The Psychedelic Wayfinder | Podcast en RSS.com

The Psychedelic Wayfinder

The Psychedelic Wayfinder

por Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective

Temporada 2

Psychedelics are a Gateway: Beyond Healing Into Human Potential

Psychedelics can open doors we didn't even know were closed. For both of us, psychedelic experiences have challenged what we were taught about reality, religion, consciousness, healing, and what might actually be possible for human beings. In this episode, Sam and Joi talk about the experiences that have taken us beyond psychedelic healing and into a much bigger exploration of consciousness. We share some of the mystical experiences that changed the way we understand reality, including Sam's encounter with the Cosmic Mother and Joi's experience traveling alongside an initiate she calls "B." We also talk about some of the strange connections and synchronicities we've witnessed through our Integration Circle and in our own lives. From there, the conversation moves into some of the questions we're increasingly fascinated by: What happens when psychedelics lift the veil? What do we make of experiences involving entities, intuitive knowing, psi abilities, altered states, deep memories, Divine Love, and profound feelings of connection? And what if psychedelic integration isn't only about recognizing and healing our patterns? What if it's also about recognizing our potential? We talk about the Gateway Experience and Robert Monroe's work, Joi's resurfacing memories around GATE, and our growing exploration of out-of-body experiences and consciousness beyond the physical body. We also dig into books and teachers that have been shaping our thinking, including Thomas Campbell's My Big TOE, Robert Monroe, Dolores Cannon, Bringers of the Dawn, Neville Goddard, Martha Beck, and Amorah Quan Yin's Pleiadian work. And we explore fascinating new research published in Nature in August 2026 examining what happens in the brain during psilocybin experiences. The research raises new questions about whether the psychedelic brain is simply becoming more chaotic, or whether there may be an underlying organization to consciousness that we're only beginning to understand. For us, psychedelics have become both medicine and doorway. They can help us heal what happened to us, but they can also invite us into curiosity about consciousness, human potential, and realities beyond the ones we were taught to believe in. And even as our exploration expands into things like OBEs, psi phenomena, and other states of consciousness, we keep coming back to the medicines themselves as profound teachers. Psychedelics may be a gateway. But they are also much more than that. If you've been listening or following us for a while, we'd love to hear from you: What topics make you curious? What do you want us to explore more deeply? And what makes you want to push back a little?

From Control to Connection: Motherhood, Plant Medicine, and the Courage to Look Within

What happens when a mother’s love becomes entangled with fear, control, and the need to keep an adult child safe? Joi Whitmore sits down with certified Wayfinder coach Laurie Levitan for an honest conversation about codependent parenting, nervous-system patterns, inner-child work, and the long process of repairing a mother–daughter relationship. Laurie shares how divorce, retirement, coaching, and years of personal inquiry changed the way she understood herself—and how later psychedelic experiences helped her recognize embodied patterns that insight alone had not fully shifted. Together, Joi and Laurie explore the difference between caring and controlling, the courage it takes to let adult children own their choices and emotions, and what becomes possible when a parent stops giving a child their fear. This is not a simple story of psychedelics “fixing” a relationship. It is a story about readiness, education, accountability, self-regulation, and the ongoing work of becoming more present to the people we love. Laurie works with mothers of adult children who want to understand old patterns and build more honest, connected relationships. Learn more at [laurielevitan.com](https://www.laurielevitan.com/). *This episode shares personal experiences and is not medical advice. Psychedelic substances carry legal, psychological, and physical risks; laws vary by location.

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Informed Recreation: Rethinking Play, Presence, and Psychedelics

In this conversation, Joi, Samantha, and Brooke open up about the evolving landscape of informed recreational psychedelic use—where play and intention meet. The group reflects on their own journeys with mushrooms, from first beach trips and bonfire epiphanies to the deeper awareness that comes with age and wisdom. They explore what it means to approach psychedelics with curiosity and care—discussing set and setting, intention, dosage, and safety - while honoring mushrooms as living teachers rather than substances to consume. The dialogue also expands into the growing conversation around legalization and corporate influence, asking: how do we preserve the sacred while making these tools accessible? As they prepare for their next retreat and community discussions inside Mighty Networks, the trio invites listeners to reflect on the balance between freedom, mindfulness, and reverence in their own experiences.

