thought-provoking
Exploring the Unconventional with Mitch Horowitz
Mitch Horowitz invites us to break through the walls of convention and explore the numinous, mysterious, and uncertain places that lie beyond those walls. In this episode Mitch serves as a tour guide taking us on a thought provoking journey of the spiritual, the occult, the magickal, and the extra-physical.
Living An Honest Life: An Exploration of Ethics
In this special “quarantine edition” of Lucid Cafe (subtitled: “…so don’t be an asshole”), I have a particularly thought-provoking conversation with my husband John Halley. We discuss the ethics of honesty, the state of the world, the power of kindness, and the assumptions we can’t afford to make about consciousness. In this candid conversation, John opens up about how allowing himself to feel sad has been the key to living a happy life.
Psilocybin & Human Evolution with Jahan Khamsehzadeh, PhD
My guest Jahan Khamsehzadeh is a fount of information on all things psilocybin. In this final episode of season 5, we discuss his book The Psilocybin Connection, the theory that psilocybin may have played a role in human evolution, and the promise of psilocybin assisted therapy.
The Power & Mystery of the Mind with Mitch Horowitz
Could it be that we actually have the ability to create the kinds experiences we desire in our lives? Author Mitch Horowitz suggests it is possible….but it’s complicated. In this thought provoking episode, we explore the possibilities that exist if we can get out of our own way.
Fantasy Worlds with Author Daryl Gregory
Sci fi and fantasy author Daryl Gregory describes his books as “psychological realism in the face of surrealism.” He tackles topics that I find fascinating like the nature of consciousness, free will, paranormal abilities, and the power of belief, specifically of the religious variety. And then when I learned that he doesn’t really believe in the things that he writes about, I was intrigued and eager to have a conversation with him. Happy to report that he was up for it!
Embracing the Mystery with Jeff Spiess, MD
Dr Jeff Spiess is the perfect person to talk with about preparing for the end of life. He's cared for the seriously and terminally ill for over three decades, first as an oncologist, then as a hospice physician. But what’s more evident in this episode is that he truly cares. He wants all of us to know that learning how to die teaches us how to live.
Learning To Heal with Author Ed Cohen
After an emergency surgery that saved his life, Ed Cohen had a spontaneous healing experience that prompted him to ask the question: Why doesn’t medicine know about healing? In this episode Ed explores how Western medicine turned from an “art of healing” toward a “science of medicine” and how this shift has affected both medical practitioners and their patients.
Roar Like A Goddess with Acharya Shunya
Have you forgotten how to roar? In this inspiring episode Vedic teacher Acharya Shunya invites anyone who has experienced oppression to break free from their bondage and step into their power using three Hindu goddesses as their guides. Shunya reminds us that despite our circumstances each one of us is innately resilient, strong and fierce.
What's Your Truth?: Women in the Workplace
In this episode Career Coach Mayda Poc joins me for another honest, candid and thought-provoking conversation; this time focusing on how the workplace landscape is changing for women. We talk about our experiences working in male-dominated industries and share our thoughts on the challenges of learning to communicate and work together in a healthy way, and the possibility of moving away from gender stereotypes.
A Spectrum of Sanity: Exploring Our Fascination with Monsters
This was a fun conversation. In this episode my brother Tim joins me for a lively conversation about humanity’s attraction to creatures of the night and we explore what this attraction might say about our collective relationship with evil.
Otherworldly Experiences - Part One
Join me and the host of the Supernormalized podcast CeeJay Barnaby for part one of our pod swap. This initial conversation focuses primarily on my shamanic experiences and how I use trance to engage in healing dreams on behalf of others. Part two, which will be released later this season, will focus on CeeJay and his otherworldly experiences, but you’ll get a taste of his experiences in today’s episode. Mighty intense!
Otherworldly Experiences - Part Two
In this episode I chat with the host of the Supernormalized podcast CeeJay Barnaby about his spiritual journey, personal philosophies and powerful meditation practice. He also gives us an intimate glimpse into his inner world and a rather disturbing spiritual experience he had.
Solving the ADHD Riddle with Connie McReynolds, PhD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that’s been controversial and misunderstood for decades. Dr Connie McReynolds appears to have gotten to the root cause of ADHD and the results of her research and clinical work may surprise you. In this episode Connie shares how she’s found a way to treat and correct the symptoms providing a breakthrough solution that’s consistently measurable and repeatable using Neurofeedback.
