The Third Wave

Dr. Sam Zand, Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer of Better U, joins Paul F. Austin for a rich conversation on at-home ketamine-assisted therapy. As a practicing psychiatrist and the Chief Medical Officer of Better U, Dr. Sam Zand utilizes his expertise in neuroplasticity to help patients address the root cause of their problems and establish new ways of thinking. After initial psychedelic medicine research at Johns Hopkins University, Dr. Zand began treating patients clinically with ketamine in 2019. He now teaches psychedelic medicine rotations to psychiatry residents and medical students and is an advocate and spokesperson for the FDA-approved esketamine, Spravato. He is trained in general psychiatry, addiction recovery, and psychotherapy, and has a passion for psychedelic therapy, crisis intervention, relationship counseling, and integrated spiritual therapy. In addition to being a co-founder of Better U, Dr. Zand is also the owner and CEO of a national telepsychiatry service, Anywhere Clinic. He has m

Natasja Pelgrom & Alexander Beiner, creators of the Regenerative Stewardship retreat, join Paul F. Austin to discuss their approach to healing. Natasja Pelgrom is a visionary leader, mystical mentor and the founder of Awaken The Medicine Within retreats and programs, supporting people with psycho-spiritual approaches since 2017. Natasja is a highly intuitive guide and has held training, assisting and facilitation roles in over 800 psychedelic ceremonies. Natasja was also a founding member of the Synthesis Institute, and the director of the psilocybin-assisted Wellness retreats. As a key curator of the retreat programs, she oversaw the retreat team development and training. She currently advises and supervises executives in the (psychedelic) wellness industry. Natasja is also a mentor to leaders, coaches, therapists, and space holders, where she focuses on mind and heart coherence to help them prosper in their services. Natasja’s multifaceted mentorship approach is paired with 20+ years of entrepreneurial

Paul F. Austin jumps into the guest seat on the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast with Josh Trent to share life-learned lessons of transformation. Recently, Third Wave founder/CEO Paul F. Austin joined the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast with Josh Trent. This is a special rebroadcast of that episode. Josh and Paul discuss psychedelics at length, from how to create a safe and effective microdosing protocol, to exploring the psychological, physiological, and spiritual effects of psychedelics. Now in the guest’s chair, Paul shares his personal philosophy on psychedelics and transformation, along with his own life-changing experiences and insights from working with medicines, and his outlook on the industry and where it’s headed. About Josh Trent and The Wellness + Wisdom Podcast: Josh Trent is the Founder of Wellness Force Media, host of the Wellness + Wisdom Podcast and the creator of the BREATHE: Breath & Wellness Program. Josh has spent the past 19+ years as a trainer, researcher, and facilitator discovering the physic

Integration coach and change catalyst, Marcus Antonius Druen, joins Paul F. Austin to discuss the Psychedelic Map for Change. Over the last 20 years, Marcus Druen optimized his career to play the ‘success game’ as a self-employed executive coach and organizational development consultant who worked for corporations such as Microsoft, Adobe, KPMG, Sanofi Biologics, EON Energy and Lidl, as well as European VCs and start-ups like Future Energy Ventures, Xempus, and Desolenator. For the next 20 years, he endeavors to play the ‘impact game’. He is a bridge-builder between the existing system and the new one that clearly wants to emerge. Accelerated by the pandemic, Marcus is on an exciting yet daunting journey of stepping into his purpose with love and power. Marcus is committed to elevating the consciousness of business people to co-create the regenerative renaissance. His current contribution to this movement is the Psychedelic Map For Change, which he uses as the basis for his practice as a psychedelic integrati

This episode is a replay from our 2022 Virtual Summit, where special guest Dr. Amy Albright shares about the interplay between psychedelics and intuition. Dr. Amy Albright is a new sort of oracle. She stands rooted in logic-based, science-driven work and can also see into the worlds beyond. With offerings ranging from neurofeedback, intensive retreats to advanced coaching of visionaries and changemakers, to an upcoming launch of her mystery school, Dr. Amy Albright has worked for two decades with high caliber individuals to change lives and scale businesses in powerful and integrated ways. At the core of all of her offerings is her practical and science-based approach to intuition, which she both lives by and teaches. Amy is a Core Faculty in Third Wave’s Coaching Certification Program. In this episode, Dr. Albright leads a guided meditation to cultivate intuition, shares wisdom from her own practice with intuition and psychedelics, and finally, answers questions from the Virtual Summit audience. Find episode

Paul F. Austin speaks with Rak Razam & Joel Brierre, creators of Bridging Heaven Retreats, about the "marriage" of meditation and 5-MeO-DMT.  Rak Razam is an alchemical storyteller with his finger on the pulse of tomorrow and the heart of today. A screenwriter, documentary filmmaker, author, journalist and culture maker, his focus is on the cultural paradigm birthing in this brave new world. Co-founder of the World Bufo Alvarius Congress (www.wbac.info), he has become one of the world’s leading experts on 5-MeO, giving lectures and panel discussions at events worldwide. He has been facilitating bufo toad retreats in Mexico since 2016. Joël Brierre (aka: the entheogenic yogi) is a pioneer in the modern psychedelic movement, and has years of experience in the realm of 5-MeO-DMT and the Bufo Alvarius toad. His unique approach of applying classical non-dual yogic philosophy for both the preparation and integration from the entheogenic experience gained attention from around the world at the first World Bufo A

