The Entheogenic Evolution

This week we take a deep and detailed dive back into the topic of entheogenic religion and psychedelic spirituality with author, Matt Zemon, who is also the executive director of the Council on Spiritual Practices. Matt's here to share all about his new book, Ordinary Mystics: Psychedelics, Faith, and the Reclaiming of Direct Spiritual Experience. We cover a lot of territory from the primacy of spiritual experience with entheogens, what the law, Constitution, and courts have to say, examples of churches claiming their religious freedom rights such as the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen here in Ashland, and others. We also discuss how and why protecting and supporting entheogenic religious freedom became a passion for Matt. You can learn more about him and his books at his website, https://www.mattzemon.com/.

And for those who want to explore this topic more, I've got an entire playlist at the Entheogenic Evolution YouTube channel dedicated to in-depth conversations and talks on this: Psychedelic Churches, Religions, and Spirituality

And ... coming up on Wed Nov 18th 4-5:30 pm Pacific time, Mindscape Psychedelic Institute is hosting me for a conversation about 3 short-acting and powerful psychedelics, DMT, 5-MeO-DMT, and Salvinorin A. To register for this free online Zoom event, use this link here

Book 3 of Tales of Aurduin, The Alchemist and the Eagle, comes to a stunning cliff-hanger conclusion this week with chapter 36, "The Gathering." Pulled by a mysterious force people from across the world of Aurduin gather in the center of the world at Jeaniaurduin with the certain knowledge that the God Child, Miraanni, is about to return from her year's embodiment within the earth. The religion formed in her name, The Tal, expects that she will return to lead them into battle in the already-escalating holy war against the Jolao Empire. However, no one could expect what happens when she re-emerges with an gift for an unlikely recipient ...

I hope you've enjoyed this past year+ of sharing The Alchemist and the Eagle. We'll continue with the final book of the series, The Fifth Temple, with more audiobook chapters between interview episodes.

My guest this week is Alan Romano, LCSW, who is an author and certified psychedelic therapy provider in Florida. He's here to share about his new book, Healing Beyond the Limits of the Isolated, wherein he develops and explores his novel approach of Functional Systems Regulation Theory. As his book has many interesting and provocative details and accounts of his own, often trying, experiences, I spend a lot of time asking him to share more about it here with the podcast audience as well as how it helped inform his approach of FSRT. You can learn more about Alan and his work at his website

With chapter 35, "The Martyr," we're now at the penultimate chapter of book 3 of Tales of Aurduin, The Alchemist and the Eagle. In this chapter the arrangement made between Nuya and Jao comes to it's bloody fulfillment as Nuya is sacrificed in a Jolao Grand Lucidium ritual which the empire plans to use as a propaganda tool, yet also serves to galvanize the growing resistance and Ohada's passion for revenge ...

I've got a lively conversation for you this week with my 3-way with Hewkii and Flammeus, who invited me back on their show for the third time. We cover a lot of territory with music, ontological questions about dreams vs reality, identifying what "spirituality" is, how nondual experiences on ketamine are different from nondual experiences with 5-MeO-DMT, how truly strange and bizarre Salvia divinorum and the Zipper of Reality are, and why I dream of Robert Smith of The Cure giving me props for my music. Enjoy!

My guest this week is Brad Sterner of Inekawa healing center and foundation where the focus is on transformation and nondual self-realization via ayahuasca. While ayahuasca is more commonly associated with Amazonian shamanism, spirits, and alternate realities (dualism), for Brad, it's all about nonduality. We dive in deep in our conversation about how and why this is a different approach to this ancient psychedelic brew. You can learn more at https://www.inekawa.org/

Also in this episode I have a reminder about my upcoming talk on Saturday, Oct 3rd with Ancestral Spirit Tribe in Austin, Texas - join us for the live event either in person or via live-stream from their Facebook and Instagram pages.

And lastly, we have a brief update from fellow Mindscape Institute instructor, Sarah Knapik, about her current offerings of low-dose bufo with Altar of the Heart Church in Oakland, California.

