This week, we sat down for Part 2 with the Amanita Warrior, Rael Inshan, to take a deep dive into the legal psychedelic mushroom, Amanita Muscaria. Amanita is known for its mystery and magic and although recognized globally, it is less talked about within the western psychedelic movement. In last week’s episode, Rael shared his personal journey and all the ways it changed his life. Today, we breakdown how to microdose Amantia, the benefits and potential risks, the importance of community, support, discipline and being ready and open to change. Rael is dedicated to bringing the wisdom of Amanita to the world and warns, “it will change your life!”. He provides insights on what you need to know about building a relationship with this ancient technology. Enjoy this episode and I hope you find the magic in your life.

In this week’s episode of The Psychedelic Mom podcast, Michaela sits down with Rael Inshan, also known as The Amanita Warrior, who has dedicated his life to teaching the world about Amanita Muscaria—one of the most mysterious and misunderstood mushrooms on the planet. Once a shy, socially awkward, and skeptical atheist, Rael suffered for years from crippling insomnia and depression. After trying everything to find relief, his life changed forever when he stumbled upon a field of Amanita Muscaria. That single encounter set him on a path of deep healing, discipline, and devotion to the teachings of this sacred mushroom. Unlike psilocybin, Amanita Muscaria works through dreams and deep, altered states. Rael believes this mushroom carries ancient wisdom that must be approached with reverence and respect. Michaela brings her own insights and reflections into the conversation, exploring what makes Amanita Muscaria so different from other Earth medicines and why so many are now turning to this mushroom for healing, guidance, and expanded awareness. This is a wild story of healing, surrender, and awakening through one of the most legendary mushrooms on Earth. Look for part two next week for an in-depth guide on how to microdose Amanita safely and how to work with this medicine for long-term transformation.

Actor, author and life coach, David Dayan Fisher joins Michaela after fleeing the LA fires, offering profound reflections on what truly matters in times of crisis. In this deeply personal conversation, David shares how life itself is a mirror, reflecting our unprocessed wounds, and how we can use these insights to grow. He opens up about the ‘characters’ we play in life, how acting helped him understand his own anger and trauma, and the transformative power of psychedelics—especially his experiences with ayahuasca and iboga, which led him to commune with younger versions of himself. Together, he and Michaela explore shadow work, emotional expression, and the impact of patriarchy on vulnerability, reframing childhood wounds, and the journey to forgiveness. David also introduces his new book, 'The Map'—a guide to living with love, authenticity, and joy—and invites listeners to explore his gallery, where love is expressed through art.

In this week’s episode, we uncover the benefits of microdosing psilocybin mushrooms through Rachel McKernan’s personal story of overcoming addiction and healing depression. Rachel’s journey began after her sister’s death at 33 years old to addiction. This tragic event, combined with Rachel’s own addiction, depression and childhood trauma led her to look out for support from psychedelic mushrooms. It is hard to scientifically chart the benefits of microdosing, so we are gathering personal accounts of life-altering experiences and benefits from people who are microdosing psilocybin mushrooms for healing from PTSD, depression, addiction and/or deepening self-understanding. Rachel shares the many ways microdosing supported and healed her life and the business she felt called to create and share from her journey.

In Part 2 of Michaela’s conversation with global non-dual teacher Lisa Cairns, Lisa shares the profound challenges and breakthroughs of her journey to awakening. Defining non-duality as absolute love and the realization that separation is an illusion, Lisa recounts her time living in the Australian bush with a non-dual teacher, a heartbreaking breakup, and a transformative month spent in Bali. There, she gave herself permission to do nothing but listen to her body’s intuitive needs, uncovering the truth that happiness is not dependent on anything external. Lisa offers direct pointers to help listeners question their sense of self and the non-locality of consciousness, explore the illusions of separation, and navigate resistance. She discusses how to stop believing the mind’s stories, challenge deeply held beliefs, and build the capacity to feel deeply—even when discomfort arises. Finally, Lisa shares the moment her awakening to Infinite Love occurred while eating a banana fritter, when the illusion of the separate self fell away, and everything became permeated with love. This episode is a continuation of Part 1, where Lisa explored the role of psychedelics in her awakening and the journey to living in non-separation, peace, and liberation. In Part 1, Lisa shares the role psychedelics have played in her awakening process and what her experiences with LSD, Ayahuasca, and mushrooms revealed.

In this week’s two-part series, Awakening to Infinite Love: LSD, Non-Duality, and Banana Fritters, Michaela sits down with globally renowned non-dual teacher Lisa Cairns to explore the transformative power of awakening. Lisa delves into the profound insights of non-duality, a direct experience of reality beyond thought, belief, and separation, offering practical wisdom on living an expansive, authentic life. In Part 1, the conversation focuses on how psychedelics like LSD, Ayahuasca, and mushrooms mirror the process of awakening, illuminating the unbinding from the illusion of self, time, and space. Lisa also explains the importance of shadow work, the difference between no-self and no-boundaries selflessness, and how to maintain presence while navigating relationships and challenges. Part 2, available next week, takes a deeply personal turn as Lisa shares her own awakening journey. From years spent in the Australian bush with her partner and non-dual teacher, Roger Costello, to the heartbreak that led her to Bali, Lisa recounts the life-altering experiences that shattered her concept of self and revealed infinite love. This raw, relatable conversation is an invitation to step beyond the illusions of the mind, question what’s real, and awaken to the limitless essence of Beingness. If you’ve ever felt the call to wake up, this is the episode for you.