Dare to be Brave with Amikaeyla Gaston
My guest Amikaeyla Gaston has a powerful story. After surviving a devastating and heinous hate crime, she’s focused her energy and her gifts as a musician on helping political refugees, war survivors and at-risk populations begin the process of healing by creating an environment where everyone has a voice.
Finding My Voice in the Land of Crazy Horse with Author Kevin Hancock
In this episode my guest Kevin Hancock, an award winning author and the CEO of one of the oldest family businesses in the U.S., reflects on his recovery from a thought to be ‘incurable’ neurological voice disorder, as well as his time on the remote Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. He now is an advocate of strengthening the voices of all individuals—within a company or a community —through listening, empowering, and shared leadership.
Transforming Fear into Action with author John Perkins
What a perfect time to be having a conversation with John Perkins. As this episode reveals, not only is his new book Touching the Jaguar timely, but he’s led a fascinating life that’s reminiscent of a Hollywood film filled with global intrigue and adventure. John’s perspective about perception and fear is powerful and accessible.
An Everyday Cult with Author Gerette Buglion
Gerette Buglion shares the story of how her innocent quest for meaning was hijacked by a teacher who recognized her thirst for spiritual knowledge and personal growth only to later discover that her mind and psyche had been compromised by the disturbingly subtle techniques he used. Gerette’s unsettling account illustrates that cults are more widespread than you might think.
Sex, Eroticism & Pleasure with Linda River Valente
This episode is so not a replay of what you learned about sex in health class back in middle school. Linda River Valente is back on the podcast and this time she’s talking about things that make us blush, but shouldn’t. As a Holistic Sexuality Educator, Linda invites us to find a healthy, more comfortable relationship with our sexuality and sensuality.
Psychedelic-Assisted Psychotherapy with Emma Bragdon PhD & Benjamin Asher MD
The field of mental health is on the brink of evolving in a promising direction with the introduction of psychedelics as a viable treatment option for a wide range of psychological challenges. In this episode my guests Emma Bragdon and Benjamin Asher discuss their work providing Ketamine-Assisted Psychotherapy (KAP) and an overview of the outcomes they’ve witnessed.
DMT and the Nature of Spiritual Experience with Rick Strassman, MD
Can the prophets of the Old Testament serve as models for the DMT experience? This is what Dr Rick Strassman examines in this episode and in his book DMT and The Soul of Prophecy. This episode is also an exploration into what happens when a heathen podcast host has a conversation with a well-respected scholar and psychedelic researcher.
The Missing Link: The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Health
My guest Kimberly Pierce is a medical provider whose life was changed, both personally and professionally, after attending a conference on the damaging effects of childhood trauma and how these experiences predict health issues later in life. She talks about how incorporating a simple screening tool known as ACE (Adverse Childhood Experience), into her practice has dramatically impacted the lives of her patients and inspired her to create the documentary film “The Faces of ACE’s.”
Swimming in the Deep End with Nina
Fascinating conversation with Wake Up to Dying Project founder, Nina Thompson. An honest, practical, and sometimes surreal discussion about how exploring death can actually help us live life more fully.
Reimagining Death with Author William J. Peters
William J. Peters is a licensed psychotherapist who is passionate about eliminating the stigma around end of life experiences. He’s recognized by many as the world’s leading authority in the field of shared death studies. In this episode he shares what his research team discovered about this surprisingly common phenomenon.
Celtic Druidism with Author Ellen Evert Hopman
What exactly is a Druid and what do they do? In this episode and in her new book Celtic Druidry: Rituals, Techniques, and Magical Practices, my guest Ellen Evert Hopman unravels some of the mysterious lore surrounding Druidism and shares how our contemporary understanding of this ancient practice is not really complete.
Astrological Forecast (2024-2025) with Linda River Valente
To kick off Season 7, I asked my friend Linda River Valente if - given the nature of these “interesting” times - she’d be willing to come back on the show and give us a taste of what we can expect in the coming months through the lens of astrology, as well as how to best navigate the challenges that she sees coming.
Life Is But A Dream: The Science of Coincidence with Bernard Beitman, MD
In this episode, author and psychiatrist Dr. Bernie Beitman (aka Dr Coincidence) discusses his research on coincidences - those unusual, attention-getting, seemingly meaningful experiences we all occasionally have - why they happen, what they might mean, and ways to increase the likelihood of having more of them.