My guest this week is author, philosopher, and environmental lawyer, Tam Hunt, here to share all about his newest book, The Hippies Were Right - About Consciousness and Everything Else. We had fascinating and wide-ranging conversation about consciousness, reality, ontology, phenomenology, panpsychism, AI, Burning Man, 5-MeO-DMT, and so much more - truly an episode for those who are interested in the fundamental questions about consciousness, what it is, how we can study it, and how it can be explored. You can learn more about Tam and his work at his website, https://www.tam-hunt.com/

We cover a lot of territory in this week's interview with Internal Family Systems therapist and author, Joshua Pritikin, discussing his new 460+ page book, Religion Unburdened by Belief: The Way of Open Inquiry. Having entered both the worlds of IFS and psychedelic experience only recently in life, Joshua was inspired to create an engaging book that asks big questions about human experience, exploration of the mystery of being, and pathways for doing so without dogmatic beliefs that ultimately impeded open inquiry. As a regular attendee at the Church of the Holy Light of the Queen, the Santo Daime church here in Ashland, Oregon, which served ayahuasca ("Daime") as a religious sacrament, Joshua dives deep into the question of how religious experience can be facilitated by psychedelic use without falling in the belief trap. We invite you to listen in on our extended conversation in this episode ...

The other month I was contacted by Jonas who was inspired to share his story of post-5-MeO-DMT energetic challenges here on the podcast in response to my oft-repeated comments that people are going into experiences with 5 inadequately informed about the potential challenges. Jonas wanted to make his experience available here on the podcast so that others might learn from his experience and understand that regardless of how a session with 5 goes, the post-session process can be extremely difficult, as has been the case for Jonas - big thanks to Jonas to be willing to share!

Reminder: this Wednesday is my second free webinar, "The Foundations of Integration with 5-MeO-DMT" - register for this free event at https://www.martinball.net/webinar, and see you on Wednesday, 3:30-5 pm Pacific time

I'm joined this week by returning guest, Ian Benouis, who's here to share the latest scientific developments around the molecular identification of psilomethoxin, 4-HO-5-MeO-DMT, the unique sacrament from The Church of the Sacred Synthesis. We discuss the recent findings as well as the court cases the church has launched to defend themselves against their detractors. You can learn more about The Church of the Sacred Synthesis at their website, www.sacredsynthesis.com

Also, there's my second upcoming webinar on The Foundations of Integration with 5-MeO-DMT. You can register for this free online educational event at https://www.martinball.net/webinar, and there are still some spaces left in my upcoming 5-MeO-DMT Integration Specialist Training Course with Mindscape Institute - https://www.martinball.net/courses

In this week's episode we meet the man behind the camera for the international hit film, "Fantastic Fungi," and the creator of the nature documentary series, "Moving Art," Louie Schwartzberg. Louie shares about his early psychedelic experiences and how they informed his passion for nature photography, time-lapse, film making, and providing the audience with a profound sense of awe and wonder with the captivating beauty of the natural world. You can access his work through a private subscription at https://www.movingart.com/

Also in this episode, I feature another student testimonial about my 5-MeO-DMT Integration Specialist training course with Mindscape Institute. Next class starts Sept 9, and spots are filling up. You can learn more or enroll at https://www.martinball.net/courses

My guest this week is venerated elder in the psychedelic community, Dr. Richard Louis Miller, who joins me to discuss his newest book, The Adverse Effects and Therapeutic Potential of Psychedelic Medicines - A Guide to the Risks and Rewards of Using Psychedelics in Therapy. The fundamental premise of the book is that those who promote use of psychedelics for therapy need to have honest accounting of not just the benefits, but also the risks, when using these powerful tools, and avoid painting overly-rosey pictures that are misleading and uninformed. We talk all about it and much more.

Also included is a reminder about my upcoming webinar on 5-MeO-DMT Integration as well as my training course with Mindscape Institute. The free webinar is on July 15th and class starts on Sept 9. You can register for the free event at https://www.martinball.net/webinar

This week I'm joined by Suzi Kalypso, founder of The Temple of Eden in southern California, which she started 5 years ago as a bufo (5-MeO-DMT) church, but has since expanded into a multi-sacrament entheogenic church and also provides facilitation training, integration, and community events and support. In this lengthy interview we learn of her struggles with addiction and her journey into psychedelic medicines as well as the move from being a minimally-trained "pipe lighter" (a common deficiency in the 5-MeO-DMT world) to being an ethically-minded priestess who focuses on her budding community in LA and beyond. Learn more about the Temple of Eden here.

