The Psychedelic Podcast

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Dr. Paul Ryder, founding minister of the Congregation for Sacred Practices, about an alternative framework for psychedelic work rooted in spirituality, ritual, and community rather than medicine alone.
Paul Ryder shares how his own experiences led him to treat psychedelics as sacraments, and why he believes the medical model, while valuable, represents only an early phase of the psychedelic renaissance. Together, they explore how CSP operates as both a church and a seminary, training licensed ministers to hold ceremonies ethically, safely, and within a religious legal framework.
The conversation also examines the role of community in long-term transformation, the distinction between therapists and ministers, and why practices like breathwork, meditation, and integration circles are central to spiritual development. Throughout, Ryder offers a grounded perspective on how psychedelics can support not just healing, but maturation, responsibility, and a deeper sense of purpose.
You can find the full episode summary and related resources here:
https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-342/?ref=278
Episode Links
The Congregation for Sacred Practices
Episode Sponsors:
The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout
Disclaimer: This content is for educational, informational, and entertainment purposes only. We do not promote or encourage the illegal use of any controlled substances. Nothing said here is medical or legal advice. Always consult a qualified medical or mental health professional before making decisions related to your health. The views expressed herein belong to the speaker alone, and do not reflect the views of any other person, company, or organization.
Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes.

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Jhaimy Alvarez-Acosta, a traditional Andean curandero from Cusco, Peru, about lineage, ceremony, and responsibility within Indigenous wisdom traditions.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-341/?ref=278 
They explore Andean cosmology as a living worldview and reframe master plant work as a form of deep education rather than clinical healing. The conversation emphasizes mentorship, initiation through lived experience, and healing as a relational process rooted in land, ancestors, and community.
Maestro Jhaimy Alvarez Acosta has walked the path of Andean wisdom for over thirty years, guiding ceremonies and pilgrimages throughout the Andes and internationally. His work emphasizes humility, relationship, and long-term commitment to lineage-based traditions.
Highlights:
Fear as a guide rather than an obstacle
Initiation through lived experience
Huachuma in Andean tradition
Roles within Indigenous healing lineages
Master plants as teachers, not tools
Healing as acceptance and relationship
Andean cosmology in the modern world
Mentorship and community-based learning
Episode Links:
Children of the Seven Rays
Heart of the Condor Podcast
Jhaimy's Instagram
Microdosing San Pedro for Nervous System Regulation | Traditional vs Modern Protocols
Episode Sponsors:
The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout
Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes."

Can Europe Legalize Psychedelic Therapy?
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Théo Giubilei, founder of PsychedeliCare, about how psychedelic therapy could become a public health issue at the European Union level.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-340/?ref=278 
They discuss how EU policymaking works, why stigma and political risk continue to shape reform, and the challenges of coordinating psychedelic care across multiple healthcare systems. The conversation also explores why patient testimony and citizen-led advocacy may be essential to shifting public health policy in Europe.
Théo Giubilei is a Brussels-based mental health advocate and founder of the PsychedeliCare European Citizens' Initiative. A graduate in European Politics and Public Affairs from Sciences Po Strasbourg, he previously worked in European public affairs before dedicating himself full-time to psychedelic policy reform. Since 2022, Théo has led a grassroots coalition across all 27 EU member states working to advance safe, legal, and equitable access to psychedelic therapies as a public health issue.
Highlights:
European Citizens' Initiative explained
Political and cultural barriers to reform
Patient testimony in policy debates
U.S. vs EU access models
Public funding and coordination
Episode Links:
PsychedeliCare Initiative
PsychedeliCare on Instagram
Episode Sponsors:
The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout
Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes."

African Psychoactive Plants: Dreams, Ancestors, and Healing
In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin speaks with Jean-Francois Sobiecki, a South African ethnobotanist, clinical nutritionist, and healer whose work challenges the assumption that Africa lacks psychoactive plant traditions.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-339/?ref=278 
Drawing from over two decades of research and a 15-year apprenticeship with a Northern Sotho healer, Jean-Francois explores dream-enhancing medicines like Ubulawu, ancestral healing systems, and cross-cultural parallels with Amazonian plant traditions. The conversation also examines conservation, initiation, and the role of African psychoactive plants in global mental health.
Jean-Francois Sobiecki is a South African ethnobotanist, clinical nutritionist, and healer with over two decades of experience researching African psychoactive plant traditions. A research associate at the University of Johannesburg and founder of Phytoalchemy, he has documented more than 300 psychoactive plant species and completed a 15-year apprenticeship under Northern Sotho healer Leti Maponya. He is the author of African Psychoactive Plants: Journeys in Phytoalchemy.
Highlights:
Challenging myths about African visionary plants
Ubulawu and dream-based healing
Psychoactive vs psychedelic distinctions
African and Amazonian initiation parallels
Archaeological evidence of psilocybin in Africa
Conservation and healing gardens
Episode Links:
Jean-Francois Sobiecki's Website
Jean-Francois book, African Psychoactive Plants: Journeys in Phytoalchemy
These show links may contain affiliate links. Third Wave receives a small percentage of the product price if you purchase through the above affiliate links.
Episode Sponsors:
The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
Golden Rule - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout
Third Wave occasionally partners with or shares information about other people, companies, and/or providers. While we work hard to only share information about ethical and responsible third parties, we can't and don't control the behavior of, products and services offered by, or the statements made by people, companies, or providers other than Third Wave. Accordingly, we encourage you to research for yourself, and consult a medical, legal, or financial professional before making decisions in those areas. Third Wave isn't responsible for the statements, conduct, services, or products of third parties. If we share a coupon code, we may receive a commission from sales arising from customers who use our coupon code. No one is required to use our coupon codes."

In this episode of The Psychedelic Podcast, Paul F. Austin sits down with Zach Leary to explore how psychedelic culture has evolved from its countercultural roots into today's rapidly commercializing landscape.
They discuss mysticism versus medicalization, the ethics of psychedelics in capitalist systems, the rise of psychedelic churches, and why integration and responsibility matter more than peak experience alone.
Find full show notes and links here: https://thethirdwave.co/podcast/episode-338/?ref=278
Zach Leary is a psychedelic educator, integration coach, and host of the Psychedelics Then and Now Podcast. He has spent over 30 years immersed in psychedelic culture and is the author of Your Extraordinary Mind, forthcoming from Sounds True.
Highlights:
Countercultural roots of psychedelics
Medicalization vs mysticism
Psychedelics in capitalism
Set and setting
Psychedelic churches
Integration and stewardship
Episode Links:
Zach Leary Website
Zach Leary Instagram
Psychedelics Then and Now Podcast
Episode Sponsors:
The Practitioner Certification Program by Third Wave's Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
The Microdosing Practitioner Certification at Psychedelic Coaching Institute.
Golden Rule Mushrooms - Get a lifetime discount of 10% with code THIRDWAVE at checkout