Integration Coaching in Action: A Live Session with Two Wayfinder Instructors

Ever wondered what integration coaching looks like in real time? In this powerful episode, two certified Wayfinder Instructors, Joi Whitmore and Brooke Heller, demonstrate how Wayfinder tools and coaching principles can illuminate even the most challenging psychedelic experiences. Brooke revisits a pivotal journey from her twenties—an experience she once labeled a “bad trip.” Together, we explore what really happens when meaning feels lost, and how curiosity, presence, and symbolic interpretation can bring healing. Using a Jungian-inspired dream-analysis approach referenced in Martha Beck’s work, we look at how to decode the imagery and emotions that surface during or after ceremony. Brooke shares what she learned, why she thought she was finished with medicine work, and how the call to return arrived just a few years later.

Adventures of the Founding Five: Following the Mycelial Threads

In this very special episode, we follow the golden threads of connection that led to the creation of the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective — a story woven across friendship, intuition, and a shared call to bring the feminine back into psychedelic spaces. We begin with Brooke Heller, who shares how the seeds were first planted during Wayfinder Life Coach Training and Master Coach Training, where she met Joi. From early microdosing experiments to witnessing a vision take form, Brooke reflects on the awe of watching something that began as a whisper grow into a movement. The journey deepens with Kristen Shirkey, who reveals why she felt called to name this work Psychedelic Wayfinder. She’s joined by her soul-sister Anahi Abe-Brower, whose embodied wisdom and curiosity helped point them both toward the path we’re now walking together. Their stories remind us how the body often knows before the mind catches up. From there, Joi opens up about the courage it took to stop hiding and claim her niche out loud — right as Samantha McLenachen was feeling her own call into this work. That synchronicity wasn’t just timing, it was part of the web: proof that when we follow the whispers, allies appear. It’s impossible to capture the whole magic of this conversation in words. This episode is living proof of what happens when women follow their intuition, trust connection, and honor the mycelial pathways between us. You’ll have to listen to feel it.

Many Lives, Many Paths: A Journey into Psycho-Spiritual Healing with Jen Myers

In this episode, Joi welcomes psycho-spiritual therapist Jen Myers, LMFT, to the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective. Their conversation traces Jen’s personal and professional evolution—from early experiences in traditional talk therapy to her integrative approach that weaves together Internal Family Systems (IFS), somatics, plant medicine, and ancestral healing. Joi shares her own therapeutic journey with Jen, highlighting how their two-year relationship supported her through life transitions and processing challenging psychedelic experiences. Jen reflects on her path from pharmacy student to therapist, her discovery of parts work, and the profound influence of spiritual practices and ceremonies. Together, they explore themes of death, ancestral connection, and the necessity of practitioners doing their own inner work to stay aligned with clients. Listeners will hear how Jen blends practical tools with spiritual insights—using breathwork, tapping, visualization, and even intentional cannabis work—to help clients quiet the logical mind and connect with deeper truths. She emphasizes that those guiding psychedelic integration must have personal experience with plant medicine, saying, “You don’t learn how to swim by reading about the water.” The episode concludes with an invitation to join Jen’s upcoming workshops in the community space, where she’ll offer parts work sessions to help participants connect with self-energy, dialogue with parts, and foster harmony within. You can find Jen at: http://www.jenmyerslmft.com/">jenmyerslmft.com On TikTok: @theconsciousnesscoach Instagram: @itsjenmyers

Parts Work, Psychedelics, and the Inner Mosaic: An IFS-Inspired Conversation

In this episode, we’re diving into one of our favorite frameworks for psychedelic prep, journeying, and integration: Internal Family Systems (IFS). We start with a brief introduction to IFS and its creator, Dr. Richard Schwartz, who developed this compassionate, non-pathologizing approach to healing by recognizing that we all have many “parts” inside—each with its own role, history, and need for care. Whether you’re brand new to IFS or you’ve used it in your own work, this episode offers a fresh look at how this model aligns beautifully with expanded states of consciousness. Sam brings the laughs and insight with a story about watching Tales from the Trip on Comedy Central, and offers a powerful reminder that “parts work” is nothing new—it’s something shamans and early healers have been doing in their own way for centuries. We also explore: How Joi used IFS during a personal psychedelic journey What IFS-informed preparation can look like before a journey How to recognize and work with parts that arise during the journey itself And what makes IFS such a grounded and effective tool for integration afterward Plus, we share the story of our WPC “Parts Party”—a creative gathering where members of our community showed up as an inner part they wanted to introduce to the group. It was playful, vulnerable, and wildly illuminating. If you’ve ever wondered how to deepen your relationship with your inner world or help your clients navigate theirs, this one’s for you.

