FrogCast-Kambo Convos

Ayahuasca, Kambo and Indigenous Perspectives with Deyan Gajic

Title: Kambo, Ayahuasca and indigenous beliefs Guest: Deyan Gajic Episode Summary: In this conversation with Deyan, we dive into the nuanced topic of using Kambo and Ayahuasca in conjunction with each other. We also explore the very real medical concerns around hyponatremia, safe preparation protocols, and gain a much deeper understanding of indigenous perspectives regarding these sacred medicines. What We Cover in This Episode: * Is mixing Kambo and Ayahuasca safe? * What Deyan has seen in his long-time experience of offering both medicines * Traditional indigenous use of Ayahuasca and Kambo * The realities and complexities of working with indigenous tradition * Salt in the diet, preparation dietas, and the risks of hyponatremia * How to safely and effectively stack Kambo and Ayahuasca in a ceremonial setting * Indigenous reciprocity and the challenges associated with global economic disparity About Deyan Gajic: Deyan Gajic has dedicated over two decades to the study of traditional healing, Eastern philosophy, and shamanism. Following a deep immersion into the Peruvian Amazon in 2009 to study plant medicines, Deyan met members of the Matsés tribe and experienced his first Kambo session. He felt an immediate and profound connection with the spirit of the frog, and over the following years, Kambo became a central pillar of his global healing practice. After years of returning to Peru to study, and having transformed his own serious health setbacks into wisdom using these ancestral tools, Deyan founded Kambo Naturista in 2016 to train new practitioners. In 2023, he opened Amazon Soma, a dedicated healing center outside of Iquitos, Peru, where he now lives and facilitates deeply integrated work with Kambo, Ayahuasca, and traditional dietas.

The REAL Matses History: Debunking Myths & Kambos Origins- Lewis Powell

In this episode, I sit down with Lewis Powell, a longtime Amazonian researcher and close collaborator with Matses communities, to explore the history, origins, and cultural context of Kambo from the perspective of the Matses themselves. Lewis brings years of direct relationship and lived experience, offering insight that challenges many of the narratives currently circulating in the West. Together, we unpack what’s often misunderstood, oversimplified, or misrepresented about Matses culture, and why preserving the integrity of these stories matters. In this episode, we cover: * “Contact day” and the first encounters between the Matses and outsiders * Common rumors and misconceptions about Matses practices * Why origin stories and traditions can vary across different Matses communities * The importance of oral tradition and preserving cultural history through documentation * Who may have been the first to use Kambo, and how that story is told * Different accounts of how Kambo was originally applied and practiced * The truth, context, and nuance around narratives of cannibalism * Newly emerging rat research on Kambo supports a very safe LD50 level. Learn more in Lewis' new book launch: The Matses-First Contact: Oral Testimony and the Historical Record of Contact and Cultural Transmission. https://a.co/d/06EqapX2 [https://a.co/d/06EqapX2] About Lewis: Lewis Powell is based in the UK and is the founder of the Kambo Practitioner Alliance, Inner Guru, and the shamanic healing school NEOSH.His work sits at the intersection of psychology, healing, and indigenous knowledge, with a focus on understanding the deeper causes of human suffering and why people often remain stuck in patterns.After spending time with the Matsés tribe in the Amazon, he has developed close connections with the community, including elders who were present at first contact with the outside world. He is now documenting their history through oral testimony, challenging common misrepresentations and bringing forward a more accurate account in his upcoming book.Alongside this, he works with researchers and practitioners exploring emerging areas of Kambo science, contributing to a clearer understanding of its safety and physiological effects. Stay connected: www.lewis-powell.com [www.lewis-powell.com] Enjoyed this episode? Follow for more Kambo convos. Kambo training and education- https://kambospecialist.com [https://kambospecialist.com] https://medicinefrogkambo.com [https://medicinefrogkambo.com]

