Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind

States of Mind
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  • Mental Health

Human Journeys is a podcast from States of Mind exploring the personal stories of growth, healing, and change with psychedelics.  Hosted by Jason Najum, each episode features candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, advocates, and everyday people whose lives have been touched by psychedelic therapies. From depression and anxiety to grief, trauma, and major life transitions, guests share the experiences that challenged them, changed them, and helped them move forward. From experts to everyday people, people turn to psychedelics for many reasons, but often with the same hope: to heal, to grow, and to find a new way forward. These are their stories.

Episodes

  1. 5 days ago

    "The Mushroom Saved My Life" with Edward Crowe

    Today's guest is Edward Crowe, a music business executive and entrepreneur. His journey with psychedelics began with a chance encounter with mushrooms and turned into a lifelong journey of healing and personal growth. His unique human journey crosses the worlds of music, media, and magic. Mushrooms didn't just change Edward Crowe's life — they pulled him out of alcohol, ego, and self-destruction and gave him a new way to see himself, other people, and the world. In this conversation, he shares the wild, deeply personal path that took him from magician and graffiti artist to psychedelics and a practice he now treats with reverence, discipline, and gratitude.  Edward opens up about the first mushroom experience that cracked everything open, the years it took to understand what psychedelics were teaching him, and the moment he realized they weren't just a substance — they were a mentor.  In this conversation: 00:40 — Magician, muralist, weed dealer: how the mushrooms found him 01:45 — "I had to survive them to understand what they had to teach me" 02:18 — Hard-headed and in the dark: the mushroom becomes a mentor 04:14 — Growing up in Antioch, and the smile he wouldn't show 05:42 — Popping the hood on your psyche: perspective instead of ego 07:50 — A heavy dose under the meteor shower 09:40 — The Superman blanket: permission to be your own hero 10:59 — Stepping outside the hypnosis 12:32 — Considering everyone in the room, from the CEO down 14:19 — Ceremony and the music business: touring with Yelawolf 15:42 — Educating Nashville: the Phoenix Rising Psychedelic Speakeasy 18:09 — From clinical to cultural: psychedelics for the average person 21:18 — His mother's last words: "That's good" 22:42 — Jason on losing his mother inside the hospital system 24:32 — Through the eyes of a wise stranger: ego, conflict, and kindness 28:00 — "I don't have any regrets" — and why he stepped away from drinking 31:21 — The dancing goddess and the moment everything changed 33:01 — Twenty-six years to build the ceremony he uses now 35:58 — Safety first: locked gates, locked phones, no sharp objects 38:05 — Sharpening your superpower: you don't have to be broken to benefit Learn more about Edward: Instagram: @edward.crowe Yealwolf Music Manager Connect with the host: Instagram: @jasonnajum LinkedIn: Jason Najum Follow States of Mind: YouTube Channel — @statesofmindhub Spotify — Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind Apple Podcasts — Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind LinkedIn — States of Mind Instagram — @statesofmindhub  Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    "The Mushroom Saved My Life" with Edward Crowe

  2. 26 Aug

    Getting Real About Anxiety, Addiction, and Psychedelics with Our Hosts Jason Najum & Max de Rosnay

