Love, Loss & Hallucinations with Scott Schumaker

A CNN Producer's Transformation Into a Microdosing and Plant Medicine Advocate: Cesar Marin (ep 47)

So many of us live with the silent, often hollow-feeling struggle of trying to attain wealth and success while wearing societal masks. Yet, deeper within us there is a yearning for connection, purpose, and peace. What if the key to transforming your life is a simple shift in consciousness? Cesar Marin, a former CNN producer turned plant medicine and microdosing advocate, shares his inspiring journey, one where he has found purpose in plant medicine, microdosing, and surrendering to the deep work of healing and self-awareness. He reveals how microdosing psilocybin transformed his relationship with addiction, helped him face childhood wounds, deepened connections with his family and friends, and propelled him into becoming a proponent for plant medicine. Discover how intentional plant medicine journeys in his 50s reopened his heart, realigned his mission, and sparked a powerful awakening, showing us all that it's never too late to reinvent ourselves. You'll learn: 👉How microdosing can serve as a tool for clarity, focus, and emotional resilience, especially after 50 👉The subtle art of setting intentions to maximize growth and healing 👉Why peace isn't about escaping reality but truly being present in it 👉Practical tools for fathers and men to lead with love, mindfulness, and purpose through retreats, community, and daily acts of kindness 👉How microdosing sharpens presence and transforms reactions, typical challenges, and emotional responses. 👉The profound impact of psychedelics on understanding and healing familial relationships. 👉The core lessons Caesar has integrated: Connection, Peace, and Purpose. 👉Details about the upcoming Cesar’s upcoming father’s retreat, The Summit Within, in Colombia focused on healing, connection, and purpose. If you're tired of surface-level solutions and crave a deeper, richer life, this is your blueprint. Perfect for anyone seeking real change, men ready to lead with love, or explorers curious about how plant medicine can unlock your best self.  CESAR'S LINKS: Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/cultivating.wisdom/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cesar-marin1/] | Microdosing Over 50 [https://www.microdosingover50.com/] | Summit Within Retreat [https://summit-within.com/] | Cultivating Wisdom  [https://cultivatingwisdom.net/](Get 20% off Cultivating Wisdom apparel. Use code: LLH) SCOTT’S LINKS: Substack [https://substack.com/@scottdschumaker] | Website [http://www.scottschumaker.com]| Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/scottschumaker/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/sschumaker] | TikTo [http://www.tiktok.com/scott_schumaker]k  MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano) [https://ffm.to/surefirepiano]”

From the NFL and TBI to Ibogaine: A Life-Saving Journey with Robert Gallery (Ep 46)

For almost a decade, Robert Gallery slogged through a dark night of the soul. He thought he was going crazy. He wasn’t sure he could go on living. A former offensive guard who played 8 seasons in the NFL, he didn’t know TBI (traumatic brain injury) was profoundly influencing his behavior. But he was suffering, living in a heavy cloud that was also negatively affecting his wife, kids and those close to him. He had never tried or considered the intentional use of plant medicine, but that changed when he heard Navy Seal vet Marcus Capone talking about ibogaine on a podcast. Ibogaine would save his life and inspire him to co-found Athletes for Care. In this episode Robert shares his profound journey from injury, trauma, and mental darkness to healing and purpose. It is a powerful story of transformation, resilience, and hope, as well as a raw, authentic conversation about mental health, plant medicines, and the courage it takes to rebuild a life. You'll learn: 👉The impact of brain injury and the journey to diagnosis 👉How plant medicine catalyzed Robert’s recovery from both brain trauma and shame 👉The significance of love, self-care, and community in healing 👉Insights on the power of plant medicine for mental health and trauma 👉The role of vulnerability and openness in breaking generational trauma 👉Founder of Athletes for Care: empowering others to seek mental health healing, whether that is with plant medicines or more traditional means 👉Why understanding death differently can transform how you live today This episode is for educational and harm reduction purposes. Always seek professional guidance before pursuing alternative therapies. ROBERT’S LINKS: Athletes for Care website  [https://athletesforcare.org/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/athletes4care/] Robert’s Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/officialrobertgallery] -  WimHof Method [https://www.wimhofmethod.com/wim-hof-method-mobile-app] -  You can find In Waves and War on Netflix SCOTT’S LINKS: Substack [https://substack.com/@scottdschumaker] | Website [http://www.scottschumaker.com]| Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/scottschumaker/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/sschumaker] | TikTo [http://www.tiktok.com/scott_schumaker]k  MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano) [https://ffm.to/surefirepiano]”

Unlocking Love: Modern Dating, Connection & Self-Discovery with Matchmaker Jackie Harel (Ep 45)