In this compelling conversation, Michaela is joined by Simeon, a pioneer whose passion and expertise in the psychedelic space spans over 30 years. With a rare combination of deep personal experience—thousands of journeys with a vast range of medicines—and professional leadership, Simeon bridges the worlds of research, philanthropy, policy, and global impact. Simeon shares stories from his lifelong exploration of consciousness, from his early psychonautic journeys to recent expeditions into Africa’s biodiverse landscapes, where he seeks new molecules and untapped healing potential. As co-founder of JLS Fund, the first venture capital fund dedicated to psychedelics, and organizer of the inaugural Psychedelic Investment Summit, Simeon brings a visionary perspective on the transformative power of psychedelics and Earth medicines.

Michaela sat down with Kayse Gehret to discuss microdosing, the science, and the profound experiences and mysteries that extend beyond what science can measure. Kayse brings her personal journey to the conversation, along with insights from her work guiding a global community in exploring the transformative potential of psilocybin mushrooms. Together, Michaela and Kayse share stories that reflect the unique, unexpected, and deeply personal truths revealed through microdosing. They discuss why set and setting are crucial—even with small doses—and how psilocybin invites individuals to connect with a field of intelligence that transcends scientific understanding. This episode offers a blend of wisdom, storytelling, and practical advice for those curious about or currently exploring the world of microdosing. Whether you're new to microdosing or seeking deeper insights into its mysteries, this conversation invites you to engage with the untold potential of Earth medicines.

The traditions surrounding Christmas may trace back to magic mushrooms? In ancient Siberia, shamanic practices included the consumption of the iconic red-and-white mushroom, Amanita muscaria. Shamans, in traditional dress resembling Santa Claus—with red-and-white robes and pointed boots—would deliver sacred, psychedelic mushrooms to their communities during the winter solstice, often entering homes through the chimney due to heavy snow blocking the doors. The mushrooms would then be hung near the fire to dry, echoing the stockings we hang today. Even reindeer are known to nibble on these mushrooms, leading to a state of intoxication that may have inspired the story of flying reindeer. These mushrooms were seen as gifts of transformation offered once a year. In this episode, Michaela sat down with four courageous mothers—Amy, Sema, Katie, and Meredith—to explore the profound gifts psychedelic mushrooms offer modern-day mothers. These women share heartfelt stories of the deep love, connection, and understanding they received from psilocybin mushrooms. We are rerunning this special episode to revisit their powerful stories—an offering of inspiration and insight into the gifts that mushrooms can bring to our lives, much like those sacred traditions of old.

Stress has become one of the most significant challenges of modern life, impacting not only our mental and emotional well-being but also our physical health. How we respond to stress—whether through habitual patterns or intentional tools—can determine whether we remain stuck in survival mode or find a path toward healing and resilience. In this episode, Dr. David Rabin, a board-certified psychiatrist, neuroscientist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuroscience, brings decades of experience to unpack how we can better understand and regulate our stress responses. The conversation dives deep into the science of the nervous system, exploring how stress, trauma, and epigenetics shape our lives and even future generations. Dr. Rabin shares non-invasive, science-backed tools like breath, touch, and vibration therapies to help calm the body and mind. They discuss the emerging role of psychedelics—like MDMA and ketamine—in facilitating profound healing by rewiring trauma responses. Whether you’re curious about wearable technologies, psychedelic-assisted therapy, or simple practices to regulate your nervous system, this episode offers hope, insights, and tangible strategies to bring your brain and body back into balance.

This week on The Psychedelic Mom, Nick Murray discusses his visionary work at the exciting new frontier where psychedelic science meets personalized mental healthcare, focusing on how psilocybin can transform treatment for conditions like TBI, PTSD, addiction, depression, and anxiety. Nick’s research at The Wake Network involves an innovative approach that combines psilocybin therapy with comprehensive health assessments and real-time data collection, using tools like EEG scans, hormonal analysis and customized sound therapy to tailor treatments to individual needs. By establishing clinics with advanced diagnostic technology in places where psilocybin is legal, Nick aims to integrate wellness-focused psychedelic therapy with scientific rigor, hoping to establish data that can guide future policy on psychedelics and offer compassionate and effective care for those seeking alternative paths to healing and self-discovery.

