When you look at chronic illness, obesity or overweight and mental illness, almost the entire population of the United States is unwell in some way, and the systems currently in place are not equipped to handle it. In this episode of the Webdelics Podcast, host Scott Mason and guest Dr. Jonathan Fields look at the relationship between physical health, mental health, and the role of psychedelics and plant medicine in healing. They explore the nuances of balancing traditional Eastern medicine with modern approaches, addressing the myths, and shedding light on how these practices, along with a healthy diet and exercise, can transform our approach to health and healing. Join them today, as they navigate the intersections of lifestyle choices, societal health challenges, and the potential of holistic medicine to revolutionize personal well-being.

Dr. Jonathan Fields is the visionary behind the CR8 Health and Integrative Medicine US clinics in South Florida. With expertise in acupuncture, Eastern medicine, and functional medicine, Dr. Fields is a board-certified herbalist and acupuncturist dedicated to holistic healing. His personal health journey, marked by overcoming chronic illness, has fueled his passion for integrating traditional and modern therapies. Dr. Fields is also an advocate for psychedelic research, deeply exploring its potential in transforming healthcare and personal wellness.

Highlights from the conversation:

• "Most of us in this country have it easier than our grandparents did.” Dr. Fields thinks we have it too easy, and relying on pills to fix symptoms does little to bring about real health. “We need to take personal responsibility” he says.
• The interconnection of physical health, mental health, and psychedelics forms a crucial part of holistic wellness. Dr. Fields emphasizes, "60% of Americans have at least one chronic disease... and 20% of us suffer from mental health issues... they overlap a lot."
• Dr. Jonathan Fields is speaking from experience, and recounts his personal health crisis and recovery. He shares, "I was sleeping 12, 13 hours a day... I knew I had one option. Now is my time to actually make not only the lifestyle change but a whole career change."
• "Your mental health is directly linked to your gut health... You can't remove the two." Dr. Fields says. The role of diet in mental and physical health is a critical one.
• We have enough science now, showing that these plant medicines, these psychedelics, have a role to play." Dr. Fields makes the argument that these tools have been used for millennia, and are often dismissed simply because they weren’t recorded using the modern scientific method – but that doesn’t invalidate them.
• The significance of patient expectations in treatment outcomes something more of the medical profession should be paying attention to. Scott Mason points out, "It's not necessarily something that you read a lot when the scientific literature is discussed."
• Dr. Fields addresses the challenges in the current medical system and the need for a holistic approach. He states, "The medical system is broken, the education system is broken, and our attitudes are broken."
• "Never give up. And if one experience doesn't work out for you... find somebody else. Do not give up on yourself." Dr. Fields urges.

Resources

Dr. Jonathan Fields On the web | Instagram | LinkedIn | Twitter/X | Facebook

Webdelics On the web | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

“Business, life, it's all one thing. We're humans here having a human experience.”  - Stephanie Trager

On this episode of the Webdelics Podcast, host Scott Mason sits down with Stephanie Traeger to unravel the tapestry of plant medicines and psychedelics within the realms of business and the sacred. Two former attorneys, Scott and Stephanie explore the paths that led them away from the legal profession and towards a different understanding of life, and discuss how similar changes are happening on a global scale. Stephanie shares her insights into the non-linear nature of plant medicine and the importance of intention and integrity in its use. These substances can influence not just personal transformation, but also global systems change.

Stephanie Trager is an activist, speaker, healer, the host of the Catalyst Talks podcast and a multifaceted coach and advisor, specializing in helping analytical soul seekers unlock their true potential. With her background as an attorney, author, and advocate for evolutionary consciousness, she serves as a bridge between different realms, focusing on dismantling biases and shifting worldviews. Stephanie has also been involved in various social justice initiatives, such as Holocaust reparations and Indigenous land repatriation.