In this episode, Jackie Harel, a seasoned matchmaker, dives into the raw, unfiltered truths about modern love, the pitfalls of dating apps, and how understanding yourself is the ultimate key to finding lasting connection and genuine love. Jackie’s insights are a wake-up call for anyone tired of superficial swipes and ghosting, eager to do the deep inner work that transforms relationships from fleeting to forever. In this episode: 👉The reality of age and gender dynamics in dating searches 👉The role of rites of passage and inner work in building meaningful relationships 👉How conflict resolution skills and emotional intelligence are game-changers in love 👉Why traditional dating norms still hold wisdom and how to harness them 👉The importance of intentionality with plant medicines, dance, and community 👉Practical tips for effective dating, creating deep intimacy, and avoiding superficial "ick" factors 👉The truth about having a “type” 👉The influence of attachment styles and deconstructing fantasy types 👉How working on yourself enhances your relationship game 👉The vital role accountability and community play in successful pairing Listen now and start rewriting your love story — because the deepest connections come from understanding yourself first.   JACKIE'S LINKS: Website [https://www.matchesbyjackie.com/] | Instagram  [https://www.instagram.com/matchesbyjackie/] SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter [https://www.scottschumaker.com/] | Website [http://www.scottschumaker.com]| Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/scottschumaker/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/sschumaker] | TikTo [http://www.tiktok.com/scott_schumaker]k  MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano) [https://ffm.to/surefirepiano]”

WTF! A Wild Love with John Steward (Ep44)

Most of us are blind to the startling truth: 96% of land animal biomass is us and what we eat, while wild creatures make up just 4%. Yet, the fight to restore the wild is a battle for our own future, and it needs to happen now. John Stewart, driven by simple acts, fierce love and unwavering hope, is someone who heard the call and is leading that battle. Fueled by a moment of anger, he left behind a life in advertising to dedicate himself to saving wildlife, co-founding Wild Tomorrow Fund (WTF). What began with buying a set of tires for wildlife rangers has turned into creating wildlife corridors spanning thousands of acres, rescuing threatened species, reviving habitats and providing sustainable income and education for local communities.  In this episode, John shares the raw, emotional journey from heartbreak over habitat loss to triumph in land restoration. You'll discover how a small team bought land, knocked down fences, and created corridors for animals to roam free. This is a feel-good conservation story, but it is also a wake-up call. The future depends on what we do today. John reveals how you can start with small, meaningful steps to combat habitat loss caused by our insatiable use of resources. This episode is perfect for nature lovers, activists, and anyone feeling the weight of ecological grief but yearning for hope and action. In this episode: 👉How a childhood memory sparked a lifelong love for animals 🐱 👉The pivotal moment that inspired a career change from ads to conservation 💡 👉Building Wild Tomorrow Fund from a dream into protecting over 5,000 acres 🌍 👉The power of community, partnerships, and innovative land restoration 🤝 👉Tackling habitat loss by altering our eating habits 🍽️ 👉The hallucination we live in—believing humans are separate from nature 🌱 👉Practical steps anyone can take to heal the earth and reconnect with nature 🌿   JOHN'S LINKS: Website [https://wildtomorrow.org/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/wildtomorrow] | Facebook  [https://www.facebook.com/wildtomorrowfund] SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter [https://www.scottschumaker.com/] | Website [http://www.scottschumaker.com]| Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/scottschumaker/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/sschumaker] | TikTo [http://www.tiktok.com/scott_schumaker]k  MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano) [https://ffm.to/surefirepiano]”

RISE: Wisdom from a Son’s Death, Marriage, Music & 🪴 Medicine with Melissa Etheridge (Ep43)

Get ready to dive deep into a journey of love, deep grief, cancer, creativity and a life-altering experience involving cookies with music icon, Melissa Etheridge. If you’ve ever wondered how grief transforms into hope and a deeper love or how her music is created that touches the soul, this episode reveals it all. You’ll discover how Melissa’s accidental hero’s dose of cannabis sparked a spiritual awakening, revealing, in part, that peace isn’t the absence of chaos but embracing life’s contrast. She shares raw stories behind her latest album RISE, a powerful reflection of loss hope, and love, including her son Beckett’s tragic death from fentanyl. Her candid insights on love, healing, and the current research into using plant medicine to overcome addiction will challenge what you thought you knew about consciousness and the mind. She also dives deep into her groundbreaking work with The Etheridge Foundation, which funds various psychedelic research, from ibogaine to psilocybin, with the goal of defeating opioid addiction. In this episode: 👉Melissa’s new album "Rise" and her inspiration behind it 👉The spiritual insights gained from an accidental heroic dose of plant medicine, and how it changed her life 👉The story behind The Etheridge Foundation and its support of plant medicine research to overcome opioid addiction 👉What she has learned about love from her long-term relationships, and her current marriage 👉Lessons from profound loss of her son Beckett and her reflections on death and eternity 👉Her candid and powerful advice on living authentically despite rejection 👉How the power of love and self-acceptance can shift relationships and societal barriers 👉The science and hope around psychedelics like Ibogaine in combating opioid addiction MELISSA'S LINKS: Website [https://melissaetheridge.com/] | New Album, RISE [https://sunrecords.lnk.to/RISE] | The Etheridge Foundation [https://www.etheridgefoundation.org/]  SCOTT’S LINKS: Monday Meditation newsletter [https://www.scottschumaker.com/] | Website [http://www.scottschumaker.com]| Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/scottschumaker/] | Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/sschumaker] | TikTo [http://www.tiktok.com/scott_schumaker]k  MUSIC – Wilderado, “Surefire (piano) [https://ffm.to/surefirepiano]”