After nearly two decades in educational leadership—serving as a teacher, school counselor, and administrator—Megan Butler now brings her gifts to the world of mental health as a child and adolescent therapist. Named the 2015 Austin ISD School Counselor of the Year, Megan has always championed mindfulness, innovation, and compassionate care—values that shine through in her current work as Clinical Research Lead at Lucero, a playful self-care app designed to support the emotional well-being of kids and their communities.
In this episode, we explore the heart behind Lucero: how it fosters connection, reflection, and fun for children and families navigating the complexities of life today. Megan shares insights on community healing, the wisdom of youth, and what it means to design mental health tools that meet children where they are.
📲 Download the Lucero app:
Lucero on the App Store
📧 Contact Megan: Megan@lucerospeaks.com
🔗 Connect with Megan: Megan Butler on LinkedIn
Rev. Lynda Elaine Carré is a certified interfaith chaplain and end-of-life educator whose work lives at the threshold between spirit and science. In this conversation, we explore the distinction between religion and spirituality—especially in palliative care settings, where the veil is thin and meaning-making becomes sacred.
Rev. Carré shares how a personal vision quest led her to seminary and into the clinical world of hospice and hospital-based chaplaincy. We speak about the beauty of the human in transition, and the often-overlooked creativity and mysticism that can arise when we are asked to feel our impermanence.
She speaks to the education of dying as a process, the wisdom of the body at the end of life, and how to support a loved one in transition through grounded spiritual presence—not bypass. “You’ve got this. You’re okay to leave. I’ll love you forever. You’re safe to go.”
As Rev. Carré reminds us, spiritual liberation is not a solitary path, and we don’t have to navigate it alone.
🌿 Connect with Rev. Carré:
revcarre@wellspringpassages.com
www.wellspringpassages.com/advocacy
What happens when we let the soul take the lead?
In this episode, transformational teacher, poet, and “soul doctor” Diana Esther joins us for a powerful conversation on healing, consciousness, and living a life of purpose. Raised in the Soviet Union, Diana shares the pivotal moments that brought her into deep relationship with her soul—especially in the face of challenges logic couldn’t solve.
We explore the wisdom that illness often carries, the suffering that emerges when passion is repressed, and Diana’s unique understanding of consciousness as a living, embodied state. With poetic clarity, Diana reminds us that returning to wholeness begins with listening to the voice within.
✨ Learn more about Diana's work: The Diamond Within
📘 Explore her book: The Diamond Within – Book
💎 Transformational Programs: Online Offerings
This week on Conscious Physician Medicine + Psychedelics, we’re joined by writer, podcaster, and psychedelic guide Zach Leary—a seeker, teacher, and bridge between eras of psychedelic exploration.
For over three decades, Zach has been immersed in the evolving story of psychedelics, bearing witness to both the historic countercultural wave and today’s psychedelic renaissance. With roots in digital innovation and a soul shaped by Ram Dass and Bhakti Yoga, Zach brings a rare blend of ancient wisdom, personal devotion, and practical guidance to the modern psychedelic space.
As an integration coach, session facilitator, and educator, Zach has supported hundreds on their journeys of healing, transformation, and spiritual inquiry. His approach weaves together harm reduction, historical insight, internal family systems, and contemplative practice—offering both safety and depth to the psychedelic experience.
In this conversation, we explore:
The legacy of Ram Dass and the continuing ripple of his teachings
What it means to facilitate with integrity and reverence
The role of psychedelics in modern healing, mysticism, and awakening
Zach’s personal path—from marketing exec to kirtan-singing Deadhead to soon-to-be author
Zach's upcoming Psychedelics Studies Intensive launches July 2, 2025. Learn more and enroll at: zachleary.net
📚 Your Extraordinary Mind: Psychedelics in the 21st Century and How to Use Them was published with SoundsTrue in early 2025.
Connect with Zach on Instagram: @zachlearydrome
Welcome to a gorgeous episode featuring the radiant Julian Bermudez—a guide, facilitator, and trained therapist whose practice is devoted to helping individuals reconnect with their deepest selves—their psyche, emotions, and innate wisdom—often through trauma-informed coaching, and occasionally through the careful inclusion of psychedelics. His work is grounded in the belief that healing is not only possible, but inherent in all of us.In this episode, we explore:
Julian shares what it means to hold space with integrity and clarity, taking full responsibility for the energy he brings into the room while guiding others to reclaim their inner authority.We also reflect on the story of Dr. Lida Fatemi, who grew up in war-torn Iran, and how love, care, and radical self-awareness transformed what could have been an overwhelming trauma into a regulated and joyful way of being.This conversation inspires bravery, self-trust, and respect for the human condition. Connect with Julian Bermudez:🌐 Website: https://www.psychedelic-integration.net/🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julian-bermudez-ma-ccmp
In this episode, we sit down with James Walker, founder of Cloud Walker Farms, one of Dr. Fatemi's most respected cannabis companies, known for its integrity, purity, and deeply intentional cultivation practices. After years in a high-stress, fast-paced career—and a dependency on sleeping aids and Xanax—James was introduced to a homemade cannabis edible that offered him the deepest sense of relaxation and restoration he'd felt in years. That moment sparked a personal and professional transformation.