Can psychedelics help us embrace life’s profound cycles of birth and death as well as our never-ending process of self discovery? Dr. Katherine MacLean shares her journey from psychonautical exploration to psychedelic scientific inquiry to spiritual transformation, discussing how psilocybin has opened her understanding of mortality, consciousness and the mystical aspects of existence. Her reflections reveal the powerful role that psychedelics have played in her life, especially in processing personal grief and cultivating a unique spiritual perspective that nourishes her parenting, creativity and soul.

“Love is our blueprint, choice is our power, life is our school.” Listen in to a moving conversation with Dr. Dan Engle, a pioneer in integrative psychiatry, who shares deeply about how psychedelics have helped him heal himself and inspired him to support others to safely use them to explore all aspects of themselves - shadow and light - and discover their true dharma. The conversation tracks Dr. Dan’s journey from traditional psychiatry to the jungles of South America, where ayahuasca helped him uncover the deeper layers of his own healing. Michaela and Dr. Dan discuss the challenges of integrating ancestral wisdom into modern mental health practices and how psychedelic therapies can help guide individuals to navigate personal challenges, foster deep interconnection, and align with their unique life purpose.

What if drug policies were designed to prioritize health and human rights over politics and punishment? This week on The Psychedelic Mom, Michaela Carlin and Steve Rolles, an advocate for drug policy reform with decades global experience, discuss the need for decriminalization and the thoughtful regulation of psychedelics and other drugs. You may be asking yourself, “Drug policy reform? Really? Isn’t this a super boring topic?” Tune in to be proven wrong(!) and hear Steve’s insightful and entertaining insights about the realities of the widespread recreational use of psychedelics, the potential benefits of various decriminalization models, and how policy reform can address the real risks associated with drug use while still promoting safety and harm reduction.

What happens when life’s toughest moments force you to question the life you’ve created and even who you thought you were? This week on The Psychedelic Mom, Anne Kiehl Friedman joins MIchaela Carlin to share her personal journey of awakening to her own self-worth. Central to Anne’s story is the concept of "blender moments"—periods of intense upheaval, such as her struggle with Lyme disease and a painful breakup, that forced her to reexamine her life and break free from societal conditioning and expectations. For Anne, these challenges led to profound personal growth, ultimately inspiring her to tell her story in her memoir, ‘Higher Love: A Psychedelic Travel Memoir of Heartbreak and Healing’. Her book and advocacy work invite others, especially women, to question the cultural pressures placed upon them and explore the healing potential of psychedelics in an intentional way as a path to deeper authenticity and personal liberation.

How can ayahuasca and other sacred plant medicines deepen family bonds and foster collective healing within communities? In this episode, Glauber Assis, a Brazilian sociologist and leader in the Santo Daime tradition, shares his experiences using psychedelics to support personal transformation, parenting, and cultural preservation. He explores the role of sacred plant medicines in nurturing resilience and healing, emphasizing the importance of honoring indigenous wisdom in modern psychedelic practices. Glauber and Michaela discuss creating inclusive, family-centered spaces for psychedelic work, the significance of cultural respect, and how psychedelics can serve as powerful tools for personal and collective growth. The conversation also highlights the challenges and rewards of integrating plant medicines into family life and community healing.

How does CBD help individuals manage chronic pain, reduce inflammation, and support overall health and wellbeing? In this conversation, CBD expert Ali Stoddard shares her insights into the transformative power of this highly potent and impactful compound. She explains how CBD activates the body’s endocannabinoid system to foster healing and improve well-being, providing an alternative to symptom-focused allopathic medicine. The discussion covers the historical context of hemp, the differences between CBD and THC, and the potential of adaptogens like CBD in treating conditions ranging from anxiety to autoimmune disorders. Ali also highlights the importance of personalized care, the role of nutrition, and the critical connection between our bodies and the earth’s natural energies.

In this conversation with Emerson Nonduality, the core concept explored is the ineffable nature of nonduality itself—a direct experience beyond words or definitions. Emerson speaks to the fundamental realization that the belief in a separate self is an illusion, and awakening is a return to the simple and ever-present nature of being. He emphasizes that we wake up when we let go of the need for conceptual understanding, and instead, experience life as it is—without labels or separation. This realization leads to profound peace, even amidst life's challenges. Emerson and Michaela explore the potential role of psychedelics in awakening, the concept of no-self, and the transformative power of accepting life’s intensity without resistance. They also touch on the importance of meeting people where they are in their journey, creating a safe space for radical honesty and true freedom.

This week on The Psychedelic Mom we meet Ash Ritter, an ethnobotanist and plant medicine expert who explores the profound relationship between humans, plants, and fungi within the context of an animistic worldview. Ash shares her experiences with Amanita Muscaria and other powerful fungal and plant allies, revealing how these natural medicines can help support our health and wellbeing, unlock ancestral wisdom and guide personal transformation. The conversation covers Ash’s extensive background in various lineages of herbalism, the role of different types of altered states in self-discovery, and the power of integrating plant medicines into modern life to connect to our own inherent wisdom.