Laura Dawn, founder of Grow Medicine, joins Paul F. Austin to explore the intersection between psychedelics and creative problem-solving. Through her signature Mastermind Programs and Plant Medicine Retreats, Laura Dawn weaves together science with ancient wisdom. She teaches business and thought-leaders, entrepreneurs, and creative professionals how to mindfully explore psychedelics and sacred plant medicines as powerful visionary tools for inner transformation, fostering emotional resiliency and unlocking new depths to our creative potential. Through mindset, somatic coaching, and plant medicine integration, she inspires leaders to align body, mind, and heart to get unstuck and take centered action in alignment with a deeper sense of purpose to influence meaningful change. Laura Dawn has a Masters in Science specializing in Creativity & Change Leadership. Her degree explores the intersection between psychedelics and creative problem-solving, helping leaders and teams consciously work with sacred plant m

Resilience expert Dr. Taryn Marie Stejskal joins Paul F. Austin for a special 2-part interview exploring resilience, leadership, & psychedelics. Dr. Taryn Marie is the #1 international expert on resilience, in both leadership and life, whose mission is to positively impact the lives of 1 billion people, through the concepts of resilience, by 2030. She is recognized as a leading global authority on resilience, wellbeing, and mental health, and she is the Founder and Chief Resilience Officer (CRO) of Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI) and believes that resilience is the key to individual and organizational actualization and acceleration across the globe. By leveraging over a decade and a half of original research on resilience, she developed the empirically-based framework, The Five Practices of Particularly Resilient People. Highlights: Dr. Taryn's personal and professional path of resilience, vulnerability, The myth of the Vulnerability Bias. How psychedelics can help us tap into our resilience. The F

Hanifa Nayo Washington, co-founder of Fireside Project, joins Paul F. Austin to discuss belonging, equity, & psychedelic peer support. Hanifa Nayo Washington thrives at the intersection of mindfulness, belonging, and healing justice to co-create organizations, gatherings, and experiences rooted in the values of beloved community so all people can heal from the emotional, physical and spiritual impacts of systems of oppression, trauma, and disconnection.  Hanifa Nayo is the Co-founder and Organizing Principal of One Village Healing, an online BIPOC centered healing, resilience, and psychedelic wellness space. She is also the Co-founder and Chief of Strategy at Fireside Project the nonprofit that runs the Psychedelic Peer Support Line that is helping people minimize the risks of their psychedelic experiences while democratizing access to free high-quality emotional support during and after any psychedelic experience. The line has supported over 5,000 callers since launching in 2021. For episode links, summa

Andrew Weil, M.D., is a world-renowned leader and pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, he is the founder and director of the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona, where he is a clinical professor of medicine and professor of public health. A New York Times best-selling author, Dr. Weil is the author of 15 books on health and wellbeing, including Mind Over Meds: Know When Drugs Are Necessary, When Alternatives Are Better, and When to Let Your Body Heal on Its Own; Fast Food, Good Food; True Food: Seasonal, Sustainable, Simple, Pure; Spontaneous Happiness; Healthy Aging; and Eight Weeks to Optimum Health. He is the editorial director of DrWeil.com, the leading online resource for healthy living based on the philosophy of integrative medicine. He is also a founder and partner in the growing family of True Food Kitchen restaurants.  For show notes and full transcript, go here.

Dr. Erica Zelfand is a licensed family doctor specializing in integrated mental health and functional medicine. In addition to treating patients of all ages in her private practice, Dr. Zelfand is ketamine prescriber, facilitator of therapeutic psychedelic experiences, international speaker, and medical writer. She often presents at medical conferences on the clinical applications of psychedelic healing and advocated for the recent legalization of psilocybin assisted therapy in Oregon. She also trained in MDMA-assisted psychotherapy through MAPS. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Erica talks with Paul F. Austin about physical wellness, integrated mental health, and legal psilocybin in Oregon. For a full summary and transcript, go here. Podcast highlights: Dr. Zelfand's journey into medicine and psychedelics. Psychedelics and a new medical paradigm. Key healing systems. The role of the thyroid in functional medicine The role of testosterone in functional health. Psilocybin facilitator training with

Joel Monk is a leadership coach, educator, facilitator, and entrepreneur. As a coach, Joel is dedicated to the development of conscious, creative, and entrepreneurial leaders. He co-founded Coaches Rising, a company at the cutting edge of online coach training with a community of nearly 50,000 coaches and participants from every continent on the planet. Coaches Rising has collaborated with some of the leading minds in the field of human development. For show links, go here Highlights: Coaches Rising and the evolution of coaching. Translating “emergence” from theory to practice. Joel’s journey into coaching, psychedelics, and other transformative modalities. The difference between coaching and therapy. Why coaches should have a referral network. Necessary skills to develop conscious, creative, and entrepreneurial leaders. Values, principles, and systems of meta modernism. Future developments for Coaches Rising. Show links: Joel Monk Coaches Rising The Summit Richard C. Schwartz, Ph.D., the founder of Inte

