In 2018, 22-year-old Brandon Begley lost his life after participating in ayahuasca ceremonies at SoulQuest Church in Orlando, Florida. In this powerful episode, Brandon's father John Paul Begley and attorney William Chapman discuss their successful $15 million wrongful death lawsuit against SoulQuest and its founder Chris Young.
Brandon, a joyful young man passionate about music and sports, attended SoulQuest seeking spiritual growth. During his second retreat, he developed severe acute hyponatremia (low blood sodium) after combining ayahuasca ceremonies with kambo. Despite showing clear signs of medical distress, SoulQuest staff delayed calling emergency services for over three hours. Brandon passed away days later.
Key revelations include:
This case raises crucial questions about safety standards and accountability in psychedelic churches. While Brandon believed in psychedelic medicine's potential, his death highlights the dangers of unregulated ceremonies and the urgent need for proper medical screening, protocols, and emergency response procedures.
The episode concludes with John Paul's ongoing fight for justice and his mission to prevent similar tragedies through increased oversight of psychedelic churches. His message: "Love one another. Take care of each other."
Warning: This episode contains discussion of death and medical emergencies that some listeners may find distressing.