We explore his journey from burnout to botanical healing, his groundbreaking work with Parkinson’s patients, and his mission to grow and process cannabis without growth regulators, hormones, or pesticides—ever. James breaks down the often-overlooked (and often harmful) methods of mainstream cannabis extraction (cough cough butane), and shares how Cloud Walker Farms has carved a new standard rooted in health, sustainability, and reverence for the plant.
Plus, we dive into the fascinating, still largely understudied world of cannabinoids—over 130 and counting—and what we’re just beginning to understand about their medicinal potential.
Whether you’re canna-curious, a seasoned user, or a skeptic, this conversation opens the door to seeing cannabis as both recreational and remedy.
In this moving conversation, Lida sits down with her client Sarah Sanchez, a 25-year-old woman who has spent her life learning how to live in—and with—her body. Born with hip dysplasia and chronic pain, Sarah underwent eight reconstructive surgeries just to walk. A traumatic brain injury from a car accident later triggered non-epileptic seizures, further complicating her path.
And yet, through it all, Sarah held her pain close, keeping it quiet so as not to disturb her family’s peace.
Now, at 25, she is beginning to emerge—to integrate, to make meaning, and to speak her truth. This episode is a meditation on gratitude for the cards we are dealt, even when they seem impossibly heavy. Together, Sarah and Lida explore the unexpected beauty born from hardship: the wisdom pain can bring, the accessibility of joy, and the perspective found in life’s crunchiest moments.
In this episode, we sit down with Myles Katz, a seasoned psychedelic facilitator whose journey began with Synthesis—a scientifically informed psilocybin retreat in Amsterdam that raised over $10 million in capital. His path has since led him to Oregon, where he now works within the United States’ first legal and regulated psilocybin access model.
Myles walks us through the intricacies of Oregon’s groundbreaking system, from the rigorous facilitator licensing process to the four-fold structure that ensures safe and ethical use: licensed growers, independent labs verifying potency and purity, designated service centers for consumption, and trained facilitators guiding the experience. With over 12,000 doses administered and only a handful of emergency interventions, the model offers a compelling case for structured, above-ground psychedelic healing.
Together, we explore both the inspiring potential and growing pains of this new framework: the realities of practicing in office-building settings, questions around socioeconomic accessibility, and the spiritual responsibility that comes with working with sacred medicine in a legal context.
This is a rich and honest analysis of what happens when mushrooms meet modern infrastructure—and what’s possible when intention meets regulation.
Connect with Myles and learn more:
https://www.confluenceretreats.org/
Born into the infamous Children of God cult, Olivia MacDonell’s story is one of resilience, paradox, and profound transformation. In this episode, she shares her journey of growing up within a global missionary movement that preached love while simultaneously inflicting deep harm. Olivia reflects on the complexities of holding two opposing truths and how this shaped her path toward healing.
Her experiences ultimately led her to found The Activation Project, a company dedicated to helping others integrate powerful, life-changing experiences—particularly in the realm of psychedelic therapy. She opens up about the inspiration behind the project, the lessons she learned from both the cult and her own healing process, and the challenges of reconnecting with family after facing the past head-on.
Join us for an intimate and eye-opening conversation about survival, transformation, and the importance of integration after deep psychological shifts.
Connect With Olivia:
🎙 Buckle up for a powerful episode, folks! Today, we're diving deep into the profound influence of psychedelic therapy on the veteran population with none other than Matt Zemon.
Matt’s story is remarkable—he was a successful businessman when a single mushroom trip changed his entire world. That experience led him to pursue a master’s degree in psychology and neuroscience, and he’s currently in a Doctor of Ministry program, exploring the spiritual dimensions of healing.
As a key advocate for psychedelic-assisted healing, Matt works with Heroic Hearts Project—a nonprofit that helps veterans access transformative psychedelic experiences in Central and South America and Portland. He’s also the author of The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics and Psychedelics for Everyone, offering practical insights on safe, intentional, and transformative journeys.