Micaiah Deull-Grounded Masculinity with Kambo

Grounded Masculinity with Kambo explores men’s work, power dynamics, and practitioner ethics in modern medicine spaces. In this episode of the Frogcast, Caitlin Thompson is joined by Micaiah Deull, a master Kambo practitioner with over a decade of experience serving internationally. Micaiah has trained with the International Association of Kambo Practitioners and Kambo International, jungle trained with the Matses, and is a charter member of the Kambo Practitioner Collective. His background also includes men’s work facilitation, spiritual and psychedelic integration, ThetaHealing®, Reiki, and extensive study across Amazonian, Native American Church, Vedic, and other ceremonial lineages. Together, Caitlin and Micaiah explore what grounded, healthy masculinity looks like in Kambo practice, and the responsibilities practitioners carry when holding power in vulnerable containers. Topics include: * The power of Kambo in men’s work and its role in bringing men together * How men-only spaces can soften defenses, build trust, and support deep healing * Power dynamics between practitioner and participant, especially in co-ed ceremonies * The importance of precision and specificity when serving each individual’s unique needs * The versatility of Kambo as a tool that can be approached in many different ways * Raising field-wide standards for practitioner integrity and participant discernment * Practitioner ethics, accountability, and the importance of proper screening and training This conversation is intended for practitioners, facilitators, and listeners interested in ethical leadership, embodied masculinity, and the evolving standards of Kambo work. Follow Micaiah: https://www.instagram.com/kambofrog_asheville/ Follow us for more kambo convos @medicinefrogkambo https://kambospecialist.com https://medicinefrogkambo.com

Greg Manning- Regulation, Risk and Responsibility: The Future of Kambo in an Unregulated World

In this timely episode, Caitlin sits down with seasoned Kambo practitioner and ceremonialist Greg Manning to explore one of the most important questions facing the Kambo world: How do we cultivate safety, integrity, and accountability in an unregulated practice? Together they unpack the global legal landscape, the risks and opportunities of regulation, and the responsibility practitioners hold in guiding such a potent tool. Greg brings over a decade of experience to a grounded, nuanced conversation about harm reduction, practitioner competency, community self-regulation, and what it truly means to steward this medicine with wisdom in the modern world. Key Topics Discussed: * The evolving global legal and regulatory climate of Kambo * Risks of over-medicalization vs. dangers of complete deregulation * Why protocols alone cannot replace discernment and critical thinking * Harm reduction, informed consent, and practitioner accountability * The role of community modeling, mentorship, and ongoing education * Bridging Indigenous origins with Western physiology and cultural context Get in touch with Greg: Instagram: @_Sacredtree Website: https://sacredtree.co/ Follow us for more Kambo convos~ IG@medicinefrogkambo https://kambospecialist.com https://medicinefrogkambo.com

The Spirit of Tobacco- Annelene Sillet

Join me and Annelene Sillet for a bold, wide-ranging conversation titled “The Spirit of Tobacco: Bridging Science, Mindful Use and Ceremony.” We dive deep into the world of sacred Amazonian tobacco, never shying away from myths, medicine, toxicity, addiction and the shadow-side of escapism. Together we hold the topic in non-binary light, questioning the status quo and opening space for nuance. Main Conversation Points * The historical and cultural roots of sacred Amazonian tobacco: how indigenous traditions frame its role, meaning and ceremony * The spectrum of tobacco’s effects: medicinal potentials and toxic risks * The myth-making around tobacco: from sacred plant to commercial addiction engine * Unpacking addiction and unconscious use: when tobacco becomes escapism rather than medicine * Science meets spirit: what the research says, what the ceremony reveals, and how they overlap or diverge * Ceremony gone wrong: ethical concerns, power dynamics, cultural appropriation and the dark side of “plant medicine” scenes * How to engage sacred tobacco consciously: preparation, respect, integration, and when to say no * Non-binary thinking about tobacco: moving beyond “good plant” vs “evil drug” to a layered understanding of context, intention, set and setting * Stories from the field: Annelene’s work, her evolutions (from physiotherapy to sacred‐medicine educator) and real-world examples * Practical take-aways for practitioners, seekers, and curious listeners: how to approach sacred tobacco with integrity and awareness *Take your Tobacco Relationship Deeper* * Online Course- Rapeh & Sacred Tobacco - https://kambospecialist.com/tobaccocourse/ Learn More & Connect with Annelene * Instagram: @junglecultura [https://www.instagram.com/junglecultura] — her platform for sacred medicine education. junglecultura.com+1 [https://junglecultura.com/blog/?utm_source=chatgpt.com]-YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jungleculturaold [https://www.instagram.com/junglecultura]— her Youtube channel for sacred medicine education. * Facebook: Annelene Sillet Yépez — posts about her programs, workshops and reflections. Facebook+1 [https://www.facebook.com/annelene.yepez/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Website/Blog: — articles, offerings and deeper dives into sacred plant medicine. junglecultura.com [https://junglecultura.com/blog/?utm_source=chatgpt.com] * Book/Resource: Rapeh by Annelene Sillet — exploring the tobacco snuff tradition. Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/rapeh/s?k=rapeh&utm_source=chatgpt.com]