Rhythms of Revelation: Music, Psychedelics, and Inner Discovery

In this episode, we dive into an intimate and expansive conversation exploring the vibrant intersections of music, psychedelics, and ancestral healing. From the opening moments, we delve into the potent role of music as a guide in psychedelic journeys, integration practices, and even microdosing. For us, music is far more than background—it’s a co-pilot that shapes the emotional and psychological landscape of transformative experiences. We share personal stories illustrating how certain songs have unlocked memories, triggered cathartic releases, and even allowed different parts of ourselves to speak and be heard. Kristen shares how her relationship with music has evolved over time, moving from classical pieces—which sometimes kept her in her head—to the visceral magic of tribal and rhythmic playlists. She describes how music bridges conscious and unconscious realms, especially when paired with somatic practices like singing or body scans. For Kristen, lyrics have become a kind of map, helping her uncover emotional truths beneath the songs that have always brought her to tears—a practice she’s now integrating into her therapy work. Joi reflects on musical milestones in her own journeys, from a transformative teenage acid trip scored by Led Zeppelin to recent experiences where music engaged all five senses. She shares how poetry and music have intertwined during journeys, revealing how artistic expression often flows organically from psychedelic states and can become a powerful tool for integration. Sam speaks about how different musical “flavors”—from the structured energy of classical music to the primal power of shamanic chanting—shape the tone and depth of a session. She describes how certain shamanic songs feel as though they “know her” and continue to serve as portals back into mystical terrain, whether she’s microdosing or simply listening in everyday life. We also dive into scientific insights that fascinate us, including studies showing how psilocybin enhances emotional responses to music, while SSRIs tend to blunt them across the board. A particularly intriguing 2020 study found that overtone-based music, rather than traditional classical compositions, is more likely to evoke mystical experiences—a finding that has us rethinking the music we choose for future journeys. Yet music’s power isn’t absolute. We explore the healing role of noble silence, reflecting on how intentional quiet can become a profound container for inner work during psychedelic sessions. “Notes from the Other Side” offers a rich tapestry of personal stories, scientific curiosity, and soulful inquiry. We invite you to join us as we explore how music—and sometimes silence—can open portals to the deepest parts of ourselves, guiding us through the unknown and helping us bring wisdom back into everyday life.

Reclaiming Ancestral Wisdom

In this deeply personal episode, Joi and Sam explore the intersection of ancestral wisdom, psychedelics, and healing. This one goes deep. Joi shares her powerful experience visiting The Sacred Circle in Washington—a space held and facilitated by Sam—where she felt fully supported to reconnect with her roots and spirit. Together, they unpack a vision Martha Beck shared on a podcast, about “Ancient Technologies of Magic” and the calling to train those aligned with the healer archetype. This opens the door to a conversation about remembering what’s been buried, reclaiming what’s been lost, and healing both personal and collective wounds—not by pushing forward, but by going back. Sam also shares some mystical insights from the 7 Fires Prophecy, the Grandmother Song, and how the Sabian Symbols in her natal chart have guided her path. They reflect on the power of radical honesty and storytelling—why showing up raw and vulnerable isn’t just brave, but necessary.

How the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective Was Born: Origin Story Part II

In this episode, Joi is joined by a very special co-host and dear friend: Kristen, the quiet visionary and spark behind the Wayfinder Psychedelic Collective (WPC). If Episode 1 was our seedling story, today’s conversation is about how that seed took root and became something real. This is Origin Story: Part II — a tale of alignment, courage, and finding each other through the medicine. Kristen shares how burnout from corporate life opened the door to coaching, eventually leading her to Martha Beck’s program thanks to a book recommendation (Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle). There, she met Anahí, and together they began a trauma-healing journey that led them to psychedelics—despite having no prior experience and a shared dislike of “losing control.” We talk about: The power of trust and intention: How they chose to pursue a legal retreat and realized what mattered most was who would hold space. The spark of resonance: Kristen’s search for “Wayfinder + psychedelics” led her to Joi’s podcast... and an instant connection was made. Our journeys across Ohio, Florida, Mexico, North Carolina, and soon Costa Rica. The way this work keeps drawing soul-aligned people together, including the magical moment Joi introduced Kristen to Sam, which helped complete the trio that is now at the heart of WPC. Kristen reflects on how Joi’s grounded presence during her early journeys gave her the safety and support she needed to fully surrender. She shares how it felt to co-facilitate with Joi, and how these shared experiences deepened both her healing and sense of purpose. We also chat about: Kristen’s current training in somatic coaching and how it weaves beautifully into psychedelic support work Her vision for the podcast, including playful ideas like the Magic Corner, Connection Corner, and a Psychedelic Book Club (yes, we brainstorm on-air!) Whether you’re just discovering WPC or have been along for the ride since day one, this episode is an invitation into the soul of our origin: three women who followed the threads of curiosity, healing, and friendship—into something much bigger than themselves.

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