In this episode, we talk source, set, and setting—where your medicine comes from, how it's cultivated, your intention, your physical and mental readiness, and who you trust to steward your experience. We also honor the shadow side of harm in psychedelic pursuit and discuss what research really says about adverse experiences—are they truly negative, or can they be some of the most profound and meaningful moments of our lives?
🌿 CONNECT WITH MATT:
🔗 Heroic Hearts Project: heroicheartsproject.org
🔗 LinkedIn: Matt Zemon
📖 The Veteran’s Guide to Psychedelics: Get the Book
📖 Psychedelics for Everyone: Get the Book
🎧 Tune in now and let’s explore the frontier of healing together.
Meet Kathryn L. Tucker, J.D., a leading advocate for improved end-of-life care and expanded patient rights. She has served in key advocacy roles at organizations such as the National Psychedelics Association, Compassion & Choices, and the End of Life Liberty Project. A founding member of the Psychedelic Bar Association, she has been at the forefront of legal efforts to expand access to psychedelic-assisted therapy for palliative care. Tucker has argued landmark cases before the U.S. Supreme Court, shaping legal protections for terminally ill patients. She also teaches law, focusing on the intersection of medicine, ethics, and end-of-life care.
All of Tucker’s work, public interest advocacy, is funded by generous donors! No donation too small or too large.
Donations can be sent to the National Psychedelics Association Advocacy Fund: NPA Foundation, 1743 SW Prospect Drive, Portland, OR 97201. For wire transfer information please contact the fund manager Matthew Ettinger at matthew@fundpsychedelics.org.
In part two of our conversation with the wonderful Christine Caldwell we dive deep into the role of psychedelics, particularly psilocybin, in easing the final stage of life and fostering profound healing experiences.
In the second half of the conversation, they explore:
This conversation is rich with insight and heart, offering new perspectives on how psychedelics may serve as a compassionate bridge in life's most tender moments.
Learn more about End of Life Psychedelic Care
In this insightful episode, we sit down with Christine Caldwell, founder of the nonprofit End of Life Psychedelic Care (eolpc.org). Chris shares her expertise on the transformative role of psychedelics in supporting individuals during the end-of-life process.
Part One delves into:
Stay tuned for Part Two, dropping February 1, 2025, where we'll explore the role of psilocybin in this sacred work.
🌟 Whether you're a professional in the field, someone seeking new perspectives on grief and dying, or simply curious about the intersection of psychedelics and end-of-life care, this episode offers profound insights and hope.
What does it mean to parent with intention in a world shaped by patriarchy? In this enlightening episode, we dive deep into the complexities of modern parenting with David Bouquin. From the micro-level realities—like the absence of baby-changing tables in men’s restrooms—to the macro-level cultural narratives that cast fathers as the “flexible” parent and mothers as career-driven jugglers, we unpack the invisible glitches in the matrix of traditional parenting roles.
We also explore the lessons anthropology offers: studies suggest that for every child, four supportive adults create the most easeful environment. Together, we discuss the inevitable burnout of helicopter parenting, the power of letting children witness conflict resolution, and the transformative gift of boundaries and discipline. David brings thoughtful insights into how we can create a parenting paradigm rooted in balance, structure, and community.
Whether you're a parent, aspiring parent, or simply curious about reshaping societal norms, this episode offers wisdom and tools for reimagining the future of parenting.
In this deeply moving episode, we sit down with Dr. Rohini Kannigati, a palliative care physician who guides us through the profound terrain of grief and end-of-life care. Dr. K challenges the cultural notion of “letting go,” instead inviting us to embrace the innocent act of “holding on” as a sacred aspect of the human heart.
Grief, like laughter, is a universal experience that transcends cultures, yet our resistance to it often drains our life-force. Dr. K shares how being fully present with grief can unlock a spring of unexpected gifts and a profound transformation.
We explore:
Dr. K also recommends The Adventure of Grief, a powerful TED Talk offering further insight into navigating loss.
This episode is an invitation to live the dying moments of our lives with presence, heart, and an openness to what grief has to teach us.
In this episode, we’re joined by Hamilton Souther, founder of Blue Morpho, one of the first dedicated plant medicine centers in the Peruvian Amazon. For the past 22 years, Hamilton has lived in the Amazon, immersed in the profound world of visionary plant medicines.
Together, we:
Discover how Hamilton bridges ancient traditions with modern consciousness to offer transformative healing experiences.