As co-founder and CEO of Beckley Retreats, Neil Markey is passionate about sharing the science-backed benefits of psychedelics in conjunction with the contemplative practices that support holistic wellbeing. At Beckley Retreats, he’s dedicated to building a business that operates with the utmost integrity, both internally and across the many communities it will touch. For a full summary and show links, go here. Episode Highlights: The inspiration Neil draws from his involvement in his family business, Creative Metal Design. Neil's transformative journey from the US Army Special Operations to business, mindfulness and psychedelics. The evolution of the Beckley Foundation and how it continues to set the standard of conscious endeavoring in the psychedelic space. Neil's transition from the corporate world into his journey starting Beckley Retreats. The inspiring—and challenging—aspects of starting a unique psychedelic retreat program. The unique experience Beckley Retreats create through its programming. Get f

Dan Peterson, Esq. is a DC-based attorney, entheogenic practitioner, and depression survivor who uses his legal background and personal experience to expand equitable access to responsibly-administered transformative experiences. He is the Executive Director and Founding Member of the Association of Entheogenic Practitioners while also running his legal practice, Peterson Law, LLC. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Dan talks with Paul F. Austin about the evolving psychedelic legal landscape, including the role of religious freedom in protecting practitioners and how to build community and accessibility through the Association of Entheogenic Practitioners. Highlights: From conventional D.C. attorney to psychedelic legal advisor. Tracking psychedelic legal developments in the US. The likelihood of getting arrested in the psychedelic space. Creating the Association of Entheogenic Practitioners. Building a culture of responsible practice, reciprocity, and accessibility. Ensuring DEI in the psychedelic s

Keith Ferrazzi is a bestselling author, speaker, entrepreneur, investor, philanthropist, and an enthusiastic team transformation coach committed to helping teams harness Radical Adaptability and Co-Elevation® to positively transform organizations in an unpredictable work world. Keith's mission for the past 20 years has been to serve extraordinary teams as they achieve great missions while building deep friendships along the way. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Keith talks with Paul F. Austin about the intersection of plant medicine, business, and effective leadership. Highlights include: Keith’s experience with plant medicines. Building meaningful community. The two different awakenings with psychedelics. Leading Without Authority and Keith’s newest book. Defining “co-elevation”. Creating “radical adaptability”. Psychedelics for Fortune 50 companies and executive teams. How plant medicines help develop soft skills for leadership. For a full summary and show links, go here. Episode links: Keith

This episode features two guests: Martin Polanco, M.D. and Sean Hansen. Martin is the founder of The Mission Within, a clinical program that serves special operations veterans and specializes in treatment-resistant and complex conditions such as mild traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, depression, and/or addiction as a result of experiences during military service. Sean Hansen, was a combat veteran and licensed attorney, who moved into high-performance coaching following his experience with ibogaine and 5-MeO-DMT through The Mission Within. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Martin and Sean talk with Paul F. Austin about preparing for, experiencing, and integrating ibogaine and 5-MeO journeys, the benefits of combining these medicines, and groundbreaking research to drive legal policy reform.

Rachel Yehuda, Ph.D., is an Endowed Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Trauma and Director of Mental Health at the James J. Peters Veterans Affairs Medical Center. She is a recognized leader in the field of traumatic stress studies who revolutionized our understanding of the neurobiology and treatment of PTSD. Most recently, Dr. Yehuda established and now directs the Center for Psychedelic Psychotherapy and Trauma Research, and was named one of the most influential women in the psychedelic field. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Rachel talks with Paul F. Austin about her research, including a forthcoming study on MDMA-assisted therapy for trauma survivors.

Dr. Deborah Mash is a professor of neurology and pharmacology, who is one of the world’s foremost research experts on ibogaine. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Dr. Mash talks with Paul F. Austin about how she began studying ibogaine and using this powerful substance to treat addiction, her experiences getting research funding, and spearheading ibogaine clinical trials. 

Born in Cameroon, Africa, Marie Mbouni felt a calling toward healing and was initiated into iboga at the age of 14. Ultimately she would go on to pursue her education in Canada and the United States to follow the Western medical route as an anesthesiologist. After years in this profession, Marie realized it did not fully align with her vision of healing and embraced a new career as a shaman, energy healer, and mentor. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Marie talks with Paul F. Austin about energy intelligence and altered states with and without medicine.

Lauren Taus is licensed as a clinical therapist in both New York and California with a specialty in addiction and trauma treatment. As a clinician, Lauren integrates alternative modalities of treatment into her work, and has trained extensively in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Most recently, Lauren has started her own clinical training program: the Psychedelic Coalition for Health. In this episode of the Third Wave podcast, Lauren talks with Paul F. Austin about her early trauma facing mortality and an eating disorder, and how she healed with yoga, psychedelics, therapy, and other somatic practices.