What if music could become a gateway into your deepest self? 🎶
In this episode of The Vital Point, Jonathan sits down with visionary percussionist and transpersonal guide Byron Metcalf to explore how sound, rhythm, and intention can support breathwork, shamanic journeying, and expanded states of consciousness.
Byron shares his journey from jazz and Nashville studios to three decades of creating music specifically designed for inner exploration and healing. We dive into:
How repetition, rhythm, and sound entrain the brain and open the heart
Why music created for altered states feels so different than repurposed tracks
The role of trust, presence, and inner guidance in breathwork and ceremony
What shamans understand about energy, placebo, and the field
Practical tools—from meditation to hemisync—that help deepen inner work
Whether you’re a breathwork facilitator, sound healer, therapist, or seeker, this conversation will inspire you to explore music as medicine and discover how to trust the unfolding of your own inner journey.
Get Byron's music (including his newest album Spiral Exchange) on Bandcamp https://byronmetcalf.bandcamp.com/
Listen to a special playlist of Byron's Music (that we discussed on the show)
🔗 Join the Blue Magic Alchemy Skool community for deeper integration and conversations around breathwork, presence, and expanded states. www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
"Composting the Soul: Breathwork, Rupture & Becoming Rich Soil"
In this deeply embodied episode of The Vital Point, host Jonathan Schecter sits down with breathwork facilitator Christine Calvert for a conversation that goes beyond breath.
Together, they explore what it means to become "good soil"-to continually allow inner death and rebirth, to trust the wisdom within, and to honor the edgy, slow, tender ways growth actually happens.
Discover the powerful synergies between Holotropic breathwork and Somatic Experiencing, and the liberation of embracing rupture, and learning to repair.
If you're doing deep, integrative work, inside or alongside others—this episode is a balm for the inner facilitator, the seeker, the human who wants to show up more fully. Listen close, let it land, and may it become good soil for your next growth.
Connect with Christine at https://www.alchemicalnectar.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/ccalvert/
Join the Blue Magic Alchemy Skool community—your living portal for processing, breathing, reflecting, and growth. Your next cycle of transformation starts in community. https://www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy/
Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, or on the verge of a panic attack? This short solo episode guides you through cadence breathwork: a powerful, trauma-informed breathing technique to calm your nervous system, cultivate safety in your body, and anchor yourself in the present moment.
Through a progression of gentle, extended exhales, you’ll experience how breath can shift your state from dysregulation to grounded ease. Whether you're brand new to breathwork or deep in your practice, this session offers a flexible, accessible approach tailored to your needs.
💠 Learn how to:
Use your breath to interrupt anxiety spirals
Tune into your body and shift into parasympathetic calm
Move from counting breaths to intuitive flow
Plus, discover the Blue Magic Alchemy Collective — a community space for breathwork, integration, and deep inner work.Join the Community: www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
In this deep and soul-nourishing episode, Campbell Will returns to The Vital Point to explore what breathwork really means when life gets real. From chaotic mornings with kids to quiet moments of stillness, Campbell and host Jonathan Schecter unpack how breath can be more than a practice, it can be a way of being.
Together, they challenge the peak experience obsession and explore the quieter, more integrated truths of presence, regulation, and inner work. Whether you’re a parent, a practitioner, or simply navigating life’s intensity, this conversation offers grounded wisdom and practical tools for your journey.
If you’ve ever wondered how to “do the work” while doing life, this one’s for you.
Key Themes:
Integration of breathwork into everyday life
Navigating parenthood and practice
Crossing the “threshold” in breathwork and presence
Embodied awareness and nervous system regulation
The balance between peak experiences and daily practices
Co-regulation, relational presence, and the ripple effect of embodiment
Avoiding dependency on facilitators and promoting autonomy
Connect with Campbell Will:
@breathbodytherapy
www.breathbodytherapy.com/breathwork-for-practitioners
Join the Blue Magic Alchemy Community at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
In this episode, host Jonathan Schecter sits down with Dr. Nick Bruss—licensed psychedelic therapist, clinical researcher, and Level 3-trained Internal Family Systems (IFS) practitioner—to explore how parts work and psychedelic-assisted therapy can radically transform healing and integration.
You’ll learn:
What Internal Family Systems (IFS) is and how it helps you connect with wounded, protective, and exiled parts of yourself.
How ketamine-assisted psychotherapy works, why it pairs so well with IFS, and the difference between psycholytic and psychedelic dosing.
Practical integration tools for working with anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, and complex trauma.
How IFS and psychedelic integration foster self-compassion, emotional resilience, and authentic connection—both with yourself and others.
Plus, you’ll experience a guided inner-listening practice to help you connect with the parts of yourself that most need your attention right now.
Whether you’re a therapist, coach, or someone curious about IFS and psychedelics, this conversation is a practical and inspiring roadmap for bringing expanded-state insights into everyday life.
Connect with Dr. Nick Bruss: https://apracticeoffreedom.com/
IG: @drnickbruss
Connect with Blue Magic Alchemy: www.bluemagicalchemy.com
Internal Family Systems, IFS therapy, ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, psychedelic integration, parts work, MDMA-assisted therapy, psilocybin research, trauma healing, self-compassion, mindfulness, somatic experiencing, complex trauma, psychedelic therapy, emotional healing.
In this solo episode, Jonathan Schecter dives deep into a metaphor that’s transformed his understanding of trauma: surfing the waves of life. With a grounding somatic practice to begin, he guides you through what it really means to build resilience not by avoiding pain, but by increasing your capacity to meet it.
Whether you're new to healing or have been walking the path for years, this episode offers insight into why the goal isn't to stop the waves of emotion, challenge, or discomfort, but to learn how to ride them skillfully.
Join Jonathan as he explores:
Why trauma recovery is about expanding your container, not shrinking your world
How titration and pacing protect against re-traumatization
The power of community and consistent practice
Tools and practices that build emotional and nervous system resilience
💫 Includes a somatic meditation to reconnect with your body.
🌀 Visit school.com/bluemagicalchemy to explore breathwork, live meditations, and a thriving support community.
In this episode, Jonathan welcomes somatic therapist Pierre Bouchard for a rich, unfiltered conversation on the true depth of somatic work and going beyond trauma healing. Together they explore the intersection of psychology, spirituality, and psychedelics through Pierre’s model of the X, Y, and Z axes: trauma resolution, awakening, and relational responsibility.
They discuss the rise (and pitfalls) of somatics in popular culture, the limits of insight-only therapy, and why the body is more than just a trauma container - it’s the gateway to all experience.
Whether you’re a seeker, a practitioner, or simply someone on the path, this episode challenges reductionist thinking and invites a deeper, more integrated approach to healing and awakening.
Topics Covered:
Somatic work beyond trauma
The "missing experience" and reparenting
Dharma vs. developmental work
Ego dissolution vs. ego death
The true cost of bypassing relational work
What psychedelics can—and can’t—do for us
🎧 Listen now and explore why your body is not just holding your trauma, it's holding your transformation.
🔗 Learn more about Pierre: PierreBouchardCounseling.com
📲 Follow Pierre: @pierre.bouchard.lpc
🌐 Join the Blue Magic Alchemy community: www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
In this episode Jonathan welcomes back Erin Doumert: Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, integration coach, and author of The Essential Practice. Together, they dive into the messy, nonlinear path of true healing, exploring how we move from coping to deep transformation.
Erin shares the behind-the-scenes story of publishing her book and the pushback she received for challenging mainstream paradigms.
They discuss the four steps in her healing framework: seeking to understand, forgiving, showing up as your best, and exploring your truth.
This conversation is a real-time integration journey, weaving together themes of inner child healing, spiritual rebellion, nervous system capacity, and the sacredness of rest.
Whether you're navigating expanded states or just trying to get through the day, this episode is a reminder that healing is possible—and it starts with showing up for yourself.
👉 Learn more about Erin: https://www.erindoumert.com/
📖 Get her book on Amazon: The Essential Practice
🌀 Join the Blue Magic Alchemy community: https://skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
💌 Subscribe to the Blue Magic Alchemy newsletter: https://bluemagicalchemy.com
Introduces the SCOPE practice from Somatic Experiencing: Slow down, Connect, Orient, Pendulate, Engage
Offers a guided somatic experience to support nervous system regulation during psychedelic work, breathwork, or emotional overwhelm
Emphasizes the importance of developing inner awareness and safety through body-based techniques
Encourages self-regulation and co-regulation through connection, breath, and sensation tracking
Useful both as a standalone regulation tool and within a therapeutic or expanded state container
💻 Join the Blue Magic Alchemy Community:
www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
In this episode, Jonathan guides you through a simple yet powerful somatic practice known as SCOPE—designed to support nervous system regulation in moments of intensity, whether during breathwork, psychedelic journeys, or emotional overwhelm.
Learn how to:
Slow your system down
Connect to your body
Orient toward safety
Pendulate between discomfort and ease
Engage with support and connection
This episode includes a full guided SCOPE practice that you can revisit anytime you need grounding or reconnection. It's perfect for inner work, integration, or simply regulating a charged moment.
🌀 If this resonated, leave a review, share with a friend, or reach out for a 1:1 session.
In this powerful conversation, Diana Medina—senior teacher of Holotropic Breathwork—joins Jonathan to explore what it really means to trust your inner healer. Drawing from decades of experience in breathwork, medicine, and transpersonal psychology, Diana shares how true transformation requires us to die to who we think we are and surrender to the deeper intelligence within.
Together, they discuss the spiral nature of healing, how trauma completes through the body, and why integration is not a destination but a daily practice. If you're a space holder, therapist, or seeker navigating expanded states, this episode offers grounded wisdom and deep insight into what it means to truly hold space - for others and yourself.
Learn more about Holotropic Breathwork at https://www.holotropic.com/
Take the Psychedelic Readiness Self-Assessment at https://tally.so/r/3qpZdG
Connect with Jonathan at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
holotropic breathwork, trauma healing, inner healing wisdom, transpersonal psychology, psychedelic integration, breathwork facilitator, Stan Grof, Tav Sparks, somatic healing, spiritual growth, nervous system regulation, breathwork podcast.
Jonathan Schecter is joined again by senior Buddhist teacher, musician, and author David Nichtern for a wide-ranging, deeply reflective conversation.Together they explore how presence and practice intersect with modern expanded states — from breathwork to psychedelics to the possibilities and limitations of AI as a spiritual teacher.You’ll hear insights on:✅ Why presence can’t be grasped✅ The concept of the “fourth moment” in Buddhist practice✅ How breathwork teaches surrender without substances✅ The risks of spiritual bypassing in psychedelic spaces✅ Whether AI can embody consciousness or wisdom✅ The role of humor, humility, and formal practice✅ How Buddhist wisdom can evolve to fit modern culture✅ David's upcoming Mindfulness Meditation Teacher TrainingThis is an honest and inspiring dialogue on integration, wholeness, and the real work of transformation.00:00 Intro05:00 Walking out of time — presence & fourth moment12:00 Surrender in breathwork vs psychedelics18:00 The God realm & spiritual bypassing25:00 Can AI become a spiritual teacher?34:00 Blind spots, feedback, and the human ego42:00 Buddha nature & somatic healing51:00 What do we most need as a collective?56:00 Basic goodness, genuine sadness, and activism1:02:00 Dharma Moon teacher training & modern culture1:10:00 Final reflections — carrying the teachings forwardDharma Moon Links:🌐 Dharma Moon Meditation Teacher Training: https://www.dharmamoon.com/mindfulness-meditation-teacher-training📚 Awakening from the Daydream & Creativity, Spirituality & Making a Buck — available wherever books are soldConnect with Jonathan & Blue Magic Alchemy:🌐 https://www.bluemagicalchemy.com🌐 https://www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy💌 Subscribe to the Pathways & Portals newsletter: https://bluemagicalchemy.substack.com/
What does "doing the work" really mean in psychedelics, breathwork, and personal growth? Join the founder of Blue Magic Alchemy Jonathan Schecter in this conversation to clarify that genuine transformation isn't about chasing intense experiences but intentionally moving toward wholeness by addressing deeper issues and thoughtfully integrating insights.
Using a clear physics analogy, Jonathan explains "the work" as the intentional transfer of energy that leads to meaningful changes. He challenges the myth that big experiences automatically result in lasting transformation, highlighting the critical roles of intentional preparation, nervous system regulation, and mindful integration.
With personal examples and powerful client stories, Jonathan reveals how authentic inner work leads to significant shifts: better emotional resilience, breakthroughs in long-standing issues, and spontaneous realizations. He emphasizes the necessity of somatic awareness, meditation, and breathwork for effective preparation.
"Crossing the Threshold," a coaching container designed to help you build a solid foundation for safe, effective, transformative inner work is now open - learn more at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy or www.instagram.com/bluemagicalchemy
In this concluding episode of season 10, host Jonathan Schecter reflects on his journey and growth over the season, touching on achievements and outlining plans for what's next. Jonathan emphasizes the importance of self-practice and alignment with the nervous system to avoid burnout. He candidly discusses his balance between various projects and the value of slowing down.
The episode transitions into the first day of a 30-day Path of Meditation course, providing guidance on mindfulness and the end goal of meditation.
Join the community at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy for more meditative and breathwork practices. The Vital Point is applying what you learn and creating consistency for personal growth and transformation.
With a Vital Point that "You Are The Medicine", microdosing and integration coach Adrian Lozano joins host Jonathan Schecter to discuss the importance of practicing consistent self-improvement techniques, the essence of proper facilitation, and the wide range of methods available for personal growth. Adrian shares insights into the challenges and profound transformations experienced through the use of sacred mushrooms and emphasizes the necessity of integrating those experiences into everyday life. The conversation also explores the unique healing dynamics of the rave culture, highlighting the balance between recreational and therapeutic uses of psychedelics.
Connect with Adrian at https://www.lozanoflows.com/ and https://www.instagram.com/lozano.flows/
Join Blue Magic Alchemy at https://www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
00:00 Introduction to the Vital Point Podcast
05:15 The Importance of Vetting Facilitators
08:06 Personal Experiences with Psychedelics
12:39 Living in the Mountains: A Journey of Healing
19:12 Facilitating Psychedelic Experiences
25:36 Building a Relationship with the Medicine
32:43 Understanding the Amplifying Effects of Mushrooms
37:54 Navigating the Challenges and Benefits of Raving
41:17 The Importance of Integration in Psychedelic Work
52:24 Personal Growth and Professional Work
01:00:00 Upcoming Projects and Final Thoughts
A meditation from the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, based on one of the most well-known teachings of Tilopa, who is considered the father of the Kagyu lineage.
The 6 Nails of Tilopa is known for its depth and profundity in cutting to the vital point of meditation.
This episode also highlights the upcoming Path of Meditation course in the Blue Magic Alchemy Skool community, a 30 day live meditation course to deepen your mindfulness meditation practice along with an optional microdosing protocol.
The course will be available daily to all community members starting April 2, so sign up at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy and come deepen your practice with a community of seekers and alchemists.You can skip to 9:35 in the episode if you want to get right into the meditation.
Explore the intersection of psychedelics and Buddhism with host Jonathan Schecter and Buddhist Lama and author Mike Crowley. The conversation dives into Crowley's research covered in his books 'The Secret Drugs of Buddhism' and 'Psychedelic Buddhism.'
They discuss traditional psychedelic use in Tibetan rituals, the terma tradition, and how Buddhism can aid psychedelic experiences. Crowley shares personal insights on meditation, the role of intention, and the profound realization of Buddhist teachers. The episode provides a rich, enlightening discussion aimed at inspiring listeners in their journey of healing and growth.
Join the Blue Magic Alchemy community at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy , a community for spiritual emergence and growth.
Host Jonathan Schecter invites his mother, Roberta Zohara, for an intimate conversation about self-development, spiritual practices, and personal evolution. They explore the significance of practical application in transformation, share personal stories, and discuss the impact of pivotal life events, including experiences with Pleiadian messages and personal ceremonies. Jonathan and Roberta reflect on their journeys, their evolving relationship, and the importance of compassion and balance in navigating life's challenges. This episode offers deep insights into the interplay of spirituality, healing, and relational growth.
Join the Blue Magic Alchemy community at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
00:00 Introduction to the Vital Point Podcast
00:46 Special Episode: Interview with My Mother
03:19 The Mushroom Ceremony Story
09:06 Discovering Pleiadian Energies
16:20 Christine Day and the Pleiadian Seminar
27:06 Balancing Spiritual and Human Experiences
36:22 The Spiral of Life and Initiations
43:51 Reflections on Spiritual Practices
54:50 Exploring Family Memories and Perspectives
55:11 The Mystical and Transpersonal in Family
56:06 Reflections on Parenting and Growth
58:07 Childhood Stories and Artistic Perception
59:32 Metaphysical Conversations and Life Choices
01:03:36 Healing and Inner Work
01:06:20 Gratitude and Parental Relationships
01:09:43 Embracing Change and Spiritual Growth
01:15:50 Compassion and Understanding
01:22:00 Cherishing Time and Relationships
01:34:02 The Vital Point: Compassion and Kindness
In this solo episode, host Jonathan Schecter shares tips to improve and deepen your meditation practice. He speaks about the importance of consistent practice, the benefits of mindfulness-based meditation, and practical advice for beginners. Jonathan emphasizes the need to manage expectations and integrate micro-moments of mindfulness into daily life. He also discusses the importance of establishing a sacred space, and the role of intention-setting in meditation.
Join the free Blue Magic Alchemy Skool community for additional support and guided practices. www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
connect with Jonathan at www.bluemagicalchemy.com
00:00 Introduction and Episode Update
03:30 Tips for New Meditators
10:17 Mindfulness and Daily Life
14:32 Advanced Meditation Tips
17:20 Setting Intentions and Creating Sacred Space
19:58 Managing Expectations in Meditation
Breathing Life into Men's Work and Cold Plunging with The Energy Stack
My guests in this episode are Adam Heaps and Mike Canales of The Energy Stack. They discuss their journey in creating transformative men's retreats and in-person events featuring breathwork, sound baths, cold plunging, and more.
The conversation covers their personal stories, the power of community, and the importance of taking action to integrate profound experiences into daily life. They also share insights into managing fear, embracing discomfort, and fostering self-growth.
The episode includes a guided musical meditation led by Adam and Mike, demonstrating their approach to helping others discover clarity, connection, and wholeness.
Connect with The Energy Stack at https://www.theenergystack.org/ and on Instagram @theenergystack
Join the free Blue Magic Alchemy Skool community www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy
00:00 Introduction to The Vital Point
05:19 Guided Breathwork Meditation
17:54 The Origin Story of The Energy Stack
22:12 Building Community and Personal Growth
37:50 Manifesting Dreams and Taking Action4
40:40 Daily Practices for Resilience
44:51 Gratitude and Reflection
56:21 Community and Collective Energy
01:07:06 Final Thoughts and Vital Points
Exploring the Edge - Dropping Into Psychedelic Integration, This is the first episode that mimics a Somatic Integration coaching session. Normally this is done in private, but you get to listen to host Jonathan Schecter delve into the realm of self-development and personal evolution with guest Cameron Leids. They discuss the seminal moments of Cameron's recent ayahuasca ceremony in Costa Rica, the importance of integration, and practices such as breathwork that facilitate profound inner work. The conversation explores themes of vulnerability, gratitude, the importance of creating intentional spaces for personal growth, and the inherent value of play and presence. Jonathan also provides live integration support, emphasizing the importance of receiving emotional experiences and grounding them through embodied practices.
Connect with Cam and his podcast at https://thetripsittingpodcast.buzzsprout.com/
Join Jonathan in his Skool community at www.skool.com/bluemagicalchemy for more breathwork and integration for your evolution. 00:00 Introduction to Self-Development 00:47 Meet Cameron Leids 02:14 Experimenting with Integration 04:58 Orienting Practice 12:42 Ayahuasca Calling 25:26 The Power of Vulnerability 40:17 Confronting the Endless Cycle of Suffering 40:58 Slowing Down to Savor Positive Moments 44:08 Embracing Vulnerability and Emotional Openness 50:34 The Power of Music and Drumming 53:34 Navigating Psychedelic Integration and Community 59:53 Reflections on Connection and the Pandemic 01:07:38 The Importance of Safe Psychedelic Practices 01:12:37 Final Thoughts and Gratitude
