In this episode of Cura Medicina, Derek Dodds speaks with acclaimed vocalist, teacher, and author Machan Taylor about healing early trauma through intentional, guided psychedelic work. Machan shares the story behind her memoir, Naked Out Loud—from growing up as a Japanese-American child navigating displacement, identity, and family hardship, to building an extraordinary music career alongside artists including Pink Floyd, Sting, Pat Benatar, George Benson, and Hiroshima. Beneath the outward success, however, she carried a profound sense of not belonging. She reflects on the MDMA-assisted session that helped her reconnect with the younger self she felt had been left behind when her family moved from Japan to America. Together, Derek and Machan explore integration, self-compassion, the healing power of music and mantra, and why reverence, intention, and skilled guidance matter so deeply in medicine work. A warm, vulnerable conversation: Machan Taylor’s early life in Japan and her family’s move to the United States after World War II Growing up biracial, experiencing displacement, and carrying a deep sense of not belonging A celebrated career in music—and the private wounds that remained beneath outward success Why years of traditional talk therapy did not fully reach the roots of early trauma Finding a trained, spiritually grounded facilitator for MDMA-assisted therapy Machan’s first medicine journey: returning to her childhood with a whale as her guide Reconnecting with and integrating the “little girl” who felt left behind The difference between MDMA and psilocybin in a therapeutic setting Integration, self-compassion, empathy, and healing the heart Music, chanting, mantra, and the voice as pathways of transformation Machan’s experience with Buddhist chanting and the life changes it helped initiate Naked Out Loud: vulnerability, truth-telling, and releasing shame The importance of approaching psychedelic work with intention, respect, and qualified guidance Machan’s curiosity about ayahuasca and the importance of traditional, sacred containers Machan Taylor is an acclaimed vocalist, teacher, and author whose career includes work with Pink Floyd, Sting, Pat Benatar, George Benson, Hiroshima, and many others. Her memoir, Naked Out Loud, shares her journey through trauma, music, healing, and psychedelic-assisted self-discovery. Find Naked Out Loud online through Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Connect with Machan: https://www.machantaylor.com/ Ig: https://www.instagram.com/machantaylorofficial - - - Connect with Derek - - - curamedicina.com instagram.com/cura_medicina_podcast derek {@} curamedicina.com - - - Derek's Books on Amazon. - - - Animal Spirit Guides: A Practical Shamanic Path of Relationship, Ritual, and Healing Ayahuasca: A Beginner's Guide Sacred Geometry and Patterns of Divine Design Hapé Sacred Tobacco: Plant Medicine Ally From The Amazon Rainforest Subscribe & Review: Please take a moment to subscribe to the podcast and leave us a review on your favorite platform. See all platforms. My Vision & Prayer May all beings be happy. May all beings be free. May all beings find their way home. ~ Om Mani Padme Hum TAGS: Machan Taylor, Cura Medicina, psychedelic healing, MDMA-assisted therapy, MDMA therapy, psilocybin therapy, psychedelic integration, trauma healing, childhood trauma, inner child healing, healing journey, emotional healing, psychedelic medicine, intentional medicine work, sacred medicine, therapeutic psychedelics, guided psychedelic therapy, spiritual healing, memoir, Naked Out Loud, Buddhist practice, trauma and shame, personal transformation, women’s healing, psychedelic podcast, plant medicine
