What ensued was nothing short of transformative. Bill not only had a profound personal experience but also witnessed remarkable healing. His wife's vertigo and migraines which she had endured nonstop for the past 6.5 years were alleviated. This podcast was recorded 3 months after Bill and Shannen attended Eleusinia. In this episode we dive into long lasting unexpected results. Bill details the impact the retreat had on him personally, his wife's health and quality of life, as well as the impact it left on their now 30 years plus marriage.
In our latest podcast episode, we are joined by Andrés Gómez Emilsson, the Director of Research at Qualia Research Institute, who recently paid a visit to Eleusinia. Dive into an insightful conversation about consciousness and psychedelics with Andres, a special figure for us at Eleusinia, whose work has significantly influenced our approaches and terminology. Explore the unique concepts and specific terminology from QRI, including exotic qualia, valence, and neural annealing, which have inspired many aspects of the Eleusinia Retreat experience. The discussion wraps up with speculation on the future possibilities of objectively measuring these conscious qualities to potentially prevent and treat suffering. Eleusinia Retreat: https://www.eleusiniaretreat.com/ Qualia Research Institute: https://qri.org/ Andres's blog: https://qualiacomputing.com/