    What happens when two podcast hosts trade the mic and interview each other? In this special double-feature episode, Human Journeys host Jason Najum sits down with fellow host Max de Rosnay to share the stories they usually draw out of others. Max opens up about a drug addiction that started young and escalated fast, the family intervention that sent him to rehab at seventeen, and how psilocybin later helped him return to the twelve steps with a sense of self-love he'd never felt before. Jason shares his own reckoning with anxiety, a childhood shaped by his parents' divorce, and the night he broke down on his couch and realized his "default setting" was no longer joy. Two very different paths, both leading to psychedelics, and both leading here. #Addiction #Recovery #Psilocybin #Ayahuasca #MentalHealth #Anxiety #TwelveSteps #HumanJourneys In this conversation: 00:00 — Intro 00:27 — Welcome to the double-feature episode 00:57 — Two hosts, one mic: why they're swapping roles 02:25 — Jason's story: childhood in Montreal and a family shaped by history 04:05 — Noticing the shift: when "not great, but alright" stopped being enough 06:05 — The couch moment: hitting a breaking point 08:59 — Max's story: childhood in London and his parents' divorce 13:17 — From class clown to first experiments with drugs 15:12 — Escalation: ketamine, opiates, and heroin by fifteen 16:06 — Family intervention and rehab at seventeen 17:55 — Living with shame, making amends, and finding peace 23:25 — What actually causes addiction: escapism, chemistry, and circumstance 26:17 — Jason's gateway: microdosing psilocybin after the couch moment 32:49 — Peeling back the armor: what surrender looks like in ceremony 34:51 — Max's relapse in Sydney and the voice that told him to stop 38:11 — Finding Psychedelics in Recovery (PIR) and deciding to try psilocybin 40:09 — "I experienced self love for the first time" 43:32 — Comparing experiences: presence, quiet, and seeing the world clearly 54:55 — Max's ayahuasca ceremony in Colombia: purging and sudden gratitude 57:03 — Using psychedelics as a reset, not a rescue 1:02:04 — Closing thoughts: gratitude for the road that got them here Connect with the hosts: Instagram: @jasonnajum LinkedIn: Max de Rosnay and Jason Najum Follow States of Mind: YouTube Channel — @statesofmindhub Spotify — Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind Apple Podcasts — Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind LinkedIn — States of Mind Instagram — @statesofmindhub  Note: This episode includes candid discussion of drug addiction and mental health. Jason and Max's experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    Getting Real About Anxiety, Addiction, and Psychedelics with Our Hosts Jason Najum & Max de Rosnay

  3. 13 Aug

    How Psychedelics Helped Save a Veteran's Life with Lisa Tamez

    After years of untreated PTSD from her time as a US Army military police officer, layered on top of childhood trauma and an unspoken struggle with her sexuality, Lisa Tamez found herself in the darkest depression of her life. Isolated in her apartment in Germany, she was drinking heavily, mixing medications, and quietly battling suicidal ideation while nothing else seemed to work. In a candid look at raw psychedelic integration, Lisa, a US Army veteran, details the turning point that changed everything: an Ayahuasca retreat in Mexico with the Heroic Hearts Project, held in Shipibo tradition specifically for LGBTQIA+ veterans. She explains how the medicine helped her purge years of buried trauma, access healing inner-child memories, and unlock a form of embodied self-knowledge she calls "noetic knowing." Today, Lisa continues to integrate these lessons, blending her tough military mindset with a newfound gentleness toward herself. Follow Lisa Tamez on IG: @honey_badger011  Stay connected Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/033zquD... Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast... LinkedIn:   / statesofmindhub  Instagram:   / statesofmindhub  Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform their lives. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    How Psychedelics Helped Save a Veteran's Life with Lisa Tamez

  4. 25 Jul

    Ayahuasca and 12 Steps Saved My Life: A New Path to Sobriety with Todd Youngs

    After 20 years of severe intravenous cocaine and heroin addiction, multiple prison stints, and failing every traditional treatment center imaginable, Todd Youngs finally found continuous sobriety. In a candid look at raw psychedelic integration, Todd (now a dedicated addiction specialist) details a critical turning point: a 2009 Ayahuasca ceremony that unlocked a felt sense of self-compassion when Alcoholics Anonymous alone wasn’t enough for addiction recovery. He explains how he bypassed the severe depression of Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) by grounding plant medicine insights directly within the structured principles of the 12 Steps. Today, Todd bridges this personal transformation with groundbreaking academic research at UCSF to help others find a new path to genuine healing. #Ayahuasca #AddictionRecovery #Sobriety #PlantMedicine #12Steps #HeroinAddiction #PsychedelicIntegration #Transformation #MentalHealthRecovery #HumanJourneys Learn more about Todd Youngs: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddyoungs/ https://www.joyofsoberliving.com/ Like what you heard? Subscribe and follow us for weekly conversations on psychedelic healing, mental health, and human transformation — https://www.youtube.com/@statesofmindhub Stay connected LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/statesofmindhub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statesofmindhub Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, is a life-changing conversation about personal healing. Join Jason Najum as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform their lives. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    Ayahuasca and 12 Steps Saved My Life: A New Path to Sobriety with Todd Youngs

  5. 16 Jul

    Microdosing for Paralysis | Self-experimenting with Kacia Julius

    Can microdosing actually rewire a paralyzed body?  After a car accident left Kacia Julius paralyzed from the chest down, she began self-experimenting with low-dose psychedelics to activate her muscles and stimulate neuroplasticity. This is her honest and brave journey of hard work, positivity, the power of the placebo effect, the role of belief and mindfulness in healing, and how Kacia found true presence and hope in the face of sudden, massive life change. #Microdosing #paralysisrecovery  #spinalcordinjury  #neuroplasticity  #spasticity  #SelfExperimentation #CitizenScience #HumanJourneys Connect with Kacia Julius: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaciajulius  Follow States of Mind: YouTube Channel — https://www.youtube.com/@statesofmindhub LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/company/statesofmindhub Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/statesofmindhub Note: This is Kacia's personal story of recovery. Psychedelics are not yet an approved treatment for spinal cord injuries. Speak with your physician or therapist before beginning any alternative treatments.  Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    Microdosing for Paralysis | Self-experimenting with Kacia Julius

  6. 7 Jul

    Psychedelics for Addiction Recovery? Sobriety & Relapse with Anne Rossignol

    Is it actually safe to use psychedelics for addiction recovery, or is it just playing with fire? In this episode of the Human Journeys Podcast, researcher and addiction specialist Anne Rossignol joins Max De Rosnay, Partnerships at Pink Elephant,  to explore psychedelics in recovery and the critical role of firsthand experience in psychedelic science. After three years of clean, abstinence-based sobriety, Anne’s own experiences with ayahuasca for addiction and microdosing for recovery completely transformed her understanding of mental health and long-term healing. Today, she works as a consultant on the ground-breaking Psilopioid clinical trial at Imperial College London, looking at how psilocybin for opioid relapse prevention can bridge the gap between traditional alternative addiction treatment and institutional data. Anne’s role is to keep the science grounded in the real-world mechanics of dependency, ensuring clinical trials are designed around the actual realities of recovery, not just laboratory theories. This is an incredibly honest conversation about harm reduction, the dangers of spiritual bypassing in recovery, and what the psychedelics and 12 steps movements might be getting wrong about spirituality. #AddictionRecovery #PsychedelicResearch #ImperialCollege #HarmReduction #OpioidRelapse #MentalHealth #PsychedelicIntegration #HumanJourneys #12Steps In this conversation: 00:00 — Intro 02:06 — "My mission was to be successful — and I got lost" 02:44 — Revenge as a life mission: Gaining and losing everything 05:27 — Hitting rock bottom: The moment change became unavoidable 06:39 — Entering rehab and learning what humility actually feels like 07:12 — What it’s really like to be an addict from the inside 17:19 — How psychedelics entered Anne's recovery story 21:16 — Microdosing: The first step and what she experienced 24:42 — The first ceremony and facing a large dose 27:21 — Max and Anne on the real meaning of self-love 28:11 — Integration: How Anne approached her next ceremonies 30:30 — How Ayahuasca surfaced years of denial and anorexia 32:17 — The taboo of psychedelics in traditional recovery meetings 33:42 — What the 12-Steps might be getting wrong about spirituality Learn more about Anne Rossignol: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anne-rossignol-829306b9/ https://breakingconvention.co.uk/performers/anne-rossignol Like what you heard? Subscribe and follow us for weekly conversations on psychedelic healing, mental health, and human transformation — https://www.youtube.com/@statesofmindhub Stay connected LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/statesofmindhub Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statesofmindhub Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform their lives. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    Psychedelics for Addiction Recovery? Sobriety & Relapse with Anne Rossignol

  7. 19 Jun

    Can Humor Heal Trauma? with Dennis Walker

    The psychedelic renaissance is booming, but who's keeping it honest? Dennis Walker, founder of Mycopreneur, joins Jason Najum on the Human Journeys Podcast to explore the role of satire, humor, and independent thinking in the psychedelic space. As a self-described modern-day court jester, Dennis uses comedy to challenge corporate power, expose hypocrisy, and advocate for small mushroom entrepreneurs driving an increasingly commercialized industry. This is a rare conversation about what psychedelic healing looks like outside the clinical setting and why fun, creativity, and personal agency might be just as transformative as any ceremony. In this conversation:  00:00 Intro  00:41 Dennis's Background and the Birth of Mycopreneur  01:21 The Court Jester: Why the Psychedelic Space Needs Satire  02:51 Critiquing Corporatization From the Inside  03:35 Small Mushroom Entrepreneurs vs. Crony Capitalism  05:50 Why Humor and Fun Are Legitimate Healing Tools  08:21 The Limits of Medicalizing Psychedelics  10:11 Psychedelics for Lifestyle Design and Creative Breakthroughs  12:15 "Lose the Loser Attitude" — On Personal Agency and Healing  14:55 Creating Answers, Not Expectations Learn more about Dennis Walker: https://www.instagram.com/mycopreneurofficial/ https://linktr.ee/mycopreneur https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennis-walker-19684927 Like what you heard? Subscribe and follow us for weekly conversations on psychedelic healing, mental health, and human transformation — https://www.youtube.com/@statesofmindhub Stay connected: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/108322941 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statesofmindhub/ Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, is life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join Jason Najum as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform their lives. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    Can Humor Heal Trauma? with Dennis Walker

  8. 19 Jun

    "It Changed Me As A Human Being": Psychedelics for Older Adults, with Scott Wright

    What happens when a 68-year-old has a psychedelic experience and decides it's not too late to change everything? Scott Wright joins Jason Najum on the Human Journeys Podcast to share how a single profound psychedelic journey in his late 60s cracked him open and sent him on a mission to document the stories of older adults doing the same. His upcoming film is a testament to the idea that healing has no age limit. In this conversation:  00:00 Intro  00:41 Scott's Background and Road to Psychedelics at 68  01:21 The Experience That Changed Everything  02:51 Why Older Adults Are Turning to Psychedelics  03:35 Healing Depression, PTSD, and Decades-Old Wounds  05:50 Generational Shifts: From "Just Say No" to Psychedelic Therapy  08:21 Honoring Indigenous Roots as Psychedelics Go Mainstream  10:11 The Power of Community Through Shared Experience  12:15 Making the Film: Vulnerability, Transformation, and Hope  14:55 What Scott Wants Audiences to Take Away Learn more about Scott:  https://www.wise-rabbit.com/in-production https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-wright-65266b300/ https://www.instagram.com/wiserabbitfilms/ Like what you heard? Hit subscribe and follow us for more conversations on healing and transformation — https://www.youtube.com/@statesofmindhub Stay connected: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/108322941 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/statesofmindhub/ Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, is life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join Jason Najum as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform their lives. Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    "It Changed Me As A Human Being": Psychedelics for Older Adults, with Scott Wright

  9. 14 Jun

    "I've Never Shared This Story Before": The Freedom to Explore Psychedelics

    Today's guest is Zeus Tipado, neuroscientist n PhD candidate at Maastricht University. In addition to his scientific research, Zeus is a dynamic speaker, educator, and content creator, bringing passion and pragmatism to a variety of psychedelic subjects. In this episode, Zeus shares: • The personal story he's never shared publicly before • How childhood trauma shaped his relationship with anxiety, fear, and mortality • Why hitting rock bottom gave him the freedom to explore psychedelics • The problem with overemphasizing mystical experiences in psychedelic culture • Why psychedelic experiences should be grounded in personal meaning and self-understanding • The critical role therapists play in creating safe and effective psychedelic experiences • How knowledge, preparation, and understanding can create a greater sense of freedom during psychedelic journeys • Lessons on acceptance, trust, and navigating difficult psychedelic experiences • Why we need a more human, grounded conversation about psychedelics • How psychedelic therapies can help people move from fear toward healing and growth  Learn more about Zeus:  https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/z-tipado https://www.instagram.com/tipado/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@tipado Note: This episode includes candid discussion of psychedelic use and mental health. Guests' experiences with psychedelics are personal and not a substitute for professional treatment. If you're struggling with substance use, please reach out to a qualified professional or a support service in your area. Human Journeys Podcast, by States of Mind, features life-changing conversations of personal healing. Join us as we explore how psychedelic therapies are helping people grow, heal, and transform.

    "I've Never Shared This Story Before": The Freedom to Explore Psychedelics
  • 9 Episodes

About

Human Journeys is a podcast from States of Mind exploring the personal stories of growth, healing, and change with psychedelics.  Hosted by Jason Najum, each episode features candid conversations with researchers, clinicians, advocates, and everyday people whose lives have been touched by psychedelic therapies. From depression and anxiety to grief, trauma, and major life transitions, guests share the experiences that challenged them, changed them, and helped them move forward. From experts to everyday people, people turn to psychedelics for many reasons, but often with the same hope: to heal, to grow, and to find a new way forward. These are their stories.

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