The Third Wave

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with therapist and InnerEthics® founder Kylea Taylor about why responsible psychedelic therapy requires more than good intentions. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-373/?ref=278 Kylea explains why non-ordinary states can amplify intimacy, vulnerability, countertransference, and practitioner blind spots. She presents ethics as an ongoing practice of self-inquiry, restraint, and right relationship rather than a set of rules consulted only after something goes wrong. Paul and Kylea also examine personal experience as preparation for facilitation, the complexities of touch and consent, the meaning of inner healing intelligence, and why compassionate peer consultation is essential for anyone holding space in psychedelic work. Kylea Taylor, M.S., LMFT, is a California licensed therapist and the founder of InnerEthics®, a self-reflective approach to relational ethics taught in breathwork and psychedelic pract

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Paije Alexandra West, founder of ETÉREO, about iboga, ibogaine, and Bwiti initiation. Drawing on Paul's recent retreat experience at ETÉREO in Baja, they examine what can be lost when iboga is reduced to a clinical alkaloid and how traditional ceremony can coexist with rigorous medical screening. Paije explains the differences between iboga root bark and total alkaloid extract, the role of Bwiti music, and why discomfort, community, and long-term integration are central to working responsibly with this demanding medicine. Paije Alexandra West is the founder and lead iboga provider at ETÉREO | Center for Truth, an iboga retreat center outside Todos Santos, Baja California Sur. A twice-initiated Bwiti practitioner, she began on the clinical side, supporting guests through detox and aftercare at ibogaine clinics. Her commitment deepened after losing her brother to a fentanyl overdose. Paije trained in Gabon with the Missoko Bwiti, completed

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with psychiatrist and TaperClinic founder Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring about antidepressant withdrawal, psychiatric deprescribing, and psychedelic readiness. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-371/?ref=278 Josef explains what he learned reviewing drug safety at the FDA, why withdrawal can be mistaken for relapse, and how tapering often becomes more difficult at lower doses. They also explore the lifestyle foundations of mental health, benzodiazepine withdrawal, and why psychedelic clinics may need far more sophisticated support as increasingly medicated patients seek psilocybin, MDMA, LSD, and ketamine. Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, MD, is a psychiatrist renowned for his expertise in drug tapering and withdrawal management. With years of experience in clinical psychiatry, he has developed a particular interest and specialization in assisting patients with the safe and effective tapering of psychiatric medications

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with investigative journalist Robert Whitaker about the evidence behind psychiatric prescribing, SSRI withdrawal, and what psychedelic medicine can learn from that history. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-370/?ref=278 Whitaker revisits the chemical imbalance theory, long-term antidepressant outcomes, and how psychiatric drugs evolved from short-term interventions toward chronic use. He also explores the social and environmental dimensions of mental health before turning to psychedelic medicine and the risks of recreating a drug-centered model of care. Robert Whitaker is the author of five books, three examining the history of psychiatry. His 2010 book, Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness, won the U.S. Investigative Reporters and Editors award for best investigative journalism. He is president of the Mad in America Foundation and founder

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Dr. Remi Drozd back to explore ketamine, SSRIs, and the changing landscape of psychedelic mental health care. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-369/?ref=278 Since Remi first appeared on the podcast in Episode 182, Lucid Therapeutics has grown from a small ketamine practice into a ten-room interventional mental health clinic offering ketamine treatments, Spravato, TMS, therapy, integration support, and other approaches. Paul and Remi examine one of the less-discussed challenges facing psychedelic medicine: many prospective patients are already taking antidepressants and other psychiatric medications. Remi explains why SSRI tapering needs to be individualized, how ketamine may support some patients through treatment transitions, and what clinicians may need to consider as psilocybin and other psychedelic therapies move closer to mainstream clinical use. Dr. Remi Drozd is a board-certified physician and

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Richard Louis Miller about what psychedelic medicine must get right as it moves toward broader acceptance. Richard explains why transparent reporting of adverse effects is essential to informed choice, where research still leaves important gaps, and how commercialization could shape access and treatment. They examine 5-MeO-DMT, group therapy, and the limits of one-to-one care. Richard also shares his approach to aging through exercise, real food, rest, and human connection. Dr. Richard Louis Miller is a clinical psychologist, author, and broadcaster with over 65 years of clinical experience in mind-body health. At 87, he continues to practice, teach, and share the tools that have helped thousands of people master anxiety, overthinking, and negative self-talk. He founded the Cokenders Alcohol and Drug Program, which detoxified over 1,500 people without medication, and created the Health Sanctuary at Wilbur Hot Springs, which he directed

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Ian Gardner, founder and CEO of The Acraya, about dark retreats as an ancient contemplative practice now entering Western culture. This episode is sponsored by The Acraya. Listeners of The Psychedelic Podcast can receive 5% off an Acraya retreat. Visit https://acraya.global/thirdwave and use discount code 3WAVE when booking. Ian explains what happens when external stimulation disappears, why boredom and difficult inner material can become central parts of the experience, and how dark retreats compare with psychedelics and extended meditation. He also discusses screening, facilitator training, post-retreat integration, and his vision for technologically supported retreat centers in Costa Rica, Nepal, Bali, and beyond. Episode Highlights: Ancient roots of dark retreat practice What remains when sensory anchors disappear Psychedelics versus gradual inner awakening Boredom as a gateway to deeper material Preparing for several days in darkness

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes TOMS founder Blake Mycoskie for an honest conversation about depression, psychedelics, recovery, and the lifelong need to prove his worth. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-366/?ref=278 Blake explains how an early ayahuasca experience gave him the sense that he had already done enough, even though he had not yet learned to feel that he was enough. He shares what followed after selling TOMS, including a profound depression, a psychiatric diagnosis he later came to question, four medications, and a carefully supported nine-month taper. Paul and Blake also discuss the daily meditation practice that helped reshape his relationship with self-worth, the return of his entrepreneurial energy, his $100 million commitment to psychedelic research and access, and why the future of psychedelic care will require scalable integration, group support, and careful use of emerging AI tools. Blake Mycoskie is the founde

In this solo episode, Paul F. Austin offers a candid introduction to 5-MeO-DMT, one of the shortest and most intense psychedelic experiences. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-365/?ref=278 Paul distinguishes synthetic 5-MeO-DMT from Bufo, compares it with N,N-DMT and psilocybin, and examines the risks that social media narratives often leave out. He also explores low-dose versus breakthrough work, nervous system readiness, medication interactions, facilitator screening, reactivations, ecological responsibility, and why integration may matter far more than the experience itself. Paul F. Austin is an entrepreneur, educator, and pioneer in the psychedelic field. He is the founder of Third Wave, a leading platform dedicated to psychedelic education, and the Psychedelic Coaching Institute, which trains coaches and practitioners to responsibly support psychedelic experiences and integration. As host of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul has interviewed hundreds of researchers,

In this special replay of a past Psychedelic Coaching Institute webinar, Paul F. Austin is joined by Victoria J. Cvitanovic, attorney and leader of the Psychedelic Medicine and AI Governance practices at Rudick Law Group, for a practical conversation on how AI is reshaping psychedelic practice. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-364/?ref=278 Together, Paul and Victoria explore why psychedelic content can get flagged online, how automated moderation systems are changing what practitioners can safely post, and why educational content may still be misread by platforms like Meta. They also discuss payment processor risk, account freezes, client data privacy, AI note-taking tools, website compliance, and the legal nuance practitioners need to understand before building or growing their work online. Victoria J. Cvitanovic is a psychedelic medicine, cannabis, wellness, and tech attorney. In addition to her law degree, Victoria holds CIPP-US and AIGP certifications from the I

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., originator of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, creator of Relational Frame Theory, and one of the most cited psychologists in the world. Full Show Notes: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-363/?ref=278 Hayes reflects on his early experiences in the Summer of Love, why psychedelics were never meant to be treated as a party, and how those formative explorations helped shape his lifelong work on psychological flexibility. Paul and Steven explore what psychedelics can reveal about the nature of self, the role of preparation and context in safe outcomes, and why psychedelic therapy must not be reduced to a patented, "script and go" biomedical model. Their conversation also examines ACT, trauma, attachment, group experience, spiritual community, and the importance of honoring each person's unique path rather than forcing transformation into averages, labels, or protocols. Steven C. Hayes, Ph.D., is a Nevada Foundatio

In this conversation, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Dave Rabin, neuroscientist, board-certified psychiatrist, and co-founder of Apollo Neuroscience, about one of the most important questions in psychedelic work: why do some journeys become overwhelming, destabilizing, or difficult to integrate? Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-362/?ref=278  Dave explains why safety is not just a matter of set, setting, or a strong screening form. It is a physiological state in the nervous system. Together, Paul and Dave explore how fear, trauma, and dysregulation can shape a person's ability to receive and process a psychedelic experience, and why preparation must include a deeper understanding of the body. The conversation also covers pre-session nervous system assessment, vagus nerve activity, HRV, haptic vibration, breathwork, therapeutic touch, consent, and the role of tools like Apollo Neuro in helping clients feel safe enough to surrender, process, and integrate. Dr. David Ra

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with Dr. Stefanie Kleine, psychospiritual coach, author of BE THE WORK, and co-founder of The Sacred House of Eden, to explore the hidden wound that often drives achievement and why lasting transformation happens on the level of being rather than doing. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-361/?ref=278  Drawing on more than two decades of experience coaching executives, founders, athletes, physicians, and other high performers, Stefanie shares how her first psychedelic experience revealed the pattern beneath a lifetime of accomplishment and opened a path toward deeper self-acceptance. She explains her framework of grasping versus generative desire, the Be-Do-Have inversion, and why many personal growth and wellness practices can unintentionally reinforce the same striving they aim to heal. The conversation also explores psychedelic integration, Internal Family Systems-informed coaching, conscious leade

In this solo episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin explores one of the most common questions in the psychedelic space: which psilocybin mushroom strain is actually best? Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-360/?ref=278  Moving beyond the search for the "strongest" mushroom, Paul breaks down the factors that truly shape a meaningful experience, including strain selection, potency, preparation methods, storage practices, individual sensitivity, and the critical role of context. Drawing on years of experience through Third Wave and the Psychedelic Coaching Institute, Paul compares popular strains such as Golden Teacher, Penis Envy, Ghost, Enigma, and Psilocybe natalensis. He also explains why preparation methods like lemon tekking matter, how to think about microdosing versus macrodosing, and why integration remains one of the most important variables in long-term outcomes. Paul F. Austin is an entrepreneur, educator, and pioneer in the psychedelic field. He

In this special solo episode, adapted from a recent live training, Paul F. Austin explores one of the most important and often overlooked realities of microdosing: different substances create different outcomes. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-359/?ref=278  Drawing on more than a decade of experience in psychedelic education and coaching, Paul compares psilocybin, LSD, huachuma (San Pedro), ketamine, and iboga through the lens of client goals, nervous system regulation, emotional processing, cognitive performance, and contraindications. Paul explains why generic microdosing protocols often fall short, how practitioners can better match substances to individual needs, and why context, preparation, and integration matter far more than any single medicine. He also shares why huachuma has become the foundation of the Psychedelic Coaching Institute's microdosing methodology and offers guidance for practitioners looking to support clients with greater precision and care.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin welcomes Jason Grechanik, master tabaquero and host of The Universe Within Podcast, for a deep exploration of sacred tobacco as Amazonian plant medicine. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-358/?ref=278  Sacred tobacco is usually understood in the West through the lens of cigarettes, addiction, and commercial misuse. But in Amazonian traditions, Nicotiana rustica is understood very differently: as a master plant, a protector, and a powerful medicine that requires lineage, discernment, and right relationship. Drawing from nearly a decade of Amazonian immersion and more than 1,000 people guided through plant ceremonies, Jason shares how tobacco is worked with in dieta, ayahuasca ceremony, energetic protection, and direct relationship with plant spirits. Paul and Jason also discuss cannabis, indigenous cosmologies, safety, and what tobacco's history can teach the modern psychedelic movement about power, humility,

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Chandra Estelle Khalifian, a clinical psychologist, relationship researcher, and co-founder of Enamory, about the intersection of attachment science, couples therapy, and psychedelic-assisted healing. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-357/?ref=278  Drawing from her work in ketamine-assisted couple therapy and MDMA research, Chandra explores how relationships are shaped by nervous system regulation, attachment wounds, and patterns developed long before adulthood. The conversation examines how ketamine and MDMA can help couples move through rigidity, betrayal, grief, and disconnection by creating greater emotional openness and flexibility. Paul and Chandra also dive into conscious uncoupling, relational growth, community, and the deeper distinction between love as a feeling versus love as a practice. Chandra Khalifian, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, researcher, and educator specializing in ps

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Lauren Macdonald, a clinical trial physician and psychedelic therapist, about the evolving role of community in psychedelic-assisted therapy. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-356/?ref=278  Lauren shares insights from her work at Imperial College London, where she contributed to research on psilocybin for anorexia and fibromyalgia, as well as DMT for treatment-resistant depression. She reflects on the limitations of purely individual therapeutic models and explores how group-based approaches can foster deeper healing through connection, shared experience, and what she describes as communitas. The conversation also touches on the contrast between clinical and ceremonial settings, the role of group dynamics in emotional processing, and the challenges of access and affordability as psychedelic therapy expands. Dr. Lauren Macdonald has a background in psychiatry, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with David Adam Burns, a transformational coach, artist, and founder of The Mysteries, about what may be missing from today's psychedelic conversation. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-355/?ref=278  David challenges the emphasis on insight in psychedelic work, suggesting that deeper transformation comes through presence, healing, and embodied evolution. He outlines a framework for healing through integration, purification, and emotional "thawing," and explains why presence may be the most important skill for navigating psychedelic experiences. They also explore myth and storytelling as tools for collective growth, including David's work with The Mysteries and Earthsong, a retelling of the Persephone myth, and discuss the role of community, leadership, and stewardship in shaping the future of psychedelics. David Adam Burns is a transformational coach, artist, and facilitator devoted to helping human be

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Heather Smith, founder of The Moxie School and a certified Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapist, about the intersection of parts work and psychedelic healing. Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-354/?ref=278  Heather explains how IFS offers a practical framework for working with what arises during psychedelic experiences. She describes IFS as an approach that helps people stay present with different parts of themselves, especially when difficult or unexpected material comes up. The conversation explores how psychedelic experiences can bring awareness to underlying patterns and past experiences, and why that awareness on its own often doesn't lead to lasting change. They also discuss common misconceptions about combining IFS with psychedelics, the role of preparation and integration, and how working directly with parts supports more stable change over time. Highlights: Misconceptions about IFS in