Also in this episode I have a brief interview with Sarah Knapik of Altar of the Heart Church in support of my upcoming 5-MeO-DMT Integration Specialist Training course with Mindscape Institute, and additionally I announce an upcoming free Zoom webinar about my course for all who are interested in learning more about integration with 5-MeO-DMT and what the course covers. The webinar will be on Wednesday, July 15 from 3:30-5 pm Pacific time. All are welcome, but you will need to register with me at martinball.net.

The other month the world got to watch as Bryan Johnson live-streamed his 5-MeO-DMT experience with Enfold that made use of "The Leckie Protocol," which combines vaporized with injected 5-MeO. Steve Rio suggested we have another conversation about it given the widespread interest, and I was happy to have him join me back on the podcast. We had another great, lengthy conversation about the protocol and just jamming on the topic of 5-MeO-DMT in general.

Also in this episode I've got a mini-interview with a student who completed my 5-MeO-DMT Integration Specialist Training course, Jay Monger. Jay provided this short interview to help promote the Fall Term of my course, which starts on Sept 9th. For more information about the course you can learn all about it at https://www.martinball.net/courses - enrollment is now open.

My guest this week is Alan Waugh, author, healer, retreat leader, and medicine man. Alan joins me to discuss his new book, Alchemical Ayahuasca, as well as share his story of leaving England as a young man, listening to his inner guidance, emerging from chronic depression, and his entry into the world of psychedelics and shamanic healing. Alan has a number of websites where you can find out more about him and his work:
http://www.alchemicalayahuasca.com/, www.http://spiritwisdomhealing.com/, http://www.sacredvalleyspiritualretreat.com/

Also, this week I'm announcing that enrollment is now open for the next offering of my 5-MeO-DMT Integration Specialist Training course with Mindscape Institute. Class starts in early Sept to coincide with the 26/27 school year. Find out more about it at https://www.martinball.net/courses

My guest this week is Dr. Jeff McNairy, Chief Medical Officer and Co-founder of Rythmia Life Advancement Center in Costa Rica. In our conversation Jeff shares about the founding of Rythmia, what it means for the ayahuasca center to be medically licensed, why they prefer large group ceremonies, what they mean when they claim everyone gets a "miracle," and more in this lengthy interview. You can learn more about Rythmia at their website HERE

My guest this week is Scott Stanley, founder of the Arizona Yage Assemble (AYA), and the North American Association of Visionary Church, https://www.naavc.org/. Scott's mission is to protect religious freedom, practice, and association as well as access to psychedelic sacraments. To that end he's founded the aforementioned groups to help create collective action and strength in numbers. We talk all about it in this lengthy interview, getting into what inspired Scott to follow this path, how these organizations help those seeking support in their religious practice, as well as a current court case.

My guest this week is one of the co-authors of the new book, Psychedelic Therapy: A Revolutionary Approach to Restoring Your Mental Health and Reclaiming Your Life, Will Van Derveer, MD. Will joined me from his home base in Colorado the other month to discuss psychedelic therapy from a medical and mental health perspective as it continues to make its way into the mainstream and is radically changing the way doctors and therapists think of mental and emotional health. The book focuses on a trauma-informed approach that emphasizes proper preparation, facilitation, and integration. You can hear all about it in this episode ...

Best-selling author and couples therapist, Jonathan Robinson, joins me this week to share all about his newest book, Ecstasy for Couples. Jonathan tells us that, as a profession couples therapist, he found that holding therapy sessions with couples while they are experiencing MDMA is far more impactful than standard talk therapy, and provides immediate and lasting results. He tells us all about in this episode. His new book is now available and you can learn more about Jonathan's work at XTCfourCouples.net

My guest this week is Dr. Tracy Scott, founder of Revela Retreats in Costa Rica where she offers healing and transformation with iboga. In this in-depth conversation we get into Tracy's journey from medical school to west Africa where she was initiated into Bwiti tradition, her call to start serving iboga, and how she works with clients at Revela to offer safe and medically grounded healing with iboga. You can learn more about her work and Revela here.