Connect with Blue Morpho: bluemorphoacademy.com
Connect via Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hamiltonsouther/?hl=en
In this episode, we welcome Rick Doblin, Ph.D., the Founder and President of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). He received his doctorate in Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, where he wrote his dissertation on the regulation of the medical uses of psychedelics and marijuana and his Master’s thesis on a survey of oncologists about smoked marijuana vs. the oral THC pill in nausea control for cancer patients. His undergraduate thesis at New College of Florida was a 25-year follow-up to the classic Good Friday Experiment, which evaluated the potential of psychedelic drugs to catalyze religious experiences. He also conducted a thirty-four year follow-up study to Timothy Leary’s Concord Prison Experiment. Rick studied with Dr. Stanislav Grof and was among the first to be certified as a Holotropic Breathwork practitioner. His professional goal is to help develop legal contexts for the beneficial uses of psychedelics and marijuana, primarily as prescription medicines but also for personal growth for otherwise healthy people, and eventually to become a legally licensed psychedelic therapist. He founded MAPS in 1986, and currently resides in Boston with his wife and puppy, with three empty rooms from his children who have all graduated college and begun their life journeys. Learn more about Rick by listening to his Origin Story, watching his TED Talk, and watching his SSDP talk about lessons for political activism from a series of his psychedelic experiences.
Watch Dr. Doblin's Ted Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/rick_doblin_the_future_of_psychedelic_assisted_psychotherapy?subtitle=en
Listen to his Origin Story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4s_j2OJOhrI&ab_channel=PTTOW%21
Tune into his SSDP Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3X2YsG7-Nc&ab_channel=StudentsforSensibleDrugPolicy%28SSDP%29
In this episode, we dive deep with Shannon Morehead, a former Registered Nurse with over 30 years in the healing arts and psychedelics. Shannon’s journey is as diverse as it is transformative, having trained with sacred traditions like União Do Vegetal (UDV) and Shipibo, which have guided her work as a plant sacrament facilitator, herbalist, and integration coach. She’s also an ordained minister, birth doula, and medicine woman dedicated to helping others overcome trauma and reconnect with their higher selves.
Shannon shares her path from traditional medicine to the healing power of psychedelics, revealing how she’s personally overcome chronic pain and asthma. Through her struggles, Shannon has learned the powerful link between physical and emotional pain.
In this episode, we discuss the distinctions between Brazilian and Peruvian ayahuasca practices, the concept of a dieta, and the idea that sacred wisdom belongs to everyone. As Shannon puts it, “There’s no copyright on sacred wisdom. When practicing with authenticity and originality, we’re an amalgam of these different traditions.” Join us as we explore the profound wisdom of plant medicine and Shannon’s heartfelt insights on healing and integration.
Listen now and discover how embracing authenticity in sacred traditions can unlock deep healing and transformation.
Find Shannon’s work at Great Spirit Farm and follow her journey on Instagram.
Join us in this fascinating conversation with Zappy Zapolin, filmmaker and proclaimed "Psychedelic Concierge to the Stars." Zappy’s psychedelic journey began with a profound experience in his youth, where he envisioned himself and a friend as a collection of atoms vibrating at slightly different frequencies. This pivotal moment sparked a lifelong reverence for the power of psychedelic modalities.
Despite following the traditional path—college, career success, and family—Zappy felt unfulfilled and was eventually drawn to ayahuasca, leading him down a deeper spiritual and healing path.
In this episode, we also dive into his groundbreaking documentaries, *The Reality of Truth*, hosted by Michelle Rodriguez, and *Lamar Odom Reborn*, chronicling the athlete's transformative experience with iboga and his inspiring return to the court. Zappy’s nonprofit, *Mind Army*, is also explored, as he fights for the right to pursue happiness through expanded access to psychedelic therapies.
Get ready for a rich critique of modern medical models, the profundity of psychedelic healing, and the importance of living a conscious, mindful life.
Connect with Zappy:
- Follow him on social media: @zappyzapolin
In this episode, Paolo Huffman, beloved Albuquerque business owner of Old Barrel Tea Company, joins us for a deep and heart-forward conversation. We explore empowered entrepreneurship, the journey of befriending anxiety, answering the call of psychedelics, and the transformative actions that follow from listening to the lessons of the ethereal realms.
Paolo shares vulnerable and powerful stories from her life, that are bound to move you. The warmth of Lida and Paolo's off-mic friendship is woven throughout the episode, bringing a personal and cherished connection to the discussion.
Check out Old Barrel Tea Company—whether you’re a 505 local or not, they have an incredible online shop you won’t want to miss!
https://oldbarreltea.com/