Highlights from the Episode:

• Scott points out that being an attorney is not necessarily the most sacred of professions, and Stephanie talks about how leaving the legal profession wasn’t giving anything up - but rather gaining her life. 
• How we frame things matter, and can change the outcomes.
• Stephanie believes “in our sovereign right to do the right thing.” A lot of laws and mandates don’t support that. This belief led her towards being an entrepreneur and a healer, finding a freedom in coaching to integrate all of her skills and abilities and beliefs.
• “What are the roads to awakening consciousness that will snap us out of [the] sleepwalk?” Stephanie discusses the role of plant spirit medicine in shaking people out of their complacency. 
• Stephanie asks us to consider how extraction is a symptom of disconnection from nature, and Scott points out that “sues like racism, poverty, abuse, mistreatment of others, casual cruelty all occur because on some level or another, we're able to extract the humanity of others from our own humanity.”
• “Plant medicine is not linear, and you can't expect to have a linear experience. There’s nothing linear about it.”
• Legalization, regulation and mass production can have a degrading impact on the spirit of medicinal plants, but they still grow in the wild, and authentic spiritual connections with them can still be made.
• Scott and Stephanie discuss sacred versus non-sacred spaces and experiences, and Stephanie recommends doing abundant research and talking to people, knowing that eventually someone will point you in the right direction. “It becomes a journey of trusting yourself. You’re already on the journey.”
• Scott wonders whether our current economic model could sustain a shift into a larger consciousness, bridging business and the sacred, and Stephanie points out that it’s already happening, but it’s hard to see because it’s so non-linear.
• Psychedelics and plant medicine have often been in the realm of the creative, and many came back with new ideas and philosophies or ways of seeing, but Stephanie reminds us that for all of those benefits, “there are a lot of people who never came back. Your soul can get lost. You need to be careful.”
• “There are so many different paths we can go on to access that truth and that healing.” Stephanie says the most important thing is to do your inner work first, so you’re prepared for the experience.

Resources

Stephanie Trager on the web | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter/X | LinkedIn

Webdelics On the web | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

Content note. This episodes contains a mention of an attempted death by suicide. If you would rather not hear or see that, please skip from 15:15 to 15:45.

“When we're stuck in our heads, we don't make advancements. We're not happy. We can't move forward. We're basically fighting all of society when we try to go the opposite direction and say, what's up with my heart?” - Steven Kuhn

This week on the Webdelics Podcast, host Scott Mason sits down with the Steven Kuhn, a decorated combat veteran with a fascinating outlook on psychedelics, to dismantle the myths surrounding the alignment of the heart and mind in personal and professional growth. Steven shares his transformative journey through plant medicine and how it reshaped his approach to life's challenges. They discuss the power of intention setting during psychedelic experiences and the profound impact of integrating masculine and feminine energies for holistic development. Steven's unique perspective bridges the gap between the spiritual and the corporate, offering insights on how psychedelics like ayahuasca and San Pedro can catalyze breakthroughs, not just personally but also for leaders in high-stakes environments. 

Steven is a decorated U.S. Military combat veteran who has been hand-picked to consult with some of the most influential people in the world (rock stars, singers, actors, business leaders, and politicians) about how to expand their brand, build value and loyalty and develop strategies for increasing beneficial relationships and achieving true Quality of Life. He is also the author of Unleash Your Humble Alpha: Own Your Presence in Life and Become the Epic Leader You Are Meant to Be

Highlights from the Episode:

• "In our society, the mind is stronger than the heart." Scott and Steven start the conversation with the challenge of aligning a brain that doesn’t feel and heart that doesn’t think.
• When you are signed, you attract people on the same frequency. This isn’t just a spiritual idea, but a physiological phenomenon.
• Plant medicine has a lot of stereotypes associated with them, “loopy Aunt Betty from the outskirts of San Francisco…” for example, and that can be a hard bridge for more business-oriented people to cross. Scott asks Steven how he brings spirituality and psychedelics into a business space.
• Steven’s journey with plant medicine began at a very low point, when he confided in a friend who took him on an ayahuasca journey. The following morning, Steve awoke feeling like a completely blank slate, ready for a reset. He also learned how important it is to have very clear intentions for a plant medicine journey.
• Humans, animals and plants are all masculine and feminine, including plant medicine. While ayahuasca is a feminine plant, its counterpart is the masculine San Pedro. Steve says: “ if you're not following [Ayahuasca] the next morning with Pedro, you're missing out. Because it's the yin and the yang.”
• Men and women will have different kinds of experiences taking ayahuasca and san pedro because they’re engaging with different kinds of energies.
• On whether or not people should go on plant medicine journeys: “You’ve got to be called. If you're scared to do it, don't do it. If you have to think about it, don't do it. It will call you. When the time comes, you'll know.” Steve points out that you will have a breakthrough, it will change your life, and you need to be ready for that. 
• Plant medicine tourism is becoming increasingly popular, and Steven shares some advice for how to make sure you work with a credible practitioner. The environment in which you go on your journey matters. 
• Steve’s final thought is that you create what happens to you. Even when we create difficult situations or experiences, Steve reminds us that we must be pretty powerful, and pretty incredible to create this mess. “Incredible can be good or bad. Just make it good.”

