In this powerful conversation, audio/video producer & musical artist Konstantin Alexander joins me to share how he discovered that trauma therapy—not cannabis—was the true elixir on his healing path.
We explore:
• How self-medication can mask deeper pain
• Why anxiety sometimes increases before healing begins
• The courage it takes to turn toward trauma instead of away from it
• How authentic transformation starts with self-acceptance
A vulnerable, wise, and deeply human dialogue about what real healing asks of us.
Healing is possible—no matter the depth of the wound.
For More about Konstantin, his music and his work, check out:
Production: kastudioshq.com/
Original Music: https://open.spotify.com/track/6qSNeGTm3UU43erndglFZX?si=1b51dc5591d840ab
Special Thanks to:
In this episode, I speak with Jake Dimmock, a longtime Seattle resident, U.S. Merchant Seaman turned cannabis pioneer, and co-founder of one of the nation’s first medical marijuana dispensaries—the Northwest Patient Resource Center.
Jake reflects on his unexpected journey from working tugboats on both U.S. coasts to becoming a leader in medical cannabis. He shares how his perspective shifted beyond the idea of “just getting high” toward recognizing cannabis as a powerful—though complex—tool for healing.
Our conversation explores:
• How cannabis can support mental health, particularly for people living with PTSD.
• Why cannabis helps some but not all—and the importance of remembering that no treatment is universal.
• The fascinating role cannabis plays in dreaming: disrupting or suppressing dream recall, sometimes relieving nightmares, but potentially interfering with deeper healing for others.
Jake offers a grounded perspective on cannabis as both an elixir and an interferer, reminding us that its impact is highly individual.
Special Thanks to:
- Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production
- Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design
- David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music
In this episode, Dharma teacher Erin Treat shares her perspective on the ever-changing nature of healing. She likens the process to surfing a wave—calling for presence, adaptability, and courage to stay on its leading edge. Erin encourages us to move beyond fixed methods and instead bring curiosity, innovation, and deep listening into our practice. Together, we explore how mindfulness, compassion, and spiritual practice help us navigate life’s constant shifts and keep the healing journey alive and effective.
Special Thanks to:
Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production
Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design
David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music
In this episode, trauma therapist and Buddhist practitioner Tom Faupl shares his powerful experience in a high-dose psilocybin clinical trial. He describes it as both the hardest and most transformative day of his life, revealing the profound healing potential of psychedelics when held in a trauma-informed way.
Tom and Karen explore the importance of sustained integration support and the role of the subtle body—an energetic, psychospiritual dimension recognized in traditions like Buddhism, Hinduism, and Yoga. They discuss how psychedelics can open deeper awareness of this subtle body, and why honoring and integrating this embodied knowledge is essential for true healing.
Special Thanks to:
Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production
Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design
David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music
In this episode, I speak with David Weinstein—founding teacher of the Rockridge Meditation Community, teacher at the Pacific Zen Institute, and psychotherapist. David shares his unexpected entry into Buddhism and psychedelics, beginning with childhood mind experiments, LSD in college, and a chance encounter in a German bar that led him across Nepal, Afghanistan, Japan, and beyond.
He describes how the teachings of Lama Zopa and Lama Yeshe on death and suffering drew him deeper into Tibetan practice, extended retreats, and later into Zen koans, shikantaza, and Morita psychotherapy. David sees psychedelics not as permanent tools, but as bridges—“for crossing, not carrying”—that can open insight when paired with meditation and integration.
We explore how psychedelic states, trauma, and awakening experiences can dissolve identity, making community and integration essential. David emphasizes gentleness in practice, belonging, and keeping the mind open with his guiding mantra: “make your mind a question mark.”
Special Thanks to:
Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production
Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design
David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music
A podcast exploring the meeting point of trauma therapy, psychedelic medicine, and Buddhist wisdom and how weaving them together can transform healing and our relationship to suffering. Learn more at karensprinkel.com.
Special Thanks to:
Konstantin Alexander (KAStudiosHQ.com) - Podcast Production
Ryan Bell (@IG bellphoto11.com) - Logo Design
David Starfire (davidstarfire.com) - Music