Resources

Steven Kuhn on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook

Humble Alpha

Quality of Life Enterprises

Webdelics On the web | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn

“Go explore and find your way back to your own heart, because you can do it.” - Dom Farnan

Dom Farnan joins Scott Mason on this episode of Webdelics to discuss her journey from self-described “toxic boss” to compassionate, conscious leader. Through the use of plant medicines like psilocybin and ayahuasca coupled with intensive personal development work, Dom found the keys to unlocking her reactive patterns and hardcore outer shell, and transformed how she leads others and how she relates to herself. Now the CEO of a successful recruiting firm and passionate advocate for conscious business practices, Dom opens up about internal shadows, triggers and wounds that can compel even good-hearted leaders to resort to toxic behaviors. She also shares advice for those curious about how plant medicine combined with self-work can uncover more heart-centered, authentic ways of leading.

Dom Farnan is a dynamic leader with over two decades of experience in high-growth environments. As the founder of DotConnect, she brings radical change to the talent industry through mindfulness and compassion. She uses a holistic approach to connect talented individuals with dynamic companies. Her empowered leadership propelled DotConnect to $3M in its first year and earned her a spot on the Inc5000 list in 2022. 

Highlights from the conversation:

• "There have been times in my life in which I have practically defined the term toxic," Scott shares. He and Dom explore what it means to be toxic in the workplace and interpersonal situations. You may exhibit toxic behavior at times, but that does not necessarily define you as a person. Rather than labeling yourself, it's important to recognize toxic behaviors you may exhibit due to triggers or lack of self-awareness. 
• Dom reflects on her past as a toxic boss, describing her lack of awareness and the transformative journey she undertook. "How it showed up for me was a complete lack of awareness around how the language I chose to use with my team …manifesting in this form of micromanagement, distrust, control and very much command and control style of leadership," she says.
• “When I started to commit to my personal development work,” Dom tells Scott, “then I started getting a fresh perspective … maybe it's not everybody else, maybe it's me. … So it was a tough realization, but it also gave me something to anchor me. Like, I'm not going to go sit and try and change a bunch of people. I'm going to focus on my journey and what I need to do.” The work of personal evolution never truly ends.
• While Dom and Scott hope that the “psychedelic renaissance” will “penetrate corporate America”, the likelihood of this happening is low for many reasons.
• It is easy to conform to the "avatar" or persona demanded by corporate culture and strict hierarchies. Psychedelics can help strip away those hardened layers to reconnect with your true essence. 
• Before her first ayahuasca journey, Dom mentally prepared by pushing herself to personal growth edges, so she could handle what the medicine revealed. "I knew that no matter what was shown to me in my journey I could and would handle it and be able to face off with it,” she says.
• Dom explains how returning with more lightness and self-love positively impacted her team culture. This positive culture shift also correlated with tremendous business growth during an uncertain time. Her journey clearly had ripple effects.
• “I was the hardest of all hard people out there and I'm still not fully there, but I've really made such significant progress and so I just want to inspire people to tap into your own power and take control and responsibility and go do it. Go explore and find your way back to your own heart, because you can do it,” Dom tells listeners. 

Resources

Dom Farnan on the web | LinkedIn | Instagram

Webdelics On the web | YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn